VIDEO: Herman Cain’s Wife Speaks Up On Sexual Harassment Allegations

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By Team BLAM

The wife of 43 years, mother of his two grown children, finally sat down for her first television interview with Fox News to say that she absolutely, positively can’t believe all these crazy allegations against him.

However, what many are now questioning is Gloria Cain’s words saying that her comments are just as about as believable as Herman Cain’s, especially in light of two separate settlements on complaints she mush have known about.

On the other hand there are those that say Gloria should certainly know her husband of 43 years better than the often salacious media and “quick to condemn” public. Listen in and decide for yourself.

BLAM Fam: What do you think….or do you even care?

Kandi Burruss Defends What Many Say Are Negative Stereotypes On Real Housewives Of Atlanta

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By Team BLAM

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss recently sat down with Hello Beautiful and discussed reality TV and the constant criticism from viewers about the negative images of black women on television. Her perspective and comments have generated a lot of buzz and push back. Here’s what she had to say:

“Before I even joined the show everybody was talking about how it brought down the image of black people and black women. But I always tell people when you come on a reality show you’re not trying to represent for a whole race, you’re just doing you. You hope people think you’re interesting and people like it. The one thing people don’t give as far as our series, The Real housewives of Atlanta; we are a majority black cast on a network that doesn’t have that many shows featuring African Americans. So for us to be the number one show on that network…..why people don’t give us any props for that, I don’t even understand.

Yes, it does play into the stereotype of what people say black women are with the neck popping, finger rolling or whatever but I don’t feel like it’s any different than the New Jersey Housewives where it’s mostly Italian Americans on there. What they do on that show? It’s a lot of hot headed Italians on that show but I don’t see their communities saying “ Oh, they’re not representing us Italian Americans correctly or they’re not representing white women correctly.”

I feel like we as black people can be very critical of our own race and I don’t even think it should be a thing of “How are they representing us?” Guess what? If you had a camera on you for six months and they taped as much as they wanted to tape and edited it down, I’m sure they’re going to have some moments where you’re showing out too.”

So, What do you think BLAM Fam? Do you agree with Kandi? Do we as black folks have a responsibility for how we may “portray our race” on TV, film, etc.? Should television networks be challenged to bring more positive images to the screen?

A Couple Of Classic Throw Back ‘Cosby Show’ Clips To Crack You Up!

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By Team BLAM

What follows is a couple of classic throw back “Cosby Show” clips to remind us of how important family is and give you some friday warm and fuzzies along with a good laugh to top it all off. Enjoy!

Huxtable Family Happy Anniversary Performance

The Huxtable family teams up to show their love and celebrate their grandparents’ 49th anniversary with a lip-sync rendition of Ray Charles’ classic, “Night Time Is The Right Time”. We think Rudy is absolutely hilarious!

Claire Huxtable lets Elvin (Sandra’s boyfriend) have it!

Claire asks Elvin if he would like a cup of coffee and Elvin replies “I didn’t know you did that kind of thing”. Claire asks “What kind of thing?” to which Elvin replies “Serve”. Well, what happens next….don’t let us ruin it—have a listen.

Video Content Courtesy of Carsey Werner, LLC.

T.I.’s New Show “Family Hustle” Will Premiere In December. Will You Be Watching?

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Rapper T.I. and his family are set to star in a new VH1 reality show/documentary called “Family Hustle”.

Here’s what T.I. had to say about joining the ranks of the other reality shows on air:

We are doing a television documentary, basically a peek inside our life. But the term “reality show” has such a horrible stigma to it. The term “reality show,” I feel that it insults the integrity of all of the hard work, effort and energy. And just the passion that a true artist puts into what we really do. Anything that I do is going to be of a certain standard and a certain quality that I feel the term “reality show” conflicts with that. So I ain’t going to call it that. It’s a television show that me and my family are doing, it’s called “The Family Hustle.” And basically it gives you a peek inside my life and shows you that I’m responsible for shaping and molding lives, personally and professionally. Personally, everyone in my family got something that they’re trying to do and it’s my job to take their desires and passions and cultivate their success. And also how to balance my personal life and obligations at home as a son, as father, as a husband, as a friend. As well as how to balance those with my professional obligations. A lot of people always say, “Hey man, how do you always stay so connected with your family and keep strong family ties and still rip and run, and do stuff professionally? How do you work as hard as you do and still stay so present?” And I think this kind of answers their question visually.

T. I. also shared about speaking with his kids about his incarceration and past legal issues:

Without question. I’m an honest, open father. I’m as transparent as I can be with them understanding. They know that I’ve done things in life that they are not to ever do. And they know that I’ve lived a lifestyle that I worked hard for them not to ever have to experience. I stress the point of accountability, of being held responsible for your actions and having to reap what you sow.

Read more of T.I.’s interview with HuffPost here.

So, BLAM Fam: Will you be watching or avoiding T.I. and his family’s new reality series?

BET’s ‘Reed Between The Lines’ Parallels Cosby Show In Offering Positive Black Images

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Since the award-winning “The Cosby Show” ended nearly two decades ago, few TV shows have offered positive images of black families. Now BET wants to fill the gap with new scripted programming.

BET’s “Let’s Stay Together,” a romantic comedy involving contemporary relationships that debuted in January, is filming its second season after helping the network score its best ratings in BET’s history with an average of nearly 3 million viewers. And last week, the premiere of “Reed Between the Lines,” a new show starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Tracee Ellis Ross, pulled in solid numbers with 3.3 million viewers the night it debuted, and 2.9 million viewers for a rebroadcast the same night. The audience slipped this week, though, with 1.2 million viewers on Tuesday night.

“We have a sense of relief that this show may be the closest thing to `Cosby’ since `The Cosby Show,'” Warner said.

Warner and Ross star as Alex and Carla Reed, who try to balance their demanding careers while raising three children. Ross plays a psychiatrist who specializes in depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders, while Warner’s role is an English online professor at New York University.

Warner, who played Theo Huxtable on “Cosby,” said “Reed” has the potential to be a quality show that highlights a loving, upscale black family in the same fashion as the groundbreaking NBC show, which ran from 1984 to 1992.

After “Cosby” ended and went into syndication, Bill Cosby publicly criticized the television industry for failing to maintain the standards his show had started. Over the years, a few shows have showcased positive black images and roles: Andre Braugher won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Det. Frank Pembleton on “Homicide: Life on the Street”; Vanessa Williams has three Emmy nominations under her belt for playing a conniving fashionista on “Ugly Betty”; the family drama “Soul Food”; the sitcom about young black professionals, “Girlfriends.”

But Ross, who starred on “Girlfriends,” which aired from 2000 to 2008, said that for the most part, TV has lacked a strong black father figure since Cosby’s role, and she thinks Warner can now fill that role. She said she hears from fans that they have been yearning for a family comedy show such as “Cosby,” with two career-oriented parents of color who maintain a loving relationship with each other and still seek to instill good moral values in their children.

“I think it’s time for television to have a man like Malcolm,” said Ross, who produced the show with Warner. “There is a version of a stand-up kind of man we haven’t seen in a while. I’m ready to see a couple who actually loves each other working it out.”

Reed Between The Lines Airs Every Tuesday at 10pm on BET. Did you miss the premiere? Watch it BELOW.

Click HERE for full article

Source: Businesweek.com

VIDEO: Milk & Honey Web Show Exclusive Hosted By Idris Elba

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By Team BLAM

We told you about the web series executive produced by Idris Elba, titled Milk & Honey, back in May (click here to see the trailer). It was created by Brown Paper Dolls (Dana Gills, Asha Kamali May, and Jeanette McDuffie – all Chicago natives (Spelman, Howard U & FAMU grads) who started their production company in LA.

The series, which is headlined by Lance Gross, Debbie Allen, Faune Chambers, Bryce Wilson, and Asha Kamali, centers on 4 black women living in Los Angeles, who are on “spiritual, professional and romantic journeys to make their dreams reality.”

Brown Paper Dolls have been working on the project for “over 3 years,” and say that it will be available on all platforms, not just the web (TV, mobile and more). They describe it as “a mix between HBO’s Entourage and Sex and the City.”

Here, Idris & the Brown Paper Dolls sit down & chat about their experience and the show. If you like it, spread the word–we’ve got to support the entertainment we want to see.

In The Still Of The Night- Brother Jamil’s Music Moment

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We at BLAM recognize everyone is special.  Everyone possesses unique gifts and abilities that if embraced and actualized would bring brighter days to our lives.  One person that we personally know, love, and are proud to have as a part of the B Intentional family has shined a light in our lives ever since we met him.  His name is Brother Jamil Muhammad.  Not only is he an expert orator, but he also has a vast musical vocabulary that leaves many people speechless.   So we’ve chosen to give him the stage and shine the light on his hand picked musical selections because we feel they will bring light and life to our viewers.  Enjoy Brother Jamil’s Music Moment

Salaams, Y’all….If you got it, you just GOT it. It is an indictment of the existing structure of the entertainment industry that some “singers” are rich and famous, while these brothers toil in relative obscurity in the catacombs of Gotham City…Can you dig it?

Brother Jamil Muhammad is a dedicated Marriage Educator and an avid fan of music in all its forms. He created the award-winning couples’ curriculum “Making Music in Your Marriage” and is committed to the use of music to put and keep passion and excitement in your marriage (reach him at www.weddedblissinc.com or at 202 696 5150

Sherri Shepherd Talks Marriage Life, Divorce, Parenting & Advice On Catching A Man

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A healthy lifestyle is essential to sustaining one’s relationships day to day. Not to mention the importance of oral hygiene, which, according to Sherri Shepherd, is one of the golden rules for enhancing her bond with husband, Lamar Sally, and son, Jeffrey, who all recently introduced the power toothbrush to their daily routine.

“One of the things that I do that I’ve found from being newly married is that my husband and I, we go in the bathroom and brush our teeth together. And that’s when we talk about what’s going on in the day, so we get to bond that way,” she recently told The Huffington Post. “Another powerful moment for me is my son: I’ve been teaching him how to brush his teeth by himself, so he has his own power toothbrush. And he loves it because it’s fun for him.”

It’s not a coincidence that “The View” co-host has converted from a regular toothbrush to a power toothbrush: she also is currently Oral-B’s newest spokeswoman to promote the benefits of the power toothbrush.

“I am trying to inspire people to just take control of their oral health, because if we don’t take care of our oral health, it affects so many different aspects of our lives. If your smile and mouth is not together, it affects your relationship, your self-esteem, your health,” she explained. “So I’m really passionate about this. I am on the power toothbrush train and I’m asking people to try to using an Oral B power toothbrush. I just started using one and I cannot believe that I waited this long to use a power toothbrush. It’s so much easier than using an manual toothbrush.”

Having a pearly white smile has paid off substantially for the funny woman and television personality, who got engaged to television writer Lamar Sally over the holidays, on December 26, 2010. The couple tied the knot on August 13 in Chicago, making it her second marriage.

“Marriage is a great thing. I feel very blessed that I got a second chance to get this thing right. So we’re having a really good time,” she said. “He loves my son, my son adores him. Marriages are work, but I like the person. If you’re going to go through the valleys and the hills, you want to figure out who you want to go through it with. So I got a good guy.”

Prior to being swept off her feet, the “The Newlywed Game” host and Emmy Award-winner was married to comedian Jeff Tarpley. The couple separated in 2006 and divorced in 2009. As she revealed, her more recent trip down the aisle was more festive than her previous.

“When I planned my wedding the first time, my ex-husband and I, we were both struggling comics. I had a TV show that had gotten cancelled. Basically, I rented a wedding gown; the reception hall smelled like feet,” she admitted. “Seriously, my bridesmaid bought 20 cans of Glade air freshener and made everyone wait because they had to spray it. It smelled like old people. We had a cake that was [made out of] foam, and it was like a cake that you couldn’t cut into. It was really done on the cheap. So this time around, it truly was everything that both Sal and I dreamed about. I don’t have one regret.”

Click HERE to read full article at The Huffington Post

Michelle Obama Shops At Target–Just Like Us!

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From OhNoTheyDidnt.LiveJournal.com

The first lady shops at Target — just like us!

An Associated Press photographer on Thursday snapped some choice photos of Michelle Obama in the checkout line of a Target store just outside Washington for what her office says was a “routine errand,” the likes of which she does often.

The first lady appears to have been trying to pick up some items incognito. She is seen sporting a Nike cap and large, dark sunglasses.

It is not uncommon for the first lady to slip out to run an errand, eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates,” said Kristina Schake, communications director for the first lady.

It’s unclear how the photo came about; her office said the photographer, Charles Dharapak, “caught her” at the store.

President Obama has often mused about how he wishes he could break outside the “bubble” he has to travel in. The first lady does not have the same full-time entourage of reporters as her husband.

But she, too, has spoken of some frustration about how living in the White House has changed her routine.

“Before we lived here, we were normal people. I had a job, I drove my own car, I took my kids to school every day. I went to Target and shopped for my groceries,” she said at an April event for children of White House staff.


Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/#ixzz1ZPMKDiNv