Thursday Dish

Rapper Flava Flav of the legendary rap group Public Enemy is set to pen his autobiography titled "Icon". The book will be released in March, 2011. A new four disc set of recordings by singer Percy Sledge has been released by Rhino Handmade. "Percy Sledge: The Atlantic Recordings 1966-1974" gives fans a complete overview of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's career. Although Sledge is best known for the hit "When A Man Loves  A Woman", the set includes other soul staples, such as, "Warm And Tender Love" and "Take Time To Know Her". Today, the Baton Rouge LA resident performs 100 shows a year, in mostly Southern casinos, Europe and the Carribean. He says he's keeping his health and mind together.  One great way to say goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011 is by catching the HBO special "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" tomorrow at 9 p.m. The special is a televised version of the singer's Las Vegas show. For those staying home on New Year's Eve there's Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark on ABC, Carson Daly on NBC, Nancy O'Dell on Fox and Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffith on CNN.  Or you can skip them all and catch the all night Marx Brothers marathon on TCM. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Rapper DMX has been placed in the mental health unit of the Arizona prison where he's serving a sentence for probation violation. The rapper has been battling legal issues for sometime now, and it's time he received the help he needs.  It looks like rapper Foxy Brown won't debut the "Christmas Massacre" dis track directed at Lil Kim after all. She tweeted that she's suffering a lost, but no other details have been released. Singer Rihanna was spotted in her homeland over the holidays without boyfriend Matt Kemp, causing some to speculate regarding the status of their relationship. No word on the real story as yet. Lady Gaga, The Blackeyed Peas and Eminem are among the top record sellers of 2010. As the year comes to a close, time will tell if record sells improve. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey will launch her own cable network, which will replace the little seen Discovery Health, called simply OWN. The network will make it's debut on Saturday with the first of several specials with "Ask Oprah's All Stars", which will feature doctors Mehment Oz and Phil McGraw. The network may just become yet another stellar achievement in an illustrious career. NBC will air one of it's biggest disappointments, "Undercovers" tonight. Although the show looked good, there was no chemistry and magic. ABC, on the other hand, will offer viewers two episodes of "Modern Family", reminding some that television in 2010 hasn't been all bad.  "The Middle" airs tonight as well , with what is sure to be one of it's funniest episodes in some time. Natalie Portman will return to the big screen in "The Other Woman". She plays a woman who has an affair with her married boss, who eventually leaves his wife. Her character becomes pregnant and loses her unborn child. The film follows the woman's struggle to cope with the lost and build a relationship with her stepson. The film will open in limited release on Feb. 4. On the tube: "Human Target" on Fox, "NCIS: Los Angeles" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Undercovers" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Although no autopsy will be performed until later this week, drugs are being ruled out as the cause of the death of Teena Marie. She stopped taking seizer medication because it made her too depressed. She was found in her home by her daughter. Rumor has that Willow Smith may remake one of her father Will Smith's big hits, "Parents Just Don't Understand". There's been on confirmation or denial, so stay tuned. Another rumor within the music industry is that Chris Brown and Justin Bieber may collaborate. Again, there's been no confirmation or denial, but at any rate, it seems like an interesting pairing. Be sure to pick up the latest issue of The Source with Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifah on the cover. The Teflon Don talks about beefs and his latest career moves. Wiz Khalifah discusses his recent success and what's next for him. Dr Dre appears on the cover of the latest issue of XXL and discusses his next release, "Detox" and how the rap game has changed. Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Merle Haggard, Bill T. Jones and Jerry Herman will all be honored at the Kennedy Centers Honors tonight in what is sure to be one of the best awards shows this season. Among those who will be honoring the award recipients are Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Jennifer Hudson, Claire Danes, Alec Baldwin, Gwen Stafeni, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Matthew Morrison, Matt Boner, Carol Channing and Angela Lansbury. Feel free to celebrate during what will be a moving evening. Congradulations to Elton John and his partner are in order. The two have become the parents of a baby boy named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John via a surrogate, it was reported. This is the couple's first child. They married in 2005. Actress Michelle Williams returns to the big screen Friday in "Blue Valentine". The film is a must see for fans. On DVD: "Salt", "Easy A" and "Step Up 3". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

"Little Fockers" topped the weekend box office earning over $34 million dollars. "True Grit", TRON: Legacy", "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and "Yogi Bear" round out the top five films of the week. Rapper Game is just one of a few celebrities who have had car trouble. Apparently Game and a friend were holiday shopping when a piece of jewelery and $75,000 dollars were stolen from the car they drove. The two were frisked by police but not arrested. Trees blocked security camera view, so no suspects have been found.  There seemed to be a feud brewing between singers Keri Hilson and Ciara for some time, until recently. During a radio interview, Hilson made remarks that seemed to shoot down the notion that the two are at odds with one another. Congradulations to singer Alanis Morrisette are in order. The singer gave birth to a baby boy on Christmas. All are doing well. Sad news out of the R&B world. Singer Teena Marie was found dead in her Pasadena CA home. She was 54. She signed with Motown Records and released the album "Wild & Peaceful", which was produced by her mentor Rick James. She later went on to release four more albums for Motown before moving to Epic Records. She signed with Cash Money Records and later with Stax. "Congo Square" was her last album. She was known for her amazing vocal range, funk jams and passionate love songs. She was loved and respected among African American music lovers and nicknamed the Ivory Queen of Soul. Her legacy will live on and she will be missed. On the tube: "House" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" on ABC and "Chuck" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Thursday Dish

Rapper Lil Wayne has settled a dispute with the producer who produced his hit "Lollipop". Fans will recall that the producer sued Weezy for back royalties for the single. There has been no confirmation on the settlement amount. Rihanna and Christina Aguilera are apparently too raunchy for Britain. It's safe to say that the two won't be touring the country anytime soon. New York radio station Hot 97 has suspended DJ Cipha Sounds indefinitely for racially insensitive remarks he made during his morning radio show. The suspension comes on the heels of protest in front of the station calling for the DJ's termination. Cypha Sounds  made racist remarks against Haitians during his show with Peter Rosenberg and K. Fox last Friday, saying "the reason I'm H.I.V. negative is because I don't mess with Haitian girls". He later apologized for the remark. Sisters Angela and Vanessa Simmons have been mentioned among those celebrities who look good without makeup. Another named mentioned was Beyonce. As far as viewership for 2010, cable television has made considerable gains with audiences. Nielsen figures show that the Big 4 and basic cable gained 1% in 2010 as overall viewing continues to rise to a record 34 hours a week. The fall season has not been so kind, however. Fox is down 15% and ABC is off 5%, offsetting smaller gains by CBS and NBC. Time will tell what's in store for 2011. On the tube: "The Million Dollar Money Drop" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Two men were arrrested after breaking into the Connecticut home of rapper 50 Cent. One of the men was found hiding in a closet drinking a bottle of wine he had taken from the home. The men were apprehended after security guards called police about a suspicious car in the driveway. Police indicated that the two men had scaled a fence and entered through an unlocked door. Both suspects were charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass and possession of marijuana. Both are being held on $50,000 bail each. 50 Cent has been trying to sell the home, which once belonged to Mike Tyson, for three years. The home is on the market for $10 million. Cash Money Records is reportedly beefing up security for Nicki Minaj after Magnolia Princess was gunned down in New Orleans. Her body was found in a car along with an unidentified gentlemen. The murders have not been solved as of yet. He may have been quiet during his first month back from Rikers Island, but Lil Wayne has been far from idol. After release his first single and making his first television appearance on Saturday Night Live last weekend, the rapper will grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.  There's been no confirmation on when the issue will hit newsstands. In the meantime, "6'7" is number one on iTunes. Congradulations to actress Ali Larter and her husband are in order. The two became the parents of  a baby boy named Theodore on Monday. All are doing well. The competition continues on "Skating With The Stars" and it remains to be seen who will walk away with the grand prize. With it's release in theaters yesterday, the reviews for "Little Fockers" have not been glowing. Some critics have panned the film saying it's filled with potty humor. At any rate, the film is in theaters nationwide now.  Gwyneth Paltrow has returned to the big screen in  "Country Strong". She plays a country singer battling personal demons. The film is in theaters nationwide. On the tube: "Human Target" on Fox, "A Home for the Holidays" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Undercovers" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

During an appearance on the "Wendy Williams Show", actress Vivica A. Fox stated that she's ready to tie the knot with her current beau. No word on an official engagement yet. It turns out that rapper Gucci Mane was cuffed but never arrested. As previously mentioned, Atlanta police raided the home of rapper Waka Flaka Flame under the suspicion that prostitution may have occurred in the home. Flaka's manager and mother told MTV News that the incident had nothing to do with prostitution and that weapons found in the home were licensed. She also stated that a half once of marijuana was found, which turned out to be a blunt. The younger brother of producer Lex Luger was taken into custody, however. It appears that just as Lil Kim is attempting to stay relevant by attacking Nicki Minaj, Foxy Brown's doing the same by attacking Lil Kim.  A dis track has  debuted and it remains to be seen if a response from Lil Kim will come soon. Everyone should try to get along. Actress Lindsey Lohan is under investigation for a alleged misdemeanor battery against a female staff member at the rehab facility where she's receiving treatment. Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela said officers responded to a call from a Betty Ford Center facility in Palm Desert on Dec. 12 shortly after 1a.m. for an incident involving Lohan. Valenzuela says a female staff member reported having a dispute with the star and that she wanted to pursue charges. No arrests were made, and detectives continue to look into the case, Valenzuela says. Their results will be presented to Riverside County prosecutors, who will decide whether to file a criminal case. Messages for Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, were not returned. Lohan has been receiving treatment at the Betty Ford Center and it's facilities since last September. Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson and Jamie Fox have new music in stores this week. On DVD: "Salt" and "Easy A". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Skating With The Stars" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

"TRON: Legacy" topped the weekend box office, earning over $43 million dollars. "Yogi Bear", "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", "The Fighter" and "The Tourist" round out the top five films of the week. Authorities are investigating the theft of $192,000 in jewelry and luggage from Jermaine Jackson. Ironically, Jackson appeared in court as week before to state that  he couldn't afford the $3,000 a month child support he was ordered to pay. Stay tuned as this story develops. Waka Flaka Flame responded to allegations that he has gang ties during a recent radio interview. He says he's a rapper and not a gang banger. It was reported that authorities raided his Atlanta home where Gucci Mane was arrested. Authorities suspected that drug trafficking and prostitution may have occurred in the home, although it has not been confirmed. Stay tuned as this story develops.  Robert Deniro and Ben Stiller keep the laughs coming in the latest installment of the "Meet The Parents" franchise. "Little Frockers" should be a hit with fans. The film will be released on Wednesday. The competition is getting down to the wire on "Skating With The Stars". Only time will tell who the winner will be. On the tube: "Million Dollar Money Drop" on Fox, "How I  Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Skating With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

Aretha Franklin is home resting comfortably after successful surgery for an undisclosed aliment. The singer was forced by doctors to cancel all concerts and public appearances through May, but there's been no confirmation regarding the reason for the cancellation. The nominees for the upcoming Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony were announced and LL Cool J was not nominated, although 2 Live Crew was. No word on when the ceremony will be held. Waka Flaka Flame recalled Nicki Minaj's early days during a recent interview by saying that hip hop's it girl moved to the Atlanta area and was focused. He also stated that everyone wanted to date her, but she would not except any offers. According to producer Bangladesh, Lil Wayne's latest single, "6'7", was not intended for the Young Money CEO. He said during an interview with bet.com that the track was intended for T.I. At any rate, the track is a hit and will be on Wayne's next album, "The Carter 4". In other Lil Wayne news, he and the Young Money crew will perform on Carson Daily's new years eve show on Dec. 31. The Screen Actor's Guild Awards were announced and Robert Duvall was among those nominated for his performance in "Get Low". John Hawkes was nominated as well. Ty Burrell and Ed O'Neil were both nominated for best actor in a comedy. At the other end of the spectrum, an array of award nominations went to a slew of popular television shows, with "Modern Family" leading with four. Nominees for best ensemble casts in television comedies and dramas were split between cable and broadcast shows. The SAG Awards will air on TNT and TBS on January 30. In theaters this weekend: "The Fighter", "How Do You Know", "TRON: Legacy" and "Yogi Bear". On the tube: "Are We There Yet?" on Fox, "Yes, Virginia" on CBS, "Supernanny" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC.  Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Keri Hilson and Chris Brown are currently in the studio collaborating on a track Brown wrote for Hilson. Hilson reportedly heard Brown's vocals on the track and decided that he should remain on the track. During an appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show", Keyshia Cole stated that she's looking forward to marrying fiance Daniel Gibson and hopes for a smooth recovery in rehab for her mother Frankie. She  has a son with Gibson. No word on a wedding date. She also has a new CD due to be released soon. Although the two have not revealed too many details, Nick Cannon confirmed on  his radio show that he and wife Mariah Carey are having twins. Cannon went on to say that Carey, who performed at "Christmas In Washington 2010", ran into President and Mrs Obama, and they asked what she was having and due to the excitement, she revealed that she's having twins. Carey and Cannon have not indicated her due date. After 25 years of interviewing presidents, movie stars and regular folks on CNN's signature talk show, Larry King will host the last of roughly 7,000 episodes of "Larry King Live" tonight. Piers Morgan will succeed King in January. King will still have four CNN specials a year. Last night's episode of "Criminal Minds" was another winner. The show gets better with each viewing. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Lil Wayne has been linked to a $250 million drug bust, but the rapper is not in danger of being arrested or sent back to prison. Police found heroin in the side panel of an SUV in Newark NJ. The drugs were labeled  Lil Wayne.  A police dog was called to conduct a search and found the drugs in a secret compartment. In other Lil Wayne news, the rapper just premiered his first single since being released from Rikers Island "6'7" featuring Corey Gunz. Usher suffered a mishap during a recent concert. The singer invited a fan onstage only to be kicked in the head. He played the incident off and was not seriously injured. Jay Z visited Oprah Winfrey in Australia while the talk show queen taped episodes of her show there. He visited the school where she donated a million dollars in computer equipment and sat down to talk about his new book "Decoded". In an interview with bet.com, Ray J stated that he believes his hit reality show "For The Love Of Ray J" has made him more attractive to record labels. He has just inked a deal with SRC Records. He also stated that record labels watching the show and understanding that it could be used as a platform to promote an album and get his point across is definitely attractive. No word on when his next album is due. The second season opener of "The Sing-off" sang it's way to 8.6 million viewers on Monday and a series high 9.5 million this week. The show is certainly off to a fabulous start and here's hoping it's success continues. It's been confirmed that John Favreau will not return to direct the next film in Marvel Studio's "Iron Man" franchise. Reportedly, the split was amicable. The director wants to focus on other projects, which may include his next directing gig, "Magic Kingdom", a fantasy that imagines after-hours life at Disneyland ala "A Night At The Museum". Marvel will look for a new director for "Iron Man 3", which the company has scheduled for a 2013 release. On the tube: "Human Target" on Fox, "Survivor: Nicaragua" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "The Sing-off" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Quincy Jones is currently helping to remaster Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" albums. No word on when the albums will be released. Sony Music is set to release additional Michael Jackson material as well. No release date has been set. There is much debate among those in the music industry about whether releasing the new Michael Jackson album was a good decision. Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am, who worked with Jackson before his untimely death, thinks releasing the music is disrespectful. Akon, who appears on the album, and former Floatry member Marsha Ambrosius, who wrote Jackson's hit "Butterflies", both welcome new Michael Jackson music with open arms. Bruno Mars, on the other hand, isn't sold on the idea. He says putting himself in Jackson's shoes, he wouldn't want his music out if he couldn't sign off and put his stamp on it. "Michael" is in stores now. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has made the school year much brighter for children in Australia. She donated over one million dollars in computer equipment to a school down under. The Golden Globe Awards were announced and "Glee" was nominated for Best Comedy or Musical Series and four of it's actors have also been nominated for awards. Despite "Glee's" performance, basic and pay cable has once again overshadowed their broadcast rivals in Globes accolades. HBO was the most honored network, with twelve nominations. Showtime and AMC trailed not far behind. The Golden Globe Awards will air January 16 at 8 p.m. on NBC.  Michael Jackson and Diddy & Dirty Money have new music in stores this week. On DVD: "Despicable Me", "The Other Guys" and "The A-Team". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

"Chronicles of Narina: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" topped the weekend box office, earning over $24 million dollars. "The Tourist", "Tangled", "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" and "Unstoppable" round out the top five films of the week. Memphis police are searching for rapper Yo Gotti in connection with a nightclub shooting that occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The rapper is reportedly out of town on business and released a statement saying he does not condone such behavior. Ja Rule plead guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon stemming from a July 2007 incident where his vehicle was stopped by police. He was leaving the Beacon Theater when his car was stopped for speeding. Police said they smelled marijuana and found a loaded semiautomatic gun in the rear door of the $250,000-plus car. In court today, Ja Rule was promised a two-year prison sentence. He's free until sentencing, on a date to be set. He's due in court on Feb. 9 for an update. Teen sensation Justin Bieber has just become the latest celebrity to collaborate with Dr Dre on his own line of headphones, Just Beats. Although he wears a set of red and blue Spider Man-designed headphones in a commerical, the line of signature headphones will be available in purple. He follows in the footsteps of Lady Gaga and Diddy, who also have a line of headphones under the Beats by Dre umbrella. Congradulations to Joel Madden and Nicole Richie are in order. The two became husband and wife on Saturday, after dating more than four years. The couple have a 2-year daughter and 15-month old son together. Be sure to tune in to "Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You". Although the singer is promoting a Christmas CD, the special should also help viewers get in the holiday spirit. "Glee" fans should not fret over the hit show's hiatus. Jane Lynch can be seen on "Two and a Half Men" as Charlie's therapist. Just off his role in the action-adventure film "Faster", Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is preparing for a role in the next installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. He will play Hobbs, a cop on the trail of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson and the familiar crew of the "Fast" franchise. The film is set for release April 29. On the tube: "House" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Skating With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

Despite her past trouble with men, Brandy, it's rumored , is getting back in the game by dating Terrence J. of "106 & Park". Jim Jones was sentenced to 10 weeks of anger management classes after beating  the driver whose car he collided with during a traffic accident.  Reportedly after the accident, Jones proceeded to beat the other driver and threw his keys into oncoming traffic. Here's hoping the anger management classes help. Wiz Khalifa stated during an interview with bet.com that he's pleased with the chart position of his latest single, "Black and Yellow". Since it's release in August, the single has spread onto an increasing number of playlists, become an anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and cracked the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Produced by Norwegian production duo Stargate, the song currently sits on Billboard's chart at No. 14. The rapper indicated that he'd like to work with the duo again. Wiz's untitled debut album is scheduled to hit stores in March 2011. The upcoming homecoming concert Nicki Minaj was to perform in her homeland of Trinidad has come with a hefty price tag. No word on whether it will go on as planned. Actor Darren Criss says he's excited about playing a strong, gay character on the hit show "Glee". He says it's the first time he's seen an out student who was so young and innocent and struggling with the big ordeal of being an out student at such an early age. All new characters will join Johnny Depp for "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". The entire film was shot in 3-D and will be released May 20. In theaters this weekend: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and "The Tourist". On the tube: "The Good Guys" on Fox, "The Mentalist" on CBS, "Supernanny" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Young Jeezy was arrested just after stepping off the plane in the Nassau Bahamas. The rapper was taken into custody, but authorities won't say why. Stay tuned as this story develops. Actor Wesley Snipes is scheduled to report to prison today for failing to pay income taxes for at least a decade. He was convicted in April 2008 of three misdemeanor charges of failing to pay income taxes from 1991 to 2001. He says the failure to file was the fault of an advisor and that he's always paid his taxes. There's been no word on when or if an appeal will be filed. Rolling Stone magazine has released it's top 30 albums of 2010. Among those making the list are Kanye West and Rick Ross. The late Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, will receive a posthumous pardon from Florida Gov Charlie Crist for a indecent exposure conviction. Crist has received enough votes from other members of the state's Board Of Executive Clemency to approve it. Morrison was appealing the convction when he was found dead in a Paris hotel bath tub in 1971. The meeting comes on Thursday after the singer would have turned 67. Crist can't issue the pardon alone. He and a three member Cabinet serve as the Clemency Board. Approval is required by the governor and at least three other members. Although she's collaborated with her share of hip hop artists, Keri Hilson says she won't date them. During an interview on Chelsea Handler's late night talk show "Chelsea Lately", Hilson explained that she's not interested in becoming a hip hop wife. Fans have an animated version of "Community" to look forward to tonight. It will also include a spoof of Christmas specials. Reece Witherspoon returns to the big screen with the romantic comedy "How Do You Know".  The star also appears on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. In an interview, the actress explained that her two-year break wasn't planned. She just didn't read any scripts she liked. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Shrek The Halls" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Congradulations to Mary J. Blige are in order. The singer sold over 6,000 bottles of her My Life fragrance on cable channel Home Shopping Network. Each one dollar purchase will go toward her foundation to help underplivaged women. Just after Media Take Out went to press with a rumor that Kim Kardashian is pregnant with Kanye West's child, yet another rumor has surfaced claiming that she's broken up with Halle's Berry's ex-beau and is now dating a member of the New Jersey Nets. Q Tip, a member of legendary hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, has made known the fact that he is not in support of the upcoming documentary on the group "Beats, Rhymes & Life". He says that though he is not against the making of the film, it just doesn't tell the whole story. "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest" will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 11. In what may be a case of deja vu, T.I stated how his latest prison bid will make him a better man. He says the longer he stays, the smarter he becomes. Let's hope the rapper does what's necessary to turn his life around. Rihanna stated in an interview that she convinced her record label that changing her image would be a good idea. The singer began her career as a inconspicuous 16-year old, with a lukewarm debut album. The change came after the release of "Good Girl Gone Bad". She says she didn't want to be like other artists, she wanted to stand out. Last night's "Glee" episode was one that filled viewers with holiday cheer. The show once again walked away with great ratings for it's time slot. On the tube: "Human Target" on Fox, "Survivor: Nicaragua" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "The Sing-off" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Media Takeout is reporting that Kim Kardashian is pregnant with Kanye West's child. The two have apparently been dating on and off for some time now and got together some time last summer. There's been no confirmation or denial from either camp regarding the rumor. Christina Milan went on "The Wendy Williams Show" to dispel rumors regarding her split with the Dream. She stated that no gag order has been placed on her. In the meantime, the singer hasn't forgotten about music. She confirmed that she has a new single scheduled for release in March. Drake, Willow Smith and others will join Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest on "New Years Rockin' Eve". The show will air on December 31. If you thought that Rick Ross and Young Jeezy were friends, you'd be mistaken. There's no love lost between the two and that fact was confirmed during Ross' interview with The Source magazine. He responded to a track by Jeezy with some not so kind words for the rapper. There's been no response from Jeezy's camp so far. After signing off Twitter and Facebook as part of a charity event to raise money, celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga have all signed back on after achieving their fundraising goal of $1 million for AIDS charity Keep A Child Alive. Billionaire Stewart Rahr matched the amount donated by celebrities and the public on Tuesday. Be sure to catch the Christmas episode of "Glee" tonight on Fox. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" airs tonight as well. Both shows will offer holiday fun for all. On DVD: "Inception" and "Shrek: The Whole Story". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on ABC and "Minute To Win It" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

"Tangled" topped the weekend box office, earning over $21 million. "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1", "Burlesque", "Unstoppable" and "Love & Other Drugs" round out the top five films of the week. Rick Ross responded to singer Chrisette Michelle's blog about his walking out of the recent Soul Train Awards with some not so kind words for the R&B star. Michelle stated that she believed that Ross' actions placed a negative spotlight on hip hop because he was the only artist at the ceremony to represent hip hop. So far, no comment from Michelle on Ross' statement.  Oprah Winfrey, Bill T. Jones, Merle Haggard, Paul McCartney and Jerry Herman will all be honored at the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors, celebrating artists who have enriched the life of the country. The show is hosted each year by Caroline Kennedy and will feature a star-studded line up of entertainers to salute the honorees. Among them will be Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, Claire Danes and Angela Lansbury. The show will air on Dec. 28 at 9 p.m. on CBS. Former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight was arrested over the weekend on an outstanding warrant from some time back. He was released after posting bond. The competition continues on "Skating With The Stars". It remains to be seen who will walk away with the grand prize. The premiere of "The Sing Off" airs tonight as well. It should be an interesting competition. On the tube: "American Country Awards" on Fox, "How I Met Your  Mother" on CBS, "Skating With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

Aretha Franklin is said to be resting comfortably after an undisclosed medical procedure. She released a statement thanking fans for their well wishes. No word on when she will be released. Legendary rapper Kurtis Blow was arrested at LAX after a body scanner found a substance in his pants. It turns out the substance was marijuana. Since it was less than an ounce, he was given a ticket and went on his way. Soulja Boy recently stated in an interview with bet.com that now naysayers who thought he was a one hit wonder want to collaborate. The rapper, who recently released his third album "The DeAndre Way", recalled the work necessary to prove critics wrong. He says he hopes he can continue to win respect. It's rumored that the reported fight between Lil Wayne and Drake was because of Drake's alleged involvement with Wayne's girlfriend while the rapper was incarcerated. Drake, in the meantime, is set to host Canada's Juno Awards. It's the country's version of the Grammy Awards. Rapper/producer Dr Dre revealed that he will retire after the release of his long delayed "Detox" album. He says since he's older, it difficult to relate to younger hip hop heads. Actor and martial arts expert Chuck Norris was made an honorary Texas Ranger after playing a Texas Ranger for several years. Texas Gov. Rick Perry presented the star and executive director of "Walker Texas Ranger" with a designation as an honorary member of the law enforcement group. Norris' younger brother stunt coordinator and producer Aaron Norris also became an honorary Ranger. This weekend the season premiere of "Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business" will air. The season should be packed full of surprises for fans of the show. In theaters this weekend: "The Warriors Way". On the tube: "The Good Guys" on Fox, "Medium" on CBS, "Supernanny" on ABC and "A Walk In My Shoes" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin will have a medical procedure done today. While there's been no word on what the procedure is, the singer was forced by doctors to cancel all concerts and public appearances until May. A prayer vigil was held in her honor in her hometown Detroit. Our prayers are with the Queen Of Soul. The Grammy Award nominations were announced yesterday and Eminem leads the list of nominees with ten nominations. He's nominated for Album of the Year, as well as Record and Song of the Year. Not far behind are Jay Z with six nominations for his hit "Empire State Of Mind" and his "Blueprint 3" album and Bruno Mars with seven nominations. The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will air on CBS in February. As mentioned previously, Game stated that he wanted to see a G Unit reunion happen, but it appears it won't after all. The rapper taunted G Unit member Lloyd Banks regarding sales of his latest album "Hunger For More 2". So far, no response from Banks. Tyra Banks crowned Ann Ward the winner of this season's "America's Next Top Model". There was some controversy regarding the '6 2" model due to her small waist, but at any rate, she walked away with the grand prize. The new season of "Celebrity Rehab" is underway and appears to be filled with all the drama fans can stand and more. The show airs on VH1.  The Sundance Film Festival will take place January 20-30 in Park City Utah and the list of films vying for attention are eclectic. Among those in the drama category are: "Another Earth", "Circumstance" and "Higher Ground". Love stories "Homework" and Like Crazy". Dysfunctional families "The Music Never Stopped" and "The Loved Ones". While this list is impressive, time will tell which ones win awards. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Yet another female rapper has attacked hip hop's it girl of the moment, Nicki Minaj. Khia, who had a hit with "My Neck, My Back" a few years ago, went into a tirade about Minaj. She even went after Foxy Brown as well. So far, no response from Minaj and Brown. Thanks to Snoop Dogg, Prince William can scratch picking music for his upcoming bachelor party off his to do list. The rapper has released a single called "Wet" specifically for the occasion, (known in the UK as a stag party).  Joe Jackson, father of the late Michael Jackson, has refiled his wrongful death lawsuit against Dr Conrad Murray.  A Las Vegas pharmacy was added as a defendant as well. Records show that the pharmacy sold Dr Murray the drug blamed for his son's death. Joe Jackson's suit claims that Murray gave Jackson a powerful anesthetic and did not tell paramedics or an emergency room doctor that  he had given him the drug. No word on when the case will go to trial. Congradulations to "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" star Kim Zolack are in order. She and her boyfriend are expecting their first child. No word on a due date. A picture recently surfaced of the star smoking, but a statement was issued saying the picture was taken years ago. It doesn't appear that the photo has changed the couples relationship any, however. Their still going strong. Michael Douglas stated in an interview that he's received enormous support from his 10 and 7 year old children and wife Catherine Zeta Jones during his battle with throat cancer. We wish him the best. On the tube: "Human Target:" on Fox, "Survivor: Nicaragua" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Undercovers" on NBC. Happy hump day!