12-22-06 EUR: Jennifer Hudson's 'Dream' Comes True / Twin Girls for Diddy

EUR Headlines

JENNIFER HUDSON'S 'DREAMGIRLS' DREAM CAME TRUE: Hollywood newcomer steals the show.
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Of all the buzz surrounding the upcoming film “Dreamgirls,” the name on everyone’s lips is screen newcomer Jennifer Hudson. The powerhouse singer and now acclaimed actress makes her film debut in the movie as pinnacle character Effie White, the original lead of the “fictional” girl group in the flick, which is patterned after the controversial story of the Supremes and original lead singer Florence Ballard. Read Full Story

DIDDY’S TWIN GIRLS ARE BORN IN MANHATTAN: Mogul flew in from Toronto just in time for their arrival.
*Sean “Diddy” Combs was in Toronto filming the ABC movie “A Raisin in the Sun” when he was informed that his longtime girlfriend Kim Porter was ready to deliver their twin girls. Read Full Story

UNCENSORED TIMBERLAKE ‘SNL’ VIDEO AN INTERNET HIT: NBC’s Web site ran explicit version, which of course ended up on YouTube.
*Last weekend, Justin Timberlake hosted “Saturday Night Live” and appeared in a special Christmas-themed “SNL digital short that has taken the Internet by storm. Read Full Story

WE REMEMBER MIKE EVANS: TV veteran, best known as the first Lionel on ‘The Jeffersons’ and co-creator of ‘Good Times,’ died earlier this month at age 57.
*Mike Evans, best known for his role as Lionel Jefferson on "All In he Family" and in the first three seasons of its spin-off "The Jeffersons," died peacefully with family, on December 14, 2006 after a battle with throat cancer, said his niece Dr. Chrystal Evans. Read Full Story

UCLA TAPS HUDLIN FOR THEATER SCHOOL BOARD: Dean says BET head is ‘a role model for young African Americans.’
*Filmmaker and Black Entertainment Television president Reginald Hudlin has been named to the executive board of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, reports Variety. Read Full Story

EDDIE MURPHY: The Dreamgirls Interview with Kam Williams
*Born in Brooklyn on April 3, 1961, Edward Regan Murphy began appearing on stage at the age of 15, doing a combination of impersonations and side-splitting observational humor. While still in his teens, he joined the ensemble cast of Saturday Night Live, and was instantly catapulted to superstardom. Read Full Story

DONNELL ‘ASHY’ RAWLINGS ON ART OF STAYING EMPLOYED: Former ‘Chappelle’s Show’ regular haunted by its sudden cancellation.
*In an interview with the New York Daily News, Donnell Rawlings explains the reason behind his willingness to co-host a morning radio show, nurture a standup-comedy career, and take regular acting gigs in TV and film projects – all at the same time. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Dreamgirls
By Kam Williams
*Generally speaking, this critic has been woefully underwhelmed by latter-day screen adaptations of celebrated Broadway musicals. The primary problem with the genre has been that even as films, they still tend to look like stage productions, thereby failing to take advantage of the array of spatial, temporal, visual, aural and technical enhancements suddenly made available by the shift to the cinematic medium. Read Full Story

BEYONCE’S ‘IRREPLACEABLE’ CONTINUES CHART REIGN: Song stays atop Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100 and R&B/Hip Hop charts.
*If “Dreamgirls” does big box office Monday as expected, Beyonce may be the first artist since J.Lo to have a number one song and film at the same time. Read Full Story

PRINCE CONTRIBUTES TO JONI MITCHELL TRIBUTE CD: Artist puts his twist on singer’s classic “A Case of You.”
*Prince has always credited Joni Mitchell as one of his biggest musical influences. The eternal fan continues to honor the folk legend as one of 11 vocalists chosen to cover one of her tunes on the CD, “A Tribute to Joni Mitchell.” Read Full Story

IVERSON TALKS ABOUT TRADE TO DENVER: NBA star gives first post-trade interview to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
*In his first interview since being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Denver Nuggets, point guard Allen Iverson tells ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that he never demanded the trade, but is certainly happy with the outcome. Read Full Story

OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
*The Good Shepherd (R for sex, expletives and violence) Robert De Niro directs and co-stars in this espionage drama about a Skull and bones frat boy (Matt Damon), recruited into the CIA right out of Yale, whose innocence and idealism are gradually eroded by the realization that his commitment to fighting the Cold War comes at a cost that takes an increasing toll on his family. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci, Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton and William Hurt. Read Full Story

VERDICT REACHED IN WILLIAMS SISTERS LAWSUIT: Father of tennis stars found liable but won’t have to pay damages.
*A verdict was finally reached in the breach of contract case against the Williams sisters and their father Richard. Read Full Story

COP WHO MADE BLACK MEN RAP CLEARED: Arizona sergeant will not be disciplined for controversial actions.
*The Tempe, Ariz. Police sergeant who told two black men they could rap their way out of a littering ticket will not be disciplined for his actions, officials said. (See video of their “performance” below.) Read Full Story

ALVIN AILEY TO LAUNCH 2007 TOUR IN ATLANTA: Famed dance troupe to perform classic Revelations and debut new work.
*Fresh off the heels of its critically acclaimed, record-breaking season in New York, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) begins its 2007 North American tour in Atlanta at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, February 1-4, 2007. Read Full Story

SMITH, OBAMA, BRADLEY AMONG MOST WELL MANNERED: Trio make list from National League of Junior Cotillions.
*The late Ed Bradley, NFL vet Emmitt Smith and Sen. Barack Obama have made a list of the "Ten Best-Mannered People of 2006," as named by the National League of Junior Cotillions. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: Halle singing rumors denied; Stefani inhabits J.Lo crib; N. Richie cancels holiday gig; ’30 Rock’/‘Friday Night Lights’ online;
*Rumors of Halle Berry recording an album due in February continue to make its way around the Internet. 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

12-22-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
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