How to lose a girlfriend like a rockstar

The world of entertainers and that of the rest of the us are very different. Take the example of Robbie Williams. This is a man that in any other circumstance would be sure to be single.

Robbie Williams was in Australia and being interviewed by a local radio station about his latest album "Reality Killed The Video Star". During the interview he was told that Sydney, Australia has a reputation for marriage proposals - which is the first I have heard of this reputation. Williams then did the following:

"Williams turned to [actress and girlfriend Ayda] Field and said: "Is there anyone you want to get married to?"
She replied: "This is so awkward."
To which Williams said: "Will you marry me?"
After a pause, Field, 30, answered: "Yes, I'll marry you."

That, most would assume, was a marriage proposal. Not the most romantic or memorable way to do it, but still a proposal nonetheless. Except we are talking about entertainers. And spokesman for Williams denies he is now engaged. Too bad Robbie Williams mom wasn't clued in. Reports are that Williams mom now states that the couple is very excited and planning a wedding soon.

So we have Williams people saying that it was a joke. You have Williams mom thinking it was real. Who knows what Ayda Field is thinking.

Were this regular people I would expect that Williams would come home to find the remains of his things that weren't completely burned on the sidewalk - being the ultimate punchline for his very public joke. In fact if this were any of the women I know, upon hearing that the proposal was a joke, Williams would be seriously hurt and instantly single.

Maybe that's what he was hoping for? To be single again. But if we don't see Williams for a while, if he misses any interviews or public appearances, I would expect that Ayda Field had a very non-verbal conversation with him about the matter. If you love celebrity gossip I say keep an eye out on this couple.

America and Muslims - we love them

I was speaking with a friend of mine the other day who was as upset as any of us over the shootings committed by Maj. Nidal Hasan. My friend was very upset about the shooting, and like many he took out his frustration by cursing all Muslims. Which I was quick to correct.

I remember this conversation because it has just been released today that NBA great Karem Abdul Jabbar has a rare form of leukemia. The news is shocking and I wish him the best. But at the same time I want to use this as an opportunity to remind some of us that America has never had a problem with Muslims or Islam - just fanatics.

The history of Muslims in America, like elsewhere in the world is comprised of many versions of truth. Some have always had a fear of the religion. Some have never understood it. Some haven't a clue what it is about. And up until 9/11 few people cared.

But there have been Muslims around us, and praised by us, long before there was a Osama Bin Laden.

Perhaps the most famous is the greatest boxer to have lived, and arguably the greatest athlete of the 20th Century. He is also without question one of the best known celebrities of the world. His name is Muhammad Ali.

Notice that when I mention his name how many didn't realize he is a devout Muslim. That he has long ago converted and gave up his given name Cassius Clay. That over the years of cartoons, tv shows, commercials and movies about his life, there was no problem about his religion. Of course there were issues when he converted, and refused to go to Viet Nam. But I think the issue then was the war and not his religious reasons to object.

Do we think of Muhammad Ali when we think of Maj. Hasan?

There is Karem Abdul Jabbar. A force in the NBA, a record breaker and maker. A celebrity that has endured for decades. A man that any basketball fan can place anywhere. Hell even those that know almost nothing about basketball know him from his many commercials, and even a few movies.

Is he what people think of when they think of Osama Bin Laden? Or Muslims?

Stepping away from sports, how about Dave Chappelle. He has made millions laugh out loud. He had one of the most popular comedy shows on television, ever. He broke DVD sales records that Seinfeld wishes he could have had.

Even after his decision to give up the wealth that Comedy Central was offering for his integrity, he has remained a celebrity on the A-list. He continues to make people laugh. And he has been a Muslim while doing all of that.

Does knowing he is a Muslim make him less funny? Or un-American?

There are many more examples. Some famous, some live next door to you right now. But they are all Americans. They are all people we know, and work with, and get cancer or get old. They are regular people.

I feel no less compassion, nor more, for Karem Abdul Jabbar and his battle with cancer because of his religious faith. And anyone that does allow his religion to affect their views is a lowly person indeed.

Are there fanatics that hate America, or parts of it, and are Muslim? Indeed. Just as there are Christian fanatics that kill abortion doctors, or just insane people that kill others like at Columbine. But I don't see people angry at Christians or White teens because of the actions of a few psychos.

I look forward to hearing that Maj. Hasan will receive death by firing squad for what he has done, unless he is proven innocent which I highly doubt. But that in no way is a reflection on how we should feel about all Muslims.

Its something that some of us need to remember.

The Halloween costumes of the rich and famous

Since I was showing off my Halloween costume earlier, I thought I'd take a look at what some celebrities and entertainers decided to wear as well. My thought was that with all the money and access to professional make-up and sci-fi people, some of the costumes they could get must be fantastic.

That was the idea. But it seems that wealth, fame, and opportunity is not enough for some. A few examples of that are best shown by the following:

Paris Hilton is worth more money she will ever be able to count. And she rarely seems to be adverse to spending money to look as good as her near anorexic body can be made to look. But obviously her Halloween fashion was something more akin to her own dreamy self-image than anything else.



Kelly Osbourne is someone you would expect to be able to really come up with something bizzare. Or at least different. Yet her costume seems more akin to what a housewife in the suburbs and little time might throw together at the last minute.



Nicky Hilton seems to be afflicted with the same lack of taste as Paris. While this imitation of class is better, it's still a far cry from interesting or good looking. Then again that does sum up the Hiltons, doesn't it.



Shanna Moakler was trying for a flapper look. But if this is how flappers looked in the 1920's, I can see why the fashion died off. Still it's better than any of the above.



And perhaps the worst costume has to go to... Lamar Odum. This poor man's attempt at a half-assed Halloween costume is just embarrassing. It makes Khole Kardashian look bad just being next to him. The fact he went out in public with this boggles the mind. Even the Hiltons look better.



Of course there were more than a few celebrities and entertainers that looked great, even classy and sexy. Like Bette Midler



and Jessica Lowndes (whomever she is)



And of course I wanted to include Adrina Partridge



But after looking over many of the failures and successes of far too many of the famous, I think that on average most of the people that I know were more committed and looked better this Halloween. Good for us, and shame on them.

Bill Cosby given the Mark Twain Prize

There are but a few comedians that have had the ability to entertain the masses for more than just a moment. They are people whose names can be remembered by gerations, across the globe. To these few, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is given.



Bill Cosby recieved this honor yesterday, at an event filled with stars and fans. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Sinbad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Rita Moreno, and many others were on hand to celebrate the gift of humor that Cosby has shared with us all for decades.

Without a single curse, without a need to be ghettofabulous, Cosby has acheived greatness and opened doors for all that have come after him. There would be no Martin, no Lining Single, no In Living Color, and on without Cosby and I Spy. There would be arguably be no Tyler Perry without The Cosby Show. His footprints cover movies, television, and stand-up comedy.



Many may not realize it, but back in the 80's as the Cosby Show was shocking Hollywood that an African American family could be successful and funny, and America would flock to it in droves, Dr. Bill Cosby had the chance to buy NBC - and turned the deal down. Just having such an option is remarkable. In fact I only can recall one other star that was capable of such a feat, Dezi Arnaz (who oddly enough was also a person of color).

These days Dr. Cosby may be covered by the media mostly for his comments about our society, and Black culture. It's an insight that is both piercing and accurate. No statement ever causes more discussion and complaint than the absolute truth. But I believe he has earned the right to chide the very same people that he joked with through out their formative years.



For all these reasons, I am glad to know that Dr. Bill Cosby has received the Mark Twain Prize. Because it is his ability to communicate with us, in humor and abject gravity, that defines what he was and is today. Like Mark Twain he has used the American language and culture to inform, educate, and unify us. As I said, few can ever hope to acheive such great levels, and when they do we should take note.

Keep an eye out. The tribute will air on PBS on November 4th. It will surely be worthy of watching.

What you find when you are bored

While I was searching for something of interest in entertainment news, I happened upon an old item in the Huffington Post. Now I don't normally read that blog, as I tend to disagree with the views there - massively. But I had seen an interesting press release from N.O.W. (while following up a different post) and thought I'd check it out.

The post was of course about women's breasts. It was a poll to judge who has the best breasts. It followed up a similar poll asking the same thing of men. Well actually it was chests for both groups, but we know for women they mean breasts.

Out of the 19 choices of Hollywood starlets, there were quite a few women not on the list. But there were a couple of big names as you might expect. And of course the group chosen was geared to the young, and White, women of Hollywood.

The top 5 according to the poll (on the site since Sept 26th)?

Salma Hayek, Heather Graham, Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, and Christina Hendricks in that order. Which really surprised me. I have no idea what goes on in the minds of some of these guys voting on this list.

My favorites were: Beyonce
, Christina Hendricks, Salma Hayek, Kendra Wilkinson, and Scarlett Johansson in that order.

But here is the real interesting question. If you could chose any actress, alive or dead, who would you pick as #1? It's not that easy a question but let me make it harder. Let's ask who had/has the best body? And inevitably I think the personalities and talent of the women being considered plays into the answer. But who would you pick to have had the best body of all time (foreign actresses count too - as long as they were in at least 1 U.S. film)?

And for my female readers, pick the best male body of all time. Same rules apply.

Let's see what real people thing about this.

Sean Hannity vs. Michael Moore

Commentary about these interviews can be found at VASS.

Thoughts on Roman Polanski

So Roman Polanski has been arrested. It only took 32 years.



The question some are raising is if this is worth it. The expense of catching Polanski and extraditing him, as well as any legal costs that will definitely come up. I say it's worth 3x the actual cost or more.

Roman Polanski was arrested on rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance (methaqualone) to a minor. He plea bargained and was convicted engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor (itself a mockery of justice and an example of celebrity justice). To ensure that he could rape her, he drugged the girl with qualudes. Once he was charged and was to be sentenced he ran. Which makes him a fugative of the law on top of it all.

Polanski thought that he had evaded the law. That his fame made him untouchable in Europe. That he was capable of doing whatever he wanted, and with the turn to more liberal policies in the nation he could act even more brazen and freely. I'm happy he is wrong.

If we do nothing about this case, Polanski proves that the rule of law is not only skewed as we all know it is, but broken. If he skates past this he makes rape of minors less of a crime than it should be. He almost makes it something other twisted minds might try to do.

Were it up to me, I would lock Polanski up for decades. I would give him 1 year for each year he was a fugitive from the law, plus the original time he was to serve in the plead deal he had made. The worst thing that could happen is if he gets the same treatment that celebrities and entertainers get when they are convicted. If he gets to go through a revolving door of justice, like Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and so many others I will be enraged.

I hope the media gives this as much attention as they gave OJ Simpson. I hope that N.O.W. and other liberal organizations jump all over this case as much as they do against conservative causes. Polanski is a rapist of little girls. He deserves to have his balls cut off, in my opinion.

The end is nigh - Paris Hilton confirms it

In news surely signaling the end of the civilized world, Paris Hilton has become a part of history.

No it wasn’t as the worst actress ever, and it’s hard to be worse than Mariah Carey in Glitter or Jennifer Lopez in Gigli. It wasn’t for being the most vapid and talentless celebrity since… well since she showed up, either.

Paris Hilton in fact has had a quote recorded in the Oxford Book of Quotations.

The quote was

“Dress cute wherever you go, life’s too short to blend in.”

Now generally Oxford is considered a higher place of learning. Tomes using the name tend to be reference materials with some considerable standing. Most consider being in an Oxford reference material a high honor. Yet I think they really have dropped their prestige on this one.

Paris Hilton is someone who in a generation, if it takes that long, won’t be remembered. As she shouldn’t be. But if this is the best kind of quote coming out of the world at this time, I’m afraid to wonder if anyone will be around to care.



Honestly, I hope this is based the Hilton business making a bribe. The family that controls the huge hotel conglomerate just felt that Paris needed a publicity make-over (badly), and that this might lend some substance to a person adverse to such. If so, I’m sure that this is an attempt to obfuscate the jail sentence and the notoriety that mockery of justice logged into the history books.

If it turns out to have been the result of a massive bribe, I will feel so much better. Because it means that the world is not going to hell in a hand-basket.

Ludacris gives away 30 cars via the Ludacris Foundation

There is no secret to the fact that I am not a fan of Ludacris. Nor almost any form of gangsta rap. And perhaps even less so of rappers as actors. But with that said, I do commend Ludacris with regard to his foundation The Ludacris Foundation.

Unlike most rappers Ludacris has done something to give back to the community and inspire the youth. While the amount of good this provides versus the lyrics in his songs is debatable, the efforts of his foundation are not. And that deserves attention.

Most recently the Ludacris Foundation gave 30 cars to people in need. The goal was to help these individuals with transportation as they strive to improve their lives. And that is something that I always commend.

The cars given did not include the title, registration and other costs involved with the car. Which I think is perfect as I disagree with feeding people fish, rather teaching them to fish is the best way. And this gift does that in part.

This gift of 30 cars is not the biggest thing that Ludacris could have done. Nor did he have to do more. But it does inspire, and hopefully it will inspire other rappers and entertainers to step above the low goal of attaining fame and wealth for no purpose beyond their own gratification.

Does this make me a fan of Ludacris or the commoditization of Black culture called hip hop these days? Not at all. But the fact that even from such mindless distraction some bit of good is sown is a glimmer of hope that it can all get better.

Now if Chris Bridges, Ludacris, can only get some acting lessons I might actually find him to be a decent entertainer.

Is that a Power Ranger in the MMA ring?

Now I realize that I was on a vacation of sorts for a week. As can be seen by recent posts, I was in Las Vegas at the 2009 APA National 8-ball Tournament, so I fell out of touch with recent news. But I never would have imagined that something like this would happen.

The Power Rangers are invading the MMA.

Well to be more exact, the former Red Power Ranger (tommy) otherwise known in real life as Jason David Frank is planning to jump into the Mixed Martial Arts ring. I can see the bets in Vegas now - even money he is knocked out in the first 2 minutes.

Perhpas that's not a fair thing to say. The Power Rangers acted like they had martial arts training. Except those were Japanese actors in the suits. And they were acting, not doing. Plus the fights were only slightly more staged than pro wrestling.

Could Jason David Frank really be good at this? Well he started training at age 33, so at 35 you would think he has some skill or stamina built up. Then again, that just makes him old and comparatively slower. But he does have his own style of martial arts, Toso Kune Do. He was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame
in 2003. He became a Black Belt at the age of 12, currently is a 6th degree black belt and owns 4 schools.

Is Jason David Frank a joke and publicity stunt or a real threat that everyone underestimates? Is the joke that the Red Power Ranger will see red - his own blood or that of his opponent?

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the odds in Las Vegas are more along the lines of 15 - 1 against Frank winning. [If you know, please do tell] But I think that it would be worth a bet. Because if he is a publicity stunt, $5 is nothing more than a slice of pizza and a soda. But if this is real, and he wins, well then there could be some money to be won. Plus you know Frank will be the instant celebrity that is popular today.

Who knows, someone might even remember him without that funky Power Ranger suit.

Jon and Kate plus 8 - the tabloids are the real problem

What is it with the tabloids? Are they getting in too much trouble with the paparazzi circling stars like vultures that they now are after reality tv stars? And what cost does this all have?

Case in point is the drama surrounding Jon and Kate plus 8 stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. They are the parents of 8 children, and have a television show that highlights their daily tribulations in taking care of their little troop. I’ve seen the show from time to time, it’s not great television but it does surpass most of the ‘reality’ television fare out there.

The Gosselin’s are not a perfect couple. They get tired, stressed, and annoyed. Just like parents of far fewer kids. And like every other parent in the world, they occasionally look forward to having time away from the kids. But they are good parents in a good marriage, from what can be observed.

That of course is motivation enough for the paparazzi and the tabloids. Any successful relationship seems to be the fodder of their ire. And now they are stirring a hornet’s nest of trouble.

If you haven’t heard, recently Jon was photographed in a car with a woman other than his wife. He was exiting a bar. His wife Kate was on a promotional tour for her book at the time.

Does that sound like a scandal? That he was out cheating on his wife? To the tabloids it does. Though all the people involved insist that it was merely a night out away from the kids with a friend. Still they twisted the wording and laid down accusations all the same.

Of course this has lead to the usual paid dirt. You know, when someone related to or familiar with someone in this situation sell a story to the tabloids that backs up or infers truth on some part of the paparazzi driven drivel. You would be amazed what some people will do for $10,000 (a common amount paid for such “inside” information), or just a few moments of fame.

But what is the ramification of all this? Has anyone at these tabloids stopped for one moment and thought how this could affect the 8 children?

I mean the best thing that a tabloid could have happen is that they instigate a marital fight. They put undue pressure on the already difficult task of raising so many children, and hope that something pops. And if it does the paparazzi will be there in droves to film every second of it.

But what if this tabloid driven version of a married guy going out for a drink with a friend, who happens to be a woman, in a public place by the way leads to divorce? Neither of the parents are millionaires or even rich (8 kids will do that I am sure). Life for either Jon or Kate will instantly become more difficult.

But the real losers will be the young children. None are old enough to understand divorce. Hell, grown kids often don’t understand it. What kind of trauma might this mean for 8 innocents, still learning the basic building blocks of life.

Maybe it’s just me, but the private lives of entertainers and celebrities are private. Paparazzi and tabloids are a poison to the lives of everyone they touch or go after. There is no justification for what they do, nor any way to determine the damage they create in their wake of going for the photo.

Maybe Jon is innocent. Maybe he is not. But no matter which is the case, having the lesser part of the national news media (if such a thing exists) exacerbating the situation makes it all worse.

No child deserves this. And even if I am the only one to think so, I will say that the media needs to back off. Some things aren’t worth a minor bump in ratings or an extra couple of dollars in profit.

Dom DeLuise passes at 75

Some of my younger readers may not be familiar with the comedic actor Dom DeLuise. Some might just know him as a chef. But that would be a severe misunderstanding as this was a very funny and accomplished man.

Dom DeLuise was not just an actor. He was a director, an actor, writer of several children's books, and a chef. Which says nothing of his being a father to 3 sons, each of which went on to have success of their own.

If you were alive in the 1980's you could not miss DeLuise. He was in a host of movies with Burt Reynolds including: Canonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit II, and All Dogs Go To Heaven. If you are a fan of Mel Brook's movies you again would note DeLuise as he was in Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men In Tights to name just a few. But he was a biger actor than just this selection of his work. He was in Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton. He was star of his own ABC hour-long comedy show. And if you wondered about his range, pay attention to the original Fail-Safe to see him in a serious role. He even did operetta at the Metropolitan Opera.

This is no small career. His career spanned 50 years, just counting movies and television. 67 movies, 33 television series or shows, the voice of over a dozen animated characters, 7 children's books, and 4 cookbooks. All this from a man from Brooklyn who lived a quiet life, never on the tabloids or in scandals.

Dom DeLuise may not have been the leading man or mega-star status of Burt Reynolds, or other Hollywood entertainers, but he was a fixture of Hollywood in the way that counts most. He helped make the movies and television shows he was in better. He worked consistently because he was skilled. He was a good man.

I am saddened to hear of his loss. Though there is some comfort to know that he passed in his sleep, without pain or suffering. For 50 years Dom DeLuise gave the world laughter and a reason to smile, such a loss cannot go without being noticed.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Terrence Howard still upset about Iron Man 2

As I have mentioned before, Terrence Howard will not be returning in the sequel for Iron Man. He is going to be replaced by Don Cheadle. That was a decision by Marvel Comics, reportedly because of a pay dispute.

But more information has come out about the whole situation. It seems that Marvel didn’t just toss Howard out with the bath water, they also decided to give Gwyneth Paltrow the shaft without so much as a thank you. At least that’s what Howard is stating

“They produced a great bounty with the first one, but they put it all in the storehouse and you were not allowed in," he says. "They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow, from what I've been told.”

Now there is no question of the ability of Don Cheadle. Still I am upset. The character of Rhodes, Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.’s character) best friend and right-hand man, has been established. There was a chemistry between the leads and it worked. And Marvel made tons because all the pieces fit perfectly.

Do I think Cheadle will do a good job? I sure do. In fact Howard is not upset with Cheadle. He said

"I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the movie. I want to see Don Cheadle become me. No, I want him to do better than me. That's what I really want to see. Don Cheadle was the reason I got Crash, so I have a lot of love for him."

One thing seems clear to me, Marvel is hurting its potential franchise over greed. Movie makers generally jump through hoops to keep winning casts. Because they bring in the money. But when a movie studio’s greed starts to mess with such a basic and fundamental factor as returning actors, in a genre that relies heavily on fans of the source material, you have to question what else will be changed. Will they wind up with an Ang Lee version of the Hulk? Will sequels go down the path of Alien vs. Predator? Could this start a revolving door like as in the Punisher movies?

Marvel may have a host of storylines and characters to build on. They may have tons of money to pour into CGI effects and ad campaigns. But if they turn the movies into soap operas with character changes in each movie, they are building a tower in the sand.

I’ll still go to see Iron Man 2. I will support Don Cheadle and give him a chance in Howard’s role. But I now have a growing doubt about the film. The movie trailers better be spectacular or it will end up being a very costly decision.

David Caruso should have watched Eddie Murphy

David Caruso should have seen Eddie Murphy’s comedic take on the divorce of Johnny Carson.

Warning – this video contains language that is not for kids.


If he didn’t his ex-girlfriend did. Because after 4 years being together she is suing him for $1.2 million.

Now I understand that they have children together, and I fully believe that those kids must be taken care of. But that is not the basis of the lawsuit. There seems to be no question about Caruso taking care of his children. The lawsuit is about the needs of Ms. Marquez.

I understand that Ms. Marquez gave up her job, for whatever reason. I understand she needs a home to live in. But unless she had a home prior to the relationship that was worth a million dollars, and/or she was making money to the extent of what she is asking for, she is just being vindictive and gold digging.

How many stories have filled the airwaves and internet about a celebrity breaking up and losing millions. Johnny Carson and Paul McCartney are just a couple of the most visible having lost the most money – for no apparent reason. In this case there isn’t even the benefit of marriage involved. Yet, we can be sure that she will get most everything she is asking for.

Just like a friend of mine who has to work extra hours to pay his ex alimony he does not have. Because even though she gained his house, most of his money, and much of his retirement funds – the judge believed that the losses he suffered in the stock market (like the rest of American investors) were his fault, and he has to make up for those lost funds for the rest of his life.

Or like another friend of mine that had his wife go to the Government and declare he was a deadbeat dad. This is while he lived with his wife and kids, paid every bill, she did not work, and the kids had everything they needed. And the Government agreed with her. So he had to get another job just to make payments the Government believed he owed her.

I don’t know David Caruso. I have no idea how the relationship he had went. But I believe that the judicial environment is such that he has no chance of winning. And that is sad. Because it seems there is no question of his ability to take care of his children. Just accusation and demands of money from his ex-girlfriend.

It’s a shame. She doesn’t deserve it, if the best excuse for the money she wants for herself and not the kids is “he promised it to me”.

Eminem's music video "We Made You" hits the mark

Have you seen the latest Eminem music video? I tried to get a copy of it but was unable to find a clean or available version. Still I was able to find the comments of Eminem on the video.



Now I am not usually a fan of modern gangsta rap. I have issues with most of they lyrics and visual representations that are the norm of the industry. But having seen this video I can say that I find it funny.

Television, pop stars, and instant celebrities all get a nice kick in the ass in this video. Something that is really needed. The instant fame and adoration many of the celebrities Marshall Mathers targets is worthy of the ridicule he presents. I’m sure that he will eventually be back in court over this one.

Still there is something really wrong in the world when we have so many media venues pumping out the degradation of men and women for no reason other than 15 minutes of fame. Or worse yet, celebrities and entertainers that are using this media focus to enhance their limited abilities.

The key to this video is the chorus, and also the title, “We made you.” Something that seems to have been forgotten among the entertainers of these days.

Another fun part is the fandom of Mathers when it comes to Star Trek. His play on the original classic’s look and feel is funny, though the constant throwing up of the Asian male throughout the video was too much. He really could have done without it.

And I know some will love his take on Sarah Palin. But I’m not sure that he is making the comment most expect. I don’t see him making fun of her as much as making fun of all those that are so obsessed with her and the media circus that has been placed upon her. She didn’t make herself a sex symbol, the media did that. The video seems to play on that hype.

Overall I think this music video has more going on than just the lyrics. It can be used to make a telling commentary on the state of society, the abuses of fame, the incredulity of how fame is created and dispersed, and the breakdown of an intelligent entertainment. That’s a hell of a lot from a kid with issues that are well known.

I may not like rap, but this music video is an exception to the rule.

Natasha Richardson dead at 45

It's always sad to hear of anyone dying. That becomes even worse when the person in question is young and/or from an accident. Such is what has happened to Natasha Richardson.

Sometimes even the most innocent of accidents turn out to be devastating. Richardson was learning to ski, and was on a beginner slope. Hardly the place one might have imagined her to have such a fatal outcome. I can only imagine the shock that has struck Liam Neeson and their entire family.

For the rest of us, we can remember the things that Richardson brought to us. Her dedication to fighting AIDS via Bailey House, God's Love We Deliver, Mothers' Voices, AIDS Crisis Trust and National AIDS Trust, the Tony Award she won, the fact she was a mother. Like any entertainer there was much more to Richardson, of which we only glimpsed.

My condolences to the Redgrave and Neeson families, as well as all the friends of Natasha Richardson.

Movie Preview: 12 Rounds

The question some may be asking is if a pro-wrestler has the ability to become a movie star. That is definitely the question that the WWE are betting on. 12 Rounds will likely put that question to rest.

Now I must start off with the revelation that I don’t watch wrestling. I don’t get the obsession. While I don’t doubt the wrestlers are all in good shape (many helped in that regard by steroids) I don’t find them to be athletes, just pumped up entertainers. Yet their acting in the ring is not what I would call acting in the traditional sense. Which is a problem when making movies around these celebrities.

Given that 12 Rounds is not classic theater, and the John Cena would never perform for the Bard, can it provide the spark that makes a good action film?

I’ll start with Cena. He is a WWE star. I believe his character is a popular good guy wrestler. He is the first of the WWE wrestlers to be branched out into movies (I believe. Again I don’t watch wrestling so I’m not sure on this). And his first film was a flop.

Now matter how low the budget was for The Marine, for all the hype surrounding Cena a gross of $18 million over 3 months is pitiful. While it has done better in DVD, it still is a bad film. That’s just what the numbers say.

So I take this film as the trend starter or breaker. Either action films will be filled with WWE and other wrestlers for the next decade, most of the same quality and style of rappers in movies, or there won’t be more than 1 or 2 more tries. Which is a lot of pressure for Cena and the WWE.

This film decided to take the safest root possible for a new action star. It copies every successful action film before it. With huge helpings of Speed and Die Hard, the film hopes to draw an audience with a character that is popular (to fans of wrestling), in a situation that has already proven to be well-received. Of course there are your problems.

John Cena is very popular I’m sure, in the world of wrestling. To everyone else (and there are a lot more of us than not) he is just a big guy. So that does not help boost his appeal. But it doesn’t hurt him either. It does mean that he either needs to act well, or like most Schwarzenegger films he needs to say as little as possible.

Still the fact that we have seen all of this before does bode badly. In the trailer you will see the fire engine racing down the street, so much like the bus in Speed. And the elevator scene is such a reminder of Die Hard. Plus how many films have copied the format of both those films by now? In essence we have seen this before, so the thrill just doesn’t come thru in the trailers.

Maybe Cena will pull this off. But the film is so predictable that at the bottom of the post I will tell you what I think the ending is. Anyone who sees the film can tell me if I got it right. I won’t see this film till it hits cable (so that means by the end of the year) thus I will rely on Cena fans to explain how wrong I am about his acting, and right about the film I expect.



***SPOILER ALERT ***

I expect that after running around a city causing havoc and being framed as the cause of it all, towards the middle of the film it will be found that he is a ploy of the bad guy. Eventually he will come to the last problem, and somehow end up on a helicopter with the bad guy and his wife. Once there, as it flies off, he will beat the pulp out of the bad guy – who will then activate (if not before) a bomb to kill the wife and himself since he misses his dead girlfriend. Cena will grab his wife and jump into a hotel roof top pool (lucky to just be hovering over that) just before the bomb goes off and the bad guy dies.

Lindsey Lohan beats jail again

Sometimes it must be good to be a young, drugged out, alcoholic. At least that seems to be the message that both Lindesy Lohan and the criminal justice system in L.A. seem to be sending the public.

It was announced that Lohan had an arrest warrant issued in relation to violating terms of her sentencing. Which sentencing is the question one should ask, as she has been arrested several times. It seems that the case in question was the May 2007 DUI and car crash (which she tried to flee from). The one where she seems to have taken a car that was not her’s, chased a former assistant, allegedly injured the passengers, and was in possession of cocaine that mysteriously was not included in the arrest charges though it was in her blood.

That incident was the 4th car incident she has had. Overall she has been arrested twice that I can recall. She has been drunk and driving as well as found in possession of cocaine at least 3x. For all of this, she has received the extremely harsh penalty of 84 minutes in jail. Oh, she also has been in and out of drug rehab 3x. I know we all can feel her pain.

After the May conviction, she was given 3 years probation and required to finish an alcohol abuse program. Which she reportedly did do. But it seems someone screwed up the paperwork. Thus the judge thought she had violated her release and was about to send her back to jail. But Lohan’s lawyer cleared up the misunderstanding.

Still I am waiting to see how many times it takes this celebrity to appear in front of a judge before she gets the treatment that normal people get. Hell, I’d love to see her get the punishment a White girl would normally get, because I can tell you one thing with absolute assurance – if she was Black, her name was Shaniqua, and this happened in the Bronx, she’d still be in jail for the 3 year sentence she would have gotten.

I honestly hoped that Lohan was going to go to jail. And I don’t me the revolving door stay that she, Daniel Baldwin, Snoop Dogg, Michelle Rodriguez, and Paris Hilton (initially) received. I mean the kind of prison time that real people get. Because as a celebrity she should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one.

I believe that people in the eye of the public like this should get the harshest treatment. Every time they don’t the message being sent out is that a person with money, and or celebrity, can do anything. That there is a visibly separate line of justice. And that line often sees color very clearly. [Yes there are times when entertainers of color are treated with the same hands off kid gloves, but there are more times where they are not. Wesley Snipes and OJ Simpson come to mind.]

Well Lohan should thank her lawyers, and make sure his retainer is paid to date. She should also send a Easter card to the judge, the prosecutors, and the police department. They all seem to be fans. At least until their daughters decide to follow in the footsteps of their television idol. Then I wonder how much sympathy they will have for Lohan.

Jada Pinkett Smith's real life role: education provider

I know that when most people think of Jada Pinkett Smith, they think of the Matrix, or Will Smith her husband. Some might even recall her in early movies like A Lowdown Dirty Shame. But such thoughts only scratch the surface of what this actress mother and entrepreneur is.


Last year, without much national fanfare the Smith’s opened the New Village Leadership Academy. Located in the Los Angeles area, this school has 60 students ranging from pre-school to 6th grade. The goal of the school is to have each child attain 100% mastery, meaning they re-take tests until they achieve 100%. It’s a different approach, but when compared to the quality and results of public education across the nation a different approach is definitely needed.

For those wondering, the school is not just a rich Hollywood celebrity school. It is diversified in both the economic backgrounds and ethnicity of the students.

This is a major achievement for any person or couple. The creation of a school that helps children further their minds, and in my opinion therefore their lives, is a task few can attain. But Jada Pinkett Smith is reaching further. Even with the economic crisis, which affects every American to some degree, she is planning to open a sister school to accept students in the higher grades.

“My plan is to eventually have a high school," Pinkett Smith said. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm just trying to make it through this year."

I love to discuss stories like this. Whether it’s a major celebrity, entertainer, or just someone that cares and makes an effort. We don’t hear enough about these kinds of acts.

Right now, the focus is on Chris Brown. Before that the news media was focused on the 'octomom', Coolio, or Snoop Dogg and so on. There is no end of the insignificant gossip and trash that fills the media airwaves these days. But the cost of such refuse is the paltry attention given to substance and class.

How many people were aware that the Smith family had started a school? Where else might you have heard about the potential of additional schools being opened? I truly doubt most entertainment gossip rags will cover it. And there is no good reason not to.

I know that my own blog is not perfect. On occasion I too delve into the bowels of what passes for information on entertainers and celebrities. But I try to stick to the important news.

I commend Jada Pickett Smith and the Smith family. Their commitment deserves more attention, especially as they are doing these things in a troubling economic time. If only more celebrities and entertainers could try to do half as much.

Is your mom/sister/girlfriend/wife/daughter ok? Are you sure

Not long ago I interviewed Cynthia Basinet. In that interview the topic of humanitarian aide came up. In particular were comments about the needs of Africa. Shortly after that I posted about an event that was targeting aid to women around the world and in Africa that have been victims of violence and rape.

And few paid attention, sadly.

But just days ago Chris Brown was arrested in connection to charges about violence against Rihanna. And the internet is abuzz. And I have to wonder.

Is it only when a celebrity endures a hardship that we care as a nation. Are we so cold-hearted as to ignore the suffering of millions of women simply because we don’t know their name or country. Has the media so blinded the masses that unless something happens to someone famous we don’t think it happens at all?

I despise the thought of what Chris Brown has been accused of doing. There is no justification, and I believe punishment is in order if the facts are as have been blasted across the media. Yet there is a bigger issue.

The odds are that 1 in 3 women, across the globe, will be the victim of a rape or violence. That means out of you mother, wife/girlfriend, sister, daughter 1 will definitely be a victim and more than a chance of another as well. That’s not something that I would wish upon even my enemy.

This is not just an issue of what celebrities do. It’s not just something that happens in movies, or to “those people” whoever you wish to define it. It’s happening in every part of the globe, every day. And the chance of you knowing a woman that this has happened to is better than you remembering what will be on TV tonight.

We should never let this pass without thought. We should never allow this to be a secret. This needs to be addressed and confronted.

No man ever needs to place a hand against a woman. It’s just not needed. There is no justification unless you are in a pool of your own blood. It is the act of a coward and a small child to lash out in such a manner. It is the action of a weak and pitiful boy, never a man regardless of age.

I am glad that Cynthia Basinet brought up the issue of violence against women in Africa. I am happy to heard of women like Jessica Alba, Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Camryn Manheim, Anne Archer and Sherry Lansing among many others are making this a reality to the millions of Americans that have turned a blind eye and deaf ear.

I hope that before I die I never need to read about the atrocities that Dr. Denis Mukwege tries to heal each day. Because they don’t happen any more. I hope that before I die I never have to fear for my sisters, mother, and every woman I have ever known.

But that means that you have to act, and not forget this post or the articles in the news. Because tomorrow it could be a woman you love.

Forbes recognizes the obvious about Will Smith and people of color

Oh how shocking. Will Smith is the most bankable entertainer in Hollywood. With the record for the most movies grossing over $100 million in a row, who could have guessed?

Honestly I am not amazed. But I really hope that the executives in Hollywood are paying attention to the numbers. Because it flies in the face of the notion that

“American audiences want to only watch people similar to themselves.”

That is the industry code words for the functional equivalent of “White only” - to me - which is present in the overwhelming number of television shows, movies, and even work behind the camera.

In fact, according to Forbes, the top of the Star Currency list includes Denzel Washington at number 8. On the Celebrity 100 list the start is with Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods. That list goes on to include Beyonce Knowles and Jay-z in the top 10.

Yet for all of that, and the many other people of color that made each of the lists, Hollywood avoids us. Which is odd for an industry that is best known for copying anything that is successful to death.

Just look at the 30 remakes that are going to hit screens or announced so far in 2009. Look at all the copycat stories that fill the television screens and theaters; they even copycat success from other countries (Life on Mars, Leverage, Bangkok Dangerous, ect.). And there is hardly any escape from some form of reality programming on every network including cable television. There are few original ideas in the industry, especially over the last decade or so. Except if it involves people of color. Then there are really none.

Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel Jackson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy are the key male African Americans that fill screens and bring in revenue. Halle Berry and Queen Latifah are the Black female counterparts. Several of them have been doing so for decades. Yet Hollywood ignores the majority of Black actors, preferring to fill the ranks of new actors with virtually only White faces. And it’s not because there is a lack of a potential pool of actors to select from.

Television shows like the Cosby Show, A Different World, My Wife and Kids, The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire dominated the small screen. And once they were off the air nothing even close replaced them. The various networks didn’t even try to copy the shows.

It’s not that I expect every show to have people of color in them. I don’t want to see a television schedule of crap that is made to have people of color fill the screens and then be rejected with a casual ‘well we tried.’ But to honestly expect that in the 21st century, as people are declaring the era of “post-racial America”, we see almost the same number of African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, Asians and so on in any medium you wish to chose as were around in the 70’s. It’s deplorable.

Perhaps I wouldn’t get as upset if other aspects of the media were better. But news media still loves to depict people of color as violent and guilty of any wrong-doing or lack of success whenever a video is needed. And it is conspicuously remiss in reporting any news event that identifies people of color as victims of crimes via police brutality or other circumstance.

Just look around for the coverage of Oscar Grant, Adolph Grimes, or Robbie Tolan. All you will see is continuing coverage of Casey Anthony and the Petersen case in Ohio. Or how about the last time you saw national attention of a Black child that was missing?

But at least Forbes is taking notice that America loves it’s celebrities and entertainers of color as much as anyone else. Hopefully one day Forbes might just get involved in entertainment and things will improve. Or the racially blind execs in Hollywood will be replaced by open minded people. If only.

Faizon Love feeling no love

Just say it ain’t so. The love for Faizon Love seems to have stopped in front of the Standard Hotel, in West Hollywood yesterday.



He may not be the biggest star in Hollywood, but I have enjoyed his performances in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Replacements, and Elf. He just as a happy and pleasant presence on the screen. I always took him for a guy I could have a beer with.

Now this incident does not mean he is anything different than I imagined. Or he might well be. There is very little information about Langston Faizon Santisima. So I have to guess. But what has become known is the fact that he is alleged to have hit some guy 2 times in the face.

Considering that Love has maintained a low profile even for a mid-level actor there is some question as to what happened. If he is in the wrong then I of course want him to be appropriately punished. But the odds are that no matter what happened he may likely be convicted and sentenced harshly. Only the most public and popular of actors, celebrities and entertainers get to skate on virtually anything. And African Americans are generally disproportionately punished by the legal system.

Worse yet is the potential of the media and the tabloids to ruin Faizon Love. It’s likely that this otherwise unnoticed actor will be hounded to a greater degree than ever before. There is nothing worse than papparazzi looking to find a photo to go with some trash article to turn public images against an entertainer or celebritiy.

I hope this incident is resolved without overdue media. I hope that Love is innocent. He seems like a nice guy. But we will see.

Woody Harrelson respects soldiers - finally

I am happy to say that the level of insensitivity and stupidity in Hollywood has dropped slightly today. It may not change much, but any change is a positive there.

Now you might wonder what I am referring to. I mean Woody Harrelson,

“I've been an outspoken peace activist for good reason. But what was missing from my own philosophy was a real understanding of what these soldiers go through. The time we spent with them working on the film left me with profound respect and compassion for these people who are going to Iraq and Afghanistan.

They're putting their lives on the line because they believe they're trying to help and doing something for their country. However you feel about the war, I have a lot of respect for these soldiers. I hope this film gives the warriors the light they deserve."

No shit.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the acting ability of Harrelson. I deeply respect his strong position of being a peace activist. And I would die to protect his ability to keep those views or make any statement he likes.

I just think it is a statement of complete arrogance and stupidity to not realize that every single freedom every American enjoys is directly connected to the service provided by the military. People like Hanoi Jane Fonda never figured it out, but it seems that Harrelson has, to some degree. And it’s nice to hear – finally.

Now I am not advocating war, nor all the political decisions made that place our soldiers in harms way. But there is a huge difference between what a soldier has pledged to do, up to and including sacrificing their lives, and what politicians give them orders to do.

Were it not for the blood spilled in service to the nation, Harrelson, and all of Hollywood, could never do what they do for a living. People like Hanoi Jane Fonda and Moveon.org would never be able to say what they do.

I think its well beyond time that Hollywood, and celebrities making individual comments, regained a bit of respect when addressing our soldiers and what they do. Harrelson has taken a step towards that, we can hope that Hollywood will too.

DMX, Michael Phelps, the law and media

It’s amazing the messages the media and legal system sends to kids these days. Not that all the blame resides with just the media. But they do their fair share of making sure kids get conflicting images, to be sure.

I mean there is the adulation that has been poured over Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps. Raising him up as a star with huge visibility. Only for the public to become aware of his pot smoking. Not that this is a media caused problem, though how they respond to this will say a lot to kids about the acceptability of drugs.

And I am sure the media will likely play this out in much the same way rappers are treated when they get in trouble (as if they spend time out of trouble). Take the recent sentencing of DMX, Earl Simmons.

DMX, who is no stranger to a courtroom, was just recently sentenced to 90 days. What did he do? Well he plead guilty, to reduced charges, of theft, animal cruelty, and drugs. That kind of leaves out the gun charges, and ignores his anything but law abiding past. Basically he has been given a slap on the wrists.

So it seems that drugs are fine, and animal cruelty is ok too. I mean Phelps is hardly being brandished as having done anything wrong, and DMX is sure to continue to be promoted in music videos and low-end movies. In fact both men might have a boost in media coverage and job opportunities if past history continues to be true.

And there is no question that if I were to be arrested, and plead guilty to any one of these crimes, I would hardly be given 90 days. I have no doubt that I would be watching bars for some number of years, and that is with a spotless past, which DMX does not have.

But there is the seemingly never-ending news about Britney Spears and her poor (at best) skills as a mother, the travails of Lindsey Lohan (sober or drunk/high), the highly publicized for no reason life of Paris Hilton, and a slew of other nay-do-wells. All of this is the daily diet given to kids, with the ultimate statement being drugs are ok, crime is relative to the money in your pocket, and nothing matters more than being known. Tell me that isn’t a poor message.

Where has the message of hard work and success gone? Where is the thought of responsible actions are the core of adult life? Where is the idea of being anything but a screw-up in life is preferred?

I realize that news, real news and not tabloid fodder, needs to be presented to the masses. But the way the media frames the news, and the way the legal system collapses in the face of promotable celebrity is absurd.

Maybe it’s me, but I just long for the days where adults in the view of children acted like adults. It seems that’s just too much to ask for in the 21st century.

The real culprit in the Travolta extortion case

Normally I do not speak about the various scandals and personal issues that celebrities and entertainers may have from time to time. They are human beings and deserve to deal with life privately, as the rest of us do. But there are exceptions.

The death of John Travolta's son was a horrible thing to hear about. And I again give my condolences to the family. But what angers me is what some have done. I don't mean just the tabloid trash that is selling rags about this rumor or that. I could care less about that in general. It's about how low some supposed human beings will go.

In this understandably difficult time for the Travolta family, some scum (in my opinion) found it an opportunity to try to extort $25 million dollars from the family. That is revolting and depraved.Both because they thought this a great way to get rich, on the back of the death of a child, and because they knew that tabloids and so called news media would buy anything they could sell on this story and thus extend the grief and suffering the Travolta family must be feeling.

Thankfully the suspects are currently being arrested. But the biggest culprit in this case is going unhindered. In fact they are making money. The tabloids and the news media that created the problem in the first place.

In the rush to find and publish dirt and photos of any entertainer and celebrity, the media has created an environment where scum flourish. They feed like carrion on the minute details of every famous individuals life. They try to siphon off any aspect of individuality and infect any aspect of an ordinary life these stars might hope to have. Just so they can made an extra dollar.

There are some things that just should be off-limits. The children of entertainers. The sex lives of celebrities. The daily to and from that everyone needs to do. Yes, a celebrity showing up at a gala event is fair game, as is whatever they say and do there. But not in their private homes. Not in time with their family. Not when tragedy strikes them.

If a camera crew were to show up at your doorstep because your Dad had a heart attack, or your Mom had a stroke, you would be enraged. If your brother was arrested for speeding, or your sister was arrested for a fight you would be sick to see it on the evening news. So why is it called "entertainment" when the same information is splashed across televison and internet screens everyday?

It's one thing if a celeb and/or entertainer commits a crime. If they harm an individual. If they use their influence to corrupt our already skewed and often unjust system. It is a far cry different when they are just living life and dealing with the same issues we all do. Because shit happens to everyone in life, regardless of money or fame.

And it is this vicious need for to much information that is not worthy of public discussion that creates an environment where scum would think, probably correctly, that a scandal over the death of a child would cause innocent parents to fork over huge sums of money to spare the rest of their family and themselves further torture.

When I think about what caused these scum to try to extort the Travolta family in this hour of grief I feel sick. Hopefully some in the news media and the tabloids will feel the same, and maybe show some decency in the future. But I wouldn't make a bet on it.

Michael Jackson is coming to Bel-Air - hide the children

There seems to be no end to the concerns for those in California. First there is the Oscar Grant shooting (murder). Now there is something perhaps equally as disturbing, Michael Jackson.

Jackson has returned to California, moving into Bel-Air. I'd advise any parents out there with young boys to be very afraid. Not that anything has been proven against Jackson. It's just that he is creepy as hell and there is a mountain of questions about him and what he does behind closed doors.

Still you have to wonder how he can afford this new home. Considering he lost Neverland Ranch - much to the dismay of R Kelly I would imagine - got sued by is Arabic friends, had to leave the Middle East rather suddenly, and will be auctioning off many of his possessions in the spring I am bewildered at where his money comes from.

The even greater question at hand though is where are his kids? Has anyone seen them, or even heard about them in years now? Given that Jako is super famous even among celebrities (or is it infamous now) and the fact that he is a bit of a wacko when it comes to his privacy, I am concerned. And if any aspect of the thought of Michael Jackson being a pedophile is correct, people really need to ask this.

Even is his new record album he is planning is better than every song ever made, that does not mean the public should not be concerned about his kids. And why has no one in the media asked how they are doing? Or the paparazzi not taken a picture of them? Come on, the paparazzi invade every celebrities privacy, snapping shot in the most inappropriate place without concern for family, children or occasion.

Yet they are showing civility to Jackson's rarely mentioned children?

And if I were a parent in Bel Air, and Jackson brought his kids over to play with my own kids, I'd have video cameras rolling every second that he was there. Just to be safe I wouldn't leave any of the kids alone. Because by now, Jackson's kids are at least as socially messed up as he is. And that's imagining the best scenario.

It makes me shake my head.

Remembering Eartha Kitt

There is no lack of people today discussing the death of Eartha Kitt. After 60 years of work in movies, television and as a singer she is remembered for so many things. She dared to question a President in the White House - and was exiled from the nation for a time. She grew up poor and unwanted yet became a star. And of course she was a Catwoman, in a time when few Blacks were ever seen in any roles in television (and with the best purr too).

But for a performer perhaps the best way to remember their passing is to take a look at how their work has endured over time. The greatest compliment has often been said to be imitation. For entertainers that can be most readily seen in covers of songs or re-enactments of their work. So in the spirit of the season, and to see the tribute of how enduring a performer she was, I present Eartha Kitt (and many others) singing Santa Baby which she first sang in 1953.



Kylie Minogue


Taylor Swift


Cynthia Basinet


Pussycat Dolls


Macy Gray


Laureta Meci


Everclear


Les Paul and Trio


And in a very odd take on the theme Willa Ford in a 'revisioning' of the song


and countless versions across the internet




Suffice to say Eartha Kitt inspired tens of thousands if not millions over the years. She was outspoken, trend setting, vibrant, unique, sexy, intelligent, and talented. And it is that combination of things that has endured for decades, just as her music has done.

Eartha Kitt, 81, was a class act. She will be missed.

Celebrities and entertainers that should retire

Things in Hollywood tend to happen in 3’s. Whether it’s a franchise of movies (before everyone stops caring about the series of films), celebrity deaths, or now early retirement. The current news flash about the silver screen is that Joaquin Phoenix, Angelina Jolie, and Nicole Kidman have all lost the acting bug. But does it matter?

What happened to the old days where good actors and actresses worked until they stopped getting roles or just sucked so bad that they stopped trying? When did entertainers publicly announce the fact that directors and Hollywood execs had lost faith, or found them too problematic, and stopped taking their calls?

Now this may not be true of each of the above movie stars. Angelina Jolie still packs in the crowds and her movies have been quite good of late. WANTED was a good film and made decent money (though she was way too skinny). Changeling seems to be doing alright in theaters, Beowulf and Kung Fu Panda don’t count as they were animated. And she was nominated twice for her work in A Mighty Heart. So to see her give up film work is a bit of a loss. Then again no one is really looking forward to Lara Croft 3.

Joaquin Phoenix is still riding high off of his work on Walk the Line (which was excellent). But his work on Gladiator, Ladder 49, and Hotel Rwanda easily cover the lesser known Two Lovers and Reservation Road. And the fact that he is Puerto Rican (which most do not seem to focus on) is a bonus to me at least. But like many actors, music is a drive that is currently consuming him.

Nicole Kidman though needed to retire years ago. Seriously, her retirement is more the fact that she does not deserve the pay she makes. The last success she had was Happy Feet, which was animated. It could be argued that Cold Mountain was a hit, but you really need to go back to The Hours or Moulin Rouge – roughly 8 years ago. Her career seriously peaked in 1990 with Days of Thunder, which former husband Tom Cruise (and the NASCAR cars) had more to do with.

But if every one of these actors stopped making films, who would care? Besides their fan clubs, not many. These are not the Humphrey Bogart’s, John Wayne’s, Lucille Ball’s, Lena Horn’s, or Katherine Hepburn’s of film. 2 of the 3 are very good, but not a single one is great. Their loss really amounts to nothing.

It’s not like the masses are losing anything. And telling the world that you won’t make another bad film we wouldn’t watch on DVD (mostly in Kidman’s case) only means we have something to look forward to, not lament.

No what this really says to me is that Hollywood is sitting on it’s laurels too much. That too many are overhyped. That the dearth of real talent is more obvious today than perhaps at any point in movie history. And that many of the more bankable and successful actors and actresses are still not going to get the attention they deserve.

If anything I hope this leads to a flood of retirements among the current crop of entertainers out now. Perhaps the following could retire and save us the movies, trailers, and DVD’s that flood the market now. I’d love to hear that the following are going to avoid smiting my eyes in 35mm

Johnny Knoxville
Vince Vaughn
Jennifer Lopez
Halle Berry (yes she has an Oscar, but name the film she won for. Or a great role she has done? Or a great film she was in.)
Jennifer Aniston
Ashton Kutchner (he was bad on television. Take away Demi Moore and you have nothing worthwhile about him)
Topher Grace
Ben Stiller
Leonardo DiCaprio (over-hyped)
Jessica Alba (looks but no talent)
Hillary Duff
Lindsey Lohan
Jean Claude Van Damme
Steven Segal (his time is passed)
Beyonce Knowles (stick to singing)
DMX
Ja Rule
Virtually every gangsta rapper
Cedric the Entertainer
Ben Afflect

The list is not perfect (there should be more on it) but in each case it is clear that the people here are each in need of serious acting classes, or at least better screening of the scripts they agree to.

I’m sure some will not agree with at least a few of these choices. Every actor that makes it to the big screen has a few fans. And looks trump talent these days. But not one of these actors or actresses can match up to real talent – thankfully they don’t even appear in movies where real talents appear. As I recall none of the above have performed with

Denzel Washington
Jamie Foxx
Robert Downey Jr.
Terrence Howard
Michael Douglas
Al Pacino
Benicio Del Toro
Johnny Depp
Kiera Knightley
Susan Sarandon
Tom Hanks
Forest Whitaker
Morris Chestnut

I don’t think I need to go on.

But if you could pick anyone to remove from movie screens and television forever who would you pick? Do you agree with my choices, and who might I have left out?

$25,000 for 84 minutes of Lohan

Last year several actresses, among many other entertainers, made a mockery of the legal system. There was Paris Hilton with her whirlwind trips in jail, and Britney Spears who seemed as dangerous to herself as anyone else. And there was the case of Lindsey Lohan.


Lohan was in the middle of her drunken, cocaine addicted, self-destruction phase back in October 2007. It was anything but pretty as the photo above shows.

But she also went to some extremes.

“There is a report out that states Lindsey Lohan has spent at least $7,000,000 solely on drugs, rehab and hotels. Oh, I nearly forgot the lawyers. They got a bit of that roll of bills too.”

One of the more notable events was her arrest after chasing her former assistant in a commandeered car. She was high on cocaine at the time, and plead guilty. Her punishment was an eye-popping 84 minutes in jail. 2 arrests on cocaine possession and she stole a car that had people in it to harasses and endanger 3 other people in another car, and she only spent 84 minutes in jail. Mockery barely touches what this was.

And I addressed that in my other post on this obviously troubled celebrity.

“Isn’t that nice. All the drug charges from 2 arrests within 3 months of each other apparently will not be pursued. They are just going away. I bet you have had that happen to you. I bet you’ve read about similar things happening to your brother/cousin/son/father. I bet the non-famous first-time offending college student with a DUI and a joint let in the car by another student got the same kind of leniency. I’m sure that hundreds of African Americans are treated with the same kid gloves.”

But for all my protest the legal system felt no need to punish the celebrity.

But the 3 men that were in the commandered car, and who were accused by Lohan of possesion of the drugs in Lohan’s pockets, may do more than the legal system has.

The 3 men have filed a lawsuit in excess of $25,000 for the battery, false imprisonment and that the actress was negligent when she allegedly took over the SUV involved in the arrest. This says nothing of her attempts to frame the men on drug charges. I think they asked for too little. And the Lohan camp are facing this lawsuit because for a year they failed to come to a settlement.

If I were on the jury of the civil case I would be pleased to know that this is the chance to hand out a punishment that the law failed to do. I know that juries in the west love to do this. The OJ Simpson case, in L.A. and Vegas, is a prime example of using (civil) law to gain their pound of flesh. And these women, celebrities more for their excesses than any performance they have ever done, need something to cause them to pause.

These men deserve to receive $100,000 each. It’s not like this pop celebrity can’t afford the penalty, or that she hasn’t wasted far more money on extremely more trivial and illegal items.

I hope that this sets a precedence. I hope that assistants assaulted by temperamental supermodel bosses, drunken seemingly brainless socialites scoffing laws, and entertainers that are as addicted and mindless as the zombies found in some of their films all get civil suits for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because they impact the youth, and there is a respect of law that they should be happy to at least pretend to uphold.

If Lindsey Lohan loses this case it will mean she was penalized $297 for each minute in the jail facility (not even behind bars) that she spent in 2007. Her lawyer likely costs at least that much. But if it prevents even one more celebrity from a drunken, drug fueled spree then it is worth it.

Tina Turner - true talent never ages

When I was writing my preview of the upcoming movie Notorious, I was thinking about how little Christopher Wallace was in the world and music in general. It’s sad to say but the thing that catapulted him to beyond superstar status was his death, kind of like what has since happened to Heath Ledger.


And then I noticed today a review of Tina Turner who performed Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tina Turner is 69 years old. And the performance was reviewed as a knockout event that most younger entertainers today couldn’t begin to match.

“But it was "Proud Mary," the Creedence song she put her stamp on 37 years ago, that still can't be beat, from slow and swampy nice to explosive and frantic rough…

Turner began the evening telling the mostly middle-aged crowd that she was offering "a show of my past." But she delivered a confirmation that in the present, she's every bit deserving of the marquee celebration at night's end that flashed T-I-N-A, an icon-- no, make that a queen -- of American music.”

That’s talent. Nearly 70 and she can pull an audience after 8 years in retirement. She’s had a career that’s spanned 52 years. She’s earned 8 Grammies, a NAACP Image Award, and is a 2 time member of the Grammy Hall of Fame. And she still reportedly has legs that most women 1/3 her age wish they could have.

Considering her sparse monetary upbringing, the horrendous marriage, and her rise fall and rise in popularity in her music career you would think she might deserve a movie as opposed to a dead crack dealer. Oh wait, she did have a major studio motion picture made about her life in 1993 starring Angela Bassett. Good film too.

Tina Turner just confirms something I have always believed. Talent is rare, and those with it can survive the test of time as well as life. Those without it can be no less successful but have to work harder to gain it. But those that gain success without effort or earning it will always lose it – quickly and usually for dumb reasons.

20 years from now almost every rapper since 1992 will be completely forgotten. Some won’t make it 5 years before you won’t recognize their name. But Tina Turner will still be on the radio. And I’m hopeful that she will still be performing at that time, with legs that will still probably be better than women half her age.

Tyler Perry helping more families than Congress right now

I have often said that the major news media gives short shrift to celebrities and entertainers that are doing the right thing. With all the media swirling around the mortgage bailout plans, you might think that all other news has been thrown to the wayside but that would be untrue.

A casual look in the search engines finds that there is plenty of news on celebrities. There is news on Meg Ryan and her divorce. There is news about whether Miley Cyrus will stay or leave Hanna Montana. There is even a focus on Isis King, the first transgendered model in the ridiculous and brain-cell depleting America’s Next Top Model.

Not a single one of those ‘news’ items are worth the time to read more than the headline.

But what you haven’t heard, what isn’t rushing across the internet or the cable news networks is a simple bit of good. Yes, a celebrity is actually helping regular people. Just because it felt like the right thing to do.

The celebrity in this case is the renown Tyler Perry. In case you are unfamiliar with this acclaimed director, actor, movie writer, producer and playwright I’ll give you a bit of help. He created Diary of a Mad Black Woman which he may be best known for. He is also responsible for Tyler Perry's House of Payne. If you are unfamiliar with either of these it may be because all of Perry’s work focuses and stars predominately Black actors and actresses.

Tyler Perry grew up with abuse as a child, he has been homeless, he dropped out of school at 16 but went back for his GED. His book Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life was number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. He has released 5 films (his 6th just hit theaters) that have made $187 million dollars just in the U.S.

Tyler Perry is a success by virtually any standard you chose to mark him by.

And he went out and donated 2 weeks worth of food for 1,000 families today. He is actively helping families in Atlanta that are struggling and hungry. And the major news media seem to not care.

The people at Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center certainly are happy to have received this huge gift. I cannot fathom how families in need in Atlanta are not happy as well. But it seems that the major news media aren’t happy reporting a successful Black man directly helping people in a way that virtually every politician refuses or is incapable of doing.

Keep an eye out though. I guarantee that the second a Black entertainer is arrested, or does something stupid, regardless of the financial woe of the day you will see it on the national news. Miley Cyrus on a drunken binge will get a side note, but say a rapper getting arrested will upfront news. Yet improving the lives of 1,000 families is a minor footnote.

It makes me sick. Especially when polls show that some 48% of White Americans think Blacks are violent, or that 38% think Blacks are lazy. Tyler Perry, and many other African American celebrities, proves that the stereotypes that survive and plague this nation right now are wrong. But you wouldn’t know it from the major media.

Rock and Roll - the other Black music

Have you ever been up late at night and seen the extended commercials that hawk this good or that? You know the shows for instant fat reduction without requiring you to get off your ass, or the endless promises to make you rich over night without a stitch of effort or knowledge. These infomercials are rampant on the late-nite airwaves. But I saw one tonight that got me thinking.

While watching Tron (a great movie) I flipped channels during the commercial and found an infomecial about the Oldies but Goodies. This Time Life infomecial was about Rock ‘n Roll. Particularly about the original artists and entertainers that created this music genre. These artists are before the Beatles, or Elvis, or the Rolling Stones. We are talking about the people that got the whole ball of wax started.

That would include Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chubby Checker, The Platters, The Drifters, Johnny Mathis, Sam Cooke, The Cleftones, The Dells and so many more. You may not know all these artists if you are my age or younger, but you have likely heard their songs in movies and on the radio.

Some of these songs include:

Johnny B. Goode
Rock Around The Clock
What'd I Say
Long Tall Sally
Maybellene
Shake, Rattle And Roll
Blueberry Hill
Please, Please, Please
The Great Pretender
Ain't It A Shame
You Send Me
Wake Up Little Susie
La Bamba
I'm Walkin'
Lonely Teardrops
Shake, Rattle And Roll
Who Do You Love
Dedicated To The One I Love

I’m only barely touching the artists that influenced the decade. There are far more artists and songs I could name. But there is something that is inherently the same in each of these and the entire birth of Rock and Roll. Black musicians.

Today, and for a couple of decades, Rock music has been dominated by White musicians. In fact it’s so common that most people associate rock music with White audiences. I’ve never ceased to be amazed by the people that wonder why I enjoy rock and roll since it’s “not my music”.

Yet there would be no rock and roll without Black musicians. In fact many of the popular artists of the 1950’s and 60’s started off as cover artists. White performers would sing the exact same song as a Black artist and record companies would sell it. The highly racist and segregated nation preferred to buy the White version of the song and propelled those artists to fame and fortune; perhaps the best known of these cover artists was Elvis Presley.

But my point is this. Why is rock and roll associated with Whites only? Why is it a dirty word among African Americans, the little secret that you listen to without your friends knowing? Why is it that millions of baby boomers are buying compilation records by the thousands, or tens of thousands, yet year after year the names of the African American music pioneers that they listen to each night get spoken less and less.

I wrote a post about Chubby Checker recently. I doubt anyone under 45 really knows his music. But he helped found rock and roll. As did Chuck Berry. But when was the last time you heard their names connected to the genre they helped to create?

Today the music industry would like Americans to believe that Rock is a White music. That is a lie. They want to make it seem like African Americans have no place in the genre. That is another lie. We created it, and helped to make it what it was and is.

Without Fats Domino, or Chubby Checker, or B.B. King, or Ray Charles, and on there would be no Beatles, or The Who, or Led Zepllin. There would be no Lynrd Skynrd, or ZZ Top, or Stone Temple Pilots. It’s just the reality of the history.

So knowing this and watching that infomercial featuring Bowzer of Sha-na-na (an older TV show) and seeing 4 out of 5 video clips in that infomercial featuring a Black musician I could not help but wonder what happened. How did the African America creation suddenly become devoid of color? Why did Elvis become a mega-star for singing covers of Black artist’s songs? Why is it that today most people can name Prince, Lenny Kravitz and maybe Living Color or Jimi Hendrix as the only Black rock and roll entertainers?

Perhaps it’s me but I find it troubling that Time Life is making a boatload of money on the backs of entertainers that were paid pennies and created a genre of music that now brings in millions if not billions each year. And while tens of millions of Americans know the songs (not including fans across the world) the recognition and association for their music goes to copycats and runner-ups.

Today some say that racism has been defeated because 1 Black man has the chance to become President. But how can anyone say that when something as basic and universal as music denies the existence of African Americans that created a legacy that thrives today?

Maybe I am up too late without sleep. Or maybe, just maybe, America continues to have a schizophrenic attitude to the contributions and existence of people of color. And if the latter is true, the success of any 1 person will never be enough to heal the nation and move us all to the future together.

Or do you think I’m wrong?