So the girls on the upcoming eTV drama series 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, are looking for some love….and lots of it!

4 Play: Sex Tips For Girls will premiere on Tuesday, February 2nd on the South African TV network, eTV. This 13-part series is billed to cause a few blushes, much laughter, and some tears as it explores “the birds and the bees” with all its consequences. Viewers can expect heart-stopping truths about love, sex and relationships in the sizzling new local drama! Hallelujah!

According to Lynn Gaine, the show’s Executive Producer, “4 Play is deliciously sexy, frantically funny, and unbelievably real. It possesses that special wow factor that leaves you breathless, and gets you thinking at the same time. It’s the book of life for men and women that are old enough to know better, but young enough to take risks – all for love. South Africans have long been ready for a high-end glossy and sensual drama series, like 4 Play. It’s truly a stunner“.

Says the show’s Executive Producer, Harriet Gavshon of Curious Pictures, the production company producing the television show, “4Play deals with and celebrates women’s sexuality. It is sassy, sexy, glossy and funny. It will make you laugh as much as it will make you cry. We brought together an entire team of women writers and women directors – and then said: ‘Let’s have fun, let’s talk about ourselves, and let’s push the envelope.”

Check out flicks & additional profiles on the leading characters…

Amira Mokoena (played by my good friend Mbali Maphumulo)

Whimsical songwriter, Amira, lives in a fantasy world where Prince Charming is every guy she meets. A huge people person, 30-year-old Amira is loved by everyone, despite her fanciful notions and even her mother, who wishes her daughter would find a purpose in life, can’t stay mad at her for too long.

Seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses leaves Amira vulnerable to the cruelty of the men she quickly and frequently falls for. When her latest fairytale romance turns into her worst nightmare, will this princess be able to deal with reality and grow up?

Noma Mkhize (played by Portia Gumede)

Noma is a curvaceous 35-year-old hairstylist and the heart of the group. Sassy and a straight-talker, she regularly provides a shoulder to cry on for all of her clients and friends. Noma can always be counted on to give them her honest opinion about their endless relationship woes even if they don’t want to hear it.

Raising a teenage son on her own while running a business and being an amateur therapist leaves little time for romance for Noma, so she figures she doesn’t need it. But Cupid may have other plans in store for her. Will she run from it or embrace it with wild abandon?

Danny Gibson (played by Tiffany Jones)

Image consultant to the stars, Danny is an expert at turning plain Janes into devastating unattainable beauties and works the Jozi party circuit like a pro. A fun, fearless trendsetter, she’s also extraordinarily good at luring hunky men into her bed.

As a money-loving, business-savvy 32-year-old, Danny thinks relationships are a waste of time and she doesn’t want to be tied down.

Behind that seductive socialite facade, though, is a lonely woman with no real emotional connections. As the latest addition to the quartet, will Danny find that friendship and love can be as equally gratifying as hot, meaningless sex?

Nox Madondo (played by Kgomotso Christopher)

A handsome husband, two well-behaved children, a gorgeous home and a body to die for – Nox has it all. But why is she still so unhappy? Stylish, brainy and sexy, this 32-year-old revels in the luxuries of life and is rarely seen without makeup and designer clothing.
Money can’t buy everything, and certainly not a straying spouse’s fidelity, or the children’s love and definitely not happiness as Nox discovers over the course of the series. When a quest of self-discovery and appreciation beckons, will she go for it?

Mmmhhhh, y’all think Africa is ready to bring all this stuff to television? Sound off & leave your comments below…

Heart ya for it!

I am super excited about this new show coming up on the South African TV Network, E TV in February 2010. Think “Sex and the City” but with African flavor!

4Play, Sex Tips for Girls is so NOT what you think! LOL! It is a new 26 part drama series, currently in production and extensive social research has been undergone to capture the honesty, comedy and serious risks real women in Africa experience in the pursuit of love and happiness…finally!!

My girlfriend, Mbali Maphumulo is one of the cast members!!! I am so geeked & happy for her! She is an amazing actress & singer. Mbali was most recently touring in the U.S with the hit musical stage-play, the LION KING. She is back home now doing bigger & better things…

With Mbali during one of her Lion King tour stops!

According to the production company, Curious Pictures, 4play: Sex Tips 4 Girls filming has commenced on Episode 1 of the 13 part drama series. The lovely leads include Portia Gumede as Noma; Kgomotso Christopher as Nox; my girl, Mbali Maphumulo as Amira, and Tiffany Jones as Danny.

• Amira (Mbali Maphumulo) is an aspirant singer, although at her age it seems unlikely that she will be successful.

• Noma (Portia Gumede) A single parent to a teenage son, is disillusioned about love.

• Nox (Kgomotso Christopher) is unhappily married to a wealthy philanderer. With two young children, private school fees, a luxury vehicle and a mansion in Sandton, she feels trapped in her marriage – frightened to leave it but frightened to be in it too.

• Danny (Tiffany Jones) (white female) is single and ambitious. She hides her loneliness behind work and clothes.

From left to right, the girls – Tiffany, Portia, Kgomotso & Mbali

The launch of the series will be broadcast on e.tv beginning in February 2010. The new drama, 4play is at times funny, always irreverent, intensely resonant, and more often than not, heart-stopping honest about sex love and relationships. Set in contemporary Johannesburg (known as Jozi) with its extreme contrasts between rich and poor, township and suburb, hope and cynicism. This is the world of Jozi ‘s thirty-somethings, no longer truly young but not entirely grown-up, focused on their careers but feverishly frequenting parties, clubs and bars in search of Mr or Mrs Right.

Focusing on the hair and beauty salon of single mother and entrepreneur, Noma, and her loquacious circle of girl friends – Nox, Danny and Amira each of which have their own unique approaches to love, sex and surviving in the city. We follow the girls on their individual journey’s in which they encounter the treacherous and sometimes extreme paths of relationships in South Africa today.

The series delivers candid sex tips for girls every week and will be a hot topic for men and women as no one’s dirty laundry will be off limits in this must see drama! [Bring it on, I say!! LOL!]

4play is commissioned by Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa (JHHESA) as an HIV/Aids prevention campaign with support from USAID. Curious Pictures continues a proud partnership with JHHESA after their successful collaboration on the award winning drama series, Tsha Tsha.

This looks like it is going to be a good series! Congrats Mbali [miss ya girl]…

Please leave your comments below on what you think of 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls! It’s gettin’ hot in here, so…[wink] Love ya for it!

Not sure how I missed this one, but Vivica A. Fox was recently on the Mo’Nique show which airs nightly on BET. She talked about her past relationship with Curtis “Fifty Cent” Jackson…

She tears up saying, “…he came back to me as a man. And he said “I’m sorry”. And I forgave him. That was hard  to live through, you guys. I can’t even tell you how difficult… I was so glad I had a wonderful family, especially my daddy who said “Baby, he didn’t make you. He sure ain’t gonna break you”…

Yayee for Dads that are involved in their daughters, children’s lives! I tell ya, FATHER’s make a world of a difference [that's whole blog post right there!]

Anyway, Viv talks about how she got the role for Fif’s music video for “Do You Think About Me?“…check out the interview below!

Aaahhh, a good cry does the heart & soul much good! Glad to see that Fif & Viv have reconciled and are on the mend…beefin’ just ain’t worth it!

Aren’t ya just loving Vivica’s honesty & allowing herself to be vulnerable…hurt is hurt! Let us know what you think! Pop your comments below….love ya for it!

Toodles!

I was surprised by Tyra Banks‘ announcement to end her talk show! Ok, I did not necessarily watch her show but she repped for alot of young women and girls and raised alot of issues that affect us generally! And for that I admired her courage and tenacity, especially using television & internet as her mediums of communication.

“This will be the last season of The Tyra Show,” Tyra told PEOPLE, “I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”

After five seasons, two Daytime Emmy awards and too many girl-power episodes to count, Tyra Banks is announcing the end of The Tyra Show. The show will wrap up at the end of its fifth season in the spring of 2010,

Tyra will focus on the launch of Bankable Studios, a N.Y.-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Sticking to her mission, Tyra aims to bring “positive images of women to the big screen,” says an industry insider.

“My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are,” said Tyra.

Adds the insider: “Tyra is sad because she’ll be missing so much of the daily connection to her viewers, but excited at the same time to be taking on a new challenge.”

With encouragement from filmmaker Tyler Perry and longtime mentor Oprah Winfrey, Tyra is “redefining beauty for women in film,” adds the source. “With Oprah’s big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her longtime dream of film producing.”

But fashion fiends worry not. America’s Next Top Model is slated to return for its 15th season in February along with Tyra’s ABC show True Beauty.

“There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart,” Tyra wrote in an open letter on her Web site. “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.”

Ok, so that leaves Wendy Williams, Monique, Whoopi Goldberg & Sherri Shepherd on The View..

So, guys & dolls will ya miss Tyra’s talk show? Leave your comments below!

Photo: Getty Images / Zimbio

So Pep from Salt-n-Pepa is back with her VH1 reality show, “Let’s Talk About Pep” featuring her and her 3 girlfriends! One of them is the uber fab, Jacque Reid, former BET News Anchor.

Backstage with Pep after her performance

According to the show summary, “Let’s Talk About Pep” is a real life comedy following Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt-n-Pepa fame as she emerges from several years of romantic and sexual dormancy, brought on by some seriously lousy relationships. Now she’s ready again to search for love and action in the capital of hooking up, New York. She’s joined by three friends also trying to negotiate the romantic minefield of NYC…check out supertrailer of the reality show below!

And another one…VH1 will give viewers a close-up view into the complex, touching and surprisingly relatable life of recording artist, actress and American Idol winner Fantasia. The series follows Fantasia as she juggles her career and single-motherhood while devoting her energy into recording her highly anticipated third album. The 8 episode, 30-minute docu-series Fantasia For Real is slated to premiere January 11, 2010 at 10PM on VH1

I don’t know about this one…

And over in China…

Will we ever get along?…and I would have thought that people all over the world know by now that Black/Brown people exist regardless of  how “homogeneous” their country or society is! I mean, especially with technology connecting all of us more than ever before…Come on people!

So? What do you think? Share your thoughts with us!

Ciao!