12-17-07 EUR: Will Smith is a Box Office 'Legend'; He Brings in $76 Million

EUR Headlines

WILL SMITH'S 'LEGEND' RULES BOX OFFICE: Plus, actor's foundation discovered to have donated money to Scientology literacy campaign.
*Warner Bros hoped that its Will Smith blockbuster "I Am Legend" would take in at least $40 million or so at the box office this weekend. It ended up banking $76.5 million - giving the studio the biggest December opening of any film in history. Read Full Story

MEMORIAL SERVICES SET FOR IKE TURNER: Public viewing to take place Thursday.
*A public viewing for late rock 'n' roll pioneer Ike Turner will be held on Thursday in Los Angeles with funeral services to follow the next day in Gardena, his management has confirmed. Read Full Story

DENZEL VISITS EAST TEXAS SETTING OF 'DEBATERS': Actor attends screening near campus of Wiley College.
*Denzel Washington and the young stars of his new film "The Great Debaters" attended a special screening in Marshall, Texas Thursday to salute the town that produced the 1930s debate team portrayed in the Golden Globe-nominated movie. Read Full Story

NOBODY WANTS VICK'S VIRGINIA PROPERTY: Site of 'Bad Newz Kennels' fails to sell at auction. Plus, last dog fighting co-defendant is sentenced.
*A real estate developer who had purchased Michael Vick's former dog fighting headquarters in Virginia with plans to flip it for a quick profit experienced a rude awakening Saturday when the property failed to sell at auction. Read Full Story

'TOP MODEL'S' SALEISHA SCANDAL: Did last week's winner have more ties to exec-producer/host Tyra than disclosed?
*Less than 48 hours after 19-year-old Los Angeles resident Saleisha Stowers took the Cycle 9 crown on "America's Next Top Model," rumors began circulating that her victory may not have been all that fair. Read Full Story

JASON KIDD ACCUSED OF GROPING A MODEL: Woman sues New Jersey Nets star following incident at NY club two months ago.
*Jason Kidd has been sued by a 23-year-old model who claims the New Jersey Nets guard groped and threatened her at a Manhattan nightclub two months ago. Read Full Story

JAY-Z OPENS UP TO BILLBOARD: Mogul reflects on wild 2007; keeps eye on changing scope of music industry.
*For the umpteenth time, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter talks about the persistent rumors regarding his status at Def Jam, but also reflects on the label's boat-load of Grammy nods, the reception of his "Kingdom Come" and "American Gangster" albums and much more in an interview with Billboard.com. Read Full Story

RIHANNA'S 'UMBRELLA' WAS A MARY J. REJECT: Blige says she was offered the song first but said it wasn't her style.
*Mary J. Blige says she was given the song "Umbrella" first before it was shopped to Def Jam starlet Rihanna and turned into one of the biggest songs of 2007. Read Full Story

WESLEY SNIPES DEFENDS RACE CARD: Actor says his blackness is as much of a target to the feds as his alleged tax fraud.
*After laying low for a minute following eight counts of tax fraud, Wesley Snipes is suddenly everywhere – in Las Vegas at the Floyd Mayweather fight, in random paparazzi photos and giving his first major interview since being indicted in October 2006. Read Full Story

VENUS GRADUATES FROM FASHION SCHOOL: Tennis star leaves Art Institute with associate degree in fashion design.
*Venus Williams has achieved yet another goal. On Thursday, the owner of 14 Grand Slam titles in tennis received an associated degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Read Full Story

RAP-A-LOT CEO SUES BET, APPLE OVER 'GANGSTER' EPISODE: J. Prince claims network gave impression that he was guilty of alleged murders.
*Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James "J. Prince" Prince filed a 13-page lawsuit against BET, Apple and Viacom claiming the companies used his image and that of his Rap-A-Lot employee Thomas Randle without permission as part of BET's series "American Gangster." Read Full Story

ACTORS FILL ROLES FOR NEW JUICE CREW FILM: Gooding, David Banner, Evan Ross, Jackie Long, Idris Elba, Clifton Powell land parts.
*Joining Keke Palmer in the role of Roxanne Shante in the upcoming indie film about the hip hop's Juice Crew will be Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as founder/producer Marley Marl, rapper David Banner as Biz Markie and Diana Ross' son Evan Ross as MC Shan, reports blackfilm.com. Read Full Story

EMINEM'S MAMA PENS TELL-ALL: Debbie Nelson paints son as a manic depressive who lost control.
*Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, has written a tell-all book about her famous son that claims his depression has been a life-long struggle that worsened 11 years ago, after his ex-wife Kim Mathers gave birth to their daughter, Hailie. Read Full Story

MARVIN GAYE'S 1978 DIVORCE ALBUM EXPANDED: Remixes accompany remastered 'Here, My Dear,' about split from Anna Gordy.
*Marvin Gaye 1978 album, "Here, My Dear," was criticized at the time for its then uncommercial sound and uncharacteristically-personal lyrics written in a deliberate attempt to alienate his label, Motown. Read Full Story

MAGAZINE BITS: Barack Obama covers Black Enterprise; Essence Literary Awards honor Terry McMillan.
*Black Enterprise hit the campaign trail with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, gaining exclusive insight into his platform and strategy. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: I Am Legend
By Kam Williams
*Written by Richard Matheson in 1954, I Am Legend was a harrowing tale of survival pitting the last human alive against the horde of bloodthirsty vampires who had taken control of Earth. Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: Once
By Kam Williams
*A nameless, Dublin street musician (Glen Hansard) is missing his girlfriend who has moved to London. But everything changes the day he crosses paths with an-equally nameless, struggling singer/pianist (Marketa Irglova), a recent immigrant who left behind a husband in the Czech Republic. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: Superhead on Eddie's label; Thicke surprises wife; Pacman suspension appealed; Debt.com wants MiJac; Luke's Group; No. 3 Zahara; 'Dog' and CORE.
*Between paternity tests, court dates and wedding plans with Tracey Edmonds, Eddie Murphy has found time to launch a new record label, Murphy Entertainment, reports the New York Daily News. 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