JHud, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Barack and Michelle Obama

Chicago's the Oscar-award winning actress Jennifer Hudson,
wrote in her MySpace blog a note of thanks to her fans and friends.

"I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. My sister and I take great comfort and strength from your love and concern. jhud"

Though Hudson still mourns the devastating tragedy which occurred in late October when her mother, Darnell, and brother, Jason, were found shot to death in their Chicago home followed three days later by the discovery of the body of Julian, her 7 year-old nephew; she has agreed to continue with the Gap Stores' holiday campaignusing her smiling countenace in its ads. Hudson, pictured in the ad in a bright red sweater, was photographed in NYC last July, is one of several celebrities featured in the ad to be seen in magazines, newspapers and on billboards in New York and Los Angeles with the tag line "Shine Your Own Star".

Samuel L. Jackson, one of the surviving actors featured in the recently released film "Soul Men" says as he goes around the tee vee circuit promoting the film he doesn't feel normal promoting his latest film "Soul Men" without costar Bernie Mac.

In the movie, Jackson and Mac play former bandmates who embark on a zany cross-country road trip to perform at the memorial concert for their deceased lead singer played by John Legend. Mac died of complications from pneumonia in August after production on the film ended. "It's even weirder that he never saw the movie," Jackson said. He describes a twenty year relationship with Mac. It was a friendship wherein they shared their dreams of making it big in the entertainment world.

Renowned film maker Spike Lee tells readers in New York Magazine's 40th Anniversary issue he's glad Obama won the presidency. "...I think he’s a visionary. Actually, Barack told me the first date he took Michelle to was Do the Right Thing. I said, thank God I made it. Otherwise you would have taken her to Soul Man." The highly acclaimed and controversial director speculates Michelle would have been like, "What’s wrong with this brother?” The 1986 film "Soul MAN", not to be confused with the new Sam Jackson, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes film "Soul MEn", was directed by Steve Miner. It is a race comedy featuring actor C. Thomas Howell. The story about a white man who disguises himself as a black man in order to be accepted as a student at Harvard Law School. Some people (??) think the film directed by Steve Miner helped pave the way for cultural acceptance of Barack Obama. More about this speculation in another post.

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