Features

The Ru Report #128

Phenomenal Woman
Egypt Multimedia personality-on-the-rise Egypt is ready to go where no other New York-based disc jockey has gone before...

...Hollywood swinging.

Well, some of them have dared to venture out of the confines of inner-city urban broadcasting arena but Egypt (nee Egypt Sherrod) is doing it without all the drama, controversy and negativity that has been common-place amongst some of her peers. She's handling her own quite gracefully, if I must say.

That's not to say that there hasn't been some scuttlebutt regarding her new 'dealings' with another multimedia diva (Jennifer Lopez). Since departing the airwaves of New York City's Black-owned WBLS, there has been all sorts of rumors about this Philadelphia-bred beauty's whereabouts and future plans.

No sooner than her former station started scrambling to find a midday replacement upon her brief exit from WBLS, did I get a call from a trusted Hollywood insider alerting me that Egypt is on board to be a part of J. Lo's younger, hipper, urbanized version of "The View" talk show. But I chose to use discretion due to the facts that the markets for the syndicated show were not solidified, and the show was still in pilot stage.

"Boy you can't keep anything from the media," Egypt gushed during an interview with The Ru Report yesterday. "Television is a very competitive business. When you're under contract with a major studio or network, you can't just go telling all the family secrets, so that's why I can't really give any details.

What she will say is that she thinks: "Jennifer Lopez is very under-rated. Trust me, she did not get to where she is in her career without being savvy and smart."

News is slowly starting to trickle out about the yet-to-be-titled show, set to go up later this fall, produced by Universal Domestic Television and featuring J. Lo's sister, Big Apple broadcast maven Linda Lopez, male fashionista Robert Verdi and of course, our beloved Egypt.

"It's a good feeling to know that people are taking notice of what I'm trying to accomplish in my career," she continues. "I've been pursuing radio, television and film for a long time, and I've been fortunate to work consistently. Lately though, it does seem like a lot of the working is beginning to pay off."

Paying off indeed.

Egypt studied at New York University before graduating from Temple University, majoring in communications. Prior to her success with WBLS, she made a name for herself as one of the highest rated radio personalities at Baltimore's #1 station, WERQ, after simultaneously holding an on-air and Music Director positions at Philadelphia's WPHI.

Despite the fact that there has been talk about some 'craft' practiced on the part of one of her former WBLS colleagues--forcing her to leave--Egypt isn't fazed at all about her abrupt exit at the legendary station, currently being programmed by radio vet Vinny Brown. The bubbly beauty has already surfaced at Clear Channel's WWPR, arguably the fastest growing R&B and hip-hop station in the big apple--with huge purse strings and much cachet to boot.

"I'm very happy to be at Power 105 now," she explains, "When I originally decided to join WBLS, they were going in a much younger direction because they wanted to compete more with HOT 97, in addition to KISS-FM.

"But when Power 105 popped up out of nowhere, BLS changed the game plan," she says. "Actually, my manager and I had been weighing the pros and cons of my future with station long before my two-year contract was up...Can you really see me giving shout-outs in between Earth, Wind & Fire or Aretha Franklin? In this business it's all about having a blueprint, an escape route and a Plan B."

What a great escape, indeed.

The new high-powered broadcast gigs aren't the only irons in the fire for Miss Egypt. She's doing some syndicated radio work for X-Radio Networks, continuing her long-lasting relationship with BET (appearing in customized commercials for major advertisers like Burger King, Chrysler and Blockbuster Video, along with some great Public Service Announcements dealing with Safe Sex and Black History) "I think people are finally starting to connect the dots and realize that it's not a game when it comes to me and TV," she adds. "I'm very serious about this"

So beyond the fact that she's not a negative, jaded, silicon-injected, un-be-weave-able diva-in-distress prostituting herself and her shady business ties on New York airwaves, the twenty-something Egypt and all of her gorgeous girl-next-door glory obviously goes over well with the masses. "When you hear me on the radio or see me on TV, you're getting exactly who I am in real life. There's nothing contrived or imaginary" she shares. "I think maybe people can respect 'the real' so they gravitate toward that. People can see through fakeness, and I'm the furthest thing from that--what you see and hear is what you get with me."

Alrightee then.

On a closing note, the precocious princess states: "As far as what's next for Egypt...I've got 'big' things planned, and you can quote me on that!"

'First' Lady
Celebrating more greatness. The United States Tennis Association, the governing body for the sport of tennis in America, recently announced that Zina Garrison has been named as the women's coach for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Tennis Team. She is the first African-American to coach a U.S. Olympic tennis team.

And this isn't her first "first," either.

Last December, the Houston native was selected as Captain of the 2004 United States Fed Cup team, making her the first African-American to hold that title in the 40-Year History of Fed Cup. In 1988 she became the first African-American to represent the United States in Olympic tennis.

And don't attribute her major accomplishments to diversity quotas either.

Ms. Garrison has won 37 titles during a 15-year career, which concluded in 1997. She was singles finalist at Wimbledon in 1990, becoming the first African-American woman to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament since Althea Gibson in 1958.

And she's not keeping her streak of genius to herself. An active supporter of grass-roots tennis and education programs for children and a long-time activist for inner-city youth, Ms. Garrison achieved a lifelong dream in 1991 with the opening of the Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis Academy in her hometown. One of the leading youth programs of its kind, the Academy is dedicated to teaching life skills, promoting community service, providing positive role models, strengthening the educational opportunities and developing the tennis skills of Houston's diverse youth population.

"Zina possesses that rare combination of heart, character and competitive fire that defines leadership and are synonymous with the Olympic ideal," said Alan Schwartz, Chairman of the Board and President of USTA. "She brings experience as an accomplished player and coach, possessing a unique ability to connect with the athletes to lead our quest for 2004 gold."

The 2004 Olympic Games will be held Aug. 13-28 in Athens, Greece, with the tennis competition being staged Aug. 15-22 at the Athens Olympic Tennis Center. The United States has won 14 Olympic medals in men's and women's tennis since its return as a full medal sport in 1988--more than any other nation--including three in 2000 in Sydney.

The 2004 U.S. Olympic tennis team will consist of up to six men and six women, with a maximum of four men and four women competing in doubles. Olympic team selections will be made by June 28.

In Good Company
First Oprah gave her the blessing by appointing her as backstage commentator for the mega successful "Pop Star Challenge" shows, last month. Now R&B princess Ashanti continues to stay in 'good' graces.

Last night, the Grammy Award-winning, platinum-plated singer/songwriter was honored by Lifetime Television at Washington D.C.'s John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Country singer Martina McBride, actress/filmmaker Rosanna Arquette, Political Commentator Cokie Roberts, former NFL Player Don McPherson and select members of congress were also on hand at the Champions of Change reception, which celebrated artists and performers contributing their voices to the efforts to stop the cycle of violence. The festivities were also brought forth by The Wireless Foundation, which has a Call To Protect campaign that collects used wireless phones to benefits victims of domestic violence.

Flix
Hot, sexy and luscious-lipped Angelina Jolie shook up things quite a bit last weekend at The Regency Hotel in New York City. The Tomb Raider star was in town promoting her latest film, Taking Lives, which is sure to be a hit amongst suspense-thriller-loving moviegoers. In the taut psychological thriller, also starring Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Gena Rowlands and Olivier Martinez, the Academy Award winner plays a sexy FBI profiler who becomes involved with her key witness while tracking a serial killer who assumes the lives and identities of the people he kills. The movie opens next weekend, but for a limited time beginning on March 12, movie fans can watch the first nine minutes and eight seconds of the Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures project. It's exclusively online at Yahoo! (yahoo.com).

From one fierce femme fatale to the next, Fox Home Video recently released The Raquel Welch DVD Collection, a multi-pack celebrating the original Hollywood bombshell and containing five films starring the sexy 60's film siren. Films include Bandolero!, Fathom, Mother, Jugs And Speed, Myra Breckinridge and the sci-fi cult classic One Million Years B.C. The Myra DVD features two versions of the film, commentary by Raquel Welch and director Michael Sarne, AMC's Backstory: Myra Breckinridge and much more. The boxed-set retails for about $50, and is available in widescreen format.

Notable/Quotable
"I want to be successful across the board. I want an empire like Oprah's. I may do it with a little more cleavage, but I plan to get there."
--Super-duper-model Tyra Banks on her expanding assets.

You've got to understand, it's a She Thing. We've got the power. You know the deal...You can do anything. Do what you feel.

Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com

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