"The Game" Is Back for Season 5! (BLOG)

The moment that all of you ardent The Game fans have been waiting for is finally here, and yes, the rumors are true! The Game is back for a fifth season on BET. Let's recap the Season Four cliffhangers to see what drama will continue to unfold this next season.

When we last saw Derwin and Melanie Davis, they were visiting a fertility specialist to find out why they couldn't seem to get a bun in the oven. The way that Melanie answered one of the doctors' questions led Derwin to believe that she'd had an abortion. Can they get over this new hurdle? Will they ever have a baby of their own?

Tasha Mack just found out that her supposedly terminally ill boyfriend Bo was just yanking her chain, hiding the fact that he had a wife and kids at home. When it rains it pours for Ms. Mack—Melanie also just fired her as Derwin's publicist. But you know what they say: You can never keep a good woman down. She's back in Malik's life full-time, and planning a comeback the likes of which San Diego has ever seen.

Malik Wright was just let go as the quarterback of the San Diego Sabers. While reeling from the news via live press conference, his ex-girlfriend shows up at his door high and in need of some TLC. Can he make a comeback? Is this his chance to make things right with Jenna?

Kelly and Jason Pitts have been separated for nearly two years now, but it's obvious that something is still there. Kelly had to take a bit of a sabbatical to find herself without the stigma of being the former Mrs. Pitts. Couples therapy may be in order for these two. Will they ever find their way back to each other?

Will The Game continue to be the pop-culture phenomenon that it has become in its fourth season? I'm sure. Visit BET.com/thegame for updates on the new season and exclusive photos, video and interviews.

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Why Is Television Losing Women Writers? Veteran Producers Weigh In (BLOG)

As the fall TV season approaches, it's worth taking a closer look at the people who have created and written the scripted fare you'll see.

In the 2006-2007 television season, 35 percent of the writers of broadcast network, prime-time programs were women, according to an annual study by San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film. In the 2010-2011 season, that number had dropped by more than half, to 15 percent. What happened?

Since the latest edition of the annual SDSU study came out two weeks ago, I've posed that question to a dozen experienced television writers and creators, female and male alike. Most of these professionals, who've worked on everything from 'Battlestar Galactica' to 'Sons of Anarchy' to 'Pushing Daisies' to 'Chuck,' were alarmed by the numbers that the Center released.

For some, it confirmed their worst fears. "The situation is getting worse," said one veteran woman writer. "In the '90s, the networks cared more. They don't anymore." For others, it made them re-evaluate gains they thought women had made. "I had certainly perceived the situation as getting better and better for women -- I am rarely the only woman in the writers' room anymore, and I encounter more women at the higher levels," said Jane Espenson ('Once Upon a Time,' 'Torchwood,' 'Buffy,' 'Battlestar Galactica'). "I remember what it was like 20 years ago, and this is not that."

Today, everyone seems to agree in principle that diversity is desirable for a whole host of reasons, some of them pragmatic. "Overall, I've found that an equal mix of estrogen and testosterone in the writers' room -- and, indeed, with the support staff -- make for the best working environment for both genders," said Marc Guggenheim ('No Ordinary Family,' 'Eli Stone,' 'Brothers and Sisters'.) "A good working environment equals, in my opinion (though Lord knows there're plenty of examples to prove me wrong), good television."

"A balanced writers room is like a balanced world. Everyone thrives, good work gets done, people like each other and the show is better for it," said an experienced female writer who did not want to be named (let's call her Writer A). "Women keep the room moving. They're great at multitasking and getting along with others. They don't procrastinate and they open up with lots of personal anecdotes that make for great stories on the show and great character beats. They tend to smell good."

But the SDSU study isn't the only one showing that progress for women writers has, at best, stalled. According to statistics compiled by the Writers Guild of America, in 1999, 26 percent of working writers in cable and broadcast were women. By 2009, that number had risen by a mere 2 percent (and that was before the sharp decline recorded by the SDSU study). Moreover, between 2000 and 2009, "the earnings gap between women and white males [had] nearly quadrupled (from $4,735 to $17,343)."

"With women comprising a majority of the television viewing audience, this doesn't make much sense. You would think it would be an advantage to have greater numbers of women on staff," said Shawn Ryan ('The Chicago Code,' 'Terriers,' 'The Shield').

Asked to explain these worrying trends, the writers I spoke to offered various interpretations, ranging from economic pressures to old-fashioned sexism. Taken together, their observations paint a nuanced picture of a professional environment that's as stubbornly resistant to change as any in America.

The Economic Factor

The stagnant economy of the last several years affects hiring decisions in peculiar ways, some of which may prove especially detrimental to women.

"If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that the size of writing staffs and the number of job opportunities for TV writers have been shrinking since the [2007-2008] writers' strike and the start of the recession," Guggenheim said. "While that wouldn't explain the disproportionate decrease percentage-wise, my instinct is that when jobs are harder to come by, it's minorities -- including women -- who are disproportionately impacted."

And old-school attitudes can inform hiring decisions, according to Nell Scovell ('Warehouse 13,' 'NCIS,' 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'). "Anecdotally, I think in hard economic times, there's a misconception that men are still the breadwinners, i.e., 'If you give a woman a job, she's only supporting herself, but if you give a man a job, he'll support an entire family.' This is far from the truth."

The networks' and studios' desire for a "security blanket" in uncertain times is also a factor. Ask any television writer or critic: When we read about projects that the networks are developing or greenlighting, the names of the same male producers (and their proteges) crop up again and again.

"I think networks are panicking a little," said Amy Berg ('Eureka,' 'Leverage'). "With the emergence of digital media, no one is quite sure where the television industry is headed. How long will it be before content is created and distributed exclusively online? I think this, along with the country's current economic instability, is making networks reach for their security blankets. They're buying content from familiar faces with proven track records instead of taking risks with fresh voices. And if you're a veteran of this industry, chances are you're also a dude."

'Terra Nova' may well be emblematic of the current state of television drama. It's a big-budget, action-adventure series from big names -- among them Steven Spielberg and former Fox executive Peter Chernin -- and it has a whopping 12 executive producers. Two of them are female, and though 'Terra Nova' is being pitched in part as a family show, neither of those women is creatively guiding the project on a day-to-day basis (the project's showrunners are veteran writer/producers Rene Echevarria and Brannon Braga).

The Woman in the Room

In some quarters, there's still the perception that if a show has one woman writer on staff and perhaps one writer of color, that program's commitment to diversity is fulfilled (about 10 percent of working writers are minorities, according to the WGA, and that number has not budged for many years). But several woman pointed out that those writers are often the junior ones in the room, and they say it's not unusual for those writers to stay on the lower rungs of writing staffs for years rather than be promoted to positions of greater responsibility.

"If women aren't hired to write on staff they can't be mentored. They can't gain experience and they can't move up and then ultimately create their own show. They can't have overall deals" with studios, Writer A said. "They are essentially shut out of the process. We are seeing the effects now of women being shut out of the process."

The women who do get hired aren't particularly keen on being thought of as "the woman writer." As Ali Adler ('No Ordinary Family,' 'Chuck') put it, "During staffing season, you'll hear people say: 'We're looking for an upper-level female writer,' versus [a female writer] just being the best and brightest and shiniest non-gender specific penny in the bunch."

Being the only one of anything can certainly be an anxiety-inducing situation. Writer A recalled working for a show that fired its sole female writer every few months. "Being the only woman in a writers' room is like walking around with a target on your back," she said.

One male showrunner who has made strenuous (and successful) efforts to have a racially diverse writers' room remains frustrated that he still only has one woman on staff, and he said he's been thinking a lot about what it must be like for that woman.

"When you reach a critical mass of guys, you realize, even if you add women, it's still a very male culture, and that may not be the working style that the woman is used to or most comfortable with," noted that showrunner (let's call him Writer B). In that male culture, a woman may be less willing and able to offer ideas and pitches that come from their personal experience. (It also produces a different kind of show: The SDSU study found the number of female characters has dropped from from a high of 43 percent in the 2007-2008 season to 41 percent in the 2010-2011 season.)

When she staffed 'Alcatraz,' Elizabeth Sarnoff ('Lost,' 'Deadwood'), who co-created the show with J.J. Abrams, made sure that the writing staff had four women on it. All those women are senior writers.

"There just aren't enough women on writing staffs, period. There just aren't," Sarnoff said when I spoke to her a few weeks before the SDSU stats came out. "I felt very marginalized on every staff I've ever been on, because you feel like, 'Now I have to say that chicks wouldn't do that.' You know what I mean? Because there's nobody else to say it. It's not that guys are biased in one way or another, they're just guys in the same way we're women."

The irony is, according to Sarnoff, is that women's cultural conditioning makes them more likely to be able to contain their own creative impulses in ways that allow them to hew to the vision of the showrunner. "[Women are] better at subjugating their own egos and allowing themselves to embrace another voice," Sarnoff said. "Men fight it. I've seen it. I've been on enough staffs to see it, where they're the ones who are trying to push their own [stuff] through rather than actually say, "Okay, I'm actually here to serve another."

It's All About the Genre

The kind of shows that are in vogue can affect the composition of writers rooms as well. Women are perceived as being more appropriate for the staffs of "soapier," ensemble-driven shows, but that's not where TV is headed right now. "The trend in the industry has been away from that kind of [soapy] TV, toward shows that are either more episodic or more big-event shows," said Writer B. "And in those areas, the perception -- and I'm not saying I agree with this -- is that they are more the province of male writers." (Here's a bit of advice for aspiring women writers from that showrunner, whose last few potential female hires got better offers from other shows: "If you're a woman who writes kick-ass action, the employment picture is a lot better.")

Comedy's comeback could be a factor as well; networks have been bulking up on half-hour programs ever since 'Modern Family' became a breakthrough hit. Though late-night shows typically have very few or zero women on staff (that's true even now, despite last year's controversy over the overall lack of women in late-night writers' rooms), finding a prime-time comedy in which more than a third of the writing credits come from women isn't all that easy. Though 'Parks and Recreation' has many women on staff (40 percent of its Season 3 writing credits went to women), that's not necessarily typical -- of the 17 credited writers for 'Modern Family's' first two seasons, five are women.

"Having started in the half-hour world, I definitely felt that was male-dominated territory," said Rina Mimoun ('Privileged,' 'Pushing Daisies,' 'Everwood'). "Those rooms are generally larger than one-hour writing rooms, and they almost always have hardly any women on staff. [Maybe] that could account for some of the statistics?"

Ad Advice

But what if the problem is simply baked into television's revenue structure? For everyone except Netflix and the premium pay networks, pleasing advertisers is the name of the game, especially in these uncertain times.

"Just look at the primary measuring statistic for a viewing audience, the only statistic that matters financially -- males 18-49," said Kurt Sutter ('Sons of Anarchy,' 'The Shield'). "Networks demand that shows be aimed at that target audience. They have to. That's what advertisers demand of them. No ads, no TV. So by default, for the most part, we are creating television for white guys.

"Play out that reality -- who better than to write those shows? White guys. I'm guilty of it. I have women on staff, but the truth is, I've learned that men write shows about the struggles of men better than women," Sutter added. "I'm not saying that women can't write male characters. Some do, very well. But men can write male characters more accurately."

Even networks aimed at female viewers are generally cautious and unlikely to pursue shows that take creative risks -- and feature truly unconventional stories by and about women.

"We're not making art out here, we're making programming that allows networks to sell ad dollars," says Jill Soloway ('Six Feet Under,' 'United States of Tara,' 'How to Make It in America'). "The only ad dollars that appeal solely to women only are diapers and cleaning products. The expensive ad dollars, like cars and air travel, must appeal to both genders. ...Sometimes I watch 'Louie,' which, for my money, is one of the best shows I have ever seen on television, and wonder if ... a network would air a show where a woman was talking about masturbating and farting (in an awesomely deep way, mind you). The answer is no -- not because networks hate women, not because studios refuse to hire women creators -- but because there is no brand that would be willing to be associated with the idea of such an anti-heroic woman."

The Elephant in the Room

And then there are the powerful men in the industry who just don't get it.

"They tend to say things like, 'We tried [hiring a woman] once but she just didn't work out.' Or 'Women aren't as funny as men. Women writers aren't as good.' Yes, they say this. I've heard it. They often don't even realize how they sound," said Writer A.

"Without going into specifics, two older male colleagues teamed up to make my life miserable" at one of her previous gigs, Berg said. "The experience was as surprising as it was devastating, which is probably why I didn't handle it well. As a result, I'm much more discerning now with the jobs I take on other shows and have a strictly enforced No Douchebags policy when hiring a staff of my own."

"I've been on staffs, not recently, where I remember at the beginning of one season, the boss just called in all the men and didn't want the women, and was so happy not having the women around," Sarnoff recalled. "When I asked later why he did that, he said, 'Well, you know, it was just the upper-level people.' I said, 'Do you understand how wrong that is on every level?'"

An Unequal Future?

Perhaps as successive generations of men and women take the reins of the creative community in Hollywood, things will change. But where will the next generation of female writer/producers come from if the talent pool is shrinking?

"We've backtracked," says Scovell. "My sense is there are more women at the top, but fewer coming up the pipeline."

Given the dire statistics, there may be a vicious circle at work: Women who hear that the television industry is not welcoming to them may be less likely to become part of it in the first place. Writer B said he's tried to convince female feature writers to work as TV scribes, but they're wary of the hours and the probably have heard stories like the ones above. In any case, the process of winnowing down the number of female candidates begins at the talent agency level, where agents determine which writers even get representation in the first place. They tend to go with writers who have powerful mentors or who are shopping the kind of TV projects that have worked in the past. And so the cycle continues.

"My guess is that the majority of the showrunners are still males and tend to hire males disproportionately to women," said Ryan. "Anecdotally, I will say that when I get spec scripts [i.e., work samples] sent to me for consideration (from staff writer level all the way up to co-executive producer), we always get more from male writers than female. Are more male writers trying to write in Hollywood than women? Are agencies representing a disproportionate number of males? I'm not sure."

Whatever set of factors have led to the current state of affairs, the networks and studios have stood by while it happened.

For the networks and the studios, there's no real downside to things remaining exactly as they are. Women are understandably reluctant to engage in the kind of legal actions that would make them unemployable, and who would they sue, anyway? There are multiple studios and networks; the industry is more diffuse than, say, Walmart, which was sued because only 33 percent of women were in management. (And, as I pointed out in a story last year, that percentage would be an improvement for women in Hollywood, where only about 25 percent of the people with the title executive producer are women).

So things stay the same -- or, when the industry recoils from perceived or real crises, things get worse.

Will the brave new world of online media save the day? Will the decoupling of advertising and content lead to greater opportunities and different kinds of stories made by a wider variety of people? It's hard to say.

In a hopeful example, Felicia Day and Kim Evey, the women behind the hit web series 'The Guild,' talked in this story about how creating their own online series -- a season of which costs six figures -- allowed them to bypass many of the hurdles that women in the industry must jump.

On the other hand, when Netflix commissioned its first series, 'House of Cards,' it went with David Fincher, a big-name talent who has no experience running a television show. Is 'House of Cards' even television, considering you won't need to be near a set to watch it? It's a good question -- one that Fincher will reportedly have $100 million to answer.

Who'll have the last laugh? Well, Felicia Day owns her content. Maybe David Fincher should ask her for career advice.



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Austin Powers "Shoe Thrower" Sentenced to Life in Prison over Gang Rape (BLOG)

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A bit actor who appeared in the first "Austin Powers" movie was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the violent 1990 gang rape of a Southern California woman.

Joseph Son, 40, was found guilty of one felony count of torture Aug. 25 after being linked to the crime through DNA evidence, said Farrah Emami, spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney.

In 1997's "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," Son wore a bowler hat and played one of Dr. Evil's henchmen, named Random Task.

Son and co-defendant Santiago Lopez Gaitan, 40, abducted the then-19-year-old victim as she was walking her dog by her apartment on Christmas Eve.

Son and Gaitan drove the woman to Huntington Beach and repeatedly raped and sodomized her in the back of the car at gunpoint. They also pistol-whipped her and repeatedly threatened to kill her, counting the bullets and telling her she was going to die.

Prosecutors say the woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, begged for her life before Son and Gaitan released her, naked, badly injured and blindfolded with her own pants. She went to a local home, where police were called.

Evidence was collected from the woman that Christmas Eve, but the case eventually went cold.

It wasn't until Son pleaded guilty to felony vandalism in 2008 and violated probation that he was required to provide a DNA sample. That sample was linked to DNA collected from Doe in 1990.

In an "impact statement" to the court, the woman said she deals with post-traumatic stress disorder daily, and Christmas has become difficult to celebrate every year.

"My emotional scars are intense," she told the court. "My twenties were stripped from my life as I relearned how to walk, see, hear and cope with the outside world again."

Gaitan pleaded guilty in January to five felonies, including kidnapping and sodomy by force in concert. He was sentenced to 17 years and four months in state prison.

Ryan Seacrest in Talks to Take Over VH1 Soul Network (BLOG)

The multi-hyphenate would expand his media portfolio by acquiring with AEG the little-watched spinoff.

Ryan Seacrest is getting that much closer to adding his own cable network to his media empire.

The multihyphenate, along with entertainment giant AEG, is in talks to potentially take over MTV Networks net VH1 Soul, according to sources close to the situation. Talks are in an advanced stage, insiders say, but the deal—being brokered by CAA—is not done and could still fall apart. Seacrest's reps declined to comment.

The news comes nearly a year after The Hollywood Reporterfirst reported that Seacrest was teaming with the two companies to launch a network, described then as a music, pop culture and lifestyle-oriented channel. It would likely pull additional programming from AEG's worldwide concert and live venue assets (including the Staples Center, L.A. Live and London's The 02), and would not be seen as a direct competitor to NBCUniversal cable network E!, where Seacrest has had a long-term deal.

VH1 Soul, a spinoff of MTV Networks' VH1 channel, is a little-watched digital cable and satellite network aimed at fans of soul and R&B, according to the Viacom website.

The decision to rebrand an already established channel rather than attempt to secure distribution relationships with cable and satellite companies for an entirely new net is a shrewd one in today's increasingly crowded landscape. (Though if Oprah Winfrey's recent viewership woes at OWN --formerly Discovery Health-- are any indication, the former is hardly a sure thing.)

In an April profile, Seacrest told THR that any network deal made would not result in "a Ryan Seacrest channel," the way Winfrey's is branded OWN. "It will not be branded with my name or my face, which many people will be happy about," he quipped at the time.

Rather, this next step is seen more as a business venture for a man whose budding empire already includes his decade-long hosting gig on Fox's American Idol, E! News, his On Air with Ryan Seacrest radio program and producing the Keeping Up with the Kardashian franchise. Earlier this year, THR dubbed him "the new king of reality TV."

If a deal closes, Seacrest would serve as an influential partner, offering his producing skills, his connections to talent and potentially some on-air contributions, though sources say the role is yet to be totally fleshed out.

Seacrest's annual pre-tax earnings already exceed $55 million thanks to his many projects and enviable rolodex, leaving executive types such as NBCUniversal chief executive Steve Burke to wax on about his talents. "It's rare to find someone who excels both in front of and behind the camera, but that certainly applies to Ryan," Burke told THR earlier this year.

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Survey: NFL Stars Reveal Their Dirtiest Groupie Secrets (BLOG)

Tracy Morgan said it best, “Hoes be winning.” For today’s groupie, a meal ticket is so 2005. Groupies today are all about "that life," and the fastest way to that life is found with any athlete or entertainer within digging reach. The lifestyle these men lead allows them to think “It ain’t tricking if you got it,” and boy…they are out here tricking. And shamefully, some of these guys are simpin’ too. Whether these men are trickin’ or simpin’, if a groupie has that “good good” then her life is great.

Football season is here, and the NBA lockout is a reality. Don’t underestimate the groupie, they know what's up. To the groupie, the NBA lockout is the equivalent of the 2008 stock market crash. The groupies need the NFL more than the fans need the NFL. This upcoming NFL season, the groupie wants to “just do it” and these NFL players “hear the footsteps” of fake red bottom heels coming.

As part of Complex.com's week-long NFL Preview, we surveyed several NFL players to get a glimpse into just what the groupie scene is like these days. We offered them anonymity in exchange for their candor. Here’s what they had to say.

1. How big of a problem are groupies?
"You really have to protect yourself. Now, not every baby mama is a groupie, but you see a lot of women seeking the benefits of NFL players. I try to be fair that women are naturally attracted to successful men and that [includes] athletes. But now with groupies, it’s a bigger beast." - An NFC South Pro Bowler

"A big problem because a lot of guys that never really had ‘em before have ‘em now, and they don’t now how to act with the new attention. Groupies are really bad because they destroy homes. A lot of these players are married with children. These groupies don’t give a fuck at all about a man being married. They just care about themselves and what they can get out the situation." - A free agent safety

"Not a problem unless you let them be a problem." - One of the best defensive tackles in the game

2. What city has the most?
"New York, L.A., Miami, Houston, Vegas and wherever the big events are." - A cornerback for a team on the East Coast

"Miami, L.A. and Phoenix." - An East Coast Pro Bowler

"Dallas, Houston…especially Atlanta, and Jacksonville has them too. The women in Puerto Rico and Brazil are easy but they really could care less that you play in the NFL. They just know that you’re from out of town and want to show you a good time." - A free agent safety

3. What city has the least?
"I don’t know. They are everywhere really. If I had to pick a city, I’d say Buffalo." - NFC East Pro Bowler

"Any city without a pro team." - An NFC South Pro Bowler

4. What city has the hottest groupies?
"Houston, L.A. and Miami." - An NFC South Linebacker

"You can never go wrong with Atlanta, and Miami would be a close second." - State of Florida lineman

"Phoenix for sure." - A current Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion

5. What city has the ugliest groupies?
"Since they are small towns, Buffalo or Green Bay. They may have some diamonds in the rough though." - AFC East rookie

6. What's the age of the oldest groupie that's approached you?
"About 40." - NFC South cornerback

"48." - East Coast offensive tackle

"She looked 50, but I don’t know." - AFC North rookie

7. What's the age of the youngest groupie that's approached you?
"The youngest that they can get in the club." - NFC defensive back

"I hope she was 18. She kept asking for my number, and I sad cut it out!" - Rookie, 2nd round pick

"High school age, it was crazy. I ran from that girl." - NFC South linebacker

8. Of the groupies that you've seen, what race are most of them?
"Black, but that’s just the environments I’m in. I hear other teammates talk about white girls and Latino girls being just as bad." - An anonymous #57

9. What's the most money you've spent on a groupie at one time?
"None…they’re groupies. You don’t have to spend money on ‘em." - Free agent free safety

"This girl wasn’t a groupie, but a chick I was dating. Me and her went to hang out and it was $500 times 2 for travel, $300 for food, throw away money about $200, hotel about $800 and that’s $2300 for a three-day weekend. Now imagine if you have a groupie, and y’all are staying in the Fontainebleau in Miami and hitting clubs and buying tables. You can easily spend $5K without blinking." - NFC offensive guard

10. What hotels are the easiest to sneak them in on the road?
"Any hotel, you just have to do it right. The floor that the players are on has security, so a lot of times players just get a room in the same hotel on a regular floor." - Former NFC East safety

11. How do they get in contact with you?
"Social media mostly. They also give you the groupie stare at the club too. Just stare at yo’ ass until you speak to them. Be hypnotizing guys [laughs]." - NFL Pro Bowl lineman

"They just stare at us when we’re in the club. Like deliberately. It’s like you’re going to the dog pound, and they’re just waiting to get chosen. They will literally stare at you in VIP until you ask them if they want to come to VIP." - An anonymous #24

"Mainly in the clubs. Anytime there is a big event like a Super Bowl or All-Star weekend, they are around. They make sure to get your attention by the way they dress or they’ll approach you. I’ve had girls slip their number in my pocket before. When they come up to me, they’ll say they're your biggest fan or 'I can tell you play football by the way you’re built.'" - Former NFC East safety

"You’ll see them digging you just by eye contact, and most guys go after those girls. A woman can’t make a man want her. A groupie is just an easy opportunity. They just be thirsty. Then you have the ones who play like they don’t know who you are. They know the rosters and they do their homework. Heck, she’s not bright if she hasn’t done her homework." - An anonymous #96

"I’ve had a waitress see that I’m big by my size. Once she took my credit card for the meal, she remembered my name or wrote it down or whatever and gave me my receipt. Within five minutes of leaving the restaurant, I get hit up on Twitter, and it’s her with a nude twitpic talking bout 'This is what I look like fresh out the shower after work.'" - An anonymous #75

12. What's the craziest groupie story that's happened to you?
"In L.A. this chick domed me and my partners up. We left the room and our other homeboy went in to go fuck. We hear her moaning in the room, we’re laughing. And then all of a sudden we hear this weird noise. We thought she was choking him. We ran into the room to see what was going on, and it turns out that when he busted his nut, he threw up on her at the same time. Shit was hilarious and disgusting." - NFL Pro Bowl tackle

"A girl was waiting outside my house. I wasn’t answering her calls or texts. Then all of a sudden she just started knocking on my door. I called the cops. [Laughs.] She knew I was inside, but I never came to the door because I had company. The police were calling her name outside and everything, talking about '[Player's name] called us and told us you were making a disturbance.' And then she’s like, 'Oh, so HE IS HOME!' really loud. It was funny." - Pro Bowl defensive lineman

"I was at a DC club with a couple well-known guys. We’re at the table chilling, and two girls walk up to us. One of them was playing shy, and the other just came right out and said whoever gets up first is coming home with me tonight. No one got up, we just looked at her and busted out laughing." - NFL Free Agent defensive back

"I met a girl on Twitter from Texas. She hit me up and asked me to mentor some kids. I told her I don’t live in Texas but I’ll do it in the offseason, which was around the corner. We exchange numbers, and I get a picture from her the next day. She says it was an accident and she meant to send it to her brother. It was a regular pic, I told her she looked nice. I was just being cordial, no flirting or nothing. We’re just talking casually, and then she hits me the next day and says, 'If you liked yesterday’s pic, you’re going to love this one'…she was ass naked! All of a sudden, she wants to come to the city I play in and visit me, etc. I’m not biting though.

"We continued to talk for about two weeks and shit's just not adding up. I looked at the people she followed and I swear everyone was in the NFL or NBA. I asked her if any of the guys ever helped her with her charity, and she said they all try to holla at her. I asked her why she still follows them then, and she said she loves sports and is a tomboy.

"I remember hearing about a little scam some groupies had going on, so I asked her to send me a pic, which she did. I sent her one back holding my cup and making a funny face. I asked her to send me a picture mocking the pose I just sent her. Guess what? She said her camera was broke. [Laughs.] I stopped talking to her.

"Maybe two weeks later, I’m talking to my teammate and he describes the exact same situation. I told him to let me see the pics, and the same girl sent him all the same pics she sent me. It didn’t make any sense, because what if I had flown her to my city? What was her explanation going to be for not looking the same in the pictures she sent me? Maybe she wanted to ask me for money and thought I’d give it to her, I don’t know. That’s the craziest thing that’s happened to me though as far as groupies go." - Pro Bowl NFC offensive lineman

13. What's the craziest groupie story you've heard about?
"We meet this one chick and chop it up with her in the lobby. She says she’s down to suck us all up. Me and my homeboy stay down in the lobby at the bar and my other friend goes up to the room with the girl. We get up there about 15 minutes later, and the girl is crying. My friend is cussing her out bad calling her all types of hoes. She sucked him up, but I have no idea why she was crying. My homeboy that was with me at the bar went up to her and was trying to get a blowjob and she said she didn’t want to do it. She put her hands back in her face. His dick was already out so he’s standing next to her and all of a sudden bust on her shoulder. She raises up and was like 'Are you serious?' and just lost it and started laughing actually. It was pretty funny." - Pro Bowl right tackle

"We were at the club one night. We had a table and there was a group of girls next to us at another table. There were about ten of them. Well my homeboy got to chopping it up and he fucked all 10 of them in one night. I have no clue how he did it." - #29 who shall remain nameless

One NFC South defender went on an interesting tangent…

"To be honest, I don’t believe in groupies. All women that look for a great opportunity, I believe that’s what a smart girl would do. As a successful man, you’re at the top of the food chain. From athletes, entertainers, Fortune 500 CEOs, surgeons, and all other successful men your money, power and status puts them at the top of the food chain. What women is not going to want to be with you?"

So they're taking him for his status rather than his character?

"Yes. The attraction is more powerful than his character. They let you get away with a lot more when you have status. Some guys like easy access to a chick. They don’t want to have to work for a good girl. They want a chick on the side, you know, a show piece. The mentality is, well I got the money, I got the cars, I got the house, I GOTTA have the girl. Most successful men have the highest divorce rate. Did you know the NFL divorce rate after two years after retirement is 80%. Once the money doesn’t flow like it used to and the attention is gone, they bounce. The chick you with wasn't with you for the right reasons. And she never had to really learn to love with you or live with you. An NFL player is always gone. Practice, games, charity events, you’re never there. You don’t have to be around someone 24/7, but after you retire, it changes. Once the stadium’s gone, the fame is gone....where’s my backbone? She gone!"

So if you don’t believe in groupies what would you call the women you just described?

"An opportunist in love with opportunity and not in love with the guy. It’s very rare to find a good chick. You’re not going to find them in the clubs. It has to be something that just happens. A lot of times dudes know these girls are up to no good, but they don’t want to pay attention to signs. Some of these dudes be falling in love with these girls, it’s crazy. But men are the same way. We want a chick we can brag about too. She wants to tell her friends my man is a millionaire, he does this or that. We want the same. You don’t want to tell your friends and family your girl works at Walmart or is the 7/11 clerk. With these women, you just have to be true to yourself."

Finally, a Pro Bowler’s parting words of wisdom:

"These groupies are a young man’s dream and a young man’s worst nightmare. You got money in your pockets for the first time. You’re getting $60k checks a week, and the finest women are at your feet willing to do anything you tell them. It’s so easy, but you just have to make sure you meet the right one and not meet the wrong one with wrong intentions."


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Odd Future Lands TV Series On Adult Swim (BLOG)

Fast-rising Los Angeles hip-hop collective, Odd Future, are doing big things. After invading the music world, they are now set to invade your television sets.

According to the Los Angeles Times, OFWGKTA have landed a deal with Adult Swim for a live-action series called "Loiter Squad."

The network said Thursday (September 8) that the show will be a 15-minute series that features sketches, man on the street segments, pranks and, of course, music.

The show, which by Dickhoue Entertainment (known for "Jackass"), will be similar to the hit MTV series. Tremaine and Adult Swim's Nick Weidenfeld will serve as executive producers.

At press time, "Loiter Squad" is set to premiere in early 2012.



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Hitmaker The-Dream Says Friends Beyonce and Jay-Z Are 'Ecstatic' About Starting a Family (BLOG)

The-Dream says two of his biggest collaborators, Beyonce and Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Knowles-Carter are “ecstatic” to start a family and insist that it’s a reward for their hard work.

"They're ecstatic, as well as they should be,” The-Dream told Billboard.com about his close friends, who he has spoken to since Beyonce made the announcement during the 2011 MTV VMAs. “ I love it for them because they work so hard. To start a family after you've worked so hard is great."

He also talks proudly of his biggest hitmaker Beyonce, saying she’s been at the top of her game for so many years that she can focus on family.

He adds: "It's great for her to be at a certain place in their life where she can say, 'Okay, cool. I've killed it for this many years, but let me do this.'"

The-Dram recently released the free album ‘Terius Nash: 1977,’ later mentioning on Twitter that they may be a second effort before or after his next studio album.




singersroom

Chris Brown Cleared of 95 Outstanding Parking Tickets (BLOG)

While R&B bad boy Chris Brown is getting cleared of 95 parking tickets, many people are just trying to get cleared of one! Los Angeles officials have ruled that the singer only has to pay a fraction of $15,000 in parking citations.

Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos stated last month that West Hollywood officials were forced to dismiss more than $15,000 in parking citations his client was issued for parking in handicap spots. Geragos goes on to explain that the handicapped parking spots at Brown’s former condominium complex were assigned to him. The developer of the building had mistakenly marked his spaces as handicapped and therefore Geragos petitioned for the tickets to be dropped.

However, the battle isn’t won quite yet. While 95 tickets have been dismissed, 22 parking related citations still remain open, city sources told TMZ.

Either way, the load is definitely lightened on Chris' end.




singersroom

Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, & More Talk Race & Culture Relations In Business With Steve Stoute (BLOG, VIDEO)

Steve Stoute, author of The Tanning Of America: How the Culture of Hip-Hop Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, has made a name for himself in both the music industry and through linking some of music's biggest stars with high profile endorsement deals and business ventures (e.g Justin Timberlake/McDonald's, LeBron James/State Farm Insurance) through his Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging company.

Now he is hosting a video series called “The Tanning Effect" with AOL HuffPost where he talks to superstars like Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams and Lady Gaga about race, business and pop culture. Interesting food for thought..especially for our fab business savvy readers.

Watch the series trailer here:





theybf

Jon Gosselin tells Kate to get a real job (BLOG)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jon Gosselin, dispensing career advice? Roll up your sleeves and tie yourselves off, irony junkies, because we have a fix for you.

The former "Jon and Kate Plus 8" patriarch responded to TLC's cancellation of "Kate Plus 8" by offering some tough love to his former spouse, via an interview with RumorFix.

His words of wisdom for Kate Gosselin? Now that the show-biz gravy train has rolled out of town, it's time to get a real job.

"Reality TV is not a career. Get back to a normal life -- a simple life. Provide for your family," Gosselin counseled.

Big words from a guy whose sole remaining career option seemed to be pot-bellied gigolo just a couple of years ago. But Gosselin goes on to claim that he's back on the straight and narrow, working in the computer industry and putting food on the table for his jumbo-sized brood.

"I go to work every day and provide for my family," Gosselin crowed. "I spend time with my kids -- spend time on the weekends. I spend time with the girlfriend I've had for over a year now. And enjoy a normal lifestyle."

Lil Wayne Scores 18 Nominations at 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards (BLOG)

Fresh off making a grand entrance on Billboard Hot 200 with a whopping 964,000 copies of "Tha Carter IV", Lil Wayne scores a ridiculous amount of nods at this year's BET Hip-Hop Awards. Weezy receives a record-breaking 18 nominations at the sixth annual prize-giving event.

The dreadlocked rapper gets his multiple nods in such coveted categories as Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year and Hustler of the Year. His single "6 Foot 7 Foot" is additionally vying for Track of the Year, Best Club Banger and Verizon People's Champ Award.

The Young Money MC bumps into "Watch the Throne" duo Jay-Z and Kanye West in more than three categories. They are joined in the battles by the likes of fellow rappers Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa and P. Diddy.

Weezy's domination is followed by Kanye and Khalifa who get 9 nods each and Rick Ross who grabs 8 nods. Other nominees who appear in multiple categories include Chris Brown, Rihanna, Drake, DJ Khaled, Cee-Lo Green, Big Sean and Minaj. The latest is the only femcee who gets nominated this year.

2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards will be taped at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta on Saturday, October 1 and will air ten days later on Tuesday, October 11 at 8:00 P.M. Actor and comedian Mike Epps will return as a host, and music newcomer Meek Mill will make his debut on the show by appearing in its cypher segments.

Best Hip-Hop Video:

•Big Sean ft. Chris Brown - "My Last"
•Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
•DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - "I'm on One"
•Eminem ft. Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"
•Kanye West ft. Rihanna - "All of the Lights"
Reese's Perfect Combo Award (Best Collab):
•Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - "Hustle Hard" (Remix)
•Big K.R.I.T. ft. Ludacris & Bun B - "Country Sh*t" (Remix)
•Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
•DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - "I'm on One"
•Lupe Fiasco ft. Trey Songz - "Out of My Head"
Best Live Performer:
•Busta Rhymes
•Cee-Lo Green
•Jay-Z
•Lil Wayne
•Kanye West
Lyricist of the Year:
•Jay-Z
•Lil Wayne
•Nicki Minaj
•Rick Ross
•Kanye West
Video Director of the Year:
•Gil Green
•Anthony Mandler
•Chris Robinson
•Kanye West
•Hype Williams
Producer of the Year:
•J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
•Kane Beatz
•Lex Luger
•No I.D.
•Kanye West, Emile, Jeff Bhasker & Mike Dean
MVP of the Year:
•Lil Wayne
•Nicki Minaj
•Rick Ross
•Kanye West
•Wiz Khalifa
Track of the Year:
•"6 Foot 7 Foot" - Produced by Bangladesh (Lil Wayne ft. Cory Gunz)
•"Black and Yellow" - Produced by Stargate (Wiz Khalifa)
•"I'm on One" - Produced by T-Minus (DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne)
•"Look at Me Now" - Produced by Diplo & Afrojack (Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)
•"My Last" - Produced by Lex Luger (Big Sean ft. Chris Brown)
CD of the Year:
•Big Sean - "Finally Famous"
•Lupe Fiasco - "Lasers"
•Nicki Minaj - "Pink Friday"
•Kanye West - "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
•Wiz Khalifa - "Rolling Papers"
DJ of the Year:
•DJ Drama
•DJ Enuff
•DJ Envy
•DJ Khaled
•DJ Prostyle
Rookie of the Year:
•Big K.R.I.T.
•Big Sean
•Frank Ocean
•Diggy Simmons
•Tyler, the Creator
•Wiz Khalifa
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style):
•Jay-Z
•Lil Wayne
•Nicki Minaj
•Kanye West
•Wiz Khalifa
Best Club Banger:
•Ace Hood - "Hustle Hard" (Produced by Lex Luger)
•DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - "I'm on One" (Produced by T-Minus)
•Lil Wayne ft. Cory Gunz - "6 foot 7 Foot" (Produced by Bangladesh)
•Waka Flocka Flame - "No Hands" (Produced by Lex Luger)
•Wiz Khalifa - "Black and Yellow" (Produced by Stargate)
•YC Worldwide ft. Future - "Racks" (Produced by Sonny Digital)
Best Mixtape:
•Big K.R.I.T. - "Return of 4Eva"
•B.o.B - "No Genre"
•J. Cole - "Friday Night Lights"
•Kendrick Lamar - "Section .80"
•Frank Ocean - "Nostalgia, Ultra"
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse:
•Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now" (Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)
•Lil Wayne - "Motivation" (Kelly Rowland ft. Lil Wayne)
•Nicki Minaj - "Monster" (Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver)
•Wiz Khalifa - "Bright Lights, Bigger City" (Cee-Lo Green ft. Wiz Khalifa)
•Wiz Khalifa - "Till I'm Gone" (Tinie Tempah ft. Wiz Khalifa)
Hustler of the Year:
•P. Diddy
•Jay-Z
•Lil Wayne
•Rick Ross
•Kanye West
Verizon People's Champ Award (Viewers' Choice):
•Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
•Lil Wayne ft. Cory Gunz - "6 foot 7 Foot"
•Nicki Minaj ft. Drake - "Moment 4 Life"
•Kanye West ft. Rihanna - "All of the Lights"
•Wiz Khalifa - "Black and Yellow"




aceshowbiz

Beyonce Flaunts Baby Bump in Bikini (BLOG,VIDEO)

Beyonce continued to celebrate her 30th birthday and first-time pregnancy in Europe on Tuesday.

After spending the weekend in Venice, Italy for film festival fun, the "Love on Top" singer popped up in Hvar, Croatia with her husband Jay-Z. And unlike the bump-obscuring maxi-patterned dress she wore in Venice on Saturday, Beyonce's Tuesday attire flaunted her expanding belly.

For her Croatian beachside look, the Grammy winner donned a frilly white two-piece bikini as Jay-Z (real name: Shawn Carter), 41, stood by.

"He's wanted this so badly," a pall tells Us of the first-time father. "Jay didn't have a father in his life, so he wants to be an amazing dad," adds another source.

Beyonce (who famously announced her pregnancy at last week's MTV VMAs in L.A.), meanwhile, is enjoying the baby prep. "She's been hungrier for Southern cooking," a source close to her band says. "Voracious!"




We think that the baby is more of a celebrity then some of the living!! Sheesh...

Reese Witherspoon hit by car while jogging (BLOG)

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon suffered minor injuries when she was struck by a car while jogging Wednesday, Santa Monica police said.

"The actress was not seriously injured and is resting comfortably at home," her spokeswoman said in a statement.

Witherspoon was jogging across an unmarked crosswalk on Georgina Avenue at 20th Street about 11 a.m. when she was hit by a vehicle driven by an 84-year-old woman, Sgt. Richard Lewis said in a statement. The vehicle was traveling south on 20th street.

Lewis said Witherspoon, 35, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.

The driver, who was not identified, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, Lewis said.

Witherspoon, 35, became a box office sensation and A-list Hollywood star in her "Legally Blonde" comedy movies, and she won an Academy Award for best actress in drama "Walk the Line."



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Lady Gaga Poses Without Makeup (BLOG, PICS)

The pop singer looks like a completely different person in a series of new photos.

Lady Gaga is as well known for her wild wardrobe, hefty hairdos, and mega amounts of makeup as she is for her music. But in the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar, the Mama Monster goes au naturel -- posing sans makeup and with perfectly plain hair.

"I don't really view it as 'natural,'" she says of the photo shoot which will be included in a fashion film created in collaboration with photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. "I think that artifice is the new reality. It's more about just being honest and sincere to the core of what you do. Whether I'm wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I'm always the same person inside."

And where does she get the confidence to run around in those often skimpy, skin-tight outfits in the first place? Well, having a killer body helps, but Lady Gaga tells the magazine she's also "very free-spirited." "Even when I was a kid, I used to run around naked with the babysitter, driving her crazy. I do yoga, I do Bikram, and I run, and I eat really healthy. You know, my work sort of feeds me. I keep in shape by working hard."

As for whether her dedicated fans would be disappointed if she started dressing like, well, everyone else, Gaga claims it's simply not an issue. "I try to not focus on what people expect from me," she insists. "I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect something unexpected from me."


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Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis Sign Up for 'Substantial' Roles in 'Expendables 2' (BLOG)

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis have reportedly been locked for "The Expendables II". According to Deadline, the "Terminator" movie franchise hunk and the John McClane of "Die Hard" films have closed deals to take "substantial" roles in the follow-up to "The Expendables".

Schwarzenegger and Willis previously appeared as cameos in the 2010 hard-hitting action movie, with the former playing Barney Ross' (Sylvester Stallone) rival mercenary leader Trent Mauser and Willis portraying a man who hires Ross for a mission in Vilena. Stallone will additionally reprise his role in the upcoming film, but he will not return as the director.

Other original stars such as Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Terry Crews are also expected to return to the sequel, while Chuck Norris, John Travolta, Donnie Yen and Jean-Claude Van Damme have been rumored to be added to the line-up.

"The Expendables II" is set for August 17, 2012 release in the United States. Principal photography will reportedly take place in China with Simon West serving behind the lens.

Beside "Expendables II", Schwarzenegger is also on board Kim Jee-Woon's English-language debut "The Last Stand" which was recently rumored to nab Peter Stormare as the former Governor's on-screen foe. As for Willis, he can next be seen in "Looper" and reportedly lands a role as General Joe Colton in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation".



aceshowbiz

'The Help' At #1 For Third Straight Weekend (BLOG)

Despite three new wide releases -- including "Apollo 18," "The Debt", and "Shark Night 3D" -- it was "The Help" that held down the #1 at the weekend box office for the third weekend in a row.

The film added another $14.6 million over Labor Day Weekend, taking its domestic total $118.9 million. It's an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel about black Southern maids sharing stories about white employers amid the civil-rights movement.

"The Help" has grown through word of mouth. It originally opened at #2 four weeks ago, behind "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," but has sat at the top spot since then.

"The Debt," a Holocaust action drama, had a better-than-expected debut, performed better than expected, taking the #2 slot with $9.9 million over the weekend, and $12.6 million including Monday. It's also a remake of a small 2007 Israeli picture, "Ha-Hov".

The science-fiction film "Apollo 18" took in $8.7 million ($10.7 million counting Monday) to land at #3. It purports to show "found footage" from a U.S. space mission, and boasted no major stars. It also had a mysterious marketing campaign, which revealed little about the film's story.

The thriller "Shark Night 3D," debuted at #4 with $8.3 million ($10.3 million with Monday). It's a Jaws-like horror flick in which a shark that targets vacationers.

Closing out the top 5 is "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," falling from #3 to #5 with $7.9 million. To date, its grosses over $160 million.

That's a wrap for this weekend. Next weekend, look out for the release of the Stephen Dorff and Christina Ricci comedy "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," the Warner Bros. action/thriller "Contagion" starring Matt Damon, and the action film "Warrior."

This weekend's top 10 is as follows:

1. "The Help," $14.6 million.
2. "The Debt," $9.9 million.
3. "Apollo 18," $8.7 million.
4. "Shark Night 3D," $8.3 million.
5. "Rise of the Planet of the apes," $7.9 million.
6. "Colombiana," $7.4 million.
7. "Our Idiot Brother," $5.4 million.
8. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," $5.1 million.
9. "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," $4.8 million.
10. "The Smurfs," $4.1 million.

First Promo for 'DWTS' Season 13 Describes Chaz Bono as 'the Most Unexpected' (BLOG, VIDEO)

With many controversies regarding its cast, "Dancing with the Stars" claims it has "the most surprising" line-up ever in a promo for the thirteenth round. Cher's son Chaz Bono is referred to as "the most unexpected", possibly for gaining many negative comments since his participation on the dancing competition was officially announced.

The promo also features the king of "Scream" David Arquette, soap real-life hero J.R. Martinez, reality sweetheart Kristin Cavallari, and the pop princess Chynna Phillips. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian's younger brother Rob Kardashian is dubbed the prince of reality, and Nancy Grace is called the courtroom queen.

"DWTS" received backlash for casting transgender Chaz for the new season, being accused of pushing homosexual agenda. Executive producer Conrad Green has denied this, claiming that "what we try to do is reflect a broad range of the entertainment world in the casting of the show."

An insider recently revealed producers knew "there would be some anti-Bono calls and emails," but they were not prepared for such harsh comments. "This has been more vicious and in larger volume than was anticipated. ... Some of the comments are downright scary," the insider gushed.

However, Chaz would not lose support from his mother Cher who has tweeted, "It took courage to do DWTS! Thank God Chaz has an unlimited supply." Chaz himself said, "It's made me realize I'm really glad I'm doing this, because America really needs to see this."





aceshowbiz

Meeka Claxton Gets the Boot from Basketball Wives (BLOG)

Shaunie O'Neal pretty much let the cat out the bag weeks ago when she said during a radio show that Meeka very likely wouldn't be seeing the VH1 light of day again. And it's come true.

Sources on the VH1 production team say that Meeka hasn't been invited back. And no one has even reached out to her since the last reunion show, according to TMZ.

And despite mentioning that she may drop her lawsuit against Tami, it sounds like the producers chose Mrs. Roman over Meeka anyway--remember when Tami said VH1 would have to choose either her or Meeka--but it aint gonna be both of them?

Looks like the network made their choice.  WOMP.

theybf

Susan Lucci: 'All My Children' Star Memoir Rips ABC, Brian Frons For Cancellation (BLOG)

After 41 years of playing Erica Kane, Susan Lucci has no problem bringing some harsh words herself.

With ABC having canceled soap opera "All My Children," which she has been on since the show's inception in 1970, Lucci rips the network's daytime chief Brian Frons for both the decisions he made that led to the show's demise and his seeming glee in delivering the news, in a new epilogue to the paperback edition of her memoir, "All My Life."

Her rage is captured in excerpts published by the NY Post on Saturday.

"An iconic show was losing out to greed ... If Brian Frons could show his bosses that he could save the network 40 percent ... he could keep his job even if the rest of us lost ours," she writes, referencing the decision to go with a cheaper show -- food talk show "The Chew -- in the place of the classic soap. "I watched Brian Frons' decisions destroy the production of our show and the lives of people on both sides of the country."

The show, which was canceled by ABC in April and will run its last episode on September 23rd, willmove online under new rights owner, Prospect Park. Lucci has been offered her same TV salary to continue on in the online version of the show, but has yet to announce whether she'd take the deal.

For more from Lucci's memoir, click over to the NY Post.

huffingtonpost

Ed O'Neill Gets Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (BLOG)

Ed O'Neill has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Tuesday, August 30, the actor who earned his fame playing shoe salesman Al Bundy on "Married... with Children" was joined by his two TV wives, Sofia Vergaraand Katey Sagal, during the unveiling ceremony located in front of a shoe shop.

Kicking things off was Ed's first TV wife, Katey. In her speech, the actress who played Peggy Bundy on "Married" said as quoted by E!, "I want to tell Eddie, he's one lucky mo-fo. Here he's got these two beautiful women that he's had in his life, hopefully this one as long as he's had me. And I'm sure he will."

Ed's current TV wife, Sofia, later took turn to honor the Emmy Awards nominee with a joke. "When I was in Colombia and I was a young, very beautiful girl, I would watch 'Married... With Children', with Ed with his hand in his pants, talking with this very sexy Antonio Banderas accent - because in Colombia it was dubbed into Spanish," she recalled.

The actress playing Gloria on "Modern Family" continued, "So he talked perfect Spanish, and there I was sitting, and I would never in a million years think that I was going to grow up to marry Al Bundy. Never, even if somebody had paid me to believe that...But to marry Al Bundy has been one of the most joyful things in my whole life."

When it was his turn to deliver the speech, Ed joked, "As I'm standing here, it's a bit emotional. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the world, at this moment in a hospital, a beautiful little baby girl is being born. And when she grows up she's going to be my next wife on TV, and I look forward to that day."

On a more serious note, the 65-year-old admitted, "This is overwhelming. I want to thank the fans for being here. No fans, no show, no career." He was joined by wife Catherine Rusoff and two daughters, as well as other "Modern Family" co-stars, including Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Rico Rodriguez.

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