BV Entertainment Newswire June 2

'Something' In Store

Sanaa Lathan is getting back in the swing of things.

The 'Love & Basketball' star signed on to star in the sensational FX network series 'Nip/Tuck,' reports 'The Hollywood Reporter.'

For the hit show's fourth season, Lathan will reportedly play a beautiful young woman married to a wealthy, elderly man who buys the McNamara/Troy plastic surgery practice, which the show revolves around.

Earlier this year, Lathan, who starred in films like 'Brown Sugar,' and 'Disappearing Acts,' was in the midst of media controversy when she broke her silence and addressed long-standing rumors about an alleged affair with Denzel Washington, whom she co-starred alongside in the 2003 thriller 'Out of Time.'

The torrid scandal erupted when news circulated that she was carrying the long-time married Academy Award winner's illegitimate baby.

"(The rumor) got started because the movie had a love scene with Denzel, and people took that and translated it to real life," she told 'Vibe' magazine. "They said I was pregnant with Denzel's child, and people were calling my mother, saying I'm having his baby. It's frustrating."

The Yale Drama School alum, who is also TV producer Stan Lathan's daughter, was reportedly slated for a cover of top-selling black women's magazine 'Essence' -- timed to hit stands with her latest movie 'Something New.'

But Tyler Perry and the female cast of 'Madea's Family Reunion' graced the cover in the slot that was supposedly reserved for the bronze beauty. Before the magazine went to press, New York City tabloids reported that Lathan didn’t mince words about how 'Essence' writer Jeanine Amber probed her about the Washington scandal.

The Sanaa Hamri-directed interracial romantic comedy, now available on home video, didn't live up to box-office expectations only bringing in $4.8 million opening weekend.

Nevertheless, Lathan, who garnered a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of Lorraine Hansberry's classic play 'A Raisin in the Sun,' is expected to join fellow cast members -- Sean "Diddy" Combs, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad -- in the Kenny Leon-helmed television adaptation, which is set to start production later this year.

'Right Thing' Recognized

Spike Lee and his seminal 1989 movie 'Do The Right Thing' will be awarded with the Silver Bucket of Excellence Award during the '2006 MTV Movie Awards.' The ceremony, hosted by Jessica Alba ('Fantastic Four'), will tape this weekend at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA with a national airdate of June 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the cable music channel.

According to a spokesperson, the Silver Bucket pays homage to those films that have made a lasting effect on moviegoers and the MTV audience. 'The Breakfast Club' took Silver Bucket honors at last year's event.

'Do The Right Thing,' released June 20, 1989 via Universal Pictures, was Lee's third major film -- and one of his best performing to date. Grossing more than $27 million (in 534 theaters), the racially-charged drama starred Rosie Perez, Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Esposito, Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. With a soundtrack by Public Enemy, 'Right Thing' was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Confirmed presenters for this year's 'Movie Awards' include Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Eva Mendes, Rosario Dawson, Colin Farrell, Jessica Simpson, Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson, Justin Timberlake, Matt Dillon, Will Ferrell, T.I., and Ludacris.

Christina Aguilera and Gnarls Barkley are among the music acts scheduled to perform.

Home For 'Glory'

On June 6, Walt Disney will release the inspiring film Glory Road', based on the true story of legendary basketball coach Don Haskins and his 1966 NCAA championship team -- the first all African-American staring squad to win the national title. 'Sweet Home Alabama' star Josh Lucas leads a cast that includes Derek Luke, Al Shearer, Mehcad Brooks and Academy Award winner Jon Voight.

The DVD package includes the Alicia Keys music video 'Sweet Music;' never-before-seen deleted scenes; featurettes with commentary by Haskins, extended interviews with former players; audio commentaries with movie super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the film’s creators, including director James Gartner. NBA all-star Tim Duncan appears in a spot called 'Surviving Practice.'

'Wendy' Front On The Horizon

Syndicated radio personality Wendy Williams has signed a deal to become the face of leading liqueur brand Alize -- through an exclusive partnership with the New York City-based spirits company.

Starting this summer, Williams will appear in a national advertising campaign, with a specific concentration on bringing consumers closer to Alize through synergies with her top-rated radio program 'The Wendy Williams Experience,' broadcast live daily out of New York City's black-owned WBLS. The deal also plans to develop partnerships and associations with her various media ventures.

"I'm incredibly excited about being the new face of Alize," said the self-proclaimed 'Queen of All Media.' "I can't get behind something that I'm not personally familiar with... I am the Alize consumer."

Williams will release her first novel, 'Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol.1,' June 20. She previously authored two 'New York Times' best-selling books: 'Wendy's Got the Heat' (2003) and 'The Wendy Williams Experience' (2004).