12-18-06 EUR: Love & 'Happyness' at Box Office / Jamie Shows Mean Side

EUR Headlines

LOVE AND ‘HAPPYNESS’ AT THE BOX OFFICE: Will Smith makes African American fathers proud in new No. 1 movie.
*Will Smith is back atop the box office heap with his latest film, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which pulled in $27 million according to studio estimates on Sunday. Read Full Story

OPRAH TO INVADE PRIMETIME WITH TWO REALITY SHOWS: Both will test the ability to change lives for the better; plus other Oprah news.
*It was only a matter of time before Oprah Winfrey would haul her firepower from daytime television into the hours after sunset. Read Full Story

STEVE HARVEY ON TOM JOYNER ABSENCE IN L.A.: Comic’s competitor dropped from his former station KKBT; ‘I don’t gloat and revel in stuff like that.’
*Steve Harvey, host of the Premiere Radio Networks-syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, spoke to EUR’s Lee Bailey about the removal of The Tom Joyner Morning Show from Los Angeles radio station KKBT-FM (100.3 The Beat). Read Full Story

JAMIE FOXX LEADS POWERFUL ‘DREAMGIRL’ CAST: Academy Award Winner shows his mean side.
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Oscar winner Jamie Foxx stars in the upcoming film “Dreamgirls” along with the star power of Eddie Murphy, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, and Danny Glover. In the film, Foxx plays Curtis Taylor Jr, a shady used-car salesman who becomes the manager of an up-and-coming girl group and grows to be a pretty ruthless record man. Read Full Story

ROSARIO DAWSON’S DATE RAPE FILM TO HIT THEATERS: Disturbing drama picked up domestically for spring opening.
*Rosario Dawson, last seen starring in “Clerks II” and the big screen adaptation of Broadway’s “Rent,” is producing and starring in a violent date-rate drama that has just been acquired by City Lights Pictures for domestic release in the spring. Read Full Story

MIJAC ADDS SECOND, CHEAPER, TOKYO MEET & GREET: Singer pushes back scheduled ‘Christmas Party’ and tacks on less pricey event.
*Michael Jackson’s planned Dec. 19th “Premium Christmas Party” in Tokyo has been rescheduled to March 8th and renamed “Premium V.I.P. Party,” but the price tag still holds at an outrageous 400,000 yen ($3,428) per person. Read Full Story

EALY, BRAUGHER, EJIOFOR, OKONEDO EARN GLOBE NODS: TV attention also includes ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Ugly Betty.’
*Lost among the Golden Globe glare of "Dreamgirls'" five nominations were the television programs receiving award consideration during announcements last Thursday in Beverly Hills. Read Full Story

MUHAMMAD ALI, THE FIRST RAPPER?: New book explores how champ’s gift of gab mirrored his gift of jab.
*A new book on the verbal prowess of Muhammad Ali, titled "Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap," contains nearly 300 pages of quotes from the boxer, compiled by editor, George Lois. Read Full Story

DVD REVIEW: Little Miss Sunshine
By Kam Williams
*This remarkable road comedy revolves around one of the most comical assemblages of dysfunctional screen characters in recent memory. Read Full Story

QUINCY OFFERS FATHERLY ADVICE TO NICOLE RICHIE: Longtime family friend blames her troubles on media frenzy.
*Quincy Jones is now weighing in on the downward spiral of “Simple Life” star Nicole Richie, the daughter of his close friend and music colleague, Lionel Richie. Read Full Story

WYCLEF’S EMPLOYEE KIDNAPPED, THEN FREED IN HAITI: Gunmen let TV news producer go out of respect for artist and his charity.
*An employee of Wyclef Jean’s Telemax television station in Haiti was kidnapped at gunpoint on Thursday Nov. 30 and held for $250,000 ransom, but was freed three days later out of respect for Jean and his efforts to rebuild the country. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: ‘Day Break’ done; Hip Hop Cox; Smith’s Globe nod; Whitaker nominated again; J.Lo denies Scientology rumors.
*ABC has yanked the Taye Diggs drama “Day Break” from its Wednesday lineup, effective immediately. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: The Pursuit of Happyness
By Kam Williams
*In 2003, the ABC-TV newsmagazine 20/20 ran a story about an honorably-discharged, Navy veteran who had fallen on such hard times that he ended up homeless and struggling to survive by his wits on the streets of San Francisco. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Prince, Studdard on New Year’s Eve; Beyonce still tops Billboard; Pastor Troy arrested; T.I. tops Vibe poll; C-Murder’s book; Justin’s ‘Moment.’
*Prince is scheduled to perform at his Las Vegas nightclub for New Year’s Eve, but it’ll cost $1,000 for a ticket. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: HarperCollins fires O.J. editor Judith Regan; Trump will reportedly fire current Miss USA.
*HarperCollins has fired Judith Regan, head of the ReganBooks publishing imprint that was attempting to release O.J. Simpson’s book “If I Did It.” Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Basketbrawl at Madison Square Garden; Michael Vick sets a record; woman in Duke lacrosse scandal pregnant.
*The NBA is due to hand down punishment today for the big basketbrawl that erupted with 1:15 left in Saturday’s game between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. (See footage below.) Read Full Story

ARTISTS GIVE BACK FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Nelly, Trick Daddy, Keyshia Cole, Beyonce/Mathew Knowles catch the holiday spirit.
*Trick Daddy will distribute food and toys to Miami youth in the second part of his Trick Luvs Da Kids Foundation’s 4th annual Christmas Toy Drive. Read Full Story

ACHIEVEMENT BITS: B.B.’s Medal of Freedom; Snoop’s football league honors 7th grader.
*B.B. King and late Negro League Baseball pioneer John “Buck” O’Neill were among the nine Americans awarded the prestigious Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush Friday during a White House ceremony. 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

12-18-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

12-18-06 EUR FEEDBACK: Bowlegged Lou on 'Dreamgirls'
DREAMGIRLS ... the movie was greater than great! Me, being a theatre major when I was in college and seeing the Broadway production of Dreamgirls like 5 times made me really appreciate the movie version. Read Full Story