“Pinch me, it’s great!,” Robinson says of the role. “What I love about Tasha is that she’s a single mom and at the same time she’s not a statistic.  She took that and didn’t become the victim.”

Robinson is also known for her role as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show. Her advice to young people aspiring to a career in the creative arts: “Step outside the box and don’t stay within the confines of what you think is the traditional way of getting in. Be as creative as possible and don’t be afraid to take risks; without risk you’ll never know true possibilities.”

This week’s On the Record discussion centers around the people who are at the center of American conversation and socia media trending topics: President Barack Obama, star NFL quarterback Michael Vick, and top entertainer Beyonce. Our panelists include MSNBC Commentator and political analyst Jeff Johnson; actor and comedian Kim Coles; and writer and comedian Chris Spencer. And finally, our Slice of Life profiles former top model turned teacher Rashid Silvera, who is making a difference in the lives of students attending Scarsdale High School in New York.

Our World with Black Enterprise airs on TV ONE this Sunday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. and on local stations across the country all weekend.

Check your local listings and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for additional time and station information.

Still, Ealy—whose breakout role was in Ice Cube‘s 2002 urban comedy Barbershop—knows that compliments about your good looks aren’t necessarily going to keep you working in Hollywood. (Even though appearing as one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” in the same year couldn’t have hurt.) What will keep you working? Diversity of roles—one after the other if you’re lucky.

On March 9th, Ealy throws the men a bone in his upcoming film, Think Like a Man, based on the ubiquitous, New York Times best-selling book by Steve Harvey. In the film, he shows how even a cash-strapped cook (his character in the comedy) can pull a sista as fly as Taraji P. Henson, if he treats her right.

“Yes, the film is hilarious, but I think people are also going to be surprised by how romantic it is,” says Ealy of the laughfest, which co-stars comedian Kevin Hart, Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union and Meagan Good. “I think we do a pretty good job at exploring just how awkward—but rewarding—love can be. It’s something Taraji and I talked about nonstop while we were filming.”

Ealy on the set of 'Underworld' (Image: Joe Lederer for Sony Pictures)

Months before the busy actor turns his game on full swag, he crosses over into the dark side for the latest installment of the popular vampire-versus-Lycan series Underworld: Awakening, in theaters today (January 20th). “This is the first film out of the franchise where you get to see the humans running things,” he reveals of the series’ fourth release. “I represent the human element as a detective.”

You can also see the Silver Spring, Maryland, native in the new buddy-cop TV series Common Law, airing this summer on USA Networks. “It’s about two detectives who cannot get along, unless they’re solving a crime,” explains Ealy by phone from the series’ New Orleans set. “It gets so bad that their captain sends them to couple’s counseling. Now that’s pretty bad,” he laughs.

But Ealy’s got another project—a raw and emotional film inspired by true events called Unconditional—that he says definitely won’t be. “That one’s coming out this fall,” he says of the independent flick, in which he plays a character that seeks to redeem the lives of a group underprivileged kids living in a rough neighborhood. Given his diverse palette of roles on the horizon, it should be a little easier for fans to look beyond Ealy’s physical talents and focus more on his acting chops. “As you can see,” he laughs, “I have been a very busy man.”

Indeed.

See a the trailer for Think Like a Man below.

Rainforest Film exec Will Packer remains focused on success (Image: Press)

Its name may also begin with a “B”– like “black”–but Bounce TV executive Will Packer warns viewers not to mistake his new network for BET. Bounce, he says, will be different.

Sure, its target audience is also African American, but Bounce distinguishes itself from Black Entertainment Television, Centric and TV One by its potential reach alone. When it debuts this fall, the Atlanta-based channel, which estimates it will reach 50% of US households at launch (and will grow as it establishes distribution deals like the recent one inked with Raycom Media), will be the first free broadcast network of its kind–a relief for those who can’t afford cable.

“We are working to make Bounce available to everyone,” says Packer, the network’s chief strategy and marketing officer, of the plans to broadcast programming on the digital signals of local television stations nationwide, which allows viewers free access to the content

Co-founded by civil rights leader Martin Luther King , III, former Atlanta mayor and U.S. ambassador Andrew Young Jr., one-time Turner Broadcasting exec Ryan Glover and others, the station–which is majority-owned and operated by African Americans–will provide “underserved audiences” with popular documentaries, free football and basketball games from the country’s largest black athletic conference and classic movies such as The Wiz, Do the Right Thing, Glory. Packer says Bounce will also offer their its target audience–ages 25-54–a strong lineup of original programming.

“We should start rolling out new shows within the next couple of years,” promises the successful producer, who will serve on a panel at this year’s BLACK ENTERPRISE Entrepreneurs Conference and who balances his network duties with those he has as co-founder and chairman of his own successful production company, Rainforest Films (Stomp the Yard, Obsessed and Takers).

But Bounce isn’t the only big project on the executive’s full plate. Packer and Rainforest partner Rob Hardy are also preparing to shoot their next movie: a film adaptation of funnyman Steve Harvey’s bestselling book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man. Comedian Kevin Hart is one of the actors who has been confirmed for the project.

Going even further into the digital space, Rainforest has also launched a web site offering fans and wannabe actors an opportunity to appear in the comedy when cameras start rolling this summer. “Between now and May 13, fans can log on to faceofthefan.com/actlikealady and upload their videos to win a shot at two walk-on roles,” the Florida A&M grad explains. The film will be released next year. “Then between May 20^th and the 28, folks can vote on which actors they want to see on the big screen,” says Packer.

Maintaining high web visibility, helping run a television network and producing must-see films? All in a day’s work for this award-winning businessman. And for those who desire to make their own mark in Hollywood, Packer offers this advice: “Define your own success,” he says. “Not every film is going to make a million dollars.” Second: “Remember that your dream is your dream. It may take awhile to convince someone else, namely financiers, to go along with it.” Not to worry, though: “It’s tough to get any film made in Hollywood–whether you’re black or white,” says Packer. “But if you’re able to create content that will make money, you will eventually find [someone to fund it.]” Lastly, he encourages, “lean on your faith.” “This is a superficial industry,” says the producer, “so it’s important to find and maintain your spiritual center. It will see you through every time.”

See Will Packer talk about “Money Making Opportunities in Entertainment” at this year’s Entrepreneurs Conference brought to you by BLACK ENTERPRISE. Join us May 22-25 for three days of entrepreneurial encouragement and enrichment. As an incentive, we’re offering you $200 off the cost of registration. Just visit blackenterprise.com/ec and use the code BEDG295.

Joyner

To many African Americans, Tom Joyner is the king of black radio.  Based in Dallas, with a nationally syndicated radio show reaching some 115 markets and 8 million listeners across the country, Joyner is unquestionably a radio powerhouse.

So when Clear Channel, the San Antonio, Texas-based media conglomerate, unceremoniously announced in March that it was replacing “The Tom Joyner Morning Show“ with the nationally syndicated “Steve Harvey Morning Show“ at WVAZ-FM in Chicago, Joyner fans were outraged. After all, Chicago was the first market to ever carry Joyner’s show and WVAZ-FM had aired the show for 13 years. Many Chicagoans see Joyner as a part of the city’s fabric, a part of the family.

But you can’t keep a good man down.  Last week, after four weeks off the air, Joyner returned to the airwaves in the Windy City, this time on Soul 106. 3 FM (WSRB/WYRB), a Denver, Colorado-based Crawford Broadcasting station.

“People were very outspoken about the show leaving Chicago,” says Joyner, “so we went to Crawford and they gave us a proposal. But since we were on the street, it wasn’t much of a deal. We decided to buy the four hours completely, essentially becoming our own affiliate.”

Joyner would not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Clear Channel’s decision to replace Joyner with Harvey, the comedian and best-selling author whose popular show runs in more than 60 markets, underscores the pressures of the radio business in today’s challenging economic environment; radio had already and continues to face threats from alternative sources of audio entertainment like satellite radio, iPods and the Internet.

“The new media explosion makes it harder and harder for established stars and formats to aggregate audiences in an environment that is experiencing fragmentation and dispersion,” suggests Christopher H. Smith, professor at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California. “Tom Joyner is not immune to the shifting dynamics,” he adds.

And it arguably did not help that Joyner’s show is owned by Reach Media, a division of Clear Channel competitor Radio One, the nation’s largest radio company targeting African Americans.

The stresses on the radio industry are readily apparent.  According to Chantilly, VA-based BIA Advisory Services, a media research and consultancy, 2008 radio revenues in the U.S. were $16.7 billion, down 8.5% from 2007. Additionally, 2009 revenues are expected to decrease 11%.

“Radio is taking it on the chin in the economic downturn,” says Mark R. Fratzik, Ph.D., senior vice president at BIA. “With Steve Harvey’s show being syndicated by Clear Channel-owned Premiere Radio, there’s always that incentive to air your own programming versus licensing other programming.

Even though Mr. Joyner is popular, Clear Channel probably had a reasonable alternative to his show that costs less.” In fact, upon sending Mr. Harvey to V103, WGCI’s new morning show is a locally-focused program hosted by Chicago radio veteran Tony Sculfield. “Tom is one of the classiest guys in the business,” says Earl Jones, president and market manager for Clear Channel Radio-Chicago. “Business drove our decision,” he adds.  To Jones’s point, Clear Channel clearly has not been exempt from the industry’s woes. Its radio revenues fell 7% in 2008 to $3.3 billion and declined 13% for the fourth quarter of 2008.  Jones would not disclose any estimated cost savings attributable to replacing Joyner.

Risky Proposition

By charting his own course back to Chi-Town, Joyner assumes the risk that would otherwise be absorbed by the station owner; he therefore is charged with not only creating a good show but also selling the advertising inventory, a daunting task given the economic climate Joyner likens his new Chicago business model to television deals in which a company buys time on an independent station to carry a show, which an affiliate station will not carry. While such a strategy is not unheard of in radio, according to BIA’s Fratzik, the scale and size of the Chicago market makes Joyner’s situation unique.

Speaking on the merits of Joyner’s move and acknowledging the station’s weak signal, Fratzik says, “I think he’s putting his money where his mouth is and it’s admirable that he’s willing to take the risk. It says that he’s confident that he can attract enough listeners.”

Joyner is banking that the popularity of his show—which based on Arbitron’s most recent PPM (portable people meter) ratings ranked as the #4 morning show (before the WVAZ cancellation) in the city in the 25-54 demographic group to Harvey’s No. 14—will garner him favorability with listeners and thereby win over coveted advertisers; Joyner had 292,200 listeners to Harvey’s 268,100 for listeners six and over.

“We stepped out on faith,” says Joyner, who found out he was being pushed off the air after returning from vacation.
“I’ve been fired a lot of different ways, but this ranks as one of the coldest,” he said recently. “I had to find some way to get back into the Chicago market. The station doesn’t have the greatest signal, but it’s on the South Side. And it gives us an opportunity to super-serve the community.”

As a part of Joyner’s strategy and commitment to the city, he will establish an internship program for media communications students at Chicago’s Kennedy-King College and when in the city will air from the campus.

When anyone hears the name Steve Harvey the word funny easily comes to mind. After all, this Original Kings of Comedy star and popular former sitcom figure still plays to sold-out shows from coast to coast with his side-splitting stand-up routine. But in more recent years, Harvey has taken the radio industry by storm: His syndicated program, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, plays in over 60 markets reaching some seven million listeners. Yet Harvey wants to make it clear that he’s not just Mr. Jokes. Each day on his show he seeks to inspire and uplift listeners as much as he wants to ease their day with humor. This week Harvey took time out of his busy schedule to speak with BlackEnterprise.com about his career and the radio industry today.

BLACK ENTERPRISE: You’ve obviously had great success in other arenas, including stand-up comedy and television. Have you always had an interest in radio?

Steve Harvey: Not really. This is really God’s call for me because it has helped me expose some aspects of my life that are important other than telling jokes. My initial claim to fame was telling jokes. That’s my gift. But I also have a passion for our people, and I have a lot of information God has had me learn over the years, so that I could have something to share.

Your show allows you to connect with people all across the country. What have you gleaned about black people that you perhaps didn’t know before?

I don’t know that I didn’t know it before because I’m an expert on two things: manhood and being black. I’m an expert on manhood because I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to get better at it, and I had a great example in my father. I’m an expert at being black because I’ve spent my entire 51 years black. So I think all of those years of experience and having been fortunate enough to travel to all the different regions of the country and talking to our people and entertaining our people, you see that we all have a very common thread. I don’t care if I’m telling jokes in Los Angeles, Mississippi, or Miami, black people have a common thread. And if you understand that common thread that connects us as black people–experiences growing up, the church, and family–you can transfer it to radio.

One of the good things about your show and the other syndicated shows is that you reach so many people. However, some of the critics of syndication feel that good local shows have been squeezed out. What are your thoughts on that?

Radio is a world of big business and consolidation, and everybody is trying to get their fair share of the market. The more station owners can gather up, the bigger their piece of the pie. Station owners are trying to find a way to get more listeners in order to be more appealing to advertisers, so they can make more money. That’s the game out there. I don’t own a single radio station. I don’t make a single decision as to what city I play in. If I did, I’d be on every single station.

What do you see as the mission of The Steve Harvey Morning Show?

Our job is to wake up and for the first 12 minutes remind people not to forget about God. Don’t forget about the reason you wake up. Don’t spend your life feeling alone like you have no answers. Don’t spend your life never knowing your purpose. There is a God, and God is available to you. That’s my mission in the morning for the first 12 minutes, and then after that we disperse information. We try to get people off to a positive, uplifting, laughing start.

Where would you like to see black radio go in the future?

I would like to see black radio go back to what it used to be. It used to be a place where African Americans tuned in to get information, tuned in to be uplifted. We didn’t use black radio to talk about each other, to talk about this celebrity’s hardships, to make jokes constantly about a celebrity’s problems. Celebrities have problems, and guess what? You’ve got problems, too. Celebrities are human beings and they have feelings. And so what that no one could find out where Jay-Z and Beyonce got married. It’s really not our business. And if everyday people would just come to the realization that the most important life is yours and that of your children, you’d have a whole lot more going for you. Just do your life. Fix what’s wrong in yours.

What have you learned most about black people–your listeners–during this presidential campaign?

Black people are a lot more involved than people have realized over the years. What we’re finding out now is that white people feel disenfranchised. Black people have been feeling disenfranchised for a long time. So now all of a sudden we have a black man running for the presidency who has a real chance and he has a real chance because African Americans and poor people have known what was going on. But now the disenfranchised middle-class white person is saying, “You know what? This ain’t right. We need to change it.” And they’re so disenfranchised they are going to change it anyway they can. If that means putting a black man in office then cool, we’ll do that.