Black Entertainment USA - Celebrity / Entertainment News - African American view

Catching up with Burn Notice

2009-07-03T06:54:00.003-04:00

So with the holiday on my heels I took the time to catch up with my favorite spy without a job. Yes, Michael Westen of Burn Notice has been quite busy. And the 3rd season of the show has not let me down.When last we saw Michael, his sort of girlfriend Fiona, and boozy buddy Sam the group that put out the burn notice that created the problems for Michael had just decided to give him a taste of

Movie Preview: Sherlock Holmes

2009-07-02T13:39:00.001-04:00

As is wont of so many movies these days, the film Sherlock Holmes – starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law – is a physical take on an old theme. At least that is what the trailer is displaying at this moment.I find it odd that one of the more classic and noted intellectuals of literary work has now become a brawling less thinking more ordinary hero in the hands of Guy Ritchie. I suppose that in

Interview with Zachary Majka about the Dick's Open Pro-Am Tournament

2009-07-01T11:24:00.004-04:00

Recently a friend of mine, Zachary Majka (part of my APA 8-ball team and going to the Las Vegas Nationals with me), was able to have an experience that many golfers only dream of having. He was able to play in a Pro/Am golf tournament. This Pro-Am was the Dick’s Open Tournament at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, NY on June 25, 2009. I was able to get him to share a few questions about the

Movie Preview: Gamer

2009-07-01T10:26:00.003-04:00

There is no question that video games are the wave of the future. The industry has steadily moved to become one of the leading forms of entertainment, and massively multiplayer online games have a firm grip in forging that path. But what will the future bring?That is the question posed in the upcoming film Gamer. This is basically a revised mix of the Running Man and Death Race (or Death Race

Obvious facts in teen health study

2009-06-29T18:04:00.004-04:00

Do you ever read an article, about some scientific study about this or that, and you just say to yourself – “Scientists are just so stupid. I knew that.”Of course scientists aren’t stupid. But some of the studies they do have to make you wonder. Like a recent study on 20,000 young kids. The study sought to see how kids feel about surviving. Were they optimistic or not about living to 35, and what

Remembering Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T18:11:00.004-04:00

I was speaking with friends yesterday and today about the sudden death of Michael Jackson and we recalled many things. I want to take a moment to share some of those thoughts with you.I can recall being a very young child and hearing ABC 123 from the Jackson 5. To this day just thinking of the title of that song instantly brings up the memory of that song, hearing MJ’s voice in my mind, and the

Links for 2009-06-25 [Digg]

2009-06-26T00:00:00-07:00

Transformers 2 - controversy or not?
Is having a CGI robot speaking ebonics a take on Black culture and, even in the most innocent of ways, making fun of African Americans?
Entertainment Tonight goes too far with Michael Jackson phot
Tabloids and paparazzi act in low manner all the time. They have the least respect, unless a dollar is attached. But this is inexcusable. I mean can't they let the man's memory, family, and friends have even 1 night before they disgustingly hustle for a buck on his grave.

Entertainment Tonight goes too far with Michael Jackson photo

2009-06-25T20:52:00.005-04:00

I understand that the death of Michael Jackson is enormous news. There has been nothing else on the cable news networks for the last 2 hours. Every entertainment outlet is searching for a story and angle on this. Including myself to a degree.But Entertainment Tonight has gone too far. They went to a place that the realm of good taste forbids. Even tabloids tend to not tread this path - at least

Michael Jackson death - immediate thoughts

2009-06-25T19:09:00.002-04:00

I’m taking a moment to reflect now that I have mentioned that Michael Jackson has died. It is still news that has left me shocked.Jackson was an icon in every sense. He has affected all of America and the world through the decades, and his loss will be strongly felt. I truly feel bad for his family, friends, and children.I know that I have been harsh in the past. I have spoken strongly and

Michael Jackson - dead at 50

2009-06-25T18:36:00.002-04:00

I am really shocked. This was news that was completely unexpected. Michael Jackson died today at 6:15 EST from a heart attack. He was just 50 years old.I saw earlier today when news came out that Jackson was being brought to a hospital. Reports at the time said he was not breathing. But I thought this was just a case of exhaustion as he was preparing to launch into 50 concerts later this year.

Transformers 2 - controversy or not?

2009-06-25T04:42:00.003-04:00

Transformers 2 is now in theaters, so the question of whether the hype is equal to the film is about to be answered. But setting aside the lack of logic, the overabundance of CGI and explosions, and the failure to have a script worthy of the Saturday morning versions this was created from, there is a big question.Is having a CGI robot speaking ebonics a take on Black culture and, even in the most

U.S. beats Spain and goes to Confederations Cup finals

2009-06-25T03:55:00.002-04:00

Could it be that the U.S. is on the verge of becoming a real world competitor on the pitch of the futbol (soccer) world? Could we be on the edge of gaining respect from the international community?For more decades than I have been alive the joke has been watching the U.S. qualify for the World Cup, and not getting past the first round. Watching my home nation lose to some of the weakest teams in

Links for 2009-06-24 [Digg]

2009-06-25T00:00:00-07:00

Bailout bill HR 3597
Of course, according to the Obama Administration proposal, The Secertary of Treasury could take over the porn industry under the "significant ecomomic impact" clause.

Mommy XXX

2009-06-24T09:27:00.004-04:00

Well now that Jon & Kate Plus 8 has halted production, hopefully forever, there is a void. Millions have suddenly lost their "reality" television drama fix. They are bereft of their ability to feel better at the expense of a marriage and several small children. This will not do.It won't have to either. Some television executive was reading the tea leaves and came up with a sure-fire attention

Riddles, hats, and boats - and one man for them all

2009-06-24T08:07:00.005-04:00

You just can never tell where Johnny Depp will wind up. Especially if he has director Tim Burton leading him.There are the rumors that Depp will play the Riddler in the next Batman Dark Knight film. Which would be one of the best choices since they picked Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. It won't be the over the top performance of Jim Carrey, which is a bonus, but I wonder if it will capture the

Bailout bill HR 3597

2009-06-24T07:23:00.005-04:00

After days of searching I finally found it. This was probably the funniest part of the entire Guy's Choice Awards on Sunday. The video clip was very hard to find, which I thought was amazing in itself.But after having 2 computers blow up (thank you Windows Vista) and spending more time on this than it deserves, I can now present you with the only bailout that the Obama Administration won't

Links for 2009-06-22 [Digg]

2009-06-23T00:00:00-07:00

Jon & Kate Plus 8 – the show must go on
But millions have gotten their pound of flesh. They are reminded that the Gosselin’s are just like them. Television has found a new low to sink to. The commercial success of this family breakdown guarantees executives duplicating the events for even higher profit...

Jon & Kate Plus 8 – the show must go on

2009-06-23T01:23:00.002-04:00

Actually it shouldn’t. I have been disgusted with the tabloid coverage of this couple. The media frenzy over their marital difficulties was abominable. And it all culminated with the show this evening.After the endless speculation and paparazzi attempts to confirm the worst of thoughts, Jon and Kate Gosselin have publicly declared they are getting a divorce. And television, especially reality

Guy's Choice Awards on Spike TV

2009-06-23T00:27:00.000-04:00

I was watching the Guy’s Choice Awards on Spike TV on Sunday, when they had a presenter come on the show that just caught me off guard. It wasn’t the ladies, nor Mel Gibson on a horse. It wasn’t even watching Bruno take a vicious verbal jab at Jamie Foxx.What threw me was the 13 year old boy. He was young to be at such an event. An event where sexual inferences were rampant. Where crude jokes,

Links for 2009-06-19 [Digg]

2009-06-20T00:00:00-07:00

Obama Stimulus costs or keeps $38 million from 344,000 Ameri
Interesting headline isn’t it? The best part is that I can back it up. At least as well as the Obama Administration can back up the jobs they have “created or saved” with the Stimulus package. In fact I can provide better proof. The worst part though is that the money is being lost by the poor and the unemployed.

Brad Pitt doubles his donations along with Angelina Jolie

2009-06-19T03:14:00.005-04:00

You just have to be impressed with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Pitt especially. The man is like a slot machine. A slot machine that pays out millions, but for causes that benefit thousands or more.Not a few days ago I was speaking about how Brad Pitt, along with his siblings, just donated $1 million to create the Jane Pitt Pediatric Center to take care of kids with pediatric cancer in Missouri.

Links for 2009-06-18 [Digg]

2009-06-19T00:00:00-07:00

California: home of towns that are an insult to the U.S.
I’m sure Nancy Pelosi is proud of these insulting actions by her fellow Northern Californians. They reflect the views and actions she and Sen. Harry Reid have shoved onto the American people via their control of the Congress, and now White House...I wonder how unwelcome Marines would be if North Korea shoves a missile up San Francisco’s ass.

Mission Impossible 4 - more explosions, more Tom Cruise close-ups

2009-06-18T18:25:00.004-04:00

Well the news is out. Tom Cruise will be doing yet another Mission Impossible movie. But I wonder if we really care.Given that Tom Cruise makes money every time he shows up on a screen. It’s actually very hard to think of a movie with Cruise, in the past decade or so, that was not a blockbuster. Of course that does not mean they were great films. Just greatly packaged.But specifically when we

Do you know Abbott & Costello?

2009-06-17T16:41:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, while at an event at the Chameleon Café in Endicott (which I will review later) I was speaking with a group of friends. As the conversation was going along, the subject of comedy came up. Initially we were speaking about Eddie Izzard, who I think is fantastic. But as we went along the discussion turned to some of the funniest comedy skits ever. Obviously the discussion ran into Monty

Who will replace Sean Penn as Larry in Three Stooges movie

2009-06-17T15:01:00.006-04:00

Well there are a few changes that are coming up in several movies being planned for 2010 or so. Several high profile movie stars have been added or left planned movies. How this might affect these films is anyone’s guess. But at least you are forewarned.The potentially big news is that Sean Penn has pulled out of the star studded Three Stooges movie, in addition to the film Cartel. The 3 Stooges

text messaging - the sport ESPN won't cover

2009-06-17T03:47:00.003-04:00

It's official now. The world is going to hell in a hand basket. Why? When there are competitions, equating a form of athleticism to sending a text message well then the future is just all over. Seriously, there was a competition for the fastest, and most accurate, text messager.Obviously this was a ploy by LG Electronics Inc. to spur the use of text messages and generate income. The winner of the

Links for 2009-06-16 [Digg]

2009-06-17T00:00:00-07:00

DVD Review: Christina Ricci in Little Red Riding Hood
In each of the short films we are introduced to unique takes on old ideas. We have sexuality introduced in a manner that has you questioning if it was the director’s intention, or just your own inner thoughts making a leap. We get a mixture of ballet, Black and White film, acting, silent film, represerntative characters, puppetry, and a touch of ..
Captain America returns!
If this whole fiasco has been designed with a thought of evaluating what is America today, of what are the true strengths of the nation, then this was a great plan. If the re-born Capitan America is redoubled in his belief in our nation and what it stands for, and thus imparts that message to our youth, then it was time well spent. If this iconic..
9 questions with director David Kaplan
Michael Vass: In each film there is a subtle but definite sexuality. They each border on the taboo, in their own ways. What inspired that direction?David Kaplan: Fairy tales explore some dark shadows and truths of the human experience. Even though we think of them as innocent children's stories, I always felt they were much more complex than...

Should David Letterman be fired?

2009-06-16T16:51:00.006-04:00

When I first wrote about the inexcusable comment that David Letterman made about the daughters of Gov. Sarah Palin, I was firmly entrenched in the thought that it was political. And an insult to all women. It was more than just a “bad joke”.To say it was merely a bad joke is to say that inferring lewd sexual acts between a young woman and a man 2x her age is occasionally good natured. Which I do

Captain America returns!

2009-06-16T02:31:00.003-04:00

When I was growing up, there were a few things that you could always count on. Death, taxes, the fact that every President was a descendant of a European, the only time you would hear about Black history was in February – and that was mostly just Dr. Martin Luther King, Superman was the ultimate boy scout and Capitan America loved and defended our nation. But as I have grown some of these things

9 questions with director David Kaplan

2009-06-16T01:10:00.005-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to review a DVD of the short films (which includes a young Christina Ricci in a leading role) of independent filmmaker David Kaplan. In addition to that review, Kaplan provided me with a chance to interview him via email. The following are the questions and answers from the director, perhaps best known to the public for his major feature film Year of the

DVD Review: Christina Ricci in Little Red Riding Hood

2009-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

The title sounds so innoucuous. I’m sure that many are thinking that this has got to be a mistake on my part. That it must be a audio book review. But I’m not mistaken, and you will be surprised. And you will understand why this is a Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo Award winner.Little Red Riding Hood and other stories, is 3 short films each based on a short story from fairy tales.

Links for 2009-06-11 [Digg]

2009-06-12T00:00:00-07:00

David Letterman, Judge Sotomayor, Speaker Pelosi
But only a fool and a weak coward, in my opinion, chooses to attack minors. Especially when that child and/or young adult is not in public life and has never once said so much as boo to or about Letterman in public. I find it to be no different than a man who abuses a woman, because his warped view of life says that this is ok. ...