BV Buzz 12.06.04
By Jawn Murray, Special to AOL BlackVoices
R&B crooner Brian McKnight recently posed nude for a spread in America magazine. McKnight opted himself to have the glossy shoot him in the buff during his photo shoot with America last week in Paris.
Though the magazine won’t be showing McKnight’s full monty, will the singer sell the images to Playgirl?
“No,” he told me over lunch at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. “Some things and some mysteries you need to keep to yourself. Everybody don’t need to know.”
While McKnight won’t be showing off his “mysteries” in either America or Playgirl, he did remind me that he appeared nude in the music video for the single ‘Anytime,’ which appeared on the album of the same name in 1997.
“In the ‘Anytime’ video I was butt naked,” he said.
McKnight remembered that for whatever reason, there were a lot of spectators on the set that particular day.
“If I would have been a female, they would have told all of the male workers around that they needed to leave the set. But for some reason that day, every female person that was on the set was out there watching it,” he said laughing. “Not that I minded it, because I’m pretty comfortable with me, but I thought it was just funny.
” I’m No Oprah
Supermodel Tyra Banks would like the comparisons to Oprah Winfrey to cease.
“I know they say the Oprah thing, and I really wish they wouldn’t. It is a compliment. But it’s a lot of shoes to fill, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that,” said the ‘America’s Next Top Model’ creator and Victoria’s Secret spokesmodel.
Banks, who’ll appear on the January cover of Vibe magazine with rapper LL Cool J, will host her own daytime talk show starting next fall.
“I’m just really excited to do the talk show because I’m naturally inquisitive and curious to find out why people are the way they are. My show is not going to be celebrity driven, but it’s going to be about real people, and every now and then I’ll have celebrities and fun fashion stuff,” she explained.
Back in Stride
Troubled singer Bobby Brown, married to singing sensation Whitney Houston, says that he plans to return to his group New Edition come January. “I’m getting myself together now and plan to tour with the group at the top of the year,” Brown told syndicated radio talent Tanya Hart.
Notwithstanding a few impromptu appearances here and there, Brown hasn’t performed with New Edition since 1996. The singer recently performed two of his hits on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and is also gearing up for his reality show ‘Being Bobby Brown’ on Bravo, which according to sources, couldn’t film at his home in Atlanta because of holes in the wall and broken furniture. That house is now on the market.
Speaking of New Edition, word is that the group is really on the outs with Bad Boy Entertainment. Sources say that they’re barely speaking to folks at the label and that Bad Boy has stopped supporting the new CD, ‘One Love.’ This could get real interesting. I’m sure Michael Bivins, the most outspoken of the group members, will have a lot to say about this if things aren’t reconciled soon.
Can’t Say Names …
… Sources say that a certain Hollywood sitcom star could be suffering from an illness more serious than what his camp is reporting. Said funnyman’s ailment is feared to be terminal, since it went so long without being detected.
Whispers
… Season two ‘American Idol’ finalist Trenyce is apparently the front-runner to play Kate in the Broadway debut of ‘Zanna!’, a revised version of Tim Acito's off-Broadway musical ‘Zanna, Don't!’ This would be the second time Paula Abdul’s personal pick would have been slated to head to the Great White Way. There were talks of Trenyce following Deborah Cox in ‘Aida’ before that production closed. ‘Zanna!’ will debut in early 2005.
… Speaking of ‘American Idol,’ current titleholder Fantasia made an appearance at the MAC Cosmetics store on 125th Street in Harlem recently to premiere her two new MAC lip glosses. Hundreds of fans lined up to buy the copper-colored Fantabulous One and the red-toned Fantabulous Two. The singer’s debut CD, ‘Free Yourself,’ is in stores now.
… R&B band Mint Condition is apparently launching a comeback effort, sans original member Keri Lewis. Lewis, who is married to singer Toni Braxton, was absent when the group performed a full concert in Washington, D.C., in late November. During the show, which was opened by soul duo Zwei, Mint Condition announced that they would likely return to the nation’s capital in early 2005 to record a live DVD project as well. The Minneapolis-bred group’s last CD, ‘Life's Aquarium,’ was released in November 1999.
… Need some holiday spirit with your coffee? Well, now through Christmas, you can cop a copy of BeBe Winans’ ‘My Christmas Prayer’ CD with your cup of latte at Starbucks. Winans’ solo Christmas CD is being re-released in a unique agreement with the coffee chain and his label Hidden Beach Recordings. The singer recently performed a song from the disc on Oprah’s Favorite Things special. Winans’ next studio album, ‘Dream,’ drops in early 2005.
… Contestants from the third season of Sean (P. Diddy) Combs’ ‘Making the Band’ on MTV know the power of prayer. The group recently paid a visit to First Corinthian Baptist Church on 116th and St. Nicholas in Harlem. Fifteen female contestants vying for the five slots available in the group held hands while pastor Michael Waldron prayed a special prayer for them. One girl, described as a dead-ringer for Combs’ ex, Jennifer Lopez, won’t be praying too hard as a source says her likeness to J.Lo should make her a shoo-in for the group. Singer Monifah, actress Aunjanue Ellis (‘Ray’), Rhonda Ross (Diana Ross’ daughter) and WNBA player Teresa Weatherspoon are also parishioners at the popular church.
… The UPN network is gearing up for two new shows next season. The first is a sitcom spin-off of the Flex Alexander sitcom ‘One on One’ called ‘Cuts.’ The show, obviously inspired by the success of the ‘Barbershop’ films, will star singer Marques Houston and Shannon Elizabeth (‘Johnson Family Vacation’). Additionally, Missy Elliott’s new reality series isn’t the only one coming to the CBS sister station. TLC members Tionne (T-Boz) Watkins and Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas will have their own series called ‘R U the Girl With T-Boz & Chilli’ debuting on the network as well. The show will give female contestants the chance to perform with the group in the absence of the late Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes.
Dec. 6, 2004