GBMNews - Articles - Television

Formerly "Law & Orders" Jesse L. Martin On the Move

no@spam.com (John Frazier) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:49:23 CDT

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Law and Order's former black stud, Jesse L. Martin will star and appear on Broadway, as he's in negotiations to play the lead in the remake of Sidney Poitier's, "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner." It should be interesting to see how it will differ from the movie, especially since race relations have changed. It has also been rumored that this gifted actor who was one of the original actors in the Broadway play, "Rent", will star in the Marvin Gaye movie.

With Jesse's handsome good looks and acting skills, he may find himself with a Tony award. And if he's to star in the Marvin Gaye movie, who knows, maybe an Oscar as well.

F. Gary Gary who directed "The Italian Job" has been commissioned to direct the movie, "Marvin" and music mogul, David Foster is said to be on board as co-producer. Will Jesse be associated with this making of Marvin Gaye's life or is there another one in the works, who knows.

Lets keep an eye on this gifted brother.

You read it here at GBMNews.com

The Soulful Teddy Bear Takes A Wife

no@spam.com (John Frazier) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:32:32 CDT

Ruben Studdard of American Idol Getting Married

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

The Alabama born singing star, Ruben Studdard, 29, American Idol's second-season winner, is getting married. He will have 20 groomsmen. The lucky lady is his beautiful fiancée, Surata Zuri McCants, 30.

It's said that the both of them are extremely happy and good for each other. No wedding date has been set but if they're looking for a wedding planner, check out www.weddingsbycharisse.com .

We, here, at GBMNews.com wish this happy couple nothing but unconditional, everlasting love. And Ruben and Surata don't forget to mail me my invitation!

I have a feeling that Ruben may be preparing a special love song to sing to his soon to be lovely bride. I'm sure everyone will cry happy tears.

(Photo by Kevin Winter)

You read it here at GBMNews.com

Minorities clean up on Daytime Emmy Awards

no@spam.com (Justin Smith) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:13:40 CDT

By Justin Smith, Sr. Correspondent

Tyra Banks: One of the world's top supermodels in the 1990s and into the millennium, Tyra Banks quickly eclipsed the boundaries of that often times limited career to become an actress, philanthropist and television personality with two series under her wing - the reality show "American's Next Top Model" (UPN/CW, 2003- ), and "The Tyra Banks Show" (syndicated, 2005- ), her own daytime talk program. Both were considerable hits among young female viewers, though the latter show struck a chord with a broader audience, due to Banks' emotional and personal approach to female-related issues such as body image and gender roles.

Born Tyra Lynne Banks in Inglewood, CA on Dec. 4, 1973, she was the daughter of fashion consultant and medical photographer, Carolyn London, and computer programmer, Donald Banks. Her childhood was filled with emotional challenges, beginning with her parents' divorce in 1980. She also suffered ridicule at the hands of her brother and classmates for her looks - the future face of countless magazine covers and product lines was a tall, thin and awkward pre-teen. Banks apparently overcame this phase sometime in her mid-teens, deciding to explore modeling as a career. Like many aspiring models, she struggled to land a contract with an agency until she was accepted by the Elite Agency at the age of 17. Although she was slated to attend Loyola Marymount College, she abandoned her plans for higher education, relocating to Paris to explore the high fashion world.

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Soul Train Sold, Cancellation To Blame

no@spam.com (John Frazier) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:19:21 CDT

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

According to AOL Black Voices, "following the recent cancellation of 'The 22nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards,' longtime show producer, creator and host Don Cornelius has sold the Soul Train media franchise to multimedia company MadVision Entertainment Inc.

Cornelius released a statement regarding the new acquisition: "The Soul Train legacy and brand are of the utmost importance to me and to Soul Train's millions of fans. After years of offers, I feel the time is now finally right to pass the torch The MadVision team understands and respects my vision, and they share my own commitment to seeing the brand rise to the next level."

Just a few months ago, you may remember that Mr. Cornelius had issued a statement that "Soul Train" the movie was in the works as a comedy. Personally, I thought that was a punch in the face to the many of us who grew up watching Soul Train every Saturday. It wasn't a laughing matter to us. That would have been like Dick Clark producing, "American Bandstand", the comedy. The idea of Soul Train being made into a movie period, didn't make sense. It wasn't like we happened what the regular dancers on the show did before and after weekly tapings.

Now the next level, this remains to be seen. I can't imagine what else can be done with this type of show. Perhaps it was best left as a memory.

You read it here at GBMNews.com

A Spiritual Fire: Actor, Hill Harper

no@spam.com (John Frazier) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:32:21 CDT

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

In a time when the world is changing, some believe for the better while others believe for the worse. We are moving into a new generation, a new world, a new day, where we might have our first President who's of color. Just in this possible happening, the world is changing because we believe. In this movement of a positive change, our brother, actor, writer, Hill Harper has a word that he wants to spread to our youth.

But whatever the role, its always been something that he could be proud of as the roles always showed a person of color with strength, pride and wisdom. He's done television (CSI, NY), stage and film and now added to his list of accomplishments, he's an author of not one but two in the empowerment of our men and women of color. Just released is his follow up to his book to, "Letter to A Young Brother", he has a message for our sisters, "Letter to A Young Sister."

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Gay wedding for Star Trek's Takei

no@spam.com (Best boy) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:32:23 CDT

US actor George Takei is to wed his long-term partner after California lifted its ban on same-sex marriage.

Takei, 71, best known for playing Mr Sulu in Star Trek, said he and Brad Altman were going through the "delicious dilemma" of where to marry.

The actor and 54-year-old Mr Altman have been together for 21 years.

"We can have the dignity, as well as all the responsibilities, of marriage. We embrace it all heartily," Takei wrote on his website.

'Good times'

Takei, who recently appeared in the popular US TV series Heroes, added: "We've worked in partnership; he manages the business side of my career and I do the performing.

"We've travelled the world together from Europe to Asia to Australia. We've shared the good times as well as struggled through the bad.

"He helped me care for my ailing mother who lived with us for the last years of her life. He is my love and I can't imagine life without him."

On Thursday, California's Supreme Court said the "right to form a family relationship" applied to all Californians regardless of sexuality.

But opponents of the decision said they would seek an amendment to the state constitution, which would override the ruling.

Following the Supreme Court's decision to legalise same-sex marriage, comedian Ellen DeGeneres announced plans to marry her girlfriend, actress Portia de Rossi

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Watts to start cable channel

no@spam.com (News Hound) — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:31:07 CDT

By Jim Stafford

J.C. Watts apparently has found another way to create news beyond political office.

The former Oklahoma congressman told the New York Post in a story published earlier this week that he plans to launch a television news network targeted at a black audience in early 2009. The new cable network is tentatively called the Black Television News Channel.

"I'm not so sure that you see anything on CNN or Fox News that specifically targets the African-American community,” Watts told the Post.

He did not elaborate on financial costs or financial backers for the new endeavor.

Watts told the Post that he wanted to provide news coverage that goes beyond crime stories.

"Our community features millions of people with all kinds of backgrounds,” Watts said. "There's a much broader segment of the population than what we see in the mainstream news.”

About J.C. Watts

Watts is a former University of Oklahoma football star and served as a Republican representative for the Fourth District of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
He now lives in Washington and operates the J.C. Watts Cos.

There is no question that an audience exists for news tailored specifically for black Americans, said Oklahoma City businessman Russell Perry, owner of the Black Chronicle newspaper.

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Self Righteous Montel Williams Dropped

no@spam.com (News Hound) — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:48:03 CDT

By Correspondent, John Frazier

After 17 years as a television host, Montel put his self righteous foot in his mouth and lost his job four days after bad mouthing the death of, actor, Heath Ledger on Fox News station. Montel felt that the media was spending too much time on the death of the beloved actor.

Perhaps he stepped on one toe too many. Now depending on the website, it doesn't mention the reason, as it pretends that Mr. Williams is leaving on his own. Part of Montel's charm or lack of, is because he has a huge opinion about everything, and there are times when he doesn't appear to be humble about anything.

If you go to YouTube, you are able to watch as he "turned the tables" on Fox News as he questioned why was there so much focus on Heath.

Perhaps he was correct, but he could have asked "why?" without mentioning the beloved actor. Maybe he should have telephoned his close friend, psychic, Sylvia Browne, who could have warned him that his contact would not be renewed.

You read it first at GBMNews.com

NYC News Anchor - Sue Simmons

no@spam.com (John Frazier) — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:08:44 CDT

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Being born and raised in NYC, I've always loved the beautiful Sue Simmons, the WNBC-TV's, Black American News Anchor. Ms. Simmons has always kept it real.

I can even recall once when the channel 4 re-did the name line up, and Ms. Simmons said, "Hell no!", as she didn't like the order and the power's that be had to re-do whatever it was to make it correct.

Now Ms. Simmons reacted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, a little after 11:00 pm, when the wrong footage was aired, not realizing or forgetting that she was on live-TV, said, "What the f*ck are you doing?!" My understanding is that there was a momentarily blank screen immediately after Sue lost it. I can only imagine that the "boys upstairs turned beet red", by this outburst.

According to the New York Post, which for the most part, I've found are not "color friendly", claims that "Sue Simmons likes the sauce and she can be cranky about it," a former WNBC employee told the Post. "She was sometimes a little tipsy (on the air) to the point where colleagues would take notice." The Post also claims that Sue is famous for her liquid dinners between broadcast, potty mouth and zany behavior," another former co-worker, again, told the Post. Makes you wonder, the quotes are from former co-workers, how true is this or did the Post make it up?

Sue apologized for using the four letter word, that many may find offensive. Now I'm not sure if that kind of apology is heart felt. The Veteran anchor was quoted as saying, that she's "truly sorry" But you must admit that this sister is indeed a diva. I can only imagine what "Saturday Night Live" is going to do with this.

If you are interested in viewing the footage, just go to YouTube.

But don't tell Sue that I sent you, she might curse me out.

You read it first at GBMNews.com

Gay Kiss Fires Up South African TV

no@spam.com (Best boy) — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:02:40 CDT

Cape Town - IMAGINE this! One minute two men are caught up in a heated argument about homosexuality, and the next they are locked in a passionate kiss.

This was the scene on the prime-time e.tv soapie Rhythm City last week that got TV viewers talking.

The protagonists were Stone (played by Zenzo Ngqobe) and Thula (Wright Ngubeni). Thula’s unemployed mother is bedridden by HIV/Aids, and to make ends meet he is selling his body to a married man. Not even his best childhood pal, Charlotte (Stone’s girlfriend) played by Nosipho Nkelemba, knows about the big secret.

When Stone confronts Thula about the prostitution, there is an exchange of words and Stone suddenly kisses his friend, Thula. Both are left staring at each other in shock.

BIG MOMENT: Nozipho Nkelemba as Charlotte, Zenzo Ngqobe (middle) as Stone and Wright Ngubeni (right) as Thula, before their kiss in Rhythm City.

HEATED: Stone and Thula exchange words in SABC 1’s Rhythm City.
Their kiss on the screen has evoked widespread reaction.

The kiss did not last longer than five seconds, but is as big a talking point as After Nine – a locally produced short film on black gay men, screened on SABC1 last year.

In an interview this week, Ngqobe was not fazed by the attention the scene was receiving. “I’ve been getting different opinions from people I meet in the street.

“Some think it was too graphic and shocking for a show that airs at 6.30pm,” he said.

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