The Academy Award-nominated actress, 26, has another prestigious showbiz title to add to her resume: Saturday Night Live host.
Sidibe's rep confirms to PEOPLE that the Precious star will be taking on hosting duties for the April 24 show. Unfortunately Sidibe's self-professed crush Justin Timberlake will not be the musical guest. Instead, NBC announced that psychedelic indie rockers MGMT will perform on the show.
It's been a whirlwind past few months for Sidibe who kicked off her career with Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nods and a win at the Independent Spirit Awards.
In addition to Sidibe, NBC has also announced that Tina Fey will host an April 10 episode of SNL with musical guest Justin Bieber, and Ryan Phillippe will helm the April 17 broadcast with musical guest Ke$ha.
Cleveland Browns DT Shaun Rogers was arrested after officials found him with a gun at the Hopkins International Airport on Thursday.
Police told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer that the gun was loaded.
WOIO-TV in Cleveland reported officials found the gun as Rogers was set to board an aircraft.
Rogers is a three-time Pro Bowler whom the Browns acquired from the Detroit Lions in 2009. The AP reported that Rogers was taken into custody without incident.
Browns president Mike Holmgren issued a statement about the incident:
"We are aware of what transpired with Shaun Rogers. We will continue to gather additional information, and until the legal process has taken its course, we will reserve any further comment."
Inside Chris Orsaris' $5 Million Dollar Queens Crib
A slippery used-car dealer embezzled $7 million to finance his mob fantasies, living large in Southampton and South Beach - surrounded by muscle-bound flunkies and drug dealers, authorities said.
High-flying Chris Orsaris, 37, funneled a fortune in inflated sale commissions from a Queens dealership into "the sordid lifestyle of a 'wanna-be' criminal," federal officials said Thursday.
The car-peddling prodigy, whose sales career started as a teen, used the stolen cash to cover his exorbitant spending: a $5.5 million Trump World Tower apartment, a $2.9 million Hamptons home and a $2 million Florida condo, officials said.
Orsaris, who also owned a $5 million Queens waterfront home, even bought an $860,000 yacht christened B LOW ME - and then filed a bogus claim that it was stolen, officials said.
The Greek-American loved his "Sopranos"-styled life so much that he threatened a suspected informant by delivering a black candy rat to the would-be witness, officials said.
Orsaris, who appeared in Long Island Federal Court on Thursday, was denied bail in the massive fraud and embezzlement scheme at Major Automotive Cos., a $300-million-a-year business with 14 city dealerships.
Orsaris first embraced the mob lifestyle after a 2002 divorce, federal prosecutors said in court papers.
He got engaged to the daughter of reputed Genovese crime family capo Anthony (Tough Tony) Federici - but his attempt to marry into the mob didn't work out as well, federal sources told the Daily News.
Orsaris' romance ended after he was caught canoodling with a stripper, the sources said.
Amid rumors that Orsaris' wandering eye was replaced by two black eyes, the engagement was called off, the sources related.
Federici could not be reached for comment.
The feds, in their letter arguing against bail, described Orsaris as a voracious thief who hired thugs and drug dealers to work as his flunkies between 2004 and 2009.
Once they were on the payroll at Major Automotive Cos., the "employees" served as Orsaris' bodyguards, chauffeurs and personal assistants, the letter said.
In between, the workers distributed steroids, shipped a cocaine-laden car to Greece - and in one case, watched the divorced Orsaris' kids on their weekend visitation with dad.
Other known criminals were hired and given no-show jobs, the letter said, while Orsaris greedily lined his pockets.
"Orsaris has intentionally associated with violent and non-violent criminals [and] drug dealers," wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Burton Ryan.
Orsaris began his career peddling used cars for Major Automotive in 1992, moving up through the ranks.
At the time of his Tuesday arrest, Orsaris was general manager of Major Chevrolet Long Island City - one of the nation's largest used-car dealerships.
He was immediately fired.
"He was a very trusted employee," said Steven Harfenist, lawyer for Major Automotive. "We've cooperated fully with the government, and the matter will be resolved in court."
164-count indictment
Orsaris was busted on a 164-count indictment accusing him of funneling the stolen funds through three sham corporations - and forging his boss' signature as part of the scam.
It was his second bust in a month: Police nabbed the suspect for assaulting his girlfriend on March 1. There also were two outstanding orders of protection against Orsaris.
Defense lawyer Joseph Conway did not return a call for comment.
The yacht scam illustrated Orsaris' brazen approach. The car salesman stored his craft at the College Point Yacht Club, reported it stolen and collected $112,000 in insurance, authorities said.
In a 2000 interview, Orsaris explained his business philosophy: "I look to go an inch ahead, not an inch back."
If convicted, Orsaris won't be going anywhere soon: He faces more than 1,000 years in prison - although a likely term is 10 years
(AllHipHop News) A new song by rapper Jeezy hit the Internet last night titled “Mamma Told Me” featuring Esther Dean.
The track is taken from Jeezy’s anticipated album, Thug Motivation 103.
In anticipation of the album, Jeezy has changed his name, by dropping the Young and will have a more focused attitude on this album.
Jeezy, who hit Miami where he took pictures for his Vibe Magazine cover spread, discussed the album in the latest issue of the magazine.
“I feel like the last Mohican dawg...I feel like the last man standing,” Jeezy stated. “I done seen it, I done done it. I done smelt it...I know what I am. But I know what I’m not about to become. I gotta stand for something, man. Who better?”
According to Jeezy, he is finding inspiration in rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., both of whom died in a violent feud.
Jeezy vowed to avoid similar conflicts in the future.
“Pac and Big gone...They no more. Only thing you can hear is they voice, my n***a, and you know what they voice telling me? You gotta keep it moving, man. F**k the dumb s**t...I’m four albums in. How many albums Big have, two? He ain’t make it that far. So I’m already ahead of the game.”
Jeezy is putting the final touches on Thug Motivation 103, which is due to be released in 2010.
According to Fabolous, the back-and-forth he had with fellow New York heavyweight Jim Jones recently on Twitter was no big deal — just jokes. It's not going to lead into any dis records.
The same day Fab's "Body Ya" video hit the Internet, Jones tweeted about MCs he felt were biting his style. "I just seen another rapper's video that look just like my chain gang n scarf," Jones wrote. "Damn, I'm sonnin these n----az. I guess my style might body ya. Lol.'"
NEW YORK – Jennifer Hudson didn't gain a huge amount of weight when she was pregnant with her son, but it was enough to make her do a double-take when she saw a picture of herself.
"I didn't realize it was me," the singer and actress said Thursday. "I was like, 'Who? ... Oh, my God, this is me.' And now when I look back, wow, look at the difference from then to now."
Hudson, a former "American Idol" finalist who won a best supporting actress Academy Award for "Dreamgirls," has lost the baby weight and more, and she says it's because of Weight Watchers — for which she is the new spokeswoman.
Hudson said she has always been happy with her curves but after she gave birth to David Daniel Otunga Jr. last August she felt the need to take control of her body and her eating habits.
"How can I make a better me, or grow or do some changes, anything, just experiment, because I have me back now," she said. "And then at the same time, having the baby ... it's like, OK, this is a good way of how I would want my child to grow up, because so many times in growing up, you gain really bad habits ... so I want to make sure that he's going into this and I'm being a good example for him."
She said that her lifestyle change has even rubbed off on her fiance, David Otunga, who has recently been wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment.
"Now he's in the habit of writing down what he's eating," she said. "He's doing weigh-ins. He's super healthy, and he's a bodybuilder type, but he is inspired by it."
A Chinese army recruit's first attempt at throwing a grenade almost ended in disaster.
He attempts to toss the grenade over his bunker wall, it hits the wall and bounces right back at him. Lucky for him his quick thinking instructor pulls him to safety just as the bomb explodes.
The recruit later says his mind went blank and he thought was was a goner.
Wherever Lamar Odom is, he can't be a happy camper.
While he's grinding on the basketball court getting ready to head into the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers. His wife is auditioning for the next Girls Gone Wild dvd.
Khloe was hanging out with sister Kourtney in Miami Beach when she inexplicably decides to flash her breasts. Kim on the other hand managed to keep
What people won't do for attention these days, smh.
Erykah Badu may be getting a lot more than she bargained for when she decided to shoot the video for her song "Window Seat in the nude"
Ida Espinosa who was in Dealey Plaza in Dallas that day with her daughter celebrating the child's 9th birthday is planning to file charges against Badu.
Ms Espinosa says "If she wants to make art or make a statement do it tastefully. Don't do it while my child is there watching you get butt naked"
Dallas police had previously said that Badu could have been arrested for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor. But since nobody called police she would most likely only face indecent exposure charges.
That will likely change now that a witness is coming forward.
The fans on Twitter are writing "Free @liltunechi." The fans on the street are screaming "Free Lil Wayne." Any way you put it, the people miss one of rap's most dynamic superstars.
Super talented Neo Soul singer Erykah Badu was a guest on the Chelsea Lately show last night (March 31).
As always Chelsea was able to make the interview both funny and entertaining.
Erykah seemed to be having fun as the two talked about her controversial new video "Window Seat" and the difference between the albums 'New Amerykah Part One' and the just released 'Part Two'.
Erykah described 'Part One' as sinister while 'Part Two' is more "sweet and juicy".
Chelsea also asked for advice on how to hook up with a black rapper. Check out the full interview below to hear Erykah's hilarious answer.
Complex: Does it bother you at all when certain rappers like Lil Wayne or Jim Jones rep Bloods?
Nipsey Hussle: If you 35, 28, or 30 years old, and you decide you’re gonna pick up a rag and start bangin’, and you can look yourself in the mirror and you still feel like you’re a man? That’s cool, do your thing. My concern is the niggas that are really in the shit. I’m more focused on giving solutions and inspiration more than anything. But to answer your question, I feel like it’s fraudulent. Straight up. If you ain’t put on to this shit, you wasn’t courted on, you ain’t going to the back of the buildings to fight, your homies didn’t get put on, you not from a gang. Not only are you not from a gang, if you ain’t press a line and put in work, not necessarily kill nobody but you know, put yours on the line. It ain’t just you a Blood when it’s convenient, cause you got a camera and it looks cool. When you around 100 Crips, you still a Blood. When 40-Glocc and them run up on you, you still a Blood. And I ain’t talking about Wayne. I got respect for they movement and I like the dude as an artist. But I’m just saying on some gangbang shit, when you go to the county jail and you walk in the court tank and it’s 50 of your enemies, you still gonna say the 60s (Rollin 60 Neighborhood Crips). Or you not a gangbanger. Your homies gonna hear about it, beat you up, kick you in your ass, and you was for nothin’. I know in the real world in this shit, a lot of niggas wouldn’t make it. So like I said, it’s an overstanding I got about it. I look at it like these niggas is totally out of character.
Read The Rest Of Nipsey's Interview With Complex Here
NEW YORK – An upcoming Fox News Channel special hosted by Sarah Palin is titled "Real American Stories."
But rapper-actor LL Cool J says his participation in the show was bogus.
In response, the network has snipped him from the program.
In a Twitter posting late Tuesday, the entertainer wrote that "Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW."
"Real American Stories," which debuts Thursday at 10 p.m. EDT, is hosted by Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, who joined Fox News Channel as a regular contributor in January. The one-hour program is described by Fox News as "the first installment of a new series" that features "real-life tales of overcoming adversity throughout the American landscape."
Fox News says the episode, which was not available for preview, will feature a Marine Medal of Honor recipient "who gave his life to save his comrades" and a wealthy stockbroker who helps underprivileged students pay for college.
Also listed as part of the show are country singer Toby Keith and former General Electric boss Jack Welch, as well as LL Cool J, who appeared among a number of video clips on the "Real American Stories" Web site Wednesday morning before being removed.
"Contrary to what was reported, LL Cool J was never scheduled to be a guest on 'Real American Stories' with Sarah Palin this week," Rhett Usry, the artist's spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday. "The show had planned to use an interview from 2008 that was being repurposed without LL's permission.
"This statement is not a reflection of any feelings LL has toward Fox News or Ms. Palin, whom he has never met, rather a clarification of what we have seen published in the media."
Fox News Channel did not respond to numerous calls and e-mails from The Associated Press inquiring about the status of the segment with LL Cool J, who was born James Todd Smith.
But in a statement released to other media outlets, the network said: "'Real American Stories' features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fits that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career."
Credits for the 42-year-old actor include a starring role in the hit CBS freshman series "NCIS: Los Angeles," as well as several films such as "Last Holiday" and "S.W.A.T."
It is unclear when or if future editions of "Real American Stories" will appear on Fox News. Thursday's airing pre-empts "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren."
Palin's ongoing relationship with Fox News Channel as a host and news analyst accounts for only part of her television activities. Last week, the TLC cable network announced "Sarah Palin's Alaska," an eight-part series about Palin's home state that is set to start production this summer.
CLEVELAND - A man on the run tried to hide from police by breaking into a women's prison overnight.
Garfield Heights police said they tried to stop a Pontiac G6 for failure to signal during a turn. After that, the story took a turn.
According to the police report, Ricky Flowers, 20, Gabriel Huston, 20, Mitchell Buyers, 19, and Lamar Sullins, 19, lead officers on a chase through several cities at speeds upwards of 90 mph.
During the chase, the driver lost control of the car several times and spun out at least three times. Finally, the chase ended at a women’s prison on East 30th Street and Broadway Avenue.
Buyers and Sullins fled on foot, but were arrested almost immediately. Huston and Flowers started climbing the prison’s barbed wire fence.
Newburgh Heights police shot Huston with a Taser gun. Flowers made it to the other side, but found himself trapped inside the prison walls.
EMS took Flowers to the hospital after he shred his arm on the razor fence. Police said he needed 36 staples and stitches.
All four boys are in custody facing several charges and more are coming for the seven bags of marijuana found on one of the passengers.
The driver of the car told police he didn’t pull over because he had a suspended license and he didn’t want his mom to find out he was driving the car.
When prison officials found out what happened, they vowed to also press charges against everyone involved.
South Africa expects the IAAF to report back on the results of Caster Semanya's gender test by June and they have told the athlete that she cannot compete until the results are known.
The world 800m champion released a statement yesterday indicating her intention to return to the sport immediately, just hours after the ASA said her return would have to wait until the conclusion of testing by the IAAF.
In response to Semenya's statement, ASA's spokesman Richard Stander said: "The IAAF have said the scientific team is due to report back in June so we are waiting for that."
Semenya has not competed since her victory at the World Championships in Berlin last summer. The 19-year-old was expected to hear the decision last November but in frustration at the long delay, released a lengthy statement yesterday apparently in a bid to speed up a resolution.
Semenya's statement read: "I am an athlete first and foremost and it is vital for my competitiveness, my well-being and for my preparations for events during the European summer that I measure my performance against other athletes.
"I hereby publicly announce my return to athletics competitions. My coach, agent and I will work closely together to identify and prepare for a limited number of athletics meetings over the course of the coming athletics season."
The IAAF are maintaining their position that they will not comment on Semenya's case until the medical findings are finally released.
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