07-31-07 EURextra: Usher Wedding Update; Tameka is first to speak out

EUR Headlines

MORE FALLOUT FROM USHER’S NEAR WEDDING: Tameka is first to speak out; Meanwhile, Ursh reunites with Mom.
*Welcome back to the Usher & Tameka Foster soap opera or train wreck, if you prefer. The latest in the ongoing public drama is that Tameka has now spoken out about all the rumors and speculation about her wedding to Usher that was called off at the last minute this past weekend. Read Full Story

MICHAEL VICK CO-DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY: Man says Falcons QB financed bulk of the illegal operation.
*Tony Taylor, a co-defendant in Michael Vick’s federal dogfighting conspiracy case, pleaded guilty Monday as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Read Full Story

NAACP RAILS AGAINST PUBLIC TREATMENT OF MICHAEL VICK: Group’s ATL chapter calls for restraint.
*The Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is fed up with the perceived public vilification of NFL quarterback Michael Vick before he’s even had his day in court on federal dogfighting charges. Read Full Story

PACMAN JONES TO TRY WRESTLING DURING SUSPENSION?: Cornerback reportedly joins Nashville-based pro-wrestling league.
*Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has apparently found something to occupy his time during his upcoming suspension from the NFL. Read Full Story

OPRAH PUT ON BLAST BY JAMES FREY’S EDITOR: Woman says host had ‘bad manners’ toward the author.
*The editor and publisher of James Frey’s memoir “A Million Little Pieces” has expressed disdain for the way Oprah Winfrey treated the author during his mea culpa appearance on her talk show. Read Full Story

WALTERS CONFIRMS ‘VIEW’ ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK: Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd still expected to join show.
*Despite a Los Angeles Times report that producers of ABC’s “The View” have settled on Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd as permanent co-hosts, the network is telling folks to keep the champagne on ice until an official announcement has been made. Read Full Story

TINA KNOWLES TO INVADE HSN WITH CLOTHING LINE: Beyonce’s mama prepares for ‘Miss Tina’ debut next month.
*Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, will debut her new clothing line on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) next month as part of its Fall Fashion Week. Read Full Story

THE SIMPLE LIFE FADES TO BLACK: …in more ways than one. E! reportedly cancels the show; Paris films episode in blackface.
*The Insider is reporting that E! Entertainment Television has had about all it can stomach of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Read Full Story

J-HUD PERFORMS FOR CLIVE DAVIS: Plus, the face of Avon’s Imari Seduction makes official debut.
*Jennifer Hudson serenaded BMG head honcho Clive Davis recently at a lunch honoring the record mogul with UJA's Music Visionary of 2007 award. Read Full Story

JOHN SINGLETON TORN BETWEEN ‘CAGE’ AND ‘PANTHER’: Director trying to decide which film to do first.
*John Singleton, who is tapped to direct a big screen adaptation of Marvel comics hero “Luke Cage,” says he’s just been approached about shooting a film version of Marvel’s “Black Panther.” Read Full Story

MOS DEF, TALIB KWELI TO HEADLINE ‘BLACK AUGUST’: 10th annual concert to be held in New York.
*Hip hop artists Mos Def, Talib Kweli and dead prez return for their tenth year as headline performers at the 10th Annual celebration of the Black August Hip Hop Project. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: Floetry breakup?; Rihanna’s UK run over; Star Jones hates sexism; O.J. live on the Web; ‘Wake Up Show’ DVD; Diggs frolics in Vegas.
*The blog spot Young Black and Fabulous is reporting that Natalie “the Floacist” Stewart has left the group, Floetry. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Jim Brown still against gangs; Corey Simon still missing; we remember Bill Walsh.
*Jim Brown was in Florida Monday to help launch a new statewide anti-gang program patterned after his own “Amer-I-Can” program, which has helped gang members transition out of the life since the early 1990s. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Tom Joyner in New Orleans; LA Stars event in Aug; Woody Wilson fashion show; Celebrity Catwalk for Charity.
*In an effort to continue to bring awareness to the city of New Orleans and in commemoration of the 2nd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Tom Joyner Morning Show will broadcast from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: This Is England
By Kam Williams
*It’s the summer of ‘83, and 12 year-old Shaun Fields (Thomas Turgoose) is in dire need of a surrogate father. Afterall, the school year has just ended leaving the lonely lad to focus on the absence of his dad who has recently died fighting for England in the Falklands War. Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: Zodiac
By Kam Williams
*Beginning in the late Sixties, the San Francisco Bay Area was kept on edge by a brazen serial killer who called himself Zodiac. For not only did this maniac murder many people during his bloody reign of terror, but he teased and terrorized the public by sending cryptic coded messages bragging about his exploits to the local newspapers. 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

07-31-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page

07-27-07 EUR: Record Execs Seek Presidential Pardon For Ronald Isley

EUR Headlines

RECORD EXECS SEEK PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR MR. BIGGS: Ron Isley scheduled to report to the big house August 7.
*With less than two weeks before his incarceration date for tax evasion, Ron Isley hopes a presidential pardon will be his get out of jail card. Chances are slim, but Def Jam executives are behind the effort. Read Full Story

ETTA JAMES HOSPITALIZED: Medical problems cause legendary singer to miss tour.
*Legendary Blues singer Etta James is reported to be in stable condition in a Los Angeles hospital suffering from complications following abdominal surgery. Read Full Story

VICK PLEADS INNOCENT: Atlanta QB released without bond on dog fighting charges.
*A November 26 court date has been set for NFL quarterback Michael Vick after he pleaded not guilty Thursday in Richmond to federal dog fighting charges. Vick was released without bond. Read Full Story

'WHO'S YOUR CADDY' TEES OFF TODAY: Big Boi and Tracey Edmonds talk up new film
*Big screen comedy "Who's Your Caddy," the debut offering from Bob Johnson's Our Stories Films company, opens today in theaters nationwide. The flick stars Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, Faizon Love, Tamala Jones, and Li'l Wayne, to name a few Read Full Story

CHAMILLIONAIRE ISN'T CONCERNED ABOUT CURTIS JACKSON: Rapper Says Fiddy's War of Words is For Show.
*When it comes to feuds, rapper Chamillionaire says words don't hurt him. So he refuses to respond to comments made about him by 50 Cent, saying he believes the G-Unit star is just creating publicity. Read Full Story

NICK CANNON WANTS TO BE A DRAMA KING: Actor wants Meatier Roles.
*Most men want to get as far away from drama as possible, but for actor Nick Cannon, he wants more of it. The actor, rapper and comedian hopes his appearance in the upcoming film "American Son" will make Hollywood casting agents look at him in a more serious light. Read Full Story

ICE-T GOES BACK TO HIS FIRST LOVE: He's Set to Perform In Brazil
*Although to prime-time TV addicts, he's probably best known for his most recent role as a police detective, Ice-T is going back to the talent that put him on the map: rapping. Read Full Story

MOTHER OF ALLEGED ASSAULT VICTIM SPEAKS OUT: Accuses Tony Yaya of Bad Pattern of Behavior.
*As reported, G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo rejected a prosecutor's deal in a Manhattan courtroom earlier this week that would have sent him to jail for nine months if he plead guilty to assaulting the 14-year-old son of Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond. Read Full Story

R. KELLY'S 'CLOSET' COMING TO DVD: New IFC deal includes saga's release on home video as well as cable broadcast.
*As R. Kelly prepares for child pornography trial, his "Trapped in the Closet" music video collection makes its way toward a full DVD release on Aug. 21 via Jive. Read Full Story

HAROLD PERRINEAU RETURNS TO 'LOST': President of ABC reluctantly makes announcement Wednesday.
It was announced Wednesday morning by ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson that Michael, played by Harold Perrineau, will find his way back to the people he deceived when the show returns for its fourth season. Read Full Story

PAULA ABDUL AXED FROM 'BRATZ': Word has it she was 'a nightmare to deal with.'
*Producers of the new live action film version of "Bratz" have reportedly had enough of Paula Abdul. The loopy "American Idol" judge - who has said previously that she was the film's choreographer, costume designer and executive producer - is now none of the above, reports the New York Post. Read Full Story

LONE BLACK EYED PEA ANNOUNCES ALBUM RELEASE: Will.i.am Hopes Debut Effort Is A Hit.
*After producing musical hits for artists of nearly every genre, Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas hopes he can create the same magic for himself. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: Jay-Z Agrees To Pay Wrestler; Banner's 'Story'; TV One nabs Baisden; XM nabs Jolley.
*Rap Mogul Jay-Z has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to wrestler Diamond Dallas Page for trademark infringement. According to the suit, Jay-Z's hand symbol, which he flashes in music videos for his record label, Roc-A-Fella Records, is trademarked by Page. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: 'Rick Ross Be Out Day'; Mos Def, Talib Kweli at Black August Festival.
*Miami rapper Rick Ross has teamed with Magic Johnson's Burger King Restaurants to host the 1st Annual Rick Ross Be Out Day on Aug. 8 from 12 to 5 p.m. at Miami Carol City Senior High School. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: The Camden 28
By Kam Williams
By 1971, the sentiment of the majority of Americans had swung to the side of the burgeoning antiwar movement, given the great number of boys returning home in body bags from Vietnam. Among those moved to civil disobedience was a group of Catholic conscientious objectors based in New Jersey. Read Full Story

OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS: I Know Who Killed Me (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, gory violence and gruesome images) Grisly psychological thriller starring Lindsay Lohan as a traumatized kidnap victim who manages to escape the clutches of a sadistic serial killer only to end up with amnesia and convinced that she's a stripper, a character she created in a short story for an English assignment. 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

07-27-07 EUR All On ONE PAGE
07-27-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE Read Full Story

07-26-07 EURextra: Beyonce's Camp Tries to Explain 'The Fall'

EUR Headlines

BEYONCE’S REP TALKS ABOUT ‘THE FALL’: Publicist tries to downplay tumble; plus, singer does pre-fall Q&A with AP.
*By now, everyone has seen Beyonce’s unfortunate "slide" down the stairs during her concert Tuesday night in Orlando. A rep for the singer has come forward with attempts to put the tumble in its proper context. Read Full Story

IS JAY-Z LEAVING DEF JAM FOR COLUMBIA?: Mogul reportedly trying to get away from Jermaine Dupri.
*The arrival of Jermaine Dupri as president of the Island Urban music division in February has apparently rankled the president of Island’s Def Jam label, Jay-Z. Read Full Story

RIHANNA CAPITALIZES ON CURRENT SINGLE: Singer reportedly teams with Totes to release own line of um-ber-rellas, ellas, ellas.
*British-based Web site NME.com is reporting that Rihanna will be releasing her own line of umbrellas in the wake of her monster hit single, “Umbrella,” which just became the longest-running U.K. number one single in a decade. Read Full Story

BOB JOHNSON TELLS OUR STORIES & TALKS 'MESS': BET Founder launches studio and new film.
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Robert L. Johnson can easily be counted as one of the top American media moguls. The entertainment executive founded the BET Network in 1980 and in 2004, he became the first African American to be the principal owner of a North American major-league sports franchise after acquiring the Charlotte Bobcats NBA expansion franchise. Late last year, Johnson founded Our Stories Films, a Los Angeles-based film company whose inaugural release "Who's Your Caddy?" opens nationwide this week. Read Full Story

LIL WAYNE; JA RULE ARREST UPDATES: Rappers released on bond; each rep swears guns weren’t theirs.
*Rappers Lil Wayne and Ja Rule, both arrested Sunday in separate incidents following Wayne’s concert in New York, are out on bond and claiming that the guns found in their cases were not theirs. Read Full Story

NJ COPS WANT SWIZZ BEATZ TO STOP ‘SNITCH’ TALK: But artist says they’re barking up the wrong tree.
*The police department in Camden, New Jersey is threatening to pull its sponsorship of today’s scheduled “Peace on the Streets” rally unless one of the performers, Swizz Beatz, agrees to stop his anti-snitching campaign. Read Full Story

JOHN SINGLETON TO DIRECT HALLE BERRY IN ‘TULIA’: ‘Boyz’ helmer replaces previous director, Carl Franklin.
*John Singleton has told Blackfilm.com that he will be replacing Carl Franklin as the director of “Tulia,” a Lionsgate film that reteams Halle Berry with her “Monster’s Ball” co-star Billy Bob Thornton. Read Full Story

USHER AND TAMEKA WEDDING RUMORS RETURN: Word has it that the ceremony will go down this weekend.
A source close to the couple tells OK! magazine that a ceremony will be held this weekend at music exec LA Reid’s estate in the Hamptons. The source said they want to have the wedding "sooner rather than later because they wanted to get married before Tameka has the baby." Read Full Story

MAGIC JOHNSON RECEIVES CIVIL RIGHTS AWARD: NBA star named Tuesday among Freedom Award honorees.
*Magic Johnson is among the list of people named Tuesday to receive the National Civil Rights Museum's annual Freedom Awards. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: More ‘Def Comedy Jam’; will.i.am on MiJac; Keys wants Stripes.
In September, Russell Simmons begins taping a new season of his landmark show “Def Comedy Jam” in Los Angeles following a deal that brings the series back to HBO for two more seasons Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Joe Jackson's b-day; ReverbNation New Blood Urban Showcase.
*Michael Jackson’s daddy, Joe Jackson, will host his own birthday party today in Las Vegas. The event, which promises to be “celebrity filled,” will double as a benefit for the Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes Foundation. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Your Mommy Kills Animals
By Kam Williams
*Did you know that PETA puts more pets to sleep than it finds homes for? Or that the Humane Society doesn't maintain a single animal pound or shelter, yet does fund lobbyists who raise hundreds of millions on its behalf by preying on the emotions of people who think their donations are being spent for the benefit of animals? Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg
By Kam Williams
*Poet Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) was among the handful of founding members of a literary movement that helped define what was known as the Beat Generation of the Fifties. 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

07-26-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
07-26-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE Read Full Story

07-25-07 EUR: Hear the 'Hot Ghetto' EURcast / R. Kelly Trial Finally Begins

EUR Headlines

JURY SELECTION FINALLY BEGINS IN R. KELLY TRIAL: Singer in court Friday for brief hearing.
*Another small step toward R. Kelly’s child pornography trial was taken Friday with the beginning of jury selection, reports the Chicago Tribune. Read Full Story

OPRAH WINFREY IS TV’S HIGHEST PAID STAR: Talk show host beats Simon Cowell and Judge Judy on TV Guide’s list.
*It should come as no surprise that Oprah Winfrey is the top earning television star in the U.S., with a $260 million yearly salary as host and supervising producer of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Read Full Story

TUPAC ESTATE VS. DEATH ROW: Afeni Shakur files injunction to keep label from releasing rapper’s songs from the vault.
*The estate of late rapper Tupac Shakur, run by his mother Afeni Shakur, has filed an injunction against his former label in federal bankruptcy court to try and keep the label from putting out his unreleased music. Read Full Story

A 'HOT GHETTO' EURCAST: We put you in the BET session of the Television Critics Assn Press Tour as execs try to defend its controversial new series.
BET's turn at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Beverly Hills began with a gospel choir greeting journalists to a traditional soul food lunch of catfish, mac & cheese, a barbeque chicken sandwich and iced tea. Read Full Story

SHEMAR MOORE ON PROBATION FOR SPEEDING CASE: Actor takes plea deal, has choice of wearing SCRAM bracelet.
*Fresh from the fallout over his gay beach photos in the nude, Shemar Moore is back in the headlines with the announcement of his punishment after pleading no contest in an alcohol-related speeding case. Read Full Story

JAMIE FOXX ESCAPES EXTRA DRAMA IN LAWSUIT: Stylist tried to expand nonpayment action to include mistreatment allegations.
*A stylist suing Jamie Foxx for nonpayment was unsuccessful in her attempt to expand the lawsuit Monday to include allegations that he also mistreated her. Read Full Story

BARRY BONDS’ EX LOVER TO TELL ALL: Kimberly Bell to discuss their relationship in November Playboy.
*Kimberly Bell, a former mistress of Barry Bonds and star witness in the government’s perjury investigation of the slugger, said Monday she will provide details about their relationship in the November issue of Playboy magazine. Read Full Story

J.LO AND HUBBY FORMALLY ANNOUNCE TOUR: Tickets for Sept. 29th launch in Atlantic City go on sale next month.
*Days after Marc Anthony told Billboard.com that he was planning a joint tour with his wife, Jennifer Lopez, the couple has announced they will officially hit the road together this fall. Read Full Story

MARCUS ALLEN IRKS PENTHOUSE PET: Woman says he’s being a bugaboo. His lawyer says it’s the other way around.
*The New York Post is reporting that former NFL star and 1981 Heisman Trophy winner, Marcus Allen, has completely creeped out the June 2007 Penthouse Pet, Kimberly Williams. Read Full Story

DIDDY DROPS BREAKUP SONG ABOUT PORTER: Plus, lawsuit accusing mogul of assault thrown out.
*Sean “Diddy” Combs was quick with a musical response addressing his recent breakup with longtime girlfriend Kim Porter. Read Full Story

TONY YAYO REJECTS PLEA DEAL: Rapper turns down offer of nine months in jail for slapping 14-year-old by.
*G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo turned down an offer Tuesday of spending nine months behind bars in exchange for pleading guilty to slapping the 14-year-old son of his rap rival. Read Full Story

COSBY SPEAKS AT PRISON GRADUATION: Comic entertains men who earn GEDs at Connecticut institution.
*Comedian Bill Cosby had inmates at Connecticut’s Enfield at Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution laughing out loud during the graduation ceremony of 27 men who had earned their high school equivalency diplomas or GEDs. Read Full Story

MICHAEL BAISDEN NOVEL HEADED TO BIG SCREEN: Carl Franklin to direct film adaptation of ‘Maintenance Man.’
*Screen Gems has chosen director Carl Franklin to helm “The Maintenance Man,” a novel from nationally-syndicated radio personality Michael Baisden about a gigolo in existential crisis. Read Full Story

VIN DIESEL’S ‘BABYLON’ BAILED OUT BY FINANCE CO.: But actor’s camp says it’s no big deal.
*Vin Diesel’s people are downplaying a recent report that his new science fiction flick, “Babylon A.D.,” had to be rescued by an insurance company after going way over budget. Read Full Story

MUSIQ SOULCHILD LAUNCHES LUVANMUSIQ TOUR: Singer to grace clubs and theaters through September.
*Musiq Soulchild will take his music to fans across the country on the Luvanmusiq Tour, which plays the second of a two-night stand tonight at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
By Kam Williams
*For years, Brooklyn firefighters Larry Valentine (Kevin James) and Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler) have been best friends, at least on the job, even though they lead very different private lives. Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: Unconscious (Inconscientes)
By Kam Williams
*It is Barcelona in 1913, a time when much of the world was inspired by Sigmund Freud to abandon Victorianism for much less repressed attitudes about sexuality. Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: Lisa Bonet’s baby; Lester Holt’s pad; Strahan & Murphy; ‘Nick Cannon’s Star Camp.’
*The Web site Celebrity Baby Blog is reporting that Lisa Bonet, 39, gave birth to a baby girl with 27-year-old boyfriend, Jason Momoa, an actor best known for his work on “Stargate Atlantis.” It’s the first child for Momoa and second for the actress, whose has an 18-year-old daughter, Zoe, with singer Lenny Kravitz. As of press time, the couple had yet to choose a name for the baby. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Dash sells home; Cassie steps up; Special K vs. Rick Rubin; Mos Def's Fitness Expo; Babyface's album.
*Rap mogul Damon Dash has sold his home in Southern California’s Benedict Canyon for $3.6 million, reports the Los Angeles Times. The Spanish villa, with accents of Moroccan designs, served as their home for five years. Built in 1999, the four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home is 5,800 with a loggia entry, an eat-in kitchen, a media room, three fireplaces and a pool. 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

07-25-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story