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Cats Movie Trailer: Can Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, and Jason Derulo Get a Do-over?

VIDEO DISCUSSION: The Cats trailer has some people creeped out, others are finding it delightful, some will give their verdict after the movie is released

Onika: Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, uh, and Jason Derulo, all looked a hot damn mess! I'm like, what the F is happening here?! Hmmm! I think they need a do-over! If I was Idris (Elba), I'd be like, hmmm, you played me.

Keisha: What accent is that!?

Onika: I'm doing Margaret Mag, you played me.

Kizzy: Girl, no. Is that the Jamaican an accent that you used to do?

Keisha: You know he’s (Idris Elba) British, right?

Onika: This is my British accent! First of all, don't judge me. Played me, you played me. Can I have a spot of tea?

Laughter

Kizzy: Awful, awful.

Onika: I want to know if they can get a do-over?

Kizzy: But, that was really weird, really weird. It was just, it was just weird. It was like the CGI, I think with the CGI like I'm thinking maybe even if they just went with fur instead. white on the far and actors and act looking crazy I think. I think, well you know, Cats is hard because you know just the idea of humans being cats, it's like a weird concept, anyway.

Keisha: That's what the Broadway show was, it was a bunch of human actors playing cats, plus dancing and singing.

Onika: You know we understand that.

Keisha: So, what do you expect.

Onika: But they should look good. They shouldn’t look crazy.

Kizzy: The CGI, but then they have fur over them.

Keisha: The fur coats kinda got me.

Kizzy: Yeah, why they have fur coats when they’re already cats.

Onika: Because you know how you have dumb people like take dogs and put coats on the dog and they already have a fur on them. What’s different, the same shit. PETA was like enough. Poor PETA.

Keisha: It was a little weird with the human faces and the bodies. Yeah. I just, I know I didn't get an uproar over, it's a movie about cats that sing and dance. It’s not real in any sense of fashion.

Onika: We have social media, so anything that happens, there will be dialogue. There will be dialogue. T

Kizzy: And, there will be dragging.

Onika: The revolution will be televised.

Keisha: You know what I didn't like, and this may be blasphemous. I did not like Jennifer Hudson's rendition of Memories. I did not like it. I was like, who is this cat scratching and dying singing this song.
And, I think Jennifer Hudson has a wonderful voice. But what I heard, from what I heard on that trailer, it did not put her in the best light. I didn't like it. They can do that over.

Kizzy: Really!?

Keisha: Yes. Yes.

Kizzy: I liked it. I liked it. I like the way she sang.

Onika: She sounds like a dog? Are you barking?

Keisha: Yes, (barking sounds)

Kizzy: Well, on that note, that will do it.

Keisha: ruff.

A$AP Rocky, Justin Beiber, Kylie Jenner, Ming Lee, Marliesia Ortiz, Idris Elba, and more | What's The 411 | Ep. 146

VIDEO: Will Tanisha Foster prevail over Nipsey Hussle's family? What will be next for Ming Lee and Swae Lee? Cats, the movie, receiving mixed reviews so far

Celebrities including Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, have been applauded for urging Donald Trump to work with Swedish officials to release rapper, A$AP Rocky, who is in a Swedish jail for suspicion of assault. However, when Justin Beiber offered:

I want my friend out…I appreciate you trying to help him. But while you're at it @realDonaldTrump can you also let those kids out of cages?

The Twitterati quickly turned on the “Beib,” here’s a taste of some the responses:

‘He only doing this for black votes and to redeem himself from his racist remarks. While I appreciate it, I also see this as an act of selfishness.’

‘His publicist told him it’d be a good look to address it. You not fooling nobody. You really don’t care.’

‘I wish these fake justice advocates felt this way about all the American children we have in cages called juvenile detention centers.’


Q. What do you think about the reactions to Justin Beiber? Also, reports state that the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, was polite to Trump. Do you think that in the back of the Swedish Prime Minister’s mind, he was saying, this man has babies in cages, and he has the audacity to ask me to release a millionaire!?

Nipsey Hussle’s ex, Tanisha Asghedom, Up Against late rapper’s family 

Onika: The late, Nipsey Hussle’s, ex, Tanisha Asghedom, you've heard about her before? So, she claims that the late rapper's family is trying to kick her out of her home. According to TMZ, Nipsey Hussle paid for her house and now the late rapper's family is trying to get her out and trying to deem her as an unfit mother so that the estate won't have to pay her bills. Isn't that crazy?

Kizzy: That is, that is terrible. That's greed. They want to keep all of his money for themselves. And, then you're doing that, and you're harming a child, his daughter. So it's like, you know, the granddaughter, what have you.

Onika: Why would you do that to her mom?

Kizzy: Exactly. It doesn't make any sense. It's, it's, it's greed. Yeah.

Onika: I know Nipsey Hussle wouldn't approve of that. Like, oh, he was paying for, well, when he was alive. So just stop. Just keep, keep that energy. Cause this is similar to XXXTentacion. Same thing. Like, come on guys, stop it. We know you guys have an opinion. You drag them, drag them, drag them in the comments. You know y'all like to do that.

Keisha: Terrible because the only person that suffers is the daughter. You know, from what I read, she was taken from the home the day that they buried her father. So, imagine, she lost her father; she's going through that and now she's not able to see her mom the way she used to. And of course, I don't know if I should say, of course. However, Nipsey's family is claiming Tanisha to be an unfit mother and they're trying to go to court. And this is according to TMZ. They feel as though, given her legal battles, past and current,…

Kizzy: What were her legal battles about? Why would that make her an unfit mother?

Keisha: Well, I, I think she might've been doing drugs. I don't (know), I don't want to speculate, but she does have some legal issues that she's battling. And then they also claim, Nipsey’s family that is, they claimed that based on what's happening with her other two children, she has two older children,…they're not, they, she's not fit.

She has a daughter, I read according to TMZ is incarcerated right now and has been in and out of jail, since she's…

Onika: Her older daughter?

Keisha: Yes.

Onika: So, what's that got to do with anything?

Keisha: Well, they're saying because that daughter has been in out of jail, that, you know, the mom is not fit. And then she has an older son, who's younger than the daughter who's been bounced around from home to home, that there's not been provided a stable environment.

Kizzy: So, they want to take away the stable environment from this last little child and do the very same thing.

Keisha: It doesn't make sense because clearly, she and Nipsey had an agreement. And from what I was able to ascertain, he never felt the need to go to court to get custody or stop the child support arrangement. So, if he felt comfortable enough with this woman and her skills as a parent to keep the child there and you know, had their own arrangement and paid for her, the mom, which also meant supporting his child. Now, you want to take all of that away and that just seems to be anti-Nipsey Hussle.

Kizzy: Right, exactly, exactly, and not what he would have wanted. He would've wanted his child to be taken care of. And so yeah, it’s just what I said, greed, and that’s bad. It's very bad.

Keisha: And, it seems like they were almost waiting for this moment to pounce because I would imagine that they probably had some kind of feelings about the mother, Tanisha, to begin with, but Nipsey may have kept them at bay.

Kizzy: Right, and now that now he has passed, they're like, ah, I never liked you anyway, that kind of thing.

Keisha: Right. Not that, of course, they wished him dead, but they're seizing this opportunity and unfortunately to carry out their deeds.

Kizzy: Sad. Very Sad. Yeah, but hit us up in the comments. Let us know what you think.

Kylie Jenner’s Friendship Dynamics | Relationships

Keisha: So, we're going to move from one child to another and we're going to talk about Kylie Jenner. She recently posted an emotional Instagram message where she talked about experiencing the loss of self and the loss of friends.

Onika: And, the loss of her appearance because that’s not even on her face.

Keisha: Yeah, that's a part of the loss of self because she's got a whole new face and body. But you know, she talked about losing friends and although she did not mention Jordyn Woods by name, we can assume that Jordan would be in that category. But Kylie has since struck up a really close relationship with Sofia Richie, who is the girlfriend of Scott Disick who is the father of her sister Kourtney's (Kardashian) three children. Kylie recently organized a girls' trip to Turks and Caicos and extended the invite to Sofia, and she, accepted.

Kizzy: That’s weird.

Onika: No, it's not, she has to be on the Kardashians. She needs to be on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. They need to have Scott written in a little bit more. And then Scott's girlfriend and, and, um, what's that other one's name…

Kizzy: Black Chyna?

Onika: No, not, Black Chyna. What’s that other one’s name?

Kizzy: Kourtney.

Onika: It's Kourtney, Kourtney and, Kourtney. They have to, have like some kind of conflict. So that works. What are you talking about?

Kizzy: So cynical.

Onika: It's not cynical. That's just the handwriting on all the walls.

Kizzy: You think it is all very orchestrated.

Onika: That's what it is. Okay. I'm going to say two words, Kris Jenner.

Kizzy: Okay. I think it's weird. I think it's really, weird. I think it's very almost, it's almost one, cause not really, cause think about things that. Go back to when Kylie was dating Tyga even though Black Chyna at the time she was engaged to Tyga. So, then it was weird because Black Chyna went on to date Kylie's brother, Rob, right?

Onika: But didn't he have a show? It was a show.

Kizzy: Okay. So, okay, so my thing is, so had Kylie and Tyga got married; so, then she'd have been stepmother to Chyna's kid and Auntie to Rob's, weird. All of that is just very weird.

Keisha: But you know. But you know, their weird is normal. This isn't, this is normal.

Onika: You know what’s really weird? We watch it.

Keisha: For some, it may…but this is, as weird as it is for us, it's normal to them. This is like for better or for worse, Kardashians are really big into family…it’s bizarre …because they have a fascination, the girls have fascinations with rappers and athletes, minus Kourtney, she doesn't seem to follow in that, that mold.

Onika: She just likes Scott.

Keisha: Scott. And you know, she was dating some billionaire who did something. I don't know if he inherited his money or whatever, but she seems in, in terms of her dating patterns, she seems to go a little to the right…

Onika: Is she still wearing deodorant? Cause remember she had stopped.

Keisha: Maybe so, I don’t know, I haven’t smelled her armpits

Onika: Remember, everything was all-natural.

Keisha: It’s possible.

Onika: That was many, many seasons when I used to keep up with the Kardashians until I figured out, they were just keeping up with black ladies. And then, I was like, oh well shit, that's me. Bye.

Keisha: And, I guess it's also interesting to know, that Sofia Richie is the daughter of famous singer Lionel Richie. And so, I'm thinking that maybe Kylie has found some kind of connection in her as someone who's grown up in the spotlight. Lionel Richie had his own little scandal in the past. So maybe, you know, in addition to Kylie feeling that Sophie, Sofia is kind of like family cause Scott is still very, you know, affluent.

Onika: She used to be with um, the Hilton girl.

Keisha: Yeah. Paris Hilton.

Kizzy: Yeah, the something life. What is it, Simple…

Keisha: The Simple Life. Yeah. Yeah.

Kizzy: The early 2000s, taking us back.

Onika: So, so that's the first Kardashians, right, The Hiltons.

Keisha: They have started, all of this stuff, and The Osbourne's I think they might've been the first family on.

Kizzy: Yeah, I think so. I think they were. The first big, the first really big reality show where people were like, we can make money off of that family

Keisha: You know, the very first…I remember was The Real World. But they, The Osbournes were the first family and very, very,

Onika: You guys are old.


Family Disowns Bride and Groom Over an Adult-Only Wedding

Who should decide who can attend a wedding? Should, children be at an event where there is an open bar?

Kizzy: Last week, we were talking about bridezillas and crazy stuff. So now we're, we're talking about weddings again. Now, this couple, for financial reasons, decided to host an adults-only wedding. And, so that meant no kids allowed, which eliminated 14 kids from their wedding. Thirteen from the groom’s side and one from the bride’s side. So, the result of this was there was a massive argument among the families. The bride’s stepmother ex-communicated her because she couldn't bring her one-year-old grandson, even though the bride offered to pay for a babysitter. So, my question is were the bride and groom, correct and sticking to their guns and insisting upon an adults-only wedding? What do you guys think?

Keisha: Well, there's a saying Kizzy and Onika, whoever carries the purse makes the rules?

So, the couple was paying for the wedding themselves and they decided what happens at their wedding. So, if they decided for financial reasons or even if they just didn't like kids, and didn't want them at the wedding, that is their choice. Right. And you abide by it or don't come. And if I'm not mistaken that the bride even offered to hire a babysitter so that the one-year-old grandbaby could go. Well, grandma didn't want that baby there that badly then.

Kizzy: It just made no sense. It made no sense. It's like why are you trying to control what people do for their wedding. You are not, like you said, not paying for it. They're paying for it all on their own. You don't know their pockets. That's all these kids, you got all this extra food, nine oh kids don't really eat everything. You, know what I mean? So, it's kind of like a waste. You know what I mean, I get it, you know, in an ideal world, you want everybody to be there. You want the kids to be there and everything too. But if those people were getting married and it's, remember, it's about them and they cannot afford it, I think you should understand that. And I don't think you should make an issue.

Onika: I don't think that children should be at weddings. It’s an open bar. People are drinking, getting drunk, acting up, nobody's watching the doggone kids who are sliding… I don't think that that's the place. I feel like it's an adult event and I think the only children that should be at the wedding are the children that are in the wedding. That's what I think.

You see all those kids and stuff if I’m drinking. I don't want to be, you can't get in the bar. The children can't be in a bar. And you have an open bar, at a wedding or you know, alcohol, children shouldn’t be around adults drinking. Maybe if you’re at a home or house party or something like that, but for the most part…

Kizzy: But everybody's not going to be drinking though. And I think again if you're a parent, obviously, you're not going to be over-drinking…

Keisha: You hope, you hope.

Kizzy: Of course, of course, you hope because…

Keisha: Sometimes parents don't get out much. So, a wedding is a perfect occasion to let down their hair down and get loose, you got free food, free booze…

Kizzy: Keep the kid home if that's the case. But if you want your kid there, and again, this woman wanted her grandson there. I'm assuming you're not going to be drinking all that much anyway. But again, I think it’s their day, it's their money, they decide who can come. I think. Yeah.

Are Ming Lee and Swae Lee a Couple in the Making?

Keisha: So, we're going to move from bridezillas and "familyzillas" and we're going to talk about hip hop royalty. Microphone check one, two. I don’t know why I said that.

Kizzy: You are on today. Bring it home, Keisha, bring it home.

Keisha: I’m just going to reel it back in. We're going to talk about Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons, child, children, Ming Lee, who appears to be dating rapper Swae Lee, which has set off his on-again, off-again, girlfriendMarliesia Ortiz  to the point that Ming’s little sister, Aoki Lee, came through with the clap backs on social media letting people know Marliesia, in particular, that she does not want to tangle with her or her mother. Oh yes.

Onika: The mother’s getting involved too? Come on.

Keisha: I mean she can, she can jump in.

Kizzy: Yeah, she can.

Onika: I don’t think I’d jump in, I’d just let the sisters handle it, those girls got it.

Kizzy: Yeah, I think it's kind of, yeah, whatever. Um, I don't know. I don't know. I mean I think when you grow up rich and famous as they have, you will find yourself in these types of situations. I mean, even though I haven't …

Onika: They all gotta like to mess with each other. The pool is small. Yeah, because there’s a bunch of broke dudes.

Kizzy: And, you don't, you don't need that. You don't because they just might want to be with you because they want to get put on, they want your money. They want to be around that.

Onika: People in this circle have money.

Kizzy: That's what I'm saying. So you don't, again, you only have a few people that you can actually date and so it would make sense if she's in a circle and Swae Lee is there. We know their eyes meet, their hearts touch, there they go.

Onika: Their last names are Lee, right? That’s a bunch of Lees, right? Bruce Lee, I don't know.

Keisha: Do you think that because Ming comes from hip-hop royalty, legendary, her dad is Russell Simmons. Her uncle is Reverend Run of Run DMC. Do you think that dating someone like Swae Lee is above her status (meant below her status)? Why would she want to date someone like Swae Lee that has this history of volatile…?

Onika: Because he’s cute?

Kizzy: Did you or did you see that Bobby Brown documentary where he talked about his life, or it might've been, no, it was New Edition. Back in the day, Bobby Brown, you know, was the bad boy. Janet Jackson was the good girl and they had a thing going on. And when…I remember when, I remember when I watched it, I was like, wow, what, Bobby Brown got Janet Jackson! It was crazy. But that's the thing like you come from, you’re supposed to be a good girl. You got Reverend Run as your uncle or whatever. You’re supposed to be like this good girl, but you got this little edgy guy and there's, there's a pull there. So, I'm not surprised. I don't think it's really, beneath her. I just think caught up…

Onika: And, Russell Simmons was a hood dude, so she probably likes hood dudes. You, know what I mean? Now, he's all yogi. But he wasn't always like that.

Kizzy: Yeah, Vegan. I don't think it's surprising. I don't think it's surprising at all. And hopefully she, they're not gonna start throwing hands ‘cause that would be like a mess. Please don't do that.

Onika: Nobody throwing hands.

Keisha: Well, Ming (Aoki) is about to go to Harvard. So soon she'll have her head in the books, hopefully in and not a dropout after the first…

Onika: Look how we’re smiling, we’re like, Onika don’t say it. Onika, don’t say it. I'm not.

Keisha: Well, they say, good girls like bad boys.

Onika: Why do good girls like bad guys? Okay.

Cats The Movie: Can Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba Get a Do-over

Onika: Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, uh, and Jason Derulo, all looked a hot damn mess! I'm like, what the "F" is happening here?! Hmmm! I think they need a do-over! If I was Idris (Elba), I'd be like, hmmm, you played me.

Keisha: What accent is that!?

Onika: I'm doing Margaret Mag, you played me.

Kizzy: Girl, no. Is that the Jamaican an accent that you used to do?

Keisha: You know he’s (Idris Elba) British, right?

Onika: This is my British accent! First of all, don't judge me. Played me, you played me. Can I have a spot of tea?

Laughter

Kizzy: Awful, awful.

Onika: I want to know if they can get a do-over?

Kizzy: But, that was really weird, really weird. It was just, it was just weird. It was like the CGI, I think with the CGI I'm thinking maybe even if they just went with fur instead. white on the far and actors and act looking crazy I think. I think, well you know, Cats is hard because you know just the idea of humans being cats, it's like a weird concept, anyway.

Keisha: That's what the Broadway show was, it was a bunch of human actors playing cats, plus dancing and singing.

Onika: You know we understand that.

Keisha: So, what do you expect.

Onika: But they should look good. They shouldn’t look crazy.

Kizzy: The CGI, but then they have fur over them.

Keisha: The fur coats kinda got me.

Kizzy: Yeah, why they have fur coats when they’re already cats.

Onika: Because you know how you have dumb people like take dogs and put coats on the dog and they already have a fur on them. What’s different, the same shit. PETA was like enough. Poor PETA.

Keisha: It was a little weird with the human faces and the bodies. Yeah. I just, I know I didn't get an uproar over, it's a movie about cats that sing and dance. It’s not real in any sense of fashion.

Onika: We have social media, so anything that happens, there will be dialogue. There will be dialogue. T

Kizzy: And, there will be dragging.

Onika: The revolution will be televised.

Keisha: You know what I didn't like, and this may be blasphemous. I did not like Jennifer Hudson's rendition of Memories. I did not like it. I was like, who is this cat-scratching, and dying singing this song.
And, I think Jennifer Hudson has a wonderful voice. But what I heard, from what I heard on that trailer, it did not put her in the best light. I didn't like it. They can do that over.

Kizzy: Really!?

Keisha: Yes. Yes.

Kizzy: I liked it. I liked it. I like the way she sang.

Onika: She sounds like a dog? Are you barking?

Keisha: Yes, (barking sounds)

Kizzy: Well, on that note, that will do it.

Keisha: ruff.

 

 

Beyonce, Kenya Barris, Tamron Hall, Will Smith, Meghan Markle, Sex Dolls, and more | Ep. 130

K. Michelle brings up her old flame, Idris Elba; sex dolls are back, and this time with artificial intelligence; Meghan Markle's husband wants to cash in on Ms. Markle's celebrity

In this episode of What's The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about:

In Quick Takes, the duo is giving a rundown of the following news stories:

• It’s official. Television producer, Kenya Barris, is following in the footsteps of Shonda Rhimes. He is leaving his overall pact at ABC, which terminates in August. Sources state that Barris will remain an executive producer on all of his shows, Black-ish on ABC; Grown-ish and the upcoming Besties on Freeform. He will continue to work on the ABC Studios projects he has in development, and his Netflix deal is expected to be substantial.

Tamron Hall is on her way back to daytime! She has inked a deal with Disney for a new Daytime talk show, and she stated in a press release:

“I’m so thrilled to partner with Disney ABC to create a daytime television show that’s unconventional, fun, intimate and sometimes even raw. My new partners appreciate and respect the relationship I’ve built with my audience and know that if we create television worth watching, they’ll join us for the ride. I’m so grateful and excited for this next chapter. The landing makes the leap of faith so worth it."

• Actor and rapper, Will Smith, announced in a video on Instagram that he is teaming up with self-help author Mark Manson to write a book. Smith said:

• “We’re going to be meeting with five publishers… we’re gonna pick one. And if I had to take a guess, I feel very confident that we’re gonna go with the highest bidder… I’m just saying.”

• We talked about Meghan Markle’s father and sister doing everything possible to cash in on the celebrity of the Duchess of Sussex. Now, Meghan Markle’s ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, wants in, too. He’s planning to put all of their business on Front Street.

• And, in case you missed it, Beyoncé will be on the all-important September issue of Vogue magazine. Beyoncé’s photos were shot by Tyler Mitchell, the first Black man to shoot a Vogue cover.

• Singer K. Michelle fondly remembers her romance with actor Idris Elba, she told Hollywood Unlocked that “they split up because he wasn’t ready to settle down. “He told me he would never be committed to one woman. He said I would be taken care of, I would be fine, but he would never commit to one woman.”

 

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RACE and CULTURE

 

KIZZY: There is a huge debate going on right now about the unequal treatment of Black people subjected to gun violence vs. White people. Recently, actress Anne Hathaway, who is white, shaken by the death of Nia Wilson at the hands of a white man, challenged white people to wake up and pay attention. Hathaway said in part, White people DO NOT have equivalence for this fear of violence.”

Even David Hogg one of the survivors of the Parkland H.S. massacre in Florida said he would use his “white privilege” to also address the often overlooked gun violence in black and brown communities.

Q. Now, granted, Black people are not monolithic, but the response to these overtures have been mixed, ranging from it’s about time that white people are recognizing the inequality to, no I am not afraid and only Black people can help Black people. Where do you stand on this issue?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Recently, Meagan Good’s husband, DeVon Franklin, in an effort to separate dating from marriage posted on Instagram:

“There’s a time to act like husband and wife, but if doesn’t come until you’re actually married—until you have that indelible commitment to each other.”

Q. Do you like this idea? What happens when people choose to live together minus the marriage nuptials?

 

 

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Speaking of marriage, ‘The Daily’ host Michael Barbaro, splits from his husband and is now dating a female producer on another show at The New York Times.

Q. I know that we live in a fluid society, but would you date man who was married to a man?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

KIZZY: If you are a regular viewer of What’s The 411, you know we have talked about sex dolls at least twice before. Well, sex dolls are back in the news! And, this time because the manufacturers in China are now including artificial intelligence in the dolls. So they will be able to hold short conversations.

Q. Where are we headed with this? Is this good for society?

 

 

 

The Mountain Between Us is a bit bumpy but you should see it. [MOVIE REVIEW]

They don’t know each other but they are both desperate to reach their destinations. Dr. Ben Bass (Idris Elba) has a 10-year-old patient waiting for surgery. And photojournalist Alex Martin (Kate Winslet) has to get to her wedding. After the cancellation of their flight due to stormy weather, they hire a charter plane. The plane crashes midflight, the pilot dies, but they, along with pilot’s dog, survive the incident with injuries. They battle to survive the subzero weather in the Colorado mountains, trying to hang on until they are found.

The Mountain Between Us is often tedious, but ultimately, an entertaining film and gets a See It! rating.

The plot’s not new or unique; there are a number of films before The Mountain Between Us, which were popular with filmgoers including Cast Away and Alive. This movie like others of its type shares the survivors’ painstaking efforts to stay alive.

Also, like Hollywood films in general, it makes sure that dogs are unharmed. While Ben and Alex ration the food from the crash and what they are able to scavenge, while showing the effects of not having enough to eat, the dog somehow always seems well fed and full of energy.

The writers do their best to help viewers get to know Ben and Alex but with only modest success. Great writers develop individuals so rich and full that moviegoers could pass tests on the personalities of the characters in the film. However, Ben and Alex remain enigmas.

While not giving too much away, the story does develop in a way that ultimately works.

This is an interracial pairing, yet race is never an issue or even discussed in the film.

The Mountain Between Us gets an “A” for diversity. Obviously, there is a person of color in a leading role; however, there are others in supporting roles.

It’s rated PG-13 for a scene of sexuality, peril, injury images, and brief strong language. The Mountain Between Us is 103 minutes in length and is a film you should see.

 

What’s The 411 Episode 107: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Tupac

Freddie Jackson gives an extended interview, Ridley Scott hopes Idris Elba will be James Bond, stars come out for Dress for Success and more

On this episode of What’s The 411, we are talking about former US First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and US Senator Bernie Sanders are coming to Brooklyn to give separate commencement addresses. Hillary Clinton will give a commencement address at Medgar Evers College, while Senator Bernie Sanders, who was born in Brooklyn, will speak at Brooklyn College’s graduation ceremony.

Minnesota courts have whittled down the number of heirs to the estate of the deceased pop star, Prince.

Film director, Ridley Scott, told BBC Radio One that he hopes that actor Idris Elba would be the next James Bond.

Ifeoma White-Thorpe, a senior at Rockaway High School in Morris Hills, New Jersey. Ms. White-Thorpe received acceptances to all eight Ivy League colleges and Stanford University.

Dress for Success, an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life, held its annual fundraising gala at Cipriani Wall Street.

Popular rapper, Snoop Dogg, gave a heartfelt tribute to deceased rapper Tupac Shakur who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

We also have an extended interview with R&B singer Freddie Jackson, who has a new album, LOVE SIGNALS, with an expected release date in June. The album’s first single, One Night, will be released on May 1st.

What's The 411 Episode 64: Forest Whitaker, Derek Luke, and Anika Noni Rose in Roots Remake

President Obama nominates Eric Fanning an openly gay man for Secretary of the Army; The Americas fall in love with Pope Francis

In What's The 411 Episode 64, the panel of host Kizzy Cox and correspondents Courtney Rashon and Onika McLean are talking about Pope Francis' visit to New York City; the upcoming Roots remake, featuring Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, Derek Luke, and Anika Noni Rose; rapper Rick Ross' engagement to Instagram socialite Lira Galore; uber marketing executive Steve Stoute's engagement to Carol's Daughter sales executive, Lauren Branche; reviews of actor Idris Elba's "singing" skills; Kanye West's Yeezy Collection at 2016 S/S New York Fashion Week; President Obama's nomination of Eric Fanning, an openly gay man, to serve as Secretary of the Army; New York plans to outlaw the sale of K2; and 20 Restaurants receive an F grade for their use of antibiotics in their meats. In the Reality TV Recap, they look at Married to Medicine and the Kardashian tech ventures that are estimated to generate millions of dollars; and the Stockton California police and the school officials at MacArthur High School in Texas get called on the carpet.

QUICK TAKES

KIZZY: More A-list stars have joined the cast of the Roots remake! Forest Whitaker will be playing Fiddler, a mentor to Kunta Kinte, Derek Luke will be playing Silla Ba Dibba the military officer who trained the Mandinka teens to become powerful warriors and Anika Noni Rose will be playing my namesake Kizzy, Kunta Kinte's daughter who "maintains her family pride and warrior spirit!" The 8-hour miniseries will air on A&E.

COURTNEY: Rapper Rick Ross is engaged to former stripper turned Instagram socialite, Lira Galore. The ring is huge and Galore posted a picture on Snapchat with the caption "YES". Congrats to the newly engaged couple.

ONIKA: Marketing guru Steve Stoute has wed! It was a true "Pretty Woman" story. Lauren Branche was a young and beautiful enterprising sales rep from Carol's Daughter and Steve was her latest pitch! She didn't get the deal but in the end she got the guy! Best wishes to the lovely and wealthy couple! Oh by the way! Nas, Kanye and Maxwell performed. And Jay and Bey were in attendance.

COURTNEY: According to the Guardian, handsome and talented actor Idris Elba should stick to acting instead of singing. Elba recorded and released a new song and the reviews have not been so great. Elba, recorded a verse on a remix of Skepta's grime track "Shutdown," which references his characters Stringer Bell on "The Wire," Detective John Luther, and Nelson Mandela. However, that remix has over 1 million plays on SoundCloud and was number one on the Billboard charts. With over a million plays and tens of thousands "likes," Elba's voice can't be all that bad.

COURTNEY: Rapper Kanye West revealed his second Yeezy Collection 2016 during New York Fashion Week. The crowd was filled to the max and included celebs Common, Lorde, Debbie Harry, Courtney Love and of course, the Kardashian sisters. North West was seated in the front row with her mom. Reportedly, the show was organized and less chaotic and started on time, as opposed to last year's show.

ONIKA: IN MEMORIAM: Prolific writer and author, Jackie Collins, passed away from the effects of breast cancer. Collins battled breast cancer in private for more than six years -- revealing she did not want a wave of public sympathy or to be defined by her illness. In a wide-ranging and emotional interview just six days before her death, the 77-year-old best-selling writer told PEOPLE's Elizabeth Leonard exactly why she chose to keep her diagnosis a secret from family and friends. She told only her children -- Tracy, Tiffany and Rory.

Collins wants on her gravestone: "She Gave a Great Deal of People a Great Deal of Pleasure"

WHAT'S POPPIN'

 

President Obama Nominates Eric Fanning to be Secretary of the Army

In the U.S. military, if you ask now, who cares if they tell! President Obama certainly isn't acting like a lame duck! He is going out of this last call of duty with a bang! Actually, bang, bang, bang! Lol, said What's The 411 correspondent Onika McLean.

Eric Fanning has been nominated to become the first openly gay Secretary of the Army! At Ease Please! In a story reported by Fox News- Mr. Fanning who was an official at the Pentagon has been serving as Undersecretary of the Army since February! Obama says that Fanning brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and he is confident that he will do an amazing job!

Personally, I think President Obama has sat down with God himself and is strategically planning to change America to truly be a free democracy! Go Jesus and Mr. President!

#AskOnika

5 Things Women Can Do During Football Season

What's The 411 correspondent Onika McLean names 5 Things Women Can Do During Football Season.

Football season is upon us and I don't give a rat's ass about football. However, there are a lot of football widows out there whining and complaining because they just don't know what to do. So, to the football widows, here are a few things you can do to occupy your time while your boo thang is watching the game:

1- go to the spa
2- go shopping
3- read a book
4- download Bumble and see all the hot guys/girls you could be dating that doesn't have the same affinity for football as the person on the sofa eating the hot wings and;
5- go on Facebook and follow What's The 411TV and talk to me- I'm available Sunday, Monday, and Thursdays!

#AskOnika

Pope Francis Lifts Spirits in New York City

New York City is feeling a bit holier if you ask me! Although Pope Francis has left the building, New Yorkers are still on a spiritual high because of his presence. The same can be said of those living in Cuba, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American Pope, touched the hearts of so many because through his speeches he showed he is in touch with the issues that they care about. Throughout the Pope's visit, he spoke about mercy, forgiveness, and the role of the Church, including his visit to a prison in Philadelphia.

What's The 411 correspondent Onika McLean said, "I am liking this Pope! When Pope Francis was questioned about Gay people, he said 'who am I to Judge'. You're the Pope! God is supposed to be next in line, if you're not judging, neither am I."
#AskOnika

UNDER THE RADAR

 

New York Attempts to Ban Sale of K2

ONIKA: While other states are legalizing marijuana, New York is introducing a bill to ban the sale of K2. K2 is synthetic marijuana being sold at your local corner store. The irony is that instead of getting a mellow high from smoking K2, there are reports of numerous strokes, heart attacks, and deaths.

20 Restaurants Receive an F for Routine Antibiotic Use in Meats

COURTNEY: On the lifestyle tip, Nacole Jones hit us up with this story on Facebook. Twenty (20) restaurants received F grades for routine antibiotics in their meat supply from according to the "Chain Reaction" report by Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defense Council and four other consumer interest, public health and environmental organizations.

Chipotle and Panera Bread fared best, with both receiving As. Those restaurants are the only two that report serving a majority of their meat from animals raised without regular use of antibiotics, the report said.

Chick-fil-A received a grade of B, but it is a leader in transitioning away from antibiotics in its food supply with third party verification.

Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's received Cs. Subway, Wendy's, Burger King, Denny's, Domino's and Starbucks all received F's, but got at least one point.

Other restaurants that received Fs and earned ZERO out of 36 possible points are: Olive Garden, Papa John's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Applebee's, Sonic, Chili's, Jack in the Box, Arby's, Dairy Queen, IHOP, Outback and Little Caesars.

ON THE CARPET

 

On The Carpet: Stockton, California Police

Courtney Rashon calls several Stockton, California police officers on the carpet. They are currently under investigation and scrutiny after a video surfaced showing nine cops beating and arresting a Black teenager for jaywalking. A police officer was going to write the teen a ticket, but instead grabbed the young boy and pulled out his baton. The teen was trying to catch a bus when he was approached and beaten. Witnesses say the teen was hit by the officer several times before back-up came. The officer then told the teen to stop resisting after the teen was punched by the officer and reportedly, the teen was not resisting in any way.

On The Carpet: MacArthur High School in Texas

Kizzy Cox calls the school officials at MacArthur High School in Texas and the police on the carpet. First school officials at MacArthur High School for having14 year-old Ahmed Mohamed arrested for bringing a clock to school that he built himself because they thought it was a bomb. The teen was handcuffed and questioned by 5 police officers for 1 1/2 hours without being allowed to call his parents, the school didn't alert his parents either it was only after the police called that his father even knew he'd been arrested! Even though the police found no evidence of wrongdoing he was then suspended by the school for 3 days! Ahmed said "I felt like I was a criminal," "I felt like I was a terrorist. I felt like all the names I was called, just because of my race and my religion" Let's be real can we imagine this same scenario happening if he'd been a young white boy? No we can't. We've criminalized being Muslim and brown in this country even though the vast majority of school attacks have been conducted by white people. Luckily for Ahmed, plenty of people heard about his case including none other than our president Barack Obama who invited Ahmed to the White House! Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also tweeted his support and invited him to his headquarters saying ""Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed." MIT also invited Ahmed to their campus which the teen is excited about. In the meantime he is transferring schools.

REALITY TV RECAP

 

Married to Medicine Update

COURTNEY: While on vacation, Married to Medicine reality star, Dr. Heavenly, got into a heated verbal disagreement with Jill Connors who is married to one of the doctors. Jill told Dr. Heavenly that her husband Dr. John Connors told Heavenly's husband F**k you when that was a total lie. Heavenly got to the bottom of the story and addressed Jill, where they got into a heated debate.

According to TMZ, Jill went berserk on her husband after he accused her of cheating. Dr. Connors got a restraining order on Jill after she was arrested for attacking him. Dr. John also got everything including their Atlanta house, her car and custody of their three children and withdrew 250k from their joint account. She currently is penniless and filing for divorce.

Kardashian Tech Venture Raking in Millions

ONIKA: The Kardashian Family is at it again. All of the Kardashian girls released an app this week. They stand to make 32,000,000.00 the first year. Baby sister Kylie's app is doing the best so far! Hats off to Kris Jenner- she puts them girls to work- literally.

IN THE PIPELINE

ONIKA: Mary J. Blige and Tamar Braxton will begin touring this October! Check out LiveNation for show dates and ticket information.

KIZZY: Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is bringing all 10 of August Wilson's about black life in America during the 20th century to HBO! The 10 plays are known as the Century Cycle because they take place during each decade from 1900-1990. Denzel starred in Fences alongside Tony award-winning actress Viola Davis on Broadway and will take on the role again when he directs the production for HBO next spring. Kudos!

COURTNEY: According to Deadline.com, Ice Cube is set to star in a remake of the Christmas Carol movie, called Humbug. The script, which was the subject of a bidding war between four studios, will hit theaters in 2017.

Kizzy: This just in from Sandy Harper, the woman who is always in the know, high school students can join Cooper-Hewitt for the Teen Design Event of the Year!

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is hosting its 10th annual Teen Design Fair in New York City, where teens talk with top designers working in the fields of fashion, product design, architecture, graphic design, and more!

The winners of the 2015 National Design Awards and designers from leading companies will be available to answer questions about possible careers paths, discuss the challenges designers face in the studio, and share what they love about their work.

The 10th annual Teen Design Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 13, at 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Museum of the American Indian, One Bowling Green (in lower Manhattan near Battery Park).

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