BV Entertainment Newswire July 14

Catching Cole

Keyshia Cole is a woman of few words… but she lays it all out on the line on her reality series 'The Way It Is,' which premiered on BET July 12.

The six-part series chronicles the turbulent upbringing and promising career of one of today's most promising R&B acts. Starting in her hometown of East Oakland, California, viewers discover how the hip-hop soul singer escaped the pressures of the inner city, and later returned to sell out venues and headline her own cross-country tour.

"I don't know what they are going to get out of it," Cole, 24, told Black Voices about the viewing audience. "I don't know. They are going to get whatever they get. I can't tell you. I think it's a nice show, I do."

On the James Dubose-helmed series, the platinum-selling artist, who topped the R&B charts with a trio of hit songs over the past year (including the Gregory Curtis-produced ballad 'Love'), discusses her mother's battles with drug addiction, her sister's life as a prostitute, and her childhood spent in and out of foster care.

"Nope," she replied to the question of having trepidation about exposing so much of her self to the masses -- this early in her career. "Nope!"

Throughout 'The Way,' the pint-sized spitfire engages in touching reunions, drama-filled interviews and displays a no nonsense business attitude. From judging a hilarious 'American Idol'-like talent competition to visiting transitional housing for orphaned teens, Cole exposes a seldom seen side to celebrity life.

"When people see it, they cry," BET President of Entertainment Reginald Hudlin told Black Voices. "They are so moved. They are so touched. They are so inspired by her drive to lift herself out of where she came and go to the next level. And that's great when you can find a really honest story about a person who is determined to help herself and help those around her."

Cole, who seems excited about the show and the feedback, said she had conversations about doing a TV show in the past, but when BET approached her about doing a reality show "we went ahead and went on with it."

The music oriented basic cable network, which experienced record-breaking numbers with Lil' Kim's 'Countdown To Lockdown' series last spring, is taking a proactive approach to what many thought to be a fading television genre. 'On Wednesday nights, The Way It Is' precedes 'Soul of A Man,' which centers on the trials and tribulations of former chart-topping thug rap icon, DMX.

"We're definitely going to be doing more of this," Hudlin added.

Cole, who just finished headlining a spring tour, is the new face of Akademiks Ladies 2006 Fall/Holiday advertising campaign. She also graces the cover of "The Sexy Issue'" of 'Vibe' magazine, which arrives on newsstands next week.

"I be having problems with things like that because the photographers be wanting you to give them what they ask for and that ain't my personality," she said of the sensual photo spread. "I got a lot of other things on my mind right now. You know, it takes a lot to be sexy. You gotta go ahead and get it together chile."

Cole is readying the release of her sophomore CD, which her publicist said can be expected this fall. "I want to do a lot of growing on this album," Cole said. "Who don't? I know. I want to get into learning how to actually do a real show and become a performer."

Check out Keyshia Cole singing live on AOL Sessions by clicking here.

Mandela At Home

Nelson Mandela turns 88, July 18.

To pay homage to his remarkable life and revolutionary achievements in South Africa, Palm Pictures will release the elaborately packaged 'Palm World Voice: Mandela.'

The two-disc set includes the Jonathan Demme-produced film, 'Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation,' which has been out of print for many years. Filmed over seven months leading up to the historic 1994 presidential election, the Jo Menell-directed project is a full-length documentary looking at the courageous life, tribulations and fortitude of Mandela. It was nominated for an Academy Award for 'Best Documentary' in 1997. The DVD features exclusive interviews and narration from Mandela himself.

The accompanying audio CD is the original soundtrack to the movie, featuring traditional Xhosa and Zulu folk songs. South African musicians Hugh Masakela, Vusi Mahlasela, the Manhattan Brothers, Brenda Fassie, Johnny Clegg, the ANC Choir, and The Specials grace the 26-track recording. . But that's not all. The boxed-set includes a 48-page book filled with dozens of photos and art images, and an essay by acclaimed British journalist Robin Denselow, along with an exclusively-designed 20" x 30" poster map highlighting key events in the history of Mandela and South Africa with informative text, photos and images.

More 'Grey's' Showing

Shonda Rhimes' hit medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' may have been nominated for 11 Emmy Awards last week, but the bidding for its cable syndication rights is heating up -- making it an even hotter property in Tinseltown.

According to 'The Hollywood Reporter,' Buena Vista Television, which owns the rights to the show, is nearing a deal to grant evening rights to the Oxygen network, while TNT will get daytime rights. Oxygen will also get a second window that gives the channel a weekly repeat of an episode from earlier seasons.

The combined price tag for deal is estimated at around $1 million, with Oxygen believed to have paid out about $700,000 per episode, with TNT handling the residual. Oxygen, reportedly, could begin airing repeat episodes from previous seasons as early as January.

A New 'Take'

Tyrese Gibson, fresh off the release of last month's 'Waist Deep,' has signed on to star in the indie film 'The Take.'

Set in Los Angeles, the film centers on an armored truck driver (played by John Leguizamo), who is shot during a heist and chronicles the lengths he goes to after rehabilitation to track down the criminal -- played by Gibson.

The Brad Furman-helmed vehicle will also star Rosie Perez, Bobby Cannavale, RZA and Gibson's 'Waist Deep' costar Meagan Good. According to 'The Hollywood Reporter,' the low-budget film will be shot guerilla-style without sets in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Shooting is set to begin in September.