Last Friday saw the release of yet another movie with asinger/rapper giving acting the old college try when hip-hop artistLudacris starred in 2 Fast 2 Furious.
In its opening weekend, the street-racing flick made over $52million and finished No. 1 at the box office. I'm sure severalpeople speeding to go see the film wanted to see the Atlanta basedrapper and fellow musician Tyrese Gibson perform on the big screenwhile their vocal talents roared through the speakers in thetheater.
While cinemas where packed, I wasn't one of those moviegoersbecause today's entertainment world is full with quantity and notquality.
Tune into Entertainment Television and watch a musician attemptto act, actors trying to live out their dreams in the sportingworld and athletes venturing into both fields.
Yes, athletes are entertainers because some will go out of theirway to please the fans even if it means corking a bat.
Sammy 'Corky' Sosa and fellow athletes cannot deny thetemptations of putting on a show for the public in ballparks andarenas, but some ballplayers need to tell their agents no when itcomes making a CD or motion picture to be released to the public,right Shaq.
The former NBA MVP and three-time champion seemed to strugglethrough roles in films. Shaq's acting in movies like Steel, BlueChips and the 'box office smash' Kazam makes winning an NBA titlelook like he granted himself three wishes. "I AM KAZAM."
Also in the past ten years, the 7-foot Laker hasn't been blazingup the Billboards charts with his vocal styling.
From his debut album Shaq Diesel in 1993 until his most recentrelease Respect in 1998, Shaq's songs fall off the charts quickerthan Vlade Divac in the paint trying to guard him.
When O'Neal stopped trying to be a movie star and hip-hop icon,he started to win those three championships.
Other entertainers out there need to take a lesson from ShaqDaddy and concentrate on their real profession.
Jason Priestley don't get behind the wheel of an Indy caranymore, risking your life.
Beyonce put down the movie script and work on becoming a bettersinger.
Lizzie McGuire run out of the music studio and focus on makingyour television career last longer than Blossom's.
Those two ladies can't even compare to the 'Queen of Face Time',Jennifer Lopez.
J-Lo is also the queen of mediocrity. She is a decent actor andan average singer. Enough is enough Jennifer, go back to dancingfull-time.
There are three people to blame for this trend of I can do itall.
Eddie Murphy is partly responsible for the water downentertainment the public receives today.
After Murphy had hit comedies with Beverly Hills Cop and TradingPlaces, he told us his "girl wants to party all the time". The1980s best comedian was becoming a cheap rip off of Rick James.
Michael Jackson should take some of the blame also. Those30-minute music videos gave singers the impression that they coulddo a 90-minute movie.
But there is one person I consider the most responsible for theentertainment world being like it is today, the "Chairman of theBoard" Frank Sinatra.
Sinatra could woo a crowd with his slick voice and was evensmoother on the big screen. Along with Sinatra, there are a fewpeople that can pull off the feat of doing two of the three becausethey have real talent.
Singer/actor Whitney Houston, football player/actor Jim Brownand rapper/actor Tupac Shakur.
My mom, who is celebrating her birthday today, always told menot to bite off more than you chew because you will end upchoking.
So people out there in the entertainment world, do like the onesthat proceeded you, become the best at one thing. Leave the actingup to the actors, the singing up the singers and the sports up theathletes.
Also,I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to the greatest momin the world, Alma Sellers.
