Scoop: Chris Brown Takes Stage with C-list Lineup

Other Scoops: SATC Samantha spoiler and Mary's tribute

Chris Brown’s first concert deal since he assaulted ex-girlfriend Rihanna back in February is on the books. On Oct. 27, Brown will headline Power 105.1’s Powerhouse ’09 concert. Keri Hilson, The-Dream, Trey Songz, Mario, Day26 and Ginuwine will also perform.

Concert promoters and music producers say the caliber of this lineup isn’t up to what Brown would have shared a bill with before the assault.

“This is a pretty C-list lineup,” said one promoter who’s not involved in the show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. “Keri Hilson is good, Ginuwine has some following, but this is nothing like the lineup that would have surrounded him this time last year. Chris was the Michael Jackson heir apparent, he had huge endorsement deals. This isn’t the sort of show you would have expected from him before he got in trouble.”

Brown still isn't considered a “safe” booking, according to some music insiders, but for this concert, Brown was worth the risk.

“Chris isn’t advertiser-safe yet — his image has a long way to go,” said a producer. “But for this show, he’ll draw a crowd, so the producers of the show are willing to pay. Just because he pled guilty doesn’t mean that all his fans have gone away. And he’s got to start getting back onto the scene at some point, it might as well be here.”

Sex and the City’ Samantha spoiler
More details about the upcoming “Sex and the City: The Movie” sequel are leaking out. Proudly single Samantha Jones might end up not-so-single by movie’s end, according to Life & Style magazine.

The magazine reports that Kim Cattrall, who plays Samantha, stepped out in a wedding gown during filming Sept. 18, and she’s in a scene with a love interest that “has wedding written all over it.”

That scene involves “SATC” newcomer Phillip Kleva. He told L&S that he’s about to embark on seven days of filming, and the scene titled “A Black Tie Affair” is what has him thinking he has a shot at walking down the aisle with Samantha. The movie is due in theaters in May 2010.

Mary Travers honored in Central Park
Just as the summer of death was coming to a close, Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary passed away. Many fans felt she didn’t get the caliber of tribute she deserved, since her death came so close after Patrick Swayze’s.

On Sept. 23, Peter Yarrow and Paul  Stookey took to the stage for the first time since her death, performing at the NPCA Feel Free concert in New York’s Central Park. All 12,000 in attendance were on their feet for a tribute performance of “This Land.”

Counting Crows, Alison Krauss, Eric Benet and Carole King (who was nursing a broken foot) also performed, as did actress Emmy Rossum — who actually can sing.

Lingering ‘Clouds’ at weekend box office
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” looks like it could hang on to the No. 1 spot at the box office — the only contenders who could knock it off are musical remake “Fame” and “Surrogates.”

The latter stars Bruce Willis, but he’s been noticeably absent from promotional posters, and his star power has recently fallen. Working in favor of “Fame” is its name recognition and the fact that fellow musicals “Mamma Mia!” and “Hairspray” have done well at the box office.

However, there’s not much out there in terms of pure kid fare, and kids — and their parents — are repeat customers. Look for “Cloudy” to beat out “Fame,” but only by a slim margin.

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter @courtneyatmsnbc

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