William Levy proved he can steal hearts while shimmying on the dance floor and it looks like he’s ready to do so again with the announcement that he will star alongside Jada Pinkett-Smith in a new dance-themed flick.
Pinkett-Smith will both produce and star in the film titled “Salsa,” which shares the story of a woman who is at a crossroads in her life when she meets a smoldering salsa instructor, who sweeps her off her feet through Latin dance.
It’s a huge starring role for Levy, a telenovela actor who first became America’s sweetheart last year on “Dancing with the Stars.” Since then, Levy has appeared on screen in multiple commercial campaigns for Pepsi. He’ll next be seen in “Addicted” and Tyler Perry’s “Single Moms Club.”
And if the idea of a big screen Latin dance film seems like an unlikely smash success, think again. Vanessa Williams and Latin music star Cheyenne teamed up for 1998’s “Dance with Me,” which successfully introduced Cheynne to mainstream audiences and cemented Williams’ reputation as a sexy leading lady.
Okay so you might not have prepared your New Year’s Resolution yet or most people have actually given up on creating those for every new year. Well you don’t have to be so hard on yourself, but you must be obedient in making sure you reach goals that really matter.
So here are 7 tips to help you get ready for your New Year:
1. Don’t dwell on what you haven’t accomplished; think of what you have achieved and compliment yourself at least three times daily(starting now).
2. Think about what you want to accomplish in 2013 and write them down. Really. Make a list, store this list in a place where you can access or see it each day. More like rubbing it in your face until it gets done. That really works.
3. Don’t Just Do It – Make a not-to-do list of time-wasting activities and refer to it often at times. Everything that comes your way is not always a priority.
4. Take Care of Yourself – Commit to 10 minutes of some form of exercise everyday (jogging, jumping rope, salsa dancing, whatever). Your body will thank you!
5. Learn to take 100% responsibility. If one team member takes 80 percent responsibility for their work, then you are taking 120 percent–their 100 percent share plus the 20 percent carries over to you.
6. There is strength in numbers. We all need a partner, collaborator or trusted assistant. List your top four weaknesses and consider whether this person has complementary strengths.
7. Roll up those sleeves – Instead of just getting an earful of gossip or reports about a problem in your household, business or personal life, check on it firsthand today. Create your own problem-solving techniques by getting involved in the problem yourself.
Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas has recently made multiple media appearances to discuss the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in an attempt to offer spiritual guidance to those searching for answers in the wake of the tragedy.
The Lakewood Church pastor recently spoke about how to move forward from the Dec. 14 tragedy, saying that in a roundabout way, he believes the tragedy “teaches us to prioritize what’s important in our lives.”
“There is no guarantee of tomorrow, I wish there was, but it makes us all realize, even as a nation, how fragile life really is, and every day are we taking time to tell the people we love how much we love them and taking the time for what matters most,” Osteen told Entertainment Tonight in a Dec. 17 interview.
“We can take this, as a nation, to say, ‘you know what, here’s a wake up call, are we taking time for those closest to us?’”
Religion has been referenced by many leaders seeking to find answers to this recent act of violence. On Monday, Pastor T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House went on MSNBC’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” to say that he believes now is an important time for Americans to come together.
“We all have to be watchmen on the wall, and answer the great question of the Scriptures: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” Jakes told Hall. While attending an interfaith prayer vigil on Dec. 16 in Newtown, President Barack Obama cited the Bible passage found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, telling those in attendance:
“Do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly, we are being renewed day by day.” “For light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” the president adde
So we felt up for a challenge. Can you serve a lavish Thanksgiving dinner—from cocktails to pie—to ten guests for less than $100? We certainly think so. The classic Thanksgiving dishes are made from frugal ingredients (who ever heard of potatoes breaking the bank?), allowing room in the budget for a few splashy details that make this menu anything but meager.
For additional tips and recipes, we turned to Diane Worthington, author of Seriously Simple Parties.”If you’re really trying to watch the budget, potluck was made for Thanksgiving,” Diane suggested. “It’s easier on the budget, and it’s easier on your mental state because you’re not doing so much. You can be very mindful about what you’re cooking.”
Ask one guest to bring a selection of cheese and crackers if you like, another to bring a second pie, and put everyone else on wine duty—this is a party, after all!
THE MENU
Prosecco
Harvest Pâté
Maple Apples
Roast Turkey
Make-Ahead Gravy
Classic Mashed Potatoes
Old-Fashioned Stuffing
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Winter Squash
Autumn Salad
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie
OUR TWO CENTS: Set the table several days ahead of time. Not only is it a pretty sight, says Diane, but it’s one less thing to do the day of. Lay out all the serving dishes, trivets, and utensils you’ll need. Feeling super organized? Use post-it notes to mark which recipe will go where.
“I’m going to come in and guest star as Tyler’s mom,” said busy actress Vanessa Bell Calloway (Crimson Tide, Lakeview Terrace) about her upcoming role in the NBC series “Go On” starring Matthew Perry (“Friends”), John Cho (“Star Trek”) and Tyler James Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”). “We start tapping in October.”
Tyler plays Owens who, after a family tragedy, joins a grief counseling support group where Ryan (Perry) is a member and helps to draw him out of his shell. “Go On” is a comedy where Perry plays a head-strong sportscaster (Perry) dealing with the loss of his wife. The series airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
“When they write somebody like a mother of a kid in a series that’s a regular…you don’t know…,” Calloway said about recurring roles. “When you come if you don’t handle your business they can write you out…tell the story line through other characters.”
Well, Vanessa must have handled her busy because not only has she been asked back, but she will also be guest starring on the new Showtime series, “Shameless,” starring William H. Macy.
“Every year it’s highs and lows. Some years’ projects are spacey…and it looks like you’re not working,” Vanessa informed me. “I’ve been working a lot!”
Also a dancer Calloway explains that she also co-stars in the Russ Parr film The Under Shepherd, starring Isaiah Washington, Malinda Williams, Clifton Powell and Elise Neal, which was filmed four years ago and just now being released. She also appears in The Last Fall, a HBO Best Feature Film Award winning movie starring Lance Gross, Nicole Beharie and Obba Babatunde’ – a coming of age sports drama. Vanessa can also be seen in the feature film The Obama Effect. The Obama Effect also includes veteran actor Glynn Turman, Charles S. Dutton, Katt Williams and boxing great Zab Judah.
New York, NY– Nineteen-time GRAMMY® Award winner and music icon Aretha Franklin packed an out-of-season Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort at the Mark G. Etess Arena on Saturday night in Atlantic City. The Press of Atlantic City headline reads “Aretha Franklin pleases Atlantic City crowd.” Vincent Jackson of the Press of Atlantic City states “[Aretha] Franklin was singing her heart out to the delight of the thousands in the audience.”
During her 85 minute set, Franklin performed several of her classic hits from the Atlantic Records days, including “Chain of Fools,” “Something He Can Feel,” “Respect,” “Day Dreaming,” “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You),” “Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby)” and numerous others. Franklin also performed some jazz standards and some of her favorite gospel songs. She performed a special tribute to the late Whitney Houston with her rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Franklin said that Houston was “one of the finest singers who ever stepped in front of a microphone. She was my Christian sister.”
This fall, Franklin continues her busy tour schedule, including East Coast dates at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (November 10) and the Westchester County Center (November 13).
LeToya began filming “For Richer or Poorer”, a new GMC TV gospel-play series based on the TV movie of the same name that aired back in April.
LeToya, Rockmond Dunbar, and Angell Conwell all returned to reprise their roles, while adding Anthony Evans Jr., Carl Anthony Payne, and Jackée Harry to the cast.
The series will continue where the TV movie left off, and will premiere in November. In case you missed the TV movie, you can watch it here!
Tasha Smith did an Interview with That Grape Juice and we have that Exclusive Interview! Check It Out
TGJ: Hey Tasha! How are you today?
Tasha: I’m great, thanks for asking!
TGJ: No problem. So, let’s get right to it!
Tasha: Let’s do it.
TGJ: We’re loving the second season of ‘For Better Or Worse’, tell us how has it been for you being able to bring Angela back to life on the small screen?
Tasha: It’s awesome because we get a chance to show different dimensions of Angela and Marcus’s marriage and relationship. You get to see Angela ”the mom”, “the woman”, and “the friend”. In the movie, she was always on level 10. Then, the first 10 episodes of the show, she was on level 20. Now, this season, I feel there’s a good balance. She’s funnier, using a lot of humor, and a supportive friend. To me, she’s that chick everyone loves.
I have so much fun playing her. Every week, it feels like a new journey and experience.
TGJ: We know people probably assume that when portraying Angela, you’re really playing yourself. So tell us, do you relate more to the old Angela or the new Angela?
Tasha: I relate to the new Angela more. But, I feel like we all got a little “Angela” in us ok? We all want to say things that may not be the appropriate thing to say at the time and we all need love. That includes you too (laughs)!
TGJ: We’ve heard much about Bobbi Kristina guesting this season, but, tell us who else we should be expecting as guest stars?
Tasha: I’m not telling, you gotta stay tuned in (laughs).
TGJ: Well, can you tell us of any plans for a third season?
Tasha: We are finishing up this season now, so we don’t have our official pickup yet. But, the show and ratings are good. We definitely need people to continue watching and supporting the show. Hopefully, we will be coming back next season.
TGJ: With television on lock, we’ve heard of some new projects coming to the big screen. Tell us about them?
Tasha: I am going to be in ‘Addicted’ (Zane)- which is a tastefully done script that Billie Woodruff is directing and I get to play the role of Marcella Spencer. I’m so excited! She’s the therapist of the Zoe character and helping her through the sex addiction. I’m so excited to start filming in October.
TGJ: How much will the movie be like the Showtime show?
Tasha: Well, it won’t be anything like the Showtime series. I don’t want people to assume that’s what they’re going to get. It’s going to be a powerful story and I think it will be a wonderful thing to talk about within our community.
TGJ: Also, you’ve mentioned wanting to play Donna Summer in a biopic? Why her specifically?
Tasha: I’ve just always been a fan. I just love her story. That’s my dream. Every actor has that icon that they would love to tell the life story of. I think she’s interesting and her legacy is powerful. A lot of people may have not had insight into her journey.
TGJ: Have you ever met her?
Tasha: Nope, never met her.
Vanessa Bell Calloway is set to guest star on Matthew Perry‘s new NBC series “Go On,” Blackactors.nethas lernead.
The series follows Perry as a radio personality who joins a mandatory support group full of odd ball characters following the death of his wife.
Calloway will play the mother of Owen (Tyler James Williams), a member of Perry’s support group. Calloway was initially invited to guest star in one episode but has already been invited to return.
Calloway, who is currently shooting Showtime’s “Shameless,” can be seen next in the upcoming feature films The Under Shepherd and The Last Fall. Past credits include Coming To America.
Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas has recently made multiple media appearances to discuss the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in an attempt to offer spiritual guidance to those searching for answers in the wake of the tragedy.
Christmas comes early this year—at Thanksgiving, to be exact. 
