Jan. 2, 2006

What did supermodel Tyson Beckford want for Christmas? Apparently a check from Sean (Diddy) Combs; Most recall that Beckford filed a $5 million breach of contract and copyright infringement against Diddy's Sean John company in August 2005, claiming that the clothing company failed to renew his contract despite continuing to use his image as the face of company.

Now Beckford has apparently made retiring from the modeling industry his New Year’s resolution. "The drama with Sean John, it just turned me off about the whole industry. I can't blame the whole industry because they didn’t mistreat me. It’s just that in the final stretch of my career, I wanted to go out styling and do something for my people--as I thought I was doing,” he told Men’s Fitness editor Patrick Taliaferro.

Though he and Diddy were once pals, Beckford doesn’t expect to party with his former hip-hop comrade anytime soon. “When somebody owes you money, no matter what they say -- the blood is still not good. So now I am like, ‘We gotta go to court.’ I don’t want to do it, but you can’t just let people walk over you. My image is trademarked,” he concluded.

Buzzworthy

The son of R&B veteran Betty Wright, known for hits such as 'Tonight is the Night' and 'Cleanup Woman,' was murdered in the in the South Florida community of Opa-Locka on Christmas Eve. Wright’s 21-year-old son Patrick Parker was fatally wounded from a gunshot after an altercation at a holiday party.

Orlando Jones will star in an ABC mid-season replacement series called ‘Evidence’ opposite Oscar winner Martin Landau. The crime-drama will also feature ‘Martin’ star Carl Anthony Payne.

Angell Conwell (‘Baby Boy’) will star in ‘Show Stoppers,’ a movie about Greek steppers at a historically black college in Virginia. The comedy was written by Mark Harris and was shot last fall in Los Angeles. Tamala Jones (‘The Brothers’), Clifton Powell (‘The Gospel’), Brian Hooks (‘Eve’), Bryce Wilson (‘Beauty Shop’), (‘White Chicks’) and NFL legend Jim Brown (‘Any Given Sunday’) round out the cast.

Allen Payne is apparently working on a new show called ‘House of Payne,’ which playwright-turned-filmmaker Tyler Perry is producing along with Hollywood veteran Reuben Cannon. The show will shoot in Atlanta and is being produced independently. Additional details were not available at press time.

BV 2005 Notable Quotables

“Anyone who says money don’t change you are only saying that because they didn’t make enough.”-- 50 Cent on wealth

“If I was gay, I would have told you years ago! I would have had a coming out party on the air!” -- Oprah Winfrey on her sexuality

“A white man who can’t find a job is a consultant, a black man who can’t find a job is unemployed!” -- Comedian D.L. Hughley

"When you change your mind, you can change your life." -- Actress Della Reese

“That Jessica Alba is quite the actress; it takes a lot of talent to switch between races like that. Black, Puerto Rican, black, Puerto Rican!” -- Flex Alexander (‘One on One’)

Can't Say Names …

Sources say that the absence of a particular comic at a Hollywood icon’s funeral had tongues wagging and family members upset. Said comic was apparently close pals with the late legend, and his absence became the table talk of the post-funeral supper. Widows of the deceased funnyman contemplated the reasoning of the absentee friend—was he avoiding a former lover or afraid to face a music veteran he dogged on an awards show?

Year-End Review: Part Two

Let’s recap some of BV Buzz’s most significant stories from the first six months of 2005.

Tweet said she and Missy Elliott are not lovers …Mike Epps signs on to play Richard Pryor in biopic …Tyrese takes Sophia Vergara from Tom Cruise … Former C+C Music Factory singer Zelma Davis impersonating Sylver Logan Sharp …Corey Clark shocks ‘American Idol’ fans with Paula Abdul sex scandal allegations … ‘Scrubs’ star Donald Faison announces he is divorced …Mya dating The Game …Original En Vogue reunites for Stevie Wonder’s “So What the Fuss?” music video … Queen Latifah upset over Lil' Kim’s verdict …Jamie Foxx blasts Larry Elder during his NAACP Image Award acceptance speech … Singer Mario vents about Usher comparisons …Whoopi Goldberg defends Chris Rock after he was criticized for hosting the Oscars … Brian McKnight developing late night talk show … Karrine 'Super Head' Steffans has tiff with 112 on video shoot …‘Meet The Browns’ star Tamela Mann upset over rumors that she died …Former Xscape member Kandi Burruss shoots back at allegations that she sabotaged Xscape reunion …Ginuwine finds God …Yolanda Adams vows not to discuss her divorce …Kelly Rowland and Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams split …‘Less Than Perfect’ star Sherri Shepherd announces pregnancy …Rumors of relationship with Jay-Z and Free shot down…T.I. and Xscape member Tameka "Tiny" Cottle has a baby boy named King … Houston gouged eye and attempted suicide …Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson admits to liposuction on his chest …‘Girlfriends’ star Persia White dating alternative rapper Tricky … Gospel legend Shirley Caesar inks a deal with Artemis Records for her own label Shu-Bel Records …Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth feuds with ‘American Idol’ contestant Nikki McKibbin on set of ‘Fear Factor’…We announce Jessica won 'The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott' weeks before the finale …Dave Hollister leaves R&B for gospel…Members of R&B group Next feud … ‘Girlfriends’ star Tracee Ellis Ross dating comedian DeRay Davis …Rolonda Watts' primetime series ‘Lie Detector’ premieres …D.L. Hughley upset over being snubbed for hosting gig at CBS' 'The Late Late Show.'