Quick Takes: Service for the late Esther Gordy Williams held

Hundreds packed a Detroit church Wednesday to give a final goodbye to Esther Gordy Edwards, the sister of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. who helped him build the company and led efforts to preserve the original headquarters in the city.

Edwards died last week at age 91.

Berry Gordy clasped hands with Smokey Robinson as they entered the Bethel AME Church. Stevie Wonder, who also signed to Motown, spoke before performing a stirring, soulful rendition of one of Edwards’ favorite hymns, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.”

“I think if we all had a mother or sister or aunt or cousin or sister or niece that celebrated and cheered our family as much as she did hers, we’d have a world of unity,” Wonder said.

— Associated Press

‘Housewives’ to air Monday

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” will stick to its Monday season premiere despite the suicide two weeks ago of the husband of one of the show’s principals, the Bravo network said Wednesday.

“Given that these episodes were filmed months ago, the producers of the show taped a brief interview this week with several of the cast members to introduce the premiere. Reediting of the episodes is still underway,” said Frances Berwick, president of Bravo Media.

Russell Armstrong, the 47-year-old estranged husband of series regular Taylor Armstrong, was found dead Aug. 15. He had hanged himself. “Our thoughts continue to be with the Armstrong family during this difficult time,” Berwick said.

The network said it is teaming with the Entertainment Industries Council Inc. to raise awareness about suicide prevention and will air public-service announcements during the series.

— Yvonne Villarreal

Sunderland joins ‘Amazing Race’

Southern California mariner Zac Sunderland, the youngest person to sail around the world alone, will be among the participants when the 10th season of CBS’ “The Amazing Race” premieres Sept. 25.

The 19-year-old Sunderland, who was 17 when he completed his 13-month quest to sail around the world alone in 2009, will be paired with his father, yacht manager Laurence Sunderland of Thousand Oaks.

The show will spotlight 11 new teams racing around the globe, including first-time visits to Indonesia, Malawi, Belgium and Denmark. The teams will travel through four continents.

One team will feature Andy Finch and Tommy Czeschin, who are Olympic snowboarders. Former NFL player and coach Marcus Pollard will be paired with his wife, business owner Amani Pollard. “Survivor” winners Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca will be another team.

— Greg Braxton

T.I. released from prison

Rapper-actor T.I. was released from a federal prison in Forrest City, Ark., Wednesday and was already plotting his next move: a reality show for VH1.

T.I., born Clifford Harris, was taken to a halfway house in Georgia to serve the remainder of his sentence for violating probation on weapons charges. He had been imprisoned since last Nov. 1.

“Feels great to be back where I belong… Back in the arms of those who need me the most,” the rapper tweeted upon his release.

VH1 said it would launch a 10-episode series Dec. 5 that follows T.I. as he “readjusts to life as a free man,” including returning to the recording studio.

— Gerrick D. Kennedy

Jacqueline Kennedy tape

An ABC special with never-before-heard interviews with Jacqueline Kennedy will air Sept. 13.

Viewers will hear the former first lady speak with historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. about life in the White House and with her husband, President John F. Kennedy. The recordings were made months after the president’s 1963 assassination and sealed until now.

Originally planned for one hour, the program will now fill two hours in prime time and feature Diane Sawyer’s interview with the couple’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy.

— Associated press

Show focuses on Bin Laden hunt

The U.S. effort to hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden will be the focus of a two-hour TV program, including interviews with President Obama and senior counter-terrorism officials, the History channel said Wednesday.

“Targeting Bin Laden” will be broadcast on Tuesday. It uses dramatic reenactments and news footage to look at the behind-the-scenes work to find the Al Qaeda leader.

National security advisor Tom Donilon, former CIA director Michael Vincent Hayden and White House chief counter-terrorism advisor John O. Brennan were among those interviewed for the program.

— Reuters