02-28-07 EUR: Eddie Murphy's Exit / Jennifer Hudson's Dress / Foxy's Bust

EUR Headlines

EDDIE MURPHY’S REP ADDRESSES OSCAR NIGHT EXIT: Actor bounced after losing award; critics call him ‘sore loser’; rep doing damage control.
*Eddie Murphy’s publicist has come forward to address the criticism surrounding his decision to leave the Oscar ceremony once he lost the supporting actor award to “Little Miss Sunshine” star Alan Arkin. Read Full Story

MIJAC RESPONDS TO FLURRY OF RUMORS: Statement released addressing ‘American. Idol’; NBA All-Star Game; family tour; Vegas gig and leaked single.
In one fell swoop, Michael Jackson’s rep Raymone K. Bain is hoping to squash a number of rumors that have involved her high-profile client in the past weeks. Bain’s statement denies Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman’s report that Jackson will reluctantly go on tour with his family members, including Janet, because he is low on cash. Read Full Story

FOXY BROWN EXPLAINS LATEST ARREST: Rapper says she was dragged out of store half naked and racially harassed by cops.
*"The only crime I'm guilty of is being a young black woman," said rapper Foxy Brown, addressing her Feb. 15 arrest at a beauty supply store in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The artist, born Inga Marchand, spoke publicly about the incident for the first time Monday at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Read Full Story

JENNIFER HUDSON’S OSCAR DRESS DEBACLE: Fashionistas weren’t feeling it and neither was J-Hud, according to one report.
*That infamous brown Oscar de la Renta dress worn by Jennifer Hudson at the Academy Awards Sunday has been the object of ridicule by several members of the fashion police, but word has it that the “Dreamgirls” star was bullied into wearing it by her new fashion consultant, Andre Leon Talley. Read Full Story

JANET JACKSON TO STAR IN NEXT TYLER PERRY FLICK: Singer joins Jill Scott, Sharon Leal in ‘Why Did I Get Married.’
*Last seen on the big screen opposite Eddie Murphy in 2000’s “Nutty Professor II: The Clumps,” Janet Jackson will return to movie theaters as the star of Tyler Perry’s next feature, “Why Did I Get Married." Read Full Story

JAMES BROWN’S DNA DRAMA SORTED OUT: Agreement reached over how to collect the samples.
*A lawyer for James Brown’s partner Tomi Rae Hynie says an agreement has been reached regarding the manner in which DNA samples will be collected from the late entertainer’s body. Read Full Story

ICE CUBE TRADES ‘FRIDAY’ FOR ‘SUNDAY’: Actor-rapper stars in directorial debut of playwright David E. Talbert.
*Ice Cube has signed on to star in the Screen Gems film “First Sunday,” which marks the feature directing debut of successful playwright, David E. Talbert. Read Full Story

VICTOR FIELDS: ‘Thinking of You’
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*There are reasons why it’s called smooth jazz. One is the smooth sound of sultry vocalist Victor Fields. With his fourth album in stores, the artist, called a “soulful singer with a jazzy feel,” has got the genre covered – literally. Read Full Story

BLAIR UNDERWOOD TO DIRECT VING RHAMES: Film centers on four men who create an elite escort service.
*Actor Blair Underwood will step behind the camera to direct “The Bridge to Nowhere,” an indie drama starring Ving Rhames in the story of four blue-collar men who team with a destitute prostitute to create a high-priced escort service. Read Full Story

WHITAKER’S EX-GIRLFRIEND DISHES IN LONDON TABLOID: Mother of son Ocean says she wants Oscar winner back.
*London tabloid News of the World is trying to rain on the parade of Oscar winner Forest Whitaker with the recent interview of Monique Miller, the actor’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his 16-year-rold son, Ocean. Read Full Story

LAPD EYEING SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS: He's under investigation for assault and battery.
*According to TMZ.com, Sean "Diddy" Combs is living up to his bad boy alter ego again. The website says the LAPD is currently investigating him because he's being accused of attacking a man Sunday night at an Oscar party in Hollywood. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: The Astronaut Farmer
By Kam Williams
*For as long as he can remember, Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) has wanted to rocket into outer space. So, all his life, he worked hard towards that goal, earning a degree in aerospace engineering and enlisting in the Air Force to become a pilot. He had even been admitted to NASA’s astronaut training program, when a family emergency forced him to withdraw, seemingly forever dashing his hopes for experiencing spaceflight. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Soul Music Summit in ATL; Patti Austin in Culver City; Kindred at D.C.’s Breaking the Chain concert.
*The International Soul Music Summit (ISMS), the largest music conference dedicated to the soul genre, returns to Atlanta July 25 through 29 with a new theme (Underground Meets Mainstream: It's Time to Connect), more artists, networking and nightlife activities. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: ‘Dancing’ book; Santa Monica buses drop ‘Top Model’; Diaz and Tyrese?; Keith Sweat Hotel; Oprah wants Kidman’s man.
*ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” will soon be available as a coffee table book that will chronicle the fitness regiment involved in getting celebrity couples in top ballroom dance form. 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

02-28-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EDDIE MURPHY'S REP ADDRESSES OSCAR NIGHT EXIT: Actor bounced after losing award; critics call him 'sore loser'; rep doing damage control. Read Full Story

02-27-07 EURxtra: Bobby Brown Arrested at Daughter's School

EUR Headlines

BOBBY BROWN ARRESTED AT DAUGHTER’S SCHOOL: Singer sentenced to 10-30 days behind bars for skipping child support hearing.
*Bobby Brown was still in jail as of press time Monday evening after Massachusetts police, armed with an arrest warrant, caught up with him at his daughter’s high school Sunday for failing to appear at a child support hearing in October. Read Full Story

JAMES BROWN CASE TURNING ANNA NICOLE-ISH: Estate asks for DNA to be collected from singer’s body.
*Looks like Papa got a brand new mess. Trustees overseeing the estate of James Brown have petitioned a South Carolina court to allow DNA samples to be taken from the singer's body in the event that random individuals show up claiming to be his kids. Read Full Story

CHARLES DUTTON BACK ON PRIME TIME TV: Veteran actor to join Michael Ealy in ABC’s ‘Suspect.’
*Baltimore native Charles S. Dutton has joined the cast of ABC’s "Suspect," a procedural drama pilot that catches the bad guy by following all of the suspects in a crime. Read Full Story

FATHER OF LUDACRIS DIES IN ATLANTA: Rapper asks fans for privacy to grieve.
*Wayne Brian Bridges, the father of rapper-actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, died Sunday in an Atlanta hospital following a long undisclosed illness, said the artist’s publicist. He was 52. Read Full Story

VIOLA DAVIS SET FOR NBC PILOT: Tony-winning actress joins cast of crime drama ‘Fort Pit.’
*Tony-winning actress Viola Davis, last seen as Fantasia Barrino’s mama in the Lifetime film “Life is Not a Fairytale,” has joined the cast of the new NBC pilot "Fort Pit." Read Full Story

COMPANY PRESSES ‘PAUSE’ ON RAY J SEX TAPE: Plus, singer-actor seen escorting Lil Kim around Los Angeles in a Ferrari.
*Porn company Vivid Entertainment has agreed to halt distribution of a sex tape featuring Brandy’s little brother Ray-J and his ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian. Read Full Story

MISA HYLTON DISCUSSES 12-YEAR-OLD SON’S LAPDANCE: Mama says she and Diddy ‘don’t play’ that kind of behavior from Justin.
*Just days after Misa Hylton squashed false rumors of her seeking more child support from ex-boyfriend Diddy for their 12-year-old son Justin, the stylist has made headlines again after pictures of Justin receiving a lap-dance surfaced on the Internet. Read Full Story

WU TANG, RAGE TO CO-HEADLINE SUMMER SHOWS: Rappers reunite with political rockers for trio of concerts.
*The Wu-Tang Clan will once again share a concert bill with Rage Against The Machine for three separate shows to be held this summer. The acts, who first paired for a tour in 1997, will reunite Aug. 11 and 18 at the Rock the Bells Festival in San Bernardino, Calif., and San Francisco, respectively, and are also on the bill for the event's East Coast debut, to be held July 28 at New York's Randalls Island. Read Full Story

WHITAKER AMONG SIMMONS’ ‘GREEN’ BLING BRIGADE: Oscar winner wears green bracelet to support Africa initiative.
*Forest Whitaker is the latest African American celebrity to be photographed with a green bracelet supporting the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.), founded by Russell Simmons with the purpose of donating funds from the sale of Simmons Jewelry Company's Green Initiative collection back to Africa for educational programs. Read Full Story

HEART AILMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED NASH DEATH: Mother says condition may run in her family.
*Kim Nash, the mother of deceased Denver Broncos running back Damien Nash, believes a heart ailment may have caused her son to collapse Saturday after coming home from a charity basketball game he'd organized on behalf of his brother, Darris Nash. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: The Number 23
By Kam Williams
*Jim Carrey is a comedic genius who has perfected playing one specific sort of role in one specific genre of film. If you haven’t noticed, the rubber-faced clown is at his very best in the same chameleon-like role which invariably calls for him to transform from a mild-mannered Everyman into a stark, raving-mad lunatic. Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: Tideland
By Kam Williams
*Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), the lonely, little daughter of a couple of strung-out heroin-addicts, has been so neglected by her dysfunctional parents that she was essentially expected to raise herself. Read Full Story

THE RETURN OF KUNTA KINTE: Warner Home Video bolsters re-release of ‘Roots’ DVD with bonus disc.
*Unavailable on DVD since 2004, Warner Home Video will re-release the seminal mini-series ‘Roots” in a 30th Anniversary Special Edition on May 22. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Niecy’s birthday; Essence/Berklee contest; Lewis, Calloway in ‘Divorce’; NABFEME’s Luncheon; Public Enemy/X-Clan at SXSW.
*Actress-comedian Niecy Nash, star of the new movie “Reno 911: Miami” and The Style Network’s “Clean House,” will be feted in Los Angeles tomorrow (Feb. 28) with a star-studded birthday celebration hosted by Seagram’s Gin & Juice Tropical Thunder. Read Full Story

EUR FEEDBACK: Author of 'Ghetto Rhymes' responds criticism from 'brothers and sisters.'
Hello Mr. Bailey. Thank you for posting an article about my daughter and I and our book 'Ghetto Rhymes' (in the Feb 20, 2007 edition of EUR). I have read the article and read the posts on your site. I would like to comment on some of the remarks, so that your audience can know a bit more about us. 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

02-27-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

02-26-07 EUR: Jennifer & Forest Win Oscars, but Eddie Doesn't

EUR Headlines

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO ... Jennifer Holiday and Forest Whitaker bring it home.
*It didn't quite work out exactly the way a lot of folks would've liked, but congrats to Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker for winning best supporting actress and best actor Oscars respectively at last night's Academy Awards. Unfortunately Eddie Murphy lost his bid for best supporting actor. Read Full Story

FANTASIA ANNOUNCED AS THE NEXT ‘MISS CELIE’: Barrino, herself, makes it official during Thursday’s ‘Idol’ appearance.
*After weeks of rumors, Fantasia Barrino used the “American Idol” platform that made her famous to announce that she will take over the role of Miss Celie in Broadway’s “The Color Purple.” Read Full Story

MIJAC RUMORS ADDRESSED: No ‘American Idol’ this season; tour with Janet and siblings in the works?; did singer convert to Islam?
*If you believe the most recent Michael Jackson reports that have surfaced over the past two days, the singer will not appear on “American Idol,” he may have already converted to Islam and he will reunite with his siblings to go on a music tour because he’s broke. Read Full Story

DISHIN’ DIRT WITH YOUR GIRL: Breakin’ down the Oscars
By Sony in the ATL / dishin.dirt@yahoo.com
What’s up y’all! Here is the run down ... The 79th annual Academy Awards took place last night and of course it was the biggest thing happening in “LaLa Land.” The Academy Awards is usually long and boring but this year to my surprise it was FABULOUS! Read Full Story

AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL: California, Here it Comes
By Kenya M. Yarbrough
After a four-year stay in Miami's South Beach, the American Black Film Festival is heading West. In its ninth year, the film festival – like so many starry-eyed thespians, writers, and producers – is packing up and going to Hollywood. Organizer Jeff Friday, who is also President and CEO of Film Life Inc, says that the festival is ready for next level. Or as they say in Tinsel Town; ready for its close-up. Read Full Story

FILMMAKER SUES HBO’S ‘BASTARDS’ OVER FOOTAGE: Matthew McDaniel says doc used 1992 riots clips without asking.
*African-American filmmaker Matthew McDaniel was shocked to see video footage he shot during the 1992 Los Angeles riots as part of the recent HBO documentary “Bastards of the Party,” especially since no one involved with the film asked him if the clips could be used. Read Full Story

BUSTA RHYMES ARRESTED AGAIN: Latest charge comes Thursday after rapper runs a red light in New York.
*Busta Rhymes has been arrested yet again, this time for driving with a suspended license after cops stopped him in New York for running a red light. Read Full Story

BOW WOW VS. R. KELLY: WHO’S THE BIGGER ‘FLIRT?’: Both are the same, according to Billboard.
*With both R. Kelly and Bow Wow claiming to be a flirt over identical tracks in their latest singles “I’m A Flirt,” Billboard magazine has come up with an interesting way to chart the rare phenomenon…view them both as one single. Read Full Story

VENUS WILLIAMS WINS CELLULAR SOUTH CUP: Serena’s big sister beats top seed 6-1, 6-1 to earn first win since wrist injury.
*Poor Shahar Peer of Israel must wake up in the middle of the night and have nightmares about the Williams sisters, as she has now been beaten in dramatic fashion by both Venus and Serena. Read Full Story

DENVER RUNNING BACK DAMIEN NASH DIES SUDDENLY: Athlete collapses at a charity basketball game in St. Louis.
*The Denver Broncos organization has suffered another tragic loss with the sudden death of running back Damien Nash. The 24-year-old reportedly collapsed at a charity basketball game in suburban St. Louis on Saturday, which comes just two months after the shooting death of Broncos corner back Darrent Williams on New Year's Eve Read Full Story

BOBBY BROWN JUST NEEDS A BREAK: Singer talks about career path, says he and Whitney remain friends.
*Bobby Brown showed up at the annual pre-Oscar Vanity Fair party at LA’s Boulevard 3 Thursday night “dressed in a three-piece suit and acting so sweet that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth,” recounts Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman. Read Full Story

TIM HARDAWAY FACING TWO LAWSUITS: Washington Mutual says he hasn’t paid mortgage; car wash landlord sues for back rent.
*When it rains, it pours for Tim Hardaway. As footage of the former Miami Heat guard naked in the locker room continues to circulate in the wake of his recent gay tirade, two separate parties have sued the ex-athlete for non-payment. Read Full Story

NICK CANNON MARRIES VICTORIA SECRET MODEL? Us magazine claims he put a ring on her finger in Vegas last weekend.
*After just three weeks of dating, entertainer Nick Cannon has reportedly tied the knot with Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks. Read Full Story

WAYANS BROS. WIN THREE RAZZIES: Shawn and Marlon rewarded for their God-awful, ‘Little Man.’
*While Sharon Stone and her film “Basic Instinct 2” picked up four Razzies to lead the list of winners for the year’s worst in Hollywood, the Wayans Bros. came in second with three trophies for their 2006 comedy, “Little Man.” Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: The Heart of the Game
By Kam Williams
Seattle and focuses primarily on the plight of only one promising prospect instead of a pair. In this case, that talented teenager is Darnellia Russell, a shooting sensation who, with the blessing of her single-mom opts to attend Roosevelt High instead of Garfield, the inner-city school located in the 'hood. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Reno 911!: Miami
By Kam Williams
*Led by Lieutenant Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon), a detail of eight officers have been designated to represent the City of Reno at a national police convention in Miami Beach, Florida. This is no ordinary contingent of cops, but rather a motley crew of weirdos, starting with the light in his gumshoes Dangle, who has highlights in his hair and always wears shorts in order "to be able to run like a cheetah." Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: Howard and Campbell?; Winfrey’s ‘Oscar Special’; Starz InBlack programming; BET’s ‘Runway.’
*Another couple has been added to the rumor mill. Actor Terrence Howard showed up at a pre-Oscar party last weekend with none other than housekeeper-beater, Naomi Campbell, triggering a flurry of chatter that the two are now an item. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Shots fired during Trina concert; Lloyd Banks in FreeStyle Street Basketball; Dupri’s clothing line.
*A concert featuring rapper Trina was marred by gunshots early Saturday outside a Pompano Beach, FL strip club, resulting in the injury of seven people and the arrest of a 17-year-old, reports allhiphop.com. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Carl Lewis returns; Lennox Lewis returns? Lamar Lundy passes.
*Nine-time Olympic track-and-field champion Carl Lewis is not at all pleased with the sport that made him an international superstar. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: DuVernay keynotes Diversity Conference; Clinton keynotes NAACP Dinner; ‘The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode.’
*Congratulations to Ava DuVernay – founder of the PR firm DuVernay Agency (DVA) and the rep assigned to promote "Dreamgirls” – for being chosen as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Annual Diversity Conference. 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

02-23-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
*After a four-year stay in Miami's South Beach, the American Black Film Festival is heading West. In its ninth year, the film festival - like so many starry-eyed thespians, writers, and producers - is packing up and going to Hollywood. Read Full Story