Keepingitreal

Video: Diddy Talks About His New Movie, “A Raisin In The Sun”

The CW reveals 'America's Next Top Model's tenth-season cast

The CW has revealed the identities of the wannabe models that will be walking the runway on America's Next Top Model's tenth season, which will premiere Wednesday, February 20 at 8PM ET/PT. Unlike the show's last four editions, Top Model 10 will feature 14 girls, tying the franchise record set by Top Model's Fall 2004 third season and Spring 2005 fourth season. Top Model 10's cast ranges in age between 18 and 24 and includes two hostesses, two girls who work in retail sales and four students.  The tenth-season cast is also unusually East Coast-focused, with four finalists from New York and two each from Massachusetts and Florida.  Only one of the girls is from California. Former supermodel and Dancing with the Stars fourth-season celebrity participant Paulina Porizkova will be replacing Twiggy on Top Model's tenth-season judging panel.  Twiggy had been a regular member of Top Model's judging panel since she replaced Janice Dickinson for the show's Fall 2005 fifth season, and "is leaving due to scheduling conflicts," The CW announced in November. Porizkova will join Top Model creator Tyra Banks; runway expert J. "Ms. J." Alexander; and photographer Nigel Barker on tenth-season judging panel. In addition, Top Model 10 will feature additional special guest judges and the return of Jay Manuel as photo shoot director. Banks' syndicated daytime talk show The Tyra Banks Show relocated from Los Angeles to New York last summer, meaning Top Model's tenth season also filmed in New York for the first time since the show's fourth edition.
Top Model 10's winner will receive the same grand prize package that was first introduced during the show's Fall 2006 seventh installment -- a management deal with Elite Model Management; a $100,000 contract with cosmetics company CoverGirl; and a cover story and six-page fashion spread in an issue of Seventeen magazine. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

'ALL MY CHILDREN'S' ANGIE AND JESSE RETURN: Debbie Morgan and Darnell Williams to appear together for first time in 20 years.

"All My Children" fans take note – the characters of Angie and Jesse will make a return appearance to the ABC soap this month, marking their first scenes together in 20 years. Emmy Award-winning actors Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams will return as Dr. Angie and Jesse Hubbard, one of daytime television's first African American couples.  ABC provides a description of the couple history, stating: "Jesse and Angie's journey began in 1982, when these two met as teenagers. We watched as they fell in love, married, began heroic careers--he was a cop, she was a doctor--and raised their adorable son, Frankie. The loyalty of AMC's viewership eventually made Debbi and Darnell daytime's first African American supercouple. Sadly, their unforgettable romance ended in tragedy when poor Jesse was shot and killed in the line of duty." Morgan's return episode, premiering tomorrow (Jan. 18), finds her character visiting Pine Valley Hospital to consult on a medical mystery.  ABC has not disclosed details surrounding the return of Jesse, who is supposed to be deceased. ABC hints in its press release: "[Angie's] patient is someone 'AMC' fans know very well. Along the way, we'll see an incredible reunion occur. But Jesse's dead... isn't he?" SOURCE OF THIS STORY

Hit Me With Your Big Q-Tip!

Yes, you're right: it IS a big hunk of pop-culture cheese. Yes, it IS more freakish than sexy. And yes, we too suspect rampant steroid use. But we can't help ourselves -- we're still excited about the return of American Gladiators, the so-straight-it's-actually-gay "athletic competition" from the 1980's.  Like fellow homo blog Queerty, we owe much of our teenage masturbatory activities to the Gladiators (ahhh, remember "Nitro"? We do.) It is also frequently hilarious -- with competitions that include fighting with enormous Q-Tips and an adrenaline-rush variation on dodgeball, it's so kitsch it might as well come with its own lunch box. If you're a muscle freak, you'll understand the cheap and tawdry thrills of (clockwise from top left) Militia, Toa, Justice and Titan.  The show is being revived by NBC next month, and its arrival means two things are certain: the writers' strike really needs to end, and we'll be watching every succulent minute.

What is the February 17th, 2009 DTV deadline date?

Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop. Analog TVs receiving over-the-air programming will still work after that date, but owners of these TVs will need to buy converter boxes to change digital broadcasts into analog format. Converter boxes will be available from consumer electronic products retailers at that time. Cable and satellite subscribers with analog TVs should contact their service providers about obtaining converter boxes for the DTV transition.

Source:  http://www.dtv.gov

In Case You Missed It: Drama on ANTM

R&B SINGER MARIO: MY MOTHER IS A CRACK HEAD!!!

October 13, 2007. Look out guys, an explosive documentary is in the works. MediaTakeOut.com has exclusively learned that R&B singer Mario has created a documentary with MTV where he talks openly about his mother's crack use. The documentary, which is set to air next week, will tell the sad story of how the R&B singer's rise to fame caused his mother to fall deeper into drugs. Below is a sneak peak at the show:

Britney's Body Gets Brunt of Insults

NEW YORK (Sept. 11) - The consensus is clear: Britney Spears performed like she was sloshing blindfolded through mud at MTV's Video Music Awards. No one disputes that the troubled pop princess royally mangled her much-heralded comeback. But what about the nastiest comments of all - those about her body? "Lard and Clear," read Monday's headline in the New York Post. "The bulging belly she was flaunting was SO not hot," wrote E! Online. And so on. Was it fair? Did Spears, lest we forget a mother of two, deserve to be held up against the standard of her once fantastically toned abs, sculpted by sessions of 1,000 tummy crunches? Or was she asking for it by choosing that unforgiving black-sequined bikini?  More profoundly, in an age where skinny models and skeletal actresses are under scrutiny for the message they're sending young girls, what does it say that we're excoriating a young woman for a little thickness in her middle?  Certainly people were curious to see her. The show drew 7.1 million viewers Sunday, up 23 percent over last year's VMAs, and was the highest-rated cable program of the year among people aged 12 to 34, according to Nielsen Media Research.  On the morning after what the VH1 channel called Spears' "already historic" performance, the blogosphere was buzzing with opinions. For every "fat" comment there was an impassioned retort. "Give her a break," wrote one blogger on Aboutthink.com. "The girl's had two kids - I hope I'm a size 10 after having kids!" SOURCE OF THIS STORY

Meet the Newest Bad Boys...

Diddy took forever to announce the newest addition to the Bad Boy Entertainment Fam...The Making the Band 4 Finale aired live on MTV as Diddy let hopefuls go spontaneously throughout the hour-plus long show. The final group is Robert, Brian, Willie, Qwanell, and Mike No surprise really...I know many fans of Jeremy and D'Angelo are disappointed, however Donnie, who was the online fan-fave, is now a solo artist on Bad Boy which works best for him because he didn't fit in the group. I really am not a huge Donnie fan, but it's whatev, he is pre-packaged MTV marketing heaven. Oh, and we ALL knew he was going to pick 5, Ray Charles saw that coming a mile away! The new season is already planned...Making the Albums...MTB4 cats, Danity Kane, and Donnie will all have there album making trials taped for our viewing pleasure. I really want to see how many girlfriends will make it through the test. Brian is married though, so I suspect they will make it...SOURCE OF THIS STORY

Homo-Licious Boys of Making the Band

I've avoided doing posts about the latest season of Making the Band. The show has lost all creative energy after the Making the Band with the hip-hop group, which I lovingly referred to as "The Baps Show". Baps was truly the star, completely hood, wet and wavy weaves and slightly manish looks. Plus, she was great for the one-liners--who can forget, "Let 'em fight!" As she blinks her eyes, "Let 'em fight!"Making the Band 4 might as well be called Cocodrom 4 with a bunch of boys trapped in a house by a rich, older daddy instructing their every move. In the beginning, I tried to ignore their mannerisms that are questionable because damn it, I’m progressive; I know mannerisms do not equal sexuality! However, when I had to digest a full season of ungodly arched eyebrows, the glitzy beads, bangles and jewels decorated on their outfits and crying over haircuts...when that loc-headed boy had to cut his mane off in the barber shop and started bawling -- I hollered! All I needed was Tyra to walk in and say how disrespectful he was to criticize the greatest stylist in the business. Plus, it didn't help that the most masculine person on the show was Laurie Ann and she was tossed away like a used up power-bottom! Now, the clip below takes the gay heaven cake. After a restless night, the boys awaken feeling a bit feisty. One of the quaffed young men says, "Let's get Q's ass." I guess without any lube they decided on just having a water balloon fight!They fill hot pink balloons with water and prance around the apartment having a wet and wild, shirtless cat fight. Watch the clip below as they shriek (get into the scream at 41 seconds!), holler and skedaddle in front of the cameras. Honestly, I don't know if any of these boys are gay. Lord knows if they were they would be more talented! The season finale of Making the Band 4 airs Sunday, August 26th at 10pm. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

"FUNKY DIVAS: DUSTED, DUSTY, AND DUSTED OFF"

WHAT A WEEK FOR DIVAS!!!!! Unofficial word on the street is that MISS DIANA ROSS has signed on to join "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" this season (abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/). You'll recall, that was a rumor last year, but my sources tell me that negotiations broke down. But this year, according to same sources, MISS ROSS is going to be featured in a cool arc on Wysteria Lane. No confirmations on this tid-bit, but if it is founded, you'll know where you heard it first. This marriage made in cul-de-sac, pop culture heaven could be what the doctor ordered to bring viewers back to the once-hottest show on the air and - hey - though Miss Ross' comeback to performing has been received most enthusiastically, perhaps this movement could bring her "CD-buyers" back to more-than-knowing she has a new project out, but actually buying it. Her "I Love You" (www.dianaross.com) is a critically-acclaimed treat, but didn't get the love we've seen her contemporaries Rod Stewart, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and others receive with their golden-years releases. Still, she's generating more fire than her fellow divas out there. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

BET’s ‘Hot Ghetto Mess’ doesn’t become ‘Better’

"Hot Ghetto Mess" just got messier. Executives at BET had hoped that Wednesday night's premiere of the controversial series, inspired by the Hot Ghetto Mess website that highlights images of blacks in outrageous, often degrading situations and clothing, would defuse some of the uproar surrounding the show, which has been shadowed by reports of advertiser withdrawals and protests from bloggers who feared it would perpetuate negative African American images. The network was more than pleased with the viewer turnout. The series drew more than 800,000 viewers at 10:30 p.m. But instead of calming the storm of controversy, the debut added more fuel to the fire. BET had announced earlier this week that the show's original name, "Hot Ghetto Mess: We Got to Do Better," would be chopped to "We Got to Do Better," scrapping the hot-button title and putting more focus of the series' intended mission of social commentary and satire. But that change was not reflected on the air. Though promos and on-air guides listed the series as "We Got to Do Better," host Charlie Murphy greeted viewers with "Welcome to 'Hot Ghetto Mess.' " He repeated that title several times during the half-hour show. In addition, the episode contained no disclaimers or announcements that the show was no longer formally called "Hot Ghetto Mess." The failure of BET to implement the promised title change puts a harsher spotlight on its difficulties with the series during a period when the network is trying to focus attention on a diverse and ambitious slate of programming designed to erase some of the channel's historic stigma. The network has long been criticized for airing raunchy rap videos and scantily clad women. BET Entertainment President Reginald Hudlin has expressed frustration that the uproar over "Hot Ghetto Mess" was attracting more media attention than some of its new shows, such as the reality series "Baldwin Hills" and the religion-flavored "Meet the Faith." "Hot Ghetto Mess" will continue to be the show's on-air title, the network said Thursday. The initial order of six episodes had been completed before the decision to change the name was made, and Murphy, a comedian who is on tour, was unavailable for re-shoots. "In terms of the title, we didn't have time to make the necessary changes," BET spokesperson Jeanine Liburd said. "But we did make adjustments in our marketing efforts and in our listings for the series." Liburd acknowledged that the first episode could have included a disclaimer informing viewers that the show's title had formally been changed. The episode contained mostly slapstick and comic clips of blacks -- and some white -- engaged in untoward behavior. There were also several man-on-the-street interviews, with questions such as "Who's richer, Jay-Z or Bill Gates?" and "How many blacks are there on the Supreme Court?" Gina McCauley, creator of the What About Our Daughters blog that had protested the series before it aired, based on the website that inspired it, said she was not won over when she finally saw it: "I just cannot believe that BET would risk a $100-million slate of original programming to put on what was just a poorly put-together, unoriginal show." She said that the clips on the premiere had been endlessly recycled on YouTube and other websites and that the man-on-the-street segments were a rip-off of the "Jaywalking" spots on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Source: L.A. TIMES

Wendy Gets the Scoop from Laurie Ann...

Laurie Ann Gibson went on Wendy Williams to talk about the [dum dum dum]...fight! Plus she divulges what she feels about Mike Bivins. I know there was tension in the group of judges..Plus her pilot, who she dated and missed the gaydar, and the "gotcha gotcha!"

If you need a refresher on the incident...click here! SOURCE OF THIS STORY

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW


Plus...Listen to what Michael Bivins had to say!

DL Chronicles on Here TV

BET’s Web-based ‘Hot Ghetto Mess’ defended by channel

By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—"Hot Ghetto Mess," a BET series that's provoked criticism and sent advertisers fleeing before it's even aired, will prove detractors wrong, BET entertainment head Reginald Hudlin said. "It's unfortunate that people are making an erroneous presumption based on absolutely zero information," Hudlin told a meeting Sunday of the Television Critics Association. "Hot Ghetto Mess," debuting July 25, combines viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street interviews that the channel said are intended to challenge and inspire "viewers to improve themselves and their communities." The six-episode series is hosted by comedian Charlie Murphy ("Chappelle's Show"). It's based on a Web site that features photos of men and women, mostly black, with extreme hairstyles and clothing typically linked to hip-hop fashion. At least two companies, State Farm Insurance Cos. and Home Depot, asked BET to drop their ads from the series' debut. Sponsors had yet to see the show, Hudlin said Sunday. Observers including What About Our Daughters, a blog and audio podcast that focuses on how black women are depicted in popular culture, have accused the site and the show of demeaning blacks. Hotghettomess.com was created by Jam Donaldson, 34, a black lawyer from Washington, D.C., who's also an executive producer on the BET program. On her site, Donaldson calls for a "new era of self-examination." The show builds on the Web site's effort to take "a hard look at some dysfunctional elements of our community," Hudlin said. "The intent of the show is no different than what Bill Cosby is doing as he's going across the country and lecturing as he talks about the problems of the (black) community that we need to address," he said. "Hot Ghetto Mess" approaches its goal in a lively way that will engage BET's young audience, Hudlin said. Donaldson told reporters that the series has "exceeded my expectations." "Everyone that sees the show will be pleasantly surprised. ... I think they will learn something. There's black history. We go to the community and ask what their opinion of some of these images are," she said. "The show is so much more than the name," Donaldson said. She started the site because of "images of black dysfunction" that were being distributed on the Internet without any discussion of the need for change. With shows like "Hot Ghetto Mess" and "Hip-Hop vs. America," Hudlin said, BET is trying to be part of the solution. "At the end of the day, the most responsible thing we can do is create a dialogue about those things," he told The Associated Press. Source

here! Networks' Original Horror Series The Lair Debuts Friday, June 1st

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 15, 2007 – Here!, America's premium gay television network, is pleased to announce the debut of the first season of the new, original, scripted series "The Lair." The first of six half-hour episodes will be available on the network beginning Friday, June 1st and will continue through August with a new episode airing every other week. Suspicions arise when young men turn up murdered with vicious, mysterious wounds on their necks. Determined to solve the crimes, a young journalist discovers clues leading him to a private gentlemen's club called 'The Lair.' As he closes in on the truth, he becomes ensnared by a coven of vampires led by the enigmatic Damian. "The Lair" stars Peter Stickles, who gathered a following this year from his work in the critically-acclaimed indie "Shortbus," as Damian, as well as Colton Ford as the heroic Sheriff Trout. For a sampling of provocative and innovative here! content, visit the here! Video Player found at www.heretv.com/videoplayer. For more information on how to subscribe to here!, please call the toll free number at 1-888-HERE-NOW. Recent and upcoming here! original films, series and specials include: "The DL Chronicles," an award-winning series focusing on the diverse stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles; the critically acclaimed "Shock To The System: A Donald Strachey Mystery," the second installment in the series of original films starring Chad Allen as a gay private investigator; the provocative six-part docu-series "Lesbian Sex and Sexuality," an unblinking look inside the world of lesbian culture from award-winning producer Katherine Linton; and the original film "Shelter," an indie romantic drama about love, family and trying to stay true to yourself. MORE ON THIS STORY

Alton Williams Returns for Another 'Challenge' Win

Behind his "nice guy" exterior lies a smart and aggressive competitor. That mix of brains and brawn helped him claim victory in 'The Guantlet II.' Now he's back for the latest installment, 'The Inferno III.' The morning after the premiere, AOL editor Geoff Bennett talked to Williams about CT's elimination, a 'Las Vegas' cast reunion, his unconventional police mug shot and his secret to staying in top shape. What was going through your mind during the first episode when you unexpectedly saved Davis and jumped into the Inferno? We were down two competitions already. I thought by stepping up, it would help the whole morale of the team. Looking back, it worked. But back then, I didn't know what would happen. (Laughs) What was the deal with CT? Did he ever explain why he punched Davis in the face? That was the whole deal -- there was no reason behind it. He's a Boston kid from the streets, and he speaks with his knuckles. He wanted to intimidate our team and with the alcohol and everything, it came out being a punch in the face, so he ended up getting sent home.

LaKisha Gets the Idol Kiss-Off

The 27-year-old Michigan resident was eliminated from American Idol Wednesday night after the songs of Barry Gibb proved to be the soulful chanteuse's kryptonite. "No kiss tonight, baby," Simon Cowell, who was so willing to plant a smooch on her last week, told Jones after her off-pitch rendition of the Bee Gees hit Stayin' Alive. Even Randy Jackson called her performance "weird" and Paula Abdul said it "lacked energy." Jones' take on the '70s-era hit-makers' "Run to Me" didn't do much for the peanut gallery, either, with Cowell saying her overall showing had left her "vulnerable" heading into elimination night.  Even before she heard the bad news, Jones was fidgety and looked to be doing a bit of talking to herself, as helpfully pointed out by Ryan Seacrest. "If I go home, hopefully I remember the words, and I don't want to cry," Jones responded, when asked what she was quietly telling herself during the commercial break. When Seacrest asked why she looked nervous last night, as well, she had an easy explanation: "I was thinking and overanalyzing everything, and hoping Simon would kiss me again."  To be fair, it would be difficult to successfully interpret any tune made famous by the Bee Gees' and their truly unique sound, but Tuesday night was an especially tough one for the remaining Idol contestants.

DL Chronicles

"Noah’s Arc" may be gone for now…the jury’s still out on that verdict, but the "DL Chronicles" is just getting started. Come May 4th, the highly anticipated national debut of the DL Chronicles will take place on a television near you. The "DL Chronicles" tells the stories of mostly Black men who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles.   Narrated by aspiring journalist, Chadwick Williams, as he pursues research while authoring a book about MSM (Men who Sleep with Men) aka "The Down Low," the "DL Chronicles" enters into a provocative and intriguing world of sexual discovery, denial, betrayal, love and loss. From a highly desired successful executive to a hyper-masculine player, from the happily married father of two to the college athlete's first love, each episode will delve into the different lives and experiences of DL men of color across social, cultural, and economic boundaries. While may of us are perfectly aware of the down low, believe it or not and even after Oprah and J.L. King, there are still people who are not.  And even some that are awae, aren’t really aware and have it all wrong too. So having this series on television is going to be interesting.  It’s going to be interesting to see how Black America reacts as well as Black gay America. At any rate, I’ve seen the first two episodes and they look great. I like the storylines, the writing, and the acting. A bonus for me is that Vikter Duplaix was hired to do the music for the show.  Now that’s what I am talking about. Kudos to Quincy Lenear and Deondray Gossett for sticking in there with it.  It looks like your hard work as paid off.  And of course kudos to Here for picking it up.  Let’s make sure we support the show by watching it to make sure that our images continue to get out there. Click here to sign up for the DL Chronicle newsletter.

Why Does Sanjaya Reign on 'Idol'?

The phone rang, loud. I could tell from my editor's tough tone that something big was afoot. What's going on with that kid, he asked. The one with the hair. What's the real story? Is someone gonna end up in the slammer? The boss didn't have to drop any more clues. He was talking about Sanjaya. How could this skinny teenager with the thin voice and lavish smile become an "American Idol" favorite? Not just hanging on week after week, but with enough juice to maybe win the whole thing, the brass ring, the jackpot, the dream? I wasn't the only one on the case. The Internet was buzzing like a room full of bookies during a title fight. One blogger's Web site drew hit after hit when it made "Who is voting for Sanjaya?" the topic of the day. He mused that pranksters might have figured out how to "crack" Fox's talent show.
Or maybe Sanjaya Malakar (Age: 17. City: Federal Way, Wash.) just has friends in low places. Like grade school. "I like his hairstyles," said Kathryn Smith, 7, of Westborough, Mass. She's a regular voter for the kid who's sported everything from a startling "ponyhawk" to curls that looked like a perm gone wrong. Really wrong. MORE ON THIS STORY