With all eyes on the opening of the new “Star Trek” prequel this Friday —and the hint of sexual tension between Chris Pine’s Kirk and Zoe Saldana’s Uhura in the trailers (the movie reveals something else altogether)— I can’t help thinking about the original franchise and of course the woman we all grew up knowing as Uhura. Nichelle Nichols was a groundbreaker because she was one of the first sister who didn’t play a servant (but then neither did Diahann Carroll in “Julia”); But she also didn’t play a mother (single or otherwise) nor were there the associated struggles of her trying to make it (sweating to pay the rent, for example). Uhura was in space and it was all about the job (and wearing the hell out of a uniform) and of course that groundbreaking kiss with William Shatner. Read the full story

Yesterday as sightings of Rihanna (alone) in Manhattan made their rounds, another curious rumor was getting its fair share of attention. Apparently, there is talk that the singer we can’t stop talking about (for obvious reasons) is in discussions to not only star in a movie, but remake a Whitney Houston classic, “The Bodyguard.” Channing Tatum of “Step Up” fame (not sure that’s the right word…but you know what I mean) is supposed to star opposite her. So my question is this: Is this Rihanna’s attempt to move the conversation away from her embattled relationship? Read the full story

So actress extraordinaire, Ms. Angela Bassett, has been holding down the fort on the final season of “ER” as a sister of substance. But the series is set to call it a day sometime next month. (I don’t think Gloria Reuben or Yvette Freeman are going to show up but Eriq La Salle might make an appearance.) But Bassett is already contemplating her next move—her first foray into directing. Read the full story

Sisters, we all know that when it comes to our hair, we do not always agree on why we make the choices we do. That’s because for many of us our tightly wound coils (which we wear naturally or chemically alter) can be a political, cultural, historical, or intensely personal matter. And don’t forget that hair can be a fashion statement too. Well, get ready y’all because comedian Chris Rock has decided to put our business out on the street in his new documentary called “Good Hair,”— which is being described as a hilarious examination of the cultural pressures that prod blacks into costly, often painful methods to care for their hair.  The film made its debut at the Sundance earlier this month. The audience loved it (but remember the film festival has mostly white attendees so they probably found the whole thing educational).  Read the full story

If you’ve already read Push, the debut novel by Sapphire you won’t soon forget it. (If not, you should read the book now!). It’s the haunting tale of Claireece Precious Jones, an overweight, undereducated, abused black girl trying to survive. And the author, a poet, has written it just the way she talks (which will take some time to decipher). The reason you should read the book now is to get ready for the movie which should make its way to a theater near you sometime later this year. Read the full story

This has been some week. The celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birth, the Inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama, and today Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis get nominated for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress. Critics have been buzzing about their work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Doubt being worthy or recognition but after seeing who won The Golden Globes, I was starting to get skeptical. But the Academy nominations come from peers so other actors recognized how fierce their performances were too. I couldn’t be happier. Read the full story

Sorry Beyoncé, although you showed some acting chops in your turn as blues singer Etta James in “Cadillac Records,” it wasn’t enough for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the folks who do the nominations for the first important award show of the season, The Golden Globes. More disappointing is that Taraji P. Henson’s role in the Christmas release “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was also overlooked (although the film was not). But one sister did live up to the pre-nomination and that is no other than Viola Davis who has a brief but pivotal role in “Doubt”, which will have a limited release tomorrow. Read the full story

As I write this, I have just turned to the incomparable Ms. Cicely Tyson in the less than spectacular remake of “A Christmas Carol” called “Ms. Scrooge” on The Hallmark Channel. This movie was made a little over a decade ago to give us our own spin on Christmas (how else can you explain the character’s name Ebonita). Sure it’s a made for television movie, but it is doesn’t reach that “It’s A Wonderful Life” status any more than “A Diva’s Christmas Carol,” which starred singer/actress Vanessa Williams just three years later. Any of course, her name was Ebony. Read the full story

I went to see “Cadillac Records” this weekend and I was concerned when the theater was less than half full. The first weekend grosses ($3.5 million) and its ninth place finish gave me a bad feeling until I realized that these paltry numbers are because the film has a limited release. Translation: put it in less than 1,000 theaters (in this cases 686 screens) and give it a wide release later so that the film and its ensemble can qualify for award season (Golden Globe, SAG (Sreen Actor’s Guild), People’s Choice and Academy Award). Read the full story

No matter how much we like Gabrielle Union, she has become one of those actresses who seems to play the same role over and over. First is was the sassy sidekick in teen flicks like “She’s All That” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” That was before she became the sassy co-star in the penultimate cheerleading flick “Bring It On.” After that she fell into either the uptight, career woman who couldn’t get a man, the romantic lead or the femme fetale in films that run together in your mind if you’re not careful…. Here are just a few: “The Brothers”, “Two Can Play That Game,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” “Breakin’ All The Rules,” “Daddy’s Little Girls,” and “Perfect Holiday. Read the full story