The Pulse of Entertainment: Bounce TV Premieres
‘In the Cut' starring Dorien Wilson and Lexi's Voice Earns a Ear on ‘Just Listen'
Motown Gospel Album
"This barbershop is the new bar," said Bentley Kyle Evans ("Love That
Girl," Martin Lawrence), creator and executive producer of Bounce TV's comedy series
"In the Cut", which takes place in a barbershop. "In The Cut"
premiered on Bounce TV this week and airs each Monday at 9pm. "You can talk about
anything...buy hot goods! You can get it all there."
The series follows
Jay Weaver played by Dorien Wilson ("Sister Sister," "The Parkers") who owns
a barbershop and meets his long-lost son Kenny Clark, played by Ken Lawson. Jay has to be a father now and Kenny
has to be a son. The day to day issues that come up while they attempt that - in the barbershop
environment - makes for lots of laughs.
"I get my hair cut from the same person that cuts my hair on the set," Dorien laughed when asked if he still goes
to the barbershop. When I asked what barbershops have been saying about the show he said,
"We get a great response...They say it's similar to what we portray, it's where you
get to talk about your troubles...as well as get groomed."
The Bounce
TV series debuted in 2015 and this week launched its fourth season of "In the Cut,"
which also stars Kellita Smith as Cheryl, Laura Hayes as Mabel and John Marshall Jones as best friend Smitty.
Though he wouldn't say it Dorien is the star of the Bounce TV show. He is NAACP Image Award winner
and has also starred in such show as "The Steve Harvey Show," "Friends"
and in the film A Weekend with the Family.
Its creator Bentley said the 13 episodes of "In the Cut" were shot in two days. A master television producer, director
and writer Evans has contributed to putting a positive light on the portrayal of black
people. He always wanted to be behind the camera but was told to get in where he could
and that was as an actor in the film House Party starring the members of the Pop group
Immature - Marques, Kelton and Jerome. Next Dorien worked as show runner for Fox's "Martin," "WB's
"The Jamie Foxx Show" and TV One's "Love That Girl." As screen writer he worked
on Martin Lawrence's film A Thin Line Between Love & Hate and as creator and executive
producer of Bounce TV's "Family Times," "Grown Folks," and "In
The Cut." www.BounceTV.com
Contemporary Gospel artist Lexi was absent from the music
scene after the passing of her husband Michael Allen, but recently Motown Gospel executive
Monica Coates took her in and debut her latest project "Just Listen," an eight
track offering. Its first single "In the Room" is one of my favorites on the
Urban flavored album.
"He would have been thrilled,"
Lexi said about what her late husband would say about her Motown deal. Lexi said she lost the
passion for singing after his death but this deal must have reminded her of the vocal gift
God has given her. "God is allowing me to experience joy, laughter...life in the highest
sense,"
"It's God," Lexi
said about being able to find her passion again. "I had no control over my emotions and memories. There is no statue
of limitation on grief."
Lexi is Alexis Allen and she co-wrote all but one song on the project that is written by Marvin Winans. My favorite cuts on
the "Just Listen" album include #3 the single "In the Room" for its
Urban flavor; #2 "Runnin'" for being so inspiring; #4 "I Choose You"
featuring Gene Moore because the two vocals offer perfect harmony; #5 "Simple"
for also being inspiring, and the title track #6 "Just Listen," because it is a sweet almost
Country flavored song and I love the strings from Kenneth "KC" Knight.
"The content comes from experiences with God and about God," Lexi said about her new project.
"Realistic relationships with God...I had a problem that kept me up at night. I decided
to spend time with him (God). The problem was still there but I had peace, I could go to
sleep."
Her song writing partners
on "Just Listen" include Eric Dawkins and Anson Dawkins (Dawkins & Dawkins). Lexi's vocals are reminiscent,
to me, of a mixture of the vocals of Vanessa Williams (Destiny's Child) and Kierra Sheard.
Producers include Terence Vaughn, Dawkins & Dawkins, Dana T. Sorey and Max Stark. "Just
Listen" is executive produced by Monica Coates. www.Online-Lexi.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership
of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public
Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director
(at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual "Uplifting Minds II" Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore on Sat April
21st 1 - 4p, at Security Square Mall and Los Angeles on Sat October 20th 1 - 4pm at the
Celebrity Centre in Hollywood). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase
competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) with over $15,000 in prizes. www.UpliftingMinds2.com.