Another Side of Mike Tyson

Most of us who came of age in the 80s and 90s know Mike Tyson as a heavyweight champion of the world who self-destructed before our eyes. While he was able to knock folks out in the ring, he seemed to be knocked out in the real world by marriage, drugs, and the demons that haunted him. Now, thanks to the efforts of indie director James Toback, we are able to explore more of the bad-talking, ear-biting boxer in Tyson.

This documentary takes us up close and personal to a man whose life started off badly. His mother wasn't exactly the nurturing type and he didn't know his father. When she moved him to the Brownsville area of Brooklyn, he turned to a life of crime. After spending a few years in juvenile detention, he discovered boxing. Hooking up with trainer Cus D'Amato proved to be the catalyst of the "good" part of his life. He was able to leave his life of crime behind for the sport.

From there, we are taken behind the reports to find out what was going with Mike during the highlights and lowlights of his life. In addition to telling us about his fights, he also spoke about his marriage to Robin Givens, his love and admiration for Cus and how he felt about his death, and his feelings for Desiree Washington, the "wretched swine of a woman" he was accused of raping.

What really makes this film a treat -- in addition to just listening to Mike Tyson use words like "skulduggery" -- is the technique Toback used to shoot the film. While you only hear from Mike himself, the way he goes back and forth between the live interview and the archival footage is absolutely excellent.

Tyson opens in limited release -- which means New York and Los Angeles -- on Friday. We're not sure when the film will hit across the nation, but make sure you see it when it does.

Chris is Living His Life

Chris Brown may be living his life, but Rihanna isn't necessarily happy about it. According to Us Weekly, the Good Girl Gone Bad didn't take too kindly to pictures of her supposed boyfriend and alleged attacker with Girlicious singer Natalie Meji in a West Hollywood tattoo parlor earlier this week. A source said she sent him a text message. His response? "It's none of your business." Yikes!

Brown's people are denying the romance. Unfortunately, Natalie didn't get the memo. On Monday, she told RadarOnline, "Things are going well between us. [Chris] has treated me like a a gentleman at all times."

Natalie probably hadn't heard about his antics the Saturday before. MSNBC's The Scoop reported that Brown was hanging with Tyrese and Omarion at the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in Los Angeles . While the guys were all fairly tame, witnesses said Chris was awfully flirty.

At this point, there's been no official word that Chris and Rihanna have gone their separate ways. Meanwhile, he's due back in court on Wednesday, April 29th.

"One Tree Hill" Stars Skills Have Gotten Him in Trouble

Looks like Antwon Tanner has added "criminal" to his resume. According to E! Online, the One Tree Hill actor was busted in a sting operation and charged with selling 16 Social Security numbers and three counterfeit cards to middleman between December 2005 and last July. The 34-year-old pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court and is currently free on a 250-thousand dollar bond.

The actor allegedly gave up the phony digits and cards to an unidentified contact who turned around and sold them to an undercover agent with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The two-count indictment said that Tanner not only made up numbers, but he also swiped digits from the living and the dead. Those were passed along without him meeting the dealer face-to-face. As for the cards, they were allegedly sent through the mail.

Crime seemed to pay Tanner pretty good -- he was able to bank thousands of dollars over a two-and-a-half year period. Unfortunately, his antics could land him in The Big House for up to five years if he's convicted.

At this point, neither Tanner nor his lawyer commented as they left court, and The CW hasn't addressed his arrest or future on One Tree Hill. Stay tuned.

The Week in Review...MackDiva Style

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted anything. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well. First of all, let me catch you up...

* Apparently Chris Brown is moving on with a new woman. According to the New York Daily News, the singer has reunited with ex-girlfriend Erica Jackson. She's from his homestate of Virginia and they dated back in the day. While they're saying that she's no Rihanna, she'll be good for him. Naturally, his camp is denying this, so we'll have to stay tuned.

* And speaking of Rihanna, her dad was not pleased with Chris Brown's not guilty plea. Ronald Fenty was quoted in Us Weekly as saying, "So what happened? Somebody else did this to Rihanna then?" The crazy part is that apparently Mr. Fenty hasn't been a model citizen in the abusive department himself. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, he, too, has taken a swipe or two at his wife and daughter in the not so distant past. A close family friend said, "For him to talk about beating women takes a lot of gall." Yikes!

* In other Rihanna news, the Good Girl Gone Bad announced her return to the stage. She'll be performing for the first time since the alleged assault in Dubai on Thursday, May 28th.

* Meanwhile, Whitney Houston is countersuing her father's wife, Barbara Houston, for 1.6 million bucks. E! Online reports that John Houston's widow claimed that Whitney kept a million dollar insurance payout from her father's estate that was allocated for the mortgage on the condo Barbara has lived in for the past 20 years in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Barbara said Whitney was supposed to give up 723-thousand dollars for the mortgage and give her the rest. Instead, the Grammy winner kept all the money after John's 2003 death. Whitney says that she's entitled to the money because she put up the initial cash for the home and he hadn't paid her back by the time he died.

* Finally, looks like Jamie Foxx got off easy with his stalker. E! Online reports that Steven Toliver has been found to be actively psychotic and is incompetent to stand trial. Furthermore, the 49-year-old homeless man who had claimed to be Beyonce's producer was transferred from a Philadelphia lockup to Norristown State Hospital for 60 days for treatment. Foxx was in the City of Brotherly Love filming Law Abiding Citizen. His next foray on the big screen, The Soloist, hits theaters on Friday.

Two More Go Home on "Sunday Best"

This week's edition of Sunday Best found the contestants getting makeovers and G1 mobile phones. Here's how it went down...

Zebulon Ellis was announced as the wildcard contestant and he opened the show. He sang Donny Hathaway's A Song for You. Even though I'm usually of the mind that folks need to leave Donny's music alone, Zeb did an okay job of it. Since he was trying to gospelize it, he dragged it out in places that really didn't need it. However, he brought it together with some beautiful high notes at the end. Tina Campbell called his rendition fantastic. Bebe Winans echoed my sentiments about touching a Donny song, but said that he made it his own. Finally, Erica Campbell called his performance perfect.

Jessica Reedy came next with Just As I Am. Her smooth alto gave life and beauty to the song. Host Kirk Franklin had to bow. Erica loved everything about her singing. Bebe loved her tone, and Tina was almost rendered her speechless.

John McClure Jr. did You Are My Life. The Fred Hammond song was provided a smooth backdrop to showcase the loveliness of his voice. Erica thought he did a great job, and Bebe called his performance a quiet storm. Tina wanted him to hold some notes so we could fully experience his voice.

Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand was Latice Crawford's choice this week. Even though it was obvious that she was hoarse, her voice was still in fine form. In fact, she ministered that song like it had been a Sunday morning staple. Bebe acknowledged her hoarseness, but still said she was spectacular. Tina was completely impressed and promised to buy her records. Erica called her performance anointed and incredible.

Dontavies Boatwright did Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God. While it wasn't bad, I don't think it was his best performance. However, Bebe, Erica, and Tina loved it.

Y'Anna Crawley finished off the night with her rendition of Waiting on the World to Change. Even though John Mayer probably wasn't thinking anywhere near gospel when he wrote this tune, Y'Anna's take on it changed the game completely. While Tina and Erica didn't think it was her best performance, they still liked what she did with the song. Meanwhile, Bebe told Y'Anna to forget the sisters better known as Mary Mary and listen to him. He was completely impressed with her version of the song.

After a stellar performance from Ann Nesby, Dontavies Boatwright and John McClure Jr. were eliminated. That leaves Y'Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Latice Crawford, and Zebulon Ellis to duke it out for the title.

TV One Examines "Life After"

TV One is giving you the ultimate "What Ever Happened To" series this fall. Life After will show how different celebrities have dealt with major life changes. Among those to be featured are Bell Biv DeVoe, who chronicle their lives after their break from New Edition; Star Jones' ex husband, Al Reynolds on his life after their highly publicized divorce; and Family Matters actress Jamie Foxworth, whose went into the adult film industry after leaving the show. Look for Life After to premiere this fall.

"DWTS" Has No Time for Lil' Kim

Lil' Kim may be able to keep time with the music, but that's about the only time she can keep. According to the New York Daily News, the diminutive Dancing With the Stars contestant is late to everything. An insider on the show was quoted as saying, "If she has a call time of 7, she doesn't show until 10."

Of course, the producers aren't going to let Lil' Kim get in the way of their schedule. The insider said, "They've started telling her to show up two hours earlier than they need her -- just to make sure she's on time!"

The Animation of Beyonce

Beyonce sure knows how to pack a schedule! She's not only touring in support of her current album, I Am...Sasha Fierce and promoting her film, Obsessed, which opens Friday, April 24th, but now she's finally getting animated. The Destiny's Child frontwoman is guest-starring in Nickelodeon's Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

The new Mrs. Jay-Z will voice the role of Shine, the lead singer of the girl trio, The Wubb Girls. Beyonce describes her character as, "a very sweet young lady. Whenever Wubbzy needs a little help or a friend, she's right there with The Wubb Girlz to give him a helping hand."

Look for Beyonce's four-episode stint on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! to begin on Monday, April 27th.

David "Pop" Winans Passes

***UPDATE***

We'd like to extend our sincere condolences to the Winans family. David Winans, affectionately known as Pop, went home to be with the Lord today. According to the Detroit Free Press, the 76-year-old patriarch of the Winans family -- which includes his wife, Delores "Mom" Winans, and children BeBe, CeCe, Marvin, Debbie, Angie, Daniel, and the late Ron -- died in a Nashville, Tennessee-area hospice. Mom was at his side when he transitioned.

Even though Pop lived in Detroit for most of his life, he had been in Nashville since October 2008 because several of his 10 children lived there. His health took a turn for the worst late last year. In all, he'd suffered a series of four strokes, seizures and a heart attack beginning in the fall of 2008.

Vickie Winans, who was married to Marvin, told The Detroit News, "He was a person who loved Jesus through sickness and health. To see him sick was the worst thing but he kept on lifting up the name of Jesus. I loved him with all my heart."

Services will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Perfecting Church in Detroit where Marvin is the senior pastor. Please pray for the family as they walk through this difficult time.

The Chrihanna Chronicles: Chris Says 'Not Guilty'

As expected, Chris Brown entered a not guilty to felony charges of assaulting and threatening to kill Rihanna after a pre-Grammy party in February. The 19-year-old arrived at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles with his mother and four bodyguards today. He was greeted by fans, protesters with signs, and the media. Several sheriff's deputies accompanied his entourage as they entered the building.

After hearing the charges against him -- assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats -- Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg asked for his plea. Chris answered with a hushed "not guilty, your honor."

As we've told you, Brown's legal camp -- headed up by Mark "Get 'Em Off" Geragos -- has been trying to hammer out a deal with prosecutors that would prevent Chris from having to spend any time behind bars. If he's convicted on both charges, he faces almost five years in prison.

Meanwhile, Rihanna has removed herself from the situation by going back to her home in Barbados late last week. However, she has been cooperating with the LA District Attorney's Office on Brown's case. She wasn't in court today, but her attorney, Donald Etra, was.

Brown is due back in court on Wednesday, April 29th.

Five More Go Home on "Sunday Best"

The theme of this week's edition of Sunday Best was Sowing Seeds of Faith and Overcoming Doubt, and Kirk Franklin's performance of his Grammy Award winning song, Help Me Believe from The Fight of My Life album fit in nicely.

The ten finalists were competing for five spots. Here's how it went down...

Dontavies Boatwright kicked off the competition with Glory to Glory to Glory. His rich baritone was well complemented by the Fred Hammond tune. Judges Bebe Winans, Erica Campbell, and Tina Campbell all agreed that his rendition was the bomb. Erica even went so far as to say that there wasn't a voice in Gospel like his at this moment.

Jessica Reedy was next with a jazzy rendition of Kirk Franklin's Brighter Day. This Saginaw vocalist has a smooth tone that really made it work. Kirk was outdone -- and it showed. The judges loved it.

Clifton Ross III sang Total Praise. His take on the song was beautiful and smooth. He took it all the way up and brought it back down on the chorus, which was nice. Even though Bebe mentioned his nervousness, he said that Clifton brought it home. Erica said that while the restraint and low-register singing he used in the beginning was nice, she thought he could've distributed the power of his voice more. Meanwhile, Tina was of the opinion that he could've used his middle range more. Overall, though, they liked it.

Long Island, New York's finest, John McClure Jr., gave his testimony in song, and it was pretty good. Bebe wanted less growling and movement and more singing. Both Tina and Erica liked the way he took them to church.

Y'Anna Crawley wore out Grandma's Hands. And when I say wore out, that's exactly what I mean. Kirk said it just don't make no sense. She rendered Erica and Tina practically speechless. Bebe called her sassy and said it was great to be her because she has "it." Kirk asked her to do that last line and she hit it on the money. Incredible.

Zebulon Ellis' take on He's Able was a little different. The arrangement was familiar, but just barely. He did a good job, but I wasn't impressed. Bebe wasn't, either. He thought it wasn't the greatest performance, but he enjoyed it. Erica enjoyed it, and Tina said that he brought the experience to the people.

Jeff Spain's performance was, by far, the weakest one this week. His take on Mary Mary's version of Yesterday was dry at best, and his expression was very bland. Erica wanted more intensity, more energy, and more audience connection. Tina wasn't impressed at all. Bebe said he lost the connection but remained smooth.

Carolyn Johnson White sang Karen Clark Sheard's A Secret Place. The elder stateswoman of the competition wasn't as impressive this week as she was last week, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard. The judges liked her restraint and professionalism.

Kalind Hayes' Balm in Gilead really did bring a healing to the competition. His smooth yet intense delivery made the song work. Bebe didn't like the song selection, but he liked how he sang it. Erica said that his smooth voice would be a welcomed addition to the Gospel industry. Tina didn't think it was his best performance, but appreciated his skill.

Latice Crawford finished it off with another Karen Clark Sheard tune, A Praying Spirit. This New Yorker sang the song well, but the last note wasn't that great. Tina called her amazing. Bebe went into tongues, and Erica said she was blessed have experienced her voice.

The five singers that advanced to the next round are:

Jessica Reedy
Dontavies Boatwright
Y'Anna Crawley
Latice Crawford
John McClure

Kirk said that one of the singers was a wildcard. He said we'd have to tune in next week to find out who that person was and what that would mean. And that's just what we'll do.

Did Janet & Jermaine Get Hitched on the DL?

Have Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri already said, "I Do?" Depends on who you ask. If TI is to be believed, the answer is yes. On the last episode of his show, TI's Road to Redemption, the rapper dropped the dime on the couple in this exchange with an elementary school student:

Student: If you had choice between Mary J. Blige or Janet Jackson, who would you marry?

TI: Well they’re both married, so I wouldn’t marry a married woman.

Stay tuned...

Knight, Winans Go "Bad" for Tyler

Even though Tyler Perry's latest cinematic endeavor hasn't been billed as a musical, he's certainly got enough talent in the flick to make it one. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Gladys Knight and Marvin Winans are joining the cast of I Can Do Bad All By Myself. They join the already announced Mary J. Blige in the film.

Ms. Knight will play Wilma, a neighborhood mother who also sings at Madea's church. No word yet on whether Winans will stretch his acting chops. So far, he's just down to sing. I Can Do Bad All By Myself hits theaters in September.

Is Mary Slipping?

Enjoying a drink every now and then is okay, but could there be something more to it for Mary J. Blige. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, some of her friends are concerned that her current 'social drinking' could be turning into a full-fledged problem similar to her well-documented battles with addiction when she first came on the scene. Let's keep her in our prayers and hope her friends are just overreacting.

Denzel Does His Part for The Kids

Every time we think we can't love Denzel Washington any more, we hear about things like this. Last week, the Oscar winner took time off from filming The Book of Eli in New Mexico to present a 50-thousand dollar check to a struggling Boys & Girls Club in Roswell.

The actor and director, who's also a spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club of America -- decided to help after hearing reports that the club was on the verge of shutting down because of a lack of funds.

Washington challenged residents of the town to match his donation. According to Art Garcia, the Roswell club's director, several community groups and private donors have answered the call. In fact, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center ponied up five-grand.

Meanwhile, look for The Book of Eli -- a Hughes Brothers flick described as a post-apocalyptic Western that centers on a lone man who's fighting his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind -- to hit theaters in January 2010.

Foxx's Stalker Can't Blame it On the Alcohol

If it's true that you're not famous until somebody stalks you, then Jamie Foxx has finally achieved star status, thanks to Steven Toliver.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 49-year-old has been arrested for allegedly stalking the Oscar winner while he's filming Law Abiding Citizen in Philadelphia. Sources said that Toliver -- who claims to be Beyonce's producer -- has allegedly tried to break into the Oscar winner's room on March 22nd, March 27th, and March 31st. During one of those incidents, Jamie had to physically struggle to get the man out of his hotel room. Several days later, Foxx's security guards spotted him near the movie set where he was taken into police custody.

Toliver is facing numerous charges, including burglary. And unfortunately, he really can't blame it on the alcohol -- sources say he already has 24 prior arrests.

Gospel Tidbits...

Here's what's going in Gospel, courtesy of GospelFlava.com...

Lawrence Matthews is finally walking into his season with a new recording. The Bay Area-based artist will be doing his thing this Sunday, April 4th at Love Center Church in Oakland, California. Just in case you didn't know, Matthews was one of the first artists signed to GospoCentric Records. In addition to his work with the legendary Hawkins family, he's probably best known for his hits, Savior Do Not Pass Me By and Create In Me...

Inez Andrews is celebrating her 80th birthday with a concert in Chicago. Angela Spivey & The Voices of Victory, Milas Armour, and Willie Rogers of The Soul Stirrers will be on hand for the festivites at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Monday, April 13th. DeAndre Patterson will do the honors as the MC. Andrews joined the The Caravans in 1957 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002...

And finally, Tina and Erica Campbell -- better known as Mary Mary -- are hitting the road. The Sunday Best judges kick off their month-long tour in Anapolis, Maryland on Wednesday, April 8th, with stops in New York, New Orleans, and Las Vegas before rapping things up in Anaheim on Thursday, April 30th. Here's a list of the dates:

April 8 -- Anapolis, MD
April 9 -- New York, NY
April 13 -- Alexandria, VA
April 14 -- Foxboro, MA
April 17 -- New Orleans, LA
April 18 -- Lake Charles, LA
April 19 -- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
April 24 -- Las Vegas, NV
April 26 -- Los Angeles, CA
April 28 -- Oakland, CA
April 29 -- Sacramento, CA
April 30 -- Anaheim, CA

Love & Art -- Janet Style

Janet Jackson may be in love with her boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, but that doesn't mean she's not trying to change him. According to the New York Daily News, the singer -- who was hanging out with her friends -- was overheard saying that the rapping record mogul had never been to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. She said, "I want to educate him." No word on whether or not he's amenable to such teaching.

More on Queen Latifah's Beautiful Struggle

We told you about Queen Latifah's current legal troubles. Now it seems there may be a little more than money at stake. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, makeup artist Roxanna Floyd and stylist Susan Moses are not only suing to get their money -- a million bucks between the two of them -- but also to keep quiet about Latifah's sexuality. Even though the rapper-turned-Oscar nominated actress has avoided talking about her preference, everyone in Hollywood knows that Latifah loves the ladies. In fact, she was supposedly supposed to marry Jeannette Jenkins, her longtime personal trainer, last year.

Stay tuned...this could get very interesting.

What's the Real Deal Behind Kelly Rowland's Split from Columbia?

Unless you've been under a rock, you've heard about Kelly Rowland's departure from Columbia Records. Just in case you didn’t, the former Destiny’s Child released a statement Tuesday saying, “Because Columbia Records has been my home base as an artist for more than a decade, the decision to move out on my own required a lot of soul-searching. As a solo artist, I felt the need to explore new directions, new challenges, and new freedoms outside my comfort zone and my friends and family at Columbia have been incredibly understanding about my evolution. I want to thank everyone at Columbia for the love and support they've shown and I will never forget how many good times we've had over the years."

Naturally, rumors are swirling about whether it was Kelly's choice or the label's. Columbia/Epic CEO Rob Stringer released a statement saying, "It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with Kelly and we will continue our working relationship with her under the Destiny's Child moniker. The decision for Kelly to seek other opportunities for her solo career was agreed upon mutually, and any reports to the contrary are false."

Despite what the official statements say, that's not the song others in Kelly's camp are singing. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the record company had no beef with her prior to her dumping Mathew Knowles as her manager earlier this year. After all, her two solo albums -- 2002's Simply Deep and 2007's Ms. Kelly -- sold more than 4 million copies. A music industry was quoted as saying, "Trust me, those two things are not unrelated. Columbia had concerns about the direction Kelly was taking her career."

Being dumped by the label hasn't set too well with Beyonce's best friend. One of her friends said, "'Kelly is very upset about the Columbia action and seems to have a tough time working her way past that.''

Fortunately, Kelly has other things to take her mind off her music situation. She's set to co-host Bravo's The Fashion Show with designer Isaac Mizrahi starting next month.

A Chrihanna Chronicles Update

Is it really over between Chris Brown and Rihanna? While there's been no official word of a breakup and the last word going around was that the two were taking a break, RadarOnline reported that several of RiRi's friends were making toasts to that effect at a private party she held in Los Angeles on Sunday. An insider was quoted as saying, "People close to Rihanna have drilled it into her head that if she stays with Chris her career will be over."

The party, which was reportedly held to celebrate the success of her single Disturbia, also found guests toasting to the fact that she's about to land a major fashion magazine cover and a film role.

Meanwhile, Chris is doing his best to rehab his image. According to MSNBC's The Scoop, the singer was cheesing for the camera with the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Tuesday. Not so coincidentally, the school is in the middle of its week-long White Ribbon Campaign, whose tagline just happens to be "Men Working to End Men's Violence Against Women."

Chris is due back in court on Monday in Los Angeles to answer for the two felony charges he faces for allegedly attacking Rihanna. Stay tuned.

Washington's Homeless -- Not Jobless

Looks like Isaiah Washington is on the curb once again. The actor, who we told you last week was in danger of eviction, and his wife Jenisa, have reportedly said goodbye to the 3.5 million-dollar home they were renting in Venice, California. They were seen leaving the place on Monday afternoon while two housekeepers were spotted packing boxes and taking photos off the walls.

Fortunately, not everything is going wrong for the former Grey's Anatomy star. It was announced earlier this week that he'd play the late Lou Rawls in a biopic written by Lou Rawls Jr. Through the Eyes of a Son is described as an uncensored take on the singer who died in 2006. No word on when that film will see the light of day.

Meanwhile, Washington's next big screen adventure will be Hurricane Season, the story of a New Orleans basketball team after Hurricane Katrina.

J-Hud's Wedding Goes to the Dogs?

How cute is this? The New York Daily News reports that Jennifer Hudson wants her dogs to walk her down the aisle when she gets married. The Oscar winning former American Idol finalist said, "Oscar might be the ring bearer," when she exchanges vows with fiance David Otunga.

In other J-Hud news, sources say that Idol judge Simon Cowell was cool when she taped her performance last week. Meanwhile, Olivia Newton-John and Jill Zarin -- obvious fans of the Dreamgirl -- showed her much love.

Bill Cosby Gets Top Comedy Prize

Bill Cosby will be honored with the nation's top comedy prize from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The 71-year-old will be honored with the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor this fall. Some of the biggest names in comedy will come together in Washington for the festivities on Monday, October 26th.

In a statement accepting the award, Cosby said that his mother read Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to him as a child. However, he added, "I would like to apologize to Mr. Twain for falling asleep hundreds of times, but he should understand that I was only four."

The Philadelphia native -- who's probably best known for The Cosby Show in the 1980s -- was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian honor -- in 2002. Past Mark Twain honorees include George Carlin, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Suits Not a Good Look for Latifah

We all know that it costs to look good, but someone obviously forgot to tell Queen Latifah. According to the BBC, the rapper-turned actress is being sued by both her make-up artist and stylist because she didn't pay them.

Roxanna Floyd claims she lost 700-thousand bucks when the star born as Dana Owens didn't pay her for work done between July 2005 and February 2008. In addition, the make-up artist claims she's owed for helping develop, produce, and market Cover-Girl's Queen Collection, Latifah's cosmetics line.

Meanwhile, stylist Susan Moses says Queen stiffed her for 300-thousand dollars for her efforts. Apparently Moses was promised a 50-thousand dollar-a-year salary for advising the star in her role as the spokeswoman and model for a lingerie line that targets fuller figured women in 2005.

Both Floyd and Moses filed paperwork in federal court in Manhattan on Monday. a spokesperson for the Academy Award-nominated actress said that the legal actions had no merit. Stay tuned for further developments in these cases.

Fox Welcomes Wanda Back for Late-Night Run

If at first you don't succeed at Fox, try, try again. At least that what Wanda Sykes is doing. The network that cancelled Wanda At Large announced today that the Emmy winning comedienne will host a new Saturday late-night talk show that'll include panel discussions by recurring personalities, commentary on hot-button issues, and out-of-studio segments.

Proving once again why people love her, Sykes said, "Yes, my relationship with Fox hasn't been the best, but if Rihanna can go back to Chris Brown, I can go back to Fox. Oprah tried to talk me out it, but I think Fox has changed."

Look for the as-yet-untitled show to debut in the fall.

No More "Light"

Here's how you KNOW things are wrong in this country. After 72 years, CBS' Guiding Light is going dark. The soap, which started the careers of actors like Taye Diggs and James Earl Jones, will air its final episodes on Friday, September 18th.

Guiding Light started as a 15-minute drama on NBC Radio on January 25th, 1937. It debuted on CBS TV in 1952. The drama -- set in the fictional town of Springfield and focusing on the Spaulding, Lewis, and Cooper families -- is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running television drama.

Baby Notes

Congratulations are in order for Taye Diggs. According to Us Magazine, the Private Practice star and his wife, Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, are expecting their first child later this year. The two -- who met when they were in the original Broadway production of Rent in 1996 -- have been together 13 years and married for six.

In other baby news, former American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones and her husband, financial advisor Larry Davis, are expecting their first child. The new baby, due in August, will be the 29-year-old's second child. Her oldest, six-year-old Brionne, was the one who encouraged her to audition for the sixth season of the reality show. LaKisha's other production, her debut album entitled So Glad I'm Me will hit stores on May 19th

Ten Finalists Named on "Sunday Best"

This was the second competition installment of Sunday Best, and this was the week they made eliminations. After a stellar opening by Byron Cage and the contestants singing I Will Bless the Lord, the festivities began...

Pete Robinson was first up. The Vineland, New Jersey resident sang Through it All. His delivery started off pretty shaky, but it came together in the end. Judge Tina Campbell didn't think it was his strongest performance and she thought he didn't connect with the audience. In addition, there were pitch problems. Both BeBe Winans and Erica Campbell agreed. Erica also thought it would be good if he sang the chorus -- the known part of the song -- along with the background singers.

Y'Anna Crawley did Mt. Rainier, Maryland proud with her rendition of For Every Mountain. To let you know how good it was, the audience gave the 31-year-old a standing ovation. The judges had no choice but to agree. BeBe went so far as to say that she was a great singer that he could listen to all day.

Maurice Griffin had a great voice that was showcased nicely with In the Midst of it All. This 22-year-old minister of music from Chicago came out in a low-key fashion, but brought it together as he sang. BeBe said Griffin sounded like a grownup, but he looked like an elementary school student. All the judges liked him.

One of the shakiest performer of the night was Sharon Gomez. The Baltimore, Maryland resident Great is Thy Faithfulness. While her sincerity shined through, her voice wasn't that impressive. While the judges thought her voice was nice, there weren't impressed with her performance. Tina blamed it on her nerves, and Erica agreed.

I'm Lost Without You was John McClure Jr's choice of song. While I wasn't impressed with his take on the BeBe and CeCe Winans classic, the judges liked it. Of course, BeBe reminded us why we loved the song by taking his turn on it.

Host Kirk Franklin liked the arrangement of Melodies From Heaven that Crystal Holland chose to sing. The Chicagoan gave it a jazzy feel that was really nice. Erica thought there was something inconsistent about Holland's performance, Tina thought she didn't connect, and BeBe felt like it was mechanical.

While I realize that Sunday Best is a singing competition, I think it's important to look good when you sing. Unfortunately, Sacramento native Ian J. Knighton obviously didn't agree. Even though his take on The Presence of the Lord is Here was good, his suit didn't fit him well. Erica liked the way he engaged the audience, BeBe thought the song was too short, and Tina invited him to her church.

Another shaky singer was Cecoya Burch. The Atlanta, Georgia native's weak performance of Mary Mary's In the Morning left a lot to be desired. While Tina and Erica were kind and said decent things, it was obvious to me that they weren't overjoyed at Burch's rendition.

Kirk called Dontavies Boatwright a Black Pavarotti -- a reference to the great operatic singer, Luciano Pavarotti -- and he was absolutely right. Boatwright's take on What the World Need Now is Love was awesome, and the judges agreed.

The final performance of the night was Los Angeles' own Carolyn Johnson White. This seasoned singer took it old school with I Know I've Been Changed. Even though she had some pitch problems in the beginning, she managed to pull it together before her time was up, and that note she hit at the end was well worth the wait. Jesus showed up, and the audience almost went in. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the 60-year-old, and when she talked about how grateful she was to be in the number with all the children, the audience went wild.

In the end, ten singers were eliminated. They were Tammy Turner, Cammille Betton, Jonathan Johnson, Audrey Lewis, Pete Robinson, Maurice Griffin, Sharon Gomez, Cecoya Burch, Crystal Holland, and Ian J. Knighton.

Here are the ten Sunday Best finalists:

John McClure Jr.
Kalind Haynes
Jessica Reedy
Zebulon Ellis
Y'Anna Crawley
Carolyn Johnson-White
Dontavies Boatwright
Latice Crawford
Jeff Spain
Clifton Ross III

Tune in next week to see how this thing turns out...

What Ever Happened To...DJ Jazzy Jeff?

Just because we haven’t seen DJ Jazzy Jeff in a minute, don’t think he’s not working. The former partner of The Fresh Prince, better known to us as Will Smith, will be taking part in Bacardi B-Live, a concert series that features some of the hottest acts and DJs from all over the world. Other acts on the tour include MSTRKRFT; Q-Tip, and Santigold.

The cool thing about the tour – which kicks off on May 20th in Seattle – is the Bacardi Bespoke Bar. That’s where attendees of legal age – 21 and over – will get a chance to sample and create their own cocktails with the help of a mixologist.

Here’s a complete list of dates for the Bacardi B-Live tour:

May 20 – Seattle, WA
May 22 – San Francisco, CA
May 28 – San Diego, CA
May 29 – Los Angeles, CA
May 30 – Phoenix, AZ
June 3 – Denver, CO
June 6 – Kansas City, MO
June 11 – Milwaukee, WI
June 12 – Chicago, IL
June 13 – St. Louis, MO
June 17 – New York, NY
June 18 – Boston, MA
June 19 – Philadelphia, PA
June 25 – Louisville, KY
June 26 – Cleveland, OH
June 27 – Columbus, OH
July 2 – Charlotte, NC
July 3 – Atlanta, GA
July 4 – Orlando, FL
July 8 – New Orleans, LA
July 10 – Austin, TX
July 11 – Dallas, TX

Big Pimpin' Could Cramp Snipes' Style

Note to Wesley Snipes – when you're doing things you're really not supposed to do, make sure you steer clear of the cameras. That's some advice he'll have to heed from now on. According to E! Online, the actor – who was sentenced to three years for income tax evasion but is free on a million-dollar bond pending appeal – was photographed big pimpin’ with the likes of Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, and Janet Jackson at a party in the United Arab Emirates back in November. The only thing was that he told the judge that he would be overseas working on a film project.

Last summer, a judge allowed Snipes to travel to Vancouver, London, and Bangkok to work. However, in light of Snipes’ unscheduled stop at the gala opening of the $1.5 billion Atlantis the Palm hotel in Dubai, federal prosecutors really don’t want him to go out of the country again. Assistant US Attorney Robert E. O’Neill filed papers in the US District Court in Ocala, Florida to deny the actor’s request to go to Namibia to reshoot scenes for the horror movie, Galllowwalker, and then to Torino, Italy to film the action flick Game of Death.

O’Neill feels that Wesley has abused the court’s trust in a public way and shouldn’t be allowed to go. In addition, the prosecutor also stated that Namibia is a known haven for international fugitives. Meanwhile, Snipes’ attorney Daniel Meachum said in the latest travel request filed on behalf of his client that Snipes “has never presented and does not currently present a risk of flight. It is essential that Mr. Snipes complete this project to satisfy his civil tax liabilities and provide for his family.”

No word yet on the judge's decision. Stay tuned.

Rock, Lucci, and Mayes to be Honored in NYC

Congratulations to Rose Rock. The author of Mama Rock's Rules and mother of 10, including comic actors Tony and Chris Rock, is being honored as the Mother of the Year by the Pajama Program. The organization will celebrate Mrs. Rock, along with All My Children star Susan Lucci and NFL star Derrick Mayes. Lucci was named Woman of the Year and Mayes will take the Humanitarian of the Year honors. The three of them will be feted on Friday, May 8th in New York City at the Pajama Program Awards luncheon.

Just in case you were wondering, the Pajama Program provides new jammies and books to children in need more, many of whom are waiting to be adopted. For more information, please visit their website.

Whatever Happened to...Dru Hill?

We don't know if Dru Hill is making any albums, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Baltimore, Maryland-based group has been tapped to participate in the Atlanta Braves promotional campaign. They'll be recording an original song for the new The Braves Play Here ads. You can see the fruits of their labor on Peachtree TV in ATL.

J-Hud Returns to "American Idol"

Former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson has already proven that winning isn't everything. After all, she only placed seventh the season she was there. However, E! Online is reporting that the Oscar and Grammy winner be returning to show the current contestants how good losing can be. She'll be taping her top-secret performance today after the results show. No word on when it'll air, though.

Is Homelessness in Isaiah's Future?

If you thought celebrities were immune to the housing crisis, think again. TMZ.com is reporting that Isaiah Washington is five months behind on his rent for his house. His landlord said that if the former Grey's Anatomy star doesn't come up with the 100-thousand dollars he owes him, he and family will be on the curb.

Washington signed a lease/option agreement to purchase the Venice, California property for 3.65-million dollars. However, he was having some kind of dispute with his financial person. He told his landlord that once the issue was cleared up, he'd be able to pay his rent.

Unfortunately, the landlord has decided that he can't wait any longer for Isaiah to pay up and has started legal proceedings. Sources say that Washington and his family are going to move soon. Stay tuned...

Bishop Eric McDaniel Goes Solo

Even though you may not know Bishop Eric McDaniel by name, you're probably familiar with his work. The pastor of The Lord's Church Family Worship Center in the Bronx has been writing songs almost as long as he's been preaching. Some of his bigger hits include It Shall be Done by Bishop T.D. Jakes and the Potter's House Mass Choir and most recently, One More Chance, which is on Ricky Dillard & New G's latest album, Live in Toronto: The 7th Episode.

Now Bishop McDaniel is set to go solo for the first time. The album, I Am Favor, will be recorded live at Allen Memorial Church of God in Christ on Sunday, April 5, 2009. Special guest for the evening will be Kim Burrell.

A Book Deal for "Real Housewife" Nene

Looks like Nene Leakes is doing her best to milk her 15 minutes of fame for all it's worth. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member has signed what is being a called a significant deal to showcase her literary aspirations. The masterpiece will be called Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Straight Talk on Love and Live from a Real Housewife,and she'll be co-writing it with New York Times best-selling author Denene Millner. Look for the book to be in stores in July.

Kim Kardashian Shows Her Intelligence...NOT!

Kim Kardashian may have some talents, but if the New York Daily News is to be believed, hosting charity events isn't one of them. Apparently the reality star, who recently emceed Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic benefit, can't pronounce the word "philanthropy." According to an attendee, "Everyone was laughing at her.” Yikes!

Rev. Wright's Family Releases a Statement

The family of Pastor Timothy Wright wants to set the record straight about his condition. On Monday, they released the following statement exclusively to Gospel Today magazine:

“Rev. Wright did not have a heart attack. But on January 21st, his heart stopped suddenly. He was on life support for two to three weeks. But as of right now, he's off life support. He is breathing on his own. He's not 100 percent responsive, but he does open his eyes when we talk to him. He's not brain dead, but the lack of oxygen to his brain while his heart was stopped has caused his response to be very slow. So we’re praying that his response picks up and he returns back to normal. The doctors didn't give us a time table, but God will do it on His own time. Keep Rev. in your prayers. God bless."

As you may recall, Rev. Wright was involved in a serious car crash last July which took the life of his wife, Betty, and his 14-year-old grandson, DJ. The family is thanking everyone for their continued support and prayers.

What Ever Happened to...Don Cornelius?

If Don Cornelius had stuck to “Love, Peace, and Soul,” he wouldn’t be in the mess he’s in now. Last Wednesday, the 72-year-old creator of Soul Train copped a no contest plea in Los Angeles Superior Court to a misdemeanor spousal battery charge. You’ll recall that he was arrested in October following a dispute with his estranged wife, Victoria. According to EURweb, his plea deal led to the dismissal of four other misdemeanor charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report.

In addition to being sentenced to three years probation, Cornelius will also have to pay over a thousand dollars in fines, complete 300 hours of community service, and attend a domestic violence treatment program for a year. He wasn’t present for the hearing.

The Competition Begins on "Sunday Best"

If last night's edition of Sunday Best was any indication of what we have to look forward to for the rest of the season, we are in for a real treat. Mary Mary and Kierra Sheard opened up the show with God in Me, the newest single from Double-M's latest album, The Sound. After that, the 20 finalists did the reprise -- which we REALLY could've done without.

Ten of the 20 singers performed last night. Here's how it went down...

Tammy Turner opened up the competition with her rendition of Tramaine Hawkins' classic, Look at Me. The lady from Jessup, Maryland did a very good job, and the judges -- BeBe Winans, and Erica and Tina Campbell -- agreed.

Next up was Washington, DC's Clifton Ross the Third. His take on Behold the Lamb was good, but it sounded like he was on the upper end of his range. I personally thought he sounded like it was a strain. The judges, however, thought he nailed it.

Cammille Betton of Columbus, Ohio took us back to the old school with Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Her rich alto was a good fit for the song. While Erica and BeBe liked her performance, Tina thought the song didn't showcase her best talents.

Jeff Spain brought in a quiet anointing with his version of Seasons. While the New Yorker's vocal performance wasn't necessarily the most powerful, his anointing certainly was. BeBe thought it was smooth, Tina liked the sincerity in his eyes, and Erica thought his approach was gentle, but great.

Jessica Reedy has the distinction of being the youngest singer this season. Even though the Saginaw, Michigan native's chronological age is 20, her voice is extremely mature. Yolanda Adams' Just a Prayer Away was her song choice. She pitched it lower and took some liberties with the melody, but overall, it was good. While Erica thought she could've stretched more, BeBe liked it. Tina thought Jessica's take was gentle but sure, powerful but light.

Jonathan Johnson showed his Louisville, Kentucky roots with his take on He's Always There. The 22-year-old's voice was very traditional sounding. Bebe called it husky. Overall the judges liked it, but Tina called him out for being pitchy.

Latice Crawford's large voice was in direct contrast to her sleight frame. Even though the Queens, New York native's take on Peace Be Still was reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Armstrong, she made it her own. The background singers were completely on-point, too. It was so good that Latice almost got her shout on! The judges went crazy. Erica mentioned the anointing in her singing, Tina was rendered speechless, and BeBe started speaking in tongues.

Richard Smallwood's Center of My Joy was Kalind Haynes choice of song. Even though he sounded like a Will Downing knock off, his voice was really good, and the background singers really brought it together for the Chicago resident. BeBe called him his type of singer because he could understand what he was saying. Erica called it musically excellent; while Tina called it clean, confident, and sure.

Another Chicagoan, Audrey Lewis, really did her thing on He Looked Beyond My Faults. Mama Lewis was your typical old school singer, and she was great. Prior to singing, host Kirk Franklin revealed that she'd recently quit her job to sing full time. After her performance, BeBe told her she should've done it long time ago. Both Tina and Erica agreed.

The final singer of the evening was Atlanta's own Zebulon Ellis. He came out like an old-school preacher as he sang God is Standing By. The judges absolutely loved the way he owned the stage.

In the end, everyone was so good that they weren't able to eliminate anyone. Stay tuned next week to see how this thing turns out.

Gospel Tidbits...

Here's what's going on in the world of gospel, courtesy of GospelFlava.com:

The singer's singer, Kim Burrell, is finally going to release a new album. Her new project, No Ways Tired, will be her first studio recording in nine years. The album, which hits stores on April 7th, will feature covers of classic tunes like My Faith Looks Up To Thee, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, O Lamb Of God, I Surrender All, and the title cut, which is a James Cleavland classic...


Marvin Winans and the Perfecting Praise Church Choir is preparing for their next live recording on Sunday, March 29th at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan. Special guests will include Bishop Paul S. Morton and his little sister, CeCe Winans. The recording will not only be in celebration of the church's 20th anniversary, but it'll also be the culmination of the church's Praise & Worship Weekend 2009 conference. Pastor Winans will lead the songwriter's session, and workshops for dancers, musicians, and songwriters will also be featured...

Finally, speaking of CeCe, she and J. Moss have been tapped to headline McDonald's Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour. It kicks off in Dallas on Friday, May 8th, with stops in Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Chicago. Here's a complete list of tour dates:

May 8 – Dallas, TX (Friendship West Baptist Church)
May 9 – Houston, TX (Windsor Village United Methodist Church Family @ the KBC)
May 14 – Philadelphia, PA (Deliverance Evangelistic Church)
May 15 – Detroit, MI (Greater Grace Temple)
May 16 – Chicago, IL (Christ Universal Temple)
May 23 – Atlanta, GA (Ray of Hope Christian Church)
May 24 – Norfolk, VA (TBD)
June 13 – Newark, NJ (McDonald’s Gospel Festival-Prudential Center)
Sep. 13 – Washington, DC (National Black Family Reunion Celebration Festival - Washington Mall)

Barack on Leno -- My Take

President Barack Obama was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night. It was a historic situation as Obama became the first sitting president to guest on the late-night talk fest. I thought it was cool that Kevin Eubanks and The Tonight Show Band were dressed in suits for the occasion.

Jay and Barack exchanged pleasantries as Barack joked about how his life had changed since becoming president. He mentioned the Secret Service, his motorcade, and all the trappings of living in what he called "The Bubble." He also compared Washington to American Idol, with everyone acting like the caustic judge, Simon Cowell.

The interview took a serious turn as the president explained the AIG situation, and how the financial sector needs to get back to common sense values. Jay asked Obama why there weren't more people going to jail in conjunction with the financial problems. The president said that, contrary to popular belief, most of the actions that contributed to our current crisis were legal.

Naturally, Leno lightened the mood by asking President Obama about flying in Air Force One. While the Commander in Chief thought it was cool, First Daughters Sasha and Malia weren't that impressed. In fact, the girls were more interested in dividing up the Starbursts they found onboard.

Who is Barack's pick for the NCAA champion? None other than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Finally, Jay addressed the one question that's been on the minds of Americans since the election -- when is the dog coming? You may recall that on Election Night, Barack promised his daughters a canine. After joking that the pet was a campaign promise, he said that the dog will be in place after he returns from the NATO summit.

Overall, President Obama reminded us -- once again -- why we love him so. If you missed any part of what Leno referred to as the greatest night of his life, here's the entire transcript of the interview here.

***UPDATE***

After all the wonderful things Barack said in this interview, can someone please tell me why so many mainstream media outlets have chosen to focus on his remark about the Special Olympics? (He issued an apology, by the way).

While I have nothing against the SO, I think the interview covered so much more than that. Besides, I think we can let that remark slip in light of what the New York Post did. Just my two cents, people.

Mary's Doing "Bad" for Tyler

Mary J. Blige has signed on to appear in Tyler Perry's new film, I Can Do Bad All by Myself. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she'll stretch her acting chops -- wink, wink -- by playing a performer who manages a nightclub. Taraji P. Henson will co-star as her friend. Tyler's Madea is also scheduled to appear in the film, which will hit theaters in September.

What Ever Happened To...Soul For Real?

While we can't speak for the rest of the 1990s group comprised of the Dalyrimple brothers Andre, Brian, Christopher, and Jason, we can tell you that EURweb.com is reporting that Brian is on the run from identity theft charges. Officials in Georgia have linked him to a crime ring that has scammed hundreds of folks in the Duluth, Atlanta area. As if that wasn't bad enough, sources say that the singer had his 10-month-old son with him at the time.

Just to refresh your memory, Soul For Real was known for its hits Candy Rain and Every Little Thing I Do.

Teen Group Uses Chrihanna Chronicles to Highlight Abuse

Finally someone's using The Chrihanna Chronicles for good! E! Online is saying that DoSomething.org, a teen empowering group founded by Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, has launched an online PSA that recreates the fight that allegedly ocurred between Chris Brown and Rihanna in hopes of shining a light on dating abuse.

Check it out here.

BeBe's Lawyer Weighs In

The BeBe Winans assault case is getting a little uglier now that his lawyer has weighed in on the situation. Lisa Binder released the following statement in response to Debra Winans' allegations of assault.

"In response to Mrs. Winans' recent statements to the media, the public should also know that on March 11th, 2009, Judge Carol Soloman issued an Order of Protection in favor of BeBe Winans against Debra Winans arising out of the incident which occurred on February 13th. Judge Soloman specifically stated from the bench (and in her order) that Debra Winans was 'not found to be a credible witness.'

"Mrs. Winans has been unsuccessful in repeated attempts to interfere with Mr. Winans' visitation with his children and there is a Criminal Contempt Proceeding pending against her in Williamson County, the arena in which these custody disputes should and will be tried."

It is unfortunate that Mrs. Winans has now chosen to attack her children’s father on television. Mr. Winans will not participate in any public display that may affect his children’s well being, but will instead use through the proper judicial channels to insure that his rights as a father are protected.”

Let's keep this family in our prayers...

No Men for The Queen?

Has Queen Latifah given up on men? According to the New York Daily News, the rapper-turned-Oscar-nominated actress has been quoted as saying, "I [used to] ingratiate myself to [men] and then sleep with [them]. Afterward, I felt disgusting- really gross and nasty ... and I hated myself. That feeling was so horrible, I decided I would never do that again."

Before you get your panties in a bunch, know that the quote was included in Shaun Robinson's new book, Exactly As I Am, which was written to offer candid advice for girls on how to believe in themselves.

Are Nick & Mariah About to Make a Move?

Looks like Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon may be bringing their act to the West Coast. Sources say that the happy twosome are looking for homes in Los Angeles County. Why, you ask, would anyone give up the glitz and glamour of New York? An insider was quoted as saying, "She wants to act more and she has to be on the West Coast to do that. And well, then, he's got his...career -- whatever that is." Yikes! Her rep was mum on the subject.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle is saying that Mariah and Nick have put in an offer to buy the Saperstein Estate in Holmby Hills. While the market price on the place is 125-million bucks, it's not known what they're paying for it.

What we do know is that the couple will get their money's worth. The 45,000-square-foot estate is reminiscent of a French Chateau but has all of the modern amenities as it was built in the 1990’s. According to the property listing, it has Italian marble walls, French limestone floors, gold-embossed leather wall coverings and gold-leaf crowned moldings. Rooms include a ballroom with ceiling frescoes, a library with a first-edition book collection, two kitchens and a screening room with seating for 50. As if that weren't enough, the pool house has a full kitchen, a massage room and a gym. In addition, there's also a three-bedroom manager’s house, staff quarters for 10, a nine-car garage and a ¾-mile jogging track.

Michael Jackson in the US?

Will Michael Jackson bring his comeback tour to the US? The New York Daily News says that since the London dates sold out in a matter of hours, the King of Pop is considering shows in Los Angeles and New York City. Concert promoters AEG are even thinking about doing a world tour. Stay tuned...

Mo'Nique Bids Radio Adieu

While Mo'Nique may have tackled the worlds of comedy, television, film, and literature with ease, radio has proven to be a tougher nut to crack. After almost a year, Syndication One is pulling the plug on The Mo'Nique Show . She'll host the final edition this Wednesday. At this point, it's not clear what will replace it on its affiliate stations.

According to Radio & Records Magazine, Mo'Nique's post-radio days will find her focused on her other endeavors. She said, "I would like to thank my fabulous board of directors for their daily inspiration and feedback and Radio One for the opportunity to further my entertainment brand through radio."

BeBe Winans Accused of Pushing Ex-Wife

Say it ain't so! Sunday Best judge BeBe Winans has been accused of assaulting his ex-wife, Debra, on Valentine's Day weekend.

According to the Chicago Tribune, BeBe went to pick up his 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son on February 13th. He and Debra got into an argument over custody issues when she alleges that he pushed her to the ground in front of their children. He was booked on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge and released on a thousand-dollar bond. He's due back in court on Wednesday, April 29th.

BeBe posted the following statement on his website:

“To be accused of these allegations, which arose out of a child custody right dispute and my desire to spend time with our children as court ordered, is nothing less than heart wrenching. Since I choose to say nothing negative about my children’s mother, I will make no comment other than to say the allegations are inconsistent with my character and the foundation upon which I was raised and I am prayerful that the matter is straightened out very soon for the sake of our children.”

BeBe and Debra were married for 16 years before they divorced in 2003. While it's easy to rush to judgement -- especially in this era of domestic violence -- I would ask that we all be in prayer for this family at this difficult time.

The Chrihanna Chronicles: New Hearing Set

What's really going on? According to Entertainment Tonight, an unexpected hearing has been scheduled in the Chris Brown assault case. This "status conference" will be held on Monday, March 23rd with just the lawyers and the judge.

Because Chris signed a waiver of presence -- which means that he doesn't have to show up for any minor proceedings that his attorney, Mark "Get 'em Off" Geragos, can handle -- during his March 5th hearing, he won't be there. Rihanna won't be on hand for these unexpected festivities, either.

Brown is charged with two felony counts of assault and making criminal threats in connection with that now infamous incident allegedly involving the Good Girl Gone Bad. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday, April 6th.

***UPDATE***

If what TMZ.com is reporting is true, the hearing may let Rihanna off the testifying hook. Apparently both Get 'Em Off Geragos and Donald Etra, Rihanna'a attorney, believe that the 21-year-old singer was compromised when her name surfaced as the alleged victim in the case. Because this and other leaks have violated her right to privacy, she shouldn't have to put herself out any further by testifying against Brown. Stay tuned...

More Good News for Hez

Things are really looking good for Bishop Hezekiah Walker. In addition to having his first number one hit with Souled Out, he's also expanding his evangelical empire. According to The Belle Report, the good Bishop -- who already has churches Brooklyn, New York and Bensalem, Pennsylvania -- will be opening Love Fellowship Tabernacle-Atlanta on Easter Sunday, April 12th. The first service will be held at 7pm ET at Morehouse College campus.

Nick Cannon's Blessed

Just in case you were wondering how things are going with Nick Cannon -- and I know you are -- let's just say that he's not complaining. According to the New York Daily News, Mr. Mariah Carey was overheard at a birthday party for Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone saying, "I feel so blessed." As if that weren't enough to turn your stomach, he added, "Do I look giddy? Because I am." Ain't love grand?

Chris Brown's Manager Denies Rumors

Chris Brown's manager, Tina Davis, is doing damage control in light of recent rumors of sexual impropriety between her and her client. In fact, it's being reported that the text message that sparked the drama between Chris and Rihanna came from her.

Ms. Davis' attorney, Marshall B. Grossman of Bingham McCutchen LLP, issued the following statement on her behalf yesterday:

"The relationship between Ms. Davis and Mr. Brown is that of manager and client. There has never been any other relationship. The rumors in circulation are false. There are no emails between Ms. Davis and Mr. Brown of the type which have been described in media reports. If the source of the false rumors is identified, legal action will be taken. Given the nature of the legal issues affecting Mr. Brown, Ms. Davis will not be making any further statements."

In other news, Brown has pulled out of the Kids' Choice Awards. While Nickelodeon had no intention of dropping him -- despite increasing pressure to do so in light of his current legal situation -- he withdrew himself yesterday. In a statement he said:

"Chris very much appreciates the support of his fans and the honor they have paid him in the way of nominations for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the incident last month has shifted the focus from the music to whether he should be allowed to be among those nominated. While Chris would like to speak to his fans directly about this and other issues, pending legal proceedings preclude his doing so at this time. Once the matter before him has been resolved, he intends to do so."

A rep for the children's network was quoted as saying, "We are confirming that Chris Brown has decided to withdraw his nominations from the Kids' Choice Awards. We agree with and respect his decision, and are looking forward to presenting a great event for our audience."

Chris is due back in court on Monday, April 6th.

Hez is Number One!

Bishop Hezekiah Walker is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and pastor. However, until this week, he'd never had a number one hit. The title track of his latest album, Souled Out, knocked James Fortune & FIYA's I Trust You out of the top spot on Radio & Record's Gospel chart.

I Trust You, from the Houston choir's latest album, The Transformation, made history for holding on to the number one position for 29 consecutive weeks.

Meanwhile, Bishop Walker has had numerous top-five singles during his career, including Lift Him Up, which peaked at number three in 2006; and Faithful Is Our God, which held the number two position in 2007.