KUNLE AFOLAYAN'S 'PHONE SWAP' PREMIERES IN MARCH

The much talked about new movie from Kunle Afolayan ‘Phone Swap’ will open at the cinemas in a matter of weeks.

The new project follows Afolayan’s earlier works ‘Irapada’ and ‘Figurine’. Coming years after his last film, pundits say PS should be worth the wait, just as those who’ve seen the trailer have already given him a pass mark.

‘Phone Swap’ stars the likes of Nollywood actress Nse Ikpe-Etim who is gradually turning into a fan favourite, Joke Silva, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Wale Ojo, Hafiz Oyetoro, Ade Ameh, Lydia Forson and a guest appearance from Afolayan himself.

Synopsis of ‘Phone Swap’

Akin and Mary meet for the first time at an airport where they accidentally bump into each other and mistakenly swap their identical phones .

This leads to a destination mix up after they receive one another’s text regarding a travel destination.

Consequently, Akin ends up traveling to where Mary is supposed to go and vice versa.

Neither knows about the swap until they have reached their opposite destinations and ‘the phone’ stops ringing (In Mary’s case) and ‘Won’t stop ringing’ (In Akins’s case) .

As a result of the phone swap, they agree to help carry out each other’s missions, armed with the information and data on each other’s phone.

But it’s not as easy as they both think as new obstacles and complications rise at every turn as they both struggle to adapt to their alien environment and situation.

Mary has to walk in Akins shoes and represent him in a company meeting while Akin has to represent Mary in her the family meeting. This they do with hilarious results.

Watch the movie’s trailers below…

BEYONCE, JAY-Z AND BABY BLUE IVY HIT THE TOWN

 

Superstar couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z were eyed carrying their little Blue Ivy wrapped up against the icy weather in the West Village today, just weeks after they posted lovable photos of the newborn online. This was the first time the superstar and her husband have been seen together in public with their little bundle of joy heading into Sant Ambroeus restaurant for some lunch today.

Blue Ivy came to the world last month at Lenox Hill Hospital but had been kept away from the public until Feb. 10, when the couple posted poignant photos of the newborn online, along with a heartfelt note.

Little Blue Ivy surely hasn't caught up either singer. It was reported that Beyoncé is working on two projects to be released later this year, while Jay-Z said he planned to work in December this year on a solo project and also on a new album with Kanye West.

When Beyoncé announced last Aug. 28 during the MTV Video Music Awards that she was expecting it triggered 8,868 tweets per second, setting a Twitter record.

Source: New York Post

THE IRS IS ALL OVER OUR SEXY ASSES - ROBIN THICKE AND WIFE

Robin Thicke and his wife made a BLOODY FORTUNE in 2009 and 2010 ... problem is, they forgot to share the love with the federal government ... and now Uncle Sam has issued a lien on their property.

According to official documents filed in L.A. ... Thicke and his super-hot actress wife Paula Patton owe the government $492,583.49 for failing to pay income taxes two years in a row.

Patton isn't just a pretty face ... she received critical acclaim for her role in 2009's "Precious" and co-starred with Tom Cruise in the 2011 flick "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol."

But a rep for the Thicke family tells TMZ ... the couple is aggressively trying to fix the problem ... telling us, "They've already paid more than half of this and they're working with the IRS to pay the rest."

I DIDN'T DRUNKENLY TORPEDO BAHAMA CONCERT - LIL WAYNE

Lil Wayne claims he did NOT pass out drunk before a Bahama concert in 2009 ... resulting in a canceled show -- this according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

TMZ broke the story ... Weezy was sued back in 2009 by a promotion company called Red City Entertainment -- which claimed it fronted $432,000 for a concert in the Bahamas, but Weezy drunkenly slept through the whole thing.

When he failed to show, Red Light claims cops showed up to the rapper's hotel room and found him unconscious.

But Weezy insists it's all BS -- claiming, "At no point [that night] did I become so intoxicated that I passed out on a bed in my suit, or anywhere else."

Wayne says the real reason he didn't show up was because the concert was canceled -- he can't remember exactly why ... but believes it had something to do with technical difficulties, like lighting and sound problems.

Wayne is now asking the court for a judgment in his favor.

AVRIL LAVIGNE IN THE RUNNING FOR 'X FACTOR' JUDGE JOB

With two judging slots to fill, it seems the folks at "X Factor" might not have to look far to fill one of the spots ... because former L.A. Reid protégé Avril Lavigne is interested in the gig ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, Avril had her people reach out to the folks at "X Factor" to let them know she'd like to be considered for the job. Our sources says Avril feels that since she came up in the biz at such a  young age, she can mentor the kids on the show the right way.

We're told talks are already happening between the two sides.

Besides her connection to Reid, Avril performed on the finale of season one of "X Factor" with finalist Chris Rene.

POPULAR ACTRESS INI EDO OPENS UP ABOUT MARRIED LIFE + HER MANY SCANDALS

 Sexy actress Ini Edo is one of the prettiest divas in Nollywood.She is one actress who got it all,brain,beauty and talent.

Married to US-based Philip Ehiagwina,Ini who came on the movie scene in 2000,has featured in more than 50 movies since that time.

Ini is a Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Calabar.

The stylish actress is one of the happening stars in Nollywood who are also living large.She is a Glo ambassador and also recently turned producer with her hit movie “I’LL Take My Chances” gradually garnering accolades.

She has a lot of endorsements deals and award winning movies to her credit.

In a recent interview,the talented thespian opens up on marriage and acting.

I have been able to hold on to my marriage. It depends on how you set your priorities and not get carried away by the whole thing. You should know when to be somewhere and when not to be in another place. I just create a balance between my career and my life. My husband is based in the United States of America, but we see each other all the time. He just left Nigeria in January. I will be in the US soon. It is either he is here or I am there. I don’t think I will quit acting. I might divert to other areas that have to do with the movies. Talking about the scandals, my husband knows me more than any other person. Sometimes, when they say things about me, we are together at that moment. He will look at me and ask if I am the same person that people talk about. He knows what I can do.

Asked, any regrets being an actress; she said I don’t regret being an actress. In fact, I feel I am actually blessed being in this profession. I love acting, despite the negative aspect that comes with it. I don’t think I would have loved to do another thing. But, sometimes, I am bothered by the things that are written about me, especially if they are not true. I have taken some legal steps before. That is the only way we can fight back. In all, I intend to be an actress for a long time. Even if I am not acting, I will be in the movie business.

BABY BOY FOR 'GOGE AFRICA' COUPLE ISAAC AND NNEKA MOSES

All honour and glory to God; my wife has delivered a beautiful baby boy. And just looking at him, I realise he is worth the long wait. So welcome baby Kamara Isaac Moses’.

With these words, celebrity couple, Isaac and Nneka Moses, presenters of the long-running Goge Africa travelogue on TV, confirmed the arrival of their bundle of joy after a wait of over thirteen years.

The confirmation, on their page on popular social networking site, Facebook, at 9AM, February 24, 2012, generated congratulatory messages from their numerous fans and well-wishers on the good news, among them Nollywood actress turned evangelist Eucharia Anunobi.

‘God is awesome! This is beyond miracle, words cannot describe how I feel right now, isn’t it worth the wait after all? Where are those that laughed at you guys? Let them come and do the final laughing for the reason for their laughter has finally arrived. Am glad this is happening in my life time’ she wrote.

Another Nollywood actress, Victoria Inyama, posting from London, as well as another fan from the United States stated; ‘Big congratulations on d birth of ur son, it’s d Lord’s doing, and it’s marvelous in our eyes, God bless u all’, and ‘Congratulations Isaac Mo & Nneka. Ukwa luo oge ya, o daa! I celebrate with you on the arrival of your bundle of joy. God is good!

The couple, who got married in 1998 previously suffered a miscarriage, and had been expectant since then.

 A husband and wife team, Isaac and Nneka Moses have been promoting African culture and tourism since 1999. The couple present, produce and direct the award winning culture and tourism TV show – Goge Africa.

VICTORIA BECKHAM GLAMS UP 2012 GREAT BRITISH FILM RECEPTION

Toasting their countries Academy Award hopefuls, the GREAT British Film Reception to honor the British nominees of The 84th Annual Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles, CA on Friday (February 24).

Held at the British Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay’s Hancock Park residence, the red carpet festivities drew out former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, Best Actor in a Leading Role nominee Gary Oldman, who showed up with wife Alexandra Edenborough, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role hopeful Kenneth Branagh.

With the gathering also marking the Los Angeles launch of the GREAT Campaign, other guests on hand included Sophie Winkleman, Jeremy Hunt, Lucy Walker, Julian Sands and Rupert Wyatt.

Of the recognition received by English actors at the 2012 Oscars, UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt proudly said, "The UK has a truly world-class film industry, with amazing people both in front of and behind the camera. This not only contributes to the enormous success of Hollywood film studios but has a hugely positive impact on the British economy. As the UK gears up for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there’s no better time to celebrate the best Britain has to offer in film and creativity.”

Meanwhile, host of the GREAT British Film Reception, HM Consul General Dame Barbara Hay, added, “The wealth of creative talent in Los Angeles is well-known. Our GREAT campaign, which this event launches in Los Angeles, will highlight the breadth and depth of the creative talent in Britain, as well as offering a fantastic opportunity for the world to re-discover the unique qualities that make Britain such a compelling destination – for business and tourism, for innovation and entrepreneurship, and for study and culture.”

TAYLOR SWIFT INVITES CANCER PATIENT TO BE HER ACM AWARDS DATE

Finally getting a break from her "The Lorax" press efforts, Taylor Swift used her well-deserved downtime to tend to a few household needs in Beverly Hills, CA on Friday (February 24).

The Grammy-winning artist weaved her way up and down the aisles at a local Ralphs Supermarket while loading up her cart and hitting the checkout counter.

Miss Swift's grocery loadup comes just after it was reported that she's once again shown her good nature by inviting an 18-year-old cancer patient named Kevin McGuire to be her date to the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 1st.

The invitation came after Taylor was propositioned via a Facebook page created by Kevin's sister, Victoria, asking the"Mean" singer to take her ill brother to their school's prom.

To the prom invite, Swift replied, “I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it to your prom." But to the elation of Mr McGuire and his sister, she then added, “But... I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up… Would you be my date?”

Overwhelmed with joy over the opportunity to spend the night alongside his idol, Kevin told USA Today, "Obviously I said yes," while adding that the ACM Awards invite "is a lot better than the senior prom."

CHRIS BROWN ALL SMILES AFTER ALLEGED PHONE-SNATCHING

Chris Brown's not so camera shy after all -- just hours after he allegedly snatched a girl's phone for snapping a pic of him ... the singer posed for a photo with some female fans in Miami ... BEAMING HIS FACE OFF.

The pic was snapped outside the valet after the Heat/Magic game on Sunday -- and the lady on the right tells TMZ, CB was extremely nice during their brief interaction.

Chris had left American Airlines Arena early to beat the crowd -- but our source stopped him to say she's a big fan. When he heard this, they chatted briefly and Chris agreed to take the picture.

If you notice, CB's wearing the same chain he wore to Miami's Cameo nightclub the night before (below) -- when he allegedly snatched the girl's iPhone.