On The Tube: One of the hottest new shows on cable this season has become an instant favorite of mine. The series is 'Raising the Bar' and it's the breakout drama series by Steven Bochco ('NYPD: Blue'). 'Raising the Bar' centers around a group of young lawyers in the big city. Some of them work for the public defender, others for the district attorney and one is a clerk for the judge. This drama is full of drama and watching the dynamic between these friends who have to battle it out in the court room keeps you on the edge of your seat. The cast includes Gloria Reuben ('E.R.'), J. August Richards ('Angel'), Mark-Paul Gosselaar ('Saved By The Bell'), Melissa Sagemiller ('The Guardian'), Currie Graham ('Desperate Housewives') and Teddy Sears ('CSI: Miami').
In addition, Jane Kaczmarek ('Malcolm in the Middle') plays an irritable judge who only plays nice when her clerk, played by Jonathan Scarfe ('E.R.') is giving her some loving. What the judge doesn't know is that her judicial boy toy is a down-low man with a secret fetish for the boys. One episode called 'I Will, I'm Will' featured a guest turn by an impressive new actress named Bresha Webb (she's had guest spots on 'Dirt' and 'K-Ville') who is definitely one to watch! Aside from Gosselaar's hair – its stringy, unattractive and reminds you of the wrestler Sting – you'll love everything that 'Raising the Bar' has to offer. After an impressive 7.7 million viewers tuned in to its debut, TNT renewed the show for next season. – Mondays, 10pm / TNT
Also on TV: Watching '
o the old neighborhood to rehabilitate a former crack house and hoping to change the rough and tumble community. This well-written series stars Russell Hornsby ('Playmakers'), Nikki Micheaux ('The Shield'), Erica Hubbard ('The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants'), Robert Adamson ('Cold Case'), Rhyon Nicole Brown ('Judging Amy') and Mishon Ratliff ('America's Most Talented Kid'). Twists and turns and captivating storylines, in addition to guest stars like Darrin Henson ('Soul Food') and Michael Warren ('Hill St. Blues') make this series a must-watch and a priority in the TiVo lineup. – Tuesdays, 8pm / ABC Family
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Burst of Energy: Feeling fatigued and looking for an energy drink, then try Lil Jon's Citrus Crunk. I was already a fan of his original energy drink, Crunk Juice, and his Citrus Crunk is just as good. The lemon and lime flavored drink includes Ashwaganda, which according to the rapper (and the label on the can) is "horny goat weed." For details visit www.crunkenergydrink.com.
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Ready for Relaxing: Author and TV talent Dr. Rovenia "Dr. Ro" Brock invited me to her husband, Dr. Murray Riggins' new medi-spa, MASC (Medical Aesthetics Skin Care) in
Soul' played host while I received the MASC Get Fresh Facial and the amazing 75 minute Sugar Shea Body Butta Treatment massage. The quaint spa, located at 1205 Fern Street NW, offers a unique array of services that rival the large chain spas while offering the intimacy and attention only a boutique surrounding can provide. In addition to general pampering procedures, MASC also offers a variety of medical procedures like BOTOX Cosmetic, Laser Hair Removal, Laser Spider Vein Removal and Lipo-Dissolve & Spot Fat Remover, among others. All of those services are administered by Dr. Riggins, a veteran emergency medicine physician with more than two decades of experience under his belt. Dr. Riggins has extensively trained in medical skincare aesthetics with top dermatologists and facial plastic surgeons. For more information on MASC, visit them online at www.mymasc.com.
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Hot Sounds: Lalah Hathway has a new CD out called 'Self Portrait' (Stax Records). The smo 
oth, R&B collection offers 12 tracks of modern soul that all showcase Hathaway's honey-coated tenor. Led by the first single 'Let Go,' the album is full of substance-oriented music that tackle topics like love, life and relationships. The daughter of the late soul icon Donny Hathaway shines brightly on ballads like 'On Your Own,' 'That Was Then,' 'Learning To Swim' and my favorite, 'What Goes Around.' The latter tune is worth the price of the CD alone! For more information go to www.LalahHathaway.com.
Also Playing: Once my favorite R&B singer, Dave Hollister has returned with his sop
homore gospel album, 'Witness Protection' (Zomba Gospel). The CD features 16 tracks full of live instrumentation and backed by a message about God. Once dubbed "The Ghetto Preacher," Hollister delivers lines like a great orator on songs like 'Church,' 'Look Up,' 'I Know I Can' and 'Don't Stop.' But its on worship ballads like 'Bless Me,' 'Secret Place,' 'You Are' and 'Just Worship' where he's at his best! I once shunned the idea of Hollister abandoning R&B for sacred songs. (I was being selfish!) 'Witness Protection' has caused me to change my mind! For details, visit www.gospelnow.com.
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Coming to Theaters: Are you in to westerns? Well if you are you have to see 'Appaloosa.' The Warner Bros. film stars Ed Harris ('A Beautiful Mind'), Viggo Mortensen ('The Lord of The Rings'), Renee Zellweger ('Chicago') and Jeremy Irons ('Reversal of 
Fortune'). This beautifully shot film is set in Appaloosa. When Virgil Cole (Harris) and Everett Hitch (Mortensen) arrive to town they find that it is suffering at the hands of a rancher named Randall Bragg (Irons), who has already killed the city Marshall and one of his deputies. The story then follows Cole and Hitch as they attempt to clean things up, but Bragg not playing by the rules and the arrival of an attractive widow (Zellweger) complicate matters. The film is based on the novel by Robert B. Parker (creator of 'Spencer for Hire') and arrives in theaters on Oct. 3. For details visit WelcomeToAppaloosa.warnerbros.com.
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Fly Ride: What better way to dash around
1. I still have Dave Hollister, CD chicago in constant play. How I miss his R&B music. I wonder what happen. one minute Dave had a cd out that was a huge success then I heard the movie chicago '85 starring Dave and Rkelly was coming out, and just like that Dave disappeared for years, and when he did return it was to gospel music I guess he got a calling from God.
Lisa at 7:51PM on Sep 18th 2008