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A triumphant Tyler, but Janet Jackson and Natalie Cole are ailing
Monday, October 06, 2008

Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry opened his new movie and television studio just outside the ATL, and everybody from Cicely Tyson to Sidney Poitier and everybody in between was there.

The guest list also included Ruby Dee, Oprah, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Debbie Allen, Holly Robinson Peete, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, Danny Glover, Lynn Whitfield, Hank Aaron, Nick Ashford. And Valerie Simpson, Will Smith, Kirk Franklin, Malik Yoba and more folks than we can name.

But while Tyler and his guests, who included his proud momma and poppa, were dining on Asian, Cajun and Southern cuisine, according to Essence.com, members of the Writers Guild of America were outside, protesting.

The union is up in arms over Tyler's firing of four writers from his TBS show, "House of Payne." The writers contend they were let go because they were seeking union representation. Tyler's also putting together "Meet the Browns" for TBS, based on the play and movie of the same name.

The WGA and the National Labor Relations Board have filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Mr. Perry.

Some might think Tyler's is the first black-owned studio of its kind, but Tim Reid of "WKRP in Cincinnati" fame and his wife, Daphne Maxwell Reid, opened Millennium Studios in Petersburg, Va., in 1996.




We're sure Janet Jackson would have been at the soiree had she not been ill.

Miss Jackson canceled yet another performance because of some kind of illness that her folks aren't naming but that her brother, Randy, reportedly has said is vertigo.

JJ was supposed to perform in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, in Atlanta on Sunday and in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Tuesday, but has canceled all three. She had already bowed out of concerts in Montreal, Philly and Boston.

We hope she gets better soon. This is probably costing somebody a fortune.




Natalie Cole is back at her home in Los Angeles after a stint in the hospital last week.

The 58-year-old singer has hepatitis C and was reportedly having some issues with her medication.




Miley Cyrus, whose face we see every day staring at us from some T-shirt or backpack at Wal-Mart, celebrated her 16th birthday at Disney World last weekend.

Miss Miley, her parents, latest BF and folks who shelled out $250 apiece got the run of the place, which was shut down just for the occasion.

Little girlfriend's birthday actually isn't until Nov. 23 but that's around the Thanksgiving season and we can't imagine Disney losing out on all that holiday money.

Anyway, daddy Billy Ray kicked things off with a mini-concert of his songs, including the one that will live in infamy, "Achy Breaky Heart."

So sorry we missed that.

Others who were there to help Miley get her birthday groove on were Tyra Banks, Steve Carell, Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Why are all these old people at a party for a 16-year-old?




We seriously have our doubts, but maybe if Miley plays her considerable stack of cards and money right she can have a career like the legendary James Earl Jones.

Mr. Jones will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will air on TNT and TBS Jan. 25.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg said, "James Earl Jones' distinguished career on stage, in film, on television, in commercials and as a vocal presence without peer commands our admiration and respect. His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation. It is our honor to bestow the guild's highest tribute on this extraordinary actor."

Well, we can't say it any better than that.




Don't forget to check out "I'm Just Sayin', the podcast with attitude hosted by L.A. Johnson and Monica Haynes. We got there!

Monica Haynes can be reached at mhaynes@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1660.
First published on October 6, 2008 at 7:00 pm