December 2006 Mara Brock Akil - Girlfriend has Game! By Marsha Goro d k i n

Girlfriends premiered September 11, 2000 and has returned for its triumphant seventh year. Wednesday, November 29, they read, “Wrong Side of the Tracks”, the 150th episode of G i r l f r i e n d s . The show provides an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and life facing women today. Wi t h fearlessness and sincerity, it takes on universal issues which interest all women. Whether it’s learning to date after divorce or balancing friendships and a new marriage, Girlfriends treats them all with tenderness, care and re s p e c t . Girlfriends stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Reggie Hayes, and has found a home here at CBS Studio Center on Stage 20. Girlfriends can be seen on Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. (PST) on the CW. A 2006 episode of Girlfriends, entitled “The Game”, launched a spin-off series, Mara Brock Akil with the cast Golden Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross and Persia White The Game , which also resides at CBS Studio Center on Stage 19. The Game stars Tia Mowry, Wendy Raquel Later Akil served as superv i s i n g In 2006, the show won a BET Comedy Robinson, Brittany Daniel, Pooch Hall, producer on the comedy series The Jamie Aw a rd for Outstanding Writing for a Coby Bell and Hosea Chanchez. Fo xx Sho w. For the 2000-01 television Comedy Series. The Game was the first new comedy season she created her first comedy Akil is listed among VIBE magazine’s airing on The CW network and can be series, Girlfriends, which was the fastest “ Top 100 Hottest People”; H o n e y seen on Monday nights at 9:30 p.m. growing comedy on network television magazine’s “Top 25 Hottest Women in (PST) following Girlfriends. during that season. Now entering season Urban Entertainment”; and she was Mara Brock Akil is the creator and 7, Girlfriends, has earned Akil a second f e a t u r ed in E s s e n c e as one of the executive producer for both of the hit SHINE Award for “The Burning Vagina “Outstanding Women Under 40”. CBS Paramount Network Te l e v i s i o n Monologues” episode; 2002, 2003 and A native of Los Angeles, Akil was comedy series. Akil began her career in 2004 NAACP Image Awards nominations primarily raised in Kansas City, Missouri. the entertainment industry as a writer on for Outstanding Comedy Series; and a She received a Bachelor of Arts degre e Fox’s critically acclaimed South Central. PRISM Award for the “Blood is Thicker in J o u r nalism from the pre s t i g i o u s She later moved on to write for UPN’s Thank Liquor” episode for her accurate N o r t h w e s t e r n University and, while groundbreaking series Moesha where she depiction of alcohol use in an there, became a member of the Delta became one of the series’ producers after entertainment program. Sigma Theta Sorority. four seasons. Honored for her writing In 2005 she and her cast of Girlfriends Akil is married to writer/director Salim talent, she received the SHINE (Sexual were honored with the Black Filmmakers Akil (Soul Foo d for Showtime/Paramount) Health in Entertainment) Aw a r d Hall of Fame award for their outstanding and enjoys mentoring young people, presented by The Media Project in 1999 p e r f o r mance, production, positive especially aspiring writers. She and for an episode of Moesha entitled “Birth influence and portrayal of African- Salim reside in Los Angeles with their Control”. Americans in film, television and video. son, Yasin. December 2006

Production Schedule

CSI: NY Carla’s Café Commissary ...... 5692 (CBS Productions/CBS) Car Wash ...... 5042 Passions Cellular Phones ...... 5218 (NBC Universal TV/NBC) Client Services ...... 5099 A c c o r ding to Jim Computer Training ...... 5218 (Touchstone TV/ABC) Emergency Line ...... 5555 Tell Me You Love Me Grip Dept ...... 5711 (Girl On Top, Inc/HBO) Hair Salon ...... 6157 Holiday Untitled Bill Engvall Pilot Internet Access ...... 6221 (Very Funny Productions/TBS) Joe’s Gym ...... 5458 Wild Hogs (feature re s h o o t s ) Toy Drive Lighting ...... 5349 (Wild Hogs Productions) Please help support the Children’s Notary ...... 5837 Days of Wrath (feature ) Hospital Los Angeles Pager Rental ...... 5218 (Celia Fox Entertainment) DONATE A TOY!!! Parking Signs ...... 5670 The Game Bins located at the Paint Dept...... 5396 or 5858 (CBS Paramount Network TV/CW) Main Gate and Carla’s Café Safety Hotline ...... 6078 G i r l f r i e n d s Thank you to everyone that made a Sign Shop ...... 5395 (CBS Paramount Network TV/CW) contribution to the annual holiday toy Special Effects ...... 5671 Comedy Colosseum Pilot drive sponsored by the Studio City Supply Station ...... 5001 (Vin Di Bona/NBC) Chamber of Commerce. The toys will be Take 5 Coffee ...... 5979 hand delivered to children in the rehab floor of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles right before the holidays. Children on QUESTION the rehab floor spend anywhere from a week to several months there, recovering from accidents, burns, and illnesses that Which R&B artist performs the have left them in need of rehabilitation. In addition to the toys, the Chamber Girlfriends theme song? takes lunch to the staff (donated by local restaurants). Santa is also a part of the Holiday Security Tips festivities, helping to hand out toys and ANSWER on page 4 reading to the children. The holiday season unfortunately tends to bring forth an increase in theft. Employees and tenants should take the fo l l owi ng pre cautions to help CALENDAR ensure the security of their belongings. •Do not leave wallets, purses or cash unattended at any time. •Secure laptop computers with a locking device December or store in a secure area when not in use. •Offices and dressing rooms should be secured when unoccupied. •Do not leave gifts or valuables in offices or 12/15 Hanukkah begins dressing rooms overnight unless the items are locked in a desk or cabinet. 12/21 Winter Solstice •Do not hold security doors open for others. 12/25 Christmas •Do not allow unaccompanied delivery persons or couriers to wander though offices. 12/26 Kwanzaa • Re po r t any suspicious persons to Se c u ri t y 12/31 New Year’s Eve immediately.

Have a SAFE and happy holiday season!

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Marsha Gorodkin DESIGN & LAYOUT: Elizabeth Gulick

2 December 2006 December 2006

Recent CBS Staff Special Congratulations! C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! Appointments &

P ro m o t i o n s Norma Anguiano Tracy Simpson, Financial Planning Environmental Health & Safety 20 years of service at Christian Del Canto On your marriage to CBS Systems Administrator, IT Maggi Elizondo Department 9-29-2006 Christian first joined CBS in December 2004 as an information systems analyst. In April 2006 he temporarily parted ways Mike Skinner, Director with CBS Studio Center of Plant Services until his re t u rn in November. During his On the birth of your d e p a rt u re, Christian worked for ETS Expre s s , Neil Fuerst grandson Inc. as an IT manager overseeing all aspects of 40 years Micah Nolan the infrastru c t u re including desktops, serv e r s Hammersley 10-17-2006 and network. In his new job Christian will Rana Platz manage and maintain software and hard w a re 30 years t e c h n o l o g y, supporting Studio depart m e n t s and tenants, including all aspects of PC s u p p o rt, software installation, configuration Scott Dipanni and implementation. He will also be 25 years responsible for supporting end users by maintaining all system upgrades and Marc Senate managing server backup and re c o v e r y 25 years. p rocesses. For fun Christian likes playing Te x a s hold’em poker, tennis, and basketball, and watching good movies.

3 December 2006

cbs employees and tenants enjoy 30% off your check everyday 11:30 am - 4:00 pm

(please present badge for discount)

12161 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, California 91604 818-985-1744

(does not include Loco Lunch, Alcoholic Beverages, Take-Out or any other offer)

Happy Holidays

from

ANSWER

To place an ad in this publication, please call Marsha, Client Services at 818-655-5099

Si n g e r, s e l f - t a u g ht key bo a rd i s t, a n d prolific songwriter, Angie Stone whose first claim to fame was being the lead vocalist on Ve rt i cal Hold's smoo t h urban dance track "Seems You're Much Too Busy." She is a native of Columbia, South Carolina.

4