Comedian Steve Harvey, whose syndicated morning show recently bumped his longtime friend, Tom Joyner, from Chicago’s airwaves, says that Joyner’s friends are missing the point by calling for a boycott of his program.  “I’m the fall guy,” he told the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal. “I’m not the reason you don’t have your beloved Tom. I just want people to know. …I’m just a hired gun. It’s unfair when people think the radio guys have a say-so. We don’t own the stations. … Somebody should explain to the people that while you’re boycotting, Tom Joyner is going to resurface in Chicago radio. If somebody would tell that to people, it would be better for people. But nobody’s telling them.” Last month, Clear Channel, which has been broadcasting Joyner’s morning show for the past 13 years on WVAZ-FM 102.7 (V103), moved Harvey’s syndicated show to V103 from Chicago’s WGCI-FM 107.5, thus kicking Joyner to the proverbial curb. The whole idea of a boycott, according to Rosenthal, was an off-handed comment Harvey allegedly made to Joyner’s longtime supporters. Harvey denied he has ever disparaged Joyner’s fans.   “It doesn’t make any sense for me to say something like that,” Harvey said. “I’m trying to win and endear myself to people and not aggravate people and drive a wedge between me and the audience. I do respect and love Tom Joyner. He and I have been friends a long time. And we’ve talked since he’s been off the air [in Chicago]. But the move to V103, Steve Harvey has absolutely no control over. That’s what’s alarming to me. …”My success is not hinged on Tom’s demise,” Harvey said. “I’ve never built my career on something bad happening to someone else. What God has for me, he has for me—and he’s always given me what I have coming. … What I did not expect is to be the heavy in all of this and be the guy who caused this to happen, because I’m not.”

More than a few loyal listeners to the Tom Joyner Morning Show radio program are upset this week after the “TJMS” disappeared from their dial. Chicago station V103 booted the long-time jock, in favor of comedian Steve Harvey’s syndicated broadcast. Harvey’s show was moved from WGCI, which is also a Clear Channel Radio station, leaving Joyner without a spot.  Story here.

BET announces host and performers for Celebration of Gospel. The BET Celebration of Gospel, the nation’s largest showcase of Christian music, has announced the host and performers for this year’s extravaganza. Hosted once again by comedian/actor Steve Harvey, the show features such notables as Heather Headley, Smokie Norful, Vickie Winans, Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Trinitee 5:7, Louis Gossett, Jr. (for spoken word), Dr. Bobby Jones, Muyiwa & Riversongz,  Shirley Caesar, LL Cool J, and Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. The Celebration of Gospel premieres on BET on Jan. 25.

Jamie Foxx’s upcoming movie must wait until spring.

America’s troubled economy is influencing more than just the coming election – it’s impacting Hollywood. Fear of low cash flow among fans, and competition from other big releases, has led Paramount Pictures to push back Jamie Foxx’s new film from November to March. The move also pushes back any chance of Foxx earning a second Oscar. The new March 13 date for Foxx’s The Soloist will make it too late for his performance, if worthy, to qualify for Academy Award nominations in the 2008 roster.Don Cornelius accused of domestic violence. A man whose name has been synonymous with soul for over 30 years has been accused of domestic violence. Former “Soul Train” dance show host Don Cornelius was arrested this past weekend after cops were called to his California home. Cornelius, 72, is married, but his wife’s name was not released as the alleged victim. A report shows that the alleged victim was not hospitalized, and Cornelius is free after posting $50,000 bail. For decades, “Soul Train” was the most influential TV show in the Black music world.

Steve Harvey gets accidental air time. Sports fans watching TBS got an early trick, and fans of Steve Harvey got an unexpected treat this past weekend when the comedian’s syndicated show aired in the wrong time slot. A pivotal playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays was kept from viewers throughout the first inning when the “Steve Harvey Show” aired instead. A TBS statement explains: “Two circuit breakers in our Atlanta transmission operations tripped, causing the master router and its backup – which are necessary to transmit any incoming feed outbound – to shut down.” And somebody probably understands what it means, too.