CASTING CALL ALERT: America’s Got Talent

Casting for NBC‘s America’s Got Talent begins immediately in 13 cities: Orlando, Nashville, Charlotte, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, Brandon, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Producers are looking for specialty acts such as dance groups, opera singers, acrobats, impersonators, kids groups and more.

Send an email with your city and talent in the subject line (ex. New York-acrobats) to agt3talent@gmail.com and include the following must-have information: name, phone numbers, description of talent, interesting facts about yourself, a photo, city you will audition in (one of the 13 above) and time slot you would like (between 9a and 6p) and you must include a video link or mp3 of you performing.  Applicants without a video link will not be considered.

All other talent who would like to audition should visit the website to register: www.NBC.com/AGT.

Beyonce to Definitely Appear at the Grammy’s

 GRAMMY AWARDS AIR FEBRUARY 10

8PM on CBS TELEVISION

 

Management for Beyonce have declared their support for the Grammy Awards, and the artists will appear at the show whatever the status of the writers strike. Mathew Knowles, Beyonce’s father and the head of Music World Entertainment, said Beyonce and his artists Solange and Trinitee 5:7 “have been asked to participate and will do so.  We have an incredible Beyonce performance that will be announced soon.”

Official Websites:

www.Beyonceonline.com

www.myspace.com/beyonce

BET Celebrates Black History Month With Entertaining Lineup

This February, BET Networks and BET J will feature a spectacular lineup of programming that highlights the amazing accomplishments of modern-day history makers, chronicles the influence and contributions of African-American music, and showcases African-American theatre and cinema in honor of Black History Month

ON BET AND BET J:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1  8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET
BET BLACKBUSTER MOVIE PREMIERE: BLACKOUT — In summer 2003, America experienced the largest blackout in its history–widely reported as peaceful. But in Brooklyn’s forgotten East Flatbush neighborhood, mayhem unfolded when the power shut down. This is the untold story of the blackout–a place where, as night fell, looters emerged, violence surfaced and residents feared for their lives. Starring Zoe Saldana, Melvin Van Peebles, and Jeffrey Wright.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3
9:00 a.m. ET/PT on BET and BET J
CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL ’08 — Catch an encore presentation of BET’s soul-stirring gospel music special, Celebration of Gospel. This year’s event features stirring performances and moving renditions by some of today’s hottest and most talented artists from the worlds of gospel and R&B, including Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, J. Moss, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, John Legend, Pastor Shirley Ceasar, Dr. Bobby Jones, Patti LaBelle, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Israel & New Breed featuring T-Bone, and BET’s Sunday Best winner and four finalists.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
10:00 a.m. ET/PT on BET J
MASTERS OF AMERICAN MUSIC: THE STORY OF JAZZ — BET J profiles one of America’s greatest contributions to the arts: Jazz music. The Story of Jazz showcases the great jazz artists: Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Buck Clayton, Illinois Jacquet, Tony Bennett, Lester Bowie, Zilner Randolph, Bud Freeman, Randy Weston, Carmen McRae, Billy Taylor, Jay McShann, Roy Haynes, and Wynton Marsalis among others and provides up-close interviews and classic archival performance footage.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET
BET NEWS SPECIAL: STIGMA — THE SILENT KILLER — BET News partners with BET’s Emmy Award winning Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS Campaign and the Kaiser Family Foundation for the half-hour special examining the complex issue of stigma: from understanding what it is and its roots, to how it manifests and the challenge it presents to advocacy. Narrated by Antonio Neves, Stigma: The Silent Killer lifts the veil on the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and the role it plays in the spreading of the deadly epidemic in the African Diaspora.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
12:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and 6:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
HISTORY MAKERS: SUCCESS — This unique collection of oral history features interviews with prominent history makers such as Terry McMillan, Isaac Hayes, Horace Julian Bond, Ossie Davis and a host of many other influential African-Americans who have contributed to society and history.  

1:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET
BET BLACKBUSTER MOVIE PREMIERE: HE SAY…SHE SAY…BUT WHAT DOES GOD SAY? — David E. Talbert, whose hilarious blockbuster, First Sunday, is in theaters now, brings the first-ever television premiere of his popular stage plays to BET! In one of Detroit’s toughest neighborhoods, a small church finds itself stuck next door to a nightclub frequented by hustlers, pimps, and gangsters. Both the church’s congregation and the club’s dangerous owners decide to try and rid the neighborhood of the other, leading to uncertainty and a series of tense confrontations. Starring Clifton Powell, Tommy Ford, and N’Bushe Wright.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
12:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and 6:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
HISTORY MAKERS: FAITH — The inspirational stories from Susan L. Taylor, Reverend Al Sharpton, Kim Fields, BB King, along with many others serve to emphasize the power of believing in your dreams.

1:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET
BET BLACKBUSTER MOVIE PREMIERE: LOVE ON LAYAWAY — David E. Talbert’s stage play about a wildly inventive, laugh-out-loud journey inside the lives of three couples living in a Philadelphia neighborhood. First, there’s Ms. Willanetta, who after a life-changing religious experience, no longer wants to have relations with her suitor of twelve years. Next, there’s Epiphany, a single mother who has yet to decide who will be the man in her life, her new boyfriend Reggie or her six-year-old son. Finally, there’s Monique Graham, who feels as if her relationship with live-in boyfriend Anthony is on layaway and he’s making the absolute lowest monthly payments. Starring Cassi Davis, Buddi Lewis, Joi Campbell, Chico Bennymon, and Mel Jackson.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18
10:00 a.m. ET/PT on BET J
MASTERS OF AMERICAN MUSIC – BLUESLAND: A PORTRAIT IN AMERICAN MUSIC — The blues is a celebration of joyful, complex, and compelling music built on self-expression and entertainment. This film explores the blues–with all its poetic irony, sly humor, eroticism and timeless power. Hosted by actor David Keith, “Bluesland” travels the expansive landscape of the music, tracing its roots from the beginning of the twentieth century through the Mississippi Delta to Louisiana, Texas, Kansas City and Chicago. The film includes memorable footage of some of the blues’ greatest players—Son House, Bessie Smith, Jimmy Rushing, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
LAKAWANNA BLUES — BET J brings the 1960s to life in the moving film, Lakawanna Blues, about an African-American community in the period just before desegregation in the upstate New York town of Lackawanna. It documents the life of Ruben Jr. and his long-lasting relationship with adoptive mother Rachel “Nanny” Crosby in this riveting movie starring Hill Harper and S. Epatha Merkerson.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET J
THE BET HONORS — BET celebrates the lives and achievements of African American luminaries, in this 2-hour special hosted by Cedric “The Entertainer.” Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Jill Scott, Wyclef Jean, Danny Glover, Kerry Washington, Vivica A. Fox and Hill Harper pay tribute to Alicia Keys (Entertainment Award), Tyra Banks (Media Award), Dr. Cornel West, University Professor in the Center for African American Studies (Award for Education), Richard Parsons (Corporate Citizen Award), The Honorable Maxine Waters (Public Service Award) and CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd (Entrepreneur Award).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
12:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and 6:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
HISTORY MAKERS: COURAGE — Through the revealing personal stories of influential African Americans such as Nikki Giovanni, Vernon Jordan, Angela Davis, Harry Belafonte, and many others, viewers are shown the importance of following your own path and standing up for what you believe in despite the opposition or consequences.

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
BLACK STORIES MARATHON — Tune in for BET J’s special marathon of Black Stories, an unmatched showcase of documentaries depicting ordinary Black Americans and their experiences through diverse and provocative stories. Black Stories profiled include: “Smart Black People”, “The Journey of Margaret Garner”, “They Had A Dream Too”, “Ghetto Renaissance”, “Bushwick Homecomings”, “New Growth” and “The Wedding Proposal”.

10:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET J
OPERA NOIRE — Catch the ultimate theatrical performance, Black opera. BET J celebrates African Americans and their significant contributions to the Opera in this informative documentary examining the issue of race in Opera and Classical music. This special focuses on the outstanding careers of such great musicians like Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman and Robert McFerrin, the first African American to appear at the Met. In addition, it will encompass a red carpet concert gala performance of selections from celebrated composers including Gershwin and noted African American composers.

For more information, please visit www.bet.com  

 

Singer Mario Pays MTV’s TRL A Visit

[rockyou id=99895397&w=450&h=336]

MARIO’s NEW ALBUM “GO” AVAILABLE NOW!!!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.mario2u.com

YOLANDA ADAMS, KIRK FRANKLIN, PATTI LABELLE & MORE JOIN BET’S “CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL”

With spiritually-uplifting performances by some of the biggest names in gospel and mainstream music, BET’s CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is a hand-clapping, foot-stomping two-hour revival! Hosted by veteran comedian/actor and popular syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey, this inspirational affair was taped at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.  Themed “Spirit in Song,”  

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is filled with rousing performances by Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones, Fred Hammond, J. Moss, Marvin Sapp, Mighty Clouds of Joy, KiKi Sheard, Crystal Aiken, Israel and The New Breed, and T-Bone.   The telecast also includes special appearances by Rev. Jesse Jackson and Henry Simmons, and premieres on BET Sunday, January 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. 

“This show has made me a better person, it really has.  I’ve grown a lot.  Trying to be a better Christian….I’m still short, but I’m trying hard,” Harvey jokes.  Viewers can catch their favorite moments during encore airings on Saturday, February 3 at 9 a.m. ET/PT, Saturday, February 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and Sunday, February 17 at 10 a.m. ET/PT.

Justin Timberlake to Star in Super Bowl Commercial

 Justin Timberlake will bring his star power to the Super Bowl via a Pepsi Stuff commercial. Directed by Craig Gillespie (director of the feature film “Lars and the Real Girl”) and created by BBDO NY, the commercial demonstrates how Pepsi Stuff brings people closer to music, merchandise, apparel and more. 

“Justin Timberlake” is one of the biggest stars in the world, what better way to launch our biggest promotion ever than with him on the Super Bowl,” said Cie Nicholson, SVP and chief marketing officer, Pepsi-Cola North America. Beginning February 1, consumers purchasing Pepsi products can “bank” their points on PepsiStuff.com and redeem them for prizes including MP3 music downloads, electronics and apparel.  Participants can also enter a daily sweepstakes for the chance to win trips to events like the Super Bowl, the MLB All-Star game and the Daytona 500, as well as for cash and many other big prizes.

Consumers may sign up now to be reminded when the promotion begins at http://www.pepsistuff.com Pepsi has a long history and has featured the biggest recording artists and a diverse range of chart-topping music and recent campaigns have featured superstars Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani and Diddy.       

BET to Hold Job Forum in L.A.

BET NETWORKS will be hosting a Job Forum, January 22nd from 10AM-6PM. Now accepting resumes for positions including Producers, Editors, Directors, Writers, Accountants and more.

Please bring several copies of your resume to:

The Beverly Hilton Hotel
The Whittier room
9876 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Stephanie Mills to Appear on BET’s Sunday Best

The top three finalists featured on BET’s gospel music showcase “SUNDAY BEST,” Shari Addison (Chicago), Jermaine Sellers (Joliet, Ill.) and Crystal Aikin (Tacoma, Wash.) find out
who will be sent home and who will continue on the road to SUNDAY BEST.

To top things off, Grammy Award winner and Broadway star Stephanie Mills will share her wisdom with the remaining contestants as well as perform some of her most memorable songs on the next episode of SUNDAY BEST, premiering Tuesday, November 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET.