Black Entertainment

Have you ever been such a fan of one particular TV actor that you wish you could see more of that star in the movies? I was watching House as I do every Monday night and I was trying to figure out why Omar Epps is not in more movies. He is very good-looking, talented, and his fame seems to be on the rise at least on TV. He plays a major role on the hit television show House as Doctor Eric Foreman. He starred in the other hit hospital TV show ER as Dr. Dennis Gant from 1996-1997. We’ve seen a great deal of Omar Epps throughout the years on television and many of us feel like we know him and are waiting to see him on the big screen again!

Epps has been in many movies, the most notable ones being The Program and Higher Learning when he played the role of Malik Williams. He was a track star at Colombia University having a difficult time with his studies. He befriended the beautiful Tyra Banks who became his tutor and his girlfriend. This movie was a shocking look at racism, sexism and more. It was surprising because it takes place at a University where most people would assume these issues would not be common. The movie reminded us that acts of hatred like these are still happening whether they are on the streets or in an educational setting.

Omar also starred in Alfie and Against the Ropes both of which were released back in 2004. I didn’t find either of these two movies interesting but it had nothing to do with Epps’ performance- the films just weren’t that great. His most recent work on the big screen is A Day in the Life released this past summer. This film focuses on a typical day for rapper Sticky Fingaz and the actors rap their dialogue throughout the rap-musical. What is going on with Omar’s choices in movies? I’d like to see him take on another impressive role in a blockbuster hit and I guarantee he will be one of the most talked about actors out there. Omar Epps is more than capable of delivering an award-winning performance. He gained the interest of the NAACP when he won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, an Image Award for his effective performance on House. He received this award both in 2007 and 2008.

Epps’ became interested in acting at a very young age and actually began writing screenplays at the young age of ten! He attended Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, the school that is famous for helping to shape the talents of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and many actors, artists, musicians, writers and much more. Epps has an ear for music as well. He and his brother started the rap group Wolfpak in 1991, before the launch of Epps’ acting career. Epps has been keeping up with his music and his CD titled The Get Back was released in 2004.

I would like to see Omar Epps in a positive leading role. He has taken on many characters that find themselves on the wrong side of the law. It is unlike me to crave a good romantic comedy since I’m much more horror oriented but I would pay to see one with Omar Epps. I think he would do wonderfully in a heart-warming film similar to One Fine Day or one of the great Tyler Perry films. America will fall in love with him all over again and Epps career in film many take off to new levels!

For blockbuster hits including your favorite actors in award-winning performances, check out Starz InBlack and 5StarMax for built-in entertainment!

Dish Network is loaded with the best HD programming available on television and it all costs less that Directv! The amount of phenomenal shows, movies and sports available in high definition packed into a 24-hour period is amazing. The following is a list of the entertainment available to you today, November 9, 2009 all listed according to Eastern Standard Time.  This lineup will keep you glued to your TV set from 3:15 p.m. to the next day!

1. The Nanny Diaries on Showtime 2 at 3:15 p.m.
This movie is PG-13 and family friendly! It stars Scarlett Johansson as a nanny who is hired by an upscale Manhattan couple to care for their spoiled child. She encounters many funny obstacles along the way! There is a great cast in this film including Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney and Alicia Keys.

2. Inside the Actor’s Studio on BRAVO at 7:00 p.m.
Hilary Swank will be inside the studio with James Lipton tonight as he interviews her about her professional and personal life. Watch and learn about one of America’s best contemporary actresses and star of the hit movie Amelia.

3. Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader? On CMT at 8:00 p.m.
Test your smarts along with your family and laugh along the way. This is a great way to spend time with your kids and maybe even learn a little too!

4. Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman on BET at 8:30 p.m.
This movie is not meant for the whole family so be sure all children are tucked away for show time. You will laugh, cry and be held in suspense throughout this whole movie. This heart warming and realistic family tale will have you entertained for two and a half hours!

5. Sports Center on ESPN at 11:00 p.m.
Get the latest sports news with highlights, commentaries and scores!

Watch HBO Signature on Satellite TV for movies with powerful women!

Amelia will be premiering in movie theaters tonight. Hilary Swank will star as Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly an airplane over the Atlantic Ocean. This historical moment reminded me of a few women who made their mark in film history. I came up with five female pioneers in film but the list goes on for miles!

Alice Guy-Blache
Alice Guy-Blache was the first female film director. She did her first film titled La Fee aux Choux (The Cabbage Fairy) around 1898 while in charge of production at Gaumont Film Company in France. She went on to direct a total of 324 films of different genres. As early as it was, many of Guy-Blache’s films targeted female audiences and contained feminist ideas. She moved to the U.S. with her husband in 1909 to oversee the production company in Ohio. They would eventually leave Gaumont and form The Solax Company in New York, the largest movie studio in America before the explosion of Hollywood. Guy-Blache was not only a director. She was also a writer and experimented with visual and sound effects- all during a time when women didn’t even have the right to vote!

Penny Marshall
Penny was the first female director to make a movie that earned over $100 million dollars at the box office with Big in 1988. She hit a new record when she did it again with A League of Their Own in 1992.

Reese Witherspoon
Ms. Witherspoon in certainly doing something right. She is the highest paid film actress of all time followed by Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz. Reese makes between $15 million and a whopping $20 million per movie! Male actors however are still taking home the bigger paychecks in Hollywood.

Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn was the most praised actress of all time. Her career was in full force for 49 years. Hepburn broke the mold when she set the record for having the most time between Oscars. She also made history by winning the most Oscars for Best Actress. She was nominated for Best Actress twelve times and took home four Oscars! Meryl Streep came in second with 12 nominations and one win over a 24-year span.

Audrey Munson
Munson was an actress in the silent film Inspiration (1915). She was the first lead actress in film to appear in the nude. Her beautiful figure was an inspiration for over 15 statues in New York. She has obtained such nicknames as American Venus, Miss Manhattan and the Exposition Girl.

Extra: Betty Boop First Female Superhero!

Watch HBO Signature on Satellite TV for movies with powerful women!

Amelia will be premiering in movie theaters tonight. Hilary Swank will star as Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly an airplane over the Atlantic Ocean. This historical moment reminded me of a few women who made their mark in film history. I came up with five female pioneers in film but the list goes on for miles!

Alice Guy-Blache
Alice Guy-Blache was the first female film director. She did her first film titled La Fee aux Choux (The Cabbage Fairy) around 1898 while in charge of production at Gaumont Film Company in France. She went on to direct a total of 324 films of different genres. As early as it was, many of Guy-Blache’s films targeted female audiences and contained feminist ideas. She moved to the U.S. with her husband in 1909 to oversee the production company in Ohio. They would eventually leave Gaumont and form The Solax Company in New York, the largest movie studio in America before the explosion of Hollywood. Guy-Blache was not only a director. She was also a writer and experimented with visual and sound effects- all during a time when women didn’t even have the right to vote!

Penny Marshall
Penny was the first female director to make a movie that earned over $100 million dollars at the box office with Big in 1988. She hit a new record when she did it again with A League of Their Own in 1992.

Reese Witherspoon
Ms. Witherspoon in certainly doing something right. She is the highest paid film actress of all time followed by Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz. Reese makes between $15 million and a whopping $20 million per movie! Male actors however are still taking home the bigger paychecks in Hollywood.

Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn was the most praised actress of all time. Her career was in full force for 49 years. Hepburn broke the mold when she set the record for having the most time between Oscars. She also made history by winning the most Oscars for Best Actress. She was nominated for Best Actress twelve times and took home four Oscars! Meryl Streep came in second with 12 nominations and one win over a 24-year span.

Audrey Munson
Munson was an actress in the silent film Inspiration (1915). She was the first lead actress in film to appear in the nude. Her beautiful figure was an inspiration for over 15 statues in New York. She has obtained such nicknames as American Venus, Miss Manhattan and the Exposition Girl.

Extra: Betty Boop First Female Superhero!

Dish Networks BET just announced that they are going to be joining up with Philadelphia Eagles star / ex convict Michael Vick to put together an 8-part documentary about his rise and fall from fame. Executives at BET say it well give everyone a better idea of who Vick is as a person. It will give an inside look at his early childhood, his college days at Virginia Tech, and his pro career as an Atlanta Falcon until he threw it all away by running an illegal dog fighting ring.

Originally Vick had started filming during his trial with his own crew. Once BET heard about it they contacted Vick to put a show together for early next year titled “ The Michael Vick Project”. Even though it was just announced the show is already getting negative feed back. So people are mad that a man convicted of heinous crimes is being offered a chance to show young kids that even if you commit crimes, as long as your famous it will be ok. Others are upset that millions of people in the world struggle to feed their families, while Vick who was once the highest paid player in the NFL gets released from jail files for bankruptcy and immediately gets money thrown his way again.

At this point we all do not necessarily know what the show will truly entail. One thing is for certain it better be centered around Vick fixing his life and trying to make amends for all of the bad things he did in the past. If not and all we see is him shopping and partying, I can see major riots, and boycotts outside of anything associated with his name on it.

Reverend Al Sharpton has offended Michael Jackson fans and people of different races all over the world after making racially-charged allegations that Michael Jackson hasn't been treated the same as other stars who have died - because he was black. Rev. Al Sharpton said Sunday at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles: "I am here because of the disgraceful and the despicable way some elements of the media have tried to destroy the legacy and image of Michael Jackson." "You have had other entertainers that have had issues in their life. But you [the media] did not degrade and denigrate them...  Show the same respect for Michael and Michael's family that you showed Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley."  I think michael Jackson's Memorial service was unlike any other in history.  The only 2 memorials that could compare were the memorials for princess Diana and Mother Teresa.  You can follow this on Satellite TV.Rest in peace Michael Jackson.

According to an article by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, the top-rated daytime program, will begin broadcasting in High-Definition this fall.

Harpo Productions, owned by Winfrey, disclosed the show's high-def plans today at the National Association of Broadcasters convention.

“We’re pleased to offer viewers their favorite daytime talk show -- the Oprah show -- in stunning HD beginning this fall,” Harpo President Tim Bennett said, according to B&C. “From our cutting-edge production values to our recent partnership with Skype. Harpo is embracing new technologies to always deliver the highest-quality content for our viewers.”

BET Networks struts their stuff on the catwalk with the fourth annual fashion and music special RIP THE RUNWAY. Executive produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and hosted by rapper and featured clothing designer, Nelly and Hollywood's newest "IT" girl, actress Lauren London, RIP THE RUNWAY premieres Tuesday, March 4, at 10:00 PM*. Expertly blending today's hottest performances with the latest in high-end urban fashion, this year's fashion show over delivers on its theme "Black Fashion. So Fly".Donned as one of the best dressed hours on television, this year's RIP THE RUNWAY features the latest collections of Zac Posen, Sean John, Respect M.E. (Missy Elliott Collection for Adidas), Apple Bottom, Qristyl Designs, Monif C, Sixx Foota, and Amaya Swimwear. It was a family affair for Snoop Dogg and his wife Shante Broadus who launched their clothing lines Rich & Infamous and Co Co Ri. Celebrity models included Tocarra Jones (BET Talent, America's Next Top Model-Cycle 3), Charlie Baltimore (female rapper), Teyana Taylor (singer/rapper Star Track Entertainment), Bianca Golden (America's Next Top Model-Cycle 9), Camille McDonald (America's Next Top Model-Cycle 2), Corey Webster (NY Giants), Sam Madison (NY Giants), Brandon London (NY Giants), BET's own, Rocsi and Terrence, Brandon T. Jackson (Roll Bounce), Lil Snoop (The Wire), Cassie (Bad Boy R&B singer/model), Ezra Masters (international model), Terrell Carter (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Camille Howard (America's Next Top Model-Cycle 8), America's Next Top model winner Jazlene Gonzalez, and show host Lauren London. RIP THE RUNWAY featured live performances by Missy Elliot, N.E.R.D, Snoop Dogg, Day 26 (Diddy's latest MAKING THE BAND group), Cheri Dennis, Webbie, Trey Songz and Flo Rida featuring T-Pain. BET can be seen on Satellite TV channel 329.