BV Entertainment Newswire July 31

Making Whoopi

Whoopi Goldberg stays working.

The Academy Award winning star of films such as 'The Color Purple,' 'Ghost,' and 'Ghost of Mississippi,' officially began her latest gig this morning -- as host of the syndicated radio show 'Wake up with Whoopi.'

The four-hour show debuted on Clear Channel Radio’s New York station WKTU-FM and will air weekday mornings from 5 AM to 9 AM.

Syndicated out of the Big Apple by Premiere Radio, the show promises to blend the day’s most topical stories with listener call-ins, studio guests and music. It teams the incomparable Whoopi with longtime NY DJ Paul "Cubby" Bryant.

A spokesperson says the show will start broadcasting nationally throughout the U.S. August 14, with markets such as Chicago (WLIT-FM), San Francisco (KKSF-FM) and Cincinnati (WVMX-FM) already cleared.

Early indication is that New York City is embracing the idea of its native daughter (who is one of a select few to have garnered an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy) taking to the airwaves.

"[We] are both honored and thrilled to offer New Yorkers one of the most talented women in the entertainment business," stated WKTU's Program Director Jeff Z. "The show is the perfect way to start off each workday and we look forward to her connecting daily with our listeners." The station is New York City’s top-rated rhythmic music station with more than two million listeners per week.

Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, joins a long list of celebrities who have gotten behind the mic. Following Howard Stern's much ballyhooed departure from syndicated radio to satellite radio, former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth tried his hand at talk radio -- to abysmal results. His hugely marketed stint lasted less than six months.

Other mainstream personalities have fared better.

Gender-bending 1990s pop icon RuPaul helped launched WKTU's format change back in 1996, and enjoyed a two-year stint. The chart-topping dragqueen also helped the Viacom-owned WNEW launch its new format last year.

Former NBA player John Salley and MTV personality Ananda Lewis hosted a morning show on Los Angeles radio station KKBT, and best-selling novelist Michael Baisden hosts a provacative talk show, titled 'Love, Lust & Lies.'

Billionaire real estate magnate and media monger Donald Trump has a radio deal -- titled 'Trumped! with Donald Trump'-- with Clear Channel. A daily program offering his commentary, 'Trumped!' --launched in 2004-- is said to be the biggest launch in radio history at the time.

Even gospel stars BeBe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Tonex also have syndicated shows airing across the country

Comedian Steve Harvey has been holding down mornings at New York City’s Black owned radio station WBLS -- with a lucrative 25-market syndication package also included.

"Whoopi should fare better than other non-radio personalities because she has a solid anchor in co-host "Cubby,"" syndicated radio expert John Campanario told Black Voices.

"Comedians often find radio a difficult career segue way because of the change in venue," he added. "Being on stage allows longer time to set up a joke or bit and facial expressions and on their own it’s a tough transition. Cubby can allow Whoopi to do her thing within the radio format. She has an instantly recognizable name for the 25-54 demographic and that should bode well. How many radio personalities can say they have names like Muhammad Ali and Ron Howard in their cell phone directory? "

Campanario may have a good point. As Vice President and Director of Urban Programs for Director of Urban Programs major syndicator Superadio Networks, Campanario helms affiliate relations for the fast-growing 'Wendy Williams Experience,' and Winan's show (which airs on 100 stations).

Whoopi Goldberg recently appeard in the film 'Racing Stripes,' alongside David Spade, Steve Harvey and Snoop Dogg. See the trailer here.

Janet Changes Faces

It was announced this morning that Janet Jackson has changed the title of her forthcoming album. The decision to change the title from '20 Years Old' to '20 Y.O.' was due to overwhelming fan response-- participating in an online album cover design contest.

"When several fans submitted designs with covers that read "20 Y.O." instead of "20 Years Old," Janet liked it so much, she decided to officially change the album's title," her spokesperson said.

The Jermaine Dupri -helmed set is still scheduled to hit stores Sept. 26 -- which is said to mark the anniversary of her career-defining 1986 album, 'Control.'

The first single from '20 Y.O.' is a pairing with platinum-plated hip-hop superstar Nelly entitled "Call Me." Released last month, the track is Number 25 on the 'Billboard' magazine Hot 100 charts, this week.

The accompanying video is a futuristic spectacle, lensed by noted director Hype Williams. It debuted on various national TV outlets last week.

See the video for 'Call Me' here.

Weigh in on what BV Members think of Janet Jackson's various incarnations over the years here.

Check out our All Janet Jackson video channel here.

Hail To The Queen

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will honor Aretha Franklin with its prestigious Award of Excellence on its annual television special, An Evening of Stars, which will air nationwide in January.

Previous honorees include Lou Rawls, (2004), Quincy Jones (2005) and Stevie Wonder (2006) The Queen of Soul will be the first female artist to receive the award, which recognizes her "longstanding and generous support of the UNCF's mission to provide deserving students with access to higher education, as well as for her well-known activism and philanthropy on behalf of numerous other causes."

In a statement, Michael L. Lomax, who is the president and CEO of UNCF, said: "UNCF is delighted to show Aretha Franklin some of the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that she has shown us for so many years…Now it is our turn to honor her by giving her our Award of Excellence. As an artist, an entertainer, and a citizen, her career has established a standard of excellence that exemplifies the educational distinction to which our member colleges are dedicated and to which they hold their students."

'An Evening of Stars,' formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest running and most successful televised events in U.S. history.

Rawls, who passed away this past January, helped raise more than $200 million for the UNCF to supplement the cost of higher education for scholarship recipients and member institutions.

The three-hour concert tribute will be taped at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sept. 8 and 9.