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Steve Harvey, Cash Money Records Giving Back for Thanksgiving

Filed under: Celeb Updates

Thanksgiving is a time to fellowship with family and friends. Yet, every year ,millions of people go without food on this special day.

In the spirit of giving, a few big names are doing their part.

Radio and TV personality Steve Harvey and his wife, Marjorie, are handing out more than 6,000 turkeys to less-fortunate families across the country.

The couple, who currently grace the cover of Essence magazine, will host 'Steve Harvey's Big Turkey Give Day' at the Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago and Adrianna's in Markham, Ill.

At the Nov. 23 events, the Harveys will give away 1,000 turkeys and 1,000 ropes of turkey sausage courtesy of Hillshire Farm. There will also be health screenings, music, prizes and games.

The New York Times best-selling author is also taking part in a national turkey giveaway with his 'Steve Harvey Morning Show' and its 53 affiliate stations. Sam's Club will deliver the turkeys to each station.

Elsewhere, the brothers from Cash Money Records, which just celebrated its 10th year in the music business, is hosting their 13th annual Turkey Giveaway on Nov.24.

Ronald and Bryan Williams, the label's co-CEOs, are heading back to their native New Orleans to hand out around 1500 turkeys, as well as other fixings.

"This makes us feel just as good as those getting the turkeys," Ronald "Slim" Williams (right) said. This is our way of giving back to the community and the city of New Orleans that Cash Money owes their heart and soul to."

 

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Taraji P. Henson: Hosting 'Soul Train Awards,' New Movies in the Works

Filed under: Music, Movies, Television, Interviews, Celeb Updates

When the call came to host the 2009 'Soul Train Awards,' Taraji P. Henson didn't believe the show's producers had the right person.

"I wasn't sure that it was correct and that they were actually calling me," she confessed to BV Newswire. "They had the idea of Terrence [Howard]and then I was like, 'That works.' I just liked the feeling from the beginning."

The 'Soul Train Awards' marks the first time the 'Hustle and Flow' duo have teamed up since filming the John Singleton-helmed 'Four Brothers' back in 2005 in Toronto, but the two have remained close over the years, Henson said.

"He came to my [Academy Award nominee] dinner to show support. Terrence and I have such a beautiful relationship anyway. We have sister-and-brother banter, but it works, so you can totally see us doing a romantic comedy together. We play off of each other really, really well."

The Washington, D.C., native says the legendary award show, which celebrates achievements in black music, "represents a huge chunk of my life."

Soul Train

Though details on the winners and the show's biggest moments have already leaked since its Atlanta taping last month, Henson weighed in on which tribute performance was her favorite.

"My favorite was the Chaka Khan tribute with Ledisi, Erykah Badu, Fantasia and Angie Stone - four of my favorites. I love a lot of the Rufus stuff and 'I'm Every Woman.' I love her rendition of 'My Funny Valentine' and 'A Night in Tunisia.' I'm just a Chaka fan," she laughed.

As for her greatest Soul Train memory, Henson says, "I could not keep my eyes off of the Asian woman with the long hair. I said, 'I'm doing long hair,' when they first called me. I said this on 'The Mo'Nique Show.'"

The 'I Can Do Bad By Myself' star was recently in Beijing for three months filming the highly anticipated 'Karate Kid' remake, which is being produced by Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and stars their son Jaden, of 'The Pursuit of Happyness' fame. The new movie is being called 'Kung Fu Kid,' and Henson nailed the role of the title character's mother, Sherry. The Howard University alum believes the timing for a black martial arts hero-of-sorts is perfect.

"I'm just excited that we have a black kung fu king. We have images that our kids can look up to, even the 'Princess and the Frog.' Growing up, I never saw myself as a cartoon, and with the old 'Karate Kid,' you don't think about us, so it's just beautiful to have these images for these kids."

As for how life's been since earning a best supporting actress nomination for her portrayal of Brad Pitt's adoptive mother, Queenie, in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' earlier this year, the 39-year-old single mother of one noted that her life as a Hollywood actress is certainly improving.

"It's always on the up and up, even before the Oscar nomination. Ad has the Oscar nomination helped? Yes. My name is coming up in meetings more often, and I'm being considered on a serious high level," she explained.

The NAACP Image Award winner says the first call she got the day after the 2009 Academy Awards was from Tyler Perry for the lead role in 'I Can Do Bad By Myself.' She has since wrapped production on 'Kung Fu Kid' and the Steve Carrell/Tina Fey comedy 'Date Night,' for which she did not have to audition.

But Henson makes no bones about where her priorities are.

"I'm a mother first, so everything else just falls into place," she said. For the rest of the year, she plans to just enjoy being a mommy and looking for a new house.

'Centric Presents: 2009 Soul Train Awards Show,' will premiere Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. ET. The event will be broadcast simultaneously on the new BET spin-off channel, Centric, and BET.

 

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Oprah Winfrey Ending Talk Show in 2011

Filed under: Television, News

Oprah Winfrey is calling it quits.

The talk show queen's production company, Harpo Inc., announced that it will end her popular daily chat fest at the end of its 25th season in September 2011.

Harpo President Tim Bennett said in a statement posted on the Web sites of several TV stations that air the program that Winfrey would make the official announcement on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on Nov. 20, as well as disclose the reasons behind the decision.

Broadcast from Chicago on ABC stations across the United States, the hour-long daily talk show is the top-rated U.S. daytime program, averaging 7.1 million viewers this year.

 

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Dreamgirls 2009: Broadway Bound Revival Gets Apollo Theater Extension

Filed under: News, Theater

The best of The Great White Way has come to Harlem USA, and it's proving to be a perfect combination.

The new version of the legendary Broadway musical 'Dreamgirls,' which is premiering at the world's famous Apollo Theater, is being extended.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced that audiences will get an additional week to see the brand-new production of the landmark musical - for seven additional performances through Dec. 12.

"From Ella Fitzgerald to the Jackson Five to Lauryn Hill, and beyond, the Apollo's legacy as a resource for artists, across genres and generations-and as a platform for the artistic heritage of American culture, continues to be unmatched," said Jonelle Procope, President and CEO, Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. (right) "We are thrilled to host the premiere of the 'Dreamgirls' national tour, which is so emblematic of what the Apollo stands for and so magically captures the spirit of this Theater."

After its Harlem USA run - where it has become the hottest ticket in town - The 'Dreamgirls' national tour's engagement at Baltimore's Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center begins Dec. 16. Other cities include Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Costa Mesa, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Dallas, Kansas City and more.Dreamgirls Directed by and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, 'Dreamgirls' introduces Moya Angela as Effie White and features, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James "Thunder" Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Felicia Boswell, Tallia Brinson, Patrice Covington, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

BV Newswire is proud to offer a sneak peek of the show, which is a melding of the landmark Michael Bennett-created production and the blockbuster motion picture, which starred Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Beyonce Knowles and Danny Glover.

Take a look below.

 

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… Continue

Alicia Keys, Wyclef Make VH1's Celebs Gone Good List

Filed under: Music, Television, News

Alicia keys

Often, the negative exploits of celebrities are documented more than their positive contributions.

Recently, VH1 decided to do something about it by showcasing the good stuff that entertainers are doing in a new special, 'Top 20 Celebs Gone Good,' and several notable African Americans made the cut.

It's no surprise that Oprah Winfrey came in at No. 2 for the work she's done through her Leadership Academy in South Africa and her Angel Network, which raised millions for Hurricane Katrina victims.

She has also raised money for cancer research and several African nations.

Two singer-songwriters topped the list.

Multiple Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys was recognized at No. 8 for her work with her charity, Keep a Child Alive, and former Fugees MC Wyclef Jean got props for his Yele Haiti charity, coming in at No. 5.

'Good Hair' documentarian Chris Rock appears at No. 17 for his work with causes such as UNICEF, (Red) Campaign and the Salvation Army.

Finally, Def Jam-founder-turned-philanthropist Russell Simmons ranked No. 13 for his ability to balance living a Zen-like lifestyle with the demands of multiple charities and causes, including RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Diamond Empowerment Fund, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and his Hip Hop Summit Action Network.

If you missed the premiere of 'Top 20 Celebs Gone Good' on Nov. 19, you can catch it again on Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m., Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 24 at 5 p.m, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m or Dec. 7 at 5 p.m.

To see the full list of the nominated celebrities, go to www.CelebsGoneGood.VH1.com.

 

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