DICK CLARK PASSES AWAY AT AGE 82

Dick Clark

Before Ryan Seacrest there was Dick Clark. Before Dick Clark, there was no Dick Clark. Farewell to a Legend. I fondly recall spending weekends as a Toddler watching American Bandstand on weekends and I don't believe all this time has passed since those days. Even more, I don't believe that TV Producer, Host and Icon Clark had passed away this morning at age 82, suffering a Heart Attack just one day after undergoing an Outpatient Procedure at Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Celebrities have been vocal in their condolences for Clark and his Family including Seacrest, who widely is acknowledged as Clark's modern day Successor, now hosting Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. Seacrest Tweeted earlier, "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life."

Janet Jackson also says, "Dick Clark changed the face of musical television. He was wonderful to many artists including our family. We will miss him. God bless.". Joan Rivers, who was just in Toronto this past weekend doing an appearance on The Shopping Channel Tweeted "Very sad to hear about Dick Clark. What a great life. What a great career. Relevant until the end. He will be missed!".Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper's Tweeted, "What a career Dick Clark had! What a life! My thoughts are with his family and friends.".

Madonna took to Facebook to make a rare statement stating succinctly, "Rest in peace. You will be missed", also posting a Video of her appearing on American Bandstand earlier in her Career.

Watch the Video below:

INTERVIEW: MINDLESS BEHAVIOR (PICS & VIDEO)

Mindless Behavior - Toronto, March 2011

It's been over two years in the making, but Pop Music will soon be embracing the debut of a new Teen phenomenon, Mindless Behavior. The Boy Band, three parts Los Angelenos and one part Philadelphian, have won the praise of industry Icons like Diddy and Janet Jackson, the latter who has handpicked them to join her on twelve key dates for her NUMBER ONES: Up Close and Personal Tour. Just having landed in Toronto after their first stop-off in Chicago earlier this week, I caught up backstage with the Boys of Mindless Behavior - their first ever Canadian interview - at a venue Midtown, a private Showcase organized by Faze Magazine.

Prodigy

Starting off our session with a quick Photoshoot, I was amazed firstly by the level of seasoning these Boys showed, comfortably throwing poses at the Camera - each defining who they were on a personal level. Prodigy, decidedly the lead Vocalist of the group, is confident and understated, giving me full-on Diddy. Princeton is colourful and outgoing, his hair actually reminiscent of a young Prince. Roc Royal is grounded and approachable. Ray Ray although the quietest and perhaps most endearing, is by no means shy on-stage.

The Boys explain to me the process of how they came to be Mindless Behavior with Princeton telling me, "Roc Royal and I were chosen out of 600 kids by Walter Millsap (Beyoncé) and Vincent Herbert (Lady Gaga) first, then came Prodigy from Philadelphia who was discovered on YouTube by our Choreographer. Ray Ray joined our group last.". Life hasn't been all Escalades and Red Carpets though since being signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. He adds that "for two years we have been going to classes for Vocal Lessons, Media Training and Choreography. We're all being Homeschooled now.".

TYLER PERRY'S "FOR COLORED GIRLS" REVIEW

Still from For Colored Girls

Tyler Perry truly understands the heart of a Black Woman and furthermore, knows how to cater to her heart time and time again.  His latest work For Colored Girls boasts a creme de la creme Ensemble Cast, which in most part needs no introduction.  In addition to taking the directorial reins here, he also pens the screen adaptation of the Tony Award-nominated play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange.  

The story centers around the lives of eight Black women, each undergoing their own internal struggles with story lines that share equal weight and importance.  Perry's Muse Kimberly Elise plays Crystal, the battered girlfriend of an alcoholic ex-solider Beau Willie (Michael Ealy). She also mothers his two children and is the Assistant of Janet Jackson's Jo, a no nonsense woman-in-charge who is an overachiever by trade, yet facing power struggles in her relationship with Trader husband Carl (Omari Hardwick); she suspects his infidelity.  Thandie Newton plays Tangie, the promiscuous and sexually destructive older sister to gentle-spirited Nyla (Tessa Thompson); their mother is the highly-religious and volatile Alice (Whoopi Goldberg).    Phylicia Rashad plays Gilda, a Building Manager who is an outsider looking-in at troubles the women in her building face.  Charity Worker Juanita (Loretta Devine), Educator Yasmine (Anika Noni Rose) and Social Worker Kelly (Kerry Washington) each are integral to For Colored Girls' plot, but sit just outside the core of the story.

No one can deny the sheer talent of this outstanding cast.  With that being said, this is an Actor's Movie, with the Cast being given chances to shine with meaty dialogue and Monologues.  It is however for this reason also that the film is hindered by many moments which on-stage would work, but alas overly showy and melodramatic on-screen (yes, even by Perry's standards).  Without affecting the integrity of Shange's original work, perhaps some more modifications could have been made to Perry's script to make the transitions from central story to  Monologues more seamless.  

Newton is the film's brightest star, excelling fully in the complexity required of her deeply-wounded character, delivering angst and tenderness with equal prowess.  She carries the most hope of garnering an Oscar nomination in this talented bunch.  Elise is simply wonderful, delivering restraint in the spirit of a woman who has for many years been silenced by violence.  Rose as always is radiant, shining a much needed ray of light on the many sombre, heavy moments in the film even after her character is affected by Rape - one of the many weighty subjects For Colored Girls touches upon.  Devine as always is deeply engaging in her whimsicality, never failing to bring a smile to my face.  Quirky Macy Gray who is seen v. little in the film, is deliciously disturbing as an Alcoholic Abortionist.  Despite not quite having the range some of the other Actresses here posses, Jackson also puts forth a career best with her icy delivery of a woman done wrong.  Goldberg unfortunately is grossly underutilized in a one-dimensional role.

TRAILER: TYLER PERRY'S FOR COLOURED GIRLS

Although it's been off my Radar completely, I decided to check out the Trailer for Tyler Perry's For Coloured Girls, which sees a release on November 5, 2010 via Lionsgate/Alliance Films (Canada).  Although Perry's films often seem to follow a formulaic thread of troubled Black Woman who gets saved by God with some over-the-top humour along the way, this one actually looks like a real movie and has something to say. 

The film, based on a Tony-nominated Play by Ntozake Shange and is comprised of series of 20 Poems.  There are seven central female characters whose stories touch upon heavy matter like Abortion, Rape, Abandonment, etc.  Above this, the cast is stellar: Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton ....and so many more.  Don't be surprised if an Oscar nomination or two come of this. 

Jackson is really acting here and could really use some positive buzz with her last couple albums receiving lackluster reception.  I kinda wish Mariah Carey didn't back-out of this project in a role taken-over by Newton, as this would have solidified her place as a real Actress.

THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS - A 1.5 MINUTE RECAP

It's been an extremely busy day on the blog from naked Babydaddys to a review about a football film. You cannot criticize me for not trying to branch-out! I'm not going to go into too much detail, but as per multiple requests over Facebook Chat and text messages to my Blackberry, I am going to re-cap for you my highlights of tonight's American Music Awards. No nonsense, just straight to-the-point.

• Janet Jackson opening the show with a mimed medley of hits that included her latest track Make Me (not technically a hit) from her just-released Number Ones compilation. It appears that Jackson is back to the original weight she was at when she released her ground-breaking Control album and I love it. She looks healthy and content.
• Need I mention how amazing Lady Gaga is? Her medley of new hit single Bad Romance and Freddie Mercury-esque ballad Speechless was the highlight of the show. I do think though that her costume would have looked better with claws. I admit I was a little petrified seeing her play on a flame-ignited piano, as it looked as though her wig would get singed at any moment. I'm still trying to figure out what the deal was with the breaking of the empty (fake sugar-glass) Johnny Walker bottles. And yes, I feel truly that she was robbed of the Breakthrough Artist award which went to country band Gloriana. I'm so ready for her Toronto show this Saturday!
• It was amazing seeing Whitney Houston's celebrated performance of I Didn't Know My Own Strength from her I Look To You album. Although her vocals were all over the place, certainly she is getting there slowly but surely....
• Jennifer Lopez was stunning in her mimed performance of new single Louboutins. Yes, she did fall on stage after climbing on-top of her male dancers (as seen in the photo below), but being the consummate professional she is, she made it look deliberate and carried on. It is ironic though that she was wearing a pair of Louboutins and fell in them; product placement gone wrong.
• Although I am not a fan of the track, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' performance of Billboard Hot 100-topping Empire State of Mind was quite enjoyable. The New York, New York intro was a nice touch.
• Shakira is always a pleasure to watch and although I have my doubts about her choice for the second single off She Wolf, her performance of Give It Up To Me was stellar... as usual.
• Rihanna's new album Rated R sucks. She can call it "art" all she wants, but it still sucks. And seeing her perform a track live did not make it suck less.
• Is it just me or does Mary J. Blige's new track I Am sound like a Mariah Carey B-side?
• I love Kelly Clarkson but she really needs to step-up her game. Her performance of single Already Gone was far from engaging.