You can follow me on Twitter @mspattyjackson, and check me out on Facebook at Patty Jackson-WDASFM.

Get ready for the return of Martin Lawrence to TV. Lawrence is currently negotiating a deal with Kelsey Grammer to do a sitcom for either the TBS or TNT networks. Grammer is best known for his 20-year stint playing “Dr. Fraiser Crane” on the TV shows Cheers and Frasier. Grammer just wrapped a stint on the Starz cable series Boss. In the 90’s, Lawrence ruled the airwaves with the Martin show on FOX, and he has wanted to return to the small screen. Last year, he had a
developed deal with CBS, but it fell through. Lawrence also backed out of a movie project with Jamie Foxx. Lawrence has been in a career slump for a while and he feels returning to TV is his best bet.

Singer Fantasia is having a hard time getting a career reboot. Fantasia took her frustration to social media, and it backfired on her. Fantasia spoke out about gay marriage and legalizing marijuana. Fantasia is not anti-gay, but her words were picked up by other outlets and misquoted. Fantasia is also tired of being judged for having a baby with a married man. She knows this has hurt her career, and she needs a hit record. Her personal life is such a mess that she can’t even get a reality show. Fantasia knows her fans will never understand why she is buying her baby daddy's (Antwaun Cook) affections. Fantasia's new CD is due out in a few weeks. She is already working on her look. She has a new stylist and already dropped a lot of weight. Fantasia's
new album is The Side Effects Of You and comes out March 13^th featuring the lead single Lose To Win.

Cissy Houston will be sitting down with Oprah Winfrey as she marks the one year anniversary of the death of her daughter Whitney Houston. Cissy will be talking about her new book, which details the life she had with Whitney. Cissy will be Oprah's guest on Next Chapter in early February. Oprah is lining up the big gets for her OWN cable station. Disgraced Cycling Great Lance Armstrong will be joining Oprah on the 17^th. Did he use performance enhancing drugs? Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour De France titles. Sources say we will see tears, and he
ask for forgiveness. If he tells the truth, will he go to jail like Olympic Runner Marion Jones? She served a six month sentence for lying to Feds about steroid use. Will there be a double standard?

In more OWN news, the next few months will see Actress/Comedienne Kim Whitley debuting her new show about raising a baby. In late May, Tyler Perry will be debuting his new shows (The Haves And Have Nots and Love Thy Neighbor) for the network.

Speaking of Tyler Perry, he got a ringing endorsement from a surprising source........Minister Louis Farrakhan. Minister Farrakhan called Perry one of the great, young entrepreneurs of current time. The Minister also said he's glad Perry brought the character of “Madea” to America's consciousness by using humor to show the greatness of black women. These remarks came from a recent installment of Farrakhan Speaks. 

TJ Holmes and BET.....is the end near? Holmes news/talk/variety show Don't Sleep hasn't been on the air since December 19^th. That was after being scaled back from its October premiere and five
day a week airing to Wednesday nights only. Holmes has since popped up on MSNBC as a fill-in anchor. Reports are that Holmes was not happy with BET's changes, and BET isn't happy with the Don't Sleep ratings. Stay tuned!

Actor Ving Rhames has joined the cast of the medical drama Monday Mornings. The show is produced by David E. Kelly (Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, Pickett Fences ) and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Monday Mornings debuts February 4^th on the TNT cable network.

Mark Wahlberg is starring in the film Broken City from Director Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, The Book Of Eli). The movie also stars Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta Jones, and is about an ex-cop with a scandalous past hired by the mayor to spy on his wife. Broken City opens January 18^th. I got a chance to interview both Mark and Allen and reallly had a great time with them.

Don’t look for a reunion of the 90’s TV classic In Living Color. Show Creator Keenen Ivory Wayans shot a pilot for a new version of the show, but FOX network execs didn’t like it and turned the new show down.

One of the hottest reality shows is the TLC network's The Best Funeral Ever. The special had over a million viewers on its debut episode January 6^th. Best Funeral Ever features over the top funerals and was a Sunday night special, but look for it to back very soon on TLC.

Our prayers and condolences go out to Singer Rebbie Jackson. Rebbie is the quiet one in the Jackson family, and she's best known for her 1984 hit Centipede. Rebbie’s husband Nathaniel Brown died recently after a long battle with cancer. Rebbie and her husband were married for 44 years and had three children.

R.I.P to Singer Lou Wilson of Mandrill. Wilson died at the age of 71 from a massive heart attack. Wilson, along with his brothers Ric and Carlos, founded the group Mandrill in 1968. Mandrill is best known for the hits I Refuse To Smile, Ape Is High, House Of Wood, Fencewalk and Can You Get It (Suzie Caesar). His brothers Carlos, Ric and Wolf called Lou Wilson the centerpiece of their music and lives.

Also Actor Ned Wertimer died this week at the age of 89. He's best known for playing “Ralph, the doorman” for 11 seasons on The Jeffersons beginning in 1975. His death comes only months after Co-Star Sherman Hemsley's (“George Jefferson”). Wertimer had something in common with his Co-star Roxie Roker (a.k.a. Lenny Kravitz's mom), who played “Helen Willis” and half of an interracial-married couple on and off the show. Wertimer was also half of an interracial couple in real life. He married his wife, the distinguished College Professor/Author/Researcher Dr. Skyne Uku, after he came to Hollywood in the 1960's. Wertimer died at a nursing home following a fall at
his home.

Tami Roman, David Keith, Ella Joyce and Elise Neal will be starring in the TV One show Belle's. The show about a family running a soul food business, and it debuts February 1^st.

The 2013 Essence Music Festival is happening July 4-7 in New Orleans. Jill Scott, Keyshia Cole, New Edition, Brandy, LL Cool J, Mint Condition,“Uncle Charlie” Wilson and Maxwell are schedule to perform this year.

Speaking of Maxwell, he is hard at work on his fifth CD. He plans on releasing the second installment of his Black Summers Night trilogy series later this year. Last summer, he had to cancel his tour when he suffered vocal swelling and hemorrhaging.

Funkateer George Clinton had to sell the publishing rights to his music to pay off a million dollar debt. Clinton had to turn over the rights to some of his biggest hits including One Nation Under A Groove, (Not Just) Knee Deep, Mothership Connection and P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) to pay off the debt to a law firm.

Boyz II Men is setting up shop in Las Vegas. Starting in March, they will be doing a series of weekend concerts for the rest of the year at the Mirage Casino. The Philadelphia natives just celebrated their 20^th year as a group.

NeNe Leakes has reconciled with her husband Greg. Will their reunion and renewing of their vows be a part of the new season of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?

Iyanla Van Zant is on the cover of the latest issue of Essence magazine.

Ebony magazine is celebrating Black Love with a triple cover featuring Meagan Good (Deception) & her husband Film Exec DeVon Franklin, Bishop TD Jakes & his wife Serita and Tiny & T.I.

Get ready for Beyonce in the new year: She’s performing halftime at the Superbowl; she’s producing a documentary about her life that will air on HBO February 16^th; and she has just signed on as the new spokesperson for Pepsi. The $50 million Pepsi deal was announced this week and includes Beyonce's picture on Pepsi cans with the soda giant sponsoring all her major events. She’s also going to be the cover girl for the March issue of Vogue magazine and for the new issue of GQ magazine. Plus, she’ll be singing the National Anthem at President Obama's inauguration. Four years ago, Beyonce sang Etta James' At Last for The President and First Lady Michelle Obama at the inaugural ball.

Wendy Williams is releasing a new book of advice called Ask Wendy. The book comes out May 7^th.

R Kelly has recorded a song for the survivors of the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. The song, I Know You Are Hurting, features choirs of children and adults.

Congratulations to Stars Wars Creator George Lucas. The 68-year old film producer recently announced his engagement to 43-year old Investment Firm President Mellody Hobson. Hobson is also appears as a contributor to Good Morning America on financial issues and she's chairman of
Dreamworks Animation studio division.

Actress Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) will be taking a job on Public TV for the show Afro Pop. The show bills itself as the ultimate cultural exchange.

Halle Berry, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle and Bishop TD Jakes are going to be honored at the 2013 BET Honors. Gabrielle Union returns as host, and the show airs on BET February 11^th. Performers include Ledisi, Alicia Keys, Brandy, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The S.O.S. Band and Erykah Badu.

Congrats to Singer Brandy! She’s in Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions Of A Marriage Counselor, and she recently got engaged to longtime boyfriend and Music Executive Ryan Press.

On Monday, March 18^th, Latin Singing Sensation Shakira will join the lineup of NBC's singing reality show The Voice along with Usher. They'll join Judges Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Usher will also be starring in the movie Hands Of Stone, about the life of Boxing Great Sugar Ray Leonard.

Arsenio Hall's return to late night TV is slated for September 9^th, 2013.

Get ready for the Real Husbands Of Hollywood premiering Tuesday, January 15^th at 10pm on BET. The show stars Kevin Hart, JB Smoove, Robin Thicke, Nick Cannon, Boris Kodjoe and Duane Martin. The show is being billed as the fakest reality show on TV. Hart's latest comedy tour, Let Me Explain, is coming out on DVD on July 4^th.

Also premiering January 15^th on BET is Second Generation Wayans at 10:30pm. The show features the younger generation of the famous comedy family-dynasty along with Tatyana Ali from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and George Gore from My Wife & Kids.

Reality Star Tami Roman is joining Elise Neal, Keith David and Miguel Nunez for the TV One show Belle about a family soul food business. The show debuts January 21^st on TV ONE.

Some of your favorite movies are coming out on DVD soon:

In February: Tyler Perry in Alex Cross and Omari Hardwick in Middle Of Nowhere;

In March: Denzel Washington in Flight;

Slated for April is Jamie Foxx in Django Unchained;

Kevin Hart's Laugh At My Pain DVD arrives in stores January 17^th.

Get ready for the Motown Musical about the life of Music Icon Berry Gordy. The musical details how he went from being a boxer to a music mogul. The Motown musical debuts March 11^th.

Season two of the NBC show Smash kicks off Tuesday, February 5^th. The new season will feature Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

What's ahead for Jamie Foxx in 2013? After the success of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, he’s going to play the President Of The United States in the movie White House Down with Channing Tatum and Garcelle Beauvais, and he is set to play the villain “Electro” in The  Amazing Spiderman II movie.

Look for Denzel Washington to return to Broadway in the spring of 2014. I hear it could be in a revival of A Raisin In The Sun.

Reality Show Star Hoopz, a.k.a. Nikki Alexander is proving there is life after Shaquille O’Neal. Hoopz dated the basketball superstar, but their romance came to a crashing halt after she insulted his manhood. Complaining about his short third leg. Ouch! Hoopz and her three sisters have just completed a pilot for VH1 called The Alexander Sisters.

Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts is scheduled to return to the show in early summer following her successful bone marrow operation and recuperation.

The 70^th Annual Golden Globe Award nominations are out and Django Unchained, Lincoln, Les Miserables and Silver Linings Playbook lead. Denzel Washington has been nominated for his role in Flight. The NBC show Smash also got a TV nod. The Golden Globes air this Sunday on NBC.

Former NBA Great Julius “Dr. J” Erving is coming to TV. Dr J will be guest starring on the January 17^th edition of the NBC sitcom The Office.

The 55^th Annual Grammy Awards are happening February 10^th on CBS. Nominees include Melanie Fiona, Frank Ocean, Anthony Hamilton, R Kelly, Miguel, Rihanna, Dave Koz, Estelle, Usher, Anita Baker, SWV, Tamia, Beyonce, Tyrese and John Legend.

The 2013 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will air on HBO May 18^th.
This year's inductees include Donna Summer, Public Enemy, Heart, Rush, and special honors going to Quincy Jones and Producer Lou Adler. Summer, whose induction her fans had long called for, died in May from lung cancer.

The 44^th Annual NAACP Image Award nominees have also been announced. The movies Flight, Django Unchained, Beasts Of The Southern Wild, Red Tails and Good Deeds have all been nominated for Best Picture. Steve Harvey's wildly successful Think Like A Man got only one nomination for Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson. Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington got nominations as well as the reality show X-Factor. The hit ABC drama Scandal got nominations as well as the Lifetime TV movie Steel Magnolias with Queen Latifah and Jill Scott. Alicia Keys and Bruno Mars led the way with the music nominations. Locally, Trombonist Jeff Bradshaw got a nomination for Best Jazz Album for his latest CD Bone Appetit. Local Author Jim Smith, Jr. (Mr. Energy) got a literature nod for his book The No Excuse Guide To Success No Matter What Your Boss Or Life Throws At You. The NAACP Image Awards air February 1^st on NBC.

Just in time for the Easter holiday 2013, it’s the latest big screen project from Tyler Perry. Temptation: Confessions Of A Marriage Counselor stars Jurnee Smollett Bell, Lance Gross, Vanessa Williams, Brandy and Kim Kardashian. The movie opens March 29^th. Perry also two new shows debuting on OWN. It's part of his exclusive deal with Oprah Winfrey's cable network. The Haves And Have Nots is a drama about a family and their housekeeper, and Love Thy Neighbor is
a sitcom set in a diner.

When the TV One music series Unsung returns January 23^rd. Look for profiles on The Whispers, Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes, Midnight Star, A Disco Segment featuring Donna Summer, Eddie Kendricks and Johnny Gill, just to name a few. The Johnny Gill segment will air in March.

Get ready for the Smiths! Will Smith reunites with his son Jaden on the big screen for the M. Night Shyamalan movie After Earth. The movie opens in theatres next June.

At the movies this week, Marlon Wayans latest A Haunted House. The movie also stars Essence Atkins, Cedric The Entertainer and Affion Crockett.

The UNCF Evening Of Stars will air on BET January 27^th and will hosted by Anthony Anderson. Chaka Khan, Wayne Brady, Eric Benet, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Charlie Wilson will also be appearing. Speaking of “Uncle Charlie,” his new CD, Love Charlie, arrives in stores January 29^th.

After 30 years, Actress Cicely Tyson is returning to Broadway. She makes her return next April in the production The Trip To Bountiful. Tyson plays an elderly woman who returns to her small Texas town. Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr. have also been added to the cast.

Actress Regina King is going to be all over your TV in 2013. Season five of her TNT drama Southland returns February 13^th, and she is joining the cast of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

Kimora Lee Simmons has a new show launching on the Style network on January 22^nd called Kimora's House Of Fab.

The R&B Music Hall Of Fame will launch new inductees May 5^th 2013. New Inductees include Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, The Supremes, The Miracles and Ray Charles.

Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson-Supremes Collection kicks off in January at the African American Museum. The collection will be on display from January 25^th until June 22^nd,
and it features over 30 of the Supremes' most glamorous gowns. The African American Museum is located at 7^th and Arch Streets.

Alicia Keys recently announced her 2013 tour. It launches in March with opening act Singer Miguel. She’s also going to be featured on Oprah's Master Class on OWN.

The new season of American Idol kicks off January 16^th on FOX, and it looks like new Judge Nicki Minaj will be the mean one, the new Simon Cowell. The new season should be interesting with fellow Judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Randy Jackson and Host Ryan
Seacrest.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Certain Professional Ballers need to learn from history. In this corner, one engaged Baller decided to run some game on twitter to a now famous woman, who is also involved with someone else. Busted! In the other corner, another married Baller is getting into fights and it seems to stem from his recent separation. Sounds like too much partying?

Check out who’s coming to town:

Saturday, January 19^th- Eric Benet at Harrah's in Atlantic City.

Saturday, January 19^th- The Real All-Stars of Hip Hop starring Salt 'N Pepa, DMX, Digital Underground, Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe D and Black Sheep at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For more info ticketmaster.com

Sunday, January 20^th- Superstars Of The 70’S Soul Jam starring The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, The Emotions, Cuba Gooding, Sr. & The Main Ingredient, Peaches & Herb and Harold Melvin's Bluenotes at The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. For more info ticketmaster.com

February 9^th- Bobby Brown at The House Of Blues in Atlantic City.

February 19^th -24^th  - The stage play My Brother Marvin: The Life Story Of Marvin Gaye starring Singer Keith Washington, Lynne Whitfield and Clifton Powell at the Merriam Theatre on Broad Street, between Spruce and Locust. For more information 215-893-1999.

Saturday, February 16^th- The Royal Comedy Tour starring Sommore, Tony Rock, Bruce Bruce, DL Hughley at the Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery.

Thursday, May 2^nd  – Mike Tyson's one man show Undisputed Truth Directed by Spike Lee at The Academy Of Music, Broad and Locust Streets. For more information 215-893-1999.

If you would like more info please email me at pattyj1053@aol.com
Pattyjackson@clearchannel.com or check me out with my Midday reports at 10:35am, 12:35pm and 2:35pm during the day.