09-29-06 EUR: Fantasia's Ghostwriter Disgruntled / Another WuTang CD?

EUR Headlines

AKINNUOYE-AGBAJE LOSES TRAFFIC CHARGES: ‘Lost’ star shows proof of license to Honolulu Court.
*Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje of the ABC series “Lost” had his traffic charges dismissed in Honolulu Wednesday after showing proof that he had a driver’s license, reports the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Read Full Story

DAMON DASH TO RELEASE NEW ODB ALBUM: ‘A Son Unique’ due Nov. 7 to mark second anniversary of rapper’s death.
*The last studio album from the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard will finally see the light of day via Damon Dash Music Group, which has scheduled its Nov. 7 release to coincide with the second anniversary of the rapper’s death on Nov. 13, 2004. Read Full Story

FANTASIA’S GHOSTWRITER IS DISGRUNTLED: Writer feels left out after Lifetime ignores her contribution.
*A woman who says she was the ghostwriter of Fantasia Barrino’s autobiography “Life is Not a Fairytale” has decided to stop being a ghost. Read Full Story

ANDRE 3000 BRINGS ‘CLASS’ TO CARTOON NETWORK: November debut of rapper’s series follows a ‘mocumentary’ setup.
*Cartoon Network is using the old Teena Marie phrase “sophisticated funk” to describe the vibe of its latest offering, “Class of 3000,” the animated half-hour series created, voiced and scored by Andre “3000” Benjamin of OutKast. Read Full Story

MOSLEY LIGHTS FIRE UNDER BUDDING NOVELISTS: Author’s upcoming book gives advice on penning a novel in 365 days.
*In his upcoming 100-page book “This Year You Write Your Novel,” author Walter Mosley will attempt to guide budding writers through the process of completing a book project within the span of a year. Read Full Story

WU TANG CLAN TO RECORD ANOTHER ALBUM?: Members would have to set hangups aside to make it happen, says Ghostface.
*Will all nine surviving members of the Staten Island-based rap outfit Wu-Tang Clan ever be able to share the same studio again and crank out another album? Group member Ghostface Killah says it depends on the maturity level of his fellow band mates. Read Full Story

EUR BOOK REVIEW: The Confession
By Kam Williams
*"When I made up my mind to behave in public as though I were straight, I nonetheless carried on sexually with men. Scores of men... [They] were exclusively furtive encounters, mostly in seedy bookstores or public parks. I was promiscuous and sexually active in ways I consider immoral and ugly. Read Full Story

VERNON NEILLY TAKES ALTERNATE ROUTE TO RADIO AIRPLAY: Smooth Jazz Guitarist Puts ‘Powers That Be’ on Blast
By DeBorah B. Pryor
Just ask Smooth Jazz guitarist Vernon Neilly, a 30-year-music vet who has worked with Motown’s Norman Whitfield, and toured extensively with the likes of Cuba Gooding, The Main Ingredient, Billy Paul and Tina Marie, if he thinks the music genre was created just for white boys and he’ll give you an eloquent answer on the way to “Yes.” As a guitarist, singer and songwriter, Jonathan quickly witnessed the double standard in the Smooth Jazz genre, an area he chose because, even with his R&B roots, it felt comfortable. But it didn’t take long for him to learn that smooth jazz radio doesn’t appreciate the double-threat musician—one skilled on both instrument and vocals, and chooses to only give airtime to the artists’ instrumental work; leaving many of these musicians such as Norman Brown, Jonathan Butler and George Benson out in the cold. Read Full Story

BRAXTON, WARWICK AMONG TRUMPET HONOREES: Ceremony set for Jan. 22 in Las Vegas.
*Toni Braxton, Dionne Warwick, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans and Michael Jordan are among the legends to be honored at the 15th Annual Trumpet Awards, which salutes achievements of African-Americans in such diverse fields as law, politics, medicine, business, sports and entertainment. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Kid’s Rap Radio; Elton on the ‘WhitBy’ divorce; Neville’s ‘Classics.'
*Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment has launched a new children’s music series "Kid’s Rap Radio," which features child-friendly lyrics and arrangement of popular rap and hip hop singles. Read Full Story

KAM'S KAPSULES: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
*The Guardian (PG-13 for profanity, sensuality, and intense action sequences) Kevin Costner handles the title role as the veteran instructor of a Coast Guard rescue course who takes a troubled student (Ashton Kutcher) under his wing and to Alaska after graduation where the cocky kid learns a valuable lesson in heroism. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: BET’s ‘Beef’; ‘Stomp the Yard Soundtrack Contest’; Winfrey, Jones are trustworthy; Star still trying to sell triplex.
*BET will premiere its new documentary “Beef: The Series” on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. Produced by Quincy Jones’ son, documentary filmmaker Quincy Jones III, the program picks up where his popular “Beef” DVDs left off, exploring various rivalries in pop culture. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: ABFF On Tour; Salt at CCC’s Youth Ministry Service; Toccara at Crown Royal Barbershop; Cube in Bison country; Parker in wax.
*Film Life, Inc., announces the launch of ABFF ON TOUR, a multi-city exhibition of award-winning films from the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

09-28-06 EURxtra: Rev Run Comments on New Born's Death

EUR Headlines

REV. RUN COMMENTS ON DAUGHTER’S DEATH: Simmons and his family “believe in the celebration of life in death.”
*Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons released a statement Tuesday regarding the death of his newborn daughter, Victoria Anne. Read Full Story

TERRELL OWENS DENIES HE TRIED SUICIDE: Dallas Cowboy says reaction was caused by mixing pain pills with supplements.
*Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens faced reporters Wednesday afternoon to deny reports from Dallas police that he tried to commit suicide by overdosing on his pain pills. Read Full Story

ARREST THREATENED FOR NAOMI CAMPBELL: Judge says he’ll issue bench warrant if she skips one more court date.
*Troubled supermodel Naomi Campbell was threatened with arrest by a New York judge Wednesday after failing to make a court date regarding the alleged attack on her housekeeper. Read Full Story

FANTASIA’S DAD SUES PUBLISHER OF HER BOOK: Joseph Barrino files $10 million libel lawsuit against Simon & Schuster.
*Joseph Barrino, the father of “American Idol” champ Fantasia Barrino, is suing the publisher of his daughter’s 2005 autobiography for $10 million claiming the book contains "false, exaggerated, sensational, intentional and malicious untruths." Read Full Story

STORK TO DROP TWIN GIRLS ON DIDDY: Mogul believes God is trying to tell him something.
*Sean “Diddy” Combs announces the sex of his twins with girlfriend Kim Porter in the November issue of Vibe magazine. "I'm having twin girls," the 36-year-old tells the publication, which arrives on newsstands Oct. 17. Read Full Story

KELLY ROWLAND RECORDING NEW MATERIAL: Singer plans upbeat album for release in the spring.
*Kelly Rowland has decided to shelve the songs recorded for her planned album “My Story” in lieu of more upbeat material for a new disc to be released in the spring. Read Full Story

JOHN LEGEND LINES UP TOUR DATES: Crooner launches nationwide road trip next month in D.C.
*John Legend has set up a string of concert dates behind his new album “Once Again,” due Oct. 24 via Sony. Read Full Story

ROBERT L. JOHNSON OPENS FIRST BANK IN D.C.: Home buyers, small businesses, student-loans to be its focus.
*Black Entertainment Television founder Robert L. Johnson opened a bank in Washington D.C. this week that will cater to the specific needs of the urban community, including home buyers, small businesses and student-loan applicants who might be denied loans by larger institutions. Read Full Story

MARTIN LAWRENCE IS BOOG THE BEAR IN NEW ANIMATED FLICK: Comedian/actor stars with Ashton Kutcher in hilarious comedy 'Open Season.'
*As the principal voices in Open Season, Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher are perfect as an odd couple who embark on a hilarious journey. Along the way, they enlist the aid of other animals to put the forest back in nature's hands. Open Season is Sony Pictures Animation's first highly-anticipated family comedy action-adventure, scheduled for release tomorrow, Friday, September 29th. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Home
By Kam Williams
*Sheree Farmer is a single-mom raising a half-dozen, young children alone in the drug-infested, crime-ridden ghetto of Newark, New Jersey. Fearful that the gang-controlled streets are about to swallow up her family's future, Farmer has been in dire need of a miracle to enable her to relocate her family out of the projects. Read Full Story

OBAMA HOUSEHOLD EARNS $1.67 MILLION IN 2005: Book deals, wife’s promotion contribute to couple’s most lucrative year yet.
*Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, earned $1.67 million in total income last year, according to their tax returns obtained by the Association Press. The total comes to about $70,000 more than they earned for all of 1998 through 2004. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: Whitaker, Luke honored; Soledad on ‘Jeopardy’; Tillman’s ‘Corner’; Dawson’s ‘Occult’; NY’s celebration; Richie vs. Hilton.
*Forest Whitaker and Derek Luke are among the list of honorees selected for the 10th annual Hollywood Film Festival's Hollywood Awards, to be held Oct. 23 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Jade reunion; MiJac vs. Abdullah; Bobby parties with Tyson; Brandy previews album.
*R&B group Jade, best known for their 1990s hit “Don’t Walk Away,” will reunite for a performance in the Virgin Islands sponsored by PEP Services. Read Full Story

THEATER CALENDAR: Grier as ‘The Wiz’; Payne, Givens in ‘Gold Diggers’; Hudson in ‘Whorehouse.’
*San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse is currently holding previews for its production of “The Wiz,” starring David Alan Grier in the title role. Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

09-28-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

09-27-06 EUR: Bobby Brown Needs a Ride / Bad News For Boondocks Fans

EUR Headlines

FOXY BROWN ASSOCIATE CANCELS COMPLAINT: Both sides agree to avoid contact and keep mouths shut.
*A former assistant of rapper Foxy Brown has dropped her complaint against the entertainer after both parties agreed to avoid contact with each other and refrain from talking about the issue to the press. Read Full Story

BOBBY BROWN DEMANDS CAR FROM TV ONE?: Singer reportedly wanted wheels in exchange for appearance.
*You gotta admire his hustle. In the wake of Bobby Brown’s impending divorce from purse string Whitney Houston, the “King of R&B” is rumored to be hard up for cash, as well as transportation. Read Full Story

WHOOPI TO PLAY BOUGIE GRANDMA ON ‘CHRIS’: Sunday’s episode stars actress as the newest addition to Bed Stuy neighborhood.
*Last summer, producers for “Everybody Hates Chris” announced that Whoopi Goldberg would be one of the guests for the upcoming season. Read Full Story

SCRUBS STAR JUDY REYES FRACTURES PELVIS: Actress takes a tumble at home, but on the mend following surgery.
*Actress Judy Reyes of NBC’s “Scrubs” found herself in a real hospital Thursday to undergo surgery on her fractured pelvis following a fall at her home. Read Full Story

OPRAH KEEPING HARPO TO HERSELF: Mogul says she has no plans to offer public shares of her company.
*Oprah Winfrey – now estimated to be worth $1.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine – is one of the most generous human beings on the planet, but not when it comes to her multimedia company Harpo Productions. Read Full Story

WALKER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP: Husband-Wife Music Execs Combine Talents to Provide Alternatives in Entertainment
*With designs on providing alternative choices for positive, quality entertainment for the 24-40 African American demographic, Bruce Walker and his business partner-wife Brenda Jones Walker have stepped away from their roles as music executives with the likes of DreamWorks, Motown, MCA, Capitol, and Interscope/Death Row Records to form the Los Angeles based Walker Entertainment Group (WEG), a holding company for “B&B Entertainment” (a music and television production company) and “B# (Sharp) Records” (a record label housing R&B, Pop and Contemporary Gospel artists). Read Full Story

MIJAC SAILS AWAY FROM TWO SEAS: Singer cancels plans for new album; plus settlement reached in custody case?
*Five months after the headline-making launch of his Bahrain-based record company, Michael Jackson has left the building and taken plans for a new album with him. Read Full Story

BOO BIRDS LEFT BEYONCE ALONE AT MOBO?: Rep says it was the organizers who were booed, not the singer.
*In the wake of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards that took place in London last week, whispers of the absent Beyonce being booed by frustrated audience members have bombarded Internet blog sites. Read Full Story

MORE BAD NEWS FOR ‘BOONDOCKS’ FANS: Newspapers are told not to count on it coming back.
*An announcement from Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Aaron McGruder’s comic strip “The Boondocks” to publications across the country, announced Monday that newspapers should stop looking for its return now that McGruder’s six-month leave is officially over. Read Full Story

LUDACRIS LANDS A BET BLUEPRINT SPECIAL: Plus rapper talks about balancing his acting and rapping careers.
*BET’s “Blueprint” special tonight at 8 p.m. will offer a candid interview with rapper/actor Ludacris to promote his new album, “Release Therapy.” Read Full Story

RESTRAINING ORDER REMAINS FOR FARRELL STALKER: But Dessarae Bradford says don’t call her a stalker.
*The woman who bum-rushed actor Colin Farrell during a live taping of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” must continue to keep herself away from him after a restraining order against her was upheld Monday in court. Read Full Story

WITNESS TO DUKE LACROSS SCANDAL SENTENCED: Kim Roberts gets house arrest for unrelated probation violation.
*Kim Roberts, the exotic dancer who performed at the Duke lacross team party where another exotic dancer said she was raped, was sentenced to 120 days of house arrest Monday for an unrelated probation violation. Read Full Story

CHEADLE JOINS CALIF. GOV IN SUDAN ANNOUNCEMENT: Governator signs bills barring state’s investment in the war-torn country.
*Actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney joined California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday as he signed two bills barring the state's massive pension funds from investing in companies in Sudan and to indemnify the University of California system from liability from divesting its investments in the country, reports Reuters. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Jesus Camp
By Kam Williams
*Parents don't send their children away to simple, sleepaway summer camps anymore. Long gone are the days of the generic getaway situated on the edge of a lake with an inscrutable Indian name where you're just as likely to find a kid hiking up a mountain as playing baseball or whiling away the hours weaving a beaded, lariat keychain. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Rza sued; DMC vs. JMJ’s mom; new Hi-Tek; UK fiasco; arrests in Va. Beach shooting.
*Reps for rapper/producer Rza of the Wu Tang Clan are suing the artist over money they say is owed for his work on the “Blade: Trinity” soundtrack. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: Janet’s weight an accident?; Rosie misses Star; Denzel trailer; Tyra wants you naked; Rhimes show delayed; Raven donates.
*FoxNews.com’s Roger Friedman is reporting that Janet Jackson’s 60-pound weight gain had nothing to do with a role in the upcoming film, “Tennessee.” Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Celebs at Superdome; Rice student dies; Duquesne player recovering; Tiger on Ryder woes; Laila at MSG.
*Spike Lee, Branford Marsailis and Harry Connick Jr. were among the celebs in attendance at Monday’s New Orleans Saints-Atlanta Falcons football game at the Louisiana Superdome, the first NFL game to be played at the newly-restored venue since Hurricane Katrina. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Powell in Oakland; BADWest in L.A.
*Author Kevin Powell will be doing a talk and signing in Oakland for his 7th book, “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” tonight (9/27) at 6 p.m. at East Bay Church of Religious Science (4130 Telegraph Avenue, between 41st & 42nd). Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

09-27-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

09-25-06 EUR: Whitney / Jaleel White (Urkel) / Miss Cleo / Cocaine & More

EUR Headlines

PEOPLE MAG REPORTS OF WHITNEY’S ‘FINAL STRAW’: A certain ‘video vixen’ blamed, again, for the split.
*People magazine continues its coverage of the Bobby Brown/Whitney Houston divorce with a relative of Brown insisting that troubles first began to surface last fall, and that the “final straws” were reports of his affair with former flame, Karrine Steffans. Read Full Story

JALEEL WHITE TALKS ABOUT HIS INTERNET DEATH: Actor tells EUR the “annoying” rumor actually showed just how many lives he’s touched.
*Last June, someone generated a story about actor Jaleel White having committed suicide, attached the Associated Press’ name to it and sent it around cyberspace. Read Full Story

‘SOUP’S’ ON FOR WEBSTAR AND YOUNG B: YouTube-spawned hit may turn Harlem anthem and dance into marketing craze.
*Although the song has been heating up teen dance clubs in Harlem since Easter, the rest of the country is just now getting a heaping spoonful of DJ Webstar and Young B’s catchy single “Chicken Noodle Soup”…with a soda on the side. Read Full Story

MISS CLEO ADMITS SHE’S A LESBIAN: TV psychic comes out of the closet; fears backlash from black community.
*She once ruled late night TV on BET and other channels as Miss Cleo, whose thick Jamaican-accented “Cahl me’now fahr your free tarot card readin’” was widely imitated and is part of pop culture history. Read Full Story

COCAINE IS A HELLUVA ... DRINK?: New high-energy beverage actually named after the illegal drug; protests planned in Los Angeles.
*Last week, talk show host Ellen Degeneres showed her audience a shiny new can of “Cocaine” – the latest addition to the high-energy drink market – and swore over and over that the beverage wasn’t a joke the show had made up. Turns out, she wasn’t kidding. Read Full Story

BYRON ALLEN: TV host rounds up comedians for roundtable
By Kenya Yarbrough
*Starting today, a band of renegade comedians will wreck havoc on television. TV host/Comedian Byron Allen will debut his show Comics Unleashed on channels all over the world. Allen describes the show as a comedy talk show, something like "The View," "The Best Damn Sports Show," or "Politically Incorrect" except all of the guests are comedians. Read Full Story

KYM WHITLEY: Stand-up's 'Stand-off'
By Kenya Yarbrough
*Comedienne Kym Whitley has made a name for herself as the comedic supporting actress. After all, she is a comedian. The Ohio native stole the show in a number of TV shows and films including 'Martin,' 'The Parkers,' and who could forget her role as Suga in 'Next Friday?' But now, the actress is trading in her stand-up mic for juicier parts and transitioning into dramatic roles. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Fearless (Huo Yuanjia)
By Kam Williams
*Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) was the most famous, Chinese martial arts master at the turn of the 20th Century. Still, he is probably best remembered for the spiritually-oriented school he founded in Shanghai about seventy days before he died. Read Full Story

COSBY CALLS FOR SLAVERY MUSEUM DONATIONS: Actor wants every American to put $8 on it.
*Entertainer Bill Cosby is requesting that every citizen of the United States donate $8 to the building of a national slavery museum in Fredricksburg, VA. Read Full Story

MARTIN LAWRENCE BEHIND NEW STAND-UP SERIES: Comic teams with Starz for uncensored comedy showcase.
*Martin Lawrence will executive produce a new stand-up comedy series for Starz Entertainment channel called “1st Amendment Stand-Up,” billed as “a showcase for some of the freshest young comedians.” Read Full Story

BRAD PITT ON ZAHARA’S HAIR: Plus, Madonna looking to adopt twins from Africa?
*In discussing his Ethiopian daughter Zahara in the October issue of Esquire magazine, actor Brad Pitt reportedly offers white parents advice on how to care for the hair of a black child, based on his experiences with “Z.” Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: B.I.G. reward; Buju cancelled; Snoop works ‘Blue’; new will.i.am; Commodores reunion; Refugee All Stars; gunfire at Jim Jones concert.
*The city of Los Angeles has reinstated its $50,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed the Notorious B.I.G. nearly 10 years ago, reports KNBC. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: ‘Grey’s,’ ‘CW’ ratings; wrong Glover; No wedding for Murph & Mel; SAG’s Anne Marie; ‘Tested’ wins Film Fest.
*In the first head to head battle between new episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI,” McDreamy and company at Seattle Grace Hospital came out on top with 25.4 million viewers, compared to 22.6 for the folks at the Las Vegas Crime Lab, according to Nielsen Media Research. Read Full Story

BLOGS & ‘BLOIDS: The latest internet and tabloid gossip on MiJac, Whitney, Janet, Star, J.Lo and Naomi.
*A rep for Michael Jackson is denying reports in the Irish Daily Mirror of the singer planning to open a leprechaun theme park in Ireland. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Silver Dollar Classic in L.A.; Hot 97’s Back2SchoolJam; Zane’s Freak Dating in D.C.
*Snoop Dogg, MC Lyte and Whodini are booked for the Silver Dollar Classic Weekend II in Los Angeles, a black college football event to be held Sept. 29-30 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena, (3911 S. Figueroa St.). Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

09-25-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story