August 7, 2006

Funny Girl

Hollywood funny woman Kym Whitley wants people to stop calling her a "big girl." The Shaker Heights, Ohio-bred actress said when people ask her, "What's it like being a big girl in Hollywood?" she usually replies: "I wouldn't know because I am not a big girl. Now I can give you several names of people that you can call!"

The witty Whitley was quick to add that if it's big breasts you're looking for, however, she's definitely your girl! "I have a bunch of breasts and some big ole shoulders, but other than that, I have no booty at all. So if you mean big girl from the chest up, then I'm your woman," she laughed.

While best known for her humor, Whitley is getting serious for her upcoming guest starring role on Fox's new drama 'Standoff.' Though she was mum about the character she plays, Whitley said the producers keep saying "it has Emmy all over it." "Its fantastic! It's dramatic and a very big guest starring role," she shared, while sitting in her dressing room on the set in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Her guest turn on HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' in 2004 earned rave reviews, and that particular episode was used as the tape that garnered the show an Emmy nomination. Whitley was booked for a pilot called 'The Catch' with 'Lost' producer J.J. Abrams after that, which led to her landing a lucrative holding deal with Touchstone Television. Guest spots followed on TV series such as 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Reno 911' and 'Missing' and film roles in 'The Perfect Man' and 'Fun With Dick and Jane.'

Despite her recent crossover success, Whitley said people don't have to worry about her getting a big head. "Forget my ego getting big; I just don't want to get big. I told my girlfriends, if I am getting too big, tell me. If my one chin has turned into three, I need somebody to tell me, 'Kym, you may not want one more chin!' You want people to tell you the truth," she said, cracking up.

Though the 'Next Friday' star says she appreciates the truth, she has had problems telling some of her friends the truth about their plastic surgery. "This is the problem with that though; you can't say it because it's a thin line there. Either its too late…so what they going to do? They can't reverse it. So you still hurt their feelings. In Hollywood, people are just so vein," she explained.

How do you know when someone has gone overboard with plastic surgery? "When people start looking like a cat," she answered. "I don't know what it is about plastic surgery and cats. I think plastic surgeons need to start looking at other animals or something. I don't understand. I had some friends who started looking like cats. I just kind of scratched their back. I wanted to go up to some of them and just say, 'Meooowww!' I've had a couple of friends come over and my dogs have chased them around the block a few times. But I love my friends and if that's what makes them happy."

I couldn't let Whitley off the line without asking about those rumors of her being romantically linked to Gerald Levert. "Oh you had to go there," she laughed, before offering, "Well, I'll just say that me and Gerald dated when I was 21-years-old. We've been great friends ever since. We haven't kissed since I was 21. But we're closer now! We're way more emotionally intimate than we were when we were 21-years-old. And I'll end it right there."

Levert has a cameo in Whitley's Sept. release 'The Salon.' The movie was produced by and also stars Vivica A. Fox, Darrin Henson, Monica Calhoun and Terrence Howard.

Death Trap

Former 'Kenan & Kel' and 'One on One' star Kel Mitchell is the latest victim of an Internet death. A bogus email and My Space posting have been circulating online for several weeks claiming that the comedic actor died on July 9, 2006.

The mock obituary read: "Kel Mitchell, otherwise known as Kel Kimble in the hit TV show 'Kenan & Kel' died on Sunday night at his home in LA. The reason for his death is currently unknown. ... Kel Mitchell leaves behind 2 children named Allure and Lyric, and his wife Tyisha Hampton. … 'Who loves orange soda? Kel loves orange soda I do, I do, I dooo!'"

We're happy to report that Mitchell is alive and well. He actually just wrapped production on a film called 'Caught on Tape,' which was written and produced by Sticky Fingaz and also stars Vivica A. Fox and Cedric The Entertainer. He's also slated to star opposite Tatyana Ali in a film called 'The Procrastinator.' And he's currently featured in a national commercial for KFC.

In other news, Mitchell is no longer married to his wife Tyisha. The couple was recently divorced.

Buzzworthy

I hear that Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore have scrapped plans to release their sophomore R&B duets record, 'Uncovered.' A single, "Tonight (2 Step)," was serviced to radio but never really caught on. I'm told now that the couple is working on a double disc that will be a collaborative effort between Jive Records and its sister company Zomba Gospel. One CD will be a collection of the duo's favorite love songs and the other will be a brand new urban inspirational CD produced by gospel great Fred Hammond.

Season four 'American Idol' finalist Nikko Smith has finished his post-'Idol' demo and is shopping the CD for a major record deal. Smith, son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ozzie Smith, recently had a listening party for his finished project at the St. Louis hotspot Dante's, where he shared with attendees that he plans to "put St. Louis on the map." The untitled demo also features Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers, who plays on a track called "Wonderland."

I was a judge on July 30 for La Pink: The Event, a model competition and hair exhibition that paid tribute to breast cancer survivors. The event was held at the swank Camelot in Largo, Md. and sponsored by Glynn Jackson Productions. Glynn Jackson is a style guru on the nationally syndicated Russ Parr Morning Show; puts on the annual Golden Scissor Awards; and hosts 'Tangles and Locks' on TV One. I judged The Total Look Competition, along with marketing guru Vern Goff and several other industry notables, and we chose winners in the male model, plus-sized model, teen model and high fashion model categories. The grand prize winner, 21-year-old model Krystal Slade, received $10,000 and will be one of the new faces of the Janet Collection hair line.

Gospel star Yolanda Adams is launching a clothing line. The statuesque singer will unveil a new fashion line called Yolanda's Closet this fall. Additional details on the line can be found on her website www.yolandaadams.org in the coming weeks.

Comedian Pierre ('How To Be A Player') will host a new late night show for Robert Townsend's Black Family Network. The show, which is slated to premiere this fall, is called 'Late Affair with Pierre.'

Actress Terri J. Vaughn ('The Steve Harvey Show') will hold her 4th Annual Angel Wings Awards Gala to benefit her Take Wings Foundation on Sat., Aug. 12 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Comic D.L. Hughley will host the awards and Congresswoman Maxine Waters will give a keynote address. Morris Chestnut, Loretta Devine and Wendy Raquel Robinson are also slated to participate. For details visit www.TakeWings.org.

Frankly Speaking

"About a year and a half ago, I developed an alcohol and marijuana problem. When my label shut down, I worried that my music career was over and after 10 years, I was breaking up with my babies' mother. I had to cut people off, so I fired my whole management team and started from scratch. Eventually, I checked myself into a hospital and got some help." - R&B singer Donell Jones in JEWEL magazine's Summer Music Issue.

Can't Say Names…

Which one-hit rapper is being accused of a hit and run? I hear that this hip-hopper was a real bad boy when he crashed his car into an unsuspecting woman in Hollywood. According to a source, the rapper ran right smack into a woman's car as she attempted to pull out of her parking space, despite her girlfriend being double parked behind her to block oncoming traffic. Supposedly, the rapper went around the second car and then hit the woman's car. Making matters worse, he jumped out of his vehicle "cussin' up a storm" and calling the women "b@#%s," before hopping into his car and speeding off. I wonder if either Halle Berry or Paula Abdul were in the passenger seat?

BV Scene

Boris Kodjoe ('The Gospel') was spotted shopping in the Solstice Sunglass Boutique in the Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta's Buckhead community. The actor purchased four pairs of designer shades for both himself and his expecting wife, Nicole Ari Parker… 'Real World: Philadelphia' housemate Karamo Brown was walking down Broadway toward Times Square in Manhattan with an unidentified man and stopping to sign autographs for fans… Soul veteran Dionne Warwick and actress Beverly Todd ('Crash') had lunch with the folks at Ebony and Jet magazines, in the John H. Johnson Building on Michigan Ave. in Chicago… Marlon Wayans and Omar Epps were having a serious conversation over dinner at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills…Patti LaBelle, singer Mario, N'dea Davenport of The Brand New Heavies, Floetry, Jermaine Dupri, Goapele, hoops star Chris Webber, Raheem DeVaughn, The Fugees rapper Pras, Ice-T with girlfriend CoCo and Nas were on hand for Kelis' performance presented by VH1 Soul at Crobar in New York City… Hoops stars Nick Van Exel of the San Antonio Spurs and LeBron James of the Clevland Cvaliers was spotted partying at Tryst nightclub in the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas… Gospel great Richard Smallwood was among the guests onhand at the CD release celebration for singer Earnest Pugh at the Sheraton Suites in Alexandria, Va.