LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE!

Not Exactly "THE EXPERIENCE" we expected!

Drama queen and radio personality Wendy Williams, whose show, The Wendy Williams Experience, has made a career out of challenging and more often than not offending her celebrity guests. She famously hinted that P. Diddy was gay, feuded with Whitney Houston, and told the world that Method Man’s wife had cancer (against his wishes). Now she has made the move to television, hosting a daytime show on Fox that premiered July 13th. In her typical manner she interviews celebrity and wanna-be celebrity guests and focuses on a variety of topics, including her own life. The Fox Network is hoping she’ll be able to carry over the success of her wildly popular radio show into a television format. After much controversy, dwindling ratings and drama the radio show is scheduled for cancellation.When asked about the show and what viewers can expect, she explains the show revolves around her personality. One of the things that Fox keeps saying is, “We want you to be you.” Funny or quirky or whatever it might be — adjusting my wig, or coming in with one pair of shoes and changing to another. It’s not going to be funny — I’m not like a clown, ha-ha. I don’t laugh and tell jokes.

After suffering in and out of a few episodes and to the disbelief and angst of a good friend - David, I feel the show simply does not work in a television format. Wendy an attractive woman comes across as a silly and awkward Halloween drag queen due to poor styling. The show tends to be blindsided by too much buffoonery and a lack of real substance to hold a viewing audience as opposed to a listening audience. The show has been moved to the late evening where it may do better but without a serious makeover and upgrade it will not be around much longer!
Wendy – you can only get so many laughs out of adjusting your wigs. Unfortunately you are funny (and not in a good way). You many not be laughing and telling jokes but neither are the fans at this sick joke of a show!

FROM THE STREETS

An untimely loss of a national treasure and icon!This week the Black (gay) community and the world lost one of it's' most influential, recognized and admired leaders. Best-selling author E Lynn Harris passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 54 while on tour promoting his 11th novel, Basketball Jones his publicist told The Associated Press.According to his official biography at his Web site, Mr. Harris, a tender 54 years young was born in Flint, Mich. and raised in Little Rock, Ark. At the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he was the school’s first black male Razorbacks cheerleader and was a lifelong fan of the team. 15 years ago Lynn sold computers for a living until he self-published his first novel, Invisible Life, which captivated both men and women in the straight and LGBT communities. He forever changed the perceived notion of what a black gay man looked like and how they [gays] are often scrutinized.
Criticized by some in the gay community as tittering too much to heterosexual black women with his earlier novels, E Lynn made amends with his most recent novel Basketball Jones, "a love letter to the black gay community.”
In a statement, Alison Rich, the executive director of publicity for Doubleday, which published Mr. Harris’s novels, said: “We at Doubleday are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of E. Lynn Harris’ death at too young an age. His pioneering novels and powerful memoir about the black gay experience touched and inspired millions of lives, and he was a gifted storyteller whose books brought delight and encouragement to readers everywhere. Lynn was a warm and generous person, beloved by friends, fans, and booksellers alike, and we mourn his passing.”
Contributing Writers: Dwight Powell, Clique Magazine/ Dave Itzkoff, New York Times