August 1, 2005

Last week, Stephen Hill, BET's Executive Vice President for Music and Entertainment Programming, issued this column a statement regarding the whereabouts of vee-jay Free that said, "We look forward to her return shortly as she is on vacation." Well it looks like Free's "vacation" is going to be a permanent one and her co-host A.J. Calloway is following suit.

Last Thursday, July 28, Calloway sported a t-shirt that said "Still Free" and announced that he and Free were leaving BET. "This is my last show over here at '106 & Park,' and me and Free will no longer be here at BET. It takes a bigger man to walk away from a situation," said a tearful Calloway. He even phoned Free on his cell phone so that she could hear the audience cheer for her.

BET's Hill says that the network learned of Calloway's plans to quit the day he announced it. "We knew he was going announce it on air [but] we didn't know how he was going to do it. We encouraged him to do it as he wanted. He didn't have to clear the method with us. We wanted him to do it the way his heart felt best doing so. After five years, he had earned that," he explained.

Rumors have been abuzz since the BET Awards that Free had bolted the network. Several reports had the Boston-bred part-time rapper having a verbal altercation with Hill during the ceremony that caused her to quit on the spot, thus explaining her absence from presenting the Viewer's Choice Award alongside Calloway.

Hill says the rumors are not true. "There was no argument and no quitting on the spot. Free was on vacation like I previously stated but apparently decided during her time off to move on," he clarified. So why didn't Free present the Viewer's Choice Award? "That's something I am not at liberty to discuss," Hill confessed.

It was just over a year ago that Calloway had problems with BET over moonlighting for the news magazine show 'Extra!' and skipping out on '106 & Park' tapings. Calloway was rumored to have been fired by '106 & Park,' while he was adamant that he quit the show and even gave an "I Quit" party in Los Angeles following last year's BET Awards. Whatever the situation was, it was reconciled, and Calloway returned to the show several months later.

"You never know when you're going to see the last of something," said Calloway during his final live broadcast. But Hill assures us that '106 & Park' will live on without its former hosts. Tigger ('BET Style') and Julissa ('The Center') will host this week, but Hill says that move is only temporary. "They are not the permanent hosts and people will have to stay tuned to see what happens next," he reminded.

Expect other BET personalities like Ray J ('BET.com Countdown'), Melissa Ford ('BET Style') and Mad Linx ('Rap City'); in addition to a bevy of celebrity guest hosts to hold down the show in the weeks to come.

Tinseltown Talk

Add actress Terri J. Vaughn to the list of talent not returning to her UPN sitcom. Vaughn, who became immensely popular as Lovita Alize Jenkins on 'The Steve Harvey Show,' has apparently decided not to return to 'All of Us' because of contractual differences, says a source close to the show. James "Turtle" Vincent -- the show's resident white guy -- will not return as well. We reported previously that the show's star Elise Neal would not be returning to the sitcom either. ( See the June 20 BV Buzz for details.) Nonetheless, it certainly sounds like 'All of Us' has quickly become 'All of Them!'...

Though her J.J. Abrams-produced pilot 'The Catch' was not optioned by the network, a source close to ABC says that actress-comedienne Kym E. Whitley has inked a lucrative holding deal with the Disney-owned network. Translation: They pay her a truckload of money basically not to work with any other network. Whitley, who's become a sought-after Hollywood talent since her career-turning role in HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' apparently signed with ABC after a bidding war with Touchstone TV and CBS. This week Whitley is set to begin taping a guest-starring role on the network's hit drama, 'Gray's Anatomy' ...

Talk show host-actress Rolonda Watts will be the new voice of 'Judge Joe Brown' when the courtroom show returns in the fall. In addition to voicing all of the narrations during the show, Watts will also be the voice for the show's television and radio commercials...

Is that actor Texas Battle ('Coach Carter') featured in the new basketball-themed Coca Cola commercial? Sure is! The Houston native will star next in 'Final Destination 3' opposite Ryan Merriman ('Halloween: Resurrection') and Mary Elizabeth Winstead ('Passions') and in 'Jump Shot' with Nick Cannon, Kim Basinger and Forest Whitaker ...

Don't look for Bow Wow in the sequel to 'Like Mike.' Currently shooting in Vancouver, the film now stars Jascha Washington ('Big Momma's House') and Kel Mitchell ('Dance 360'). Also gone from 'Like Mike 2' is the NBA theme. This time around, the Fox film will focus on "street ball" and feature And 1 players.

Packing Heat

'Las Vegas' star James Lesure didn't pose nude for his August spread in Playgirl magazine, but the actor did tackle the age old question: "Is it true that African-American men are bigger?"

"I don't know," began the former 'For Your Love' star. "I guess that all depends on who you ask. I mean, there are stereotypes, like the whole "Mandingo" thing. I just know me and I'm good with what I've got!"

Lesure is apparently enjoying the perks of being a single stud in Hollywood because when asked what are some of the items in his bachelor pad he couldn't live without, the actor replied: "Condoms!"

One Dame Diva

Legendary song stylist Dame Shirley Bassey says that the new day divas have cheapened the meaning of the word: Diva!

In an interview with London's Daily Telegraph, the 68-year-old deliverer of dynamic songs such as 'Goldfinger,' 'Big Spender,' and 'I (Who Have Nothing),' rants about the antics of one diva in particular, Mariah Carey.

"Mariah Carey with her demands! She gets her dressing room repainted. I would never do that. What proper singer would? The fumes, hmm? I am allergic to paint fumes, anyway. All that fuss is a waste of energy you could use on stage," fussed Bassey.

Can't Say Names ...

... What recently married Hollywood heartthrob used to have a contract that the women he bedded had to sign prior to intercourse. The agreement read like, "I ________ consent to having sexual intercourse with _________ and at no time will claim it is nonconsensual or rape..." Since said actor has never had any sexual harassment charges filed against him, looks like the practice worked.

Buzzworthy

... Brownstone singer Nicci Gilbert is ready to give the Pussycat Dolls a run for their money. Gilbert is producing a burlesque show called 'Soul Kittens Cabaret,' which is set to launch in Jan. 2006. 'Soul Kittens Cabaret' will also star R&B singer Monifah, singer-actress Taral Hicks, 'Making The Band 2' finalist TonDalaya Gallant, Bad Boy's Da Band singer Sara Stokes and 'Meet The Browns' star Demetria McKinney. The musical journey of 'Soul Kittens Cabaret' begins in the 1920s in Harlem, moves through the Motown era, makes stops in the '70s and '80s, and concludes with original hits from the upcoming 'Soul Kittens Cabaret' soundtrack.

... Singer Kimberley Locke is the newest spokesperson for the plus-size clothing company Lane Bryant. As a part of the campaign, the 'American Idol' runner-up will be the face of the latest Seven7 Jeans collection. Locke will soon find her photos splashed across billboards nationwide and in various ads in magazines like O, Glamour and InStyle. Locke will also join singer Aaron Carter to perform at the 23rd Annual Miss Teen USA competition, which will air live on NBC Aug. 8 from the Baton Rouge River Center Arena in Louisiana.

... R&B sex kitten Sharissa is readying the release of her sophomore album, 'Every Beat of My Heart,' on Czar Entertainment/Virgin Records. The album is apparently a priority for Virgin Records, which desperately needs to re-establish its reputation in the music marketplace. Sharissa's release is the first for both the label and new president Jermaine Dupri (not including his own recently released record). "I'm really excited to be a part of a new team that really believes in me," said Sharissa. The Bronx-bred singer has tapped a bevy of heavyweight producers for the project (R. Kelly, Mario Winans, Tim & Bob), and there are appearances by Kelly, The Game, Wyclef Jean, Tank and the one and only Millie Jackson. The CD bows Sept. 27.

... Neo-soul rebel Jaguar Wright not only has a problem with the her music genre -- her latest release is titled 'Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul' -- but the singer told SOHH.com that she has a problem with a couple of her industry counterparts as well. Among them is Ashanti. "Ashanti? What can I say bad about her? She's a cute girl. She holds a little tune, but she's not a real singer. You're not gonna sit up there and make me have more respect for her than what she deserves. She can't stand on the same stage with India.Arie. She can't stand on the same stage with me. I didn't do that to her. That's who she is. I'm not lying..." Wright ranted.

... Stevie Wonder checked out 'Hustle & Flow' at Universal's City Walk in Hollywood with family members, who explained the parts that didn't have dialogue. He didn't need any prompting for the scene in which Terrence Howard's character toys with a miniature keyboard and Paula Jai Parker's character yells, "Stevie Wonder! We Hungry!" A BV Buzz source says Wonder laughed hysterically!