Jan. 23, 2006

Though the actors who play the Applewhites were absent from last week’s ‘Golden Globe Awards’ celebration when ‘Desperate Housewives’ won for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, ‘Housewives’ hunk Mehcad Brooks says that he anticipates that he, Alfre Woodard and new costar Nashawn Kearse—he replaced the terminated Page Kennedy—will be fixtures on Wisteria Lane for quite some time.

“Alfre loves the show, and I love the show. We would like to stick around for a long time. I certainly hope so. At least while we’re needed and necessary to progress the story. I think we fit in pretty well. The last couple of episodes we shot have been all about us and we’re really happy about that,” Brooks shared, during our interview at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

While the Applewhites seem alienated from the other neighbors on the block now, Brooks disclosed that was definitely intentional. “Only because we’ve kept to ourselves,” he explained. “But there’s some really interesting issues coming up for Wisteria Lane, that I didn’t expect myself; social issues that are going to come up that I am very proud that Marc Cherry and the producers have actually taken the bull by the horns and are writing [about].”

Any secrets Brooks can divulge? “I can tell you one thing. It’s that I can’t tell you anything,” he teased.

The actor also stars in the Disney film ‘Glory Road,’ a true story about the underdog Texas Western basketball team and its first all African-American starting lineup of players and how they ultimately won the 1966 NCAA tournament title. Brooks believes he can relate to the film because he was a victim of racism in 2004 when he and his brother William were arrested on New Year’s Day for allegedly being belligerent to police. Officers in his hometown of Austin, Texas claimed Brooks resisted arrest, and he was taken to jail and released on $1,500 bond. His stepfather, attorney Gary Bledsoe, who also runs the state chapter of the NAACP, defended his sons in court.

“The case was basically thrown out of court. It was all some bull anyway,” the actor told me. According to published reports, Austin police and the city's black residents have had a long history of trouble.

Fear Factor

Hip-hop icon LL Cool J says despite his achievements and longevity in both the music industry and in Hollywood, he has a terrible fear of becoming too successful.

“Even in my own life, with the success someone would think I have, there have been times where I sabotaged my own success out of fear of not wanting to rise too high. I think that we all do that sometimes. A lot of times fear of success is bigger than fear of failure. Every time you are about to succeed, every time you are about to do something, every time you are about to take it to the next level, you do something silly or make a move just to ensure that you don’t achieve that success because your comfort is here in the middle somewhere,” admitted the rapper-actor, who licked his lips 105 times during my interview at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

The Def Jam artist, whose forthcoming clothing line Todd Smith is slated to hit stores later this year, said that his new movie ‘Last Holiday’ with Queen Latifah challenged him to push past his own fears. “Moving past your fears is a very important part [and] a very important thing, especially for those who really want to succeed,” he said.

Buzzworthy

Nick Cannon has left Jive Records and signed a new recording contract with Motown Records. His sophomore album ‘Stages’ will be released this spring and feature appearances from Kanye West, Anthony Hamilton, 112, Izzy and Talib Kweli. Motown president Sylvia Rhone has also signed Mya to its roster.

‘Crash’ star Don Cheadle is suffering from a basketball injury. Cheadle tore his Achilles tendon during a recent game of hoops. The Oscar-nominated thespian will undergo surgery and should be nearly back to normal by the NAACP Image Awards in February.

Integrity Gospel artist Stephen Hurd will record his sophomore album for the label on March 22 in Washington, D.C. at The Temple of Praise church. The session will be produced by Grammy-winning producer Steven Ford (Richard Smallwood, Deitrick Haddon) and feature contributions by Stellar-nominated songwriter Jonathan Nelson (Donald Lawrence, Bishop T.D. Jakes).

Veteran songstress Angela Bofill recently suffered a stroke, which has left her paralyzed on her left side. Like many veteran recording artists, the 51-year-old didn’t have medical insurance. Her manager Rich Engel and New York radio stations KISS 98.7-FM and WQCD 101.9 FM will sponsor a benefit to raise money for Bofill on March 11 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, N.J. For details, visit www.soulmusic.com.

Please stop emailing me about Sanaa Lathan and Denzel Washington. Lathan has not—I repeat—has not had a child by Washington. Anyone can pull up images of the ‘Love & Basketball’ star over the last 365 days from any of the photo agencies and see that she has not been pregnant. Despite what conflicting tabloid reports have said, no, Washington’s wife isn’t leaving him and no, he’s not leaving his wife for Lathan. End of story. Kaput! Another Internet fabrication put to rest.

BV Scene

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick dining at Kokomo’s in The Mirage Las Vegas… Sister 2 Sister’s Jamie Foster Brown, Tony Richards of WHUR’s The Real DC Morning Show, promoter Tracy Press, WHUR program director Dave Dickinson and Sony BMG’s Rashard Reed and Damon Lott at Heather Headley’s ‘In My Mind’ showcase at The Avenue in Washington, D.C.… Supermodel Tyson Beckford in deep conversation on his cell phone at New York’s Penn Station… Musiq dining at the Brooklyn hot spot Boca Soul in Clinton Hill … Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Tichina Arnold, Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey, Shaun Robinson (‘Access Hollywood’), Hill Harper and Salma Hayek taking in a performance by Prince and Doug E. Fresh at Prince’s private residence in Los Angeles following the ‘Golden Globe Awards.’

Can’t Say Names …

Sources say a notoriously difficult Hollywood actress has outraged yet another African-American magazine. Said C-list talent was approached about appearing on the cover of this staple urban glossy, but after having her publicist give the magazine the business, she declined to participate. When the actress and her camp discovered that the magazine was going to purchase pictures and put her on the Hollywood theme issue anyway, she had her rep call and fuss at the publication. After all of the theatrics, said actress conceded and approved the pics