Janet Jackson and Malik Yoba during a scene from "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?"

(AP photo)

I’m usually not a fan of film director Tyler Perry’s movies. Besides the occasional funny line from his Madea character, I think his movies are typically boring and low budget.

However, my opinion of Perry changed last weekend after I saw his latest film “Why Did I Get Married Too?”

The film is about eight married friends who go on an annual vacation to socialize with one another and to analyze their marriages. 

The characters deal with physical cheating, emotional cheating, lack of communication, lack of trust, lack of a prenuptial agreement,  illness, unemployment, insecurities, divorce, substance abuse and death.

While dealing with those  issues, the characters struggle to keep their relationships in tact.  Perry intertwines comedy, drama and suspense into this two-hour film. 

If you’re not a Perry fan, I recommend you see the movie this weekend.  It will change your mind, like it did with me.  This movie is now in the top five best movies I’ve seen during the past year. 

This might sound cliche, but the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the storyline was unpredictable. You didn’t know what was going to happen from scene to scene. 

The film stars Perry, Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Jill Scott, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Sharon Leal, Louis Gossett Jr. and Cicely Tyson.

Jackson’s performance surprised me.  Her acting skills have improved greatly since her “Poetic Justice” days in 1993.  After watching her performance, I now consider Jackson a real actress.

Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson on "Today Show." (AP photo)

Singer/actress Janet Jackson and film director Tyler Perry were guests on Friday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Jackson and Perry discussed their new movie “Why Did I Get Married Too,” and Jackson discussed the death of her brother Michael and the interventions they had with him.

Excerpts from the interview are posted below.

“I got a call from an assistant. She had said that there was something on TV about my brother being ill. So I immediately called home, and I was able to reach my sister La Toya, my nephew, Austin, and I think my brother, Jermaine, at the time. They were on their way to the hospital. I can’t remember exactly who I wound up calling back, to see how things were going. That’s when they told me he had passed.”"It’s hard for me to look at an image of his or listen to his music on the radio.”

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. All of us in the family think about him every single day.  The last time I saw him, which was two days before my birthday at my parents’ surprise party, I was being silly like I always did when we were kids, and he kept looking at me and just cracking up.”

“We knew that he had a problem. We all did. I think a lot of people think that we were in denial, which we weren’t at all. We tried interventions several times.  He was very much still in denial.”

(from Tyler Perry) “I wouldn’t dare say anything more than she would want me to, but they really, really tried.  The entire family. I want the whole world to know how much they tried. There were all those reports that they didn’t do anything.  That’s not true.”

Click here for the complete interview.

Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson on the set of "Today Show" on NBC. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry were on NBC’s “Today Show” on Monday (March 22) to promote their film “Why Did I Get Married Too.” 

The film will be in theaters April 2. 

“Why Did I Get Married Too” is a sequel to the 2007 film “Why Did I Get Married.”  The film earned $55.2 million at the box office.

The film stars Jackson, Perry, Jill Scott, Michael Jai White, Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal,  Tasha Smith, Cicely Tyson and Louis Gossett Jr.

The interview with Jackson and Perry “Today Show is posted in the video clip below.

1. My New Year’s resolution for Charlie Sheen is for him to have a relationship with a woman where no violence occurs.  Charlie Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller were recently involved in a domestic incident that resulted in Sheen being arrested.  Sheen has a reputation for being aggressive  with women.  During his marriage to Denise Richards, she accused  him of threatening her with violence.  In 1990, when he was engaged to actress Kelly Preston, he accidentally shot her in the arm. 

2. My New Year’s resolution for film director Tyler Perry is for him to create a big-budget movie.  Perry’s movies are sometimes funny,  but they’re usually low budget.  They always look like he only spent $100 creating them.  He’s a well-known director now, and it’s time for him to make a big budget film for once.

3. My New Year’s resolution for Beyonce is for her to take a break.  Although she looks and sounds good, I’m starting to get tired of seeing her on my television screen everyday no matter what channel I turn to.  She’s talented, and I won’t deny that. But she releases and album every year, and she’s going to become overexposed.  She should take a break so the public can miss her.

4. My New Year’s resolution for Tiger Woods is for him to return to the sport of golf.  Woods is taking a break from golf so he can deal with the aftermath of his affairs.  Golf will be less interesting if Woods isn’t playing on the greens, ratings will probably decline and the industry will lose money as a result.  Also, I’m not going to pass judgement on Woods or his apparent sex addiction.  We all have our addictions right? Some people are addicted to sex, some people are workaholics, some people are addicted to food, drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, fighting, cigarettes, having multiple kids etc. etc.

5. My second New Year’s resolution for Tiger Woods is for him to FIRE his public relations team.  They handled his scandal poorly.  They should have stayed in front of the story instead of letting it gain traction.  Instead, they chose to keep Woods quiet which lead his image to be even more tarnished.  This was the worst public relations I have ever seen.

6. My New Year’s resolution for the music industry is for real singers to return to the radio.  I’m getting annoyed listening to the voices of Miley Cyrus, Shakira and Britney Spears dominating the radio stations.  They’re popular, I know.  But they don’t have great vocal ability.  I wish radio stations would play songs by musicians who can actually sing.

7. My New Year’s resolution for Dr. Dre is for him to finally release a new album.  Dr. Dre has been working on his album titled “Detox” since 2004.  The album’s release date has been pushed back on numerous occasions during the past six years.  Now, it’s supposed to be released sometime in 2010.  It’s supposed to the rappers’ final album.  We’ve all been patiently awaiting for the album, but now our patience is wearing thin because of the multiple delays.

8. My New Year’s resolution for Lil Wayne’s celebrity baby mamma’s is for them to stop having children with him.  Lil Wayne has three children by three different celebrities, and one child by a non celebrity.   Lil Wayne has a child by BET reality star Antonia Carter(aka Toya), actress Lauren London and R&B singer Nivea. London and Nivea gave birth last year.  London and Nivea gave birth within two months of each other.  I know Lil Wayne’s child support payment checks are through the roof.

9.  My New Year’s resolution for Jennifer Lopez is for her to star in a successful movie.  Lopez’s movie career has gone downhill during the past decade.  She hit her acting peak when she starred in the 1997 films “Anaconda” and  ”Selena.”  Since then, she has starred in a slew of box office disappointments, including “El Cantante,” “Shall We Dance,” “Jersey Girl,” “Gigli” and “Maid in Manhattan.” I’m going to stop there, but the list is endless.  Maybe Hollywood directors aren’t offering her great scripts. I’m not sure what the problem is.

10. My New Year’s resolution for Whitney Houston is for her to launch a tour in the United States. The last time she toured in the U.S. was in 1999.  But of course, that’s was when her life was surrounded by drug use and Bobby Brown. Now that’s she clean, divorced and on top of the world again, she should grace Americans with a concert tour.

A scene from "Madea Goes to Jail"

Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry is taking his Madea character on the road for a nation wide tour.  The first leg of the play “Madea’s Big Happy Family” will kick off Jan. 4 in El Paso and conclude May 9 in Detroit. 

The shows for the second leg of the tour will be announced at a later date.  The tour schedule is posted below

 Jan 4 El Paso, TX, Don Haskins Center

Jan 5 Phoenix, AZ, Dodge Theatre

Jan 6 San Diego, CA, San Diego Sports Arena

Jan 9 Seattle, WA, Key Arena

Jan 10 Portland, OR, Memorial Coliseum

Jan 12Fresno, CA, Selland Arena

Jan 13Sacramento, CA, Arco Arena

Jan 14, 15, 16 Oakland, CA, Paramount Theatre

Jan 19 -24 Los Angeles, CA, Kodak Theatre

Jan 27-31New York, NY, WaMu at Madison Square Garden

Feb 2 Florence, SC, Civic Center,

Feb 3, 4, 5 Raleigh, NC, RBC Center

Feb 6Fayetteville, NC, Crown Center Coliseum

Feb 7 Charlotte, NC, Bojangles’ Coliseum

Feb 9Macon, GA, Macon Centreplex

Feb 10-11 Charleston, SC, North Charleston Coliseum

Feb 12-13 Columbia, SC, Colonial Life Arena

Feb 14 Columbus, GA, Columbus Civic Center

Feb 16-17 Jacksonville, FL, Veterans Memorial Arena

Feb 18 Chattanooga, TN, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium

Feb 19-20 Winston Salem, NC, Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Feb 21 Richmond, VA, Richmond Coliseum

Feb 23 Albany, GA, Albany Civic Center

Feb 24-25 Nashville, TN, Municipal Auditorium

Feb 27-28Memphis, TN, Orpheum Theatre

Mar 2-6 Chicago, IL, Arie Crown Theatre

Mar 9 Minneapolis, MN, Target Center

Mar 10Omaha, NE, Qwest Center

Mar 11 Wichita, KS, Wichita Convention Hall

Mar 12, 13, 14Dallas, TX, Nokia Theatre

Mar 16 Milwaukee, WI, US Cellular Arena

Mar 18 Bridgeport, CT, Arena At Harbor Yard

Mar 19, 20, 21 Hartford, CT, The Bushnell Theatre

Mar 24 Augusta, GA, James Brown Arena

Mar 25, 26Greenville, SC, Bi-Lo Center

Mar 27 Birmingham, AL, Birmingham Civic Center

Mar 28 Mobile, AL, Mobile Civic Ctr Arena

Apr 6 Dayton, OH, Nutter Center

Apr 7Cincinnati, OH,  Cintas Center

Apr 8 Louisville, KY, Freedom Hall

Apr 13, 14 Savannah, GA, Savannah Civic Center

Apr 15, 17, 18 Atlanta, GA, Fox Theatre

Apr 20- 21 Norfolk, VA, Norfolk Constant Center

Apr 23-24St. Louis, Mo, Chaifetz Arena

Apr 25 Kansas City, MO, Sprint Center

Apr 27 Buffalo, NY, HSBC Arena

Apr 29 – May 2Philadelphia, PA, Liacouras Center

May 4 Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena

May 5 Toledo, OH, Lucas County Arena

May 6 -9 Detroit, Michigan, Fox Theatre Detroit

Tyler Perry standing in front of a Madea movie poster. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

The woman who inspired film director Tyler Perry to dress up as an old lady has died.  His mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died Tuesday at the age of 64.  her cause of death is unknown. 

The film director posted the message on his Web site, and he thanked everyone for their prayers.  Tyler Perry portrayed the Madea character in various films including “Madea Goes To Jail,” “Madea’s Family Reunion,” “Madea Goes To Jail” and “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” 

His films with the Madea character grossed more than $256 million at the box office. He frequently said his mother was the inspiration behind the Madea character.

Diana Ross performed at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo by Jason DeCrow)

Tyler Perry attended a movie premiere in New York (AP Photo by Peter Kramer)

Film director Tyler Perry would like to bring his film “A Jazz Man’s Blues” to the big screen, but there’s one big-haired diva who is holding up the film.  It’s the legendary Diana Ross.

Perry said he’s been trying to persuade Ross to take the starring role in the film, but she won’t give him the time of day.

In an interview with BV Buzz, Perry said “Diana Ross is still ignoring me.  I’ve sent flowers.  That’s why I haven’t done Jazz Man yet because I’m waiting for her to say yes.  Once she says yes, I’ll do that film.  Yes, Tyler Perry is stalking Diana Ross. I want her in the film. I’ve been sending flowers. I’ve been sending people by her. I’ve been sending e-mails to people who know her. I’ve talked to the man who walks her dog. I’ve been trying to locate where she’s at. Is she in this part of the country? Is she doing a concert somewhere? Can I get backstage? Tyler Perry is stalking Diana Ross.”

Ross, a former member of The Supremes, has proven herself as an actress.  In 1973, she won a Golden Globe award for portraying Billie Holiday in the film “Lady Sings The Blues.” She was also nominated for an Oscar for that role.

Her last acting role was in 1999 with the television movie titled “Double Platinum.”  She hasn’t acted during the past decade, and maybe that’s why she keeps ignoring Tyler Perry’s request. 

If she doesn’t want to star in his movie, she should at least tell him no, instead of ignoring him.

Tyler Perry poses for a portrait at the Core Club in New York (AP Photo by Shiho Fu)

Film director Tyler Perry decided to come forward with revelations of some horrific events that occurred during his childhood. 

Perry said he was sexually molested as a child, and he saw his father molest a friend of his.  He also said his grandmother made him take baths in ammonia.

Perry reveals other shocking details about his childhood.  He posted a lengthy letter on his Web site.  The full letter is posted below. 

“Hi there.  I know I’ve been a little quiet lately but I’ve been in silent reflection, quiet meditation, and prayer. Turning 40 is such a blessing. Especially because as I child I always thought I would die before I grew up.”

Tyler Perry at the premiere of his film "I Can Do Bad All By Myself." (AP Photo by Peter Kramer)

“Believe me when I tell you, PRECIOUS is a powerful film. After seeing it, I had to be involved. I didn’t write it or direct it, nor am I making any money from it. Oprah and I both are giving any proceeds we would make to charity. I just wanted to get as many people to see it as I can. It gave me so much hope after watching it. For everyone who has been a Precious, male or female, this movie will make you so glad you made it through.”

“It took me through some raw emotions and brought me to some things and places in my life that I needed to deal with but had long forgotten. It brought back memories so strong that I can smell and taste them. Like, when I was very young, my mother decided to leave my father…she had had enough of his insanity. She loaded me and my two sisters up in an old Cadillac that he had bought for her, and drove to California. When he realized she was gone, he called the police and reported the car stolen, as it was in his name. My mother was arrested and my two sisters and I were put in the cell with her. He and my uncle drove from Louisiana to California to get us. We spent several days in jail waiting for him. He bailed her out and couldn’t wait to get her into the car. He got into the back seat with us and beat her black and blue from California to Louisiana, as me and my sisters watched  Even though I was only two or three, I know that this had to have some effect on me.  I’m tired of holding this in. I don’t know what to do with it anymore, so, I’ve decided to give some of it away.”

“Memories at 40: Not long ago, I was asked to speak at an engagement. I walked in and I was told that they had assigned a person to take care of me while I was there. She walked up to me, all of 5’2 ” of her, and asked if I needed anything. I looked at her and started to sweat. It took me back thirty-something years to her apartment. I couldn’t have been more than 10 years old when I went over to play with her son and Matchbox cars. She opened the door in skimpy lingerie. There was a man sitting on the couch, smoking. She told me that her son was in the bedroom. I was there playing with him about 20 minutes when I heard the man arguing with her. He said he was leaving and slammed the door. She came into the bedroom and told me that I had to go home. She told her son to take a bath and she locked him in the bathroom. I was at the front door trying to get out, when she came in and laid on the sofa and asked me if I wanted the key. I told her I had to go home as it was getting dark. She put the key inside of herself and told me to come get it, pulling me on top of her.”

Tyler Perry at the premiere of his film "Madea Goes To Jail." (AP photo by Peter Kramer)

“My mother was out one night, as she loved to play bingo, and my father came ome…mad at the world. He was drunk, as he was most of the time. He got the vacuum cleaner extension cord and trapped me in a room and beat me until the skin was coming off my back. To this day, I don’t know what would make a person do something like that to a child. But thank God that in my mind, I left. I didn’t feel it anymore, just like in PRECIOUS. How this girl would leave in her mind. I learned to use my gift, as it was my imagination that let me escape  After he was done with his rant he passed out. Since my aunt lived two doors down, I ran to her. She saw me and was horrified. She loaded her 357 and went to kill him. Holding a gun to his head, her husband came and stopped her.”

“Memories at 40: I got a call not long ago from a friend. He told me that a man that I knew from church when I was a kid had died and he didn’t have any insurance. His family was trying to reach out to me to see if I would pay for his funeral. I quickly said no, but I wish I would have said yes. There is something so powerful to me in burying the man that molested me. I wish I would have dug the grave myself.”

“Memories at 40: I was about 8 or 9 years old. I had a crush on a little girl across the street. She would come over to my house and we’d play. She was about 12 or 13. One day she stopped coming and when I asked her why, she told me that my father was touching her. I didn’t believe her, so I talked her into staying one night. We were both asleep — she was in one bed and I was in another. I opened my eyes to see my father trying to touch her and her pushing him away. I moved in my bed trying to make him think I was waking up. He looked over at me and left out of the room. Not long after that, he beat me mercilessly for something again. Another mind game set up, so I told my mother what he had done. The blood drained from her face. We left that day. We were at my Aunt’s house and he came there about 1am. Not long after that we were back at home. Nothing would compare to the random, drunken, violent beatings I would receive from then until I was 19.”

Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey arrive on the red carpet for a screening of the film "Precious" during the Toronto International Film Festival. (AP photo by Sean Kilpatrick)

“Grateful at 40: I was asked recently how I made it through all of this, (half has not even been told) and my answer to that is…I know for a fact that there is a GOD. When my father would say or do those things to me, I would hear this voice inside of me say, “That’s not true ” or, “Don’t believe that ” or, “You’re going to make it through this “. I didn’t know at the time what “it ” was, but today I surely have no doubt that “it ” was GOD. That voice always gave me comfort. It allowed me to hold on. It kept me from being strung out on drugs, from dying when I wanted to commit suicide. It kept me from being a gang banger or drug dealer. Worse than all of those things put together, it kept me from being him. It brought angels to comfort me after every foul, harsh word or every welt on my legs or back  GOD, only GOD.”

“To know that the little boy that I was went through all that — he went through and made it. Then me, as a man…I have to take on the responsibility of forgiving all of those people. I owe it to that little boy that I was and, more than that, I owe it to the man that I am  Think about it, as a child we have no recourse. We have nowhere to go. We have to endure it. But as adults, we have choices. I choose to forgive with all my might. Forgiveness has been my weapon of choice. It has helped to free me.”

“If you’re having a hard time getting over something in your life, maybe you can try forgiveness too. It’s not easy, but it does bring forth healing. I know that there are a lot of people out there with stories far worse than mine but you, too, can make it. To those of you who have, welcome to life. I celebrate you. We’re all PRECIOUS in His sight.”

Tyler Perry

“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Mary J. Blige and Tyler Perry

“Whiteout” starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt and Columbus Short

“9″ starring the voices of Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly

Jackson was in the middle of filming the movie when Michael died.  The film is directed by Tyler Perry.  Janet stars alongside Malik Yoba and Tasha Smith. 

The film will be released in theaters April 2 (2010).  The first “Why Did I Get Married” movie was released in Oct. 2007 and earned $55 million at the box office.

Janet earned an NAACP Image Award for best supporting actress for her role as Patricia.

Tim Henley

Mary J. Blige has the strongest vocal chords in the R&B community.

But the question remains can she act? We will soon find out.

The singer has signed on to appear in the Tyler Perry film “I Can Do Bad By Myself.”

According to Entertainment Tonight, Blige will play a singer who manages a nightclub. Taraji P. Henson will play her friend.

Perry’s Madea character also will be in the film which will be released in September.

The cast includes Brian J. White, “CSI Miami” actor Adam Rodriguez and singer Gladys Knight.

Tim Henley

According to the Atlanta Constitution Journal newspaper, six construction firms filed suit claiming Perry owes them about $200,000 in unpaid bills.  The contractors were hired to work on his home and his new movie studio.

Perry is claiming he only withheld the money  because the work was shoddy.

During the interview, one contractor said “He wanted to do it his way.   He wouldn’t take any advice. I guess in Hollywood it works that way, but not in real life.”

I can understand where Perry is coming from.  If you pay someone hundreds of thousands of dollars to do construction on your dream home and your studio, you want everything to be perfect.

However, he hired six contractors, and they built the structures for him.  He wasn’t happy with any of the six contractor’s work, and I think he might be overly picky.

Maybe next time, he should just do the work himself since he’s never satisfied.

Tim Henley

– My News Year’s resolution for Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson is for them to tell us the truth soon about whether they are pregnant.  They keep denying media reports that they are pregnant, but yet, we keep seeing photos of them gaining weight. Please show us the pregnancy test results so we can put this behind us once and for all.

– My New Year’s resolution for Barack Obama is for him to stay away from all religious pastors. First, he got in trouble for associating himself with Rev. Jeremiah Wright who blamed America for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Now, he’s under heavy scrutiny for selecting Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Warren has a history of making derogatory statments about gay people.

– My New Year’s resolution for MTV is for that network to start airing music videos again. MTV stands for Music Televsion, but they rarely air music videos. They typically only air reality shows. Maybe they should change the the name to RTV (Reality Television).

– My New Year’s resolution for Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Kim Kardashian is for them to find a real full-time job. I get annoyed when I see them making millions even though they don’t have a job.

– My New Year’s resolution for Caroline Kennedy is for her to stay away from the U.S. Senate. Just because her last name is Kennedy, that doesn’t mean she should be appointed to that seat.

– My New Year’s resolution for George W. Bush is for him to NEVER run for public office again. No explanation needed.

– My New Year’s resolution for Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen is for them to gain some weight. It’s very unhealthy for adult women to weigh 75 pounds.  They need to go to McDonald’s and eat a couple of Big Mac’s, fries and an apple pie every day this year until they tip the scale at 105 pounds.

 – My New Year’s resolution for Tyler Perry is for him to take his sitcom “House of Pain” off the air permantently. That is the worst sitcom I have ever seen.

Tim Henley

Actress Halle Berry and filmdirector Tyler Perry have been selected to host the 40th annual NAACP Image Awards Feb. 12.

Perry directed “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Madea’s Family Reunion,” “Family That Preys” and “Why Did I Get Married.”

Berry won an Oscar for her role in “Monster’s Ball.” She is currently filming the movie “Frankie and Alice” with Chandra Wilson and Phylicia Rashad.

The award nominations will be announced Jan. 7.

Tim Henley

I was sitting in the movie theater watching Tyler Perry’s latest film “The Family That Preys” and I noticed that I was almost dozing off during the first hour of the movie.

I will not reveal specifics about the movie because I don’t want to spoil it for those who yet to see it.

The first half of the movie kept me wondering what was the plot of the movie? During the last 15 minutes of the movie, the plot was finally revealed.

It turned out to be an excellent plot, however, it was too little too late.

I applaud Tyler Perry’s directorial skills in his previous movies. However, I felt like he could have done more with this film.

There were plenty of moments in the movie where he could have added more excitement. Anytime a movie doesn’t become interesting until the last 15 minutes, that’s not a good thing.

The movie starred Sanaa Lathan, Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Robin Givens, Cole Hauser and Taraji P. Henson.

He had great actors in the film, so I expected great writers as well, but I didn’t get that. Although I enjoyed the movie’s ending, I still feel robbed.

Tim Henley