Sunday, January 20, 2008 | Quick, Radar
SP Radar

COMING SOON: MADEA BULKS UP

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Tyler Perry
CREDIT: Spark St. Jude
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Nick Parsons
CREDIT: Courtesy of Nick Parsons
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Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson
CREDIT: Spark St. Jude
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Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Exhibition
CREDIT: Spark St. Jude

COMING SOON: MADEA BULKS UP

And here we thought that playwright and movie director Tyler Perry just used padding to become his big-bosomed alter ego, the no-nonsense matriarch Madea. At least, until we learned last week that Perry’s name was among those of celebrities believed to have received or used performance-enhancing steroids, according to an ongoing investigation in Albany, N.Y. Perry hadn’t responded to the allegations as of press time, and doesn’t seem to be a target of prosecution, but there’s a chance the Motion Picture Association of America could put an asterisk next to all of his box office records. Rapper 50 Cent, hit producer Timbaland and R&B singer Mary J. Blige were also named in the probe, although to our knowledge, none of them has to don a fat suit and slap some sense into a variety of fools on a regular basis.

THE HEALING POWER OF ROCK

Local radio personality “English” Nick Parsons helps countless aspiring singers live their dream via his gig as emcee for the popular hard-rock karaoke band Metalsome Inc. Now’s a good time to return the favor. Parsons, a friend of The Sunday Paper, broke his hip during a bad car accident last weekend, and as a part-time DJ, he has no medical insurance. So his Metalsome friends are coming to his rescue, devoting the remainder of their Tuesday and Sunday night shows at 10 High this month to raising funds for Parsons’ medical expenses. A $5 cover goes straight to helping cover his medical bills, as does a $10 minimum fee to get onstage and wail with the band. For more information, call 10 High at 404-873-3607 or visit www.metalsome.net. And tell Nick we said “Get well soon, mate.”

Party of the Month

There’s your average star-studded A-town soiree, and then there’s The Trumpet Awards. Created by Xernona Clayton to honor black Americans who’ve succeeded against sizable odds, the gala has become a centerpiece of the city’s social calendar. This year’s bash was no different, attracting such luminaries as co-hosts Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, twin doctors Vincent and Vance Moss, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ludacris, winner of the Usher Raymond Altruism Award, Chris Tucker, Danny Glover—whose new film “Honeydripper” is out now—the Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Charles Avery. That’s right, Uncle Phil from “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” There were so many stars, in fact, that you didn’t even notice the absence of honoree Halle Berry, whose pregnancy prevented her from attending. Now that’s a party.

Olympic Champions

If you’ve been anywhere near Centennial Olympic Park over the last week or so, no doubt you’ve been struck as speechless as we were by the Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Exhibition. These stunning works are in the midst of a worldwide tour to celebrate the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and to promote the “borderless, worldwide” feel of the games. At the end of the tour, the best of these sculptures (more than 50 of them in all) will be awarded (what else?) gold, silver and bronze medals. The exhibition lasts through Jan. 20—so get going, already.