Showing posts with label Sesame Street. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sesame Street. Show all posts

5/21/19

The Daily Buzz For May 22 ☕📰☕


Rihanna for T Magazine 2019
The news of Rihanna’s luxury venture with LVMH has teased fans for months, with the initial speculation starting as early as January and finally being followed-up with an official confirmation earlier this month. Now, the multi-hyphenate talent models the collection in a cover story released today by T Magazine, showcasing a selection of the apparel and accessories set to launch this week.

Rihanna’s new line markedly walks the line between feminine and gender-neutral, with initial pieces such as corset-hugging suits, boxcar jackets made of Japanese denim and cotton-canvas blazers with built-in fanny packs embodying the on-trend, avant-garde look she’s grown to be known for. Also in alignment are the Fenty accessories accompanying each look, including the oversized sunglasses she’s slyly sported for months in advance of the big reveal.

One major takeaway: there will be no runway shows for Fenty, unlike other LVMH houses like Givenchy or Dior. Furthermore, Rihanna and LVMH will employ a drop cadence that sees new additions landing in the range every few weeks, “like singles from an album,” author Jeremy O. Harris writes in T. “The first single is really strong and edgy, compared to the drop right after, which is a little more feminine,” Rihanna explains. “But the first one, there are a lot of classic pieces as well.”

By disrupting the typical luxury market with more frequent product updates, Fenty aims to enhance its direct-to-consumer online sales and presence. There is no doubt that the Fenty.com platform will see its fair share of clicks and views, but whether the average customer will shell out $480 USD for shades, $1,000 USD for jackets and $600 USD for shoes remains to be seen. Judging by Rihanna’s past fashion endeavors, however, the odds are in her favor.

The debut collection will begin selling at a pop-up in Paris on May 25, before a wider release on Fenty’s webstore on May 29.
As for her music, she also slipped in a few tidbits. While she recently uncovered to Vogue that she is working on a Reggae album, according to today’s T interview she may be naming the work R9 thanks to her fans’ relentless inquiries.


#RHOA: Kenya Moore Reunites With A Former 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta' Costar. Who is she?
Kenya Moore was all smiles when she reunited with a former Real Housewives of Atlanta costar.
It was season seven mainstay Claudia Jordan! Kenya, 48, posted a snap of them together on her Instagram.
"This fresh faced beauty!" Kenya wrote. "Can you believe this is @claudiajordan‘s skin without a stitch of makeup? She looks amazing!" Claudia, 46, was only part of the show as a main cast member during season seven in 2014. She returned as a guest of the series one year later.

Kenya departed RHOA after season 10. But will be back next season!


#Empire season 6: The New Plot has somewhat been revealed.
As we all know Fox gave a green signal to the sixth season of 'Empire' ahead of the season five finale which aired on May 8, 2019 the network also announced that the sixth season would be the final season for the hip-hop drama.

The announcement was made when Fox released its upcoming lineup for the 2019-2020 television schedule. Unfortunately for 'Empire', reaching the sixth season was difficult in the first place since the show has seen deteriorating ratings in the recent years, which pushed the former hit show out of the top ten list for the network.

Here's what we know about season 6:

Release date Fox is yet to confirm release dates for the sixth and the final season of 'Empire'. Season one premiered in January 2015, while the rest of the four seasons came in September.  Therefore, Empire fans can expect season six to arrive as early as September 2019.

We will update this as the information is released.

The Plot: The American musical drama created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for the Fox Broadcasting Company follows Lucious Lyon (played by Terrence Howard), a hip hop mogul, former drug dealer and the CEO of Empire Entertainment. When Lucious is informed of his imminent early death from a particular medical condition, he is forced to choose a successor who will control his dynasty after his demise. He then takes it upon himself to groom one of his three sons to take over the family business: Empire CFO Andre (Trai Byers), R&B singer-songwriter Jamal (Jussie Smollett), and rapper Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). But in the process of doing so, he pits them against each other.

Stay tuned for more updates on this!


#NewMusic: It’s HERE Rahsaan Patterson Releases New Album “Heroes & Gods” STREAM IT, BUY IT! 
Veteran singer Rahsaan Patterson has just released his latest album “Heroes & Gods” via Shanachie Entertainment. The project is led by the impactful lead single “Sent from Heaven” for which he recently released a lyric video.

In a recent interview Rahsaan said:: The album is very much like my previous ones. It’s broad in the scope of exploring different genres. Over the course of my career, I have tapped into different vibes. I’ve never been one to box myself into one genre, even if that genre is where people were introduced to me or fell in love with what I do. Even if that’s where people wish I had stayed. I feel that, but I need to go where I need to go. I feel people who have fully supported my craft and have been aware of every album that I have released and the journey, they’re aware it’s going to be a mixed bag! *Laughs* This album is in the same tradition as those previous records. This album is as my others are always rooted, in love. The growth from experiences with love and relationships with people. The desire that I have always had to be progressive, not only musically, but in my beliefs and articulating through song, what that transformative growth has been for me.

LISTEN HERE

This is Rahsaan’s sixth album overall and the first in nearly eight years since “Bleuphoria” in 2011. 


#HipHopNews: Brooklyn Street To Be Named After Notorious B.I.G.
On what would have been his 47th birthday, The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation has announced that The Notorious B.I.G. will be honored with his own street.

St. James Place, located at the Fulton Street intersection in Biggie’s native Brooklyn, will be renamed to Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace Way in honor of the late rap legend.
Biggie’s mother Ms. Voletta Wallace and his children, T’Yanna and Christopher, will be in attendance during the ceremony on June 10, along with Brooklyn politicians and some of his closest celebrity friends. The ceremony starts at noon and is open to the public.

“Honoring Biggie symbolizes more than just one man,” LeRoy McCarthy, who spearheaded the initiative, told Rolling Stone. “It symbolizes a culture. It symbolizes a borough. It symbolizes a people, and hip-hop is worldwide.”
Last November, the Brooklyn Community Board 2 passed the street naming proposal before receiving approval from the City Council and Mayor Bill De Blasio.

There have been other memorials to The Notorious B.I.G. in Brooklyn, including a Biggie mural dubbed “King of New York” on Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street. In 2016, McCarthy declared May 21st “Notorious B.I.G. Day” in Brooklyn.


Cardi B postpones concert due to ‘plastic surgery complications’
Cardi B has reportedly canceled a concert this weekend due to complications from plastic surgery.
Sources told TMZ the “I Like It” rapper backed out of Baltimore’s 92Q Spring Bling Festival this Friday because she is experiencing “complications from her recent liposuction and breast augmentation.”
Doctors reportedly have advised the 26-year-old to rest for a few weeks to allow the swelling to go down and her body to fully heal.

The Baltimore concert is the third show Cardi has canceled for the holiday weekend.
According to Syracuse.com, Live Nation said the rapper will not perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York on Saturday and Sunday as planned because of “circumstances beyond her control.”
A rep for Cardi and Live Nation could not be reached for comment to confirm details, and the rapper has not commented on social media.

All of the shows have been rescheduled for September.
On Sunday, Cardi shared a video of herself dancing along to her new track with DJ Khaled and 21 Savage, “Wish Wish,” and did not appear in pain. She also performed at Rolling Out Loud Miami in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 11.

Earlier this month, Cardi confessed to getting liposuction after daughter Kulture’s birth, and told fans during a show in Memphis at the time, “I shouldn’t really be performing because moving too much is gonna f—k up my lipo.”
She also admitted to getting a second breast augmentation and said sometimes she doesn’t feel her best. “I just got my boobs redone,” Cardi told “Entertainment Tonight” on May 1. “I feel good, but then sometimes I feel like not, you know? [When] your skin is stretched out.”

Perhaps Cardi is finally listening to her doctor’s orders.


Developing Now: Aretha Franklin – 3 Handwritten Wills Found Hidden In Her Home
A few months shy of the one-year anniversary of her death, the multi-million estate left by iconic singer Aretha Franklin has yet to be settled—and a new discovery may finally help sort out her financial wishes. Reportedly, it was recently discovered that Franklin left behind three separate wills that were found in her home by her estate attorneys.

Back in August 2018, the music world lost one of its greatest voices and most influential artists when the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, succumbed to her battle with pancreatic cancer. Almost a year later, her $80 million estate still has not been settled because her family said she didn’t leave behind a will—but she did, three to be exact, and they have just been found inside her home.
A trio of handwritten wills were found in Franklin’s home just outside of Detroit, her estate’s attorney David Bennett confirmed earlier this week. Two of the wills found reportedly date back to 2010, where they were discovered inside of a locked cabinet after its key was finally found. A third will followed, this one dating back to 2014, and it was discovered underneath the cushions in the Queen of Soul’s living room.
Bennett noted that, while some of the writing is difficult to read, the wills appear to spread her assets among her family members. Given the new findings, Bennett promptly filed all three wills into court on May 20th, however he stated he’s not exactly sure if they are legally binding under Michigan state law. To make matters even more interesting, two of Franklin’s sons object to the newly discovered wills, the family revealed in a statement.

A formal hearing regarding the wills is set for June 12th.


Justin Bieber Will Launch Natural Deodorant With The Schmidt's Co
Justin Bieber is working with natural brand, Schmidt’s, on a new deodorant set to debut this fall.
The deodorant, called Here + Now, will be made vegan, cruelty-free and with all plant-based ingredients. Everything else, from the label artwork to the scent to the name, was decided on with Justin‘s help.

“Our R&D and creative teams have worked closely with Justin and his team to bring his vision to life,” Schmidt’s CEO and co-founder Michael Cammarata told People. “They’ve been involved every step of the way, which has made for a really fun and collaborative process. It’s important to us that he and his team, and therefore his fans, love it just as much as we do.”

He added, “It’s more than just a deodorant; it’s a lifestyle and a connection to those around you. It’s about the small, but intentional choices we make every day that help us to lead happier and healthier lives, mentally and physically.”


Golden State Warriors sweep Trail Blazers to advance to fifth straight Finals
Experience bred confidence for the Golden State Warriors, even when challenged by the upstart Portland Trail Blazers.

No matter how far they were down, they've been through too much to ever think they're out.
"We just really understand what we're capable of on both sides of the basketball,"  said. "We're never out of the fight. That's just always our mindset."
The Warriors swept their way to a fifth straight NBA Finals, getting triple-doubles from  and Green in a 119-117 overtime victory on Monday night.

The two-time defending champions overcame a double-digit deficit for the third straight game against the Blazers, back in the conference finals for the first time since 2000.

Green had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, and made a key 3-pointer in overtime. Curry added 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. They became the first teammates to have triple-doubles in the same playoff game.
The Warriors will face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between Toronto and Milwaukee. The Bucks lead that series 2-1 with Game 4 on Tuesday night in Canada.
The Warriors came back from 17 down after erasing an 18-point deficit in Game 3 and a 17-point hole in Game 2.

"We've been here before. We've seen everything, every experience you can imagine. So we relied on that," Curry said.
Playing without ,  and , the Warriors became the first team to reach five straight finals since the Boston Celtics went to 10 in a row from 1957-66.


The State of Alabama Actually Refused to Air Gay Cartoon Wedding from ‘Arthur’
Alabama is really not trying to make any new friends after pulling a progressive episode of the cartoon, “Arthur,” days after they banned abortion.
Alabama Public Television announced they have banned the season premiere episode of “Arthur” from airing on local television.

The episode titled “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone” features the popular elementary school teacher getting married to another man.
The director of programming Mike McKenzie, tried to explain, “Parents have trusted Alabama Public Television for more than 50 years to provide children’s programs that entertain, educate and inspire.”
He did not explain why airing a cartoon based on same-sex marriage would undermine that mission statement.

This isn’t the first time Alabama Public Television has gone after “Arthur,” as they shelved an episode in 2005 featuring the famous aardvark’s friend with two moms.
Maybe next week, Arthur can teach Alabama about the letter “I” — for INTOLERANCE.



CASTING CALL for a new Reality Show titled ‘I Should Have Seen A Doctor in L.A!
Do you have a friend who has a severe medical pre-exsisting condition but are hesitant to seek professional medical help? Well this could be your moment for reality TV!

They are looking to treat patients with visually undiagnosed medical conditions that need help with medical treatment.  This show is here to help!  On the series, patients will be diagnosed and treated by some of nation's leading doctors. 

You can can fill out the application with this link   https://medicalcare.castingcrane.com and GOOD LUCK! Thank me later! 


Nipsey Hussle’s Sister Keeps Custody of His Daughter!
Nipsey Hussle's sister Samantha Smith won the first round in her battle to gain legal guardianship over his 10-year-old daughter, Emani Asghedom, after the rapper was shot and killed on March 31.
In April, Samantha filed an emergency petition in family court to be given guardianship over Emani, claiming the child's mother, Tanisha Foster, was unstable and unfit.
In her petition, Samantha said she played a crucial role in raising Emani while her bother was alive and she wanted to "ensure the continued stability for Emani and ensure that she will be able to maintain her current and ongoing relationship" with his family.

A judge sided with Samantha on Monday, granting her temporary custody over Emani. Another hearing in the matter is scheduled for July, according to TMZ.
The hearing was sealed since the child is a minor.
Tanisha's lawyer spoke with TMZ after the hearing. He said he's working with Nipsey's sister on a visitation schedule for Tanisha that's in Emani's best interest.

Tanisha left the courtroom in tears and she told TMZ she's "pissed off" by the court's decision.
Tanisha had previously accused Samantha of taking Emani from her without authorization.
Nipsey and Tanisha shared joint custody of the girl when he was alive. In a hearing earlier this month, Tanisha broke down and cried when she saw Emani for the first time. The judge cleared the room to give the two 20 minutes together.
Tanisha said she had not seen Emani since she went to stay with her father in the days before he died.
In addition to Emani, Tanisha has two teenagers from previous relationships. 

On Monday, another judge filed an arrest warrant for Tanisha stemming from an old DUI case in 2017. Tanisha skipped a hearing that was scheduled for May 15, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.


Jason Mitchell Fired From 'The Chi' and Upcoming Netflix Movie Amid Accusations of Inappropriate Behavior
Jason Mitchell is facing serious fallout stemming from allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior.
The rising star, whose big break came playing Eazy-E in 2015's Straight Outta Compton, has been dropped by his agent and his manager and has been fired from the upcoming Netflix film Desperados, according to multiplereports.
Additionally, Mitchell, 32, will reportedly not be returning for the upcoming third season of The Chi, currently in its second season on Showtime, in which he stars as Brandon Johnson.

While the nature of the alleged behavior has not yet been confirmed or officially addressed by Mitchell, multiple reports claim accusations were leveled by several actresses on The Chi,  including Tiffany Boone, who played Mitchell's on-screen girlfriend.
According to Deadline, Mitchell was first dropped from Desperados due to an "off-set incident" that producers reportedly investigated and led to his termination, which later resulted in Showtime cutting ties and the departure of Mitchell's representation.
After his acclaimed performance in Straight Outta Compton, the 32-year-old actor went on to appear in Mudbound, Kong: Skull Island, Detroit and, most recently, The Mustang.


Mel B Reveals Her Diagnosis in Herpes Blindness Scare: 'I Was Not Okay, This Has Never Ever Happened to Me Before'
Mel B took to Instagram to give fans an update after it was reported she went temporarily blind last weekend due to a herpes infection. 
“She’s doing fine now, she’s not blind,” a source told PEOPLE. “This has happened before. She has herpes in her eye, so this can happen.”

While hitting back at claims this has happened before, Mel B explained what exactly the doctor said about her eyes:
“I was diagnosed by and eye specialist with severe IRITIS in my right eye and UVEITIS in my left eye. I’m taking multiple prescription heavy duty eye drops and other medication the dr gave me that I have to take every day to keep the inflammation under control, Also I’m being so well looked after by Team Spice special thanks to our paramedics too!!”
While she didn’t mention herpes explicitly — she did confirm she was diagnosed with Uveitis.

According to Uveitis.org,
Ocular manifestations of herpes simplex infections can be in the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), in the sclera (scleritis), in the cornea (keratitis), inside the eyeball itself (uveitis), or in the retina (retinitis). It is a potentially dangerous process even when it affects just conjunctiva, since infection in this area can in some instances result in spreading or inoculation into the cornea. When the infection involves cornea or the intraocular parts of the eye or the retina, the potential for substantial loss of vision is enormous.

Continue to recover Mel B!


L.A. City Council President Declares May 21st, “John Singleton Day”
Less than a month after his untimely passing, John Singleton is set to be honored with his own day. Now, not only will the life and legacy of the legendary filmmaker be remembered through his classic works in film and television, but it will also be memorialized in his hometown, thanks to L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson Jr. 

Wesson will declare May 21, 2019 “John Singleton Day” in Los Angeles to commemorate the life, career, and legacy of the late filmmaker. According to the L.A. Sentinel, Wesson is expected to announce the honor at a celebration of Singleton’s life at the University of South California, where Singleton graduated in 1990. 

“There is not enough that can be said about John Singleton and the profound impact he made in his 51 years of life,” Wesson said. “In a time and in an industry where all the odds were stacked against him, John overcame and became the best at his craft. And more than maybe anyone, he opened people’s eyes to a reality and an experience of South Los Angeles that had been overlooked by society. Now in Los Angeles, this day is a time to celebrate John and his legacy. It’s far sooner than we should have to, but there is so much to celebrate.” 

Happy John Singleton Day, LA!


Sesame Street’ Introduces Karli, A Muppet in Foster Care, to Support New Initiative
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, announced their plans for a new initiative supporting foster families on Monday. 
Through the storyline of Karli, a new and young Sesame Street Muppet and her foster parents Dalia and Clem, Sesame Workshop aims to highlight real transitions that many children in foster care often experience. 

In one video entitled “You Belong,” Karli struggles with finding her “place” in her new foster home and Elmo offers support as he attempts to understand her situation along the way. 
According to USA Today, the new initiative is part of the show’s Sesame Street in Communities program, which provides resources for parents, teachers and other caregivers on a range of topics, including difficult issues like foster care.

“Fostering a child takes patience, resilience, and sacrifice, and we know that caring adults hold the power to buffer the effects of traumatic experiences on young children,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop.
“We want foster parents and providers to hear that what they do matters—they have the enormous job of building and rebuilding family structures and children’s sense of safety. By giving the adults in children’s lives the tools they need—with help from the Sesame Street Muppets—we can help both grownups and children feel seen and heard and give them a sense of hope for the future,” she added.

As the 50th anniversary of the release of show approaches, “Sesame Street” continues to be a leader in education and personal development of children.


Aaron Carter Alleges Michael Jackson Did One “Inappropriate Thing”
Aaron Carter is opening up about his personal relationship with Michael Jackson on the new season of “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition.”
In a promo clip from the WE tv series, Carter vaguely claims the late pop icon did one thing that was “a little bit inappropriate.”

“Michael was a really good guy, as far as I know, really good guy,” the singer said. “He never really, like, he never did anything that was inappropriate except for one time. There was one thing that he did that was a little bit inappropriate.”
According to Entertainment Tonight, Carter’s time on Marriage Boot Camp with his mother, Jane Carter, allows him to work through his complex relationships with both his family and Jackson’s.

Carter developed a bond with Jackson during his rise to fame in the early 2000s. Apparently, Carter was only 14 when the two met and the “King of Pop” asked him to feature on “What More Can I Give,” a song released for charity.

The details of the “inappropriate” incident have yet to be revealed, but Carter took to Twitter on Monday to thank everyone who has had his back and surprisingly support Jackson amidst the speculation.
“Everyone having my back I appreciate you,” Carter wrote. “My reasoning for even speaking on this subject is to tell my truth, be real and to also have his back based on my experiences with Michael. He was an amazing guy; I stand by that. So I ask u not to turn this into something it isn’t,” he added.

Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition is set to premiere later this year on WE tv.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
‘POSTED UP’
Post Malone is 100% that annoying white rapper kid that smells like weed at your first job, typically stocking shelves or washing dishes, who swears he’s gonna make it big in rap game and nobody believes him. He’s also the first ever to actually do it.


#EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Johnny Cubz! 
Meet Johnny! To see more of him you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS!  And remember they’re NSWF!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

ENJOY!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

3/21/17

The Daily Buzz For March 22


Go Behind the Scenes of Oprah's April 2017 Cover
This month Oprah has a field day.

O magazine creative director Adam Glassman wanted Oprah to have a hills-are-alive moment. He said "I've always wanted to shoot a cover in a field of wild flowers," he told Oprah a few months ago. Her response was exactly what he'd hoped for: "Let's go to Colorado!"
On his first day scouting locations, Adam fell in love with this lush meadow at the base of a snowcapped mountain. And, conjuring up The Sound of Music's opening scene (minus the nun duds), the man got his shot. "There's just something about Telluride," Oprah said as she pored over the photos. "When the sky is this blue and the air this crisp, the only thing you can feel is deep contentment."

The shots are nice! Get more at O’


#RHoA: Matt Jordan Claims Peter Thomas Coached Him On How To Get Money From Kenya Moore
Matt Jordan claims that Peter Thomas coached him on how to be compensated by ex girlfriend, Kenya Moore. On Instagram Live, Matt alleges that Peter told him that since he appears on Real Housewives of Atlanta, he should be receiving 10%.

He says Peter told him, Bruh, you need to be asking shorty for at least 10% of what she makes. That’s what our ladies give us.
He says that both Peter and Todd Tucker, Kandi Burruss’ husband, were adamant that he should be paid for appearing on the hit BRAVO show.
They getting all in my ear. And I’m like, y’all girls are different, my lady is different. That’s dangerous. You guys were married. They were like ‘Yo, Matt, you’re her storyline. You deserve monetary compensation.’
Matt also says he was under the impression that he’d make $10,000 for appearing on the reunion.
They’re like you’re gonna make ten bands at the reunion. I brought the conversation back to Kenya, I don’t tell her that they said that.
When asked by one of his followers how he feels about the situation, he says,
I’m really upset that I wasn’t paid. I wasn’t monetarily rewarded.

Matt also recounts on how both Todd and Peter unfairly distanced themselves from him, after claiming to have his back. See the full video HERE
Video via allaboutthetea


#EMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson Admits She Can’t Do ‘Empire’ Forever: ‘Cookie Wears Me Out!’
“Empire” returns this week and the hit series has already been renewed for a fourth season, but that doesn’t mean the show can go on forever — well, at least according to star Taraji P. Henson.

“I could not do this forever. No. Cookie wears me out!” Henson exclaimed during a recent interview with Variety. “She drains me,” the actress adds with a laugh. “She is emotionally all over the place. Those writers, they just keep pushing my emotions with every episode. By the 18th episode [of each season], I’m dead. I got to get far away. I don’t wear animal print. I cut my hair into a bob. I don’t wear a weave because I’ve got to get as far away from Cookie as possible.”
When asked if she has a number of seasons in mind she’d like “Empire” to stay on the air, Henson quips, “Once it’s syndicated — and then I’m like, ‘Thank you. Goodnight!'”

“I learned this from the women of ‘Sex and the City’ — you’ve got to know when to go out. You don’t want to overstay your welcome. You want to go out on a high. You want to be remembered as the number one show on network,” Henson adds. “I’m going to loose my passion, I know me. And Cookie is enough. I can’t do that for so long.”
While playing Cookie is an emotionally-taxing role, Henson wasn’t always confident that her erratic character would resonate with audiences. When she first read the script for “Empire,” she says she was “scared to death.”

“I thought people would hate her,” Henson admits. “Because of the things that she says, it was very risky, because that’s a character that if it’s not handled correctly, it would turn the audience off.”
Henson could have never imagined the success “Empire” would become — many would say, in large part thanks to her Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance as Cookie —  but she originally signed onto the Fox pilot because the character frightened her.

“Any role that scares me is a challenge and I don’t back away from challenges. That’s how I pick roles — if it scares me, I have to do it,” she explains. “Cookie scared me a bit and the challenge was, how do I make the audience connect and feel and empathize for her? Once I did that work, I was like, okay, people are either going to love her or hate her. Thank god it worked. Phew!”
It sure did work. “Empire” broke out onto the scene as the highest-rated broadcast series in years, constantly rising in the ratings each consecutive week of its first season. Even though the numbers have dipped throughout its run, the Fox drama still ranks as a top scripted network show, along with NBC’s breakout hit “This Is Us.”

But even with the record-breaking numbers, Henson says she doesn’t pay attention to ratings.
“No. I don’t because I can’t. That would drive me crazy,” she says. “I don’t do it for numbers. Plus, I have people for that,” she chuckles. “Trust me — the night after, I’m getting all kind of updates and I don’t need to look. The numbers find me! Oh god…I just want to do good work. If you do good work, the people are going to come. I believe that. So I don’t sweat about the numbers. That’s someone else’s job.”

Henson admits that the importance placed on overnight ratings is part of the reason why she actually prefers working in film than TV. (This past awards season, she starred in the Oscar-nominated and critically-raved “Hidden Figures.”)
“I’m in a unique position on my television show, ‘Empire,’ because I think sometimes television is kind of corporate, and I’m an artist and my brain doesn’t work like that. What I mean by corporate is that it’s like a government job almost — you’re still acting, but it’s a different set-up,” Henson explains, continuing, “Film, I like better. You have a day to shoot one scene and you get to let it breath, and you have one writer for your character so your character doesn’t feel schizophrenic — sometimes, my characters feel schizo on television because there are so many opinions and so much input…that’s why I like film a little better. One writer, one director, one [studio[ head. Not all those voices.”

While she’s a bit more privy to film work than television, there is still one thing on Henson’s to-do list: directing an episode of “Empire.”
“I feel like I will, but the bug hasn’t hit me yet,” she says when asked if she’d like to direct. “It’s a lot of work. Our show is deep. There are musical numbers. It’s daunting. I don’t know if I could be in it and direct, but that feels like something I should do because I’m an actress and I’m on a television show and you should. Why not? So the answer is yes. I want to learn more.”

“Empire” returns with the rest of Season 3 this Wednesday, March 22 at 9 p.m. on Fox. h/t varierty


#MUSICNEWS:Trey Songz Announces “Tremaine The Tour”
Only days away from the release of his anticipated new album Tremaine, R&B heartthrob Trey Songz has announced his upcoming North American tour.
Aptly titled, “Tremaine The Tour,” the trek is set to kick off May 3 in Detroit, Mich. and travel for a month through additional major cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Atlanta, and more before culminating in Los Angeles at The Novo on June 3.
The intimate show is focusing on mid-size theaters to give Trey a more personal connection to his fans, which parallels the personal direction of the new album, that is not only named after him but also includes no features.
Special pre-sale dates are coming soon, starting with Trey’s webstore on March. 28.
Additionally to the announcement of his upcoming tour, Songz has revealed the official tracklisting to Tremaine the album, which has been preceded by the songs “Nobody Else But You,” “Playboy,” “Song Goes Off,” “She Lovin It,” and “Animal.”

See the full tour itinerary, pre-sale dates, and album tracklisting below.
“TREMAINE THE TOUR” DATES:
May 03 – Detroit, MI — Royal Oak
May 04 – Chicago, IL — House of Blues
May 05 – Saint Louis, MO — The Pageant
May 06 – Nashville, TN — The Marathon Music Works
May 11 – Baltimore, MD — Rams Head
May 12 – Norfolk, VA — The Norva
May 13 – Philadelphia, PA — Electric Factory
May 14 – Washington, DC — Warner Theater
May 15 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
May 19 – New York, NY — Playstation Theater
May 20 – Richmond, VA — Carpenter Center
May 21 – Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
May 24 – Kansas City, MO — Arvest Band Theater at Midland
May 25 – Dallas, TX — Bomb Factory
May 26 – Houston, TX — Warehouse Live
May 27 – New Orleans, LA — Orpheum Theater
May 28 – Memphis, TN — Minglewood Hall
Jun. 01 – Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
Jun. 02 – Oakland, CA — Fox Theater
Jun. 03 – Los Angeles, CA — The Novo

Pre-Sale Dates:
Official Trey Songz Webstore Pre-sale (March 28 – 10am Local Time)
Pandora Pre-sale (March 29 – 10am Local Time)
Local Pre-sale (March 30 – 10am Local Time)
General On Sale (March 31 – 10am Local Time)

Fans can visit Trey’s official webstore now in order to receive first access to pre-sale tickets.


#NEWHIPHOP: New Music: Casanova feat. Chris Brown & LO – ‘OHB’
Chris Brown reps Only Hood Bosses yet again, joining LO on Casanova’s Be Safe Tho collaboration “OHB.”

With a growl in his voice, Breezy dedicates his verse to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. by referencing some of the region’s stars with clever wordplay. “Hundreds clips and I’m pushin’ Ts,” he raps. “On my Timbaland shit like I made the beat / I’m for real, my ni**a, boy, don’t play with me / Shout out to Missy but ain’t no misdemeanors, we catchin’ felonies.”
LO does the same, focusing his attention on West Coast classics and Tupac Shakur. “Today was a good day,” he raps. “Made a mill off of pills like Dr. Dre / Murder was the case that they gave me / I hit it doggy style, now Brenda got a baby.”

Casanova closes things out with an ode to New York and New Jersey hip-hop. “Let me bust a rhyme for you cats,” he raps. “Shoot up the club, I’m like Shyne with the gat.” Later, he adds: “With that Draco, I’ma kill a ni**a / I’m a gorilla, ni**a.”
Breezy’s collaboration with LO and Cas arrives just before the R&B superstar heads out on his “Party Tour” with 50 Cent, Fabolous, and O.T. Genasis on March 31 in Baltimore.

Listen to the gritty banger HERE



Justin Bieber Gets New Tattoo of Giant Eagle on His Chest
Ladies Justin Bieber is sporting some fresh new ink!

The 23-year-old “Love Yourself” singer took to his Instagram story on Monday (March 20) to show off his brand-new tattoo of a giant eagle on his chest.
The tat is situated above Justin‘s tattoo of the word “Purpose” – his 2015 album name – and below his “Son of God” tattoo, which he got at the end of last year.
Some of Justin‘s other torso tattoos include his mom’s birth year – 1975 – in Roman numerals, a crown, cross, seagull, and the word “forgive.” 



$7 Million Royalty Battle Settlement Reached With Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder has reached a settlement with his late entertainment attorney’s wife – who accused the musician of screwing her out of millions in royalties he owed — with both parties finalizing a deal to bring the legal battle to an end.
Here’s the latest: Docs have been filed in the case explaining Stevie and Susan Strack are working carefully to finalize a long form settlement agreement and have been in the process of reviewing and calculating payment amounts and backup accounting information.
They believe they will have a finalized deal to present to the court by the end of the month. The docs note the deal is complex and they have been working together to hash it out, without having to go to trial.
Here’s the backstory: Back in 2015, Susan Strack, the widow of Stevie’s late attorney Johanan Vigoda, sued the musician accusing him of screwing her out of royalties owed to her husband.

Strack’s husband represented the musician for 4 decades as his entertainment attorney and signed a deal to pay Vigoda a 6% fee for all revenue brought in for his entire career, which was supposed to transfer to his family when he passed. She sued Stevie for $7 million dollars due to him cease making the royalty payments.

Stevie responded, demanding the suit be tossed explaining he never agreed to pay Vigoda’s family any cut after he passed. He pointed out he could not read many of the contracts put in front of him by his attorney – due to him being blind – and accused the late attorney of adding provisions in the deals without telling him.


Simone Biles Gets Highest Score of Night for First 'DWTS' Performance
Simone Biles is the early frontrunner on Dancing With the Stars‘ current season after getting the highest score of the night during the premiere on Monday (March 20) in Los Angeles.

The 20-year-old Olympic gymnast, who has been called the greatest female gymnast of all time, is competing with Sasha Farber.
Simone‘s Olympics teammate Laurie Hernandez was the winner of the previous season and she was in the audience to show her support for her friend.

The duo performed a tango and received a score of 32 out of 40. Watch HERE




Awwwww, Sesame Street Will Introduce Its First Character With Autism in April
Sesame Street has a new resident in town and her name is Julia. She’s creating quite the buzz because she’s the first character with autism.
According to NYDN, Julia was first introduced as a character in Sesame’s books and immediately became a fan favorite, which prompted producers to write her in the show.

In Julia’s first scene Elmo and Abby Cadabby introduce her to Big Bird, but she doesn’t try to shake their hands at first. Elmo explains to Big Bird that because Julia has autism,  “sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things.”
“It’s tricky because autism is not one thing, because it is different for every single person who has autism,” said “Sesame Street” writer Christine Ferraro. “There is an expression that goes, ‘If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
What’s interesting about this is that Stacey Gordon, the voice of Julia, has a son.


Chrissy Teigen & John Legend's Daughter Luna Says Her First Word!
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are on a family trip to Marrakech and it couldn’t be any sweeter!
The couple and their almost one-year-old daughter Luna headed to the Moroccan city and have been exploring the sites!
While stopping by a restaurant, Luna even said one of her first words, which Chrissy documented on her Instagram.
“Ah!!! So many firsts,” Chrissy captioned the video where Luna sees a cat and calls it by name!
Check out the sweet video HERE
A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) on




Uber President Resigns 6 Months After Taking The Job
The last few months have been pretty hard for Uber, so hard the company’s new president couldn’t take it anymore. After serving his post for only six months, Jeff Jones, the president of the rideshare company, has resigned.
Jones joined Uber in September after leaving Target where he was chief marketing officer. The details surrounding Jones’ departure have not been made public, but sources say that it is directly related to the company’s recent controversies.

In a statement to Recode.net, Jones says, “It is now clear, however, that the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber, and I can no longer continue as president of the ride-sharing business.”
The news comes just days after the company’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, said they’d be hiring a chief operating officer who can help write the company’s “next chapter.”


EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Jon
Ladies and others LOL! Meet Jon that Muscle BULL! So you know what to do to see more. Just CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN NOR ALTER any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

You’re Welcome!


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Super Stares’
You know what’s super? Your ability to not care what anyone thinks even though literally ever person you see thinks you look ridiculous. Super Duper!



HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD ALL!
EFREM

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