Friday, April 3, 2015

OUT 192--SPOT BITZ (APRIL 3-10)

HEY OUTSTAGRS!

ITS THAT TIME AGAIN!!

TIME TO GET ON STAGE!!!







This year this blog  will be celebrating a milestone this year as this blogspot will turn 10 years old!  Its hard to believe but it has come a long way from small paragraphs journal entries, to a mini news letter to  entertainment highlighter to what it is today. The commemorative date is July 5.  To reminisce we will do  weekly RETRO BITZ of some of the highlights from this blogspot (SEE BELOW)






                          
HEY COUTURIANS  the 12 semi-finalists have been chosen. To vote your choice go to 
http://outstagin.blogspot.com/2015/03/2016-mista-couture-charity-style.html


IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO THE MISTA COUTURE FUND  go to 




THE VENUE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE SEVENTH ANNUAL MISTA COUTURE CONTEST. IT WILL BE HELD AT BLUE MARK STUDIOS IN ATLANTA, GA. ON AUGUST 23. IF YOU WANT 
TICKETS, THEY WILL BE $10 GEN and $20 VIP (INCLUDES ONE FREE DRINK, AN EXTRA FOOD PLATE ,AND A FREE RAFFLE TICKET).  EMAIL TO SNAPHONEY2011@GMAIL.COM AND WE WILL SEND A PAYPAL INVOICE TO YOU!


Maatology is also looking for gents of color for its 2016 OBSDN Men of Color 
Calendar. Must be comfortable in front of the camera and doing artistic nude poses.
If  interested in shooting, the shoots are ONE DAY shoots THRU  June 2015 . The shoots will be in St Louis, Mo.   All models will receive a share of the sales and an opp to sale it as well. A small stipend will be given for travel. If interested email snaphoney2011@gmail.com with a selfie pic showing your chest and abs. To see video of 2015 calendar go to  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOCifGU-lY

UPDATE: The deadline has now been extended to July 31.

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Georgia model/actor and "militarian" Jay Redd is coming out with his own calendar. It will consist of style pics, undergear, and tasteful artistic body pics. He will shoot it in St Louis in June and will be out in July. For pre-order discounts  info email snaphoney2011@gmail.com or COMMENT BELOW IN THE COMMENT BOXES.

THE TOP ILLI/MO STORY THIS WEEK IS:

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon took it to the dance floor again during her appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ Thursday night.
The two broke it down in a sequel to their “Evolution of Mom Dancing” video from 2013, doing dances based on mundane chores such as the “Getting A Bag From Your Collection of Plastic Bags Under the Sink” and phrases such as the “One Move Behind in Zumba Class.”
Fallon imitated President Obama’s dancing in a move called the “Barack Obama” during which Michelle then looks on less pleased before busting out the “Jimmy Fallon” poking fun back at the host’s moves.
Both got their move on in pink cardigans, pants and white shoes, with Fallon sporting a woman’s wig.
Following the dance skit, the First Lady and Fallon spoke about raising kids, during which she tells Fallon to enjoy the time before kids turn into teenagers.
“You’re still living in the good stage,” she said about Fallon’s two kids.
Obama said that when explaining to their father what a group chat on a text message was, Malia called him “detached” for not knowing how they work.
The First Lady appeared on the show to talk about five years of the “Let’s Move” campaign, specifically her #GimmeFive challenge.



 In other FOTUS newz, Michelle Obama mixed her message of education for girls with one of empowerment for black women, declaring "Black girls rock!" at the annual awards show of the same name.

The first lady wasn't one of the honorees last  Saturday night at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center but was the most heralded participant at the 5th annual event. It honored Jada Pinkett Smith, Erykah Badu, Cicely Tyson, Ava DuVernay, Nadia Lopez and Helene Gayle.
Obama reportedly told the audience, which included many young black girls, to ignore voices that suggested that they were "not good enough."
She celebrated the achievement of three young black women also honored and said education was the key to their success.
Obama went to Princeton and Harvard. She said she wouldn't be where she was had she not taken her studies seriously and implored young black people to do the same. The show will air April 5 on BET.



But unfortunately, The First Lady’s appearance at BET’s 

Black Girls Rock!” had many complaints by white people
.
In a series of complaints left on Obama’s Instagram page,

 folks voiced their disappointment with the first lady for

 participating in an event that solely highlighted African-

American girls

.
I am all for the empowerment of disadvantaged groups, I just

 don’t see how alienating an oppressed group i.e. women by

 focusing on a subset of that group, helps anyone,” one

 commenter wrote

.
If a white person posted this and it said white girls rock…the

 sh-t would hit the fan,” wrote another person voiced

.
The negative feedback from Obama’s appearance at “Black

 Girls Rock!” comes after #whitegirlsrock became a trending

 topic on Twitter during last year’s broadcast of the event. On

 Saturday (March 28), Obama’s personal aide Kristin Jones

 announced that she would be taking over the first lady’s 

Instagram account

.
Black Girls Rock is leaving out all other girls of color. Brown

 is a color, yellow is a color, red is a color and yes, white is

 still a color. One day racism will end because we no longer

 NOTICE the color of our fellow human beings. ALL girls

 rock,” an Instagram user posted

.
Despite the criticism, there were many people on Instagram

 who voiced their support of Obama’s involvement in “Black

 Girls Rock!.”


To all my fellow white women: Why is uplifting our sisters of

 color a bad thing for us, exactly? Go read the news, see a

 movie, or watch TV, and look at the stereotypes of African

 Americans still face, especially young women. This group of

 ladies need to know that that image is not their reality 

#BlackGirlsRock,” an Instagrammer expressed

.
At this time, there has not been any comment made from 

FLOTUS or her team on the “Black Girls Rock!” appearance 

backlash.


This argument of why is there "black" anything will 

always be controversial. Our answer is its because 

people of color and people who are not of the majority 

ethnic group in this country are not represented in a 

well balanced way as does the majority rule are.

. The last comment above we definitely agree that how 

does a black show about black female empowerment 

hurt white women? And we add, what was Patricia 

Arquettes Oscar speech this year about equal pay for 

women imply? . OK?



We are just saying.





Following the mass defection of agents and clients from Creative Arts Agency’s comedy division, Plainfield, Ill native actress Melissa McCarthy , from sources, told Variety that McCarthy has decided to exit CAA and sign with United Talent Agency. 
The news follows the departures of 10 top agents, including comedy chiefs Jason Heyman and Martin Lesak, who have taken a majority of their clients to UTA. Besides McCarthy, Will Ferrell and Chris Pratt also moved to the rival agency.
A UTA spokesperson said the actress has not signed with the agency. Sources go on to add the signing is expected soon once McCarthy is finished with filming on “Mike and Molly.”
McCarthy, star on CBS’ “Mike and Molly,” is one of the most successful actors at the box office in recent years, with her last four comedies earning over $400 million in total domestically.
She will next be seen in “Spy,” which reteams McCarthy with her “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig, and she’s also set to star in the all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot at Sony.
“Spy” received rave reviews at SXSW, with Variety critic Justin Chang writing that McCarthy gets “the funniest, most versatile and sustained comic showcase of her movie career in this deliriously entertaining action-comedy.” 

So the WORDZ TO THE WHYz question is, "Why are so many comedy agents from CAA deflecting and cutting deals with UTA in the first place? 


Redbirds Rant  posted an April Fools story in their website claiming  that the St. Louis Cardinals were hiring St Louis native actor Jon Hamm to replaceMike Matheny as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The article continued with, "Hamm had been looking for a new role to take on. The opportunity with the Cardinals could not have come at a better time for the actor.Hamm is set to become the 64th manager since the St. Louis Cardinals were founded in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings."

That was clever and knowing some people probably believed the story. And if you look at both of them, they do look alike. We could see a switch and people having to take a double take of if was Hamm instead of Metheny.



ADD: Chicago native rapper and actor Common appeared on the debut epsiode of  Lip Sync Battle,  the spinoff show  from Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show  comedy bit that aired Thursday on Spike TV hosted by LL Cool J and model Chrissy Teigen.  Common channeled Lionel Richie and  he battled his Oscar winning  music partner John Legend reenacting MC Hammer.


Common's "All Night Long" found the MC decked out in full Richie regalia, from the Jheri curl mullet to the leather pants to the "Hello" singer's smiley onstage persona. While the rapper lacked actual "lip sync" skills – he didn't even attempt to mouth along with the words at points – Common's faithful rendition did include him breaking out some impressive breakdance moves.
Not to be outdone, Legend hopped into the parachute pants to bring a pitch-perfect "U Can't Touch This" to the show. Legend's high-energy performance featured both Hammer's iconic dance moves and spot-on lip-syncing, but the rigorous rendition had Legend admitting when it was over, "I'm about to have a heart attack."
Common also performed a jubilant version of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," while Legend revived Juvenile's 2004 song "Slow Motion." But there can only be one winner and in the end, Common prevailed.


Kansas City, Mo native actor/singer Columbus Short acknowledged the rumors that he may be appearing on the second season ofEmpire. "Big things are happening," he said to E!. "I'm going to be bridging my music career with my acting career."
Short wouldn't officially confirm his casting, but said, "I'm just saying it wouldn't be a shock."
For now, he's focused on getting the word out about The Girl Is in Trouble. He stars in the fllm as August, an aspiring deejay who finds himself thrown into the middle of the murder of a drug dealer friend.
This would be a good move for Short especially now that Empire is now the most tweeted and talked about the show as opposed to his last gig, Scandal. We wish the best for him.

The Steve Harvey Show which films in  Chicago was 

nominated for Outstanding Informative Talk Show (which

 won in 2014) and its host Steve Harvey was nominated for

 Informative Talk Show Host when the  Daytime Emmy

 Awards nominations were announced this week. 
The awards ceremony will be televised live on Pop at 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT from the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA.


Singer Brandy is coming  soon to Broadway. She will be stepping into the role of “Roxie Hart” in the musical Chicago. Brandy starts April 28th.



ADD: MTV2 premiered its newest comedy series, "MTV2's
 Joking Off," on April 1. Hosted by Chicago native stand-up
 comedian and actor DeRay Davis, "MTV2's Joking Off" is
 a hilarious, fast-paced, half-hour comedic game show
 where teams of jokesters test their improv skills against 
the wildest social media memes, tweets, Instagram images
 and videos to deliver laugh out loud reactions and out-joke
 the competition.


BET Presents Black Girls Rock will have several performers


 on the show this Sunday. One will be two-time Grammy


 Award winning singer and Chicagoan Lalah Hathaway.




The Chicago Cubs'  MLB season home opener will be  against the St Louis Cardinals  April 5. The two rivals will play a three-game series at the recently renovated Wrigley Field. 

We will see if the prediction will come true that the Cubs will win the 2015 World Series according to the movie "Back to The Future." LOL

UPDATE: Cards beat Cubs 3-0.


Opening Day at Busch Stadium for  the  St Louis Cardinals will be April 13 against the Milwaukee Brewers, 

ADD:The Pep Rally will be at Kiener Plaza in downtown St Louis from 10am to 2pm. For more info go to 
http://fox2now.com/2015/03/20/celebrate-opening-day-in-kiener-plaza-april-13/





Mo

More than 1500 reportedly stood in line outside of the FYE store on Hampton in St Louis last Saturday to meet Empire stars Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray. The fans had to buy  the Empire CD Soundtrack to get their CD signed by the two stars. The event lasted a few hours in the late afternoon until everyone was met. One eyewitness said that  many ladies were crying when they had a chance to meet the two actors.  Meanwhile, Gray aka Jazz attended an afterparty at The Complex in Midtown St Louis promoted by Rockhouse, To see pics  and our recap go to
 http://outstagin.blogspot.com/2015/03/out-191-rockhouse-presents-empire-cd.html



Former Fox 2 St Louis personality Tim Ezell (LEFT) made a surprise visit to his old stomping grounds when he hosted the Fox 2 Morning Show  on April Fools Day. Well, it was a prank and to much to the hopes of his fans he was not returning to the gig.  On the show, at the start of it, Meteorologist Glenn Zimmerman (RIGHT)asked about Tim’s extended leave of absence. Ezell left the show last July.


St Louis based singer/songwriter Bradd Young produced several cuts off Jodeci;s New album, "The Past The Present and The Future." including the second single release, "Every Moment" Young produced tracks through St Louis based company  Rockhouse Entertainment. 


Current Mr Couture winner Ricodemo (PICTURED ON LEFT PIC on left and RIGHT PIC on right)) made an appearance on Fox 2/KPLR News this week modeling jewelry for Mark Anthony's jewelry collection (PICTURED ON LEFT PIC on right). The segment was hosted by April Simpson (PICTURED ON RIGHT PIC) 



St Louis area fitness trainer and 2015 and upcoming 2016 OBSDN Men of Color Calendar model landed the front cover of this month's Krave Fit Magazine. 
ADD: In the magazine, he is modeling Apeel Undergear (SEE FIT BITZ BELOW)




As we celebrate 10 years of blogging on July 5 we will highlight some of the stories reported and covered over the years each week.


THIS WEEK 2006
In the STL, I hear that the St. Louis Black Rep is getting high praise for its AIDS related drama "Before it Hits Home," and because of this, the Black rep will have a pre-show dialogue session, an AIDS quilt signing and 1/2 price off tickets for the show between April 5-8. For more info, call 314-534-3810...My boy Kameron Hopson hipped me last week that Flavor of Love reality show winner Hoopz was in the STL at Club dreams where VIP tix were 100 bones to get in. I dont know about yall but I dont think i would have paid 100 bones to see her. Shes hot and all, but the only reality star I may have paid that amount to talk upclos eand personal with would have been Omarosa. What Kameron told me, she didnt stay that long in VIP and that Club Dreams was charging 25 bones for a pic with her. I'm not mad at Dreams for gettin their hustle on, but let;s get serious!.

THIS WEEK 2007

STL-TIDBITZ-St. Louis model Jermaine was featured in last week’s issue of Jet Magazine. Congrats on that….Also congrats to local singer/actress Llysa Rykale who is doin her thing on a local Schnucks commercial . She is the sister with the red sweater on who jumps up and down all excitingly then shows a receipt of her savings…..I will try and get to the demo of STL rapper City Ant next week. I heard some of it and I must say he seems to be the one to bring back consciousness rap lyrics back to hip-hop!.... STL boxer Cory Spinks will be fighting his next fight on May 190 in Memphis at the Fed Ex Forum (I heard that the Scott Trade Center will soon be called the Fed Ex Center. Hmmm) He will fight Jermain Taylor….I heard that a particular popular newspaper owner may be purchasing a building on Delmar to create their own art gallery! Hmmm, interesting.


THIS WEEK 2008
As OUTTOWN reported last week, former Cards team prez Mark Lamping resigned after the Centene Corporation backed out of the Ballpark Village project in the old spot where Busch Stadium once resided causing the delay of the project beginning (and from reprts, was sent off ceremoniously last Saturday at the brand new Champions Club at the Stadium) . Well, one politician is pissed off of the delay. In a formal statement, Comptroller Darlene Green (PICTURED) said, "Now that Centene has officially pulled out of Ballpark Village, the Cardinals and city leaders need to focus on removing the unsightly hole in the middle of our downtown and preparing for the 2009 All-Star Game. The 2009 All-Star Game and related events are quickly approaching, along with the inevitable worldwide media exposure. We cannot afford to have primetime television broadcasts featuring a downtown St. Louis with a six block muddy hole broadcast all over the world. The Cardinals and the city owe the taxpayers and fans something much better.”


THIS WEEK 2009
Oscar nominated comedian/actor Dan Aykroyd was in St. Louis a couple weeks ago week to promote his new line of wines. Aykroyd visited Randall's Wine and Spirits on South Jefferson and signed bottles of his Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay for buyers who had a chance to meet the legendary comic. The wines were made from grapes grown in California's Sonoma Valley. Aykroyd then drove through the teeth of the St. Patrick's Day throng in Dogtown for a sales meeting at the wine's distributor, Missouri Beverage Co. Then it was on to Triumph restaurant in midtown to a private event to promote Crystal Head Vodka for a different local distributor.The public met Aykroyd as he signed bottles of his wine from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. today at Randall's Wine and Spirits, 1910 South Jefferson Avenue. He owns a wine estate in his native country of Canada.


THIS WEEK 2010
OUTTOWN would like to give a shout out to comic and co-host of The Monique Show, Rodney Perry, who answered our email about meeting him recently at the Fox Theatre after Monique's show where she was and taking pics in the venue's lobby. We told him in the email that we had pics and a story of him and Mo on OUTTOWN and to recognize me, that I was the one who had given him my last biz card that he teased cuz it was raggedy.


Perry responded via email this week and said, " Great article thanks a bunch Marcus -- a crumpled biz card is better than no biz card.. peace and God Bless"

THIS WEEK 2011
WORDZ TO THE WHYZ????????????????????????????????



Why did Tom Joyner report at first Foxy Brown was kicked off the cruise ship but got on radio this week and said that was wrong? Why do people keep thinking Wendy Williams was born a man? Why are their so many women feeling they are discriminated against at Walmart? Why did news media camp out overnite for Opening Day at the Cardinals game? Why is The Apprentice this season becoming desperate to find an Omarosa with the black female cast members? Why are people surprised that President Obama is set to invade Libya? Why did that judge at first wanted Willie Nelson to sing for his punishment of having weed in his possession? And Why did Beyonce pick now to fire her Dad as her manager?

THIS WEEK 2012
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey was in St Louis last weekend for the taping of two live shows for her Lifeclass Tour that  stopped at Peabody Opera House (PIC BY LOVE BEING GIFTED) aired Monday.  According to reports, crowds, largely female, jammed the streets around the Peabody, and the general-admission line stretched down 14th all the way to Clark Street. The Peabody, which seats 3,100, , and people on street corners were asking, "Anybody have extra tickets?" While waiting, those with tickets in hand took pictures of themselves in front of marquees announcing the event.

An afternoon session featured Bishop T.D. Jakes and was taped for a later airing on "Oprah's Lifeclass" on Winfrey's OWN cable network. An evening session aired live as the season première of the OWN series.



THIS WEEK 2013

St Peters, Mo. resident Lucy is the latest in many who has gone viral.  When Lucy’s father pulled out his video camera to record her hysterical attempt to walk the family dog, he never thought it would be seen around the world.
But that’s just what happened.  After a family stroll, Lucy’s dad decided to put the video on his Facebook page. And after a good response, he thought, why not post it to YouTube?
Well, since then, YouTube viewers have enjoyed letting this little girl’s laugh lighten their mood this week.
The video has already gotten nearly 2 million YouTube views and has been showed on news programs across the U.S. as well as in Belgium and London.


The video  is of a little girl walking her dog — and then intentionally dropping the leash and laughing maniacally —
"She kept asking for the leash, just so she could drop it and watch my dog run with it dragging behind him," her father wrote on YouTube.


THIS WEEK 2014
This week we lost a great music artist. Frankie Knuckles, an American DJ, and record producer.[1] Born in  The Bronx, New York; he later moved to Chicago. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1980s when the genre was in its infancy. Due to his importance in the development of the genre, Knuckles was often known as "The Godfather of House Music",[4] and as such the city of Chicago named a stretch of street and a day after Knuckles in 2004. His accomplishments earned him a Grammy Award in 1997. Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005 as recognition for his achievements. He was 59.




FIT BITZ
We are now debuting a segment called FIT BITZ where women and men (mainly in the ILLI MO area) who are extremely fit, have fitness model quality and have post their fitness pics  on social media.



This week we feature former St Louisan and current L.A. based actress Diana Atai Emuge and
 a new pic of 2014 and 2015 OBSDN Men of Color Calendar model and fitness trainer Jamie Luckett 






This week we feature The First Lady Michelle Obama who rocked a white, shoulder-baring Zac Posen dress while presenting at the taping of Black Girls Rock at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center last weekend, Some criticized that the dress was too sexy but we thought it was the perfect mix of classy and sexy. 

aad

Why wasnt there security on that Metrolink train when those two black teens fight the white guy on that viral video? And why wasnt this considered a hate crime? Why did it take Jay Z to try and create an artist owned streaming site Tidal? Why are people up in arms about new Daily Show host Trevor Noah's tweets about fat people? Why did that pizza place in Indiana deny a  same sex couple catering service for their wedding?  Why was Justin Bieber given a roast? Why did Isaiah Washington tweet to Chris Rock that he should adapt to getting stopped by the police? Why is Terrence Howards ex wife threatening to blackmail him with nude pics and video to get more money (Didnt we see his good sin the movie Get Rich or Die Trying already?)? And why do some employees at the fast food drive thrus immediately ask May I take Your Order as soon as you pull up to the menu?



If you have any feedback, scoop, or fashion/fitness pics to be featured  email to snaphoney2011@gmail.com or comment below!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

OUT 191--ROCKHOUSE presents EMPIRE CD SOUNDTRACK AFTERPARTY with YAZZ Yazz the Greatest @THE COMPLEX in MIDTOWN ST LOUIS MARCH 28

Photos by Maatology

There's Yazz the Greatest taking a pic with event promoter Orlando Watson of Rockhouse.

Yazz getting interviewed by Ethno Society



                                      Yazz posed with some Remy Martin promotion models.

Yazz posed with excited fans.

                                                      Yazz chilling with his crew.



                                                     A fan get sa pic with Yazz.
                                                 "Can I get your number, Hakeem?" LOL

                                  Yazz at the dee-jay booth spitting some lyrics to "Drip Drop."















                                              Wonder who he's texting on his phone?






                              Folks had their phone taking cell phone pics of the break out star.









 NOTE: Overall the event was cool.  Just the crowd wasn't what we were expecting. We were expecting at least the same number of people who came to the Meet N Greet earlier  that day sponsored by WHHL Hot 104.1 FM at FYE store on Hampton where reportedly close to 1500 people stood in line to get a glimpse, get their Empire CD signed and take pics with Yazz as well as Jussie Smollett who plays  Jamal (who didnt show at the after party surprisingly), but for the folks who were there seem to have a great time to meet up close and personal with Yazz, who was very cordial and took pics with everyone who was there.   He got there about 11ish and stayed for a few hours so that whole theory that celebs come late into the night didnt apply that nite. And Shout out to Orlando Watson for giving OUTSTAGN access to cover the event!

Oh, and the guy who was drinking a whole bottle of Gray Goose up in V.I.P. I hope your liver survived that ordeal. LOL