Disco Diva Donna Summer Dead At 63

Paul Jabara, holding his Oscar for Best Original Song ("Let's Dance"), poses with singer Donna Summer, who sang the song at the Academy Awards show. Date: April 09, 1979. Location: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles.

Donna Summer was an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She had a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and was a five-time Grammy Award winner. Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the US Billboard chart, and she also charted four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period. Summer died on May 17, 2012. AP reports that she died in the morning at her home in Key West, Florida at age 63 following a battle with breast cancer and lung cancer.

Donna Summer's Walk of Fame Star on Hollywood Boulevard.

The Oscars: In Conversations With The Magic Touch Of Jay "The Freak" Porter

Yeah, we been talking about the Oscar, you feel me? Jay "The Freak", who evolved in so many ways with some cats in Hollywood in all da costume to writing the call sheet for base weekly programs on a pilot to be determined sometime gave me his feel on what he thinks about the upcoming Academy Awards. Gave thumbs up to my homegirl, Adepero Oduye whose role as Alike in the movie "Pariah" is buzzing out there. Met again the second time and Check it out.

Adepero Oduye is my homegirl, you know that, right? She's out with a bang. I think she deserves something, even a nod - being nominated for the 2011 Spirit Awards. What's your take?

Already she gets my vote. It's hard to catch an actress on the crossroads in life and career, a place where she has to decide which way to go. Adepero Oduye is in such a spot now. On one side she's the New York girl of Nigerian parents, graduating from Columbia University to make something out of life and on the other side she's floating with fame just like that in that breakthrough. Great movie and awesome discovery of a talent.

You think she'll get a nod?

Why not? I do think she'll be considered. I mean, think about her real life story; a girl who had planned to study medicine but lost the opportunity when her father died while a junior in college leaving her with no other option, enrolling in acting classes to pursue a career in the arts. Graduating and landing small roles in films such as "Half Nelson" and some TV series including "Law & Order: Criminal Alert," she was able to connect with the Wayans and film director Rees, landing the role of Alike - saying race and sexuality should be taken away in order for one to grip with identity and about trying how to find out how to be in the world."

I did not get to see the movie. People are saying "The Help" is getting the buzz for an Oscar. What your take?

I think the producers Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan did a good job and they should deserve a nod as well in the Best Picture category. It is a funny, touching, and inspiring movie adapted by Tate Taylor, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett

Finally, it popped up. The life of the notorious FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover. What's your take?

Believe me, you know what it is. Got to take that. The heavyweights have it together. Expect some buzz when the Dirty Harry is involved. Dustin Lance Black did great in his research and when asked why of the man's life, he told the press " he [Edgar] was incredibly promising and brilliant, so why did he become a monster? Tha's where my research began." Now I dunno!

Your take in the Best Director category

Let's see here. Very hard to predict though director Stephen Spielbergs "War Horses" might not be all that but with Spielberg, you never know. I think Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" and Michel Hazanavicius' "The Artists" are in for a long ride with any of the projected nods.

Oscarmania and Hollywood Buzz

Yeah, it's the final countdown to the 82nd Annual Academy Awards and Hollywood is already buzzing, and I can feel it due to the road closures which had motorists look for other options in their shortcuts. I for one have changed my schedules save for a few parties I will be attending tonight in Hollywood and thinking about other options on how to get there even though it's about a couple of miles away from me. It's all good and the party begins.

I have no particular pick in any category for the Oscar night moments but methink some of the picks might be coming through. We'll see when Alec Baldwin and cohost Steve Martin mounts the stage to announce the presenters of the award in each category. In Best Picture category, "Avatar" seems to be the favorite but do not understimate the other nominees - "The Blind Side," "District 9," "Up," "An Education," "The Hurt Locker," "Inglorious Bastards," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire," "A Serious Man," and "Up in the Air" - they are all good, and it's anybody's game. I like Lee Daniels directed "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire. We'll see, though.

On the actor in a leading role, there's Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart," George Clooney in "Up in the Air," Colin Firth in "A Single Man," Morgan Freeman in "Invictus," and Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker," and the Oscar should be going to Morgan Freeman in "Invictus." Now, I am not a soothsayer but we'll see; just hang on, it's a blast and Hollywood is buzzing, people.

On the actress in a leading role, there's Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side," Helen Mirren in "The Last Station," Crey Mulligan in "An Education," Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire," and Meryl Streep in "Julia and Julia," and the Oscar should be going to Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire. Now is there a question about that for this amazing Brookly-born wiz of a Senegalese father? Not at all but we'll see as Hollywood keeps buzzing with pre-Oscar parties all around town.

And the list goes on and on from director, original screenplay, supporting actor, supporting actress and so on and so forth - and I would like to see which documentary feature wins among the list of nominees in "Burma VJ," "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers," "The Cove," "Food Inc," and "Which Way Home." Watch out for "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers."

But anyways, methink the idea of "30 Rock" cast Baldwin and Martin hosting the Oscars this year is a little bit wacky - complicated charcters - and Baldwin tells us how he ended up as an Oscar co-host when he spoke to The Envelope:

"I had hosted the Women in Hollywood dinner, and Carol Burnett jokingly said when she got up to present an award to Julie Andrews, "don't you think Alec should host the Oscars?" And Adam Shankman, one of the producers of the Oscars, was in the audience to hear that - and a couple of weeks later they called."

You see how the connection works? That's Hollywood folks, and for sure, I will be having a blast.

Red Carpet Shots @ The Oscars

Last night, while hanging out at The Standard Hotel with some of my colleagues over some drinks in the grilling Downtown Los Angeles, the Oscar moments popped up and the entire gist happened to be who was wearing what and how the show came out. For sure, I don't like the Whoopi attire. I have no favorite but I like Alicia Keyes and Taraji P. Henson.

We even talked about how the Jews conquered Hollywood with the kind of movies they make which is inspiring. Movies like "Defiance," "The Unborn," "The Reader," "Valkyrie," "Blessed Is The Match," and many others -- all about the Holocaust. Now my folks see where I'm coming from.

Associated Press photographer Chris Pizzello captures Taraji P. Henson as she arrives for the 81st Academy Awards

Actress and singer Alicia Keyes arrives at the 81st Academy Awards. Those Armani Prive with a Zufi Alexander clutch and that Fred Leighton jewels speaks volumes. I like that style. Simply georgeous. Photo by Matt Sayles, AP

Halle Berry arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party which grooved all night. She is captured here by AP's Evan Agostini.

Actress/humanitarian/philanthropist Angelina Jolie is all glamour as she arrives at the 81st Academy Awards and the flashing lights never stopped snapping. Photo by Matt Sayles, AP

I'm not sure what Whoopi Goldberg was doing here in that dress. She was all smiles though. AP's Chris Carlson captured her here as she arrives at the 81st Academy Awards.

Actress Marion Cotillard pops up on the red carpet while AP's Chris Pizzello takes the shot.

Here you go Dubmaster. Kate Winslet here wears Yves Saint Laurent Atelier along with Yvette Saint Laurent shoes and Chopard jewelry as she arrives the Academy Awards.


I'm not sure if I like this outfit. Anyway, Queen Latifah here wears Georges Chakra gown with William Goldberg diamonds and Gucci shoes. She is captured here by AP's Matt Sayles.

Anne Hathaway is so excited for having a job and you bet she is going to get all that Hollywood wants. Here she wears white Armani Prive gown with Casadel shoes and Roger Vivier bag topping it off with Cartier jewels

The prediction was that white was going to be the flashing point this year on the red carpet and Henson did just that. She captured my eyes.

The Oscars & Taraji P. Henson

Before the shooting of "No More Bloodshed" commences on the streets of Los Angeles in which Taraji Henson plays a significant role in a movie to be produced by Pascal Atuma Productions and also starring Atuma, Henson, tonight will be walking on Red Carpet along with her mom and Grandma to the Oscars in Hollywood for her Supporting-actress Oscar nomination in the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." She is so excited and listen to her comments :"I'm still kind of numb. I'm waiting for someone to say, 'Wake up!' I'm just really excited about it, and trying to enjoy each and every moment," she says. "But at the end of the day, I'm still TJ. That's what my family used to call me, and they still do."

So excited that when she called her Grandma it was another drama... "Hey Grandma, we got an extra ticket for the Oscars, you wanna come?"

"I sure do baby!" her Grandma would say.

According to the nurturing Queenie in this movie and with the Oscar nod, Henson says "a different caliber of people wants to sit down and talk to me" meaning the opening is out there in all spheres and the sky now the limit. She's got much in her fold and hanging out around her is fun.

I'm just too busy to be writing about the Oscars now as the overwhelming Hollywood traffic has caught up with me and it's not going to be over untill about 2 in the morning when all the Oscar parties will be over. That of the Governor's Ball is where hell will get loose and knowing Hollywood for its "flickjams" one needs to go well-prepared.

But anyways, the Oscar is on right now and the wild Hollywood is roasting. I want Henson to win because her next step is a Los Angeles street thriller to be produced by my homie, Atuma in "No More Bloodshed."

The Oscars & Slumdog Millionaire

Of course Danny Boyle's energetic and creative direction in a movie now up the ladder from a cinderella story has kept Hollywood critics talking. Writing the script also added a whole lot to the films flavor. And that's where the script writer Simon Beaufoy comes in, in this movie. The script was superbly written to a point all talk last night was Beaufoy not being given enough attention.

But nevertheless, this evening on Hollywood and Highland the stars will be shining and the Oscar for Best Picture goes to Slum Dog Millionaire from my viewpoint. A story of a slum boy orphan growing up in the slums of Mumbai, India, with his brother and ending up competing in a game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The uniqueness of the story is putting two difficult genres together in a love story relationship over ten years. If you haven't seen the movie, Jamal's storyline well scripted by Beaufoy is what should in my own opinion earn this amazing movie a couple of Oscars.

That's my pick (Best Picture) and I'm taking it to the bank.

Afternoon Newsroom, Friday, February 22, 2008

President George Bush has just concluded his six day tour of five African countries. He was back in the White House last night and conservative news commentators are cheering that the president's visit to Africa was the best by any American president. It's quite interesting to note from L.A. Times Editorial that construction for a six lane highway, The George Bush Motorway, will soon be underway. The contract will be funded by the United States and according to sources, the highway will stretch from Kumasi to Accra.

Serbians are outraged as they stormed and set the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade ablaze over Kosovo's independence declaration on Sunday. I'm not sure what the Serbians want when the principles of self reliance has been made clear during the course of Kosovo's struggle. Majority of Kosovoans are ethnic Albanians.

Well, the Academy Awards is around the corner and every major street in Hollywood is a bottleneck and road rage seems to be coming closer as the weekend set in for Hollywood's biggest night on Sunday. Advertisers are paying a whopping one point eight million Dollars for a thirty seconds spot for Sunday's show. Show will be hosted by John Stewart.