BV Buzz 12.13.04
By Jawn Murray, AOL BlackVoices columnist
Less Than Love
‘The Apprentice’ star Stacie J. says she’s not dating comedian Paul Mooney. It was reported in this column, and in numerous news outlets, that the two were an item after they were spotted looking cozy at several events and award shows.
“I’m his manager. I represent him,” admitted the reality show star when I caught up with her on the phone. “I’m not sure why the whole dating thing always comes up. I guess if you’re seen with someone, you’re dating -- especially if they kind of have a name to them.”
Stacie J. has apparently been repping the veteran comedian for almost three years and is excited about some upcoming projects the comic has lined up.
“Paul is about to do some really, really good things. I’m in the middle of a huge negotiation with him, which is going to go through for him to be on the radio in New York in the mornings,” she confessed.
In addition to his regular monthly stint at Carolines on Broadway, there’s also talk that Mooney could be getting his very own show on Comedy Central.
Look for Stacie J. to return on the Dec. 16 finale of ‘The Apprentice.’
For The Kids
‘All of Us’ actress Terri J. Vaughn is striving to be a role model for inner city girls in the San Francisco area. Vaughn founded the Take Wings Foundation in 1997 to encourage teenage girls, ages 13-18, in her old community to become “productive and self-sufficient young women who understand and appreciate the importance of developing a sense of character.”
“I started working with these girls like seven years ago. I grew up in Hunter’s Point in San Francisco, which is the ghetto. Most of my friends were drug dealers, gang bangers and boosters. I lost a lot of friends when I was a teenager. I always felt sorry for them. Once I started making a little bit of money on the ‘The Steve Harvey Show,’ I knew I wanted to do something for the girls growing up in my community,” shared the actress.
Vaughn feels it was a blessing that she didn’t become a product of her environment and wants to keep other young girls from her old neighborhood focused and determined as well. “I want them to see and know that they have it within themselves to be successful and productive. They can be a success story in life. It doesn’t matter that you grow up with gang bangers and drug dealers all around, they can still make choices to make their life great,” added Vaughn.
The actress recently hosted about 70 girls for her annual Home for the Holidays dinner in San Francisco. Actresses Tisha Campbell-Martin (‘My Wife & Kids’), Gabrielle Union (‘Deliver Us From Eva’) and Essence Atkins, Telma Hopkins and Valerie Pettiford (‘Half & Half’) were among those who attended the event, where former Black Panther Erica Huggins was the keynote speaker.
In Time for Christmas
Could Bill Cosby use a ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’ makeover in time for the holidays? Apparently writer Mister Mann Frisby thinks so. Frisby took America’s favorite dad to task in his recent editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News. Frisby wrote: “Dr. Cosby, you have made yourself clear that you are disturbed at how many young people, specifically boys, are blowing all of the advances that have been made by the Civil Rights Movement. I absolutely agree with you on that. You have talked not only about the way these young people speak, but how they dress as well. Like you, I abhor the sight of young black men with their pants sagging so low that you can see their underwear. But what about you? More often than not, you show up for public appearances dressed in sweatshirts, baseball caps and super-dark shades that were popular back when Dwayne Wayne was on ‘A Different World.’ And you seem to have forgotten altogether where your electric razor is.”
And he didn’t stop there either. Frisby continued: “I walked into my bedroom a couple of weeks ago while you were talking to Paula Zahn on CNN, and I thought for a moment that she was interviewing a homeless man. No one except your wife, Camille, should see you with a face full of gray whiskers. Of course, I know who you are and what you've accomplished, but if I were a teenager, I wouldn't take anything you said seriously. Too often, you visit schools and speak at commencements in attire more fitting for an afternoon on the couch.”
Ouch! Someone call ‘Queer Eye’s’ Carson Kressley. I’m sure he could whip Mr. Huxtable into shape.
Speaking of the Huxtables, the actress once known as Rudy Huxtable both stars in and is a first-time producer of the film, ‘Christmas at Water’s Edge.’ Keshia Knight Pulliam, now 25, learns the real meaning of Christmas in the movie when she helps organize a holiday concert at a youth center.
Pulliam stars opposite Tom Bosley (‘Happy Days’), Janet Hubert (‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’), Richard Lawson (‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’) and singer Ray J in the film, which is syndicated throughout the holiday season. Also look out for Pulliam in the MGM feature film ‘Beauty Shop’ with Queen Latifah and Golden Brooks (‘Girlfriends’) early next year.
Can’t Say Names…
…Sources say the daughter of a national civil rights leader was forced to have gastric bypass surgery after doctors warned her excessive weight could cause her to die from congestive heart failure. Sources say the surgery went well and said daughter is anticipating her new body.
Whispers
…R&B veteran Vesta, who is currently on Will Downing and Friends' Soulful Christmas tour with Kirk Whalum, is readying the release of a new CD in late February. Vesta, who also performed last week during Dr. Bobby Jones’ International Gospel Industry Retreat in Miami, says the new release will be a hybrid of R&B, jazz and gospel numbers. Though she initially intended to release the disk independently, the singer admits that she was recently approached by a record company and is close to finalizing a deal.
…Rapper Fabolous should be able to breathe a lot easier now that he’s got his bowels under control. The chart-topping hip-hopper was in Paris recently to promote his current album ‘Breathe,’ but had to cancel a day of promotional appearances because of a bad case of diarrhea.
…The comedienne known as Chocolate won’t be known as Chocolate any longer. She’s not quite pulling a Prince, but Chocolate has decided to now perform under her birth name, Chanita Morris. Morris was given her stage name, Chocolate, by veteran comic Earthquake years ago. However, since becoming saved and opting to perform Christian comedy, the former ‘Def Comedy Jam’ and BET’s ‘Comic View’ regular wants a fresh start. “Christian comedy is no joke,” offered Morris.
…Congratulations are in order to ‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ actress Dawnn Lewis. The former ‘A Different World’ star will marry retired NBA baller Johnny Newman on Christmas Eve. Newman, a Danville, Va., native, played for several teams during his NBA career, including the New Jersey Nets and the Charlotte Hornets.
…Former New Kids on the Block member Jordan Knight doesn’t take well to rejection. During a recent performance at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, N.J., Knight asked the crowd, “Have you seen me on the ‘Surreal Life’? Did you see me get rejected by Ryan Starr?” The crowd began to boo Starr. Knight then stuck it to the season one ‘American Idol’ wannabe by adding, “Well, it’s OK though. That’s what you get when you’re trying to hook up with a lesbian.”
Dec. 13, 2004