jill scott 50 pounds

 On the cover and in the pages, Jill Scott flaunts her 50-pound-lighter frame photographed in a captivating shoot by Steven Gomillion and Dennis Leupold. Meanwhile, the Grammy Award-winner’s first CD and video in four years hits the airwaves. EBONY contributor Dream Hampton sits down with Scott, who opens up about the knock-down, drag-out battle with her former fiancé, her move from Hidden Beach Records and her 2-year-old son.

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Danielle staub real housewives

 As previously announced, Danielle Staub is officially gone -- but not forgotten -- from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" after two seriously drama-packed seasons.

"I'm way too good for this," Staub, 48, tells Us. "They have used me about as much as I can be used."

Since the moment the Garden State version of the franchise debuted last year, Staub clashed with the four other housewives, despite an initial friendship with Jacqueline Laurita.

"I think it's time for me to move on and upward," says Staub. "I don't see any interest for me to be attacked like that."

"I mean, what's left for To kill me? Bravo seems to be glorifying their behavior. And I think it's almost like telling children to behave poorly at school, 'It's OK.' "

"I want my own show," she tells Us.

"I want to be me now," Staub continues. "Not me according to other people. Me ... A spin-off is absolutely, positively where I'm going."

A spin-off, she says, would allow "my kids to be seen for the wonderful children that they are. I want to be shown as a mother, an artist, a supporter of my charities and the foundations that I'm passionate about. I want to use my platform to speak about the things that I love in my life."

What about the future of "RHONJ" post-Danielle? "The bottom line is, they need me, I don't need them," she says. "They don't talk about anything but me. I don't talk about them, at all. I talk about me too!"

She adds: "I have no need for them in my life. They have a great need for me to make the show successful. I made it successful."

One topic her spin-off might cover: her continued search for her birth mother. "I did not give [this] to Bravo because I felt like there was no fair portrayal of me and my family ... to share with people who didn't even want to portray me as a human being."

"So that will be shared," Staub says. "I will do a breaking story on that when it does come out and it will be a part of my spin-off."

Life these days? "Life is fantastic!" she tells Us. "I am far too busy to be around things that don't make me feel good and people that don't make me feel good."

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How i met your mother

Created by former Late Show with David Letterman writers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, the 30-minute CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother was, per its title, related entirely in flashback, from the vantage point of 2030. 

The hero, Ted (his "old" voice provided by Bob Saget) was endeavoring to regale his children with the stories of how he wooed and won his wife and their mother. The main action took place in "the present," after the twentysomething Ted (played in flashback by Josh Radnor) decided to... Read more take upon himself a bride after the unexpected engagement of his friend Marshall (Jason Segel) to the lovely Lily (Alyson Hannigan). Ted had his sights set on a girl named Robin (Cobie Smulders), but there was no guarantee that she would ultimately be the "mother" of the title, not as long as Mike allowed himself to be immersed in the what-the-hell lifestyle of the early 21st century. Providing snide sidelines comments (and most of the laughs) was Ted's know-it-all best pal, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). How I Met Your Mother premiered on September 19, 2005.

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Your cheatin' chart

Your cheatin' chart - Celebrity cheating scandals

Bill Clinton

Now that former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he fathered a secret child, don't worry if you're finding it hard to keep these cheaters' details straight. Trips to South America. Client No. 9. Foot-tapping in the airport bathroom. With so many amorous politicians on the loose, it's easy to get mixed up. So, here's a refresher on some of the biggest recent political sex scandals, beginning with former democrat President Bill Clinton.

When: Depends on the scandal; the Monica Lewinsky story broke in January 1998.

Infidelity:  18-month affair with the White House intern.

Making it worse: First denied the allegations, then admitted he and Lewinsky had an "inappropriate relationship."

Stand by me: Wife Hillary Clinton initially defended her husband, calling the allegations part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

Lost: Impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Watch coverage of the trial.

Yikes! factor: Lewinsky surrendered a blue dress that she said contained physical evidence.

Postscript: Bill stayed in office Hillary won a Senate seat lost a presidential nomination and is now secretary of state.

Jim McGreevey

Position: Former New Jersey Gov., Democrat

When: August 2004

Infidelity: Had an affair with Golan Cipel a man who had served as his aide.

Making it worse: Cipel denied the affair, saying he had been sexually harassed.

Stand by me: McGreevey's wife, Dina Matos joined him at the news conference, then later divorced him and wrote a memoir.

Lost:  Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: His wife said that she did not know he was gay and that he duped her into marriage to advance his career. See them together.

Postscript: McGreevey enrolled in divinity school at General Theological Seminary.

David Vitter

Position: Former Louisiana senator, Republican
When: July 2007

Infidelity:  Phone number appeared in the records of a high-end Washington prostitution ring.

Making it worse: Had long championed family values, morality and ethics.

Stand by me: His wife, Wendy Vitter defended him, saying their marriage was "not perfect." Watch them speak out about the scandal.

Lost: Seemingly nothing; refused to relinquish Senate seat, remains married. See photos of the couple.

Yikes! factor: The madam of a high-priced brothel called him "one of the nicest and most honorable men I've met.

Postscript: Won his 2010 re-election campaign.

Larry Craig

Position: Former Idaho senator, Republican

When: June 2007

Infidelity: Arrested in a Minneapolis airport men's room, where police said he tapped his foot to signal interest in sexual activity. Watch coverage of his arrest.

Making it worse: Police said he handed his business card to the arresting officer and asked.

Stand by me: His wife, Suzanne held his hand at the news conference. Watch it.

Lost: Didn't quit but decided not to run for another Senate term and left office in 2008.

Yikes! factor:  How did he explain how his foot touched that of the undercover cop in the next stall?

Postscript: Craig started a consulting group.

Eliot Spitzer

Position: Former New York governor, Democrat

When: March 2008

Infidelity: Caught on a federal wiretap in March 2008 arranging to meet a high-priced call girl.

Making it worse: Signed a law raising the penalties for patronizing prostitutes.

Stand by me: His wife looked grim and exhausted at the news conference.

Lost:  Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: Known as Client No. 9.

Postscript: Wrote a column for an online news site and co-hosts a CNN show.

John Edwards

Position: Former North Carolina senator, Democrat

When: August 2008

Infidelity: Affair with former campaign videographer Rielle Hunter denied fathering her child.

Making it worse: First denied tabloid reports; later noted that his wife's cancer was in remission at the time of the affair.

Stand by me: Wife Elizabeth Edwards (now deceased) backed him; in her book said she didn't know if he had fathered Hunter's child.

Lost: Could damage a future presidential bid.

Yikes! factor: National Enquirer caught him visiting Hunter at a hotel; published photo of him allegedly holding the baby.

Postscript: Andrew Young, Edwards' aide who initially claimed to be the child's father, reportedly has book deal.

John Ensign

Position: Former U.S. senator from Nevada, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Cindy Hampton, a former aide.

Making it worse: Hampton was married to a staffer in the senator's office.

Stand by me: Wife Darlene Ensign reaffirmed her commitment to him.

Lost:  Resigned in May 2011 amid an ethics probe.

Yikes! factor: Ensign claimed that Cindy Hampton's husband had demanded money.

Postscript: May face criminal charges.

Mark Sanford

Position: Former South Carolina governor, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Maria Belen Chapur, a woman living in Argentina he called his "soul mate"

Making it worse: Visited Chapur on Father's Day, leaving his children with his wife of nearly 20 years.

Stand by me: Wife had asked for a trial separation two weeks earlier; issued a statement saying she loved her husband.

Lost: Remained in office through January 2011, amid calls for resignation; stepped down as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Yikes! factor: Disappeared for several days to Argentina, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Postscript: Stay tuned.

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