Mary J. Blige To Play Betty Shabazz In TV Movie 'Parallel Lives'

19 Comments

• | Reply

• CAlifornia Sunshine | August 5, 2012 1:54 AMReply

  smh WHY? GET ANGELA BASSET

• bondgirl | August 15, 2012 6:50 PM

  Angela Bassett is playing Coretta. Guess she figured, "been there, done that."

• Nadell | June 12, 2012 10:43 PMReply

  So apparently Mary J Blige is the only active artist presently? And in the full range of entertainment (thespians & music artist).
  How in the world does her name continue to arise for such poignant roles?

• Ayanna N. | June 11, 2012 3:01 PMReply

  Burn the set!!

• samuel | June 11, 2012 10:20 AMReply

  might be just as bad as that crispy chicken commercial...

• ChgoSista | June 9, 2012 6:39 PMReply

  SSSMMMHHHHH.... FAIL to the casting director!

• Ava | June 8, 2012 5:11 PMReply

  LOL. I immediately started to ask that question about what happened to the Nina Simone bio pic? I guess it's just as well unless she had somehow managed to take years and years of lessons in classical piano as a kid, like Jamie Foxx did. At the risk of sounding like a cinema snob, I can't imagine her in either role.

• Royce Lynch | June 8, 2012 3:57 AMReply

  I read recently how bad people thought or think the MaryJ is.... acting and singing both require practice and no one starts out being great or fabulous they continue to develop their desires and become great actors and actresses! Here's to positive growth! The message is often more important than the messenger, but I know you know that already! Peace.

• Laura | August 15, 2012 7:05 PM

  I agree with your basic premise. But the basic talent/gift needs to be there for that to happen. MJB been at this for close to 20 years and she still sings off-key, she still butchers notes. We've waited long enough. So save that for a YOUNG gifted artist who truly deserves it.

• Love | June 7, 2012 11:59 AMReply

  Hell to da naw! That's all.

• Marie | June 7, 2012 9:24 AMReply

  I agree with Jeni. Mary's line readings were the worst part of the "Rock of Ages" trailer. Her performance in whatever Tyler Perry movie it was…not good. She is simply NOT an actress and again, trained, talented black actresses have to compete with untalented singers and rappers for the few scraps of roles out there. I suggest we all boycott this one.

• jeni | June 7, 2012 12:17 AMReply

  Love Mary, but I saw a couple of her clips from Rock of Ages, and...well, let's just say she's not ready to play Dr. Shabazz. Was Gabrielle Union busy?

• Darkan | June 6, 2012 10:47 PMReply

  WHAT'S IN THE CHICKEN WRAPS???!!!

• Renoir422 | June 6, 2012 8:24 PMReply

  Love Mary, but this is wrong on so many levels.
  A mature, trained actor is necessary to bring Dr. Betty's
  dignified gravitas to this role. I'll pass, Lifetime has got to
  do better casting than this stunt.

• misha | June 6, 2012 8:07 PMReply

  Huh?

• Akimbo | June 6, 2012 7:51 PMReply

  No...

• ROLO | June 6, 2012 6:58 PMReply

  Watch em trot out Alicia Keys for Coretta! White people at Lifetime: please act right! No Black people worth their salt would chose Mary J Blige to play Sista Shabazz! That sounds like a joke! If they don't have a Black Director, I'm done/. They need a Black Woman. Betty and Coretta's lives done right could be GREAT. Judging from the cast tho, Lifetime is not taking this as serious as it is to our community. The title sucks too.

• cWj | June 12, 2012 8:30 PM

  Black people have chosen publicity over skill plenty. See the ubiquitous ass-to-seat attractor in any play on Broadway featuring Black folk.
  
  ex.: Sean. Combs.
  
  The BK spot was much to do about nothing. This seems far more harrowing.

• Ali | June 6, 2012 6:56 PMReply

  Hmmm.....