Wake Up Everybody 2008

Thanks for the link, Flora!

Plaxico Burress - "Unapologetic"

I'm not much of a sports fan, but I decided to read the article behind the headline to find out why this young football player was being called "unapologetic" about a recent suspension from his team, the New York Giants. As you football fans must already know, Plaxico Burress is the wide reciever who caught the touchdown that won the Giants the Super Bowl.

A quick scan of the article reveals that Burress missed a team meeting and failed to call to say that he would not be attending. He had to take his son to school and feels that he made the right decision.

My first thought is that since being a football player is his job, his livelihood, how he pays the bills, etc., he should have put in a courtesy phone call. That's what any employee would have to do. However, I do agree that putting his son first (assuming that he had no other means of getting the child to school) was indeed the right thing to do. It did cost him a one game suspension and week's pay, said to be about $117,500. Burress is quoted as saying that his family will continue to come first, but he would at least make a phone call to the team if there is another situation with his family. Sounds good to me.

Tyler Perry opens new studio with party

Tyler Perry opened his new studio in Atlanta on Saturday night with a star-studded party. Guests included Cicely Tyson, Oprah Winfrey, Ruby Dee, Will Smith, Sidney Poitier and numerous actors who have appeared in his movies.

Lamman Rucker - Why Did I Get Married? Additional Photos

Perry has secured his place in entertainment history by becoming the first African-American to own a full-service movie and television studio. His movies, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Daddy's Little Girls, Madea's Family Reunion, Why Did I Get Married?, and The Family That Preys have cemented his success. House of Pain is Perry's first television sitcom. The spin-off, Meet The Browns is due to air soon.


To read the entire Essence magazine article and view more pictures of Perry's party guests, click here: Party pics




The festivities surrounding the opening of Tyler Perry's new studio did not seem to be impacted by a planned picket and allegations of illegal firings by former writers for his sitcom, House of Pain. The writers claim to have been paid wages well below scale, denied health care benefits and residuals for writing what has become the highest rated basic cable television show in cable's history. The show has already gone into syndication. The writers had asked party guests not to cross their picket lines, apparently to no avail.

Read the writers' appeal letter here: Letter requesting support



WGA Creators, Showrunners, and Executive Producers Submit an Open Letter to the Producers of Tyler Perry's House of Payne



Statement of Support from SAG National Board member Anne-Marie Johnson



Of those Perry fans who have heard of the plight of the writers, some are voicing their support but many remain loyal to the highly admired screenwriter, producer, director and actor. Hopefully, the controversy can be worked out in a manner that benefits all who worked hard for the success of House of Payne.

Tina Fey does it again! SNL Spoof