What’s good, weekenders? Man, what a slow week. If it wasn’t
for the government planning a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street and the
financial system at the potential expense of us taxpayers, Obama and McCain’s
first presidential debate being in danger of cancellation because of said
financial crisis and Clay Aiken finally coming out, then this would’ve been a
week to go through the motions on. Not that I don’t. I, like everybody else
work for those two free days, but I digress…
Get well wishes go out to Natalie Cole, who was hospitalized
and being treated for Hepatitis C. Shout out to the sounding boards for being
available 24/7.
And now it’s time for…the Last Word for the week ending
Sept. 26, 2008.
1. Eva Mendes Finds Naked Comfort at Home
It’s a fact that beautiful women in Hollywood are a dime a
dozen. But beautiful women who strip in front of the camera without the aid of
a body double are rare. So don’t count Eva Mendes among those who choose to
cover up for their close up. For the right role, the movie star is willing to
bare all as she told Elle magazine that
on-screen nudity “just isn’t that big a deal.”
In fact, Mendes, who recently starred in a risque Secret
Obsession ad for Calvin Klein, is so comfortable with her body that she goes au
natural while in the confines of her home.
“I walk around the house naked— I do!” the 34-year-old
looker shared. “One of my girlfriends always jokes, ‘I’m coming over with
someone, so please come to the door dressed.’”
Something tells me Eva may be getting a lot more visitors
who are just as “revealing” as she is. You know what they say. She may be
having neighbors over to borrow more than a cup of sugar.
2. Tyler Perry Feeds the Hungry
Madea and a string of hit plays and movies may have helped
Tyler Perry live the good life, but the actor/playwright/mogul hasn’t forgotten
about giving back to those in need.
According to The Associated Press, the entertainer spent his day (Tuesday) unloading
and packaging food he donated to feed more than 1,000 families at the Hosea
Feed the Hungry and the Homeless care center in Atlanta. The act of good will
hits home for Perry, who grew up the poor son of a carpenter in New Orleans and
was homeless before his career took off.
“I’ve been out on the street, I know what it’s about,” the
filmmaker told the AP, adding that he
“had to do something” after feeling pulled to visit the center after hearing
about it on the news. “I couldn’t imagine doing that with children looking at
me for food.”
Kudos to Tyler for feeding the needy with food and good
deeds.
3. Christina Milian Occupies Myspace With New Record Deal
Looks like all that acting hasn’t prevented Christina Milian
from going back to her day job.
Billboard reports the
former Def Jam artist has signed a new deal with MySpace Records to release new
music. The first single from Milian’s upcoming album, the Madd
Scientist-produced “Us Against The World,” will hit Myspace airwaves on Oct. 6.
According to the 26-year-old singer, her return has been a
long time coming.
“I’ve been out of the game for one-and-a-half years, and I
think I’m long overdue for a comeback, so I’m treating this album like it’s my
last chance to make an impression. I’m competing with myself and being very
detailed,” Milian said. “Before, I had a label telling me what direction to go
in. Now, it’s my choice, so I’m being very particular about it and I’m really
excited.”
Despite having Kanye West as the only guest on her album,
Milian has lined up a string of producers for what she describes as a “very
feminine, strong and independent album,” including T-Pain, Cool and Dre, Jim
Jonsin, Toby Gad and Danja.
And while things didn’t work out with Def Jam, Milian is
optimistic as she sees MySpace as the start of a new chapter in her musical
life. In fact, she is thankful she “took the time off to check out what’s going
on.”
“Sometimes things don’t work out the right way, but I know I
work my butt off on my end,” Milian said. “As long as you know you worked hard,
you feel accomplished.”
Look for Milian’s MySpace Records debut to come out next
spring. If you prefer Christina in her acting mode you can catch her alongside
Matthew McConaughey when The Ghosts of Girlfriends hits theaters in February. Gamers can check out the
singer, who is currently filming the latest installment of the Bring
It On
film series, as the lead in a liveaction film made for the EA video game Need for Speed, which arrives in stores Nov. 28.
4. Mariah Carey Makes Time for the Bible; Becomes Hunger
Ambassador
With her busy schedule and hectic life, Mariah Carey seems
to have little time for anything except for relaxing with husband Nick Cannon
and catching a good night’s sleep. But the songstress did admit to setting
aside quality time for the Man Upstairs.
“The only book I make time to read is the Bible,” Carey told
Now magazine.
News of Mariah’s reading pastime comes as the singer was as
the latest Hunger Ambassador for the Yum! Foundation’s World Hunger Relief, an
annual effort that is dedicated toward raising money for the United Nations
World Food Program and bringing an end to starvation around the world. E!
Online
reports that Mariah’s hungerambassador role will involve her appearing on print ads that will be featured
in more than 100 countries and 36,000 franchises.
Donors can contribute to the cause by going to any Yum!
Brands restaurants, including Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and
A&W restaurants. Customers who make a donation will receive a free download
of the song “Love Story” from Carey’s latest album, E=MC2.
This year’s Hunger Relief effort will try to top the first
annual World Hunger Relief Week, which raised roughly $16 million for hunger
relief last year.
5. Denzel Washington Puts Kids On Top of Priority List
High gas prices, the economy and housing woes are front and
center on the list of issues the presidential candidates have on their radar.
Why not kids?
That’s what Denzel Washington wants people to keep in mind
as they prepare to elect a new leader of the free world. The Oscar winner
voiced his concerns in an article on CNN.com as he gave leaders a heads up on what he called “the crisis affecting
our children.”
“Young people account for more than 20 percent of violent
crimes in the United States, according to statistics cited by Duke University’s
Center for Child and Family Policy. Violent juvenile crime peaks between 3 and
4 pm, at the end of the school day,” said Washington, a national spokesman for
the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “These facts are grim enough. Factor in
persistent patterns of poverty, gang activity, drug abuse and teenage
pregnancy, and you have a generation of Americans that will be unprepared
– indeed, unable – to
meet the challenges posed by a complex world.”
With almost 30 percent of this year’s new high school class
dropping out before completing their education and childhood obesity rising by
300 percent since 1980, Washington is taking a stand to let people know how
important it is to personally get involved on behalf of young people.
“As citizens, we shouldn’t simply sit back and hope that
politicians stand up to the test,” the entertainer stated. “We can participate
in the political process, advocating for policies that will benefit the health,
education and well-being of young Americans, because we must do a better job of
preparing our youth to lead.”
Nuff said.
6. Aubrey O’Day Confesses Love of Dirty Text Messages and
P###
Never let it be said that Aubrey O’Day is shy. The Danity
Kane member proved to be an interesting interview subject for Complex magazine as she revealed her love of p### and all
things freaky.
When asked about talk of her being called a s###, O’Day
seemingly embraced the label, stating, “If I have to be ridiculed and called a
w#### and the party animal and the dumb girl for the rest of my career, I’m OK
with that. Because I love who I am. You’re going to have to interpret me however
you’re going to interpret me.”
And if that wasn’t enough, Aubrey expounded on her p### love
as she admitted to watching YouPorn and having one type of episode on her
favorite list.
“I usually watch Black guys doing White girls, that’s my
little fetish, even though in real life race isn’t a factor for me,” the diva
revealed, adding that she was quick to say that an Aubrey-featured p#### is not
on her to do list. “Really, I’m more turned on by watching the girls than the
guys. I love someone who looks like they’re really into sex.”
Note to the fellas: If you want to get on, O’Day’s good
side, try dirty texting.
“I would rather do dirty texting than have sex. I have a
shirt in my clothing line [Heart On My Sleeve] that says, ‘I Love Dirty
Texting,’” she said. “When you’re at dinner and you are listening to everybody
but you’re actually writing some dirty s**t, I love it! I’m so into that.”
Despite her solo escapades, O’Day stated the she is “very
dedicated to Danity Kane, and nothing I can ever do will conflict with my
respect, love, and dedication to that project.”
I’m so glad to hear that nothing will interfere with
Aubrey’s dedication to Danity Kane, despite rumors that she’s been kicked out.
After all, dedication is not what others expect of you. It’s what you can give
to others. Because giving is fundamental.
In Other Words…
* Deborah Cox is making her return to R&B after belting
jazz tunes last year on a Dinah Washington tribute album. The singer, who is
best known for her 1998 hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” will release her
first R&B album in six years The Promise on Nov. 11. Look for Cox to go on tour at the beginning of 2009.
* Can’t anybody get through a day of work without any drama?
Apparently not, as Terri Hughes, an African-American producer for the Playboy
Radio show Night Calls is taking her
suing her employer amid claims that she was asked repeatedly to “wax” the “ass”
of co-host Christy Canyon. According to TMZ.com, Hughes alleges that a hostile work environment was
created by Canyon, who was “exposing her genitals and breasts to co-workers,
making requests to guests and co-workers to touch her genitals and breasts, and
masturbating herself with her own hands as well as with various sex toys during
live broadcasts of ‘Night Calls.’”
In addition, Hughes alleges that she was told, “I don’t know
how to say this, and it might offend you, but I’m just going to say it anyway –
no Negro shows,” by a Playboy Radio executive producer after another Playboy
show host, who is also Black, asked for Hughes to work on her show. Hughes is
seeking unspecified damages.
* R&B hitmaker Avant is coming back on the scene with
his upcoming album Avant. The singer
chose to name the project after himself as a way of acknowledging his record as
a singer/songwriter, as well as the sense of creative accomplishment and
ownership that marks the project overall. Avant’s self-titled album, which
features the single, “When it Hurts,” will hit stores on Oct. 28.