The Show 7-17-09

JENNIFER HUDSON, MICHAEL JACKSON: Posthumous Duet?

Jennifer Hudson's performance of Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" at his memorial has people buzzing about a possible posthumous duet in the tradition of Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole's "Unforgettable" and Nora Jones' and Ray Charles' "Here We Go Again." Hudson's performance was enhanced with Jackson's whispered words, "In my darkest hour, in my deepest despair, will you still care? Will you be there?" Should the track be made available as a single for download on I-Tunes, it would be eligible for a Grammy next year. But reps at Hudson's label didn't respond to our query about whether there are plans to release it.

MEDIATAKEOUT: Jill Scott, The Gay Rapper (audio)

click below:
jill scott,gay rapper.mp3

ICE CUBE: Strikes Sitcom Deal with TBS

Ice Cube's 2005 family flick Are We There Yet will be made into a T-B-S series. In a deal similar to the network's model created by Debmar-Mercury for Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Meet the Browns, T-B-S has ordered 10 episodes of the new sitcom, slated to premiere in June 2010, with the option for an additional 90 episodes. It will star Everybody Hates Chris actor Terry Crews and Cube will have a recurring role.

NE-YO: Disappoints Fans in U.K.

Ne-Yo apparently ticked off fans in London this week. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton reports the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter (whom Hilton incorrectly identifies as a rapper) showed up to a gig at Mercy nightclub at 2:00 a-m and performed just one-and-a-half songs before leaving. The club had issued a statement promising refunds, but now says, "Due to legal reasons, Mercy Nightclub has been asked to retract the previous statement publicized on our website... We are now in negotiation to resolve all the issues regarding this matter and will endeavor to keep everybody informed."

C-MURDER: New Case Development?

Just three weeks before his murder trial in Louisiana, a jailed pal of Corey "C-Murder" Miller has confessed to the 2002 shooting death of Georgia teen Steve Thomas. Juan Flowers -- who's serving a life sentence for an unrelated 2007 murder -- told authorities that he was with Miller the night of the killing and was the one that fired the fatal shot. Prosecutors say the new information contradicts Dwayne "Wango" Cobbins, another friend of C-Murder's who testified that he witnessed Miller bringing a small gun into the club, hidden in his boot. A judge is reviewing the new information and will decide if Flowers should be transported from Georgia to testify.Miller is already serving a 10-year sentence on a separate second-degree attempted-murder conviction.

MAXWELL: Nothing Without His Band

Maxwell credits his band for the number-one debut of his album Black Summer's Night. He tells SingersRoom.com, "Musicians on this album are at the top of their game. To be in that zone or that place where you're just making music because you really love it...you can tell the difference." Maxwell's tour hits Pittsburgh tomorrow night (Saturday).


BEYONCE: Ready for a Sister Act?

Beyonce reportedly wants to develop an update of Sister Act after seeing a musical production of the 1992 film during her recent I Am Sasha Fierce U-K tour. A source tells Britain's Daily Mail, "Beyonce has asked her representatives to persuade Disney to develop the show into a film vehicle for her. If this comes to pass, she would take on....the part Whoopi Goldberg [played]...although the stage version moves the action from the West Coast to Philadelphia." Beyonce's reps didn't return our calls for comment.