Aug. 20, 2007

TV Talk

'Girlfriends' is not set to return for its eighth (and presumably final) season until Monday, Oct. 1, but folks are already asking if co-star Jill Marie Jones (who played Toni Childs) will return to the series. The show's executive producer Mara Brock Akil told me during our candid phone interview that if Jones was interested in returning, the show would be willing to have her back. However, she's also confident that 'Girlfriends' will have another impressive season with or without the actress.

"I know that a lot of the audience really missed Toni in the show. I completely understand it and I think I've mentioned it a few times in different articles that it was a disappointment to me as well. But you have to move on. This is part of the business side of things that sometimes affect the creative," Brock explained. "This is just one of the things that's out of my control. I don't have the control to make an actress come back to work."

Though Brock was tight-lipped about the forthcoming storyline for this fall, she did share that the season will have a theme. "I'm kind of theme-ing this season "Joy and Pain." I think everybody is familiar with that wonderful song by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. I think that's life. One minute it's pure joy and there are going to be some painful moments, but the beautiful thing is that all of these friends have each other. It's about support and helping each other through things, which has been the journey of the show forever and it continues to be taken up another level," she disclosed.

The 37-year-old Los Angeles-bred executive also shared that actor Richard T. Jones, who played Tracee Ellis Ross' love interest, Aaron, last season, has been cast in another series (Fox's 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles') and will not be able to return this fall. "We're faced with another challenge because the Richard T. Jones has a new show. What am I going to do with that? We're gonna work with that in a beautiful way. I'm excited about it to go on the journey yet again with Joan," Brock revealed.

Does that mean that Ross' character Joan will be dumped again?

Playing coy, Brock responded: "Who's to say I'm getting rid of [the] Richard T. Jones [character]? Don't underestimate me!"

Hmmmm. Okay!

While ratings for 'Girlfriends' were at an all-time high last season-one of the main reasons the show is now one of the longest running African-American sitcoms on television-Brock is aware that fans had mixed feelings about season seven's storyline.

"Exiting one of your main characters from your show can be a very difficult task and I was very proud of the way we handled that. Part of the success or the allure of the show is that we really did tackle life in a very funny way and sometimes we'll go for the dramatic. With what we had, I was very proud of it. I know sometimes that's difficult for the audience because a lot of times they don't have the inside knowledge; they just have to deal with it. We get to process it a little bit longer and we have the opportunity to be a part of the transition, whereas the audience just has to accept the transition. I understand that, but that's where we disagree. I thought it was a fantastic seventh season! I was very proud of the build that we had to a wonderful finale and that's been the nature of 'Girlfriends' for seven years, and hopefully eight, that we keep rising to the challenges and the obstacles," she said.

I guess we'll just have to tune in this fall and see how Brock continues to evolve the lives of Joan, Maya (Golden Brooks), Lynn (Persia White), William (Reggie Hayes), Darnell (Khalil Kain) and Monica (Keesha Sharp) even with 'Girlfriends' newest obstacles.

Praise Party

Last week I was in Orlando, Fla. for gospel music's largest convention, Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). The annual seven-day workshop, founded by the late Rev. James Cleveland, was celebrating its 40th year. GMWA is made up of educational forums, various mass choir rehearsals, nightly worship services, youth activities and private industry-only functions for gospel radio announcers and media professionals.

Every Tom, Dick and local church singer attends GMWA because it's the place where the record companies roll out new projects and break fresh talent. It's also where aspiring artists work to get noticed. More than 15,000 registrants show up to see and be seen. And I promise, there are certainly some things to see at the GMWA!

Disney made a complicated setting for GMWA. The main resort was the Coronado Springs, the radio announcers held court at The Contemporary and youth were stationed at Disney's Dolphin Resort. However, each resort was distance away, which posed some travel issues for those without vehicles. Lucky for me, General Motors lent me a fully loaded Chevrolet Tahoe to make my commute a lot easier.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Yolanda Adams hosted a listening party for her forthcoming Christmas CD, 'What a Wonderful Time,' which is also her debut record for Columbia Records. The musical offering is bound to be a holiday classic, fusing jazz, big band, R&B and good ole gospel for a feel-good holiday collection. Adams shared that her new nationally syndicated radio morning show is a dream job because it offers her an opportunity to spend more time with her daughter. "I asked God to give me more time home with Taylor and this affords me that opportunity. So I could be there when she loses her teeth and those things that I didn't want a nanny or anyone else to experience but me," Adams said. 'The Yolanda Adams Morning Show' is a Radio One show that airs in more than 14 markets.

• Neily Dickerson's ND Company showcase was one of the week's standouts as always. I co-hosted this year's showcase with artists Darrel Pettis and Oscar Williams. Dickerson's theme for the showcase was 'A Taste of Los Angeles.' Guests dined on chicken and waffles while artists including VaShawn Mitchell & Friends, Brent Jones & T.P. Mobb, Brenda Jefferson featuring Lecresia Campbell and newcomers New Harvest performed cuts from their new albums. The showcase was sponsored by the ABC Family series, 'Lincoln Heights,' which premieres for its second season on Sept. 4. (See Lecresia Campbell perform "Strong Tower" with Brenda Jefferson at the showcase here)

• Gospel Warehouse Records and Kenny Taylor's Teemade presented The Florida Orange Bowl Showcase. The late-night concert had an all-star lineup including Timothy Wright & New York Fellowship Mass, Tramaine Hawkins, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Maurette Brown Clark, Bishop Neal Roberson, The ChoirBoyz, Z'iel, Daniel Austin, Kendall King, Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music, Revelation S.E.E.D., Nikita Phillips, Jimmy Russell & B.O.C. and L'Tanya Moore. Despite the abundance of talent, the showcase moved rather swiftly. There were many outstanding showings that night as well, but most impressive to me was the return of Trin-I-tee 5:7! I've given the female trio
• a hard time in the past for some of the decisions they've made in similar settings, however, it's evident that working with Telisa Stinson and the team at Matthew Knowles' Music World Entertainment has been a great thing for the former Gospo Centric group. They performed their hot new single "Listen" and genuinely impressed the room! (See Maurette Brown Clark perform 'One God' on the showcase here)

• Zomba Gospel, the industry's largest label, showcased its superstar roster. Hosted by Kirk Franklin and actress Tosha Smith ('Daddy's Little Girls'), the night featured performances by DeWayne Woods, The Canton Spirituals, Joanne Rosario, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Marvin Sapp and Byron Cage. (See DeWayne Woods perform "Let Go" on the showcase here)

• I judged a semi-final round of GMWA's talent contest Gospel Treasure along with 'American Idol' finalist George Huff, Neily Dickerson (the ND co./Church Howse Music) and photographer LaTonya Pegues. The event was hosted by Donna Crier, the beloved GMWA Gospel Announcers Guild board member. A Virginia Beach, Va. singer named Titus Jackson won the afternoon I judged.

• Neily Dickerson's 10-year anniversary celebration was a pivotal moment for the GMWA week. Dickerson's hosted her own soiree, which included her popular sing-along chorus with a makeshift choir of gospel who's who. Top singers pop in to sing their hit songs or other gospel standards, while top gospel talent direct and sing in the one-night-only chorale. Angela Spivey, VaShawn Mitchell, Ted Winn, Brent Jones, Lemmie Battles, Darrel Pettis, Lucinda Moore, B. Chase Williams, Oscar Williams, Tammy Taylor and William Demps were among those in this year's super choir. Psalmist Crystal Rucker delivered a powerful rendition of Tramaine Hawkin's 'Changed' that transformed the atmosphere of the event from party to church revival. It was something you had to experience! (See Leanne Faine perform 'Holy Ghost' with the all-star choir here)

Next year GMWA will host its 41st workshop in Nashville, Tenn.

Can't Say Names ...

Who brings their mistress to church? This athlete did! Sources at a Bay Area church in California were shocked when said jock came into the sanctuary with his also-married mistress, whom he's had a longtime love affair. Apparently said sports star has a family relative who is a minister at the church, and he and his lady love went to meet in the minister's office. Maybe they went to have prayer?