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Single-Minded: 'Tis the Rom-Com Season
It happens every spring. With the pollen and the hay fever comes the pulling of the heartstrings. Because the birds and the bees is too good a story to stay out of the box office, the romantic-comedy season springs eternal. But the genre that bloomed more than 20 years ago from When Harry Met Sally…
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Breaking the Losing Streak of 'The Game'
Choice is a privilege that its beneficiaries often forget to exercise. For instance, I chose to watch the season finale of BET’s The Game and then instantly cursed that decision as if my own free will had nothing to do with it. Same thing goes for the show’s supposed Cinderella season at BET. Tuesday’s finale,…
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Single-Minded: Memo to Chris Brown
Chris Brown’s definition of a “big deal” needs work. During a much-talked-about Tuesday appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, the singer was asked whether or not he has come into contact with ex-girlfriend Rihanna since her restraining order against him was relaxed. Neither fans nor foes can forget the felony-assault incident involving the young superstars…
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Single-Minded: Bethenny Frankel, My Imaginary BFF
To all the girls whose fantasies were nursed by Disney princesses and who were then summarily weaned on the ’90s woman in Asics with tube socks, I present to you our newest champion: Bethenny Frankel. Forget Aladdin, Barack or Cosby — the ABCs of what it means to live happily ever after (whether on a…
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Single-Minded: Bag Lady
A good friend wants to start her own line of luxury travel luggage. “The ones that work the best never look good,” she explained between sips of champagne mixed with orange juice. Nodding vigorously, I took a swig of my own mimosa. Pretty utility doesn’t make sense to some people. Baggage is usually fancy or…
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Single-Minded: Do Women Secretly Want to Be Rescued?
The scene: the “Bookworm” episode of The Cosby Show, circa 1988. It’s the first time men have been invited to Clair’s very deep “book discussion group.” Cliff, whose wife (and the audience) doesn’t believe he has read the book, ends up being the only guy with the courage to show up. “I’d like to know…
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Oscars 2011: Young, Hip and Trying Too Hard
“It’s the young-and-hip Oscars,” announced co-host Anne Hathaway at the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday in Hollywood. Audiences were invited to spend the evening with Hathaway, co-host James Franco and “Oscar,” not The Oscars. It was casual — if casual is defined by zillion-dollar gowns and million-watt smiles. Over the last few weeks, much has…
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The Root Interview: Anthony Mackie Talks 'Adjustment Bureau'
Think of them as the “Men in Black” led by The Matrix’s Mr. Smith, with effortless style and extraterrestrial superpowers. The Adjustment Bureau (in theaters March 4) is the Untouchable crew of men in old-school hats that watches over the entire world. Free will, what? “We are the people who make sure things happen according…
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Single-Minded: Two 'Very Smart Brothas'
It’s an unfortunate universal fact that common sense is neither common nor sacred. Too often, men and women make uncoordinated missteps because whacking the angel on their shoulder is easier than worshipping it. Plus, doing “hood-rat stuff with your friends” is fun. But for those of you lacking in the friends-with-some-sense department, there’s Your Degrees…
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Grammys Recap: It Was a Snoozefest
According to David Letterman at last night’s 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the number one surprise of the evening was “Justin Bieber’s hairpiece.” Letterman only got it half right. Bieber was surprisingly good, but the big surprise of the 2011 Grammys was how monotonous the show was overall. A friend summed up the…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
