Reality television star Tami Roman is making major moves these days. First, she reappears on the scene looking fabulous with a new slim physique, announcing her partnership with weight loss supplement NV Clinical. And now, according to News One, we’ll be able to check her out every week as she stars in TV One’s new original scripted series, “Belle’s”.

The show’s plot is centered around a widowed soul food restaurant owner and his two adult daughters, following the death of his wife Belle. Tami, who plays Loretta Cooper is described via the show’s press release as “a beautiful, stylish, self-absorbed prima donna with ambitions that alternate between a career in the music business, fashion and finding a rich husband.” It seems that Loretta does not like working at the restaurant and often pretends that she is not an employee. She believes she was destined to be a star, not a waitress. Tami’s co-stars include Elise Neal, Keith David, Ella Joyce and Miguel Nunez.

Roman appears to have her hands pretty full these days, considering that she recently began filming season 5 of “Basketball Wives” as well. She recently revealed in an interview with Tania On The Scene that her role in the television series and her daughters are actually what prompted her to shed the weight.

“They [my daughters] were a big part of it [the weight loss]. They weren’t used to seeing their mom be about 190 lbs. I’m tall so I wear it well, but they were like ‘Mom, you have got to get it together. This is not cute. You’re about to do a new show and “Belle’s” is coming out. You need to represent,’ so I was inspired to just do something,” said Roman.

I think it will be pretty cool to see Tami outside of the reality television setting that we’re so used to seeing her in. Belle’s is set to premiere on February 1st at 10 pm EST.

Check out a clip from “Belle’s” on the next page. What do you think of Tami’s acting? Will you be checking out the show when it airs?

Photo courtesy of WENN

Source: WENN

Things must definitely be getting better at OWN because Oprah has been spending quite a lot of time working on a number of projects outside of her troubled cable network these days.

Most are already aware the queen of daytime talk has put her acting cap back on for a lead role in Lee Daniels’ new film “The Butler,” but Oprah is also ready to step behind the scenes and join the creative side of the team again too because according to The Hollywood Reporter Miss Winfrey is developing an interesting new drama for HBO.

The untitled project centers on a wealthy academic who has become the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college. He and his family are thrust into national headlines, forcing them to present an idyllic public façade, all while engaging in agonizing personal battles and struggling with dark obsessions.

Sounds interesting right?

HR adds that Oprah signed a deal with HBO way back in 2008 to develop miniseries, movies, documentaries and scripted series for the network and it looks like things are finally coming to fruition with playwright Thomas Bradshaw being tapped to write and co-executive produce the one-hour project.

It goes without saying that it’s exciting to think about seeing more brown faces on-screen in scripted series. Between this effort and OWN’s ownership with Tyler Perry it’s clear Oprah is about putting black actors and actresses to work. Gotta love that.

What do you think about this HBO project idea?

Credit: allmoviephoto.com

They are some of Hollywood’s best kept secrets. These talented brothers and sisters can hold their own on the screen alongside the industry’s heavyweights and consistently give great performances. Yet when the awards seasons roll around, their names are barely, albeit, rarely mentioned. Here is our list of actors who we think are truly underrated, and not just the usual suspects. Do you agree?

Credit: toutlecine.com

Aunjanue Ellis has captivated audiences with her riveting performances in movies Ray, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and most recently in her role as Yule Mae in the box office hit The Help. She has also earned critical acclaim for her TV work on True Blood, Missing and The Mentalist. With her acting chops, it’s hard to believe she has yet to land a lead role on TV or on the silver screen. The Brown University graduate was recently invited to teach entertainment industry courses as an Artist-In-Residence at Hampton University.

We’re finally taking the lack of coverage of missing black persons into our own hands with a new series on TV One called “Find Our Missing.” Each of the 10, one-hour docu-drama episodes will tell the story of a missing black person or persons, beginning with the day they disappeared and the search by investigators and loved ones to find them.

According to TV One President and CEO Wonya Lucas:

“Nearly one-third of the missing in this country are black Americans, while we make up only 12 percent of the population. Yet stories about missing people of color are rarely told in the national media…

“Find Our Missing will be dramatic television, but we also hope that TV One’s combined efforts on air, through digital and social media, and through partnerships will also draw attention to a critical issue and bring new information to light for the loved ones of the missing featured in this series, and for others. We hope these profiles will trigger the memory of someone who might have seen something, and feel compelled to come forward and help these families who have suffered for so long,”

S. Epatha Merkerson, famous for role on “Law and Order,” will host the series which debuts Jan. 18. The first episode will tell the stories of Pamela Butler (shown here), a 47-year-old woman who disappeared in DC, and Hasanni Campbell, a five-year-old boy suffering from cerebral palsy who vanished in Oakland, CA.

Do you plan on tuning in to “Find Our Missing?”

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Keeping It Toasty: Stylish Puffer Jacket Options For The Extra Cold Days
• 8 Celebs Spill Their New Year’s Resolutions
• Deuces Before The Due Date! Couples Who Split With Babies On The Way
• Ashy to Classy: Must Have Beauty Products to Curb Head to Toe Winter Dryness
• The Trouble with Waiting for a Man to be ‘Ready’
• Why Gay is NOT The New Black