Dec. 25, 2006

Year End Review

This year has been an entertainment writer's dream! Scandal, breakups, baby mamma drama, job firings …you name it; Black Hollywood's finest have definitely been in rare form. Let's take a look back at those I've deemed the most intriguing personalities of 2006.

Star Jones Reynolds:

After landing on The New York Times bestseller list for her book 'Shine: A Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love' and making headlines for her complicated breast lift surgery; Star Jones Reynolds trumped Barbara Walters and the producers of 'The View' by quitting live on-air after learning her contract would not be renewed. Not since Kathie Lee Gifford abruptly quit 'Live with Regis and Kathie Lee' has there been a more controversial exit from television. Reynolds went on an exclusive media blitz that included an interview with People magazine and a ratings record-breaking appearance on CNN's 'Larry King Live.' Reynolds took a break from the limelight to get away from the media circus, though last week she guest-hosted Michael Eric Dyson's syndicated radio show and is host and executive producer of the TV One special, 'Star Jones Year End Special,' which premieres this week.

Eddie Murphy:

The recently divorced Hollywood A-lister has battled rumors about his sexuality since his May 1997 incident with a transvestite. Rumors aside, Murphy has become one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors since splitting with ex-wife Nicole. Within the last year, Murphy has been romantically linked to Shaun Robinson ('Access Hollywood') and Melanie Brown (Mel B. aka Scary Spice of the Spice Girls) and most recently, Babyface's ex-wife Tracey Edmonds. His relationship with Brown has developed into a scandal suited for the 'Maury' show, with Brown becoming pregnant and Murphy denying that he's the father. Only time will tell if Murphy will take home a Golden Globe and Academy Award for his career-resurrecting role as James "Thunder" Early in 'Dreamgirls' before he takes a paternity test.

Whitney Houston:

After seeing her antics on Bravo's 'Being Bobby Brown,' fans finally saw what Houston meant when she and hubby Bobby Brown sang, "We Got Something in Common." The reality of her rumored drug problem hit an all time high this past March when pictures of Houston's bathroom full of drug paraphernalia ran on the cover of the National Enquirer. The feature was backed by a scandalous interview with her sister-in-law Tina Brown, who accused Houston of also having lesbian flings while high. On Sept. 8, Houston filed for legal separation from Brown after 14 years of marriage. She officially filed for divorce a month later. The singer is now working with longtime friend, veteran music executive Clive Davis on a comeback CD and is working with Courtney Love's addiction counselor on her road to recovery.

Jennifer Hudson:

Jennifer Hudson was heavily criticized by Simon Cowell while on 'American Idol' before being prematurely booted off the Fox reality series. Critics accused the show of being fixed and singer Elton John called the show "racist." Hudson, a Chicago native who had previously sung on a Disney cruise line, became a darling on the gay club scene where she was regularly booked to perform. Mainstream media never included her name in the list of contenders for the role of Effie White in 'Dreamgirls' when casting began in 2005. After an interview with Hudson in April 2005, I broke news in the May 2, 2005 BV Buzz that Hudson was one of the lead candidates for the role made famous by Jennifer Holliday. Hudson had received news that she was out of the running before the column feature ran, however the day after the column ran; producers for the movie flew her out to test again. The humble entertainer called and thanked yours truly for helping her get a second chance. She was told a second time they were going in a different direction, only to get a third call back and ultimately beat out 782 people for the role. (In the end it came down to her and Broadway singer Capathia Jenkins.) I then broke her casting news in the Nov. 15, 2005 issue of the New York Daily News. Her show-stopping performance in 'Dreamgirls' has already earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Frankly Speaking

"The bullet went right next to my throat. A half-inch from my spine, but missed everything. I knew I was shot. I just didn't know where. I looked in the mirror, saw it was my throat and tried to sing. Then I sat down, lit a cigarette and waited for the ambulance." - R&B singer Case on accidentally shooting himself with his cousin's registered handgun in the new issue of XXL's Hip-Hop Soul issue.

Buzzworthy

It's a wrap for R&B quartet 112. Sources close to the Atlanta-bred group said that singer Daron Jones officially left the group several months ago to focus on being a fulltime producer and to work on a solo record. Some of the songs produced by Jones have been recorded by Keyshia Cole("I Should Have Cheated"), Jamie Foxx("Storm (Forecass)"), Usher ('Separated') and Pink ("Love Is Such A Crazy Thing"). Apparently the remaining 112 members-Mike, Q and Slim-have been performing some dates as a trio, though I'm told they all plan to go their separate ways and each work on solo endeavors next year.

If her getting married wasn't enough to break my heart, well call this the icing on the cake. The one-time love of my life, Fox news personality Jillian Barberie is pregnant with her and actor-husband Grant Reynolds' first child. The former 'Skating with Celebrities' contestant is due July 7.

Neo soul siren Angie Stoneand veteran singer/actor Isaac Hayes have inked new record deals with resurrected Memphis-based Stax Records, which is reactivating its imprint in celebration of its 50th Anniversary. In partnership with Concord Music Group, Stax is also releasing tribute CD to Earth, Wind & Fire called 'Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire.' The album is being lead by Kirk Franklin's rendition of the EWF classic "September" and also features songs by Musiq, Chaka Khan, The Roots, Lalah Hathaway, Mint Condition, Meshell N'degeocello, Ledisi, Dwele, Stone and The Randy Watson Experience featuring Bilal.

In addition to actor Morris Chestnut, playwright David E. Talbert has also cast singers Avant, Terry Dexter and Trenyce ('American Idol') for his next play, 'Love in the Nick of Tyme.' The show kicks off in January and in partnership with BET and UrbanWorks Home Entertainment, will also be shot for DVD.

Can't Say Names…

Desperate times call for desperate measures! Sources say a certain R&B singer, who has never really caught a major break, is peddling an X-rated home video to adult entertainment companies in hopes that it will do for his career what it has done for Paris Hilton's. I'm also told that said singer believes that releasing the video will serve as revenge to his ex-girlfriend who recently dumped him for another entertainer.

BV Scene

It was like 'Soul Plane' recently on a United Airlines flight from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Los Angeles. Passengers included 'Deal or No Deal' model Claudia Jordan, playwright David E. Talbert, comic Joe Clair and C.C. DeVille of rock group Poison. Also spotted in the airport was gospel singer Carlton Burgess… Speaking of gospel, Bishop Larry Trotter, Angela Spivey, Jonathan Nelson, DeAndre Patterson, B. Chase Williams, Lucinda Moore, Malcolm Williams, Mark Hubbard, Darrel Pettis and others were on hand for Tyscot Recording artist VaShawn Mitchell's sophomore CD recording at the Apollo Theater Chicago in Chicago, Ill. Singers Kim Burrell and Calvin Bernard Rhone were Mitchell's special guests.