Florida Sentinel Bulletin

NEW YORK — Steve Harvey played hard-to-get before deciding to become a daytime television talk-show host.

The veteran comic, whose new show gets a jump on the fall season, was first approached about a show three years ago when his first book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” was on the best-seller lists.

The television production company Endemol thought the idea of Harvey giving women advice from a man’s point of view made a perfect theme. Harvey said no, thanks.

One of the original “Kings of Comedy” thought late-night was a better place for him on TV. Daytime is more sedate. He had a thriving stand-up career he wasn’t ready to give up and a popular morning radio show broadcast across the country. Harvey also thought his suitors were trying to limit him.

Harvey instead signed on as host of the game show “Family Feud.” His success there made producers want him more, said David Goldberg, chairman and CEO of Endemol North America.
Goldberg tried again, and this time sealed the deal.

NEW YORK — Former football star Michael Strahan is getting a permanent job in morning television as Kelly Ripa’s co-host.

Strahan replaces Regis Philbin on the syndicated “Live! With Kelly” show, adding his name to the title. The gap-toothed former New York Giant is currently a host of “Fox NFL Sunday.”

He was one of several men to get tryouts with Ripa as the show rotated several potential replacements since Philbin left last November. Philbin was the original “Live!” host for more than 28 years, with Ripa joining him in 2001.

R. Kelly has been all about romance on his last two albums, but the self-proclaimed Pied Piper of R&B says he isn’t going to abandon the raunch that helped make him famous.

Kelly’s recent “Write Me Back” and 2010?s “Love Letter” were a departure of sorts for the singer-songwriter, whose hits include classics like “Your Body’s Callin’.”

He described those acclaimed albums as a way of taking a break from his typical explicit material to try something new.

He said his upcoming album will be on more familiar R. Kelly ground.

“The name of my next album is ‘Black Panties’ — that’s my next ’12 Play’,” he said, referring to his classic album filled with sexual material. “I’m going to have some fun on it.”

The embalmed body of actor, Sherman Hemsley, who became famous for his role as television’s George Jefferson, will be kept in refrigeration at a Texas funeral home until a local court rules on the validity of his will.

In the will Hemsley signed six weeks before dying of lung cancer July 24, he named Flora Enchinton, 56, whom he called a “beloved partner,” as sole beneficiary of his estate, which is estimated in court documents to be more than $50,000.

The will is being contested by Richard Thornton of Philadelphia who claims to be Hemsley’s brother and says the will might not have been made by the actor.

Eddie Murphy’s 1984 hit Beverly Hills Cop is headed to the small screen. The TV version will be produced by the comic legend, and Shawn Ryan, creator of the cop drama The Shield.

When asked of a potential Beverly Hills Cop 4 last year, Murphy said that he has wanted to turn the movie into a show. “I’d do the pilot, show up here and there,” he said. “None of the movie scripts [for another sequel] were right; it was trying to force this premise. If you have to force something, you shouldn’t be doing it. It was always a rehash of the old thing. It was always wrong.”

According to Murphy, the scripted series will focus on his character, Axel Foley, being the police chief of the city of Detroit, and would expand to include a story line for Foley’s son.

Comedian Kevin Hart, who is gearing up to host the MTV Video Music Awards next week, was said to be in the running for a starring role in the project.

DMX’s New England concert has been canceled as a safety precaution. The show was scheduled for Sept. 7 at the White’s of Westport venue in Westport. Mass., but several violent incidents in the area prompted authorities to encourage the venue to pull the plug on the show.  “Local law enforcement strongly advised us against doing this,” said VP of White Westport, Chris Lafrance.

Last Sunday (Aug. 26), two men were shot at the nearby Monet Lounge, while another man was killed in the city of Brockton. Police also arrested three men last week in Fall River following a series of altercations that broke out at the end of a Cassidy concert.

Stevie J is looking into non-musical ventures including a guide for those handicapped in the area of physical intimacy.“We might make the lovemaking guide,” Stevie said. “We got the book coming, the t-shirts coming. We got the music coming,” he said.

The work will be an extension of the pure nonsense displayed throughout the first season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, and is Stevies’ attempt at teaching those looking to follow in his footsteps. “It’s just the way player’s play, ” he continued. “A manual for the ladies, and a manual for the gentlemen, and my perspective on how to handle things.”

Trey Songz speaks with Our Time and joins with such celebrities like Will Smith, Lady Gaga, Usher, will.i.am, Jessica Alba and many more encouraging young people to vote.

Trey Songz also speaks on why young people don’t vote and that they have to be patient because change doesn’t come over night. Food for thought for those who are still on the fence about going out to exercise their right to vote. Check out the quick PSA and don’t forget to register to vote at www.ourtime.org/vote.

ATLANTA — Investigators have determined that a fire at filmmaker Tyler Perry’s Atlanta studios was caused by careless smoking.

Capt. Marian McDaniel is with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. McDaniel said Tuesday that no criminal charges were pending.

The fire broke out Monday morning on the roof of a building undergoing repairs. It took firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control. The structural integrity of the building was not compromised.