USHER AND SHAKIRA JOIN THE VOICE

Usher and Shakira will be replacing Ceelo Green and Christina Aguilara on the VOICE for it 4th season in Spring of 2013. In its ongoing battle with American Idol, the VOICE, the popular NBC music show is pulling out all the stops in its quest for dominancy in the ratings game. American Idol revealed the addition of three heavy hitting musicians, Maria Carey, Nikki Minaj and Keith Urban, a move that the VOICE has obviously not taken sitting down.

But the addition of Usher and Shakira to the judging panel on the VOICE is as pratical as well as strategic move. Since the VOICE is moving to back to back seasons; one in fall and one in Spring, it is forseeable that  some judges may need to take a break to work on their own projects as is the case with Ceelo and Christina. Having a replacement cache of judges may become a permanent feature of the VOICE. Christina and Ceelo are expected to return for the Fall 2013 season and who knows, perhaps Blake Shelton and Adam Levine will take some time off then to work on their projects.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Secret Nuptials

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds got married on the weekend.

How did they do it? Keep a wedding secret. But the Green Lantern actors managed to escape the glare of the press and got married secretly on the weekend. According toreports, we now know that the couple said “I Do” in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina on Sunday. It was an intimate ceremony with performances by Florence Welch.

Florence Welch

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are married. Blake is 25 while Ryan is 35 and Scarlett Johansson’s ex. Blake who has expressed her desire to be a mother and live the domesticated life has finally got her wish. Perhaps she will be putting her career on hold for awhile to raise a brood. Maybe she is already on the path hence the seemingly quick, surprise nuptuals.

 

Heidi Klum is Fornicating with the Help According to Seal

Sex with the help Heidi Klum and the bodyguard

 

It has been revealed the Heidi Klum is indeed fornicating with the Help - the bodyguard but it is a crime? After all, Heidi Klum and Seal have called it quits after making 4 children together as a couple. However, Seal seems to take issue with the fact that Klum is having sex with the bodyguard. Perhaps if the affair  was with another celebrity or a blue colar worker somewhere, it may not have been cause for concern, but sex with the bodyguard is a different story.

Seal makes the point that they (Klum and Seal)  are still legally married and this is true. Separated or not, having a sexual affair while still married may not help the guilty party in the actual divorce proceedings. But what is Seal doing during the separation period?  Is Seal abstaining from sexual relationships until divorce? Hard to believe but its not impossible.

But what is the deal with celebrities and sexual relationships with the help? Heidi Klum is not the first to do so and fonicating with the help has been glamorized in the movies. Remember The Bodyguard where Whitney Houstan got it on with the Bodyguard Kevin Kostner? And lets not forget Jennifer Lopez seems to have a thing for the "help". First Jennifer Lopez was married to the back up dancer, Chris Judd and now dating Casper Smart another back up dancer.

Lotsa a Troubles for Chad Johnson

Just days after Chad Johnson was arrested for allegedly head butting his wife Evelyn Lozada, he was served with divorce papers and he was fired from two jobs. Chad Johnson will probably never forget the month of August 2012. How unlucky or rather, how stupid can one be. 

Hopefully, Chad Johnson has memories of his exotic Caribbean wedding in St Maarten just 41 days ago, or it may be an even he would rather forget.  Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lozada got married in St Maarten on July 4th and the entire festivities was recorded for their reality show. Since I guess Evelyn Lozada is no Kim Kardashian, the show will not go on without her husband so VHI has pulled the plug on  the reality show Basketball Wives which featured Chad Johnson and
Evelyn Lozada.

Chad Johnson also got the bad news that he was turfed from the Miami Dolphins all over a box of condoms and a reported head buting incident. Evelyn Lazoda claims that Chad Johnson head butted her over an argument about a receipt for a box of condoms. Chad Johnson, however, claims tha it was Lozada who head butted him and he may have a tough time defending himself aginst the charges since in is not the first time he was reportedly accused of abuse.

Which leads me to the question; if it is common knoweledge that Chad Johnson had at least one prior domestic abuse incident as repored in the press, why is Evelyn Lazoda surprised if the incident did indeed occurred as she said it did? It would be interesting to see how this all plays out in the court and the media. One thing is for sure, both Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lazoda have joined the ranks of the unemployed.  

Welcome Back Kotter Goodbye Ron Palillo

While I never watched the original airings of the Welcome Back Kotter Sitcom which aired between 1975 and 1979, I did get somewhat hooked on the series during numerous re-runs in the 80’s. Even though I watched the episodes reqularly I never really knew what to think about the quirky show and its quirky characters. It was like the show make me uncomfortable, was boring at times but I couldn’t resist watching.

 Perhaps the characters on Welcome Back Kotter had a lot to do with the attraction. Actors like afro haired Ron Palillo who played the nerdy Arnold Horshack and John Travolta who went on to become a huge Hollywood success story. In other words, I was watching characters I couldn’t really relate to but was somehow mesimerized with to the point that I had to keep watching.

Ron Palillo died at age 63 of an apparent heart attack on Tuesday. He was  teaching acting at the G-Star School of the Arts in Palm Beach at the time of his death. Goodbye Kotter, Goodbye Ron Palillo.

Why is Harry Belafonte Disappointed with Beyonce?

Harry Belafonte of the Banana Boat song fame is not happy with Beyonce and JayZ. In an interview at the Lacarno Film Festival  he had some harsh criticisms for African American celebrities who shy away from social activism using Beyonce and JayZ as examples.  I have no knowledge of  the couple`s involvement or non-involvement but I am quite sure there are many more celebrity types who may be guilty as charged.

The controversial statement is not without merit since there is not a lot of evidence that African American celebrities are out there fighting for social justice. But perhaps there is a good reason, while not a credible justification, that these celebrities do not readily use their wealth and popularity to influence social change. Such advocacy can often come with a black lash and the fear that Hollywood may drop you like a hot potato for perceived radical views.

African American celibrities may fear losing their hard won fame and fortune if they do not follow the straight and narrow path.  But shouldn’t celebrities be obligated to lend a voice or hand to further social justice issues? Some do and maybe more than we know about but if we don’t know about it then maybe there isn’t much of an impact. As Harry Belafonte pointed out in the interview, ``Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black."

Randy Travis Naked Exploits

Super star country star Randy Travis is in trouble with the law again. He was found  lying naked and intoxicated on a road outside Tioga Texas. Police received the call on Tuesday evening reporting the naked Randy Travis. Acording to police, Randy Travis had been involved in a single vehicle accident and and he had a stong odour of alcohol. Randy Travis was arrested and charged with DWI and retaliation and obstruction.

This is the second time in a few months that the 53 year old Randy Travis was arrested for drunkeness. The seven time Grammy winner was arrested in Feburary for public intoxication when he was reportedly found outside a Baptist church with open booze.

Doesn`t the trials of these wealthy and famous celebrities really make you feel golden. We the little people may complain about our lack of resources but would you really trade your little problems for Randy Travis type problems. Sometimes having it all is not everything and while a sad state of affairs, it is eye opening to note that celebrities have the same or more problems that the ordinary person.

Nicki Minaj Road to Fame

Nicki Minaj burst on the Hip Hop stage and took the music industry by storm.  Unlike most mucisians who take many years to make it to the top, Nicki Minaj's rise to fame is one of the great musical success stories of the 21st century. READ MORE

Why Did Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Settle so Quickly?

Credit WikemedaCommons

After 5 years of marriage the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes split caught us all by surprise but even more shocking was how quickly the divorce was settled. While the media and fans were waiting with eager anticipation to see the impending battle between the power couple over child custody and division of property, the anti climax came quickly, much to the disappointment of those hungry for more juicy celebrity breakup news.

But the burning question remains why was Tom Cruise so willing to settle so quickly giving full custody to Katie Holmes. We heard that he had to agree to some stringent rules such as Suri not having any exposure to the Scientology faith, the presence of Katie's bodyguard and Suri's nanny being at each visit Suri has with her dad. What else did Tom Cruise have to give up for a quiet divorce settlement?

While many report that Scientology is behind Katie's demands, one wonders why a religion she was part of for five years would cause her to take such drastic measures. Could there be more?

Jermain Paul and Blake Sheldon Winners on the VOICE

They were a dynamic duo and their incredible preformances and team spirit may have won both Jermaine Paul and Blake Sheldon the VOICE finals

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