Tracee Ellis Ross is tired of pretending she likes the show, “Reed Between the Lines.”

Ok, that’s not what she said, but she is leaving the terribly scripted so-called BET comedy. Her departure comes shortly after joining the cast of NBC’s fall pilot, “Bad Girls,” a show about women in federal prison. The show wasn’t picked up, though.

So what’s the plan?

In a statement Ross said that, “Reed Between the Lines” was a show, “I believe in and care about,” and that there was a “chance,” that she might return at some point.

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Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich has arrived at the federal prison in Colorado where he will begin serving a 14-year sentence for corruption.

With two of his lawyers beside him, Blagojevich arrived at the entrance to the low-security federal prison near Littleton, Colo., at about 12:50 p.m. Chicago time.

He had approached the prison earlier, but then headed to a lunch spot for a final meal before he surrendered. He ordered a double patty melt, fries and a soda but didn’t finish the meal, according to Josh Andreakos, general manager of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

In what has become a familiar scene in the three years since Blagojevich was taken out of his home in handcuffs by federal agents, the former governor had bounded down the stairs of his Ravenswood Manor home hours earlier as cameramen, photographers and reporters crushed around him and well-wishers shouted encouragement.

Reporters shouted out questions as Blagojevich, dressed in a dark blazer and shirt with blue jeans, walked toward a waiting Chrysler sedan. “You are the best,” someone yelled. In a few moments, the crowd quieted down and Blagojevich made a brief statement.

“Saying goodbye is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” he said. “I’m leaving with a heavy heart, a clear conscience, but I have high, high hopes for the future. Among the hopes is that you guys go home and our neighbors can get their neighborhood back. I’ll see you guys when I see ya. I’ll see you around.”

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Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined $20,000 for what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald famously referred to as a criminal corruption crime spree at the time of Blagojevich’s arrest three years ago.

Patti Blagojevich buried her head in her husband’s shoulder and the two embraced. He pulled back to brush tears off her cheek and then rubbed her shoulders.

Blagojevich will have to serve just under 12 years under federal rules that say defendants must complete 85 percent of their sentence. Blagojevich doesn’t have to report to federal prison until Feb. 16.

The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge James Zagel is more than double the prison term given in 2006 to former Gov. George Ryan, who is serving a 6 ½-year sentence in a federal prison in Terre Haute.

Before pronouncing sentence, Zagel told Blagojevich he had abused the public trust. “When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired,” Zagel said.

The judge said Blagojevich was clearly responsible for his crimes, not his underlings as the former governor had argued. “He marched them and ruined a few of their careers and more than that in the process,” the judge said.

While Zagel said he was sympathetic to how the sentence would affect Blagojevich’s daughters, he asked, “Why did devotion as a father not deter him? … Now it is too late.”

Zagel announced the sentence after a somber Blagojevich, his voice cracking with emotion, pleaded for a lighter sentence with a round of apologies to the judge, to the jurors who convicted him, to the public and to his family.

“I’m here convicted of crimes. The jury decided I was guilty. I am accepting of it. I acknowledge it, and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it,” Blagojevich said.

“I want to apologize to the people of Illinois, to the court, for the mistakes I have made…I never set out to break the law. I never set out to cross lines.”

Blagojevich said he thought he was acting in accord with the law when he did things for which he later was convicted.

“I was mistaken. The jury convicted me and they convicted me because those were my actions…I am responsible. I caused it all. I’m not blaming anybody. I was the governor, and I should have known better. And I am just so incredibly sorry.”

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The Grammy-winning rapper made a surprise appearance in front of a packed audience on Friday night, following a performance by the girl group the OMG Girlz that features his stepdaughter, Zonnique. The pop girl trio was one of the acts to kick off the 23-city Scream Tour. The tour also includes Diggy Simmons, Hamilton Park, Mindless Behavior, and Jacob Latimore and New Boyz.
As T.I. walked on stage, there was an enormous scream from the packed crowd of about 2,700 at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Ga. He told attendees that it feels “great to be back.”
T.I. was released Thursday from an Atlanta halfway house after spending about 10 months in federal prison on a probation violation. (Source)

North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo was sentenced 35 months in federal prison after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle a loaded 9mm handgun through airport security at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Sept. 11, 2010.

After being arrested, it was discovered that the gun was reported stolen from a home in Gardena, Calif. in 2005.
But his sentence was the result of a plea bargain. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen fireman on March 16, avoiding 10 years in prison.

“I mean, I always feel confident. In the end, the truth always comes to the light,” he said. “And, regardless of what the outcome is, I’m a man. And whatever has been written in my book of life is written in my book of life. So whatever the outcome of any situation is, I have no choice but to handle it.”