EVA MARCILLE (A.K.A. EVA PIGFORD, EVA THE DIVA) & JAMIA NASH TO JOIN CAST OF THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS.

America's Next Top Model winner Eva Marcille and singer/actress Jamia Simone Nash (August Rush) join the cast of The Young & the Restless on Wednesday, June 25. Marcille plays Tyra Hamilton, Devon's aunt who is a single mother to daughter Ana, played by Nash. Devon is reunited with them at Lily's 21st birthday party. It's about time Y&R added more color to their cast. I'm so tired of seeing pale-ass Lily, I don't know what to do. Anyhoo, Marcille has guest-starred on several television series such as Kevin Hill, one episode of Smallville, one episode of Everybody Hates Chris, and one episode of The Game as herself. Most recently, Marcille has also appeared on TBS' House Of Payne, a series created by playwright Tyler Perry.

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At age 11, Nash has already shared the stage with major artists, including Alicia Keys and Diana Ross. She has acted in episodes of 7th Heaven, Romeo!, My Wife and Kids, and appeared as herself on Half & Half and Big Time. She also played a ten-year-old Fantasia Barrino in the 2006 Lifetime Original Movie Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story, a biopic about the 2004 American Idol winner. And she provides the singing voice for the character Uniqua on The Backyardigans.

Nash made her feature debut in August Rush and became the youngest African American to ever sing on an Oscar telecast when she performed that film's nominated song this year.

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CHILLI'S RELEASES OFFICAL ALBUM TITLE, SINGLE & RELEASE DATE FOR HER SOLO ALBUM; SELECTS 'DUMB' DANCERS.

Things are rolling full steam ahead in preparation of TLC's Rozoda 'Chilli' Thomas solo effort. According to a press release (released today), Bi-Polar is the singer's official album title with Dumb, Dumb, Dumb as its first single. The disc is slated to hit stores on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. This album has been seven years in the making. And after several setbacks, Chilli is now much more further along in this project than she has ever been before. Also mentioned in the press release is news of Chilli's top 2 picks from her Dumb, Dumb, Dumb online dance contest. Fred Swinton of Atlanta, GA and Howard "Deejay" Franklin of Willingboro, NJ beat out hundreds of would-be choreographers for an opportunity to join her on-stage during her upcoming promotional tour. Chilli says, "There were so many videos that were great, but these two really captured the feel of the song. I'm looking forward to meeting both Fred and Deejay and performing with them."

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Dancers that may have missed the deadline need not worry; Chilli hasn't abandoned her search for three additional dance phenoms to join her on tour this summer. Instead of online submissions, dancers will be able to audition live in front of Chilli during promo dates. "I wanted the opportunity to interact with fans," she explained. For information on upcoming dates visit www.myspace.com/officialchillimusic.

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BANNED BOONDOCKS EPISODES TO APPEAR ON NEW DVD COMPILATION.

Two episodes of Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks that took aim at African-American cable network BET were yanked last season by Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Networks after BET threatened legal action, the Los Angeles Times reported today on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the newspaper said, the two censored episodes are scheduled to be included in a DVD compilation of the series being released on Tuesday.

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The Times report said that the two episodes target BET's top executives and lampoons the channel's "negative imagery" of black Americans. In one of the episodes, a cartoon representation of the channel's chairman and CEO, Debra L. Lee (named Dr. Leevil in the show) tells a staff meeting: "Our leader Bob Johnson had a dream, a dream that would accomplish what hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow and malt liquor could not accomplish -- the destruction of black people."

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CELEB CANDIDS: T.I. LEAVING MR. CHOW'S; ACTOR HENRY SIMMONS ARRIVING AT STARBUCKS.

Former Shark star Henry Simmons was also seen entering a Starbucks cafe in Los Angeles last night.

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T.I. rapper/actor/future cell-mate to Big Bruno,: T.I. was spotted signing autographs for fans outside of Mr Chow's. restaurant in Los Angeles Los Angeles, California last night.

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SERENA WILLIAMS IN EBONY MAGAZINE: DISHES ON RELATIONSHIP WITH RAPPER COMMON, NEW FILM ROLES...AND OF COURSE TENNIS.

Serena Williams played cutesy with Ebony magazine in a July cover story, by EUR contributing columnist Jasmyne Cannick, that eventually brought up the subject of rap star Common. Asked to comment on the recent dating rumors, she said: "I think he's a great guy. He's obviously a great artist who is timeless and classic. You can't beat that. But I have to focus on tennis because that's my goal in life." In the meantime, she says her plans for the summer include a trip to see the film Wanted, which stars Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and, lo and behold, Common. "I'm really looking forward to seeing that film," she laughs.

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Meanwhile, Common has been busy, himself, trying to figure out a way to get more children to read. The rapper has just launched The Corner, an online book club designed to develop critical thinking skills among participants while giving them a chance to discuss current selections. The club is open to students age 13-18 and features recommended books that promote messages of tolerance, compassion and nonviolent expressions of achieving social justice. Members can also blog with each other about relevant topics and have a chance to participate in a live online chat with Common Ground Foundation staff. The Corner will also feature interviews each month with celebrity artists who will talk about their favorite books and why reading is so important to them.

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PERSIA WHITE TIES THE KNOT WITH FORMER 'GIRLFRIENDS' GUEST-STAR; EXPRESSES THANKS TO FANS.

Former Girlfriends star Persia White (Lynn Searcy) recently married her longtime boyfriend and 'verbal stylist' (poet/musician/actor) Saul Williams on February 29, 2008 which also happens to be his birthday. If his face looks familiar to you all it's because he also guest-starred on several episodes of Girlfriends as Sivad, Lynn's celibate boyfriend who she tried oh so hard to bed down. The couple, who each have a daughter (Persia's daughter, Mecca and Saul's daughter, Saturn--pictured below) from previous relationships spent their honeymoon in Morocco. Congratulations to the newlyweds. Persia revealed the news of their nuptials on her Myspace.com page:

"I danced inside the pages of my book alone for many years. I opened myself up many times to love but I was never filled. I didn't know how, or if I ever would find my other whole -not half-because I knew that what I was seeking had 2 centers and 3 moons. A place where Mecca cold run to Saturn and dance in swirls of light. I was searching for my ONE. The one I searched for was in my life. We had been "friends" for many years. A time to grow and love each other with out being lovers. I loved him before I knew him. my HUSBAND. February 29th 2008~ I married Saul Williams." Click here to read entire excerpt

Persia also sent a message expressing her thanks to all of those loyal, die-hard, true to the game fans of Girlfriends. Read what she had to say by clicking 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!'
"As some of you know, after 8 years Girlfriends has come to an end..... :( I will miss my Girlfriends family and all the crazy fun that went with being Lynn. Most of all I will miss YOU, the fans. You have been with me through the years and I am forever thankful, because without you a girl like me would not have a home on prime time TV. thank YOU, thank you, AND THANK YOU!!!! As with all change, I look for the good and anticipate the beauty of what is to come."

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