June 19, 2006

Laughing Matters

'Comic View' host Sheryl Underwood has a lot on her plate. Her Platinum Comedy Series Deluxe Edition DVD 'Too Much Information' is a hot seller; she wrecked Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage cruise with her standup routine; she's opening for Eddie Griffin at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in August, and continues to be the chair of the National Executive Board of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. In addition, Underwood has a sitcom in development. "I think the sitcom is going to work this time. I think I am really going to get it," she said beaming.

I caught up with the Hollywood-based funny woman recently, and since its Black Music Month, I wanted her to talk about some of the more prominent personalities in urban music. Staying true to her DVD title, Underwood talked music and a whole lot more.

One-Year Anniversary of Luther Vandross's Death: "I got a few men in my life right now that when a Luther record comes on, it makes me respect my love for them even more. He may not be here with us physically, but he'll always be here with us in spirit. Luther is the person that everyone has got to gage their ability in the music business up against. Luther got me some of the best sex I ever had, and I appreciate Luther. I ain't the prettiest woman in the world, but you throw a Luther record on and everybody is fine!"

Her Wedding: "I need Smokie Norful to sing at my wedding. But I got to get engaged first. I need someone to put that out there on the prayer line."

Rumors about Whitney Houston: "What I know about Whitney is that it ain't over between her and Bobby Brown. She can rebound from this. She can make a comeback album and get herself together. If Janet Jackson can lose all that weight, then Whitney Houston can pull herself together and come on back in black music."

On Meeting Bobby Brown: "I met Bobby but I was trying to get with his daddy, Pops. I'm trying to get in the family the old-school way. Bobby was having a good time on [Tom Joyner's] cruise. He was 'Being Bobby Brown,' which is the title of his show, but he wasn't doing anything that any other married man on the boat wasn't doing. He was sowing a little bit of his wild oats, but still remembering that he got a crazy ass wife named Whitney Houston. Hell to the naw! Whitney the type of b-h who would have come up on the boat and whipped a n-a."

Her New Music Industry Crushes: "I heard that T.I. done broke up with the girl [from Xscape] so I am trying to get a little T.I. action. I can't go no younger than that. I was looking at Chris Brown, and then someone said I was a little too old for that. Who you think I should sleep with? Feel free to hook a sister up."

Kirk Franklin's Porn Addiction: "Let me tell you something, I sat with Kirk Franklin and I told him don't you ever go on Oprah Winfrey's show confessing to nothing! You can tell who Oprah like and don't like. She did not respect the confession that Kirk was trying to make. And why not be addicted to porn? Aren't there worse things to be addicted to? Some people are addicted to things that will kill you. Porn ain't never killed nobody! Kirk wants off porn? I am going to make some porn that's going to stop Kirk's addiction to porn. He's going be like, 'In the name of Jesus, I quit!'"

Real Love?

Is it a reality romance? Apparently so! 'College Hill's' resident playboy, Rodney Henry, has apparently given up his player card and fallen for 'America's Next Top Model' season two contestant Camille McDonald. Henry apparently met the reality show diva at a New York City party and they have been dating ever since. "She's definitely a special friend, I enjoy her company," Henry confessed to BV Buzz.

Henry, who has one more semester at Virginia State University, where he's studying Mass Communications, is spending his summer in New York City with McDonald now that his spring semester and season on 'College Hill' have both wrapped. A source spotted the pair canoodling at a Harlem party for Henry's fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma.

Though Henry was mum when we asked, I hear the couple is also developing a reality television show together. Let's just hope it's not an urban version of 'Newlyweds,' because we see what that did for Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Soul Man

For former Ray Charles guitarist Kevin Turner, seeing Jamie Foxx play Charles in the film adaptation of his life was like reliving parts of his own life over again. Turner played with Charles' band back in 1984, while he was still a college student.

"It was incredible," he said. But after six months of traveling in Charles' private plane, he decided to return to school. "It was a four-prop, and I don't necessarily like planes. It was enough for me being on that four-prop going around in circles trying to get over those mountains in Las Vegas," he said laughing.

Turner said that the best lesson he learned from Charles was to play from your soul. "He was all about playing with feeling. Jazz musicians can sometimes get real technical. When I first got the gig I was always around a lot of people, and I would want to impress them so I'd be playing my jazz chops. He'd be like, 'Naw, naw, naw!' Then I finally got it! I started playing real bluesy and soulful, and he loved it," Turner recalled.

Now Turner is an accomplished musician in his own right, who tours regularly with saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and has two jazz CDs of his own. The most recent, 'Him,' is a collection of hymns including "Walk With Me, Lord," "Blessed Assurance" and "Amazing Grace."

Last week, Turner recorded the songs from 'Him' live for DVD in Champaign, Ill. at the Parkland College Theatre. Turner was backed by an all-star lineup of musicians including Whalum, Ralph Lofton (Whitney Houston), Mike Logan (George Duke), Chuck Webb (David Sanborn) and Reggie Jackson (Truth Hurts) and his wife's ensemble, Cynthia Turner & Heartspeak. The recording will be available on DVD this fall.

Buzzworthy

Former Xscape singer Kandi Burruss had her home in Fayetteville, Ga. burglarized recently. The criminals stole a television, computer monitor, drum machine and her numerous gold and platinum records. Burruss told BV Buzz that she believes whoever robbed her home had likely been in it before. While she's saddened by the loss of her items, her main concern is retrieving the numerous plaques she earned from singing with Xscape, soundtrack appearances and writing and producing for artists such Destiny's Child and TLC. "I really want those plaques back," Burruss told the Buzz. If you or anyone you know has the plaques and want to return them, no questions asked, call 678-687-8299 for instructions on how to collect a monetary reward. They can also be mailed to P.O. Box 491239, College Park, GA 30349.

Look for Rockmond Dunbar ('Prison Break') and Keith Hamilton Cobb ('The Young and the Restless') to guest star on the upcoming season of Logo's 'Noah's Arc.' It was already announced that former B2K singer Raz B would appear on a forthcoming episode of the gay-themed comedy, and hoops star turned TV host John Salley ('Best Damn Sports Show Period') appeared on a recent episode of the show as well.

'King of Comedy' Cedric The Entertainer and Shani Pride ('Love Don't Cost A Thing') will star in and produce the film 'Grand Larceny,' which is slated to begin production this fall. "'Grand Larceny' is a comedy about two down-on-their-luck slackers who decide to pull a heist on their local coffee shop," said Pride. Scott Veach has been tapped to direct.

Sounds like R&B singer Mario is becoming a stud. According to a source, the Baltimore-bred crooner has been quietly singing "Let Me Love You" to video model turned Playboy cover girl Vida Guerra. Guerra was romantically linked to Latin pop singer Frankie J. If Guerra wasn't enough woman for Mario to handle, there's a rumor circulating that Mario has also been quietly creepin' with Nick Cannon's alleged boo, Rihanna.

Frankly Speaking

"Its nice to be a part of something successful after surviving 'Pootie Tang.' People always ask: 'Will there be a remake of 'Pootie Tang?' What do they want us to do, go back and fix the s-t?" - Comedienne Wanda Sykes on having success with 'Monster in Law' and 'Over the Hedge.'

Can't Say Names…

Is there trouble in paradise for a not-so-public industry pair? Sources say a certain musical duo could have hit a sour note in their relationship. I'm told the two never uttered a word to each other at a recent New York City party. Instructions were given to the party planners to keep them as far away from each other as possible. Could one of them have "cheated?" Or was it just a minor lovers' squabble? We'll all have to stay tuned to see.

BV Scene

Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri and Mariah Carey dined at Cafeteria restaurant in New York City following Island Def Jam C.E.O. L.A. Reid's 50th birthday celebration… Tichina Arnold ('Everybody Hates Chris'), Joy Bryant ('Get Rich or Die Tryin''), Justin Guarini ('American Idol'), Simon Rex ('Scary Movie') and late-night host Carson Daly at Tao Nightclub in The Venetian in Las Vegas for the BurnLounge.com launch party… That was Sticky Fingaz of Onyx who was laughing it up with rock icon Joan Jett at Plum nightclub in New York City. The rapper came to check out Jett's Big Apple performance to celebrate the release of her new album 'Sinner.'… The Ying Yang Twins were spotted going through the American Airlines security line at Miami International Airport… Promoting his new album 'My World,' controversial NBA player Ron Artest (Sacramento Kings) performed during Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s celebrity weekend in Chicago. The concert also featured Young Jeezy, Styles P and Tony Yayo. Comic Rickey Smiley and actress Gabrielle Union also participated in the weekend… Rapper Nelly celebrated the launch of his new swimwear collection of his Apple Bottoms clothing line at Hotel Victor in Miami Beach along with pals Usher and Jermaine Dupri.