Holly Robinson-Peete is known not only for her great acting ability, but for her role as the leading lady at home. Read more about Holly’s new radio show featuring other celebrity moms!

According to the Associated Press, this fall, CBS is replacing the soap opera As the World Turns with an hour-long daily talk show with six co-hosts — all women, all mothers.  

Those hosting the as-yet untitled daytime show include Sharon Osbourne; Sara Gilbert of TV’s Roseanne fame; Broadway actress Marissa Jaret
Winokur; Leah Remini of The King of Queens; Julie Chen, who hosts CBS’ Big Brother and The Early Show, and our very own Holly Robinson Peete from Celebrity Apprentice.
 

CBS said today that the new show will take a moms’ view of entertainment and news stories.  And it looks like it’ll be rivaling its fellow woman’s roundtable discussion show “The View”.

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Janet Jackson has gained much praise and scrutiny for her new ad featuring beautiful black mink created by BlackGlama fur firm. Although Janet is surely the right pick for the theme “What It Takes to Be A Legend Most”, PETA animal activists seem to think differently! Here’s a recent post from starpulse.com in reference to Janet’s new ad:

Animal activists have taken aim at Janet Jackson for signing on as the new face of fur firm BlackGlama. The pop superstar was announced as the brand’s new ‘What Becomes a Legend Most?’ spokes model on Thursday and she’ll model high-quality mink items in the ads – and PETA bosses have been quick to react. Spokeswoman Amanda Schinke says, “It’s amazing what celebrities will do when their careers are on a downslide, but we didn’t think that Janet was this desperate.” “Surely she knows enough about suffering and unjustified death to recognize that both occur in the production of a fur coat. We are asking her to think again and to donate these stolen skins to be used as bedding for animals orphaned by other human-caused disasters, such as loss of habitat.”

I beg to differ. Janet looks absolutely fabulous in this ad and the furs are AMAZING. However, we all have our differing opinions. Her words on “what makes a legend” are very touching. Check out the video for the photo shoot below…

The year was 1982…and I was with a few friends over a DJ’s house when he was previewing new music. He pulled out the Debarge record, “I Like It” and we were all in El’s trance. We wondered like everyone else…is that Switch? Nope…after looking on the back-cover of the album. It was Bobby and Tommy DeBarge’s younger siblings.  We listened over and over again until we all knew the words and could sing along. Not noticing the time…it was two hours later and past my curfew. Needless to say, the week on punishment was well worth it. I sang, “I Like It,” and “All This Love” all week long. From that point DeBarge has been one of my favorite groups.  Yes, I have all the CD’s and even El’s solo projects. I’m so ready for El to hit the stage again!!!!

After years of battling drug abuse and a prison stint, El DeBarge has surely returned to make all of us swoon to the sound of his soulful voice and music. His dynamic performances during the BET Awards proves El…is ready! Check out this heartfelt video! Good luck, El! I’m rooting for you!

Watch Janet Jackson’s video for “Nothing,” the theme song to “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?”

Janet Jackson lost her beloved brother just three days into filming “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too.” Tyler says, Janet channeled her inner pain of losing Michael into her performance. Janet revealed, working on the set helped her grief. Watch Janet open about her wonderful memories of Michael with Oprah.

Just released, Janet Jackson’s new single “Nothing,” the lead single for “Tyler Perry’s – Why Did I Get Married Too” in ‘April 2nd. Janet will start production for the video on April 4th. Look for Janet and Tyler Perry promo tour for the movie starting this week with scheduled appearances on The Today Show March 22nd, George Lopez on March 24th, The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 26th and Regis & Kelly on April 1st.

Mo’Nique won Best Supporting Actress last night during the Oscars for her roll as an abusive mom in “Precious.” She paid tribute to Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win Best Supporting Actress in 1939 for “Gone with the Wind,” by wearing a royal blue gown and hair embellished Gardenias, as McDaniel did during her Oscar appearance. She cites her husband in her speech by expressing, “Thank you for showing me that sometimes you have to forgo what’s popular to do what’s right.” We are proud of you Mo’ Classy, Mo’Sassy, Mo’Nique!  Watch her speech below.

Know your history: Watch Hattie McDaniel’s acceptance speech for her roll in “Gone with the Wind” in 1939.

Book clubs stand up! After a 10 year break from writing and getting her exhale on, Terry McMillian has written “Getting Happy,” the much anticipated sequel to her bestseller “Waiting to Exhale.” We have been ready for this one for a long, long time. My wish….a sequel to the movie with the original cast. Wouldn’t that be sweet. Let me not jump the gun….the book still has to make its way to the shelves.  Terri was recently in the Bahamas to chat about book being released in September. You know ”Getting Happy” will be a book club pick this fall. Check out the video.

What do you do to be happy?

The devastation in Haiti after the earthquake is more than heartbreaking. We have to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters of Haiti…NOW.  Entertainer Wyclef Jean; a native of Haiti has put together a Earthquake Fund for his country. Please contribute what you can. Here is his open letter.

“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.

I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.

President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”

Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can click here to DONATE.

Thank you,
Wyclef

Essence.com caught up with Rose to chat about landing her dream job, seeing herself in animation and how she hopes to switch things up for her next, big role.

ESSENCE.com: What was your initial thought when you heard there was going to be a Black animated princess?
ANIKA NONI ROSE: Oh my God, I was thrilled. [Working with] Disney has been my dream, so I just focused on getting the part and when I did, I called home screaming! [laughs] There’s no reason why a girl from Connecticut would end up being the first Black Disney princess.

ESSENCE.com: Well, there’s no reason why not, either! Weren’t Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Tyra Banks being considered, too?
ROSE: I read that they were, but I don’t know any details. Ultimately, that didn’t matter to me because I was competing against me. As an actor, if you spend so much time thinking about how many other people are coming into a room, you’ll psyche yourself out before you even get there.

ESSENCE.com: How did you feel when you saw Tiana on the big screen for the first time?
ROSE: When I saw Tiana, with my expression on her face, in color, standing in the moonlight, surrounded by sparkles–I was truly undone! I’ve been crying for a year– seriously.

ESSENCE.com: What does it mean to you to be making history?
ROSE: The largesse of it all didn’t hit me [in the beginning], but when they unveiled the doll to me, I remember thinking, “There’s a doll, based on me and the work I’ve done, that’s going to be here for these little girls–and she’s glamorous.” This movie is showing the world a different picture of Black America, which is phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal.

ESSENCE.com: What were your feelings about the initial criticism surrounding the film, specifically relating to the prince not being Black and the firefly being a bit…ethnic?
ROSE: I was surprised by some of the things that the community took issue with, especially considering the amount of negativity that’s in the world about us, on TV and film. But I think it’s really about us not ever having this happen before and wanting to have some control over our image, because we so rarely do. There’s a lot of humor in the film. There are also a lot of touching moments that I think are very genuine and it’s all been done with such love, which you can see in the details. You can see it in Tiana’s little, round nose and in how she moves…and that firefly’s funny!

ESSENCE.com: So, what can we expect from you next?
ROSE: Well, I’m co-composing a musical for Broadway. I’m reading a lot, too, and I’m always looking for books that are a possibility to make. I’d love to do some foreign films and also, an action movie where I could wear a boot–a heel–and beat somebody’s butt. I’d be 5′2″ and just punching and kicking…in leather! [laughs]

The Princess and the Frog opens nationwide TODAY!

Source: Essence.com