{blackbabes} Williams skips Wimbledon media duties for royal date

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

London (AFP) - Serena Williams postponed her Wimbledon media duties for a royal appointment on Saturday as the American star joined the Duchess of Sussex at a polo match.

Williams is a close friend of Meghan Markle and the seven-time Wimbledon champion was a guest at her wedding to Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May.

Journalists at Wimbledon were expecting Serena to discuss her first appearance at the Grand Slam since becoming a mother for the first time last September.

But instead the 23-time major winner put her scheduled press conference on hold after a morning practice session with her sister Venus at the All England Club.

Wimbledon officials announced the postponement only minutes before Williams was due in the media room.

Just hours later, Serena and her husband Alexis Ohanian were photographed arriving for the Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, where Prince Harry and his brother Prince William were among the players.

Williams will be back at Wimbledon for a press conference on Sunday morning, with defending champions Garbine Muguruza and Roger Federer also due to conduct their pre-tournament interviews.

Wimbledon gets underway on Monday, with 25th seed Williams scheduled to play Holland's Arantxa Rus in the first round.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Penpix of the top women's contenders at Wimbledon

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

(Reuters) - Penpix of the top women's contenders at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships:

Simona Halep (Romania)

World ranking: 1

Born: Sept. 27, 1991 (Age 26)

Height: 1.68 meters

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam titles: 1 (French Open 2018)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 35-6

2018 WTA titles: 2

Biggest weapon: Halep's speed, shot placement and remarkable anticipation earned her a first grand slam title last month and the same qualities can help the Romanian thrive at the All England Club.

Biggest weakness: Despite her French Open triumph, Halep has a reputation for folding under the pressure of big matches.

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

Born: July 11, 1990 (Age 27)

Height: 1.77 meters

Plays: Right-handed

World ranking: 2

Grand Slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2018)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 26-9

2018 WTA titles: 1

Biggest weapon: The fierce Dane is not one to back down from a fight and is ruthless in attack as she grinds her opponents down with her persistence.

Biggest weakness: Wozniacki has a tendency to get drawn into long rallies at the baseline rather than finding a killer shot or moving closer to the net and finishing off her opponent.

Garbine Muguruza (Spain)

World ranking: 3

Born: Oct. 8, 1993 (Age 24)

Height: 1.82 meters

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2017)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 21-11

2018 WTA titles: 1

Biggest weapon: Defending champion Muguruza has always proclaimed that grass is her least favorite surface but the intimidating Spaniard's hard-hitting shots and unwavering tenacity are not to be messed with.

Biggest weakness: Muguruza tends to lose sight of the bigger picture and focus too much on being a perfectionist on occasion, a trait that opponents can take advantage of to rattle the world number three.

Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)

World ranking: 8

Born: March 8, 1990 (Age 28)

Height: 1.82 meters

Plays: Left-handed

Grand Slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 37-7

2018 WTA titles: 5

Biggest weapon: As she has shown throughout her impressive comeback, Kvitova's powerful groundstrokes and perfect timing can be too much for her opponents to handle.

Biggest weakness: The Czech is not known for her court coverage on the tour, giving her opponents a chance to exploit her slower pace.

Serena Williams (U.S.)

World ranking: 183

Born: Sept. 26, 1981 (Age 36)

Height: 1.75 meters

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam titles: 23 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017; French Open 2002, 2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016; U.S. Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 5-2

2018 WTA titles: 0

Biggest weapon: One of the greatest players in the women's game, Serena has shown signs of returning to her best during her comeback and the American's punishing groundstrokes can unravel any opponent.

Biggest weakness: Serena has struggled with injuries and consistency since returning to the court after the birth of her daughter.

Maria Sharapova (Russia)

World ranking: 24

Born: April 19, 1987 (Age 31)

Height: 1.88 meters

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam titles: 5 (Australian Open 2008; French Open 2012, 2014; Wimbledon 2004; U.S. Open 2006)

WTA match record in 2018 (won-lost): 15-8

2018 WTA titles: 0

Biggest weapon: Sharapova's relentless fighting spirit along with her imposing presence, powerful shots and match control make her hard to beat.

Biggest weakness: Sharapova struggles to find a way against more complex opponents and is lacking consistency ahead of her return to the All England Club for the first time since her doping ban.

NOTE: The 2018 match record of the players do not include results from the ongoing WTA event in Eastbourne.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Serena back in search of reclaiming her crown

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

LONDON (Reuters) - Garbine Muguruza is the reigning Wimbledon champion but all eyes will be on Serena Williams next week when the American begins her mission to snatch back the title she believes she owns.

The 36-year-old Williams has not lost on the London lawns since she was upset by France's Alize Cornet in 2014, winning the 2015 and 2016 titles to swell her Wimbledon tally to seven, two behind professional era leader Martina Navratilova.

She watched on from afar last year as she prepared to give birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September.

While she admits her return to competitive action has not been easy, she has been practicing hard on the grass and few would bet against her becoming the first mother to win the title since Evonne Cawley 38 years ago.

Should she achieve that feat she would equal Margaret Court's record of 23 Grand Slam titles, although not all of Australian Court's were claimed during the professional era.

Williams has played only seven matches since returning to the Tour but there were signs at the French Open, where she was not seeded but reached the fourth round before withdrawing with a pectoral injury, that she was moving in the right direction.

Her Wimbledon hopes have been boosted by the seedings committee who installed her as the 25th seed in Friday's draw which paired her with lowly-ranked Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus.

Not everyone has supported the decision to seed her despite a ranking of 183 but she will still face a tough path with Ukraine's fifth seed Elina Svitolina looming in round three.

'FORMIDABLE'

Former men's world number one Mats Wilander watched Williams at Roland Garros in his presenter role with Eurosport and believes she will be a far more formidable for at Wimbledon.

"I think she is the most dangerous floater, I would say she is now 100 percent ready," Wilander told Reuters.

"With her game she doesn't need lots of grasscourt matches. When you hit the ball as hard as she does it's first-strike tennis and no one is better than her at that."

Muguruza's game could be modelled on Serena's, as she showed last year when overpowering Venus Williams in the final to become the first player to beat both Williams sisters in Grand Slam finals having downed Serena at the 2016 French Open.

She is seeded three at Wimbledon, behind world number one Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki who have shared the year's two Grand Slam titles to date with maiden triumphs.

Halep, who finally got over the line at the French Open this month, will be full of confidence, as will Wozniacki after a strong run on the lawns of Eastbourne this week.

Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will also be one to watch, as will 2004 champion Maria Sharapova who is back at the event where she made her name for the first time in three years having missed the last two because of a doping ban and then an injury.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Serena Williams not at home when drug tester arrived for surprise test

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

(Reuters) - Serena Williams was not at home when a drug tester made a surprise visit to her Florida home on June 14, a spokesperson for the tennis player said on Thursday as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said it had tested her on three occasions this year.

Williams' publicist Kelly Bush Novak was responding to a report on website Deadspin that an officer from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had visited seeking to drug test Williams outside the allotted daily window.

Williams, 36, is one of many athletes in the international testing pool who is required by USADA to let the agency know her whereabouts for a one-hour period of her choosing every day, even when not competing.

Testers, however, have the right to also make unannounced visits outside the one-hour window, though there is no guarantee the athlete will be at the location.

Deadspin reported the testing officer had arrived at Williams' home at 8.30 a.m. local time, and had refused to leave until Williams had been tested. He eventually departed without a sample.

The website published the story after receiving a tip from someone who it says overheard phone conversations by Women's Tennis Association (WTA) CEO, Steve Simon, in an airport.

USADA would not confirm specifics of the matter, citing athlete confidentiality.

"It's unfortunate that an athlete's right to confidentiality and privacy was leaked by a third-party," USADA spokesperson Brad Horn said to Reuters in a written response to a series of questions.

"For fairness to athletes and their privacy, public disclosure of test missions are not made public, unless a stated time requires such notification."

Horn did, however, say that Williams had been tested on three occasions this year, for a total of five tests.

USADA can request a blood and/or a urine test, which means that on two occasions Williams was tested for both.

Horn said Williams passed all tests.

The USADA website says an athlete will receive a missed test if he or she is unavailable at any time during the one-hour window.

Three missed tests in a 12-month period count as a doping violation.

In addition, USADA officers can seek a test outside the allotted one-hour window, but failure to provide one does not count as a missed test.

Williams spokesperson Bush Novak referred Reuters to a statement previously issued to Deadspin, which said in part:

"Over her 23-year career in tennis, Serena Williams has never tested positive for any illegal substance despite being tested significantly more than other professional tennis players, both male and female – in fact, four times more frequently than her peers...

"While she willingly continues to submit to testing, there is absolutely no reason for this kind of invasive and targeted treatment."

The WTA did not respond to a request for comment.

Williams, winner of 23 grand slam titles, has returned to competition this year from maternity leave.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Bad Boys Spinoff L.A.'s Finest Will Be Spectrum's First Original Series

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

NBC's ill-fated Bad Boys spinoff has found a new home — and we do mean new. L.A.'s Finest — which stars Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba — has been picked up by Charter Communications and will air on the company's Spectrum Original Content platform. It will mark Spectrum's first foray into original series.

The series follows Syd Burnett (Union), last seen in Bad Boys II taking down a drug cartel, who has left her complicated past behind to become an LAPD detective. Paired with a new partner, Nancy McKenna (Alba), a working mom with an equally complex past, Syd is pushed to examine whether her unapologetic lifestyle might be masking a greater personal secret.

Former CSI: NY EP Pam Veasey will serve as co-showrunner alongside series co-creators Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier.

"Charter has a strong passion for the project and we could not be more excited. Immediately we knew this innovative new platform was absolutely the right home for L.A.'s Finest," said Jeff Frost, President of Sony Pictures Television, the studio behind the project, in a statement.

"Charter is excited to partner with top producers Sony, [Jerry] Bruckheimer and the rest of the incredible team behind and in front of the camera on our first Spectrum Original Content endeavor," said Katherine Pope, Senior Vice President, Head of Original Content, Charter Communications. "Our content partnerships offer us a great opportunity to provide Spectrum customers with the dynamic, authentic and unique programming that drives value for their Spectrum subscription."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} ‘Raising Dion’: Jazmyn Simon Joins Netflix’s Superhero Family Drama Series

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Jazmyn Simon (Ballers) is set as a series regular opposite Jason Ritter and Michael B. Jordan in Netflix's straight-to-series hourlong sci-fi family drama Raising Dion. The series is based on commercial and music video director Dennis Liu's short film about an African-American single mother who discovers her young son has multiple, constantly changing abilities.

Raising Dion, a Netflix production, follows the story of a woman named Nicole Reese, who raises her son Dion after the death of her husband Mark (Jordan). The normal dramas of raising a son as a single mom are amplified when Dion starts to manifest several magical, superhero-like abilities. Nicole must now keep her son's gifts secret with the help of Mark's best friend Pat (Ritter), and protect Dion from antagonists out to exploit him while figuring out the origin of his abilities.

Simon will play Kat, a surgical resident and Nicole's sister. Easy to say, she's the one that has her life together, and can't help but correct Nicole on her life and parenting. All in all, she's a wonderful and supportive aunt and sister, but has a hard time biting her tongue as she watches her sister make mistakes.

The project comes from Liu, Michael B. Jordan, veteran showrunner and writer Carol Barbee, Kenny Goodman, Michael Green, and Charles D. King's MACRO.

Simon currently recurs as Dr. Julie Greane in HBO's Ballers. Her other credits include Tyler Perry's film Acrimony and Psych: The Movie. She's repped by Pakula/King, Karen Forman Management and attorney Doug Stone.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Empire Promotes Nicole Ari Parker to Series Regular for Season 5

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Giselle Barker is making a major power play when Empire returns to Fox for its fifth season this fall.

Nicole Ari Parker, who plays the ex-wife of Forest Whitaker's Eddie Barker, has been promoted to a series regular, according to TVLine's sister site Deadline. Per the new report, Season 5 will find Giselle "stepping out of the shadow of her ex in an effort to seize power herself. Along the way she'll tackle grudges, make unexpected alliances and find a surprising love interest."

Speaking with TVLine about the general direction for Empire's fifth season, showrunner Brett Mahoney says that the Lyons will face an uphill battle as the family attempts to rebuild what it lost to Eddie in the Season 4 finale.

"It's going to be a much more difficult process that Cookie thinks it's going to be," Mahoney says. "And it'll tear at the relationship between Cookie and Lucious and the boys, in terms of trying to achieve that goal."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Serena Williams: Young boys need domestic abuse education

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

NEW YORK — Serena Williams says the conversation about stopping domestic abuse shouldn't just centre around women, but men as well.

The tennis superstar says education about domestic abuse should start when men are young boys.

"I think expanding the conversation to men and expanding the conversation to young boys, it's so important," she said in an interview on Wednesday.

"This is a human rights issue. We should all be treated the same. We should be treated equal. With domestic abuse, it doesn't care what colour you are, what background you're from," she continued.

"It's important to get the message out there — to our young men, to our boys, to our daughters — to let that new generation, and let the generation now know that, let's stop this. Let's change this. Let's create a better us."

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is the ambassador for the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse initiative, which aims to help stop domestic abuse and what it calls the financial abuse that can accompany such relationships.

Williams says being the mother of an infant daughter makes the issue more important to her.

"This could be something that my daughter could face and that's not cool," she said at a Purple Purse event. "I want her to know that she can always talk to me, and talk to other people. That maybe she doesn't have a voice, maybe she can't use her voice, but we can be her voice, we can support her in so many different ways," Williams said.

Williams was pregnant with 1-year-old Olympia Ohanian when she won the Australian Open in January 2017. She returned to Grand Slam play last month at the French Open but had to withdraw after reaching the fourth round due to a pectoral chest injury.

Williams says she anticipates being healthy for next month's Wimbledon tournament.

"Oh that's a plan, absolutely, absolutely, and I've been working toward it," she said.

She also spoke about her father, Richard Williams, and his upcoming induction into the American Tennis Association's Hall of Fame. Williams coached Serena and her fellow champion sister, Venus, from when they were children until they were winning titles as adults.

"That's really wonderful and I know he is really excited about that and I am, too," she said. "I was just with him yesterday and we talked about it. It was great."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Venus Williams and ex-Giant get flirty on-air

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Don't expect Rashad Jennings to following in Jesse Palmer's footsteps as the next "Bachelor."

During an interview Tuesday on "Access Hollywood Live," the former Giants running back said romancing 30 women at once will never apply to his dating playbook.

"I couldn't do it, I really couldn't because I would change the show," Jennings, 33, said of the long-running ABC reality series. "Honestly I wouldn't give the audience what they would want to see. I could not be kissing 30 different girls at the same time."

He later added: "They're having good fun, but at the end of the day, I believe personally — and it's just my personal convictions — I don't care if we're talking about proposals, big weddings. I don't care if it's an extravagant wedding that cost millions of dollars, I don't care if it's one knee and a $50 ring, the proposal means nothing if it's not built on something solid. I don't think I'm going to have enough time to build that and what I want."

Though Jennings won't be handing out roses to ladies in waiting anytime soon, Venus Williams gave the one-time "Dancing with the Stars" champ a ringing endorsement, as she listened to the discussion ahead of her own "Access" interview.

"It sounds like he doesn't want to, but it sounds like if he did it would be so entertaining. I would definitely tune in," Williams, 38, said via satellite. "But honestly, he is really good in that seat. I was enjoying every moment."

Following Jennings and Williams' playful exchange during the Q&A, host Kit Hoover suggested the athletic pair swap numbers.

"Maybe we want to exchange some [phone numbers] … two single people?" Hoover said. "Venus, I don't know if you felt it, but I felt it! I felt some heat."

Jennings later quipped, "I'm catching what you're serving."

Williams was last linked to Nicholas Hammond earlier this spring.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Naomi Campbell wants to create a platform for emerging designers

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Supermodel Naomi Campbell wants to help young fashion designers to show off their work online.

"I want to do a platform because not everyone can go to these big fashion weeks around the world and put money into showing their product," she said at a Cannes Lions panel Wednesday, mentioning designers she's seen in Africa. "So there has to be another way … building a platform for the young emerging designers that don't have a way to show their work, and invite online stores to come in and see, and help them grow."

Campbell, who organizes Fashion for Relief shows to benefit Save the Children and other charities, added: "What matters in my legacy that I leave is that I've done enough for models of color and diversity. That's what kept me here for so long is that I don't feel — I haven't felt — that it's right … For years [diversity] has been this afterthought and it should just be a thought along with everything else."

Campbell's concerned a current wave of diversity in fashion could be fleeting.

"It can't be a trend," she said. "It can't go backwards again. We have to stay and keep going forwards. That's my worry."

She recalled a time in her career when she was rejected by French Vogue because it had never put a black woman on the cover. She said she went to Yves Saint Laurent, who threatened to pull ads, and she landed the cover in 1988.

"My life has been a challenge, but I've loved that. I've used that to drive me," she said. "I've never played a victim to any of this. It gives me energy to say 'OK, that didn't happen that way, I'll find another way.'"

She also tackled pay disparity in an unusual circumstance. "When I did Playboy they said, 'She can't get the same money as Cindy Crawford,'" Campbell recalled. "My lawyer said, 'Why?' And they said, 'because Naomi's t–s are smaller.' I was like, 'So what? I'm built differently.'"

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Janet Jackson reveals ‘intense’ battle with depression

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Janet Jackson is living her best life, but in an emotional letter for Essence magazine, the music icon revealed that her happiness didn't come easy.

Speaking of her many ups and downs, the "Scream" singer admitted she went through an 'Intense' battle with depression, and finally found peace when she became a mother.

In the post, Jackson, 52, wrote that her 30s were her hardest time, as her depression "was intense."

"I could analyze the source of my depression forever. Low self-esteem might be rooted in childhood feelings of inferiority," she continued. "It could relate to failing to meet impossibly high standards. And, of course, there are always the societal issues of racism and sexism. Put it all together and depression is a tenacious and scary condition. Thankfully, I found my way through it."

As RadarOnline.com readers know, Jackson has spoken about her struggles with depression before. In 2011, the star published her touching memoir, True You, in which she addressed her self-image and self-esteem issues, as well as her other inner demons.

"Now the height of happiness is holding my baby son in my arms and hearing him coo, or when I look into his smiling eyes and watch him respond to my tenderness. When I kiss him. When I sing him softly to sleep," Jackson wrote in her magazine letter.

As Radar readers know, the singer is currently sharing custody of 1-year-old son, Eissa with ex-husband Wissam Al Mana, 43.

"During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere. Happiness is in gratitude to God."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} ‘Lovecraft Country’: Courtney B. Vance, Aunjanue Ellis & Elizabeth Debicki Join HBO Drama Series

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Courtney B. Vance (American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson), Aunjanue Ellis (Quantico) and Elizabeth Debicki (The Tale) have been tapped for major roles opposite Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Jonathan Majors and Wunmi Mosaku in HBO's high-profile straight-to-series drama Lovecraft Country, from Misha Green, Oscar winner Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot and Warner Bros Television.

Penned by Green based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country follows Atticus Black (Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia (Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George (Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father. Thus begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.

Vance's George Black, has always been more like a father to Atticus (Majors). Warm, funny, and well read, he was the first to introduce Atticus to the wonderful and strange world of pulp novels. As the publisher of the "Safe Negro Travel Guide" he's been on enough adventures to understand there's no place like home.

Ellis is Hippolyta Black, George's wife, Atticus's aunt, and a star gazer. She's been a housewife most of her life with dreams of getting into some adventures of her own, despite her husband's misgivings. Her itch for adventure will eventually, literally and figuratively, take her to the stars and beyond.

Debicki portrays Christina Braithwhite, the only daughter of Samuel Braithwhite, the leader of a secret order calling themselves the "Sons of Adam." She's gone to great lengths to earn her father's respect, to no avail. She's going to pave her own path to power, and she's going to use Atticus and his family to do it.

All three are considered lead characters though I hear that Ellis and Debicki are series regulars while Vance is a recurring. That would accommodate Vance's recent casting as the co-lead opposite Mary-Louise Parker in FX comedy pilot Compliance.

Peele and Green executive produce Lovecraft Country, along with Bad Robot's Abrams and Ben Stephenson, David Knoller and Yann Demange, who directs the first episode.

Vance won an Emmy for his performance as Johnnie Cochran in FX's American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson. He is in post-production on feature Heist directed by Anthony Hemingway. Vance is repped by Gersh, Lighthouse Entertainment and Fox Rothschild.

Ellis will next be seen in Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk alongside Regina King and indie feature Miss Virginia opposite Uza Aduba. Her TV credits include series regular roles on The Mentalist, High Incident, E-Ring, Justice and Quantico. Ellis is repped by ICM Partners and TMT Entertainment Group.

Debicki was most recently seen in Jennifer Fox's The Tale, which premiered at January's Sundance Film Festival. She'll next co-star alongside Viola Davis, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson in Steve McQueen's Widows and recently completed production on Vita and Virginia. She also is attached to star in the he neo-noir thriller The Burnt Orange Heresy. Debicki is repped by CAA in the U.S. and United Management in Australia.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} The Spice Girls reunion is cancelled again

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

The Spice Girls reunion is cancelled again, according to reports.

The famous female group had been teasing a hotly anticipated reunion but it now appears to be off.

Reports have surfaced that Victoria Beckham cannot come to an agreement about touring.

And this has led to rifts between Posh, Mel C, Mel B, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton.

Her fellow band members are frustrated by Posh's stance that could lead them to missing out on a $40 million windfall.

While she has always insisted that she would never tour with the band again, the girls thought their original manager Simon Fuller would convince her, an insider revealed.

But with no agreement having been reached the other band members have been left in 'disarray' following 'heated debates between the girls and Victoria.'

And these meetings have failed to reach any deal about finalizing their reunion tour.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Beyoncé and Jay-Z pay tribute to Grenfell Tower victims during London show

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Beyoncé and Jay-Z reduced fans to tears as they paid tribute to Grenfell victims during their London Stadium show.

The music power-couple performed "Forever Young" for the 72 people killed in the blaze, one year ago.

Queen B and her rapper husband both wore green heart badges from the Justice4Grenfell campaign.

Beyoncé, 36, told the packed stadium they would be dedicating a song to Grenfell victims, adding: "god bless you".

An emotional audience sung along to the tune.

Later, fans took to social media to say how their "hearts broke" during the touching tribute.

One wrote: "Beyoncé and Jay Z just dedicated London's show to the victims of Grenfell. We all sobbed."

Another added: "I was peacefully working at Beyoncé and Jay-Z until they dedicated their encore song to Grenfell and then my heart broke."

One young fan said: "I was alright until Beyoncé and Jay sang Forever Young in tribute to Grenfell and then I lost my s–t."

Bey and Jay-Z were performing on the On The Run II Tour.

They also performed classics such as "'03 Bonnie and Clyde," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Crazy in Love," "Formation" and "99 Problems."

A number of events will be held today to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire and the 72 victims.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} ‘Insecure’ Star Yvonne Orji Says Season 3 Is “A Season Of Growth”

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

With the August 12 premiere date for Season 3 of HBO hit comedy Insecure approaching, star Yvonne Orji gave more clarity on what to expect, calling the new installment "a season of growth."

"This is definitely a checks-and-balances season, and some people will get checked," she told Deadline on the sidelines of the 22nd annual American Black Film Festival in Miami.

In recent interviews, star and creator Issa Rae has hinted that Season 3 will focus on the topic of black male masculinity and how it related to black women.

"All throughout the seasons, we try to put our characters through different scenarios where we get to have these conversations that are beyond the surface or that you wouldn't normally see black women and men having," said Orji, who plays Molly in the series. "This year you'll be able to see some characters surprise you with their insecurities."

As for her character, "This season focuses a lot on Molly and her workplace. I think [the audience] will see through my character's… Molly is overcompensating for a lot of things this season, sometimes to her detriment, sometimes to her benefit depending on what lenses you're looking at it. I think a lot of people will identify with different things within themselves."

Since premiering in 2016, Insecure has been a commercial and critical success for the premium cabler, most recently receiving a Peabody Award. When asked why the show has resonated with audiences, Orji opined, "How many shows on TV do you see young black people, both women and men, really embody a full-fledged human being, flaws and all? We're not trying to be perfect at all… we're not trying to be heady. If you go anywhere south of [I-10 in Los Angeles] you know these folks."

"Just being able to see that reflection of yourself… that's what our show gives," she said.

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Star PR Trio Launches The Lede With Killer List: Rihanna, Will Smith, Reese, Charlize, Lady Gaga, Pharrell, More

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Days after Deadline revealed the trio would leave their longtime perch at 42West, Amanda Silverman, Meredith O'Sullivan Wasson and Sarah Levinson Rothman have launched The Lede Company. The former 42West Managing Directors will be co-CEOs; Silverman and Rothman will stay from New York and O'Sullivan Wasson from Los Angeles.

They start with an illustrious client list that includes Rihanna, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Queen Latifah, Charlize Theron, Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Illumination, Anonymous Content, Pharrell, Amy Schumer, theSkimm, Brad Weston's Makeready, Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine, Penelope Cruz, PepsiCo, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Mary J Blige, Halle Berry, Riley Keough, Shakira, Cara Delevingne, David Spade, Chelsea Handler, Whitney Cummings, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jennifer Connelly, and Gabrielle Union among others.

They become the latest in a group of elite publicists who grew up at major firms but have elected to strike out on their own.

In a statement, the trio said: "The three of us have been privileged to work closely together for the last decade, and during that time, we have found that each of our individual styles and specialties in the talent and corporate worlds complement each other. As the entertainment, media and branding worlds continue to grow and shift, we are confident that our combined skills and experience have readied us to implement strategies that move along with it, and we can't wait to see where this new journey takes us. Our time at 42West was invaluable, and we are so grateful to Leslee, Amanda and Allan for their mentorship, wisdom, for building a company that truly felt like a family, and for their continued friendship as we begin this exciting new phase."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Wedding belle Stephens finds Paris match is just perfect

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Work From Home

Paris (AFP) - Twelve months ago, while Simona Halep was crumbling to defeat in the French Open final, Sloane Stephens was off the tour, attending the wedding of a friend in Ireland.

While Halep's slump from a set and 3-0 up against Jelena Ostapenko at Roland Garros was in the full glare of the world's media, Stephens's own professional crisis was more private but just as devastating.

A foot injury -- and then surgery -- had put her career on ice for 10 months and her ranking had nosedived to 323 in the world.

However, fast forward a year and Stephens is a US Open champion, is about to reach at least the number four ranking in the world and on Saturday will take on Halep in the 2018 French Open final.

The 25-year-old can be forgiven if she pinches herself.

She won the US Open in September on a ranking of 83 and just 69 days after returning to the tour following her near year-long absence.

Six weeks earlier, her ranking had been in the twilight zone at 957.

"I think I worked really hard coming back and getting in the gym, and when I was chubby trying to get skinny and when I was out of shape getting back in shape," she said after seeing off close friend Madison Keys in the semi-finals on Thursday.

"I have recognised more things I have needed to do. So when I have gotten in shape and done all the things that my coach asked me to do, I just put it into the universe, like, God, look what I did, help a sister out!"

Stephens's run to Saturday's final comes after a roller-coaster year since her US Open stunner.

After New York, she lost her next eight matches, a run encompassing the Asian swing of late 2017 and the early exchanges of 2018, including a demoralising first round exit at the Australian Open.

In fact, her next match win after the US Open did not come until Acapulco in February.

Not to be one who does things half-heartedly, Stephens then captured her first Premier level title at the Miami Open and won both her singles in the United States' Fed Cup semi-final victory over France.

"I think life came at me fast after the US Open and just kind of regrouping and getting myself together, which I did well, and I started playing better and better," she explained.

"Then obviously had a good result in Miami and Fed Cup. Like, I have just slowly kind of gained momentum. There is no formula.

"There's no right or wrong. It's just each person is individual and does it on their own time."

Stephens had never previously got past the fourth round in Paris before this year.

Indeed, her Roland Garros campaign this year came close to ending in the third round when Italy's Camila Giorgi twice served for the match and was within two points of winning.

No surprise then that the charismatic Stephens is not getting too far ahead of herself for Saturday's final against two-time runner-up and world number one Halep.

"I just do what I have been doing all the days, really. Nothing really too special," said the American.

"I'll come here Friday, have a hit, have lunch here, go to my room, watch TV, wait till dinner, have dinner, go to sleep. It's pretty boring.

"I wish there was something exciting to tell you, but it's really not."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html