BOO: 21 Jump Street in Production

The Good News: That teen 80′s cult super show “21 Jump Street” is being made into a movie. The Bad News: There’s not one Black woman in site.

Things may change, but currently the only cast members confirmed are: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and …wait for it… Julianne Hough. Um, yeah…

Granted, casting for a remake isn’t always true to the original (that is, characters change, new characters are added, and old characters are eliminated all together), but what a slap in the face to take the Black woman role away for the remake. (Yes, I can hear the cogs turning back progress on hiring actresses of color –for anything.)

If anyone remembers “21 Jump Street,” it was a true bit of teen pop angst, 80′s-style.

Big hair, neon colors and mullets-du jour, every teeny bopper tuned into the series. Holly Robinson-Peete (then just Holly Robinson), was the perfect complement to co-stars Johnnie Depp and Peter DeLuise.  She was hip, trendy-looking (with big curly hair and denim jackets) and never appeared to be a “token” cast member… she just was. Her presence was natural and expected.

Hopefully the producers of the “21 Jump Street” movie will get a clue that Americans are used to seeing Black women in the workplace, so why isn’t she working on the big screen?

Rosario Dawson to Star in a Channing Tatum Production

[picappgallerysingle id="10396376"]According to The Playlist, “Rosario Dawson and Lynn Collins are the latest to join the picture about which details are being kept at a minimum, but that centers on a group of friends approaching their 30s who reunite 10 years after college,” called “10 Year” about a group of friends reuniting after

The film is through actor Channing Tatum’s production company 33andOut Prods.

Nicole, Meagan will star in “35 and Ticking”

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Swirl Films is wrapping up filming on their romantic comedy “35 and Ticking,” starring gorgeous actresses Nicole Ari Parker (“Boogie Nights”) and Meagan Good (“Eve’s Bayou” and “You Got Served”).

Kym Whitley (“Black Dynamite”), Tamala Jones (“Daddy Day Camp”) and comedian Kevin Hart are also featured.

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“35 and Ticking” is due for release in 2011.

Teen pregnancy! Public drunkeness! Manslaughter! Adultery! Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars…

The new cast lineup for Season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars” is all confirmed and ready to go. This year –as with most– the lineup of “dancers” gets more and more interesting. However, the shows producers must have a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor because this year’s line up closely resembles the cast of any Seth McFarlane cartoon.
BEL AIR, CA - JULY 12: Singer Brandy attends professional tennis player Serena Williams' Pre-ESPYs House Party held at a private residence on July 12, 2010 in Bel Air, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for SW)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 05: Actress Florence Henderson arrives at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Academy Honors at the Beverly Hills Hotel on May 5, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)44198, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Monday August 30 2010. Bristol Palin, the daughter of former US vice-presidential hopeful Sarah, joins the rest of her Dancing With The Stars castmates at STK. Photograph:  Hellmuth Dominguez, PacificCoastNews.comAug. 29, 2010 - New York, New York, U.S. - MIKE ''the SITUATION'' SORRENTINO .filming the ''Jersey Shore'' in Seaside Height Beach.in New Jersey 8-29-2010 . 2010..K66211JBB. © Red Carpet Pictures05 May 2010 - New York, NY - Margaret Cho. The 2010 A&E Upfront at the IAC Building on May 5, 2010 in New York City. Photo Credit: Paul Zimmerman/AdMedia

With the current mix of reality and real stars (some are just reality blips, not stars) I’m waiting for the first ever on stage brawl or at least “call out”. Or maybe I’d just settle for slight mayhem.

“Dancing with the Stars” has become a creepy mea culpa comeback show for those trying to get out of the dog house, or at least trying to get their careers back on track. Some “stars” are really dancers, or at least make a concerted effort. Others, not so much. (Remember Kate Gosling?)

This year’s lineup includes singer and stunt driver and recently re-anointed reality star, Brandy. For those who remember, she was the bright and sunny, up-and-coming R&B/pop singer from the 90′s whose hit song, “I Wanna Be Down”, shot up the charts.  She was a bright spot for a lagging R&B industry and later sang a duet with fellow ingenue Monica, and often gave guest appearances in her videos to her brother, Ray J –now star of his own stupid reality show, “For the Love of Ray J.” (Yeah, I don’t watch that show –can you tell?)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpLkcfBe-A[/youtube]

Well, Brandy has some stiff competition on DWTS, starting with “Jersey Shore”‘s own Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s hair and abs.

You know who else doesn’t have abs of steel? Me and Bristol Palin, but she had a baby at 17 for her abs. She’ll be on the show, too.

Comedian and actress Margaret Cho will also be on the show, alongside Florence “I-Like-’Em-Young” Henderson.

For a complete line-up, visit “Dancing with the Stars“.

Ciara to Play Aaliyah in Biopic?

According to CNN.com’s Marquee, Missy Elliott is hoping that a biopic of her friend and colleague Aaliyah will be led by R&B singer Ciara. The producer of some of the songs on Aaliyah’s 1996 hit album “One in a Million” says that she still mourns the loss of her friend from her fatal plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001.

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In an interview with MTV, Missy states, “I think it’s hard for Aaliyah to be duplicated, because she had her own lane. But Ciara is an R&B singer who loves to dance, and Aaliyah was that same kinda artist.”

Would Ciara make a good choice as the lead in an Aaliyah biopic, or someone else? You decide!

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Tyra’s Casting for Cycle 16 of America’s Next Top Model – DEADLINE Aug. 18th!

Okay, ladies. Get your photographs and attitudes on because media mogul Tyra Banks is casting for Cycle 16 of “America’s Next Top Model”!

If you ever watch the show, you know that it can be inspirational… or a big hot steaming pile of mess. Either way, it’s always fun and entertaining!

According to Tyra:

“Here’s what I need from you. You need to be:

* 18 – 27 years old

* a U.S. Citizen

* Apply by Midnight on August 18th!”

Sign up today at http://www.tyra.com/view/TOP_MODEL_SEARCH16!