"Rosewood" Star Morris Chestnut On MONARCH Mag!
It took Hollywood many years to "discover" Taraji P. Henson after the rest of us have been loving her forever (thanks FOX!) and tonight, FOX is also going to give Morris his shot. His show "Rosewood" debuts ahead of "Empire" and we're hoping it does for his career what "Empire" did for Ms. Henson.
On newsstands, Morris and his PERFECT mug are on the cover of MONARCH where he talks about his 25-year career, his 25-year marriage and what it means to be Black and leading a tv show. Here are the highlights from his Q/A:
What has been your strategy in staying relevant in your career?
That’s a good question. Basically, I just kept trying to get better each year. Obviously, 25 years ago when I first started I was 2 years old [laughs]. No, but basically I was very young and very green when I first started. One thing that I realized early on is that I had to experience things and that it was going to be a lifelong study of acting and human behavior. So each year, I would try to just get better at what I do.
Is there anything that you would have done differently in retrospect?
When I came into the industry I didn’t know anyone. A lot of times people I came across had like an uncle in the industry or a mother or someone as a mentor that I didn’t have. So yeah, there are quite a few choices along the way that I would change. But fortunately, I’m still here now and when I mentor someone I advise them of the things that I would stay away from.
What is your key to success in marriage?
I think that, in addition to acting and life, you need a little bit of luck. Basically, Pam and I have been together for a long time. We met when we were 21-22. We’ve been fortunate to grow together instead of growing apart. People are different at 26 than they were at 21, and then you’re even more different at 31. So we were blessed enough to grow together and communicate. The one thing that I always tell people is that it’s not easy. A lot of times people think it’s easy street once they get married. But actually that’s when the work really begins. When you’re dating this person or that person can walk away and there’s no real attachment. But once you get married now it’s not so easy to walk away. You can’t just go back to your apartment and she go back to hers when you get mad at each other. So that’s when the work starts.
Will audiences love Rosewood?
I think audiences will love it because it’s a different type of show. We’re going to be shifting tones a lot. My character Rosewood is a guy who has a lot of ailments and so he’s just glad to be on the Earth. So he lives every day like it’s his last day. He wants his outlook to be infectious to everyone. So with the type of show it is there are a lot of times when we have a lot of humor and times when we have some serious drama. There are also some emotional tones to the show. So we are going to be shifting tones; but at the end of the day during each episode from 8-9 pm on Wednesday starting September 23rd, people are just going to have fun and be able to enjoy the show.
How did you prepare for this role?
Well, unfortunately my research for this role was restricted because I was working on another project. Literally, I finished one project and 24 hours later I was on to this project. But it was basically looking up a lot of medical terms and understanding things about pathology. Pretty much what I like to do is think if I were a pathologist what would make me tick; and I try to inject that into all of my characters.
Is Hollywood more receptive to African-Americans playing lead roles on non-African-American shows?
I’ve always said Hollywood isn’t black or white, it’s always been green. When it comes to the biggest movie stars like Denzel Washington or Will Smith they weren’t considered black actors. They were actors who were making a lot of green money so they were getting a lot of projects. In terms of them giving us opportunities now with shows like Empire, it showed Hollywood that even with Netflix and Hulu, the public still watches network television; and when the public watches network television, that represents advertising dollars. So with the success of Empire, now networks are finally seeing hey we can put Black characters on TV and people will watch. And that’s what it is.
LORD HAVE MERCY! Reporter Asks Pope Francis & President Barack Obama About “Negroes” [VIDEO]
Pope Francis and his visit to the White House with President Barack Obama Wednesday was met with the media throng one would expect to follow the leader of the Catholic Church. During a photo op staging and questions from the media, a reporter could be heard asking the pair about “negroes” which made the entire moment awkward for everyone.
The incident took place during CNN’s live broadcast of the papal visit to Washington, D.C. The President and the Pope are shown sitting and smiling for the cameras together when an unnamed female reporter with what appeared to be a foreign accent asks a question that sucks all the air out of the room.
“Why don’t you say something about the Negroes?” asks the reporters before Obama politely shut her down by saying “Thank you, everybody.”
The cameras continued to flash and video kept rolling, but it was obvious by the strained look on Obama’s face that the question was, at the very least, not properly delivered. Perhaps it was a language barrier but how exactly was the Pope and President Obama supposed to respond to that question?
If that reporter has a job still, she’s either lucky or is holding company secrets.
Watch the video via Justin Kanew’s Twitter account of the reporter asking Pope Francis and President Barack Obama about Negroes below.
"Why don't you say something about the negroes?"
"Thank you everybody."
Yeah that just happened. pic.twitter.com/9wxElEIXm3
— justin kanew (@justin_kanew) September 23, 2015
Kelly Price Files Divorce Papers and say There’s Nothing To Sue For WE’RE BOTH BROKE!
Kelly Price MADE GOOD on her word to divorce her Husband! The R&B singer has officially filed to divorce the man she was married to for more than 20 years.
According to the docs, she's requesting no spousal support for either side, and says there's no commuity property to fight over. They have 2 children, but they're adults ... so no custody issues either.
Price announced she was splitting from her hubby, Jeffrey Rolle, back in July. Rolle is also her manager, but she said she's cutting all biz ties with him too.
Price has been nominated for seven Grammys in her career and has sung background on hits like Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money Mo Problems."
Usher and Grace Miguel Tie the Knot!
Insiders claim Usher Raymond and his manager Grace Miguel have quietly made it official…
For months there have been rumors that Usher and Grace were planning to wed.
Now sources tell Bossip Usher and Grace ditched their plans for an elaborate wedding and quietly eloped earlier this month.
The happy couple are said to have honeymooned in Cuba over the Labor Day weekend.
Mazel Tov!
For all you weed lovers…… Snoop Dogg Launches MerryJane.com, A Pot Lovers Website
Recently, West Coast music mogul Snoop Dogg was on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco and announced his new social platform, MerryJane.com. MerryJane.com is a lifestyle media site completely designed by women with a marijuana focal point. The website will feature video and editorial content to serve as an educational hub for marijuana connoisseurs. The platform will also contain a cooking show and original interview series titled, “Deflowered,” where the interviewee gets to enjoy cannabis and share their experience about when they first discovered pot.
Snoop stated the site will provide users with,“all they need to know” about pot, and be the encyclopedia of the cannabis world. Acting as a doctor green thumb search engine so that users can search the nearest dispensary, or finding with symptoms are associated with certain type of plate. MerryJane.com officially launches in October, but 420 partakers can register now at www.merryjane.com for an exclusive look at the beta website.
Snoop Dogg was born Calvin Broadus, Jr and is an entertainment icon that has gone from gangster to businessman. In the past 20 years, Snoop Dogg has made several major business investments, including a voice over for TomTom GPS Navigator, which allows users to download The Dogg Father’s voice an receive turn by turn directions from him. Snoop has a headphone line Skullcrushers headphones and Neff Snoop Micro Dogg Tee.
#teamempire Gabourey Sidibe On Season 2 "Empire" she speaks on Her Body Image And Becky's After Hours Love Games
As you know this season, Jussie Smollett's Jamal Lyon became the head of the EMPIRE Records and he promoted from Lucious Lyon's (Terrence Howard) assistant Becky aka Gabourey to head of A&R! That means Becky will get more screen time and she's got a few more coins to step up her wig game.
Gabby is on the press scene now celebrating season two and touting her other projects. In case you have HULU Plus, she also stars on the show "Difficult People" (which is pretty funny). Check out highlights from her interview with the AP below and a funny season 2 preview.
On the evolution of Becky: At the end of last season, Becky went from assistant to Lucious to a promotion, and she’s now the head of A&R (artists and repertoire). She now has more power than she ever had. She’s not serving someone, she’s not taking phone calls or making appointments for other people. She has her own roster of clients that she’s dealing with. So it’s really fun.
Is she like Becky: I’m not as much a go-getter as Becky is. We are similar in the way that we’re smarter than people think we are, but I think she works a lot harder than I do. And she’s much more serious than I am.
On how her life changed after Precious: I’ve learned it doesn’t help to say, ‘No, I can’t do it.’ I’ve learned that fear is not useful. I’m surprised how many things I’ve bumped into over the last eight years that scared me to death and that, when I actually came across them, I didn’t even feel it. It’s interesting how well I’ve been able to forget to have fear.
On body image and being a role model: When I was a young girl, I didn’t see enough of myself on TV or in magazines. And representation is very important to everyone, but especially to girls like me, and people like me, whether it be because of my body, because of my race, because of my skin color, because of my awkwardness or where I come from.
On representing the brown and round girls: While it makes me nervous to represent for anyone, I am extremely proud that some brown, round little girl sitting in front of the TV can look at me and that exists as well and that she has some value. That is the most important thing in the world. … What’s surprising is that it doesn’t always come from kids. I get it from the brown, round little girl but also the skinny white man. I think I am a round peg trying to fit into a square hole. And I think that’s what people relate to.
On Becky getting a man for Season 2: "You will get to see her "after hours."
Transwoman Says TSA Agent ‘Humiliated’ Him When Scanner Found ‘Anomaly’ Between Her Legs
A transwoman missed her flight when she was detained by TSA Agents when she failed to disclose her gender orientation.
Shadi Petosky claims she was “detained and harassed” at the Orlando airport after a body scanner captured an “anomaly” between her legs.
Petosky said she told the TSA agent the anomaly was “my penis.”
She said the TSA agent ordered her to “get back in the machine as a man or it was going to be a problem.”
But when the machine was re-calibrated for a male Petosky refused to walk into the scanner.
She was then offered the opportunity to choose a male or female officer to pat her down. But when Petosky couldn’t to protest, she was taken to a private area where she was pat down and her bags searched completely.
The 40-minute delay — due to her refusal to cooperate — caused her to miss her flight.
After reviewing the surveillance footage, the TSA “determined that the evidence shows our officers followed TSA’s strict guidelines.”
TSA guidelines calls for transgender folks travelers to “use the name and gender that appears on their government-issued ID when making flight reservations and at the security checkpoint.”
Petosky, who caught a flight out the next day, said a male TSA officer “told me I looked like a woman to him. Which I am sure he meant as a compliment, but what if I didn’t?”
Amy Poehler And Nick Kroll Split After Two Years
Balancing a relationship and a career is tricky business and it seems Amy Poehler and Nick Kroll just couldn't make it work, as the comedic couple has gone their separate ways after two years of dating.
According to an insider close to the "Parks and Recreation" actress and "The League" funnyman, “They really tried, but it just wasn’t realistic anymore. They were spending more time apart than together.”
Kroll is the first person Poehler has dated since splitting from former husband Will Arnett (whom she shares two children with) in September of 2012 after nine years of marriage.
He’s THE QUEEN BIG FREEDIA Twerk anthem rapper talks season 4 of ‘Queen of Bounce’
The “Dancehall Queen Diva” Big Freedia is back for another season of drama, twerking, and infectious music.
Last season on Fuse’s “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,” the New Orleanian bounce music artist dealt with relationship issues and working hard to further his entertainment career. On season four, which premieres on Sept. 30, Big Freedia gets really personal and revealing, especially in regard to his longtime boyfriend.
“You will get to see me open up a little bit more,” he told our friends over at rolling out. “On the previous season, I was having relationship issues, so in season four, you will see me try to rekindle the relationship and do whatever it takes to get back with my lover.”
He also talks his journey toward publishing his autobiography, Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva, which was released on July 7. Big Freedia says viewers will get a peek into the process that went into constructing the book, including rekindling old memories.
The show will also feature tender moments of the rapper attempting to build a stronger relationship with his father.
“[I’ll be] connecting with my dad and trying to get him involved, seeing that he was out of my life for so many years when I was young,” he said.
And, of course, viewers will get to experience the music and dancing that Big Freedia is popular for. This time, he’s taking his act overseas.
“You’ll also get to see the dancers in their own world,” he continued. “You’ll also get to see me travel internationally and see how people in other countries accept bounce music and how they receive the Queen B.”
See a preview of of “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce” HERE:
Season four of “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce” premieres Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 11 p.m. EST on Fuse.
Is there a Destiny’s Child biopic in the works?
Beyoncé’s dad and former manager, Mathew Knowles, hints at a major Destiny’s Child reunion …
Knowles, the girl group’s manager, recently dished to The Huffington Post that he’s got “a few Destiny’s Child projects” in the works. “I still manage the ladies, and I’m hopeful that within the next two to three years we’ll see something major come from it,” said Knowles. “I am extremely hopeful that the ladies will come back with an album and a tour,” he continued before adding that he’s also inked a second book deal.
“My second book will be the autobiography of Destiny’s Child,” said the 63-year-old. But that’s not the best part. According to Knowles, he’s smoothing out plans for a possible biopic project surrounding the band’s fame: “I’m talking to the film and TV community right now, regarding a Destiny’s Child movie or TV series of some sort.”
However, considering the tarnished business relationship between Bey and her father, we wonder how all this would play out. What would and wouldn’t be omitted from their story? And if the girls are opposed to the idea …
Fans of the girl group last saw Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Bey herself reunite for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards earlier this year. The trio performed “Say Yes” at the Las Vegas show and proved that their chemistry is still going strong after all of these years.
Williams recently opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about her close pals saying, “I have their back and they have mine. They have showed themselves to be loyal to me time after time. They have proven they are my sisters time and time again.”
Serena Williams was Front & Center At Drizzy's Restaurant Opening
Right before she had to jet back to the States to do a double header on HSN to push her clothing line's newest collection, Serena Williams booked it to Toronto on Monday to celebrate her boo's big accomplishment.
In case you didn't know, Drake is making business moves in his hometown of Toronto. The rapper just opened up a brand new restaurant called Fring's, in partnership with local chef Susor Lee. So it's only right his faves come to the 6 to help him pop a few bottles and celebrate.
Serena Williams was spotted looking HOT arriving in a skin tight white pencil skirt and killer heels. Drake's been an avid supporter of hers at many-a-tennis matches in different parts of the world. So, she's returning the favor for her rumored boo. Sweet!
Drizzy posted a pic of him and his mom Sandi sharing a hug during the festivities.
Even Jada and Jaden showed up.
Drake posed it up with the chef before snapping pics with his homies and his family:
Fab times.
HUH? Cop Issued Ticket to Woman Who Told Him She Was HIV Positive
A Dearborn, Michigan police officer is under fire for issuing a ticket to a woman who revealed she was HIV positive during a traffic stop.
The incident which occurred in August 2012 was recorded by the officer’s dash cam.
Shalandra Jones, 43, said she revealed her HIV status to Officer David Lacey when he told her and driver Mark Scott that he smelled marijuana in their vehicle.
Lacey told Jones her HIV status “might be something you want to tell a cop if they pull you out of a car.”
Lacey can be heard on the dash cam video telling Jones, “You just made me mad.”
He then wrote her a ticket for possession of medical marijuana but the ticket was later thrown out.
Lacey defended his actions, saying “I’ve been going through her purse and she’s got earrings and sh*t I’m touching, and I don’t want to catch anything.”
Jones is unapologetic about revealing her HIV status — which she isn’t required to do in that situation.
“This will hopefully change how police all over the world treat people with HIV,” she told the NY Daily News on Tuesday.
“I was actually shocked,” Jones told The News. “I would have never expected that kind of behavior from a police officer.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘MOUSE IN THE HOUSE’
It looks like someone threw a mouse at you so hard that it just stuck to the back of your head. Who would have thought one person would ever get to say that to another?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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