Do yourself a favor and see the holiday film ‘The Nativity Story’ when it opens on Friday. It’s a wonderful movie that brings to life the history-defining birth of Jesus that people of all faiths have heard over the years. This is no preachy follow-up to ‘The Passion of The Christ,’ but a delicate depiction of faith in action, hope and love as shown through the lives of Mary and Joseph.
‘The Nativity Story’ stars
Keisha Castle-Hughes (‘Whale Rider’),
Oscar Isaac (‘Syriana’) and
Shoreh Aghdashloo (‘House of Sand and Fog’), who was the first Iranian and Middle Eastern actress to be nominated for an Oscar. Aghdashloo, who plays Elizabeth, shared that she and her family are Muslim and yet she appreciates the way ‘The Nativity Story’ was told in this film.
“My family is proud of me and ever so proud that I am playing Saint Elizabeth. They’re liberals. Liberals in Iran are the same way. It doesn’t matter what roles I play, but its important what doors I open for the rest of us to enter. In this case, I am being blessed because conservatives will also be proud of me [for this film] because after all they are religious people and they do believe in Christianity,” said Aghdashloo, during my interview with her at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills.
Can't Say Names…Could a certain Rhythm and Blues singer be singing the blues since rumor has it that her marriage is officially over? Sources tell me that a soul-singing superstar who once celebrated the love of her spouse in song may be singing a new tune real soon. Word has it that the couple has split and are in the process of going through a divorce.
BuzzworthyComedienne
Sheryl Underwood said if actor Michael Richardson was smart, he would have used code language to call the African-American patron at the Laugh Factory the n-word. “If he wanted to called him a n—a, he could have just called him
O.J. Simpson. That’s how white people can now get away with saying, ‘n—a!’ Because O.J. is the new term for ‘n—a,’” explained Underwood.
Forget Waldo! The big question is, “Where’s
Michael Baisden?” E-mails have been pouring in for the last couple of weeks about the author turned syndicated radio talent being absent from his popular afternoon talk show. A radio insider told this columnist two months ago that “if Michael is on the air past February I’d be surprised.” Apparently they were right. There’s no official word as to what is going on—could be contract negotiations, though one affiliate claims he’s ill—and Baisden’s camp has only released a very vague statement. It read: “Michael wanted to let everyone know that he may still be out this week until further notice. Michael misses you all and thanks you for all the love and support. He can't wait to get back so he can shut the whole country down." Comedienne
Mo’Nique had been filling in.
Journalist
Tavis Smiley celebrated his 15 anniversary in broadcasting with a soiree at the Museum of TV & Radio in Beverly Hills, Calif. Attendees included
Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child,
Tichina Arnold (‘Everybody Hates Chris’),
Dr. Cornel West, Vanessa L. Williams (‘Ugly Betty’),
Bishop Noel Jones, singer
Howard Hewitt, actors
Tim and
Daphne Reid, TV/radio talent
Rolonda Watts, attorney
Gloria Allred,
Roger Cross (‘24’), actor
John Lithgow, jazz vocalist
Jonathan Butler and TV/radio host Ananda Lewis, among others. There were performances by
Chaka Khan,
Eric Lewis and
Nuttin But Strings and the event premiered a mini documentary of Smiley’s career. Shout-out to one of the event coordinators, multimedia talent
Monica Moore.Back to Page 1 
