A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Meanwhile, word on the street (at least via the Los Angeles Times) is that "DREAMGIRLS" - loosely based on a girl group like Diana Ross and the Supremes - could use an endorsement from the grand diva herself, who represents one vote on the Academy Awards voting committee. Though fictional, the behind-the-scenes drama of three young women of humble rearing -- who together come up through the ranks of a black-owned record company as the world fiercely embraces their look and sound -- is considered by many to be the unofficial Diana Ross story (with a few setting changes - the girls in the script are from Chicago vs. Detroit; without Ross' actual soundtrack of unstoppable hits; and accompanied with a shift in narrative arc that leaves the Florence-Ballard-like character, Effie, with post-group success, after she's kicked out. In the real world, Florence Ballard, at 32, died of cardiac arrest (and by most terms, a broken heart) as she was raising her kids just blocks from where she, Diana, and Mary Wilson came togther in the Brewster Projects of Detroit.). When the Broadway musical launched in December 1981, it was a huge hit. But as it received acclaim, Diana Ross - at the height of her solo success - chose not to "validate" the show by seeing it or endorsing it (to make sure - she says - it didn't give the impression that it was her "actual story"). Still, much success and adoration came to Sheryl Lee Ralph, who played Deena (the Diana-Ross-like character) and her fellow castmates Loretta Devine (who played Lorrell, the Mary-Wilson knockoff) and Jennifer Holliday (who - in her turn as Effie [READ: Florence] - brought ACT ONE to its close and the audiences to their feet everytime she belted out the hit "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"). During this time, lesser-known original Supreme, Mary Wilson, would seize the moment and give the musical her endorsement. Several years later, she'd go so far as to borrow its title (and some of its themes) for the first of two memoirs that chronicled her take on the "Supremes" years (neither of which were flattering to Ross or Berry Gordy, whose character compliment in the piece is Curtis, played by Jamie Foxx in the movie). 25-plus years later (since "Dreamgirls" was unveiled), the concern is that any bad press or rejection of the work (especially coming from Ross, a muse for the whole project) could put a bad taste in Academy voters' mouths and reduce its significance to be considered for Mr. Oscar). Perhaps the good news for "Dreamgirls" (the movie) is Beyonce is portraying the Diana-like "Deena" and has a reportedly good relationship with Ross to whom she's often compared as the superstar lead singer of her own girl group, "Destiny's Child". And we even hear that Ross was considered for a cameo in this film (and she reportedly even took a couple of meetings to explore the possibility). So, perhaps she's softened to the idea of "art imitates life" (with creative license), especially since it was the same kind of criticism that she received for her loosely-based portrayal of Billie Holliday in "Lady Sings The Blues", which was given the Hollywood treatment that veered further away from the "actual" story (though it landed on the "essence" and "spirit" of the story). Time will tell how sometimes mystical and mysterious Miss Ross plays this part... (and as the calendar goes, we're looking at about a month and a half to watch and see if she  shows up on that red carpet or in front of someone's camera - stating her case).

In the "TESTIFY" section of "The Life of Riley", I talk about the unprecedented move of taking a boyfriend home to meet the folks. On the fashion tip, I found myself inside of something new as well. I sported OMAR, my first, custom-made tux (READ: couture). He is now selling his hot and sophisticated brand of bespoke, tailored menswear out of my favorite new boutique N, deliciously nestled across from soul food eatery Amy Ruth (one of President Clinton's favorites) on 116th Street near Lenox Avenue in Harlem. [N is a phonetic play on words for "N Harlem" (it's location), "N Crowd" (its demo), "N Style" (its mantra)]. The fabulous, new women's and men's store (nharlemnewyork.com) was featured in the New York Times STYLE section a couple of Thursdays ago and I am a client and continue to sing N's praises for great customer service and high-end, but approachable, fashions - from Tracy Reese to Hugo Boss. My OMAR tux was soft debuted in Savannah to resounding applause as I had OMAR include rust-colored detailing in the jacket's lining and on the cuffs of the band-collar'd shirt -- in sync with the wedding colors. But the debut of the ensemble that will make THE IMPRESSION is the premiere of "DREAMGIRLS" in December at New York City's Ziegfeld Theater. And I know it will be as much a showstopper as I'm expecting the movie to be. (To this point, I've only seen a 30-minute sneak peek of the highly anticipated big-screen feature after which I had a chance to interview breakout star Jennifer Hudson, who plays Effie in the movie musical. She and I chatted about all things "DREAMGIRLS" before a packed house of 500 + attendees at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Indianapolis back in August). That interview got a mention and picture in "JET" Magazine. Guess who is arriving, huh?