Black Entertainment USA - Celebrity / Entertainment News - African American view

Movie Preview: Legion

2009-11-21T20:05:00.003-05:00

Looking forward to 2010 another disaster awaits mankind. I don't mean the Mayans, Health Care Reform, Cap & Trade, or the mid-term elections. No this will be far worse. This will be an act on high.At least that is the premise of Legion. It is another in a long line of films that pose the question, what if religious deities (or their minions) decided that mankind had to go. This was probably best

Music Video: Beyonce and Lady Gaga - do I need to say more?

2009-11-21T03:00:00.008-05:00

By now I'm sure many have seen the new music video by Beyonce that features the popular Lady GaGa. Of course I'm sure there are just as many that might not have seen it yet considering how few music videos get played on MTV these days. But this video is special and I think even reviewers have missed the joke in the video. Read on and tell me if you get it too.The song is called Video Phone. It's

Wesley Snipes keeps fighting the good fight, and the media doesn't care

2009-11-20T18:15:00.003-05:00

I know the world is busy falling because Oprah Winfrey has finally decided to stop doing her show. I personally could care less as I don't watch the show, I've not been on it, and it's been 25 years. That is not to say I don't respect what Oprah has done, it's just not earth-shattering news that she's finally stopping. Not like she will be in the poorhouse with $1 billion.But as all eyes turn on

The college football play of the year

2009-11-20T00:00:00.003-05:00

OK, in the past I have provided videos of a hole in one that made $1 million dollars. I have shown video of futbol players that make the tricks of basketball look lame. I have even found video of the world's fastest goal in soccer - sure to never be broken, maybe not even tied.But this video really stands out from the rest. It just makes you think, "What in the hell were they thinking?"And no it

Guinness goes after African American middle class

2009-11-19T22:46:00.003-05:00

I saw a really cool commercial for guinness beer today. You might have noticed it recently as it just came out on the 9th of this month. It's called Fortune Favors The Bold.The concept of the commercial is a lone pint of Guinness beer is poured and then sent sliding down a bar. It continues across a rail, over the hood of a taxi, down the street on a skateboard, across a construction I-beam, to a

BET wrongly accussed of creating gangs in Monroe

2009-11-19T16:50:00.002-05:00

There is no end to the things that I don't like about Black Entertainment Television. The music videos, the quality of most of the films shown on the cable network, the lack of news, the ghettofication (yes I just made that word up) of entertainment. The list goes on and on.But there are some things that I'm not sure you can blame on BET. Just because Viacom is commoditizing Black culture does

Black Friday 2009

2009-11-19T10:09:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year again. Since Halloween every department store and retailer has gone full blast on getting the Christmas decorations up. Already there are discounts of incredible proportions being offered for cars and men's suits and so on.The internet has equally gone crazy. I've gotten more spam in the past 2 weeks than in the months prior combine. Everyone want you to buy something, now!

The top (and worst) actors per dollar in 2009

2009-11-19T03:47:00.004-05:00

In Hollywood it is often said that you are only as good as your last film.While still somewhat true, there are those that are worth the money they make on each film and then there are those that are not. Generally, the quality of the actor often matches the box office bucks they generate.But every year the best and worst actors per dollar they bring to the box office is figured out. Still

Will Smith and Jay-z put Afrobeats on Broadway

2009-11-18T06:59:00.002-05:00

Are you familiar with Afrobeat music? Well Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Jay-Z hope that you want to find out.Afrobeat is a style of music that originated from Nigeria in the 1970's. It was created by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who traveled the world introducing this music to various artists and fans. Fela Kuti was so influential that when he died in 1997 a million people came to the funeral,

Ryan Reynolds on the move

2009-11-18T05:48:00.002-05:00

Fans of Ryan Reynolds should cheer up. The star of films like Van Wilder, Blade 3, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine will again be starring in a new film. But you will have to wait a bit.Sadly the next film is not going to be the rumored (and I was hoping to see) Deadpool movie. That will be a bit further down the line. Though I think the character, if done similar to the way he was done in Wolverine

Is Newsweek sexist?

2009-11-18T04:25:00.003-05:00

The big question of late is all about Sarah Palin. Her book, if she will run in 2012, if she can win. And then there are the controversies.Newsweek really set things aflame with their cover of Mrs. Palin. And the claims of the cover photo being sexist and insulting have been raised. But are they right?Well the best way to answer the question seemed obvious to me. Compare the cover photo (taken

Links for 2009-11-17 [Digg]

2009-11-18T00:00:00-08:00

New Breast cancer guidelines = death panels
I have sisters and my mother that are at risk of breast cancer because they are women. Because they are African American they are at great risk of late detection and highest risk of death. And now the Government is trying to ensure that the chance of them having breast cancer and providing fewer chances of survival is greater. Plus the Government..
Black Conservatives on television
Excerpt - "Not only that, but why is it that in a mere 40 years we have gone from a people that led the nation from a mindset of prejudice and segregation to that of subservience. Dr. Martin Luther King never advocated that, Malcolm X never believed that. Both men were conservatives, especially in the political world of today. Yet Conservatives..."
Being Conserative and Black
The people you never heard of. The Black people that politicians ignore. The other voice - the one that has nothing to do with being ghettofabulous. Ever wonder why people with these thoughts, these careers, this intelligence are shunned? Why the Black community is afraid of becoming the very thing that Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were?

Black Conservatives on television

2009-11-16T14:36:00.004-05:00

I don't know how many people saw this on Friday. I think it was very important. I think that there are far too few that pay attention to the other Black voice in the Black community.These days Black culture is a commodity up for sale. Various consumer products use it to sell everything. Politicians use it to get votes. The youth are sold it as the norm they should observe. Yet there is a portion

Television Review: The Prisoner (2009)

2009-11-15T22:59:00.003-05:00

The following television review of The Prisoner (2009) may include some spoilers for some fans or those that have not seen the first episode.I just finished watching the AMC network premiere of the revisioned The Prisoner, with James Caviezel and Sir Ian McKellen. It is certainly an interesting television program.The television show starts off in many ways just as the original The Prisoner did in

Is Jon Gosselin's reputation worth $5 million - or 5 cents

2009-11-14T16:43:00.004-05:00

Sometimes you hear of the things that celebrities do and you wonder what the hell they were thinking. Jon Gosselin has made me wonder that often over the past few months.But the thing that got me laughing, was when I saw that he was countersuing TLC Network. This is part of the tit-for-tat that has been going on since the split between Kate Gosselin and Jon became public knowledge. A month ago

Annie Lennox SING's Woman of Peace

2009-11-12T18:16:00.002-05:00

For those that may not have been paying attention, AIDS has not been cured. Nor has the number of people getting HIV stopped. It's not popular to talk about such things, but that may be part of why Annie Lennox has been doing just that.Annie Lennox has been probably best known for her music career. She is a Scottish singer and acclaimed for her many albums and remarkable voice. It is that same

Lucy Liu covers important ground

2009-11-12T17:01:00.005-05:00

I find it interesting that sometimes the most important issues are virtually ignored, until a celebrity puts their face to an issue. The major news media just doesn't care and ignores the issue, until they get a chance to grab ratings.Such is the case with the growing problem of child sex slaves across the globe. It's an issue that the major media just doesn't want to talk about. As if they think

Television Preview: The Prisoner (remake)

2009-11-12T15:36:00.004-05:00

Over the years I have consistently warned my viewers to stay away from 'revisioned' fare on television and movies. Almost invariably such efforts are refuse best avoided than partaken in. But sometimes there comes an exception.So far the previews of The Prisoner look like it has captured the essense of the original British show from 1967. Keep in mind the words essense. Because like all revisions

Links for 2009-11-10 [Digg]

2009-11-11T00:00:00-08:00

234 years of service
Excerpt... "But today is the Birthday of the Marine Corps and I celebrate my fellow Marines, in active service or not, with us today or not, in peace where possible and in combat where not."

Sometimes speed is all you need (well maybe luck too)

2009-11-10T15:45:00.003-05:00

The more I watch futbol, the more amazed I become with some of the things that happens on the pitch. But in this case what happened has nothing to do with the skill of the players as much as how fast it happened.At the start of a game in Saudi Arabia, a striker took a wild shot towards the goalie from the mid-field line. It's not something anyone ever really tries. It's a hard shot to make from

Movie Preview: 2012

2009-11-10T12:50:00.003-05:00

Well it's almost a year to the day that I mentioned 2012, and one thing is certain. The hype surrounding that date, and likely this movie, is only growing with time.There wasn't a lot known in 2008 about this film - other than it would be the disaster film that might relaunch the trend in films (at least until 2012). It is sure to be followed by numerous other films based on exactly the same

America and Muslims - we love them

2009-11-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

I was speaking with a friend of mine the other day who was as upset as any of us over the shootings committed by Maj. Nidal Hasan. My friend was very upset about the shooting, and like many he took out his frustration by cursing all Muslims. Which I was quick to correct.I remember this conversation because it has just been released today that NBA great Karem Abdul Jabbar has a rare form of

234 years of service

2009-11-10T08:39:00.005-05:00

Today is a day not unlike any other day for most Americans. People will get up and go to work, take care of kids, go to school, and so on. And just like so many days prior we will be able to do so because long before this day started, before we woke up and long after we go to sleep there are Marines making sure that it will be just another day.234 years ago, before there was an America, the

Movie Preview: Armored

2009-11-10T02:24:00.004-05:00

So what happens when you have several old actors, a couple that never made it big time, and a few newbies thrown in for the hell of it? Well you could make a film that has been done a dozen times before.Armored is a film we all have seen before. It's a heist film. Which means it's the same as Heat, or the Sting, or even a major sub-plot for The Shield. The question is really, is this a well done

Katt Williams - another ghettofabulous victim

2009-11-09T18:39:00.004-05:00

So my sister made me aware that one of the current top stand-up comedians was just arrested. If you haven't heard about this, it was Katt Williams (real name Micah Williams) - again.Now I realize that Williams did a great thing in adopting 7 children - all from the U.S., because as he said on the Tonight Show"I got my kids right here, I didn’t have to go to Africa to do it. Amazingly enough,

Ft. Hood - Maj. Hasan: 12 dead, 31 injured, no answers yet

2009-11-05T23:40:00.004-05:00

I know that some of my readers may be wondering why I have not covered the news of the Ft. Hood shooting before now on VASS or Black Entertainment USA. The only reason I can give is that I was confused.For hours there has been swirling reports, rumours, and imprecise information. Even at this late hour information is just being learned. So I will mention what is clear at this time.There appears

Video Game Review: Dragon Age:Origins

2009-11-05T16:32:00.002-05:00

I've been feeling a bit down the last couple of days, likely getting a cold, so I decided to pickup the new Dragon Age: Origins game. The version I got was for the PC, though versions for Xbox and PS3 are available.So far the reviews for the game have been excellent. Which both made me interested, but also cautious. Either this was fantastic or there was just way too much hype. Though the

Links for 2009-10-16 [Digg]

2009-10-17T00:00:00-07:00

Mayor Matt Ryan Interviewed by Michael Vass
"It may not be the big headline, or ratings grab, but I feel that especially in the wake of such events the nation and the world should be reminded that it is those good people that should be the mark of any place. The media should always emphasize the positive in cities like Binghamton rather than cash in and sully their name."
15 minutes with Mayor Matt Ryan of Binghamton NY
Part 1 of Michael Vass interview with Mayor Matt Ryan Of Binghamton New York about the Civic Center shooting, the changes in the city, and more. See commentary and press release at www.mvass.com

Links for 2009-10-13 [Digg]

2009-10-14T00:00:00-07:00

M V Consulting, Inc. Announces the Creation of 2 New ...
“This has been a trying year for all companies and individuals around the globe. But in these times of struggle it is my firm belief that diversifying and growing the services and products we provide to clients and consumers is critical to continued exponential growth.”

Links for 2009-10-09 [Digg]

2009-10-10T00:00:00-07:00

It’s great to be a rockstar politician
If the world is not on the road to hell, we can sure see it from here.
Australia - A great country if you are White
"I have known many Australians. They were good people. I'm sure there are many in Australia right now. But there is no question that the racial attitudes of the nation is more akin with 1950's America that the 21st century."

Links for 2009-10-08 [Digg]

2009-10-09T00:00:00-07:00

I'm so genteel if I weren't Black I'd be Southern
Inspiration for my latest t-shirt design literally came out of a comment I made with several friends at a party not long ago...
CBO confirms the problems with Health Care Reform
It’s a victory, if you are a Democrat. Then again, the Democrat-led Congress has yet to read any of the Bills being voted out of Congress since the Obama Administration took over. So I doubt they really know what the CBO has just said.
Wet T-shirt car wash
I mentioned at www.blackentertainmentblog.com that 2 teams went to the APA Las Vegas National Tournament. But I didn't mention that one of the teams decided to raise a bit of extra cash with a wet T-shirt car wash before the trip to Vegas. As you might imagine, they made money. But you might not guess that ...

Links for 2009-10-04 [Digg]

2009-10-05T00:00:00-07:00

Alchemy at World of Vass
A quick introduction to the items of Alchemy of England that are available at http://alchemy.vassconsult.com Please take a moment to see our selection, there is something for everyone.