Voices In Color

Beverly Johnson Is Giving Older Models A Shot

The average modeling career is launched at 16, but if TV Land has anything to do with it, 35 is the new 16.

The nostalgia channel is in the game of original programming, leading with the new show “She’s Got the Look,” which features beautiful women vying for a modeling crown. The twist is – all of the contenders are over 35 years of age.

“She’s Got the Look” premieres tonight with the auditions whittling down to the final contestants with the help of the judging trio of modeling masters being Wilhelmina Models, Inc. President Sean Patterson, celebrity stylist Robert Verdi, and over-35 beauty supermodel Beverly Johnson, who let EUR’s Lee Bailey in on details about the new show.

“We live in the US where most of us are going to be 50 years old and more, so there is a huge market for women over 35 that really hasn’t been addressed yet,” Johnson said of one of the reasons TV Land created the series. “But the show is not only going to be a platform to address that market, but also to embrace our maturity.”

Read more:  EURweb 

Apple Stores Across Country Holding Black Music Month Concerts

One of the things that sets Apple apart from other retailers is the in-house music events they hold at their stores, which include the iTunes Live concerts series. This month, in recognition of Black Music Month, Apple stores are hosting a variety of concerts around the country featuring various African American artists. The concerts are being held primarily in larger cities such as Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and Santa Monica. One smaller venue will be getting a single show: the Apple Store, Somerset, in Troy, Michigan. Apple's recently opened Boston shop, now the largest Apple Store in the world, is noticeably missing from the list of venues.

Read more: ars technica

A Few Tremors In Oprahland

The average audience for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has fallen nearly 7 percent this year, according to Nielsen Media Research — its third straight year of decline. “Oprah’s Big Give,” an ABC philanthropic reality show, beat every program on television except “American Idol” in its premiere week this winter, but steadily lost nearly one-third of its audience during the rest of its eight-week run, according to Nielsen.

The circulation of O, The Oprah Magazine, has fallen by more than 10 percent in the last three years, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and the magazine is now seeking a new editor in chief after the announced retirement of its longtime steward, Amy Gross.

And while Ms. Winfrey still displays a Midas touch when it comes to the endorsement of books and products, some of her latest picks have attracted criticism from longtime fans as she has strayed into new-age spiritualism and, perhaps more dangerously, politics. Her endorsement of the presidential bid of Senator Barack Obama appears to have alienated some of the middle-aged white women who make up the bulk of her television audience, many of whom support Senator Hillary Clinton.

Read more: New York Times

Serena Williams Advances To Second Round Of French Open

Serena Williams can be a perfectionist when it comes to her tennis game.

After winning 12 of the final 13 games to beat Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 Sunday in the first round of the French Open, the eight-time Grand Slam champion was happy enough to just get the win.

"I feel like I ultimately could have played better," Williams said. "But first round — just want to get it over with and work your way in the tournament."

Read more: The Associated Press

Disney Has Created A 14k Gold Plated Noose Necklace

As a part of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean “Dead Man’s Chest” couture jewelry collection, Disney has created a 14k gold plated noose necklace; oh yeah…and the matching earrings. Now obviously they wouldn’t do this with any malicious intent…but you would think the advisory board or somebody would stop and think of the implications this necklace may presumably have.

Read more: BET.com

'Chris' Endures As Black-Themed Series Dwindle

Life at Tattaglia High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., can be tough. Homework, heartbreak and, on this day, a red-haired bully is on the loose, determined to torment unsuspecting nerds.

Although Chris and his friends still might be experiencing growing pains, the series -- filming its fourth season for airing this fall, in a move to Friday nights from Sundays -- is not, according to Ali LeRoi, producer and creator of the CW's "Everybody Hates Chris".

"If we were a basketball team, we would be in the playoffs," said LeRoi, sitting in his office beneath a huge French poster from Spike Lee's Bamboozled, a satire about black comedies. "We know how to shoot this show, all the dynamics are beginning to jell, even our interactions with network executives are going better."

Read more: The Baltimore Sun

Singer: Estelle

Check out this British rapper and R&B singer, Estelle.

Nas Issues Statement Regarding 'N****r' Name Change

Queensbridge, New York rapper Nas has confirmed that he has changed the title of his forthcoming controversial album from N***er.

Contrary to reports that the album will be titled Nas, the rapper told AllHipHop.com that the album will simply be untitled.

"It's important to me that this album gets to the fans," Nas told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “It's been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It's that important. The streets have been waiting for this for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."

Read more: AllHipHop.com

Family Guy Spinoff 'The Cleveland Show' Coming To Fox

FOX has released the first photo for the upcoming Family Guy spinoff 'The Cleveland Show' which will come to FOX in Spring 2009.

THE CLEVELAND SHOW (working title) (Sundays, 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT): Many years ago, CLEVELAND BROWN (voiced by Mike Henry) was a high school student madly in love with a beautiful girl named DONNA. Much to his dismay, his love went unrequited, and Donna wound up marrying another man. Cleveland once told Donna he would always love her, and if this man ever done her wrong, he'd be there when she called. Well, this man done her wrong. Donna's husband skipped town with another woman, leaving Donna with a daughter and a baby. Now she's come to Cleveland and offered him another chance at love. Unattached after the Loretta-Quagmire debacle and true to his word, Cleveland joyously accepts and he and CLEVELAND JR. move to Stoolbend, VA, to join their new family. Once in Stoolbend, Cleveland has a few surprises in store for him, including a flirtatious new stepdaughter, a 5-year-old stepson who loves the ladies, as well as a collection of neighbors that includes a loudmouth redneck couple, a British family seemingly stuck in the Victorian era and a family of bears living at the end of the block. FAMILY GUY was only the beginning. Get ready for THE CLEVELAND SHOW (working title)!

Read more: The Spill.com

Oprah Cancels 'Oprah's Big Give' On ABC

"Oprah's Big Give" is no more.

The media queen has cancelled "Oprah's Big Give" and ABC allegedly is upset with the news.

The 'Big Give' raised millions of dollars with guest appearances by Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, and John Travolta.

ABC was allegedly "desperate" to sign Oprah for a second season, but Oprah says she's done with the show.

ABC chief Steven McPherson told the New York Post, "We loved that show and absolutely would have loved to bring it back. But it was something Oprah didn't want to do."

Source: Monsters and Critics.com