A new Broadway musical about Tupac Shakur just overcame one MASSIVE roadblock -- TMZ has learned, producers have obtained the approval of the rapper's notoriously protective mother ... who LOVES the show.
A rep for the Shakur family tells TMZ, producers personally gave Afeni Shakur a rough preview of "Holler If You Hear Me" -- the new musical by black theater legend Kenny Leon, based on Tupac's music.
According to the rep, Kenny wanted Afeni's approval before proceeding with the show -- and he GOT IT ... we're told Afeni was "ecstatic" and can't wait for the show to premiere.
The musical isn't about Tupac personally -- it's a fictional story about two childhood friends in a Midwestern industrial city and their extended families.
A Broadway premiere date hasn't been set -- but we're told Leon plans to start casting next week.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
1445Tupac's Mom -- 'ECSTATIC' About New Musical | TMZ.com
1439Kat vs. Kat -- Who'd You Rather? | TMZ.com
"Smash" babe Katharine McPhee and "30 Rock" starlet Katrina Bowden both made nice at an event in NYC on Thursday.
Question is ...
1429Gerard Butler -- Out of Rehab, Back on the Party Scene | TMZ.com
Just two days after leaving rehab at the Betty Ford Center, a refreshed and healthier looking Gerard Butler hit up the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in L.A. on Sunday.
Butler spent three weeks in treatment after realizing he was relying too heavily on prescription medication.
TMZ broke the story ... Butler began using pain meds to deal with the pain caused by the intense physical training regimen to get in shape for "300" ... and the problem became exacerbated after he injured himself in a surfing accident while filming "Of Men and Mavericks" back in December.
1419Oscars 2012 -- Hits, Runs and Errors | TMZ.com
1413Gerard Butler In Rehab [Update] | TMZ.com
12:04 PM PST -- Gerard's manager, Alan Siegel tells TMZ, "Gerard left Betty Ford early this morning and he's healthy."
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Gerard Butler is being treated for substance abuse at the Betty Ford Center ... TMZ has learned.
Butler's problems were triggered by the physical demands of shooting "300" in 2006 (see video below of Gerard preparing for the role). We're told the actor began struggling with pain management, and the problem became exacerbated while filming "Of Men and Mavericks," when Butler was badly hurt on December 18 during a surfing accident.
We're told Butler realized he was relying too much on prescription drugs and decided to head off a full-blown addiction by entering Betty Ford three weeks ago.
Sources tell TMZ ... Butler also developed issues with cocaine, but the root problem appears to be the injuries and pain management.
We're told Butler will be leaving Betty Ford later today.
1403Rihanna & Chris Brown TOGETHER Again... on "Birthday Cake" & "Turn Up The Music" | TMZ.com
Rihanna and Chris Brown have reconciled ... at least professionally ... because the former couple have collaborated on 2 brand new songs.
It's only been 3 years since Brown pummeled Rihanna's face during a late night argument in L.A. ... but the singer and her ex-con ex-BF have each released songs featuring the other's voice. One is a remix of Rihanna's song, "Birthday Cake" and the other is a new version of Chris Brown's, "Turn Up the Music (below)."
Both songs hit the Internet this week ... and both Rihanna and Brown have been pushing the songs on Twitter.
The songs seem to prove the rumors ... that Rihanna has forgiven Brown and is willing to move on. Earlier this week, Brown tweeted Rihanna "Happy Birthday" ... and Rihanna actually responded, "Thanks."
Rihanna is currently in London (see photo above) ... and Chris Brown was most recently seen in Miami.
As we previously reported, Brown is currently in a relationship with a woman named Karrueche Tran ... and we're told the two seem very happy together.
Friday, April 20, 2012
1393Lindsay Lohan -- Doing 'Saturday Night Live' Was My Idea | TMZ.com
Lindsay Lohan was DYING to do "Saturday Night Live" again -- and kickstart her comeback -- so she reached out to Lorne Michaels herself to book the hosting gig ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Lindsay tell TMZ she has always felt the "SNL" executive producer has been very fatherly towards her throughout the years. We're told LiLo has always enjoyed doing the show, but was waiting for the right time to do it again.
So now that her community service is coming to an end, our sources say Lindsay called up Lorne and asked him to consider her for the show again. We're told they had multiple conversations and eventually settled on a date ... March 3.
According to our sources, Lindsay feels doing "SNL" again will remind people she's an actress ... not a defendant.
1387Miley Cyrus -- High & Waisted on Acid ... Wash | TMZ.com
With her shorter Rachel 'do in full effect, Miley Cyrus got nostalgic while at lunch with a pal in L.A. on Thursday ... by wearing her favorite "Designing Women" blazer, Madonna's "Open Your Heart" bustier and a pair of high-waisted acid wash jeans last seen backstage at a Bon Jovi concert in 1987.
Just like Gaga, the 19-year-old is very fashion forward.
1377Ray Charles -- Fam Claims He'd Respect New Tribute Song ... But He Didn't Like Rap | TMZ.com
The new song "Ray Charles" by Chiddy Bang is getting two BIG thumbs up from the famous singer's family ... even though they claim Ray wasn't a real fan of rap music.
TMZ spoke with Blair Robinson -- Ray's grandaughter and an aspiring singer -- who says tells us, "Is it grandfather's kind of music? No ... but I'm sure he's up there giving it a good chuckle."
She adds, "As one artist to another, Ray would have respected the group's craft."
For those unaware, "Ray Charles" by Chiddy Bang is becoming a breakout hit -- it's already #55 on the Billboard 200.
Blair says the group did make one mistake -- she joked, "They should have let ME sing the hook!"
1367Miley Cyrus -- Braless Car Shopping [VIDEO] | TMZ.com
Just weeks after dropping $127K on a Mercedes convertible, Miley Cyrus hit the streets looking for yet another sexy set of wheels ... ALL WITHOUT WEARING A BRA -- and TMZ has the bouncy video evidence.
Sources tell TMZ, Miley saw the panty-melting '69 Mustang Fastback marked "for sale" on the street in L.A. last week ... and quickly set up a time to check it out in person.
According to sources, the owner drove the car to Miley's house so she could take a closer look -- and she inspected the car inside and out ... wearing a pair of denim short-shorts, a vintage Beatles t-shirt, and ZERO lady support.
The perks of being famous.
1361Rihanna -- I Want to Help Expose Joseph Kony as an Evil Bastard | TMZ.com
TMZ has learned ... Rihanna has reached out to the Invisible Children organization and has expressed an interest in creating a video to help raise awareness about an evil S.O.B. named Joseph Kony.
Kony is quickly becoming a household name ... thanks to a viral YouTube video that exposes the Ugandan warlord as the bloodthirsty leader of a child army and child prostitution ring.
In the YouTube video, producers beg for celebrity support to raise awareness and showed a picture of Rihanna, in an effort to get her involved.
TMZ has learned ... Rihanna saw the video and was so moved by the story ... that she called the organization this week and set up a meeting, hoping to create another video to keep the momentum alive.
We're told both sides are hoping to complete the project ASAP.
Stay tuned.
1048Cornel West Arrested in NY -- Disorderly Conduct | TMZ.com
Famed political activist Cornel West -- a frequent guest on "Real Time with Bill Maher" -- was arrested in NYC this morning for disorderly conduct ... TMZ has learned.
Cops tell TMZ ... West and approximately 30 others were arrested for blocking the entrance to a police station in Harlem during a protest.
According to RT.com, West and company were demonstrating against the New York Police Department’s continuing "Stop and Frisk" policy, claiming NYPD officers should NOT be able to search protesters without due cause.
Story developing...
1042Kelly Rowland -- Fake Boobs Pioneer | TMZ.com
Kelly Rowland is like Davy Crockett with breast implants -- and we'd explain what that means if we weren't so distracted by her breast implants. So ... yeah ... watch the story.
Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!
1032Christina Hendricks -- Are You Smarter Than Her Boobs? | TMZ.com
'Man Men' star Christina Hendricks and her 2 BFFs got done up for an event -- but we're not convinced anyone saw her face. See if you pass our test, but really ... you can't lose.
Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!
1022Matthew Fox Detained -- Accused of Assaulting Woman | TMZ.com
Matthew Fox was detained by cops in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday night after allegedly assaulting a woman outside of a bar ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources at the scene tell us ... the "Lost" star allegedly tried to enter a party bus -- even though he wasn't a guest on the vehicle.
We're told the woman who was driving the bus tried to block Fox from getting on board -- at which point, he allegedly punched her in the breast and the "stomach area."
Fox was handcuffed by an off-duty officer -- and was later detained by police.
Fox was released without being formally arrested.
An assault report was taken and the matter remains under investigation.
We have not been able to reach Fox for comment.
UPDATE: According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, the woman PUNCHED BACK -- and struck Fox "in the mouth ... causing a cut on his lip."
The woman told police she may have broken her hand during the altercation.
Fox was later released to a friend ... who put the actor into a taxi and accompanied him back to his hotel.
1016Matthew Fox Accuser -- I Punched Him In Self-Defense | TMZ.com
The woman who punched Matthew Fox in the face this weekend tells TMZ ... she HAD to let her fists fly because the actor struck first and she needed to defend herself.
TMZ spoke with Heather Bormann ... who tells us she was driving a party bus for a private party Saturday night in Cleveland -- when Fox boarded the vehicle.
Bormann claims she told Fox he wasn't welcome on the bus -- but he was too drunk to understand.
Bormann says, "He just kept staring at me with his mouth wide open and not saying anything. I told him, 'You have to leave buddy. You are trespassing on my bus.'"
That's when Fox "leaned in and started punching my crotch and breast."
Bormann says, "I took one hand to his jaw and he was spitting blood. He stumbled backwards."
"This was my self-defense," Bormann says ... adding, "This was the only way I could protect myself…..from a man beating up on a woman."
Bormann says she's meeting with prosecutors today -- and may press charges.
1006Tiny Fan Rushes Miley Cyrus -- Security Kicks Ass | TMZ.com
A fleet-footed female Miley Cyrus fan got a taste of SECURITY GUARD JUSTICE at a Miley concert earlier today after sneaking on the stage and rushing the singer ... and it was all caught on tape!
The overzealous fan somehow climbed on to a catwalk while Miley was singing "The Climb" ... sprinted after the singer ... and managed to put her arm around Cyrus.
That's when security stepped in -- and handled BUSINESS! Check out the video.
996Miley Cyrus Is a Marked Woman | TMZ.com
Teen phenom Miley Cyrus commemorated her trip to Brazil by getting some wrist ink the other day.
So far, we haven't seen a pic of the design Miley had inked on to her body.
Her back tatted winged mom must be proud.
