Tiger Woods and his ex Lindsey Vonn are at the center of an alleged nude photo scandal….maybe! World Famous Golfer Woods and World Famous Skier Vonn dated for three years, but the couple broke up in May of 2015. They both moved on to seeing other people. Now, Vonn’s phone was allegedly hacked and the photos stolen. Sources say the faces are not completely clear, but the nude photos are allegedly pics the two sent back and forth to each other. Vonn released statement calling the hacking of her phone outrageous, but she didn’t confirm which pictures were hacked. Tiger Woods meanwhile has his lawyers on the case. Word on the street is that Woods legal reps have issued stern warnings that no media/hacker reps are to sell any such pictures and no website is to publish without facing severe legal action from the Woods camp. Woods is not commenting or confirming any of this to the public ……yet.
Bill Cosby’s gets a new legal team and a new delay for his trial date. Tom Mesereau has taken over the lead duties in Cosby’s criminal molestation case. Meeting with the judge this week, Cosby original lawyers were allowed to leave the case with the thanks of the court. The Mesereau-lead team is also made up of Philly based Lawyer Sam Silver (who defended Congressman Chaka Fattah and ex Penn State President Graham Spanier) and Nevada –based Lawyer Kathleen Bliss. Cosby’s new lawyers secured a delay in the retrial that will now see it starting, at the earliest, in March of 2018. The lawyers haven’t issued a comment this week, but Mesereau had previously commented to media before Cosby hired him. Mesereau stated in the media the criminal case against Cosby was very weak. Mesereau also cast doubt on the accusers and stated he saw the case as politically motivated. Mesereau previously defended Michael Jackson against his criminal sex abuse charges and drew parallels of both Cosby and Jackson cases being a rush to judgment. At this point, Cosby’s team says they want to pick a retrial jury from Montgomery County this time. Cosby’s first trial ended this summer in a hung jury.
Girls Trip is officially a blockbuster and the most successful comedy of 2017. The movie has brought in more than $104 million and still counting at the box office. Girls Trip, about four ladies' trek to New Orleans for the Essence Festival, is a great look for Jada Pinkett Smith, whose screen time was wasted in last year’s hit Bad Moms. So she Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah and Regina Hall took Girls Trip and showed everybody how it’s done. Meanwhile, breakout star Tiffany Haddish is teaming up with Philly’s own Kevin Hart in Night School, which follows a cast of characters trying to pass their G.E.D. tests. Hart and Will Packer will produce and Haddish’s Girls Trip Director Malcolm Lee will direct Night School, set to open in September of 2018.
R Kelly has a brand new accuser who claims to have had underage relations with the singer, but also accepted a nondisclosure settlement. The 24-year old now married mother of three, Jerhonda Johnson-Pace, claims she cut school as a 15-year old and met R Kelly during his child pornography trial in 2008. She attended so often, she even defended Kelly, whom she was a big fan of, to the media. Pace says she’s talking particularly because of a 17-year old she brought to Kelly’s home that still lives with him. Pace alleges several sexual encounters with Kelly while she was underage, some of which the singer filmed. Pace also says Kelly plied her with alcohol and made her sign false documents that she’s stolen jewelry from Kelly that could be used against her if she every spoke out. Pace says her relationship with Kelly ended after he got abusive, including slapping and spitting on her. She claims to have signed a nondisclosure settlement with Kelly but hasn’t gotten all the money. Pace also says the legal action she faces for violating her nondisclosure settlement with Kelly is worth the risk. Kelly’s publicists denied Pace’s allegations to CNN, and Kelly’s camp continues to deny all wrong doing in the other allegations.
At the movies this week, retired NFL Player Nnamdi Asomugha has now become Actor Nnamdi Asomugha. The former Eagle and 49ner is making his debut as performer and producer in Crown Heights. Following in the footsteps of his wife, Scandal Star Kerry Washington, Asomugha plays Carl “KC” King whose efforts to help free his childhood friend from jail takes near 20 years. The friend is Colin Warner, played by Lakeith Stansfield, and he’s wrongly convicted of a Brooklyn murder in 1982 and not released until 2001. This movie has been in the works for seven years, but Asomugha and his production company attaching to the project was the boost needed it.
Oscar and Tony Winner Denzel Washington is headed back to Broadway one more time. When we think of the famous title The Iceman Cometh, sometimes we’re lead back to that classic Philly Soul throwback album Jerry “The Iceman” Butler did with Gamble & Huff in 1968 with the songs, to name a few, Never Gonna Give You Up, Hey Western Union Man and Only The Strong Survive. In this case, the “Strong” is the acting by Denzel Washington who has Broadway Veteran George C. Wolfe directing and Silver Screen Producer Scott Rudin on the team for this adaption of the Eugene O’Neill classic. We’re awaiting the rest of the cast to be announced. Remember, Washington’s last turn on Broadway was with the great Viola Davis leading Washington and Davis to a Broadway smash and both winning Tony Awards for Fences. The Iceman Cometh is set for a March 2018- spring revival.
Shonda Rhimes is leaving ABC/Disney for Netflix. Rhimes and ABC have enjoyed a TV marriage of over a dozen years consisting of hit series like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, How To Get Away With Murder and Scandal. Rhimes downplays any thought of not being happy with ABC as her company released a statement that there are still two dramas on the way at ABC, and the Netflix deal was just a way to expand the Shondaland production company. No word yet on Shondaland’s first Netflix project.
We remember Comedian Dick Gregory. Known as perhaps the most rebellious entertainer in show business, Gregory promptly cut off his incredible rise to the top of show business to be a full time participant in the civil rights movement. Spurred on by integrating Jack Paar’s Tonight Show by insisting he wouldn’t perform unless the color barrier was broken and Gregory could sit on the couch after his performance. From there, Gregory was one of the hottest names on TV and the comedy circuit making a path for Comedians George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Flip Wilson and Richard Pryor. Gregory used that notoriety to march and protest and was even jailed alongside his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Gregory ran for president of the United States in 1968 and wrote two autobiographies, including his shocking 1964 title N***er. Gregory purposely titled the book with the racial slur. He remained a conspiracy theorist through the rest of his life. Among his beliefs: there are two Donald Trumps; how did Bill Cosby’s accusers meet each other and who’s paying their lawyers, Tiger Woods is being pressured to stop playing golf well. HIV and AIDS were both invented and even have patents. Gregory, a father of ten surviving children (the 11th died at a few months old) and husband of 58 years, continued to tour the country with a combination of standup comedy and social/educational workshops. Gregory encouraged more black media ownership and worldwide research to balance everything people read or hear from the media in this country. Dick Gregory was 84-years old.
We also remember Actor/Writer/Producer/Director/Comedian Jerry Lewis. Lewis became a star more than 70-years ago when he teamed up with a then also unknown singer and straight man Dean Martin. Lewis called their act the monkey (Lewis) and the organ grinder (Martin). The two appeared in 17 movies as a team from 1949-56. They broke up 10 years to the day they met as Jerry wanted to take creative control of the pair’s films and tensions began to creep into their work. Martin would go on to surprising solo success as an actor (Rio Bravo; Young Lions; Matt Helm movies), a comedian and TV host (NBC’s The Dean Martin Show 1965-74) and singer (known as “The Beatle Killer” after he knocked the Beatles from number one on the charts). From 1957 to 1983 Lewis went on to write, produce and eventually direct a string of hit movies: The Delicate Delinquent, Cinderfella, The Ladies Man, The Family Jewels, Hardly Working and The Nutty Professor, just to name a few. Lewis would also continue TV appearances with his own show, variety specials and guest hosting Jack Paar and Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. In the 1950’s Lewis hosted a onetime Thanksgiving telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and then kicked off the annual Labor Day telethon in 1966 for a 44-year run and raising over a billion dollars for MDA. Lewis had friends Sammy Davis, Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson, Tony Orlando and Frank Sinatra even reunited Lewis and Dean Martin in 1976 after their 20-year spilt on the live show. Lewis even began taught filmmaking in the ’60 and among his students Steven Spielberg, who called Lewis teachings better than an entire college program. Jerry Lewis died of heart failure at 91-years old.
Oprah’s Master Class returns to OWN this month with all new episodes. This summer’s lineup features Gladys Knight, Tyler Perry, Usher, LL Cool J, Congressman and Civil Rights Hero John Lewis, Shaquille O’Neal, Emmy Winning Actress Lynn Whitfield (Greenleaf) and WDAS’ Morning Man Steve Harvey.
The Whitney Houston Showtime documentary is promising to reveal quite a lot. Will we learn about the alleged lesbian relationship? What about the real story about Huston’s drug use and how it came to be? Was Bobby Brown made a scapegoat for problems Houston already had? The Whitney Houston Documentary begins airing this Friday at 9pm on Showtime.
Everyone’s favorite cable TV leading lady is making her debut on the big screen. Issa Rae lands a movie role with Bill Hader, of Saturday Night Live fame, called Empress Of Serenity. Then the star of HBO’s Insecure will join the cast of the drama The Hate U Give with Regina Hall, Common and Amandla Stenberg.
Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson are on the cover of September’s Ebony. Both are up for lead acting comedy Emmy’s for their ABC hit Black-ish. The Emmys air Sunday, September 17th on CBS, and Black-ish returns to ABC for its fourth season Tuesday, October 3rd at 9pm.
Actress Niecy Nash, the star of the series Claws, is on the cover of September’s Essence magazine.
This fall Empire is back on the FOX network. The top-rated drama, starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson and produced by Philly’s own Lee Daniels, has made some significant changes for the upcoming season. There’ll be a tribute to the late Singer/Songwriter Prince. Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker is joining the cast, and he’ll be singing! Yes, Forest Whitaker singing! Producers this time around promise less stunt casting as they get back to basics. Empire will return to FOX Wednesday, September 27th.
Dionne Warwick to be honored with Marian Anderson Award. Philadelphia Rep. Sheila Hess recently announced that Warwick would be the recipient of the 2017 Marian Anderson Award. Dionne Warwick will receive the award on November 14th at the Marian Anderson Gala and Concert at the Kimmel Center. Tickets will go on sale August 18th.
Evan Ross, Mike Epps & Luke James Join ‘Star’. According to Deadline, “Ross will play Angel, nephew to Jahil Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) and a DJ with a bad-boy streak who is heavy in the Latin music scene. Mike Epps will appear in the Star/Empire crossover episode as Jay Holland, the girls’ record label president who is willing to cross the line with one of them. Luke James will play Noah Brooks, a top-selling R&B artist at the label. He is charming and a sweet talker with an ambitious streak.” The second season will premiere on September 27th.
OWN presents its new TV docu-series Black Love, showcasing high profile African Americans making their relationships works and the effort to make their achievements as a team come true. The series will feature couples Actress Viola Davis and Actor/Producer Julius Tennon; Actress Meagan Good and Film Executive DeVon Franklin; Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway and Dr. Anthony Calloway; and Actress Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Actor Cory Hardrict. Black Love premieres Tuesday, August 29th at 10pm on OWN.
The Philadelphia Music Alliance has just announced its Philadelphia Music Walk Of Fame Class of 2017 inductees. This year’s class members are Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx), Sister Sledge (Debbie, Joni, Kim and Kathy), Philly International Legends McFadden & Whitehead, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Soul Survivors, Chris Schwartz of Ruffhouse Records, WDAS alum and Radio Personality Bob Pantano and Jill Scott. The festivities will take place on Wednesday October 4th. An outdoor induction ceremony and a gala at The Fillmore Philadelphia are all planned. Tickets and information can be found at PMAWALK.ORG .
Nia Long is returning to TV this fall as a regular on NCIS after a successful guest starring stint on Empire earlier this year. Long will join the cast, headed by LL Cool J, as former Secret Service Agent Shay Mosley, the NCIS team’s new executive assistant director. Long is best known for her big screen work like Soul Food, Big Momma’s House, The Best Man and Love Jones, but she got her start on TV with Guiding Light, The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, Moesha and ER. NCIS returns for its ninth season to CBS Sunday, October 1st.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, August 25th – Smokey Robinson in concert at The Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto Tropicana.net
This Saturday, August 26th – Aretha Franklin performing the hits & the great diva classics at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd & Parkside Avenue and for tickets and information log onto manncenter.org.
Sunday, August 27th – Tamar Braxton in concert at The Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa. For tickets and information venue.thetowerphilly.com.
Friday, September 1st - The I Love The 90’s Tour: The Party Continues starring Blackstreet, TLC, Montell Jordan, Naughty By Nature, Biz Markie, Snap and C&C Music Factory at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ.
Saturday & Sunday September 2nd & 3rd – J. Cole and The Chainsmokers will headline Jay-Z and Live Nation’s Made In America concert. Solange, Pusha T, 21 Savage, Tiwa Savage, Ari Lennox and DMX are also on the bill. The two day concert festival will take place on the Ben Franklin Parkway Labor Day Weekend. Go to madeinamericafest.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, September 16th – Boz Scaggs in concert at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Tuesday, October 3rd - Michelle Obama is the keynote speaker for The Pennsylvania Conference of Women at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For tickets and information log onto paconferenceforwomen.org.
Saturday, October 7th – The Spinners and Little Anthony & The Imperials in concert at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Sunday, October 8th – Incognito in concert at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Tuesday, October 10th – Bruno Mars in concert at The Wells Fargo Center. For tickets or for more information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Friday, October 13th – Boney James in concert at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Saturday, October 28th – Tracy Morgan comedy show at The Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa. For tickets and information venue.thetowerphilly.com.
Friday, November 10th – Janet Jackson at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets or for more information log onto boardwalkhall.box-officetickets.com.
Saturday, November 11th – Janet Jackson at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. For tickets or for more information log onto sandsbethlehememovementseventcenter.ticketoffics.com
Monday, November 13th – Janet Jackson at The Wells Fargo Center. For tickets or for more information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Friday, December 1st – Sinbad comedy show at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Sunday, December 17th – Damien Escobar in concert at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.