Cocoa Lounge NOW: The Power Hour

Move over She-Ra, by the power of grayskull, Oprah Winfrey is the mightiest woman in the wonderful world of entertainment, as so deemed by the Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment: Power 100 list.

Winfrey was chosen "based on her dizzying array of Oprah-branded media and her immense cultural influence." Not to mention her mind-boggling power to help elect a U.S. President...



In other power moves, Jazmine Sullivan (They've Got Next: Four of the Hottest New Voices of '08) racked up an impressive 5 Grammy nominations including the prized Best New Artist nod.

We're sure Jaz will take home a few golden trophies to match those golden pipes.

Project Runway's 5th Strut

(A design from Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway: Season 4)

We thought Season 3 of Project Runway had seasoning, but Season 5 is already simmering with its own pot of flavor.



With the most contestants of color we've ever seen in a single episode, Bravo's last season of Runway (season 6 is saying Aufedersein and moving to Lifetime) is one of its most diverse yet. Designers, Jerell Scott, Korto Momolu and Terri Stevens are hoping a stint at "must see tv" can make them must-wear designers.

Will either of these posh hopefuls make it to New York's illustrious Fashion Week? Watch What Happens.

Season 5 premieres tonight.

Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long Get Animated

Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long are packing up and heading to 'Cleveland.'

The actresses will join Fox's Family Guy spin-off as the women in the title character, Cleveland Brown's, life. Sanaa will play Cleveland's love interest and Nia, her rebellious teenage daughter (no word yet on what will become of Cleveland's original wife, Loretta...)

We hope that the show can translate Family Guy's niche humor to a diverse audience; with the talent falling into place, it certainly has the early makings of a midseason hit.

Williambledon!

We didn't know if 2008 could produce a more thrill-inducing match-up than this years' NBA Final... and then Venus and Serena both raised their Wimbledon rackets and started firing...



For the seventh time in history, the Women's Wimbledon title will bear a Williams Sisters' name and, for the seventh time, Venus Ebony Starr and Serena Jameka Williams will display, before an all England Club of thousands, (to paraphrase Rapper Mims), why they're hot.



On Saturday, for the seventh time in our tennis-viewing history, we have the guilty pleasure of not really caring who wins, confident in the fact that our tennis superheroes have, once again, pronounced their tennis supremacy to the world.

So we'll pop up a fresh bag of Orville Redenbacher and thank our lucky stars that Richard and Oracene Williams made magic not once--but twice--giving us a little something extra to celebrate this Independence Day weekend. God Bless America!

Which sister are you secretly pulling for...?

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Lives Up to its Name

(photo credit: Keith Bernstein)

The BBC debut of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency took the #1 slot in viewership in the UK, with 6.3 million viewers, nearly twice the audience of its closest rival.

The story centers around the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of a female owned detective agency. Precious investigates cases and helps people solve problems while juggling a blossoming love life of her own.

The series was one of director, Anthony Minghella's, last projects before his untimely passing last week and though some may have questioned casting singer Jill Scott as the African lead, Minghella was mesmerized by her: "She was the one person out of everyone we auditioned who had this majesty and enormous soul."

We can't wait for this one to premiere on HBO...which means adding the channel to our already ginormous cable bill. Ouch!

This is a must-see for fans of Valerie Wilson Wesley's Tamara Hayle books and anything with Idris Elba gets a thumbs up from us.

We'll be keeping the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency under close watch. Over and out.


Related Posts: Coming Soon: Films in Production From ATL to Africa

Fresh Face [#016 - #017]: Kinee Diouf and Honorine Uwera

Two of the freshest new faces in modeling belong to: Honorine Uwera of Rwanda and Kinee Diouf of Senegal.

Their collective resumes include work for Moschino, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier and coveted positions in magazines from Trace to Elle.

Watch for Kinee walking for Project Runway finalist Jillian Lewis during the final episode of Season 4.

In the global world of fashion, African girls stay rockin' the runway and Haute couture is so much better for it.

NOW: 'A Raisin in The Sun' Premieres

Set your TVs! A Raisin in The Sun premieres tonight on ABC.

A landmark in black theater history, the classic tale gets a fresh new look with stars Phylicia Rashad, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Sanaa Lathan, Audra McDonald and costumes by Gersha Phillips.

Having seen and loved the 1961 version, it'll be hard not to compare the two but we're thankful ABC decided to develop this literary classic after the success of Oprah's 2005 Their Eyes Were Watching God adaptation.

If this tradition continues, we'd love to see them tackle some work of the brethren; Richard Wright's Native Son, Ralph Ellison's Invisble Man, or James Baldwins' Go Tell it on the Mountain perhaps...? Hey, we're just putting out there in the hopes that someone at ABC catches it...

Tonight at 8, be sure to pay the Younger family a visit.

related posts: A Raisin In The Sun to Hit the Small Screen, Nov. 2006

Beyonce, Tina and 'Mary' @ The Grammys

(Beyonce & Tina Turner perform 'Proud Mary' ostage at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards.)

We think Beyonce and Tina Turner did a phenomenal job of making Mary proud.

Did you miss the show-stopper?



Beyonce's tribute to the jazz, blues and soul singers who came before her was also a nice tip of the hat to decades of female singers, who, too often go unheralded.

The Grammy's fusion-of-the-past-and-present theme initially just looked like a crafty marketing idea, but blossomed into a sensationally memorable event.

America's Next Top Mogul: Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks announces a new show for the CW

When Tyra Banks became a youth correspondent on the Oprah Winfrey Show nearly 10 years ago, whispers began that she was being molded as the next Oprah Winfrey. Some snickered, wondering how the Victoria's Secret model would ever reach such lofty heights.

Fast forward to now and at 33, Tyra Banks is one of the hottest commodities in both daytime and primetime television with her properties The Tyra Banks Show and America's Next Top Model.

Now Tyra is set to add another show to her Bankable Productions line-up: A currently untiltled project from the producers of Top Model and Project Runway. The project is being described as The Devil Wears Prada meets The Assistant and is scheduled to premiere on the CW Network this summer.

Cocoa Lounge NOW: 8 of The Most Powerful Black Women in Entertainment

The Hollywood Reporter recently announced its 16th Annual, Power 100 Women in Entertainment List:

When the Hollywood Reporter pulished its first Women in Entertainment special issue on Dec. 8, 1992, only one woman headed the motion picture division of a studio--Sherry Lansing...Fifteen years after our first report, it's almost commonplace to see women seated at the head of the table in film and television, as well as shepherding production studios, agencies and cable networks. In fact, this year's Power 100 features more women with titles of president and chairman than in any of the previous special issues we've published.

Of the 100 buiness-savvy, female power-players listed, a solid 8% were African American women, a good sign, as black women are comfortably filling executive chairs in and outside of the entertainment industry. Enough of our gushing...
Without further adu, and in no particular order, meet 8 of the Most Powerful Black Women in Entertainment:

• Vanessa Morrison, President, Fox Animation


• Lorrie Bartlett, Partner, The Gersh Agency


• Christina Norman, President, MTV


• Tracey Edmonds, President and COO, Our Stories Films


• Nina Shaw, Founding Partner, Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano


• Debra Lee, Chairman And CEO, BET


• Sylvia Rhone, President, Universal Motown Records


• Oprah Winfrey, Chairman, Harpo Inc.

Iman Sashays Onto TV's 'Runway'

Hold on to your chemise, Heidi Klum! Iman joins the growing list of über-models turned television stars as host of Project Runway Canada, the latest installment of the popular Project Runway franchise.

Iman puts her own stamp on the Canadian version with a no-nonsense approach to judging contestants' designs. But as any model knows, measuring up is a tough job, especially when another (Klum) has worn the 'Runway' look so well.

Does Project Runway Canada measure up to its American predecessor? You be the judge:



Wanna see more episodes? Iman's Runway airs on Canada's Slice network. If you're outside of Canada, don't bother checking your local listings, we recommend scouring youtube instead.

Coming Soon: The 'Bolden' The Beautiful

Two upcoming period pieces have us all eyes and ears: one's an indie biopic, the other is an early award-season contender filled with entertainment heavyweights.



Fantastic Four: Four Guys We love alum, Anthony Mackie, is known for generating heat around these parts, but Bolden!, his latest project, is full of its own sparks.

Audiences have been patiently waiting for Mackie to get his Denzel on; to land a role that transforms an actor from 'good' to 'critically-acclaimed.' That role, we hear, comes in the portrayal of Buddy Bolden, a giant in rag-time music, and early father of jazz.



The film also features three notable up and coming actresses: The Bolden women. Yaani King, Karimah Westbrook and Milauna Jemai, all young dramatic actresses, who are gaining their stripes through strong television appearances on popular shows like CSI, Without a Trace and Law & Order.



And what can we say about The Great Debaters that hasn't already been uttered? With names like Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey to headline the credits, this film is destined for a little award-season attention. And young Jurnee Smollett, an acting powerhouse since Eve's Bayou, is already being lauded for Supporting
Actress consideration by MGM.

We here at the Lounge can't wait to feast our eyes on these when they finally grace the silver screen.

Cocoa Lounge NOW: The Hollywood BBF

(Alicia Keys and Scarlett Johansson in The Nanny Diaries.)

The following article, "Hollywood loves BBFs 4-Ever" was published today in the Los Angeles Times. Relevant and brutally honest, this exposé sheds light on an old industry practice which can be perceived as either extremely progressive (in terms of race relations in America) or severely limiting (as black actresses are relegated to one-dimensional characterizations).

You be the judge:

---

Hollywood loves BBFs 4-Ever
By Greg Braxton
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

August 29, 2007


Julia Louis-Dreyfus has one. Sandra Bullock had one. So did Jennifer Garner and Katie Holmes. Jennifer Love Hewitt has had two. Calista Flockhart took hers dancing. Kate Walsh had one, lost her, and got another one with a different face but the same name. And Scarlett Johansson got her first one last weekend.



(Regina King and Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality.)

They're stars who have all played lead characters who experience adventure with the help of their BFF (Best Friend Forever). But in many cases, these BFFs might more accurately be characterized as BBFs -- Black Best Friend -- played by an African American actress whose character's principal function is to support the heroine, often with sass, attitude and a keen insight into relationships and life.

Celluloid BBFs have been featured in the just-opened "The Nanny Diaries," as well as "The Devil Wears Prada," and "Premonition." But BBFs have been even more of an influence in TV series, including "The New Adventures of Old Christine," "Ghost Whisperer," "Alias," "Ally McBeal," "Felicity," "Summerland" and "Private Practice," the spinoff of "Grey's Anatomy" premiering this fall.

The BBF syndrome isn't something that Hollywood likes to talk about, even as it continues to be a winking in-joke among blacks in the industry. One African American actress said that she and her actress friends tease one another about forming a support group for characters who had to help out their "woefully helpless white girls."


But on a more serious note, the trend of BBFs underscores the limitations that African American actresses still face more than five years after Halle Berry's Oscar-winning performance as best actress in a leading role for "Monster's Ball." Despite impressive résumés, solid credentials and successful achievements, many of the black actresses who have played BBFs are rarely offered the heroine role in mainstream projects. Not one black actress will star in a prime-time series on the four major networks this fall season.

And, as has been long lamented, lead roles in films are few and far between.


(Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Stacey Dash in 90's sleeper hit Clueless.)

Rose Catherine Pinkney, executive vice president of programming and production for TV One, a cable network targeted to black audiences, was one of the few TV or film industry executives willing to talk about BBF syndrome, saying: "It's wonderful that studios recognize great talent. And there's more diversity, so it looks like the world. But it's a shame that studios also don't have the courage to put these actresses in leads."

Some say it's unfair to even categorize BBFs -- it undermines the talent of the actors and actresses who work hard to win their roles, they say, and ignores the fact that some of these roles didn't necessarily call for an African American performer.

But Pinkney, a former Paramount Studios executive, added, "Historically, people of color have had to play nurturing, rational caretakers of the white lead characters. And studios are just not willing to reverse that role."

Of course, friendships or partnerships between black and white males are a staple in films and movies ("Lethal Weapon," "Wild Hogs," "Pulp Fiction"). But in many of those relationships, the dynamic is more even-handed -- the friends support each other -- or the black male is the dominant friend.

But it's different for women.


BBFs vary in personality and looks, but many share the same qualities: They are gorgeous, independent, loyal and successful. They live or work with their friend but are not really around all that much except for well-timed moments when the heroine needs an eating companion or is in crisis. BBFs basically have very little going on, so they are largely available for such moments. And even though they are single or lack consistent solid relationships, BBFs are experts in the ways of the world, using that knowledge to comfort, warn or scold their BFF.

And quite often, they are the only black character in sight.

"It's a stereotype that's been around for a long time," said Stuart Fischoff, professor emeritus of media psychology at Cal State L.A. "It's a way for bringing in a different culture, and the black friend can add ingredients that would not ordinarily be there. Blacks are seen as being more outspoken, so they can speak with greater authority and give more information."


(Aisha Tyler and Jennifer Love Hewitt of The Ghost Whisperer.)

Opportunity or limitation?
Aisha Tyler, who generated buzz when she played the first recurring African American love interest on "Friends," wound up in the BBF class when she played the best friend to a paranormal investigator (Hewitt) in CBS' "Ghost Whisperer."

Tyler, who left the series at the end of its first season to devote more time to her first directorial effort, a buddy comedy about two female cops that she will star in, said she feels fortunate that she is mostly offered roles that are more complex and interesting than the traditional BFF.

"But I don't know what the alternative is," said Tyler. "I think the more roles there are for African Americans, the better. This trend feels like a consolation prize, but at least these roles are available. A lot of ensembles are not diverse at all, so if it's a shot, it's a good thing."

With "The Nanny Diaries," musician Alicia Keys enters the distinguished class of BBFs that includes Tracie Thoms, Wanda Sykes, Nia Long, Brandy, Merrin Dungey, Audra McDonald, Regina King, Stacey Dash and Lisa Nicole Carson. Key BBF moments include:

* "The Nanny Diaries": Lynette (Keys) warning Annie (Johansson) that taking a nanny position as a lark instead of pursuing a career may be problematic: "The path of least resistance, it can lead through a minefield."

* "The Devil Wears Prada:" Lily (Thoms) scolding Andy (Anne Hathaway) about ignoring her circle of friends and getting swept up the world of high-style fashion: "The Andy I know . . . is always five minutes early and thinks Club Monaco is couture. For the last 16 years, I've known everything about that Andy. But this person, this glamazon . . . I don't get her."


(Calista Flockhart and Lisa Nicole Carson of TV's Ally McBeal.)

* "Ally McBeal": Renee (Carson) berating attorney Ally (Flockhart) for still pining after her old boyfriend, a colleague who has married someone else: "You two were like Barbie and Ken. He's a wimp. Five years from now, he's one of those boring little lawyers looking over his stock portfolio, playing golf at the country club with nothing left to offer you at the end of the day. . . . You can do better."

If there was a poster BBF for BBFs, it would most likely be Dungey.


(TV Veteran, Merrin Dungey.)

A veteran of several television series, Dungey is best known as Francie, the best friend of secret agent Sydney Bristow (Garner) in "Alias." After leaving that series in 2003, Dungey turned up on the WB's short-lived "Summerland" as Susannah, the best friend of Ava (Lori Loughlin).

Her next major role was in the pilot for "Private Practice," the spinoff of "Grey's Anatomy" that aired in May as part of a two-hour special. She played Dr. Naomi Bennett, the best friend of Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). In late May, producers announced that Dungey was being replaced by another African American actress, Audra McDonald, saying that there was more chemistry between McDonald and Walsh. The character will keep the same name when McDonald takes over the role.

Talent wins out
There is another view to the emergence of the BBF. Some producers say the casting of black actresses as the friend is not due to any race-specific casting, but comes down to best actress for the role. For example, producers of "Friends" said Tyler won the role strictly on talent.

Richard Gladstein, producer of "The Nanny Diaries," said he also was not looking specifically for a black actress to play the lead's best friend, a character not in the book that inspired the movie. "She just happens to be African American," he said. "Alicia Keys came in and gave a wonderful reading, and that was it."


(Kellee Stewart and Jordana Spiro in My Boys.)

And Kellee Stewart, who plays opposite Jordana Spiro (P.J.) in TBS' comedy, "My Boys," which launched its second season last month, refuses to be categorized as a BBF, calling it an insult to her talent. She won her role as a best friend to a sports writer over several actresses, including whites.

"To call this a trend or to say an actress was cast just because of her ethnicity is to negate her contribution," said Stewart. "It minimizes the talent and effort it took to win the role in the first place."

---

[Online link to article:] "Hollywood loves BBFs 4-Ever,"
by Greg Braxton.

Coming Soon: Production News from a Few of Our Favorite Actresses

From The Cocoa Lounge


(Clockwise: Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, Paula Patton, Kimberly Elise, Zoe Saldana, Naomie Harris, Thandie Newton (center)).


Cocoa Loungers are always wondering what's next from their favorite actresses. Here's a look at films that have been announced or already in production with Black Hollywood's A-List Scene-Stealers:


Kerry Washington joins Mos Def and Alfre Woodard in Bury Me Standing.

Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut are together again for Perfect Christmas. And the busy actress is also in production on sci-fi comedy, Starship Dave, with Eddie Murphy.

Paula Patton co-stars with heavyweights Kevin Costner and Kelsey Grammer in comedy, Swing Vote.

Kimberly Elise re-teams with Denzel Washington for Oprah Winfrey-produced and Suzan-Lori Parks-penned, The Great Debaters.

Zoe Saldana gets bionic in the film version of adventure-hit, Avatar.

Pirate of the Caribbean's,
Naomie Harris, joins Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker in The Night Watchman.

And Thandie Newton teams with Cocoa Lounge favorite, Idris Elba, and Gerard Butler for the Dramedy, RocknRolla.

Venus Golden at Wimbledon

Planet Venus is back in orbit!

Whoever said 'three's a charm' obviously never snagged a fourth Wimbledon title...

Celebrating The 4th, Diva Style!

In Celebration of Independence day, here's Whitney Houston (recently
voted one of the 20 People Who Changed Black Music) reinventing the American National Anthem in 1991.

Enjoy your day off this 4th of July! (That is, if you're in the states...)

Mara Brock Akil gets the Green Light

(Mara Brock Akil)

At a time when television shows are lucky to last a season, Mara Brock Akil has struck gold not once but twice. Both her CW network series, Girlfriends and its spinoff, The Game, were given the greenlight for another year, with Girlfriends approaching a history-making 8th season.


(Golden Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross and Persia White, of Girlfriends)


(Tia Mowry, star of The Game)

With her series Girlfriends, Akil became one of the youngest female African American television creators and remains as one of only a handful currently working in television today. Mara continues to make TV history and doesn't look remotely close to stopping anytime soon.

Cocoa Lounge Legends [#002]: Judy Pace

From The Cocoa Lounge


Judy Pace, trailblazing actress.

Judy Pace started her career by entering a beauty pageant and failing to win in a single category. A student at Los Angeles City College, Judy had hopes of earning a degree in sociology when a leg condition that she had suffered from as a child returned. She was hospitalized for months, during which time she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an actress.

Pace found small roles in The Candy Web (1963), The Fortune Cookie (1966) and was a regular on the now classic tv hit, Peyton Place from 1968-1969. She would also co-star in the acclaimed, but short-lived series, The Young Lawyers. During the Black Action film explosion, Judy starred in the Ossie Davis-helmed Cotton Comes To Harlem (1970), Cool Breeze (1972) and The Slams (1973) (with Jim Brown ). She co-starred in the first-ever made-for-televsion film, Brian's Song (1971) as the on-screen wife of Billy Dee Williams.

Judy Pace's star rose quickly, but unfortunately, after 1973 she would be seen in very few films. She later married Baseball Hall of Famer Curt Flood, a marriage that lasted until his passing in 1997. Since then she has carried the torch for Flood, becoming a spokesperson for free agency in professional sports. Judy also co-founded The Kwanzaa Foundation with Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols.

We'd love to see Judy Pace return to the screen in a major role to push the doors she opened for young black actresses in the 60's, for today's actresses now in their 60's. Woman Power Style!

Fresh Face [#011]: Teyana Taylor

From The Cocoa Lounge


Star Trak's Pharrell looks to make a star out of Teyana Taylor

Does lightning strike in the same place twice? Pharrell Williams sure seems to be placing bets as he grooms his teen protégé and "Princess of Star Trak," Teyana Taylor for a solo debut.

Teyana hails from the same Harlem streets as Williams' most successful wunderkind, Kelis and like Mrs. Nasir Jones, has a style sense all her own. Visually, Taylor is the poster-child for Pharrell's urban skate lifestyle (young, rebellious, carefree) and her press statement reads like a blue print for success (she's a rapper, singer, and dancer who has choreographed for Beyonce). All that and she's become an overnight celebrity without recording so much as a hip-hop hook.

Now notorious for her debut, on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 (as a life-sized Barbie Doll), Taylor has gained fans with her street swagger and take-no-shorts attitude. But it's what has yet to be proven that will determine just how high her starship will soar in the music industry--her talent.

We listened to what appears to be demo tracks on her Myspace page and there is definitely some talent there. With polishing, Pharrell may make good on the same promise he delivered on The Clipse's Grindin' and introduce us all to something we've "never felt before."



Click here for more information about Teyana Taylor and Team Nerd.

Michael Knight Reveals New Collection on BET's "Rip The Runway"

From The Cocoa Lounge

Fashion designer Michael Knight speaks to the show's host singer, Chris Brown.

Project Runway finalist Michael Knight unveiled his spring collection during BET's star-studded, hip hop fashion extravaganza, Rip The Runway.

Introducing his label Mychael Knight, the young designer presented a body of work decidedly more refined than his New York Fashion Week collection, but not straying away from his hip hop roots. On a runway that saw urban staples Apple Bottoms, G-Unit, and Baby Phat rip it, Knight's hip hop chic signature fit right in.




BET's Rip The Runway will premiere on the network March 14th at 10pm. (ET/PT)

Related Posts: Project Runway: Season Three's Got Seasoning