Mos Def, Common, Ben Harper subjects on Current TV

Behind the Scenes

By Antracia Merrill-Moorings

Real Story: Mos Def, Common and Ben Harper are among the subjects of a new music documentary series for cable channel Current TV titled “Embedded.” The debut episode, which aired Oct. 14, spends seven days with Mos Def as he performs at venues in Tokyo and Osaka. Cameras capture him in a Tokyo hotel room, wearing a bathrobe and smoking a cigarette, and discussing the differences between Japanese and American culture— revealing how impressed he is by the intensity of the local hip-hop fans who have been filling clubs for a week to see him perform. The initial run of six episodes also will feature Thievery Corporation, Silversun Pickups and the Decemberists. After the first run of six episodes is completed, the independent channel will debut a few “best of” compilations from all of the shows, and then plans to air another six-episode season in the coming months, according to Davis Powers, vice president of music programming at Current TV. “No one is committing to this type of music programming in the television space,” Powers said. “We wanted to commit to doing real music journalism and documentaries— and that comes with working with the artists on the ground floor.” Founded in 2005 with funding from former Vice President Al Gore, Current TV is available on select cable and satellite providers, including Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV and Dish Network. It recently captured international headlines when North Korean authorities detained Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee for nearly five months before releasing them in August.

Secret Battle: Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins revealed that she has been waging a secret battle against a brain tumor that was diagnosed in 2006. In the Oct. 12 edition of People magazine, the 39-year-old said that she underwent a seven-hour surgical procedure back in 2006 during which doctors peeled the tumor from her brain stem by making a cut behind her ear. The divorced single mother of one said she was battling the tumor earlier this year during filming of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” but didn’t want to make it known to the public. “I didn’t want pity. I was there to help sick children,” she told People. T-Boz, who also suffers from the blood disorder sickle cell anemia, competed on Donald Trump’s reality series to raise funds for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia. She said people are “shocked” when she tells them the news, but added “I won’t let you feel sorry for me.”

Briefly, Golden Brooks and D.B. Woodside have welcomed a daughter. Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside arrived on Sept. 1, weighing in at 9 lbs., 2 oz., and measuring 23 inches long. “Everyone is insanely in love with her. We’re so happy,” Golden said. “My mom and dad have moved in to be around her that much more! We’re already calling her our little jumping bean because she’s so active!” The couple, who announced the pregnancy in June, began dating in 2008.… In other baby news, Comics Unleashed” host Byron Allen and wife, producer Jennifer Lucas, are expecting again, reports People.com. Lucas, who married the TV personality in 2007, is pregnant with their second child together, Allen’s rep confirms to the website. “They are very happy,” said the rep. “Everybody is really excited.” Allen and Lucas have a 13-month-old daughter, Chloe Ava.

Finally, Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is heading to her hometown of Chicago for an all-new TV special. The hour-long music special, titled “Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” has the multi-talented star sharing childhood memories of things that contributed most to her success. The special is set to air in December on ABC.

This is part of the October 21, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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