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!