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The Dean's List - Precious - A Mini Review

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST

The Dean's List just came back from seeing the movie "Precious" - WOW!!!!!!

I was going to write my review today, but I need to let this simmer for awhile. I will say Mo'Nique is a shoe in for the Best Actress Oscar this year!!!! I can't wait to see it again this evening.

I will write my full review on Monday. If you see the movie this weekend, send me an email and let me know what you think.

thedeanslist1@gmail.com or you can now become a fan of the Dean's List on Facebook.

Oprah Explains Her Departure

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

Oprah Winfrey spoke directly to viewers about her reasons for ending The Oprah Winfrey Show at a live taping Friday.

"After much prayer and months of careful thought, I have decided that next season, season 25, will be the last season of The Oprah Winfrey Show," the daytime queen said. "Over the next couple of days, you may hear a lot of speculation in the press about why I am making this decision now...and that will mostly be conjecture.

"So why walk away and make next season the last? Here is the real reason: I love this show," Winfrey said. "This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it's time to say good-bye. Twenty-five years feels right in my bones, and it feels right in my spirit. It's the perfect number - the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show."

Winfrey didn't specifically address in her remarks what her plans are after the show comes to an end, but a press release from Harpo Productions stated that she "plans to appear and participate in new programming for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a 24-hour cable network that reflects her vision, values and interests." The launch of that project has now been set for January 2011, according to the release.

Winfrey thanked her viewers for sticking with her for almost a quarter of a century. "These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure," she said. "And you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens, and into your lives. And for some of you long time Oprah viewers, you have literally grown up with me - we've grown together.

"So I just wanted to say that whether you've been here with me from the beginning or you came on board last week, I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. And your trust in me, the sharing of your precious time every day with me has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known."

Winfrey said she and her producers are going to use the holiday break to brainstorm ideas for the second half of this season as well as a final season that will "knock your socks off."

"So, the countdown to the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show starts now and until that day in 2011 when it ends, I intend to soak up every meaningful, joy-filled moment with you," Winfrey said.

Fantasia Is A Homewrecker

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:21:00 EST

Fantasia is dating 30 year old Antwaun Cook, a former college football player from Charlotte, NC. The problem is that Antwon has a wife. Here's what Star is saying:

[A month after meeting], they'd secretly hooked up twice at a local hotel ... By mid September, the insider says, Antwaun, who also works as a real estate agent, dumped his teacher wife and their sons, aged 4 and 1, and moved into Fantasia's $1.3M mansion.

Jigga Reaches Number One - For The 1st Time

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:13:00 EST

When Jay-Z performed at the Yankees' World Series victory parade, it definitely seemed like "Empire State of Mind" was the biggest song in the country. On Thursday (November 19), it became official: Jay-Z has his first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hov had reached #1 before via cameos on Rihanna's "Umbrella," Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" and Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker," but none of the songs from his albums had ever made it. Earlier this year, "Run This Town" came close to the #1 spot, reaching as high as #2.

"Empire State of Mind" - which features Alicia Keys - became the blockbuster that broke through with very high-profile performances on the MTV Video Music Awards, game two of the Yankees/Phillies World Series and the aforementioned Bronx Bomber parade.

Jay said the record resonates with everyone, even if they aren't from NYC, because of the underlying message. "Really, 'Empire State of Mind' is about inspiration, it's about hope," he reiterated in a statement Thursday. "I think that's what connects with people."

President Obama May Not Run In 2012

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:06:00 EST

Is it possible that President Obama could be considering not running again in 2012?

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, the nation's first African-American commander in chief suggested he might take a page from the biography of President Lyndon B. Johnson and not seek reelection.

"You know, if - if I feel like I've made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the tank and because we've gone through these wrenching changes, you know, politically, I'm in a tough spot, I'll - I'll feel all right about myself," Obama told CNN's Ed Henry during an interview in China. "I said to myself very early on, even when I started running for office, I don't want to be making decisions based on getting reelected, because I think the challenges that America faces right now are so significant."

But Obama was careful to leave room for a possible reelection bid, just in case. "Obviously, if I make those decisions, and I think that I'm moving the country on the right direction - economically, in terms of our security interests, our foreign policy - I'd like to think that those policies are continued because they're not going to bear fruit just in four years," he said.

Also during the wide-ranging interview, Obama said he'd take a pass on reading the much ballyhooed new book by former Alaska governor and Republican political movie star Sarah Palin.

When asked by Henry whether he would be one of the hundreds of thousands expected to gobble up the memoir of the GOP's 2008 vice presidential candidate, he said, "I probably won't, but I don't get a chance to read things other than briefing books very often these days anyway."

But he declined an opportunity to dismiss her as a non-serious candidate for 2012.

"You know, she obviously has a big constituency in the Republican Party," he said. "You know, there a lot of people who are excited by her."

Idris ElbaJoins Cast Of Thor

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:01:00 EST

Idris Elba has joined the cast of "Thor," Marvel Studios' film centering on the Norse god of thunder.

Kenneth Branagh is directing the adaptation of the Marvel comic. Chris Hemsworth will star as Thor; Tom Hiddleston will play Loki, and Natalie Portman is the love interest, Jane Foster.

Elba will play Heimdall, who, as the guardian of Asgard, stands on the BiFrost Bridge ready to defend the city from intruders.

Elba, who had a recurring role on "The Office," most recently appeared on the big screen in "Obsessed" opposite Beyonce Knowles. He next appears in the heist thriller "Taken" and will have a turn in Dark Castle's DC Comics adaptation "The Losers."

50 Cent Condom Comes Up Short

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:40:00 EST

Hip-hop entrepreneur 50 CENT was forced to shelve plans to launch a new safe sex campaign after his design for a revolutionary new condom failed to stand up scientifically.

The In Da Club hitmaker wanted to market his own brand of contraception to encourage fans to be responsible in the bedroom - because the U.S.-wide Wrap It Up ad campaign, which promotes safe sex, was no longer having the same impact on youngsters.

50 Cent admits he wanted to enhance users' sexual pleasure at the same time by adding chemicals to the condom to boost men's performance - but his idea failed because scientists couldn't come up with a viable solution.

He says, "I was looking for the opportunity to create a new safe sex campaign. The Wrap It Up campaign is something that is used so often, it wasn't effective anymore. So I thought this is a great opportunity for me to get involved. "But it just didn't work out because I wanted things in it that wouldn't work. I wanted things that would prolong sexual performance. You could just put it on and just go."

Big Names Light Rockefeller Tree

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:33:00 EST

Philadelphia Hip-Hop band The Roots will be one of many star acts performing at this years Christmas in Rockefeller Center special which will air in NBC this December.

The annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special will feature performances and appearances by The Roots, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow, Shakira, actor James Tupper and NBC news anchor, Brian Williams.

The Roots, who act as house band on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, will perform during the 77th annual tree lighting ceremony, which was originally started during The Great Depression, in 1933.

The ceremony also serves as a promotional event for Arbor Day and the Arbor Day Foundation.

Viewers will be asked to text NBCU to have a tree planted on their behalf, to raise awareness for the environment and Arbor Day's goal to have up to 500,000 new trees planted.

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center is set to air December 2nd from 8:00 to 9:00pm EST on NBC.

Fabolous Under Investigation For Stolen Lamborghini

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:29:00 EST

Police are investigating rapper Fabolous and his connection to a luxury car stolen from an upscale hotel in Atlanta.

According to Channel 2 Action News, Atlanta police claim men in Fabolous' entourage stole a rare 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

The vehicle, which was one of only two brought into the United States, was taken on January 31 and has not been seen since.

Surveillance video shows two men in Fabolous' entourage approach a bellman at the Intercontinental, received the keys to the Lamborghini and left as if it was their property.

Fabolous and the rest of the group allegedly followed behind the Lamborghini in a minivan.

Police investigating the theft have confirmed that Fabolous knows the men, but an attempt to subpoena the rapper to make him talk was refused by Fulton County DA Paul Howard, who offered immunity to anyone who helped find the vehicle.

Movie Precious Finally Arrives Today

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:10:00 EST

Finally! The movie "Precious" opens in Rochester today at numerous theaters. The Deans List will be going to see the movie this morning and will write my review. But for now, here is a review from the Chicago Tribune that was printed in today's D&C:

Michael Phillips - Chicago Tribune - November 20, 2009

The first 20 minutes of Precious, the full title of which is Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, are so intense and pitched so high, you may not feel like sticking it out.

My advice: Stick it out. This is an exceptional film about nearly unendurable circumstances, endured. You will come out the other side of it a markedly enriched filmgoer.

The story of Claireece "Precious" Jones tells of a New York City teenager living in 1980s Harlem, raped by her barely glimpsed father, abused by her unfathomably cruel mother. Precious is illiterate but bright, and against her mother's wishes she switches to an alternative school where, in a literacy workshop, she comes under the life-saving tutelage of Ms. Rain.

The 16-year-old Precious has one child and another on the way, both by her own father. Her life (and director Lee Daniels' wrenching film) becomes a mosaic of pain and promise, sunny skies and grief, with enough of an emotional impact to put a dent in the most jaded audience.

The novel was published in 1996. Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher has toned down some of the miseries inflicted on Precious, but this is no whitewash on the order of the film version of The Color Purple (a book referenced directly in Sapphire's original). The film is rough around the edges but fantastically well-acted, and truly alive.

The miracle of the ensemble is that it does, in fact, feel like an ensemble. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe plays Precious, and she is phenomenally expressive in her portrayal of a huge young woman shouldering a massive amount of adversity. Mo'Nique plays the pivotal role of Precious' vicious mother - Ronald Reagan's nightmare vision of a "welfare queen" come to life. Some have claimed this portrayal comes too close to minstrelsy for comfort. God knows Mo'Nique is asked to do some pretty horrible things, but Precious keeps this character just this side of cardboard monstrosity. There'll be an Oscar nomination or two in this film's near future.

And Mariah Carey - who knew the pop diva had such a good, honest, clean performance in her? She plays a social worker, and in a couple of lengthy interactions, Carey and Sidibe find common performance ground where you wouldn't think any existed.

Still, Precious is at its best when it spends time in the classroom, and when we get to know a host of tough, smart characters on their own terms.

We root for these survivors, not because they're being set up as rooting interests by the filmmakers, but because their back-and-forth is so sharp and vivid and dynamic. These supporting characters keep the movie hopping.

It's not an easy film to watch. But neither, for many reasons, is Precious easy to forget.

Explosives Found Outside T.I.'s Studio

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:07:00 EST

T.I.'s Grand Hustle studios are currently being investigated after explosives were found in front of the building.

Atlanta police and a SWAT team were called to the scene after two Molotov cocktails were discovered.

Atlanta police officer Otis Redmond told Fox 5 Atlanta that the suspicious packages were reported by someone leaving the building.

"One of the occupants came out early this morning to start his car up and noticed two suspicious bottles sitting on the front portion of the walkway."

Sources for Grand Hustle dispute the reports however and told HipHopWired that the explosives were near the office and not in front of the building.

Jayson Williams Will Do Time

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:02:00 EST

A person with knowledge of the case against retired NBA star Jayson Williams says the former player has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for shooting a driver. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person is not authorized to speak about the case.

The person says Williams will plead guilty to aggravated assault on Friday and will have to serve at least 18 months in prison. The charge stems from the fatal shooting of a hired driver in 2002 in New Jersey. Jurors were deadlocked over a reckless manslaughter count in the first trial, but convicted Williams of covering up the shooting.

John Mayer Says Lay Off Kanye

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:49:00 EST

John Mayer says it's time for the media and public to pipe down on the Kanye West hatred and move on.

The rocker has teamed up on a new track with Taylor Swift, the victim of West's onstage protest at the "MTV Video Music Awards," but he's not about to join those publicly hating the rap star.

"Here's how we work in America: We raise them and then we drop them... It went like this: 'That was messed up Kanye! You deserve a punishment.' Then, all of a sudden, the punishment got so severe; I was like, 'Time out!'" Mayer told "Access Hollywood."

"If you just woke up now and you looked at the backlash on Kanye, you'd think that he actually firebombed the stage... It's the MTV Video Music Awards. It's not the G8 summit."

Mayer says he's sure West feels horrible about protesting Swift's Best Female Video win: "I think he's remorseful. I think this guy's got to be reconsidering how he's gonna act, and that's fine. We learn from our little mistakes that happen in public."

MJ Glove Is Up For Auction

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:46:00 EST

The white glove worn by Michael Jackson as he moonwalked his way into pop culture history at the 1983 Motown 25 television special will go on the auction block Saturday in New York.

"There is no question it is the Holy Grail of Michael Jackson," said Darren Julien, president and CEO of Julien's Auctions, the company behind the sale at New York's Hard Rock Cafe.

Julien's estimates the value of the glove conservatively at $40,000-$60,000 but expects it to sell for much higher.

"I have talked to more than 20 very interested serious clients all over the world who will be bidding on the piece and all have expressed interests over $200,000-$300,000," Julien said.

Roughly 80 Jackson lots will be up for bid, consisting of pieces that come from friends and family who were given the items by Jackson himself, Julien said. The auction company values the MJ collection at $80,000 to $100,000 but Julien said its pre-auction estimates are intentionally very conservative to help generate interest.

Julien's had been preparing for a huge auction of Jackson memorabilia in April - two months before the singer's death - but it was canceled after an agreement with Jackson, who had filed a lawsuit demanding the return of certain items. During the promotion for that sale, Julien's had amassed a large database of Jackson collectors from Asia to the Americas.

Collectors can also bid for an Elvis Presley ring, James Brown's suits and Kurt Cobain's finger prints, taken from the late Nirvana front man when he was arrested for trespassing while intoxicated in 1986 at the age of 19.

London Is Not Feeling Mariah Carey

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:42:00 EST

When Mariah Carey reportedly requested that she be surrounded by 20 white kittens and 100 white doves while lighting a Christmas tree at a British shopping center, local health and safety officials had to put their foot down.

According to London's Daily Mail, an insider said: "We did manage to source the doves that we were going to release into the sky, but the kittens proved terribly difficult. In the end, it was made clear that due to health and safety, there was no way we could have the animals at Westfield. We do not allow pets into Westfield - that rule would apply for everyone."

Carey's rider also asked for a Rolls Royce to drive her along a pink carpet and up to the pink podium - where she is to wave a wand to turn on the lights. She also reportedly asked for confetti shaped like butterflies to shower over her at the end.

She has also requested an entourage of 15 along with about 80 security guards, the Daily Mail reported.

Alicia Keys Launches Jewelry Line

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:38:00 EST

Alicia Keys is getting into the bling business with a new line of necklaces in partnership with The Barber's Daughters designer Gisele Theriault.

Due out in fall 2010, the collection will range in price from $85 to $2,500 and feature precious metals and gems inscribed with inspirational messages, reports People.com.

Alicia first met Gisele while she was touring in Toronto through her bandmates, who happened to be buying the jewelry backstage at her show.

"I fell in love with the individuality of the pieces, but more than that, the words that were written on them really resonated with the songwriter in me," Alicia tells WWD about Gisele's pieces, which are inscribed with poetry and prayers. "I knew at that moment, for the first time, that through a whole other medium I would be able to spread inspiration, and that's what got me started."

A two-day preview of Alicia's collection of necklaces for The Barbara's Daughters will take place in New York at Collette Blanchard Gallery at 26 Clinton Street. Alicia's jewelry has already gotten some celebrity love from Halle Berry, who purchased a one-of-a-kind piece for $40,000 at a charity auction.

Judge Praises Chris Brown

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:37:00 EST

Chris Brown was praised for being on his best behavior since being sentenced to probation in his assault case.

Judge Patricia M. Schnegg acknowledged that Brown has completed more than 100 hours of community labor so far, and seven domestic violence counseling sessions, according to the Associated Press.

"We have a progress report and it's extremely favorable," Judge Schnegg said from the bench. "That's excellent."

Brown, 20, who attended the hearing, was sentenced in August to six months of community labor for his felony assault on Rihanna, 21. That amounts to more than 1,400 hours of washing cars, removing graffiti and cleaning and maintaining grounds in his home state of Virginia.

He was also sentenced to five years probation, a year of domestic violence classes, and ordered not to contact Rihanna for the next five years.

Another progress review for Brown is set for Feb. 18.

Oprah To End Her Talk Show

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:36:00 EST

Oprah Winfrey will reportedly end her talk show on Sept. 9, 2011 after its 25th season on the air, and will spend the ensuing years focusing on her new cable network OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).

Chicago-based Harpo Productions Inc. said Thursday night that the talk show host will make an official announcement and give more details live on today's live broadcast of "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Winfrey started her broadcasting career in Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore, Md., before relocating to Chicago in 1984 to host WLS-TV's morning talk show "A.M. Chicago."

"The Oprah Winfrey Show", broadcast from Chicago on ABC stations across the United States, is the top-rated U.S. daytime talk show averaging 7.1 million viewers this year.

OWN, a partnership with Discovery Netowrks, is likely to get underway in mid-2010.

Toni Braxton Talks To Wendy Williams

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:18:00 EST

Toni Braxton has booked the Wendy Williams Show for an exclusive premiere of her 'steamy' music video with Trey Songz.

Set to premiere Friday, November 20, "Yesterday" is Braxton's first music video and single to come from a 2010 effort tentatively titled "Pulse".

According to Atlantic, Braxton will not only premiere the anticipated video, but will sit down for a chat with Wendy Williams via phone, revealing exclusive news.

In related news, Toni Braxton is also due to appear at Sunday's anticipated American Music Awards. As reported last month, Braxton also performs and appears on the revamped 2009 Soul Train Awards, which air November 29 on BET and Centric.

Iverson May Go To The Knicks

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:01:00 EST

The New York Knicks passed on a chance to sign Allen Iverson last summer. A few months and only one victory later, they have to decide if he's worth reconsidering, according to The Associated Press.

Iverson will soon be on the market again after the Memphis Grizzlies announced they were parting ways with the former scoring champion, AP reports. And while the Knicks weren't interested in the offseason, they won't rule him out yet.

"We had our little group from last year we wanted to keep together and that was the decision in the summertime, not to disrupt what we had," coach Mike D'Antoni told AP Tuesday. "Now, basketball's fluid and things change every second."

D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh both praised Iverson's abilities, but said the organization still had to discuss whether it's worth bringing him to a 1-9 team that is off to the worst 10-game start in franchise history, AP writes.

Walsh wouldn't say much more, because Iverson hadn't even been waived yet by the time the Knicks finished practice, according to AP.

"I've always had a lot of admiration for him because I had to play against him every year when I was in Indiana and I have a lot of respect for his career," Walsh told the news agency. "He's a small man who did everything he could to win games and took a lot of hard knocks and always got up."

But the Iverson of today would give any team pause, AP writes. He's been hurt and unhappy over the last two seasons, with the Grizzlies the only team to make him an offer last summer after his turbulent stay in Detroit.

Things were even worse in Memphis. Iverson played only three games, voicing his displeasure about coming off the bench, just as he'd done in Detroit, before leaving the team to attend to personal matters, according to AP. Walsh said that alone wouldn't make him rule out Iverson, saying, "You've got to consider everything when you're talking about anybody."

Iverson would be intriguing because the Knicks could sign him for only this season and not use up any future salary cap space, AP writes. Plus, he's still popular with many fans -- some of whom have already grown impatient with Walsh's plan to rebuild through free agency next summer that left the team so vulnerable this season.

"I don't think we've changed our philosophy in that we want to be competitive now. We want to do everything we can to win right now, within the framework of keeping 2010 open like we talked about," D'Antoni said. "Whatever it takes that makes us competitive and to win right now, I think we'll do as an organization."

D'Antoni said both he and the former MVP could adjust to each other, even though Iverson might not be a natural fit in his offense. But he stopped short of saying the Knicks would or should pursue the 34-year-old guard.

"He's been a force in this league for God knows how long, so I'm not taking anything from him," D'Antoni said. "But at the same time, there's a lot of organizational stuff we'll talk about and see if it makes sense."