Janet Jackson Is Going To Tour This Fall !!!!

I am so excited! Janet Jackson just announced on the Ellen show today that she is going on tour this fall! The tour will be called the “Rock With U Tour”. The first performance will be September 11th. Janet says rehearsals start in about a month. I am very happy about this and I pray that Janet does tour this time. It has been seven long years since Janet has toured!

I just pray there are some Canadian dates on this tour! I just hope to God that Janet will perform in Toronto! If Janet is coming to Toronto I am definitely going to try to get some tickets! I love Janet Jackson so much she is my favorite singer and entertainer!

There is also a number fans can call to let Janet know which songs they want her to perform on the tour. Here is the phone number 323-622-8139. I want Janet to perform the old hits such as “Young Love”, “When I think of you”, “What Have You Done For Me Lately”, “Nasty”, “Let’s Wait Awhile”, “Come Back To Me”, and some songs from The Velvet Rope. The Velvet Rope was Janet’s best album. I love the song “My Need” its such a romantic and erotic song. I also hope Janet performs some songs from Discipline.

I think the tour could be a good way for Janet to make her official comeback. Janet needs to realize that fans love her and we want to see her perform. Okay, Discipline didn’t sell very well but I love the album! I really believe if Janet tours it will be a success. I think its a smart way for Janet to reintroduce herself to the public again and let people realize why Miss Jackson is such a legend! Go Janet!

Can Parminder Nagra Become A Mainstream Hollywood Star?

I watched ER a few weeks ago only because I am a fan of the British actress Parminder Nagra. I wish Parminder would get bigger mainstream roles I think she deserves it. It is interesting “Bend It Like Beckham” was such a huge international hit yet Keira Knightley is a big star and Parminder is on ER.

The issue I have is why can’t Parminder have the same opportunities as Keira? Keira is a solid actress and she is very talented but so is Parminder. I would like to see Parminder get some leading lady roles soon.

One movie role Parminder should be the star of is the film “Tulia” about an Indian American lawyer Vanita Gupta. African American actress Halle Berry is the leading lady in the film. Last time I checked Berry is biracial she has European and African heritage she is not South Asian. Vanita Gupta a young South Asian lawyer successfully won the release of 46 African Americans in Tulia Texas on a drug bust.

Shouldn’t the casting of the leading lady be racially accurate? The attitude of Hollywood is South Asian women are “invisible” are “displaced” and not “palatable” for North American audiences. The only reason Halle Berry was chosen for the lead role is due to her celebrity.

The question remains is Halle Berry really a box office draw? “Perfect Stranger”, and “Things We Lost In A Fire” both bombed at the box office. Halle Berry has been most successful recently in ensemble films such as X MEN.

The ideology in Hollywood is African Americans and South Asians “look similar” due to skin tone. Hollywood thinks the public can’t tell the difference between African Americans and South Asians. Since Halle Berry is African American the belief is she can pull off a convincing performance as a South Asian American woman. But is this true? Is this fair to South Asian actresses languishing in secondary roles in Hollywood ? What about the concerns of South Asian people? Is this right to change the race of the leading lady just for profit and business?

Or is this going to be another “A Mighty Heart” all over again? I understand Hollywood wants star power for the movie but choosing Halle Berry for the lead role is deleterious, racist, and incredibly offensive. How many leading lady roles do South Asian actresses get in Hollywood? The answer is zero. Halle Berry should be ashamed of herself she clearly has a huge ego and zero class.

Halle Berry is such an arrogant, selfish, hypocritical, woman she is not South Asian yet she doesn’t mind taking a role meant for a South Asian actress. Halle Berry and her publicity team always market her as the “victim” the public is supposed to feel sorry for her. I am not falling for Halle Berry’s publicity game any longer . Halle knows how hard it is for women of colour to get the leading lady roles yet she doesn’t mind taking on a role that wasn’t meant for her. Halle complains in the media all the damn time about how hard she has it.

Yes, it must be so hard for Halle Berry after all she makes $14 million per movie, multi million dollar endorsements with Revlon & Versace. Halle also receives an incredible amount of mainstream attention compared to other actresses of colour. Halle is also the top actress of colour in Hollywood whenever Hollywood has a major role for a woman of colour Halle gets called first for the role.

I am very disappointed in Halle I believe Parminder should be the star of this movie “Tulia”. “Tulia” should be Parminder’s breakthrough performance she deserves this leading lady role. Parminder has the talent to pull of this very dramatic and intense role if Halle Berry had any class she will drop out of the film. Isn’t it time for another woman of colour to shine in a leading lady role besides Halle Berry?

Meanwhile, Parminder is on television she has a steady gig on ER. Parminder’s character Dr. Neela Rasgotra is the most complex character on the show. Dr. Rasgotra has dealt with the death of her husband, falling in love with a fellow co worker, and trying to maintain her career.

I was on an internet message board the other day and some bloggers actually said Parminder would never make it in Indian Cinema. I responded back saying what about Nandita Das? Nandita Das is a gorgeous woman and talented actress she also has a darker skin tone as well. Nandita has been very successful in both Indian and Western movies. The other bloggers responded back that Nandita Das is an exception to the rule. Is this true? According to the information I have read Parminder is considered “too dark” to be successful in Bollywood. But is this this true of just gossip?

It seems the issue of skin tone racism and beauty standards exist in many communities across the globe. It is well known in the African communities light skinned women are placed on a pedestal compared to darker skinned black women. I have learned in South Asian communities the “lighter skinned” female image is the image that is considered more palatable for Indian film audiences. In Bollywood films the leading male character can be a dark skinned Indian man but the leading lady tends to always have Eurocentric features and lighter skin. Other bloggers also suggested that Parminder is doing the right thing trying to succeed in Hollywood instead of Bollywood.

Rare Clip Of Anne Sexton Reading Poetry

Are you having a bad day? Feeling a bit depressed and miserable? Want some introspection? Do you want to listen or read some morbid poetry? Why don’t you visit the bookstore or local public library and read some of Anne Sexton’s  incredible poetry. Anne Sexton’s poetry deals with gender, sexuality, depression, and suicide. Many of Sexton’s poems are about feeling unfulfilled with life yet wanting more out of life. The desperation in the poems are shocking yet also powerful.

Anne Sexton has written many poetry volumes but she is perhaps most famous for the wonderful book “Live Or Die” . “Live Or Die” is a fantastic volume of poetry. Anne Sexton is considered the second most important mid twentieth century female poet after Sylvia Plath. Anne Sexton committed suicide in the year 1974 the unhappiness proved to be too overwhelming for her she couldn’t deal with life anymore.

Despite Anne Sexton’s mental illness her poetry has incredible clarity, conviction, and honesty. In my mind Sexton was the superior poet after all Anne Sexton won the Pulitzer Prize for her groundbreaking 1967 collection “Live Or Die”. If you ever get a chance to read “Live Or Die” you will learn more about Anne Sexton’s issues with mental illness, depression, her thoughts of suicide, unhappiness, and despair. The poems are important in order to understand the real Anne Sexton. Here is a rare clip of Anne Sexton reading her poetry.

Why Hasn’t Kylie Minogue Toured North America?

I don’t understand why Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue hasn’t toured North America yet? I love Kylie Minogue she seems so humble about her incredible success. Kylie Minogue’s first album was released in 1988 her debut sold well and attained gold status. Kylie is viewed as an overseas sensation. It is true Kylie is a superstar in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia for the past twenty years.

Kylie did breakthrough in North America with the massive success of her 2001 album “Fever” selling over 1 million copies in the United States and triple platinum in Canada.

The media compare Kylie to Madonna but it isn’t fair. Madonna comes across as very truculent and arrogant at times. Kylie is the opposite she is sweet as sunshine she is so adorable. I am so happy she has overcome breast cancer and has returned to the top of the charts.

Kylie is promoting her new album X and I definitely will purchase the CD ASAP! It is obvious Kylie has a fan base here. I definitely want to see Kylie perform in a concert. It sucks that she never performs in North America. I understand Kylie’s massive in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. However, Kylie would be more successful here if she bothered to tour here.

What’s Going On With Janet Jackson?

My goodness it is amazing how fast things change. Janet Jackson is so talented, intelligent, sultry, and vivacious. I love Janet Jackson and I will always be a fan. I do wonder why the media is still so anti Janet Jackson? Janet Jackson is an icon but she’s also a Jackson. Janet is also Michael Jackson’s younger sister.

The North American media attitude against Janet Jackson is deleterious. Since the Super Bowl incident Janet’s music career hasn’t been the same she has been punished. For instance, Janet has been banned from pop radio. An artist needs radio to reach specific demographics. The Jacksons are a legendary family. Now you have white artists such as Justin Timberlake copying Michael Jackson’s sound, dance moves, and image. Britney Spears has admitted Janet is one of her idols she mimics Janet all the time. Beyonce, Ciara, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera, have all copied Janet Jackson.

I hope Island Records gives Janet a second single and video at least. Janet deserves a chance to shine. I am very disappointed with the promotion of “Discipline”. Janet is being treated so unfairly by Island Records. It appears to me Mariah Carey is getting all the publicity attention and money from Island while Janet is being treated like dirt.

I don’t have a problem with Mariah I am a fan of her work. I just feel so bad for Janet right now its got to hurt that Mariah is doing so well and her career is fading into dust. I own “The Emancipation Of Mimi”. I don’t understand why Jermaine Dupri works so well with Mariah and not Janet? Mariah and Jermaine just click with their music. Why isn’t Jermaine able to duplicate the success with Janet? Jermaine ruined Janet’s last studio album 20 Y.O. all the crunk that’s not Janet’s sound. Janet is a mixture of R&B and pop that’s her signature sound.

I honestly believe Discipline is a solid album I love this new album. I don’t get it? Why is Janet not connecting with the public? Perhaps it is radio maybe radio stations aren’t playing Janet anymore due to ageism? I don’t know what’s going on? Also I think sexism is the culprit here. R Kelly is 40 years old he’s an R&B legend he sings about sex and not one newspaper or magazine has criticized R Kelly for singing about sex. So why are men allowed to be sexual but women cannot?

I remember at the beginning of the decade Janet Jackson was on top of the world. The Velvet Rope world tour was a huge smash and the All For You album and tour was very successful. Mariah and Janet are both signed to Island records. Mariah has her 18th number one single “Touch My Body” surpassing Elvis for second spot in the rock era. Meanwhile, Janet Jackson’s new album “Discipline” isn’t doing well.

Discipline isn’t selling very well in North America. Janet is hot if she wants to sing about sex more power to her. I just think perhaps now even I can admit maybe Janet needs to change her image a bit? Maybe Janet needs a complete image make over she needs to try something original and different. I don’t mind Janet talking about sex but she needs to do something contstructive with her talents. Perhaps Janet should continue acing again?

Morrissey Is A Man Of Mystery

Back in the 1990s when I was a jaded, depressed, unhappy, teenager I started listening to The Smiths. I think one of my first crushes was on Steven Patrick Morrissey. Although my crush on Morrissey has faded over time I still respect him as an artist. Some people say Morrissey is irrelevant to the music industry but I strongly disagree. I think sometimes he is misunderstood. Sometimes I do feel Morrissey takes himself a bit too seriously after all he’s a pop superstar.

I remember a friend of mine he loaned me a copy of “Viva Hate” Morrissey’s first solo album. I loved the brashness of Morrissey’s lyrics and the assertiveness of his voice. Morrissey is a very good singer he is also very opinionated, outspoken, and attractive. Morrissey still looks good for a man that’s almost 49 years old.

The Smiths were a cult eighties British rock group. I didn’t discover The Smiths until the 1990s. I was most impressed with the lead singer and songwriter for the group Steven Patrick Morrissey.

Morrissey was born in Manchester England in the year 1959. Morrissey has a cult following in North America a few of his albums have reached gold status. Even when Morrissey didn’t have a record deal for seven years he toured and sold out concerts. For a long time Morrissey refused to conduct interviews because he felt the media manipulated his comments by twisting his words to create controversies.

The interesting aspect about Morrissey is he refuses to declare his sexual orientation. Some pop critics in the occidental media have declared Morrissey is gay even though he chooses not to speak about his sexuality. In England British journalists often compare Morrissey to the gay literary icon Oscar Wilde. I can see the comparison between both Wilde and Steven Patrick Morrissey have Irish roots. Both Wilde and Morrissey are also passionate about their art and politics. Morrissey and Wilde are also very outspoken and controversial as well.

In the song “America Is Not The World” Morrissey does talk about race, gender, and sexuality. I don’t know if Morrissey is gay but I definitely know he’s not straight. I think perhaps Morrissey is bisexual. People don’t really think about male bisexuality. There is an assumption in society that men cannot be bisexual. A man is either heterosexual or homosexual there is no in between. So why is there this double standard? Female singers can declare they are lesbians or bisexual and nobody says anything.

Now if you listen to The Smiths songs like “Hand In Glove” and “Charming man” you know the songs have a strong homoerotic element. Morrissey continues with the homoeroticism in songs later on in career such as “Roy Keen”. Also, has anyone ever seen the musicians in Morrissey’s band? I mean look at the guitarist, bass player, and drummer these guys are gorgeous aren’t they? Morrissey definitely has one of the best looking bands in rock music these days.

I have a love and hate relationship with Morrissey. Sometimes he says really stupid things because he’s trying to be edgy sometimes Morrissey needs to think before he says stuff. I find Morrissey to be incredibly pretentious and he does things just to shock people. Other times I think Morrissey is one of the smartest men in the music business. I give Morrissey a lot of respect in terms of following his own artistic vision.

For seven long years after Morrissey’s 1997 album “Maladjusted” bombed he didn’t have a record deal. Finally, in the year 2004 Morrissey returned to form on “You Are The Quarry”. Morrissey’s voice never sounded better and the songs are simply incredible. Also “You Are The Quarry” is the most successful solo album of Morrissey’s career.

However, in 2006 Morrissey released “Ringleaders Of The Tormentors” and I must say the album is complete rubbish. The songs are uninspired lacking the lyrical content has a sense of levity. I was disappointed because I think “Ringleaders Of The Tormentors” is Morrissey’s worst solo album. What happened to Morrissey? Where is the man that sang “We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful”? What about songs such as “Everyday Is Like Sunday” or “The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get”? On Morrissey’s 2006 album he appears lost and confused. Morrissey now claims he is no longer celibate and having sex. Maybe Morrissey’s mood changed because he’s happy again? I hope Morrissey’s next studio album will be a stronger and better.

I Love India Arie!

I love India Arie her third album “Testimony Vol 1: Life & Relationship”! India Arie’s third album debut at the number one spot on Billboard in the summer of 2006. “Testimony Vol 1: Life& Relationship” has been very successful reaching platinum status and selling close to two million copies worldwide. The high debut and solid sales are very important. It demonstrated India Arie is a force in the music industry and a black woman doesn’t have to change herself to obtain record sales. India Arie is very important not just to black women but everyone and the music industry. India Arie proves you don’t have to lose your integrity or dignity to have a successful career.

Some people have tried to insult India Arie by calling her the “Oprah” of music. So what if India Arie is positive? Sometimes when I feel depressed and miserable I listen to India Arie she makes me feel better. I admire India Arie for her courage to actually think outside of the box. The music industry is all about paradigms and following trends. India Arie has found her own niche and it works for her. India Arie has her own path. I also love the fact India Arie can play the guitar she reminds me of Tracy Chapman but she is less melancholic. I wonder if India Arie will move beyond a mixture of folk and R&B and release a full length folk album?

Don’t we have enough grief in our lives and this world? What’s wrong with a little bit of love? India Arie’s music is very positive and why not? Why should music always be depressing all the time. India Arie is all about helping the public to realize we should be thankful for being alive. Since we are alive we can make changes to our lives to make it better.

There is nothing wrong with examining ourselves and questioning how we can help the world. India Arie is all about exploring the internal side of ourselves the side some people refuse to share with other people. We have feelings of darkness, pain, sadness in our lives. What’s wrong with trying to overcome the unhappiness and grief?

Another reason why I love India Arie is because she is proud of her blackness. So often in pop culture we see black women such as Mary J Blige, Tyra Banks, and Beyonce Knowles with their lace front blonde weaves. The question is what messages are these black entertainers sending to the public? Mary J Blige talks about “real love” yet girlfriend has been rocking the same blonde weave since 1992!

Its like girlfriend get a new hair style! India Arie is all about natural hair but she says its okay to wear a weave and she’s right. Everyone has a right too style their own hair anyway they want to. I am just glad India Arie exists because she is demonstrating to black people and the world that black is beautiful.

I love Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson but I must admit I don’t feel they have dealt with the internal struggles with their blackness. Why did Janet get the unnecessary nose job? Janet Jackson’s original nose is beautiful. Why has Michael had multiple nose jobs and bleached his skin yet continue to deny the truth? My sister says Janet’s nose looks jacked up. Michael Jackson is a completely different story this guy needs a therapist. India Arie is heading to Broadway this summer in New York City she will be in Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf”.

DVD Review: Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle

In the summer of 2004 John Cho and Kal penn finally had their first major breakthrough in Hollywood. Cho, and Kal Penn have been working diligently for years often in secondary roles . Cho was most famous for his role in the WB sitcom “Off Centre” and “American Pie”. Kal Penn was known for his role in the teen comedy “Van Wilder.” Finally, John Cho and Kal Penn were given the opportunity to shine in the leading roles of Harold Lee and Kumar Patel in the stoner comedy “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle”.

Although “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle ” made $18 million at the box office the movie gained cult status due to DVD sales. Since the DVD sales for the first movie were huge a sequel will be released on April 25th 2008. There is more pressure on Cho and Penn that the second movie is a box office hit. Hollywood is slowly making progress realizing there is an audience that desires to see Asian American men as leading men in the movies.

Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle” has received a lot of press because the leads are two young Asian American male actors. John Cho is Korean American and Kal Penn is Indian American. Harold and Kumar are also not nerds they are two intelligent, ambitious, and attractive young men. Cho and Penn definitely are eye candy and have the potential to become Hollywood superstars.

The plot is simple Harold and Kumar are two young Asian American men that are restless, sexually frustrated, and also craving some weed. Harold Lee is a junior analyst at a business firm he is hardworking but also lonely and depressed he has no love life . Harold is an attractive man yet he has no self esteem he doesn’t believe he is worthy of true love.

The only woman that showers Harold with attention is a young Asian American female Cindy Kim. Cindy is a student at Princeton University she is also the president of the East Asian club. Cindy is attracted to Harold and she is stereotyped in the movie as a nerd. Harold is nice to Cindy they talk a lot but he’s not interested in Cindy he fears he will have to date an Asian American woman. Harold even says Cindy calls him a “twinkie” yellow on the outside and white in the middle.

I kind of wish the movie explored Harold’s fascination with Maria a bit more. Why was Harold so against dating an Asian American woman? What was so wrong with Cindy Kim? Cindy’s kind of cute I didn’t understand what was wrong with Cindy? Is Harold interested in Maria more because she’s from a different culture?

It is easy to understand why Harold would be sexually attracted to Maria she is svelte, sexy, curves in all the right places. I wasn’t sure what to think of the character Maria? Maria hardly has any lines and she appears to just be a sex object for Harold’s sexual desires. By contrast Cindy Kim is stereotyped as an aggressive, desperate, unattractive, nerdy, Asian student. Is the movie trying to say ambitious women are not appealing to heterosexual men? Why was Cindy Kim such a caricature? I think if Cindy Kim was less of a caricature perhaps this would of been more interesting?

Kumar Patel he is an aspiring medical student he’s a bit more outgoing then Harold and kind of is the leader. One evening after Harold returns from work he and Kumar decide to instead of eating KFC or take out they crave White Castle hamburgers. Kumar appears to be in love with no one except his desire and craving for weed. There is even a funny sequence when Kumar marries a bag of weed although I did cringe when Kumar uses scatological language to describe his “wife”.

Harold and Kumar definitely has some funny moments for instance Neil Patrick Harris plays an extreme role of himself as a womanizing heterosexual drug user. According to media reports Harris was hesitant of taking the role because he first thought the movie was going to make fun of him. The screenwriters actually wrote a role specifically for Harris. Another funny scene is Chris Meloni’s cameo “Freakshow”. “Freakshow” is a Christian man that looks like a grotesque monster out of an old Halloween movie.

Some women may not like “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle” because the female characters really have no purpose other then being sex objects . There is also female nudity in the movie this might be a turn off for some women as well. I have read in the sequel there will be more balance there will definitely be male nudity so that’s fair. There is also some jokes in the film that may be interpreted by some as homophobia. I didn’t think the movie was homophobic at all. I think the movie was trying to demonstrate that Harold and Kumar have an intense platonic friendship some people may interpret as homoeroticism. There is a really cool scene the Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds is a male nurse. After operating on a patient Reynold’s character starts hitting on Kumar telling him he likes his “chocolate lips”. There is also another scene where Kumar is licking Harold’s face after he passes out.

I think this is perhaps the main weakness in the film. In one scene two female English foreign exchange students talk to Kumar at Princeton and tell him they wouldn’t mind smoking a joint with him. Kumar tells Harold in an explicit manner what he thinks of the two English students. Perhaps Harold and Kumar is a way to peek into the minds of heterosexual men? Harold and Kumar isn’t meant to be a serious film it is a comedy. A part of me felt conflicted watching the film some feminists will not enjoy the crude humor. The sections of the movie I did enjoy is when the film explored the issue of race, racial profiling, becoming independent, and living your own dreams.

Kal Penn, John Cho, and Neil Patrick Harris all say the movie changed their lives and careers. Harris credits the movie for launching his comeback on to television on the CBS show “How I Met Your Mother”. Kal Penn desperately wanted to audition for the male lead in Mira Nair’s “The Namesake”. Cho told Penn about “The Namesake” while filming “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle”. Penn and Cho attempted to buy the rights to “The Namesake” but learned they were too late. Penn started an aggressive campaign to obtain Nair’s attention but this proved futile. The reason Kal Penn got an audition for “The Namesake” is because Nair’s teen son was a fan of “Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle”. John Cho credits the film for giving him the opportunity to be one of the stars in the new Star Trek film.

Harold and Kumar isn’t rocket science the chemistry between Cho and Penn makes the movie endearing. You sense that Cho and Penn genuinely like each other and get along well. The magic to the film is the fact you are rooting for Harold and Kumar not just to reach White Castle but to gain independence and start to live their lives on their own terms.

Carter On Spin City Was A Breakthrough Black Gay Male Character

Prior to the emergence of Noah’s Arc there was a paucity of positive representations of black gay men on mainstream television. The only images of Black gay men on television were snap queens, sex objects, or freaky drag queens. Carter Heywood on ABC’s Spin City shattered the negativity about black gay men in pop culture.

The character Carter was also important in relation to race because finally an openly gay man was a main character on television. Far too often whenever a character is gay on television its always a white person. In North America gayness equals whiteness and gay black men are displaced due to race, gender, and sexual orientation. Finally, the writers and producers of Spin City got it right. Carter was a well adjusted young black man he wasn’t on the down low, he also wasn’t confused or conflicted about his homosexuality.

I am currently on the hunt for Spin City on DVD ASAP! I have to have my Carter fix! I remember when I was struggling with my sexual orientation in the 1990s I was lost and confused. In the 1990s the vast majority of the gay male characters on television were not black I simply couldn’t relate. One evening I was watching a new television show in 1997 Spin City on ABC. I recall Michael J. Fox from the 1980s sitcom Family Ties he was the star of the show.

The character I was most fascinated by was Michael Boatman’s character the openly gay black man Carter Heywood. Carter was a revelation because he wasn’t confused about his homosexuality, he also was comfortable with his blackness. I love Carter! The writers also allowed Carter to have romantic relationships with other men. Carter’s love life was an important part of the storyline.

I felt so connected to the Carter character because he was negotiating being a black man and also dealing with his sexual orientation. Sometimes Spin City focused on the politics that gay black men endure in our lives. Spin City wasn’t afraid to deal with polemical topics such as race, sexual orientation, and homophobia.

Carter also wasn’t just an asexual sidekick like Jack on Will & Grace on NBC. Carter was a confident openly gay black man a rarity on North American television. I never liked Will and Grace because I felt there was a reticence to dealing with male homosexuality in an honest manner. Will and Jack I believe were neutered they were asexual while Grace got all the men.Jack and Will were just effeminate caricatures.

I also was impressed that Carter wasn’t effeminate, he didn’t dress like a bizarre drag queen, or some other offensive gay male stereotype. Carter liked sports he loved basketball, baseball, football he was masculine and sensitive at the same time.

One aspect of Spin City I loved was that Carter’s best friend was a white heterosexual ladies man Stuart. Stuart didn’t care that Carter was gay in fact Stuart and Carter eventually move in together but were platonic friends. I love the fact that the writers of Spin City explored the fact that gay men and heterosexual men can be friends. The straight man doesn’t have to worry that the gay man might hit on him. In fact, Stuart genuinely cared for Carter very much he was Carter’s best friend. It was so hilarious because Stuart hated Carter’s suicidal dog Rags. Another joke on Spin City was that Stuart and Carter were a couple even though Stuart was straight. In fact, there was one episode that explored the possibility that Stuart had romantic feelings for Carter. Carter was accepted by his male peers he was one of the guys. Carter emerged as one of the breakthrough characters on Spin City.

Unfortunately, Michael J Fox had to leave Spin City due to a diagnosis of Parkinson disease in the year 2000. ABC hired has beens actors Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear to help the show. However, ABC also fired some of my favorite actors on the show such as Victoria Dillard, Connie Britton, and Alexander Chaplin. The chemistry and magic was gone. The spark that made Spin City so witty and exciting was gone the show just wasn’t the same and I tuned out. The former 1980s TV stars Sheen and Locklear ruined Spin City and the series was canceled in 2002.

I was disappointed that the producers fired some prominent characters from the show and the writers didn’t make the characters Carter and Stewart have more prominent roles on the program. Stuart and Carter was shoved to the background. Spin City shifted to Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear’s characters storylines and it just made me want to vomit. I felt Sheen and Locklear had bad comic timing both actors ultimately destroyed the credibility of the series. I still have fond memories of Spin City but I refuse to watch episodes with Sheen and Locklear. I just feel Sheen and Locklear are not funny. I miss Carter but he will always live in my memories of Spin City.

DVD Review: Monster’s Ball Is The Movie Progress Or A Step Backwards?

First off let me say congratulations to Halle Berry for have a successful delivery and giving birth to a healthy baby girl. Halle must be thrilled right now she’s always wanted to have a child. I am sure Halle will be a wonderful loving and caring mother. Although some people think I don’t like Halle Berry this is simply not true. I do think Halle is a solid actress one of her performances was in the television film “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” for HBO.

Eighty three year old Ruby Dee was nominated for her performance in the film “American Gangster” she didn’t win. I was shocked this was Ruby Dee’s first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. I think it is such a disgrace that Ruby Dee wasn’t nominated for her electrifying performance in the 1961 classic film “A Raisin In The Sun.”

I started to think to myself what is Halle Berry’s appeal really all about? Obviously Berry is a very attractive woman I’m not blind. My questions refer more about Halle Berry’s acting abilities. Halle Berry definitely takes risks in her roles more risks then other black actresses. I applaud Halle for taking challenging roles for pushing the conventional thinking about black woman. Halle Berry’s most controversial and perhaps the one she won an Oscar for was for Monster’s Ball. Halle’s acting in Monster’s Ball is superb you see the layers, the complexity the feelings of anguish, sadness, grief, regret, pain, and finally acceptance of her character’s circumstances.

I also believe Halle Berry benefited at being at the right place at the right time. Prior to winning the best actress Oscar Berry was already the top actress of colour in Hollywood. The best actress Oscar win simply cemented Halle Berry’s A list status. The question is will another black woman ever win best actress Oscar? Does it even matter? Should we care? Or is the bigger issue the lack of dramatic roles for black women? The Oscars appear to me to be more about politics then about the actual craft of acting.

In the year 2002 the Academy had heard for years that talented black actors weren’t winning Oscars. The Academy killed two birds with one stone giving the best actor and actress Oscars to Denzel Washington and Halle Berry. I cringe when people say this is progress. I am not so sure. Denzel’s character in “Training Day” was a crooked cop. Halle Berry’s character in Monster’s Ball comes across as a whore willing to do anything to move up the social ladder.

A lot of the criticism for Monster’s Ball is the fact many people believe Halle’s character Leticia Musgrove should of went to a less sexually attractive actress. I will admit seeing Halle even without make up on she still looks glamorous even though she’s not supposed to be. It makes sense that Billy Bob Thorton’s character the racist prison guard Hank would want to have sex with Leticia. Although Hank is a racist he is still a red blooded man with raging hormones.

The part of Monster’s Ball I don’t believe is how quickly Hank “falls in love” with Leticia it doesn’t make sense to me. Was it love or just lust? How can a man in middle age suddenly transform so quickly from being a racist bigot to falling in love with a black woman? Why did Hank send his racist father to the nursing home after insulting Leticia? I doubt this would occur in the real world.

After Leticia’s husband is executed she is struggling to pay her bills, she is forced to leave her apartment, and Hank decides to help her. The question is why? What was Hank’s real motivation? I wondered why didn’t the movie explore this a bit more? Didn’t Leticia have any family or friends or any connection to the black community? Leticia appeared isolated from the black community?

Perhaps this was the screenwriter’s true motivation the fantasy that a black woman needs to be saved by a white man in order to have a better life? The screenwriter’s real motivation also is to cheapen a black actress force her to perform in a degrading and racist sex scene for shock value. Hank doesn’t appear to me as a noble or nice man he just looks like a racist old man that wanted to exploit and take advantage of a young black woman that was vulnerable and in danger.

Heath Ledger has a small but important role in Monster’s Ball his character Sonny is a sensitive young man he works with his father at the prison. Heath Ledger was an attractive guy he easily could of been Halle’s love interest in Monster’s Ball. I think Berry and Ledger becoming a romantic couple in this movie would of made more sense. Sonny is depressed he feels unloved he sleeps with prostitutes because he cannot make a connection to a woman in the mainstream world. Sonny also feels unloved by his racist father Hank. I think it would of made more sense if Heath Ledger’s character Sonny fell in love with Leticia because Sonny wasn’t a racist.

Billy Bob Thorton is simply too repugnant, unattractive, and old for the leading man role. It just didn’t seem right that Leticia would fall in love with such an unappealing old guy. Monster’s Ball would of been a more interesting movie if Sonny and Leticia fell in love because they are closer in age and Sonny appeared to to be more open about interracial romance. Sonny was just insecure and weak he followed his father Hank because he was desperate for his approval and love. Sonny wasn’t a racist. Sonny commits suicide right in front of his father Hank and his racist grandfather.

Leticia’s son also dies in a tragic accident. Next, the media and public focus shifts to the intense sex scene between Berry and Thorton. The sex scene seems to me purely for shock value a way to gain publicity for the film and it worked. I am sure millions of heterosexual men flocked to the movie theaters because they can see sex symbol Halle Berry naked in her full glory. Leticia Musgrove is reduced to the pernicious stereotype of being a whore. In Hollywood black women are stereotyped two ways the black woman is either the maid or the whore there is hardly ever any balanced perspective of black female sexuality in the movies.

The quandary is the sex scene reduces Berry’s character Leticia to a filthy whore. Leticia screeches the famous line “make me feel good” with a sneer. I can understand why some black men were so enraged with the sex scene. The question has to be asked does a black woman have to reduce herself in a licentious nude sex scene to win Oscar? Is this really progress?

When was the last time you seen Angelina Jolie in an intense interracial sex scene with With Smith? Can a leading black male actor have an explicit sex scene with a top white actress and win an Oscar? Can Terrence Howard have an intense sexual scene with Jennifer Aniston or Julia Roberts and receive critical acclaim? The answer is never because that’s never going to happen. Hollywood is all about white male dominance and white heterosexual men will never allow leading white women to have black male love interests.

Would a white actress that is considered beautiful have an intense, nude sex scene with a black man and receive critical acclaim? Charlize Theron and Will Smith have a movie coming out this year called Hancock and according to reports there is an interracial love theme in this movie. Hancock is going to be a comedy it is not a drama. Theron is an A list white actress actress she is considered to be one of the most beautiful and talented women in Hollywood. Will Smith is A list the most powerful man in Hollywood and he is black. The question is despite Will Smith’s crossover success will Hancock be a success with the black and white audiences? How intense will the movie’s interracial theme be?

The sex scene in Monster’s Ball was meant to be fractured to be awkward, to illustrate two anguished souls smashing together for comfort. At the same time Halle Berry’s sex appeal was exploited to lure in the male audience and create a buzz for the movie. Monster’s Ball reduces Leticia Musgrove to being a prostitute. Angela Bassett slammed the character Leticia Musgrove in a famous interview with Newsweek magazine. Bassett said she was not impressed with the character Leticia Musgrove because she believes it stereotypes black female sexuality.

The relationship between Leticia and Hank is basically a transaction it is a form of prostitution. Hank the older white man wants Leticia’s body because she is young and pretty. Hank will allow Leticia to live with him if she has sex with him. Since Leticia has no money she offers her body to Hank for shelter. Hank also has a higher social status then Leticia she benefits from this as well. But where is the love? I didn’t feel that either character truly loved each other. I will give Halle Berry credit for taking on a role that despite the controversy her acting is very strong you really do believe Leticia is in a lot of pain. Monster’s Ball was the last big dramatic movie role for a black actress and that was over seven years ago. The paucity of leading lady roles for black women is still very rare. Think about it, when was the last time you went to a movie theater and saw a black actress in a serious dramatic piece as the leading lady?