After months and months of talks and meetings with the AMPTP, it appears that SAG is finally making a move to prove just how serious they are about their contract. It's being reported that SAG leadership has begun to prepare for a strike authorization vote. Of course the AMPTP is pointing fingers at SAG for it's breakdown in talks but after the writer's strike, I think we all know better than that.
Monday, November 24, 2008
THE ACTOR'S STRIKES LOOMS
LAFFAPALOOZA IN VEGAS
Click below to check out a few pics from the 2008 Comedy Festival in Las Vegas that took place this weekend. This was the "Laffapalooza" section of the event that featured black comedians and was hosted by Tracy Morgan. Looks like they had a pretty funny line up. 
TRACY MORGAN
SHERYL UNDERWOOD
MARK CURRY
LAVELL CRAWFORD
JAMIE FOXX
EARTHQUAKE
COREY HOLCOMB "THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON" TRAILER
This movie looks really strange but I'm sure it will do gangbusters at the movies this Christmas. Stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Taraji P. Henson. Hopefully this will be the breakout role for Taraji so we don't have to see her in any "Baby Boy " sequels.
SYNOPSIS
I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins Benjamin Button, adapted from the classic 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards. A man, like any of us, unable to stop time. We follow his story set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the twenty-first century, following his journey that is as unusual as any mans life can be.
THIS WEEKEND AT THE BOX OFFICE
There was a hurricane at the box office this weekend and it began with the movie "Twilight." The highly anticipated film based on the book of the same name whipped the box office this weekend by bringing in $70.5 Million. I'm betting there will be more...lots more vampire movies, tv shows, etc. popping up left and right. 
In at number two is the latest in the 007 franchise "Quantum of Solace" which scooped up $27.4 Million of the box office dollars to bring it's total to $109 Million.
In number three, is the kids flick "Bolt" with $27 Million. I think folks expected this one to pull in a little more but with Madagascar 2 continuing to roll in the dough that was a hard feat.
Coming in fourth place is the move it, move it "Madagascar 2." It brought in a solid $16 Million to round out it's total to $137 Million.
Coming in fifth place this week is the hardly funny dude flick "Role Models." It brought in $7.23 Million to bring it's total to $48 Million.
Friday, November 21, 2008
TYRA MOVES TALK SHOW TO CW
Tyra Banks is moving her "The Tyra Banks Show" to the CW in September, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The hourlong show, from Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution and Telepictures Prods., has been airing in syndication for four seasons.
The switch to the CW will see "Tyra" double-run on weekday afternoons from 3-5 p.m., which is a little much for me but oh well. The agreement means that both of Banks' TV shows -- "The Tyra Banks Show" and "America's Next Top Model" -- will air on the same network starting in the fall.
MICHAEL JACKSON BECOMES A MUSLIM??
I don't know how he does it but without an album in years and with Neverland being no more, Michael Jackson continues to stay in the news for the most random things. Today it's being reported that the well known Jehovah's Witness has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel. Supposedly, the transition happened in a ceremony at a Los Angeles friend's house (not mine). Mikaeel, is said to have sat on the floor and worn a small hat while an imam officiated at the home of Steve Porcaro, who composed music on his Thriller album. Oh Mikaeel, you're such a thriller.
BLACK IN THE DAYS
This week's 'Black in The Days' movie is one that my former teacher, Rusty Cundieff wrote. "Tales from The Hood" wasn't just your normal hood movie. It was actually a very smart film that had a very powerful message for those that cared to pay attention. It dealt a lot with the racism and harmful ways that the black community hurts ourselves.
If you've never seen this movie, you have to go check it out. I saw it a few weeks ago for the first time in years and it was just as relevant now as it was back then.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
T.D. JAKES GOES DAYTIME TALK
I see Wendy Williams isn't the only one who'll have a new show next fall. Reverend T.D. Jakes is jumping into the talk show circuit and his show will air next fall. Dr. Phil's son, Jay McGraw is said to be producing the show.
The deal is with Tribune Broadcasting and CBS TV and gives Jakes' show a station home in all of Tribune's 19 markets, including the key markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
SOLANGE ONE UPS HER BIG SIS
Check out Solange Knowles' newest video for her latest song "T.O.N.Y." It's a really creative video that really sticks with the subject of the song (a one night stand). I only post videos that I think are somewhat cinematic and this one fits the bill.
Congrats to Solange. I actually think her album is ten times better than her big sis.
A WHITE HOUSE BUTLER COMES TO HOLLYWOOD
Well that was fast. It seemed like only yesterday that I received a forwarded e-mail telling the story of this sweet old man, Eugene Allen, who served as a White House butler for 34 years. Yesterday it was announced that Columbia Pictures has picked up the rights to his story and are planning on bringing it to the big screen.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Allen started at the White House as a "pantry man" in 1952 when blacks weren't allowed to use public restrooms in his native Virginia. He served presidents as racial history was being made, from Brown v. Board of Education to the 1963 march on Washington to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.
Allen left the job in 1986, when Ronald Reagan was in office.
Allen and his wife of 65 years talked and marveled at the fact that a black man could be president. But on Election Day, Allen cast his vote alone; his wife died the day before.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Allen started at the White House as a "pantry man" in 1952 when blacks weren't allowed to use public restrooms in his native Virginia. He served presidents as racial history was being made, from Brown v. Board of Education to the 1963 march on Washington to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.
Allen left the job in 1986, when Ronald Reagan was in office.
Allen and his wife of 65 years talked and marveled at the fact that a black man could be president. But on Election Day, Allen cast his vote alone; his wife died the day before.
If I may add my casting expertise, I think they should cast Jeffrey Wright in this role. He's wonderful.
DIDDY AND NELLY RAP WITH CSI
Looks like CSI:Miami and New York is going to have a few rappers as guest stars in the forthcoming weeks. The Associated Press is reporting that both P. Diddy and Nelly will appear on episodes. Diddy will appear on two episodes of CSI: Miami and will play a federal prosecutor, opposite of David Caruso's character. His two episodes will air early next year.
Nelly appeared on last night's 100th episode of CSI: New York where he played the role of Terrance Davis. He has another episode coming up on November 26th.
IN LIVING COLOR: RANDOM CELEB SHOTS
Click below to check out random photos of celebs out and about this week.
WILL AND HIS FANS
BEYONCE'
RIHANNA
TONY ROCK
TIMBALAND
NIECY NASH AND FAM
MR. T
MALINDA WILLIAMS
MEL B
LUDACRIS
MARIO, LL, SEAN KINGSTON
JAMIE FOX
GARCELLE BEAUVAIS-NILON
MODEL CHANEL IMAN
CED
BIG BOI
OH ANDRE...SUCH A SLAVE TO FASHION
REVEREND AL
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
AND THEY CALL REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT A RADICAL
Okay, so I'm guessing the red tail protruding from the cross is that of the devil...cause they crazy as hell.
A VERY 'HANCOCK' SEQUEL?
The picture above pretty much sums up how I felt when I was reading an article on the LA Times that casually mentioned that Sony is planning to release a sequel to last summer's blockbuster "Hancock." Although the film brought in a gang of money at the box office, the consensus with many who saw it was that it just wasn't a good superhero movie. I personally, think that Will's starpower outweighed the blandness of the film but who knows if it will be able to overcome another blockbuster weekend.
However, I could be wrong. It's like our current lame as a duck President, George W. Bush says (and I can't believe I'm quoting him)..."You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on." This quote, I'm guessing, is the same strategy that folks in Hollywood are taking by releasing some of these lame as a duck remakes as of lately. i.e. "The Last Dragon."
50 CENT GETS "GANGSTER"...AGAIN
Rapper 50 Cent has again, managed to use his celebrity to snag another movie role. This time he's starring as a ruthless loan shark in London gangsta flick "Dead Man Running" which began shooting on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the film follows an ex-con trying to go straight who is given 24 hours to raise 100,000 pounds ($150,000) to pay off Jackson's loan shark or become a "dead man running."
I don't know about you but I'm still riddled with mixed feelings when I hear about rappers getting prominent roles in feature films. I mean when I see the plentiful amount of black actors out here in Hollywood struggling everyday to become the best that they can be and then the very few roles they have to fight tooth and nail to get, it saddens me when a much less talented individual gets to cut in line because they made a hit song.
It's totally unfair, but just another one of those unfortunate quirks of being black in Hollywood.
'THE SOLOIST' GETS NEW RELEASE DATE
"The Soloist," the Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr. flick that was abruptly pushed back last month from being released in November to March, has now been pushed back even further to April 24th. The only reason being given behind the changes is that the April 24th slot is a week before the summer box office begins and that's prime time for a movie like this to be released.
Hmmm, something sounds fishy here. I mean what kind of film goes from getting Oscar buzz to being rescheduled until after the Oscars? Something, something just aint right.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
NBC TRIES TO MAKE "FRIENDS WITH BLACK PEOPLE"
After plenty of years of being completely ignored on the the network, NBC is finally thinking of bringing some color back to it's roster of shows. Variety reports that "The Game" and "Girlfriends" executive producer and writer Mara Brock-Akil along with her hubby Salim Akil have been tapped to write and produce the script for a buddy comedy show based on the book "Making Friends With Black People" that will focus on the state of race relations in the U.S.
The show will center on two guys -- one African-American and one white -- who become close friends, but who don't necessarily see things the same way. According to the author of the book, Nick Adams, Obama's rise as the first African American president has a lot to do with this showing being made. According to Adams, "Now, with Obama, people are talking about race a lot more. We hope to capitalize on that and not let the dialogue die down. ... It seemed like a good opportunity to strike while the iron is hot."
Well, well, well, there might be hope for us black writers and black actors after all. Yes we can!! Congrats to Mara and Salim.
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