Whenucanplananendofworldmergerandfirefolksfor$30m >> Cast Black Leads in Primetime!

get the drool off ya lip already. smh

O. M. G. {EXCLAMATION MARK EXCLAMATION MARK EXCLAMATION MARK}

Sooooooooooooo...

J.J. Abrams has chosen a woman of color to star opposite Boris "yum-yum" Kodjoe in his new NBC PRIMETIME(!) DRAMAish (!!) 'Undercovers.' (SHOCK!) Now don't get excited, cuz it's not me or anything, but Gugu Mbatha-Raw will play Mrs. Samantha Bloom, Kodjoe's CIA partner and wifey.

That said, yeah...you won't be surprised cuando se "meet" Mbatha-Raw. Not hating. Just saying. This town is great for that kind o' thing. BUT...

...as I begin channeling two semesters of SU's inimitable Bob Thompson--half epic fail, half success--I can't help but consider NBC's sitch-ee-ay-shun right now. I mean, I'm not ready to throw confetti in the air and wave banners in honor of their oh-so-revolutionary approach to primetime programming over the course of their history. However, I think there is great weight to the quality debate he'll introduce you to fer certain-fer sure if you ever cross his professorial threshhold.

To begin, think of the net's longevity in terms of reincarnated television. Within the last decade 'Knight Rider', 'Miami Vice', and now 'A-Team' have all re-emerged for more small screen and box office exposure. Whenever in third place, the net was most inclined to do something risque with either its programming or its corporate structure. (Arguably the case for any broadcast network.) But when odd became cool, so did--I would argue--seemingly sudden changes.

And here we are with a new set of change constraints:

• Black becomes increasingly chic, peaking 11/2008. What say ye? Key in to the trends. Check.
• Eff with the late night hours. Jimmy's young, hip and in! So are The Roots. Check.
• Merge with a cabler, inciting major gasps and mini-strokes. Check.
• NOW, top it all off with some melanin-ized folks in primetime. WTF[LIP]!!

works for me for now.

Now, if y'all get so big and bad you cast a Black woman with some dreadlocks as a f'real, f'real lead...? *dead*

Black Harvest Film Festival 2010 submissions announcement

Black Harvest Film Festival 2010 submissions announcement

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DMV: Haiti'd Down to the Socks, MLK and Service todo el fin del semana

Happy birthday to Dr. King. While we commemorate the day of service every third Monday in January, the civil rights leader we all too often oversimplify was born today, January 15th, 81 years ago. What better way to commemorate his legacy and the legacy of his contemporaries this weekend than to turn every dry and drying eye to the center of our pride and pain--Haiti.

BENEFIT: $10 ladies, $20 gents
WHO: Shadow Room
WHEN: TONIGHT, January 15th @9:00p
WHERE: Shadow Room, 2131 K St., N.W.
WHAT: Party scene

Shadow Room and Metromix were determined not to co-opt some folks' Friday night revelry. That being said, Belevedere is playing host as this goes down this evening (for those who shall or may). http://www.shadowroom.com/

BENEFIT: Donations accepted at the door
WHO: Busboys & Poets ft. Demont Peekaso
WHEN: Sunday, January 17th @ 6:00p
WHERE: 2120 14TH St., N.W.
WHAT: Haiti Open Mic Night Fundraiser

Times like these indeed bring your pen bursting forth with emotion unspeakable until the final word is writ. Busboys and Poets plans to provide the venue for healing while artist Demont Peekaso paints live for auction. All proceeds from the art auction and from donations at the door will be donated to Partners in Health and Yele Haiti. http://www.busboysandpoets.com/

BENEFIT: $20 general admission, $100 VIP
WHO: DMV Helps Haiti, Wale and more of D.C.'s finest
WHEN: Monday, January 18th @6:00p
WHERE: 9:30 Club, 815 V St., N.W.
WHAT: concert

The concert, organized by DMV Helps Haiti, will donate ALL ticket sales to the Partners in Health Organization and Yele Haiti (helmed by Wyclef Jean). Metromix notes that the artists have DONATED THEIR PERFORMANCES, the 9:30 Club has DONATED THE VENUE and all club employees are DONATING THEIR WAGES. The advance ticket sales service charge will also be donated. How the heck do ya like that?? Salute. www.930.com/concerts

BENEFIT: $10
WHO: Washington Film Institute
WHEN: Monday, January 18th @5:00p
WHERE: The Passenger & Warehouse Theater, 1021 7th St, NW
WHAT: Documentary screening of "The Agronomist" (2003), scored by Wyclef Jean, dir. by Jonathan Demme

This part doesn't matter as much, BUT the film itself is about Haitian radio personality Jean Dominique, who "spent his life as an outspoken leader campaigning for reform and justice for Haiti." It begins around the 1991 overthrow of fmr. Presisdent Jean Bertrand Aristide. Beverages begin at 5:00pm, but the screening begins at 7:00p. Washington Film Institute will donate 25% of happy hour sales and 100% of gratuity from bartenders and wait staff from The Passenger going to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Suggested donation for the film screening is $10 or more. Proceeds from the film will also go to the Red Cross. http://www.dcfilminstitute.org/

BENEFIT: Donations open, but looking to top $5,000 en total!!
WHO: BloomBars, all the artists-in-residence and visiting AiR (and INT'L big deal) Jabba (HHP)
WHEN: Thursday, January 21st @ 8:00p
WHERE: 3222 11th St., NW
WHAT: music and nourishment :-)

BloomBars has done it once and they'll do it again and again and again>>in the name of social justice and all that is righteous indeed, the master artists-in-residence will put on for Haiti. The last benefit held for Haiti, BloomBars raised $5,000. Proceeds will go directly to Yele Haiti. Not anything you should miss, especially while Jabba--Hip Hop Pantsula, Jay-Z-KRS One compound, and internationally known superstar--is visiting from South Africa. This is a Pan-African moment you shouldn't try to resist. http://www.bloombars.com/

POST SCRIPT

The Haitian Embassy will be open Sunday until 4:00pm accepting food, water and other donations if you cannot contribute monetarily. The Embassy is located at 2311 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.

POST POST SCRIPT

I love the way my city jumps to action!

Word. Pants on the Ground, fam.

ya betta ask somebody.

ohhhhhhh SNAP! waxpoetics' Africa issue just dropped!!

Who's Estatic McStatic!!?

Ooh! Me! Me! Guess who's on the cover of this issue of waxpoetics???? FELA! WHOOOOOOOOOO!

Okay. woosah. I'm good now. A bright spot in a very heavy day. A moment to just "be beautifully, stunning-ly Black"*

Carry on.

*POST SCRIPT

Feelin' creative-like. Might go start BB-poeticizing again... (every once in a while I hit these let'swritesomepoetry! streaks. this has been one such season. may not leave the light of my ol' Blackberry--and now iPod--but i got it out, right?)

Particularly Haiti

Here's a great beginning resource for those who are feeling really how-do-i? helpless (como yo).

Chris Sacca suggests 6 ways to help the 3+ million affected by this earthquake right this second. His commenters suggest a few more, and yours truly is still searching the D.C. area for local ways to get involved.

Here are a few sites that may also benefit anyone who may happen to stumble upon:

• The U.S. Department of State's official blog, DipNote, has identified the number to call for folks who are trying to locate family members: 1-888-407-4747.
• The Haitian Embassy, 2311 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.: Haiti.org >> 202-332-4090.
• The Lambi Fund of Haiti: 202-833-3713.
• Action for Haiti - DC has only been developed within the last 24 hours. But the Facebook fan group is snowballing with information about how to help around the DMV.
• Haiti Democracy Project may be able to keep you up to date on U.S. policy and red tape regarding Haiti. One to be aware of. They also provide a number of links to other resources.

That's the DMV round-up so far. But I'll probably be back. Deuces for now.

Tarantino v. Simon Cowell: Who should replace him on 'American Idol'?

Simon Cowell: Who should replace him on 'American Idol'?

Michael Slezak speculates about his picks for heirs to the accurately scribed "cranky Brit"s throne.

Pharrell (N*E*R*D) is one of EW's contenders, but what's more is the consummation of an Inglorious Basterd, QUENTIN TARANTINO!!!!! Talk about a judge who'll let you down like a brick! I mean, let's keep'i'reeeeal--when it's over, that's the time you're going to miss somebody keepin'it'real. That's the sustaining power of the American Idol franchise (at least the pregame...). All those epic and viral moments of chagrin. smh.

Oh.My.Goodness.

(Random Post Script: per EntertainmentWeekly's last noontime Tweet >> y'all need to stop acting like Ryan Seacrest is so Disney sedate! That man probably could see Simon in a dark alley...watch the gel...)

1/13 GET YER HEADSHOTS: Open Call @Central Casting

Tomorrow (January 13th), beginning at 10:00A, the round-the-way talent agency will be hosting an Open Call for all those who are NOT already registered with the agency or looking for work as an extra. All interested and aspiring talent should be over the age of 21.

If you would like to learn more about Central Casting or "can't make it tomorrow, but..." definitely check out www.centralcastingusa.com for February Open Call Dates. Take a second to get your headshot and voiceover sample game ready, and trot on over about a half-block from Eastern Market Station (Blue Line) to...

623 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20003

202-547-6300 Phone

202-547-8196 Fax

Iight...holla homie! Get ya shine on tomorrow!

Another SNAP: Catfight? Or time for a new direction in Iranian cinema?

Go read the full article over at CUMINet.

I started sipping Kiarostami's dreamy Kool-Aid but check out what some folks who are a whole heck-uva-lot more knowledgeable of his work are saying, including a colleague, Bahman Ghobadi.

You be the judge: Who's Real-est en Reel? pow.

Reel 'Round Town | JAN 2010 in DMV so far...

Today! This Week! Til' Next Week!!!!

TODAY @ Busboys & Poets over at 14th & V will celebrate the life of Dennis Brutus with "Somehow Tenderness Survives: Remembering Dennis Brutus, Poet & Activist." Starting at 4:00p, it'll go down in poetic verse and cinematic memorial. South African filmmaker Vincent Moloi's documentary 'I Am A Rebel' will be screened as well. Brutus was a well-known journalist, teacher and "sports activist." He was caged next door to Mandela on Robben's Island for his exploits. Brutus died December 26, 2009 at the age of 85. ...and if you've heard about Togo's team right now, you might sense the solidarity of the times. Crazy. FREE

Check out 'Cats of Mirikitani' at 8:00p TODAY in the SAME VENUE and stay for the Q&A with the film's director, Linda Hattendorf. The story centers around 85-year-old artist Jimmy Mirikitani who lives on the streets just beyond the Twin Towers view. It takes an interesting turn into Mirikitani's past when heretofore witnessing filmmaker turns advocate and 9/11 completely upheaves and redefines 'home.' The film is part of BBP's FOCUS-IN Series and is the feature pic for January. FOCUS-IN screens important films by local, national, and international filmmakers. Each segment offers a focus dedicated to social justice, peace, and community value. FOCUS-IN is always free and open to all. BBP would gladly accept donations. | FREE | busboysandpoets.com

Run through Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe over at 2714 Georgia Ave. TODAY for 'Favela Rising'. The film follows a "former drug-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro's most feared slum." The grassroots Afro Reggae movement is threatened by a tragic accident that could stop the community's mobilization. Anderson is able to rally his community to "counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police." MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... This event is free and open to the public. Please go see the non-tourism-big-pimpin' side of Rio at 6:00p! (sorry...soapbox...) | FREE | sankofa.com/events

Catch 'TAKING ROOT' over at BloomBars this coming Wednesday, January 13th at 8:00p. The film is all about Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai's personal commitment to grow change in Kenya. The first female to receive a PhD in East Africa, "Maathai discovered the heart of her life's work by reconnecting with the rural women with whom she had grown up." Find yourself at 3222 11th Street, NW. This event is free, but please show your loooooove. | FREE | bloombars.com

THIS AIN'T A FILM, BUT IT'S INDIA.ARIE...

and how to kick off this year's Day of Service!

Monday, January 18th The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University will host two-time Grammy award winning, platinum selling singer songwriter India.Arie and the Let Freedom Ring Choir with Music Director Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. (who is the choral TROOF) and Mistress of Ceremonies Andrea Roane (WUSA9). Free tickets will be given away in the Hall of Nations starting at 10:00a on Monday, January 18th. They will be given on a first-come, first served basis. (in other words, don't sleep in.) And if you're interested in the Kennedy Center's vibes, you can always run through at 6:00p on the daily to catch a (no-budget) performance. Go to Foggy Bottom and catch the shuttle. *Cheeze. | FREE | kennedy-center.org