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Tag: Oct

  • Pam Grier: Blaxploitation Icon to Join Cast of TV’s ‘Smallville’

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    Pam Grier will return to television early next year…and will be playing a bad guy.

    Well, a bad girl.

    Again!

    The CW announced that the 60 year-old 1970s Blaxploitation film icon is joining the cast of the hit drama series ‘Smallville,’ which is based on the DC Comics Superman series.

    The savvy casting choice is the first for the ‘Jackie Brown’ actress since Showtime’s ‘The L Word’ ended last year.

    Grier will play a villainess named Agent Amanda Waller, who brought on the destruction of Smallville in one of part of the Superman mythology.

    In the storyline, the character escaped the infamous Chicago Cabrini-Green housing projects with her surviving family after her family was murdered. She became a congressional aid and then a member of the elite semi-secret government agency, the Suicide Squad, where she earned the nickname ‘The Wall.’ Later, Agent Waller served as Secretary of Meta-human Affairs under President Lex Luthor.

    According to TV Guide, Grier will make her debut in January and she will appear in multiple episodes throughout the season.

    2008 Deaths

      Odetta Holmes
      “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement” was a singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter and activist.
      December 31 1930 – December 2 2008.

      Ray Tamarra , Getty

      Bernie Mac
      Comedian, Actor
      Oct. 5, 1957 – Aug. 9, 2008.

      AP

      Isaac Hayes
      Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and actor.
      August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008

      Reuters

      Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa”
      South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist.
      March 4, 1932 – November 10, 2008.

      Reuters

      Jennifer Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, were killed in 2008.

      AP

      Shakir Stewart
      The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z’s departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. He was 34 years old.

      Getty

      George Carlin
      Stand-up comedian, actor and author.
      May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008

      Getty Images

      Madelyn Dunham
      Barack Obama’s grandmother
      October 26, 1922 – Nov 3, 2008.

      Getty Images

      Levi Stubbs
      Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving” died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

      Corbis

      Dee Dee Warwick
      Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

      Corbis

     

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  • Economic Recovery Definition: Is the Economy Really Getting Better?

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    What is the definition of an economic recovery? This is the hot finance topic of the week. As the White House unrolls a PR plan to try and demonstrate that the recession is over thanks to the administration’s efforts, the question of how to exactly define economic recovery is causing confusion. Let’s look at the facts and try to determine an economic recovery definition.

    President Obama has claimed that 650,000 jobs have been created or saved through his stimulus plan. The Dow increased by 200 in response to the good news. Plus, the economy grew last quarter for the first time in a year at a rate of 3.5%. Modest, but good. There is also the increase in home sales reported in September. And even Ford posted a profit of nearly $1 billion this year, which came as a surprise to the business community. But do these positive reports illustrate that our economy is set for permanent stability?

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    Home Sales Up
    Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted
    AP
    AP

    Home Sales Up

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      Shea Homes townhouses are seen at the Victoria Gardens development in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. The number of buyers snapping up new homes dipped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wear off. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      New home models are shown in Homestead, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Sales of new homes are expected to post their sixth consecutive monthly gain as builders reap the benefits of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of next month. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

      AP

    Some say no. Increases in car and home sales have been spurred by federally-backed incentives like the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit and the cash for clunkers program. These increases don’t stand on their own as signs of consumer strength. So what can we use to define economic recovery?

    Writers at the Wall Street Journal believe the jobless rate is a much more meaningful benchmark. But right now it is too soon to tell exactly where that rate is heading based on the statistics available now. So even the jobless rate cannot help us develop a reliable economic recovery definition until we have more information.

    Let’s try looking to the president for his definition. The POTUS has declared: “The benchmark I use to measure the strength of our economy is not just whether our GDP is growing, but whether we are creating jobs, whether families are having an easier time paying their bills, whether our businesses are hiring and doing well.” (CBS News)

    As unemployment remains high and it is still difficult for people to get loans, we are clearly far from a lasting economic recovery — by the definition of the president himself. But as we have faced the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, it is silly to expect our economy to fully recover after a few months of federal intervention. Obama’s stimulus plan may not have created a full economic recovery within months, but it has helped many families survive what could have been a much worse financial scenario. It has also supported state governments that provide social services like police and teachers to all.

    This type of relief may not fit an expert’s economic recovery definition, but it has helped society overall in the short term. For that alone the president can be commended.

     

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  • Oprah Winfrey: Reuniting Evander Holyfield & Mike Tyson

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    Oprah Winfrey Reuniting Evander Holyfield & Mike Tyson

    Oprah Winfrey‘s intimate interview with Mike Tyson on Oct. 12 has now resulted in plans to reunite him with his boxing rival Evander Holyfield.

    BV Newswire has learned that following an outpouring of audience response from the infamous pugilist’s appearance, he will return to ‘The Oprah Winfrey on Oct. 16 and take questions from the studio audience and speak about the overwhelming reaction he’s had from his first interview.

    A Harpo Productions has confirmed that Tyson will reunite with Holyfield on the ‘Oprah’ show stage. Their appearance together on the will mark the first time Tyson and Holyfield have spoken face-to-face since their infamous 1997 incident.

    The Brownsville, Brooklyn raised boxer talked candidly about it his past and very public ordeals on the show earlier this week, including his disastrous marriage and divorce from former TV star Robin Givens, his trial and three-year imprisonment for rape, and his ear-biting bout with Holyfield.

    “I didn’t feel guilty at the time … I didn’t feel guilty at all,” Tyson revealed.

     

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  • Man Cleared After 9 Years in Prison

    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 14) — Prosecutors are saying a Kentucky man who served about nine years in prison for a shooting death and robbery is innocent.

    Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney David Stengel said Tuesday that Edwin A. Chandler was innocent of the 1993 slaying of a convenience store clerk. Another man has been indicted in the killing.

  • The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?

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    The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?The rapper Shyne, who was convicted of a club shooting in 1999, was reportedly released from a New York correctional facility Oct. 6 and then transferred into custody by immigration officials. Though the former Bad Boy Records star has a green card, news reports hint that he may be deported to his native Belize because of the felony conviction. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Mike Gilhooly would only tell media outlets that Shyne was in custody for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

    Born Jamal Barrow, Shyne was on the verge of superstardom when he was arrested in 1999 for a shooting at the Club New York nightclub. His mentor and record label chief Diddy, and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, was also charged but acquitted at trial.

    While in prison, Shyne (now 30) changed his name to Moses Leviy in recognition of his Jewish mother. His father, Dean Oliver Barrow, is currently the prime minister of Belize.

    Attorney Oscar Michelen, told the ‘New York Daily News’ his client “is anxious to get released and is looking forward to seeing his family and being able to be free to do what he wants to do.”

    ShyneDespite what seems to be a smear campaign from a few mainstream gossip columns, Mo’Nique and her new late night talk show is a hit. Numbers do not lie. The comedienne -who is making headlines for not promoting the new Tyler Perry/Oprah Winfrey-produced film ‘Precious’ – has made history for BET with ‘The Mo’Nique Show,’ which netted 1.5 million viewers for its debut Oct. 5.

    The premiere episode featured appearances from Steve Harvey, R&B artist Monica, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as well as a performance by R&B recording artist Jeremih. A rep for BET said the show ranked as the network’s highest-rated show for the season and was the number two entertainment program on cable during its time slot. “The inaugural episode also outperformed the competition, coming in as the number one entertainment talk show on cable overall and the number one talk show among adults 18-49 (850,000),” said BET spokeswoman Tricia Newell. The show, a loud and colorful spectacle, tapes from Atlanta’s Turner Studios and airs on BET at 11 p.m. weeknights.

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    Jennifer Hudson is getting back to work. As the Academy Award and Grammy Award winner celebrates the recent birth of her baby, she’s also getting into the holiday spirit. The TV special ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll be Home for Christmas’ has been announced to air on ABC in December. According to reports, the show will feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed at various locations around her hometown of Chicago. The chosen venues will be specific to her youth; they include her church and the music academy she attended. Hudson’s record label has no plans to release a holiday album to coincide with the TV special.

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    Anna Deavere Smith is something like a phenomenon. Her new show ‘Let Me Down Easy’ opened Oct. 7 at New York City’s tightly packed Second Stage Theater and a flurry of notable well wishers – including Gayle King, opera diva Jessye Norman, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, actresses Dawn Lewis and Judith Light – came out to celebrate.

    For the Tony Award nominee’s latest one-woman, multi-character show, Smith explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the resilience of the spirit. The Anthony Foglia-directed tour-de-force where the McArthur Genius Grant winning wunderkind transforms herself into a dramatic range of characters, all of whom she’s interviewed and impersonates masterfully for the 95-minute play. But this is far from satire; ‘Let Me Down Easy’ is a thought provoking marvel about mortality channeled through journalistic accounts from a wide variety of sources, including fashion icon Lauren Hutton, super-athlete Lance Armstrong, playwright Eve Ensler, former boxing champ Michael Bent, late movie critic Joel Siegel and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.

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    Controversial reggae artist Buju Banton’s concert at the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose, California on Oct. 13 has been canceled. “After reviewing Buju Banton’s lyrics, I was appalled by their sheer hatred and encouragement of violence towards the gay, lesbian and transgender community,” stated David Powell, co-owner of Voodoo Lounge. “There is no place for these types of incendiary remarks at Voodoo Lounge or in San Jose.” Banton – who recorded the song ‘Boom, Bye Bye,’ in 1988, which incited the torture and murder of gay men – has been the subject of protest for his concert bookings.

    A website has been erected to boycott any promoter doing business with him. An open letter to his manager Tracii Mcgregor, a former editor at the Source magazine, has been published there also, calling her to task for saying that Banton was “only 15 years old when he recorded that song.” Powell maintained that the club’s ownership team “did not know the content of Banton’s lyrics. If we had known, we would not have scheduled this performance.”

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    Big Poppa Kim Zolciak Real Housewives of AtlantaSo is ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kim Zolciak really engaged to Big Poppa? Only God knows for sure. On last week’s episode of the televised guilty pleasure, the bleached-blond urban socialite showed off the new rocks that she got, and boasted of her engagement to her mysterious millionaire paramour (who has been identified as Lee Najjar). Hmmmm. Her TV show co-star Sheree Whitfield, who recently underwent a downsizing divorce from former football player Bob Whitfiled, wondered aloud (and on camera) about the validity of the engagement since the man is still married.

    A Bravo network spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment about the possible nuptials. But until that stone is uncovered, folks can see really how large the ‘Tardy for the Party’ singer is living — the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper got an exclusive look at her luxurious digs.

     

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