#15

Bonnie Bennett [Kat Graham] – The Vampire Diaries

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#14

Jasmine Trussell [Joy Bryant] – Parenthood

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#13

Val Stokes [Stacey Dash] – Single Ladies

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#12

Raven Baxter [Raven-Symoné] – That’s So Raven

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#11

Mercedes Jones [Amber Riley] – Glee

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#10

Lisa Turtle [Lark Voorhies] – Saved By The Bell

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#9

Tasha Mack [Wendy Raquel Robinson] – The Game

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#8

Gina Waters-Payne [Tisha Campbell-Martin] – Martin

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#7

True Jackson [Keke Palmer] – True Jackson, VP

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#6

Dr. Melinda Warner [Tamara Tunie] – Law & Order: SVU

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#5

Brenda Jenkins [Regina King] – 227

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#4

Vivian Banks [Janet Hubert-Whitten] – The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

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#3

Florida Evans [Esther Rolle] – Good Times

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#2

Miranda Bailey [Chandra Wilson] – Grey’s Anatomy

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Check out the gallery for TV’s #1 Black actress!

HB’s Top 15 Black TV Actresses

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Did we miss anyone?

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Based on the seeding of the editorial team we didn’t see any upset loses although we were surprised to see the short-lived 90′s sitcom “Thea” beat out the super-popular Disney darling “That’s So Raven.”

This week we have our eye out for several close races that could result in upset wins. In the Cosby Show division we have are eye out on number three seeded The Bernie Mac Show against six seed, The Roc.

We’re also predicting an upset in the Fresh Prince division between The Game and Diff’rent Strokes who are ranked four and five respectively.

To see all of the Round 1 results click here. Voting for round two is open now!

After 25 years, Oprah Winfrey is calling it quits with her talk show and moving on to her OWN Network which debuts January 1, 2011. In a recent interview with TV Guide, she discusses her last and final season and the secrets to success. Here are a few excerpts:

On getting emotional about the end:
“I don’t intend to be crying the whole season. The only time I get really emotional and nostalgic about the show is when I think about the viewers. Hopefully some of them will follow me to OWN, but I know not everybody will. And it will be bittersweet because it’s bringing this chapter to a close. The show hasn’t been a big part of my life. It’s been my life. I didn’t have children. I had the show.

On Whether President Obama will be a part of the last season:
“I did not ask him to come on this year. But I did say, ‘ I’m sure you will hear from somebody on my team before this year is over.’ I’m sure that at some point I will see a taped message or something.”

On rules for celebs this season:
“This year is about creating moments. So I can assure you we’re saying to all of our celebrity friends, this is not the year you can come on and just promote your book or promote your song. You have to create moments.”

On the secrets to a successful talk show:
“The secret is authenticity. The reason people fail is because they’re pretending to be something they’re not. And even those who are not in alignment with my value system, people like Jerry Springer, he works because he’s real. If you can find what the passion is and figure out a way to express that in an authentic and entertaining way, you have a chance at success.”

Oprah And Beyonce Top Forbes 2010 Celebrity Power Lists

Jada Talks About Her & Will’s Sex Life Again…On Oprah

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Black TV Moms have always have had their very own dynamic. From the way they walked, to the way they handled their children and their husbands. This same uniqueness is what sparked a generation of women now who are now mothers and wives and in some way or another, have taken certain principles from these mothers and adapted it into their own. Take a look at these TV moms with their own swag:

Florida Evans- Good Times- Well known for her loyalty to her husband, and patience with her kids. She taught her children how to be strong even in times when they did not have anything. She also allowed them the room to be themselves and to let their own personality shine through. JJ could be artsy and goofy, Michael could be militant while Thelma took the time to model herself after her mother’s strength and add her own flavor.

Clair Huxtable-Cosby Show- She was the epitome of the woman who had it all. She was beautiful, funny, and intelligent. She had a banging career, her family loved her and her husband adored her. Let’s face it, Clare Huxtable was the sh*t. She was wise beyond her years and seemed to be an all around superwoman. Making partner at the law firm just in time to help Rudy with her homework. All in a day’s work for Clare.

Mary Jenkins- 227- Even though she was a gossiper, Mary never slipped on her duties as a Mother and a Wife. She also was always there whenever her friends needed her. She would drop everything to participate in some hair brained scheme that would save a friends tail.

Tasha Mack- The Game- Sophisticated with a ghetto twist, Tasha Mack is a momager. As a single mom and manager of her son Malik’s football career she assured that no harm came to his career or him way while still making him his favorite dishes. Sometimes she did cross over into coddling him but Tasha was able to see the error in her own ways and be strong enough to figure out when it was time for her to let go. A hard take for a Black mother raising a son in today’s world.

5 Reasons Why Eye Contact Is Important

Rochelle Rock- Everybody Hate Chris- Sure she may be loud and bossy at times, but this woman loves her family. Willing to work a job or two if necessary, Chris Rock’s mom Rochelle was more than a strong woman. She was walking, breathing, spitfire. Sometimes she might burn you with her words but it is only because she loves you and wants to protect you at all costs.

Are there any other Black TV Moms that influenced you?

For More LJ Knight Visit YeahSheSaidIt

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Our newest celebrity blogger Lala Vasquez recently let us hang with her as she gets ready for her upcoming wedding this weekend.  We got to meet her extended family, husband-to-be Carmelo Anthony and her adorable son Kiyan as Lala packed for her trip to NY. Lala also spent the day filming her new VH1 reality show, for which she still does not have a name and she needs your help.  What do you think Lala should call her show?

Lala: “Absolutely Not” A “Basketball Wife” & May Be Keeping Her Last Name

La La and Friends

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LaLa & Carmelo Land Wedding Reality Show

Karma always comes back around.

Gabrielle Union hasn’t been having the best month of May. See here: Dwyane Wade’s Wife Sues Gabrielle Union Over “Emotional Distress”

And now it had been reported that her sitcom, ABC’s FlashForward, has been cancelled.

We’ve never heard of it, but apparently it had a very promising premiere. It opened to 12.47 million viewers in September.

FlashForward followed the lives of several people who were affected by the mysterious event on October 6, 2006 where they experienced simultaneous loss of consciousness for two minutes and seventeen seconds. Since then, those that were affected are seeing futuristic events or visions of their lives.

Thought by many to possibly be the next Lost, its ratings have since unfortuantely fallen to 4.77 million viewers for last week’s new episode. It seems audiences just didn’t stick around after the first few weeks. The network then made the mistake of delaying a number of episodes until spring rolled around, and by then even more viewers had simply tuned out.

This is the same show she bragged about to Jimmy Kimmel when she first exposed her relationship with Dwyane Wade to the public, claiming he’d get jealous of her love scenes with her castmate. WATCH THE CLIP BELOW:

GALLERY: Gabrielle Union Heads To D.C. To “Make A Difference”

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On June 2nd, TBS will debut the new sitcom “Are We There Yet?” starring Terry Crews (“Everybody Hates Chris”) and Essence Atkins (“Half and Half”) as Nick and Suzanne, a newly married couple whose blended family faces the challenges of everyday life.

STORYLINE: From dealing with the complexities of being newlyweds to weathering the storm of teenage children this series is packed with relatable moments for all families. Telma Hopkins (“Half and Half”, “Family Matters”) plays Nick’s mother, who isn’t happy about his marriage nor her new role as grandmother. Keesha Sharp (“Girlfriends”, “Why Did I Get Married?”) is Suzanne’s best friend, who has a taste for men and the finer things in life. Comedian Christian Finnegan plays Nick’s best friend and owner of a sports memorabilia store. And Ice Cube (“Boyz N The Hood”), who also serves as producer, plays a recurring role as Suzanne’s SWAT officer brother.

If you don’t remember, the film played out like this: Nick (Ice Cube) was a playboy bachelor, and Suzanne (Nia Long), a divorced mother of two, whose work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday. Nick then offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland, Oregon, but the kids, who have never liked any of the men their mom has dated, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick.

BET Cruises Into High Gear With New Series, “The Family Crews”

Essence Atkins To Wed After Finding Love Online

Take a look at the photos below:

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Tell us what you think of Wendy’s red carpet look in the comments section!!!

Vivica Fox Discusses New TV Gig With Wendy

Whoopi Makes Wendy Williams Cry

I grew up without cable. “There are better things to do than watch TV,” said my mother. So I read books, did arts and crafts, and found a lot of ways to be constructive without 790 channels standing in my way. Sure, I watched movies and the occasional TV show (I have babysitters to thank for the latter), but television was never a priority, and I think it’s been pretty beneficial in my adult life.

However, more and more often one hears, “My son/daughter LOVES [insert TV show]” and less and less often I hear “My son/daughter LOVES [insert book]!” What the hell? Where’d all the books go? They turned into educational DVDs, that’s where.

However, I’ve uncovered yet aNOTHER study (click here to read the first one) that says that the less time kids spend being couch potatoes, the smarter they are.  Says LiveScience,

Even infants zone out in front of the television, and it turns out this translates into less time interacting with parents and possible lags in language development, a new study finds.

“We’ve known that television exposure during infancy is associated with language delays and attentional problems, but so far it has remained unclear why,” said lead researcher Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages television watching before the age of 2, a time when critical development, such as language acquisition, occurs. (Christakis said a baby’s brain triples in size during the first two years of life, so there’s a lot going on in that little noggin.)

Not popping in DVDs doesn’t mean you have to have a ton of time to spend with your kids, either. My mom was a single mom, and we got along just fine. Just let the kids do what you do! If you’re reading, read out loud and follow the words with your finger. Or let them read with you. If you’re cooking, let them stir. You’ll find that you have more time to spend with your kids than you thought, and eventually they might prefer a good book instead of another episode of Spongebob.

CHILD SAFETY: A Guide

It’s Think About It Thursday… Almost time for the weekend. Pop in some eye drops to conceal that party fatigue; you don’t wanna miss this!

Though not a fan of Third Watch or E.R., your goddess sister was still thrilled to get a call from actor Michael Beach about his new documentary, America the Beautiful. He said to check my mailbox for his new film, and with a Hollywood actor involved, and I honestly expected some sort of typical fluffery.

I was pleasantly surprised to find an entertaining yet hard hitting look at artificial beauty in America. I tapped my new silk nails, fluffed my bone straight # 6 hair weave, batted my false eyelash extensions, sucked it in with pair of Spanx and adjusted the straps on my Vicky’s Secret push up water bra. This documentary was definitely something to pay attention to. Take note: Whenever people start putting a scalpel to their vaginas, we need to have a convo. Ouch! Here’s what Michael Beach had to say about the pursuit of beauty in America.

OH – And don’t leave me by my lonesome- leave me a COMMENT.

This has been a broadcast from Harlem where I live in solo sin with the gorgeous Anabelle Kitty Kat. Some people won’t like you no matter what so just be your crazy, cool, weird self & give the haters something to talk about!

Thanks for hanging with me– your girl Abiola. You know me as Abiola Abrams, Miss Picky on VH1′s Tough Love, the host of The Best Shorts on BET J, the author of Dare, and the host of The Planet Abiola Show online. Join me on Hello Beautiful for my Music Mondays, Sexy Temptation Tuesdays, What-the-Wednesdays, Think About It Thursdays and For The Win Fridays.

Follow me on TWITTER.com/abiolatv, FLICKR.com/abiolatv, abiolatv.TUMBLR.com and find secret goodies at www.planetabiola.com…

Abiola Gets in Busta Rhymes’ Business

Abiola and Gorilla Zoe Take it Uptown

To adults, the ultimate sign of fame might be an Oscar, or a Vogue cover, or maybe a star on the Walk of Fame. But when it comes to kids, you’re just not somebody until you appear on an episode of Sesame Street.

First Lady Michelle Obama was given that honor recently, making a stop on Sesame Street and meeting up with Elmo to talk about – what else? – exercise and healthy eating! Those infamous arms don’t come naturally, you know. Below, check out her Sesame Street segment, then flip through a gallery of other black celebs who have graced the legendary street.

Today’s Goddess XO: “You are as beautiful as your thoughts.” -Ralph Scott

• Soundtrack: John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things
• Shoes: Black patent leather Mile high Cavalli platform
• Question of the Day: What makes you feel sexy?*

Hello Lovecakes,

Welcome to Planet Abiola & the Goddess Factory: an inspirational blog with an online talk-variety show, celebrity goodies, and scandalous advice. You may know me from hosting BET J’s “The Best Shorts” film showcase, being that street reporter on Source Magazine’s hip hop TV news show, the author of the novel Dare, or as the host of The Planet Abiola Show online. Or you may know me as Miss Picky on VH1′s Tough Love.

Either way, allow me to reintroduce myself….

;-)

When the Drew Barrymore people told me about the reality TV version of He’s Not That Into You, it sounded like a perfect match. Could you use a chance to work with Master Matchmakers? I said, heck yeah! Any chance to pimp love for love, and I am there. Over and over again. I write about my foibles in love, sex, dating, relationships and empowerment. I even have the nerve to offer my fabulous and well-tested advice. So feel free to ask. The million dollar question is how I’m able to give everyone else love advice and not myself. Because frankly in some moments I am a deliciously flaming hot mess! The key is, I love the beautiful mess that I am. I make mistakes, missteps and get caught out there like everybody else, then apologize and move on.

VH1′s Tough Love Boot Camp was/is an amazing experience. We are up to episode 3 and it’s terrifying because 7 days become 42 TV minutes, so you don’t get to hear complete conversations, like the fact that I have always struggled with my weight because I work in an industry that does not appreciate the curves that I love, love, love. That’s why I chose to pose with my lovecakes in the photo above!

Our last Tough Love challenge was the sexy photo shoot and my cupcakes, tiara and fully dressed goddess look got shut down but I am sticking to my guns. My shoot was as sexy as heaven because I enjoyed it. I love my quirks. Abiola’s Rule #1: Definitely be weird! Cookie cutter is boring.

Some of you cheered and others shed a tear last episode as I said goodbye to my first match Terrance after the lingerie party, but there’s good stuff to come. For now I say check out some of our famous friends indulging in my lovecakes cupcakes obsession in the video clip below as well as VH1 bonus footage.

I know you’ve got questions about why I rock a tiara (to remind us to hold our heads high), what a goddess dreambook is (a vision board with covers), whether I think I’m a princess (never, baby, we’re goddesses) and all kinds of other fun stuff. I am not perfect. I am just you with a feather pen and a platinum microphone. And I look forward to hanging with you here in our safe play space.

OH– The best ways to get in touch are to (a) leave a comment here and I will read every single one, (b) subscribe to my full Lifecast RSS feed, (c) join me on twitter.com/abiolatv, (d) email advice questions to thelovegoddess@planetabiola.com (e) visit blackplanet.com/planetabiola or (f) my official site www.planetabiola.com.

Our goal today? Let’s dream bigger and learn to love ourselves more a little each day, while trying our best to be deliciously perfect with our imperfections. Phew! Thanks for watching and reading. And most of all, thank you for laughing and crying with me. I appreciate your support, and it is my pleasure to entertain you.

xoxo,

Abiola

Check out bonus footage from VH1′s “Tough Love” here.

And see Abiola’s VH1 page here!

Actor Mario Lopez has expanded his hosting talents to Extra but doesn’t want to be compared to other television hosts. Lopez recently spoke to latina.com about Taboo (from The Black Eyed Peas) calling him the “Mexican Ryan Seacrest” and did not sound too happy:

“Well, Taboo is a very talented, great guy, so thanks for the compliment. But I’m looking to be the first Mario Lopez. I don’t follow in anybody’s footsteps.”

For more of Mario Lopez speaking on his career, click here!

Click here to read about Diddy only wanting light-skinned girls!

[From BlackAmericaWeb.com]

Actresses Jill Scott and Jada Pinkett Smith are very different women, but in 2009, they have something extremely rare in common. They are both headlining their own television series.

Scott, the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer/songwriter, is starring in “The #1 Ladies Detective Agency, a series based on the best-selling books by novelist Alexander McCall Smith, debuting on HBO Sunday, March 29 at 8 p.m. Pinkett Smith stars in and executive produces the TNT medical drama “Time Heals,” now going into production.

In fact, Scott and Pinkett Smith are two of only three black women who have ever headed a major hour-long television drama. The only other actress was the late Teresa Graves, whose short-lived 1974 series, “Get Christie Love,” was the very first hour-long drama to star a black woman on TV. In 1968, Diahann Carroll’s “Julia” earned her the distinction of being the first black women to star in a television show, but on half-hour sitcom.

Certainly, black women have had major roles on TV before. “Law and Order” star S. Epatha Merkerson has been on the show since 1993 and is the cast’s longest-running regular character. Last year, she surpassed “Knots Landing’s” Michelle Lee as the actress appearing in the most episodes on one TV show. But for all her longevity, Merkerson rarely has a storyline based around her in the ensemble cast.

Certainly there have been many black sitcoms – from “Martin” to the “Family Matters” to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” that have been successful – but all were based around a male star.

Shows centered around black women like “Girlfriends” “Living Single” and even “Soul Food,” a black family drama focused on three sisters that aired for five seasons on Showtime, were ensemble shows that weren’t dominated by any one character. Though the VH-1 reality hit “I Love New York” is the rare reality show focused on a black female character, its star, Tiffany Pollard, is better known for setting back images of black women on TV than creating more opportunities for them.

Of course, there is Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks, but as talk show hosts (and, in one’s case, a media empire), their success has apparently done little to convince television powers that be that scripted drama would work with a black woman in a lead role.

“Women of color, period, are usually the least serviced characters on shows,” says St. Petersburg Times TV critic Eric Deggans. “There haven’t been a lot of roles for them because there aren’t a lot of roles for people of color on television anyway…”

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Acting isn’t the only thing Jill and Jada have been up to!