POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

buzzz worthy. . . The Sheard family has another #1 hit.  This time it's a television show. BET continues to dominate gospel programming with Sunday night's telecasts of CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL and THE SHEARDS! According to the Nielsen Company, the 10:00 p.m.* series premiere of THE SHEARDS was viewed by 1.2 million viewers and garnered a 1.0 coverage rating. When combined with THE SHEARDS 11:00 p.m.* encore, the episode attracted nearly 2 million total viewers. THE SHEARDS is now the #1 Sunday cable reality series telecast in its 10:00 p.m.* time-slot this year among adult women 18+ and a top 3 Sunday cable reality series debut for 2013 among total viewers. Hosted by Steve Harvey, CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL 2013 was seen by 1.8 million viewers and garnered a 1.5 coverage rating. CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL remains the #1 gospel telecast on TV for 13 consecutive years. Encore telecasts of CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL 2013 include: · Thursday, April 11 at 10:00 p.m.* · Saturday, Apr...

buzzz worthy. . . As a part of its rebranding efforts the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) will change its name and logo to UP TV this June. The network decided to move the name change from September to June due to positive feedback from advertisers and viewers. In the past, the name has been somewhat a hindrance Siegel said the network decided to move up the re-branding of the network’s name and logo to June after receiving positive feedback from viewers and advertisers on the new moniker. He added that recent network research has found that network non-viewers are 116% more likely to watch the network with UP as its name rather than GMC. “The name was a bit of a barrier for the network, so we’ve removed that barrier and we think we’ll see tremendous results just with the rebrand,” Siegel said. The network also announced it will be running 66 original programs over the enxt rtwo years. That includes On the programming front, the network will launch 40 original movies, 22...

buzzz worthy. . . Sen. Rand Paul  (R-KY) changed his position on the Civil Rights Act when responding to a question at an event that was held at Howard University yesterday. It’s a mischaracterization of my position. I’ve never been against the Civil Rights Act, ever, and I continue to be for the Civil Rights Act as well as the Voting Rights Act. There was a long, one interview that had a long, extended conversation about the ramifications beyond race, and I have been concerned about the ramifications of certain portions of the Civil Rights Act beyond race, as they are now being applied to smoking, menus, listing calories and things on menus, and guns. And so I do question some of the ramifications and the extensions but I never questioned the Civil Rights Act and never came out in opposition to the Civil Rights Act or ever introduced anything to alter the Civil Rights Act. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said Paul is flat out lying: “I remember [ the interview ] because it...

buzzz worthy. . . This Sunday on "Married to Medicine"  a fight turns a black tie affair into a black eye brawl. Mariah Huq and  Kari Wells, despite having a fall out during a wine-tasting in the last episode, hosted a swank joint party for their husbands Aydin and  Duncan respectively .  The blow up happens when Toya confronts Mariah about her mom's rude treatment at the event. Mariah was already infuriated with Toya for revealing a secret and talking about her mom caused her to snap.  Before Quad, Mariah's sidekick, rushes over to break up the vicious fight, a glass of wine is tossed and  and a purse is flung.  Apparently, it gets nasty because a voice in the background asks for a doctor.  Check out the previews of the ladies exchanging punches by the pool-side.  "Married to Medicine" airs on Bravo on Sundays at 9-10 p.m. (EST). Mariah Huq stars in and produces the doc-series "Married to Medicine" Toya Bush-Harris ...

If Barbie could talk she'd sound like Valerie Lukyanova.  A 21-yer-old from the Ukraine, she looks just like a human Barbie doll.  From her perfect skin tone, to the tiny waist and wide, winged eyes she has achieved a doll-like look that is so convincing she seems to be unreal. Lukyanova was discovered sharing make-up tips on Youtube.

  Greater Than  In Stores June 4 Tribbett Performed on BET’s Celebration of Gospel (Nashville, TN – April 8, 2013) – Motown Gospel/Kingdom Music recording artist Tye Tribbett’s new single “If He Did It Before…Same God” enters at #1 on iTunes. The single is also #17 on  Billboard ’s Hot Gospel Singles chart. And his Motown Gospel debut project,  Greater Than , will be in stores on June 4 (see attached CD cover). On the historic night of the launch of Motown Gospel at the Arc Theatre in Los Angeles, GRAMMY ® - nominated and multiple Stellar Award-winner, Tye Tribbett performed “If He Did It Before…Same God” and other new music from his Motown Gospel debut album,  Greater Than , for a standing room audience of over a 1,000 industry VIPs and supporters from all over the country. With additional performances by Tribbett’s label mates Smokie Norful, Kierra Sheard and Tasha Cobbs, the Motown Gospel showcase was streamed live to nearly 200,000 viewer...

buzzz worthy. . . The 27-year-old son of "Purpose Driven Life" pastor and author Rick Warren has committed suicide .  Saddleback Church announced the death of Matthew Warren in a statement.  It said he dies  Friday night.  Described as a "gentle, King and compassionate" young man. Matthew struggled with mental illness that led to years of depression and  suicidal thoughts.  The family sought the est medical attention to help him according to the statement.