Friday Facts

Rapper Jay Z and singer Alicia Keys rocked Yankee Stadium as they performed their hit, "Empire State Of Mind" before game 2 of the World Series. Six time Grammy winner John Legend performed the "National Anthem" as well. There was a "Housewives Of Atlanta" reunion yesterday that had the ladies dishing about the next season and their relationships with one another. Rapper 50 Cent is gearing up for the release of his next project, "Before I Self Destruct" by you guessed it, attacking rapper Rick Ross once again. He's also included a Game dis track on the new release as well. Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron is set to star in the fourth installment of the "Mad Max" film enterprise. She will star in "Mad Max Fury Road". Shooting is slated to begin in August in Australia. Actor Mel Gibson starred in the first three "Mad Max" films, but is not returning to the role that made him famous. Actor Tom Hardy will take over the role. The Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It" is set to earn millions at the box office. It has already been seen by millions of fans around the world. On the tube: "House" on Fox, "Ghost Whisperer" on CBS, "Supernanny" on ABC and "Law & Order" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Jay Z, Lil Wayne, TI and Drake were among the winners at the "BET Hip Hop Awards" on Tuesday night. Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, fiance of rapper TI, accepted the rapper's award for "Album Of The Year: Paper Trail" . Actor Mark Wahlberg and his wife, Rhea Durham are expecting their fourth child. Rapper Shyne was released from prison recently, but faces deportation back to Belize, ;where he was born, but not raised. It's likely he'll record a new album while living in Jamaica. It appears Spike Lee is not the only one who's criticized Tyler Perry for what's been called, "coonery and bafoonery" in his films and plays. Actor Bill Cosby has recently spoken out as well. Tameka Foster, wife of R & B singer Usher Raymond, told People magazine that she found out about her recent divorce from the singer over the internet. Be sure to tune in Sunday night for the season premiere of "Unsung" featuring Teena Marie. On the tube: "World Series" on Fox, "Survivor Samoa" on CBS, "Flash Forward" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy
Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

The new Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It" is in release today, and is set to break attendance records all over the world. The film shows footage of the singer in rehearsals for his 50 London concerts. From what I've seen, the singer seemed in perfect health and his voice, as he went through various numbers, seemed strong as well. Family members attended last night's premiere and seemed to enjoy it. It has to just make one wonder what could have been. It was the comback that, unfortuately, never was. As a fan of the singer since his Jackson 5 days, I'm eager to see the finished product for myself instead of a movie trailor. My only regret is that I never got an opportunity to see him perform live. My most memorable Michael Jackson moment is definitely the "Motown 25" performance. He really took things to another level on that show. I can still recall dancing in my seat as I watched at home. He was truely a one of a kind performer and will be missed.

Tuesday Tales

Grammy Award winning brother/sister gospel duo Be Be and Ce Ce Winans grace the cover of the latest issue of Jet magazine. They talk about their latest cd, "Still" and the message in their music. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of singer Monica's realtiy series, "Still Standing" on BET. The singer also has a cd with the same title due out soon as well. Writer/director/producer Spike Lee recently attacked actor/writer/director/porducer Tyler Perry for what he called coonery and bafoonery in his sitcoms and movies. Perry reponded by saying "Medea is a cross between my mother and grandmother. She smoked, walked out of the house in her curlers and watched everybody's kids. She didn't take no crap. That was in my commnity". The BET Hip Hop Awards will air tonight also. Gangster rap pioneer, Ice Cube will be honored at the event. Rick Ross, Brian Mcknight, Rod Stewart and Creed all have new releases in stores this week. On dvd: "Tinkerbell". On the tube: "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" on ABC and "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Madness

It seems movie goers got in the Halloween spirit as they made "Paranormal Activity" the number one film this week. It grossed over 22 million dollars at the box office. "Saw 6", "Where The Wild Things Are", "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Couples Retreat" round out the top five films of the week. The New York Yankees have been blasting rapper Jay Z's "Empire State Of Mind" during the MLB playoffs. Now, the rapper is slated to perform the song, along with Alicia Keys , at the opening of Game 1 of the World Series. First actor Zach Efron left the upcoming film, "Footloose" , now director Kenny Ortega has left the project as well, due to differences with Paramount Pictures over budget and tone of the film. After coming off the Michael Jackson documentary, "This Is It", Ortega wanted to do a film with elaborately staged musical numbers, costing close to $30 million. Paramount Pictures had a edgier film in mind with less musical numbers, costing $25 million. The studio's reportedly searching for a new director and will start filming in March to coincide with Chase Crawford's hiatus from "Gossip Girl". The actor signed on after Zach Efron left the project. On the tube: "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and "Heroes" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

The nominees for the "Soul Train Music Awards" have been announced and Beyonce, Maxwell and Keri Hilson lead all nominations with four apiece. Other nominees include: Drake, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Ryan Leslie, Robin Thicke, Keyshia Cole and Musiq Soulchild. The show will also honor the careers of Chaa Khan, Charlie Wilson, and LA Reid and Babyface. Motwon Records will also commemorate it's 50th anniversary, as well, in a musical tribute. The evening will be topped off with honoring the late Michael Jackson with the "Entertainer Of The Year" award. Set to perform are Erykah Badu, Trey Songz, Chrisette Michelle Boys To Men and Angie Stone. Terrance Howard and Taraji P. Henson will host the show, which will be aired on both Centric and BET in a special simulcast on Sunday, November 29th at 9:00 PM. Sad news. Pioneering funny man Soupy Sales has died at 83. He died Thursday at Calvary Hospice his longtime friend and manager, Dave Usher, said. He had many health problems and entered the hospice last week Usher said. Fans of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" can catch Kim Kardashian when she makes a guest appearance on the show "Brothers" tonight. In theaters this weekend: "Saw 6", "Astro Boy", "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" and "Amelia". On the tube: "Brothers" on Fox, "Ghost Whisperer" on CBS, "Supernanny" on ABC and "Law & Order" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Rapper Nelly is ready to act. He's slated to appear on an episode of "NCIS Los Angeles" soon. Singer/songwriter Trey Songs is getting into acting as well. He's slated to make a guest appearance on ABC Family's "Lincoln Heights".  The episode will air Monday evening. Actor Terrance Howard will appear in a biopic of the life of the late Rick James. No word on when shooting will begin. The CW has ordered a full season of "Vampire Diaries"  and five additional episodes of "Melrose Place". "Vampire Diaries" has become the networks breakout hit while "Melrose Place" has lagged a bit. Singer Beyonce has cancelled a concert appearance in Melashia, yet again. Be sure to catch the BET Hip Hop Awards airing on October 27. A driver rear ended a sercurity car driven by a Jackson family aid. No one was injured. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "Survivor Samoa" on CBS, "Flash Forward" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!