01-16-09 EUR: Biggie Comes To The Big Screen / Will Smith Play Obama?

EUR Headlines - January 16, 2009

BIGGIE ON THE BIG SCREEN: Luke, Mackie, and newcomer Woolard take on legendary roles.
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*“Notorious,” the big screen adaptation of the story of iconic rapper Notorious B.I.G., opens today in theaters nationwide. The film stars newcomer Jamal Woolard in the title role, Derek Luke as Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur. Read Full Story

WILL SMITH TALKS POSSIBLE OBAMA ROLE: Actor says nothing is in the works, but he's ready 'to do my duty as an American.'
*During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama famously stated that he would prefer Will Smith to play him on the big screen should a movie ever be made about his life. Read Full Story

IDRIS ELBA TO JOIN NBC'S 'OFFICE': Actor to star as new rival to Steve Carell's character.
*British actor Idris Elba will appear in six episodes of the NBC sitcom "The Office" later this season. Read Full Story

INAUGURATION UPDATE: War, crowds complicate Obama inaugural security.
*Barack Obama's inauguration as the first U.S. black president will take place on Tuesday amid unprecedented security aimed at protecting him as well as the record crowds expected to attend. Read Full Story

NAOMI SETTLES ANOTHER LAWSUIT FROM EX-MAID: Lawyer says both sides are pleased with outcome.
*The legal issue between Naomi Campbell and her former maid, Gaby Gibson, has finally come to an end after both parties reached a settlement earlier this week. Read Full Story

NEW AT 'EUR THIS N THAT' BLOG: Dishin’ Dirt on Oprah, Puff Daddy, Mike Vick and more...
*As we move forward in this new year, in anticipation of a new president, we're bringing you something new as well. Presenting the EURthisNthat blog. Read Full Story

BAILEY BROADCASTING'S NEW OBAMA RADIO SPECIAL: 'Hail The Chief, The Dream Comes To Life' ready for Inaugration Day
*Not since we produced the iconic, award-winning "King: From Atlanta to the Mountaintop" have we been more excited about bringing an educational and entertaining biographic profile to the airwaves. Read Full Story

JEEZY TO PERFORM ORIGINAL SONG IN D.C.: Track to debut during inauguration party at Love nightclub.
*Young Jeezy will reportedly debut a new track during a Jan. 18 performance at Washington D.C. night club Love to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. Read Full Story

JASMINE GUY TO STAR IN MISS EVERS BOYS: Atlanta staging to run through the month of March.
*Jasmine Guy has been cast in David Feldshuh's 1992 Pulitzer Prize-nominated work Miss Evers Boys for Atlanta's True Colors Theatre Company. Read Full Story

BABY ON THE WAY FOR NAS AND KELIS: Us Weekly claims couple is expecting their first child.
*Rapper Nas and his wife, singer Kelis, are preparing for the arrival of their first child together, Us Weekly reported Wednesday. Read Full Story

MICHAEL JAI WHITE THROWN A 'BONE': Actor stars in film acquired by Sony at Sundance Festival.
*The underground fighting drama "Blood and Bone," toplined by actor Michael Jai White, was picked up by Sony Picutres Worldwide Acquisitions Group on the eve of the Sundance Film Festival, reports Variety. Read Full Story

FELA KUTI BIOPIC IN THE WORKS: Focus Features picks up rights to book about Nigerian musician.
*Focus Features is developing a biopic about Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and political maverick who gained fame in the U.S. for his fusion style of music known as Afrobeat. Read Full Story

CHEADLE INKS TV PRODUCTION DEAL: Actor to develop series projects under two-year pact with Universal Media Studios.
*NBC announced Thursday that Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle has signed a two-year production deal with parent company Universal Media Studios. Read Full Story

GLOBETROTTERS TO WEAR NUMBER 44 FOR OBAMA: Famous hoops squad to honor 44th president during games on Jan. 20.
*The Harlem Globetrotters will wear special No. 44 jerseys during their games on Jan. 20, to honor the incoming President-elect (and noted basketball fan) Barack Obama, the 44th president, on his inauguration day in Washington, D.C. Read Full Story

WILL.I.AM, LEGEND AT GREEN INAUGURAL BALL: Etheridge, Franti, Maroon 5 also tapped for event.
*Will.i.am and John Legend are among the artists scheduled to perform at the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. Read Full Story

J.LO AND MARC 'LOVE HARD AND FIGHT HARD': Star magazine claims their marital brawls have reached 'a whole new level.'
*The marriage of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony continues to fuel rumor mills and grace the cover of tabloid magazines. The latest talk is that the couple's relationship "is exploding." Read Full Story

DEATH ROW HEADED FOR AUCTION ON JAN. 25: Bankruptcy court approves public sale of label's assets.
*Troubled rap label Death Row will have its assets auctioned off on Jan. 25, thanks to a green light from U.S. Bankruptcy court. In 2008, numerous parties battled over ownership of the label after several sale closings fell through. Read Full Story

BLACK ENTERPRISE FOUNDER PRAISES OBAMA: Earl G. Graves Sr. writes a memo titled 'No More Excuses.'
*Earl G. Graves Sr., founder and publisher of Black Enterprise magazine, issues the following statement concerning the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America: No More Excuses... Read Full Story

PAULA DOWNPLAYS PAST CRITICISM OF 'IDOL': Judge backtracks regarding airtime given to her late stalker.
*Paula Abdul has done a complete 180 on her view of the way "American Idol" producers handled one of her alleged stalkers, who died in an apparent suicide outside of her Los Angeles home in November. Read Full Story

OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
Defiance (R for violence and profanity) Oscar-winner Edward Zwick (for Shakespeare in Love) directs this harrowing tale of survival, set in occupied Poland during World War II, recounting the heroic efforts of three brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) who escape into the forest where they join forces with Russian resistance fighters to save over 1,000 fellow Jews from the Nazis. Read Full Story

SAMUEL L. UNSURE ABOUT NICK FURY ROLE: Following 'Iron Man' cameo, actor says negotiations with Marvel 'broke down.'
*Samuel L. Jackson says his role as Nick Fury in future Marvel Studios films is not a done deal, despite appearing as the character in a post-credits cameo opposite Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man." 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

01-16-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page! Read Full Story