The WDAS Holiday Jam is back and it’s happening at the newly restored Met Philly at Broad and Poplar. The WDAS Holiday Jam, Starring Uncle Charlie himself, Charlie Wilson and Stokley of Mint Condition, is happening Saturday, December 22nd. Tickets and information can be found on the wdasfm.com homepage.
At press time, still no official cause of death in the shocking passing of Model/Actress Kim Porter. Porter was found unresponsive in her home last week. She reportedly had been battling pneumonia and just returned from overseas travel. Her ex-boyfriend and father of three of her four children, Sean Puff Daddy Combs, expressed his grief via social media. Al B. Sure is the father of Porter’s eldest son, and he also paid tribute to Porter. While no longer involved, Combs and Porter set a powerful example of the blended family by supporting each other at events, travel and holidays together with their children. Porter’s family and friends have rallied in the wake of the model and businesswoman’s death. Kim Porter was 47-years old.
Creed II Stars Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson are on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, and Jordan is also appearing on the cover of G.Q. All this as Creed II is now playing in theaters and sees Jordan’s character taking on the son of the boxer who killed Creed’s dad in the ring. Sylvester Stallone, who co-wrote the film, co-stars with Phylicia Rashad, Russell Hornsby, Florian Munteanu and Dolph Lundgren, who reprises his role as Drago. Creed II, directed by Steven Caple, Jr., is now playing.
Robin Hood is also now in theaters. This latest movie adaption of the hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor comes 80 years after the Errol Flynn-Olivia de Havilland classic. The 2018 film stars Taron Egerton, Eve Hewson, Kane Headley-Cummings and Jamie Foxx as “Little John.”
The woman who stood up against Roseanne is now leaving the ABC Network. Channing Dungey was the first African American broadcast network chief. After almost three years in the position of ABC’s leader, she’s stepping down. Dungey earned her stripes as head of ABC’ drama development with her supervising the now Shondaland classics Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder. This led up to her appointment as President Of The ABC Entertainment Group, and she continued her streak with the hit The Good Doctor and a successful switch of American Idol from FOX to ABC. Then came Dungey’s decision to successfully reboot Roseanne. That was followed by her decision to cancel it after Roseanne’s racist tweet against former Obama Administration Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Dungey would later greenlight The Connors, a spinoff without Roseanne with a guarantee the former star would receive no financial benefit from it. Dungey won a lot of popular support for that move but some industry criticism. There’s also ABC parent company Disney merging with 21st Century FOX and the Netflix exodus of Dungey collaborators Shonda Rhimes (TGIT-ABC drama line up) and Kenya Barris (Black-ish). All happening at relatively the same time. Dungey is sticking around to help with the ABC’s transition to new leadership, but hasn’t announced her next career move yet.
Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower have reportedly called it quits after twenty years. The two time Oscar winner and his wife share a 20-year old son, Elliot, and a six-year old daughter, Helen. At press time neither is commenting. De Niro had previously filed for divorce in 1999, but never followed though. In fact, De Niro and Hightower renewed their vows in 2004. Reports are that the couple is no longer living together.
Michael Ealy and Meagan Good are reunited in a brand new project. The former co-stars from the Think Like A Man comedies are switching it up with a thriller. The Intruder follows a couple whose purchase of their dream home soon turns into a nightmare thanks to the previous owner who can’t let go. Co-starring Dennis Quaid and directed by Deon Taylor, The Intruder is due in theaters April 26th, 2019.
Congratulations to TV, Stage and Film Legend Cicely Tyson who was awarded and saluted at the Academy Awards’ Governor’s ceremony. The now 93-year old legend paid homage to her own mother. Tyson, who was Oscar nominated in 1973 for Best Actress in Sounder, alongside Diana Ross for Lady Sings The Blues, noted her mom told her how proud she was after Tyson’s Emmy win for Miss Jane Pittman. Tyson says none of this would have meaning without that moment with her mom. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay feted and awarded Tyson this honorary Oscar.
A shocking confession from Singer/Reality TV Star Mel B, who called Comedian Eddie Murphy the love of her life? The former Spice Girl, who is reuniting with the group on an upcoming tour, has a new memoir coming out called Brutally Honest. Mel writes of her suicide attempt, the ups and downs of career and her two marriages. Murphy and Mel never married, but had quite the hot and heavy romance until she became pregnant with their daughter. So how did they breakup? She says she doesn’t really know. The singer writes when they first learned of the pregnancy, they were very happy and still close. Sometime later, Murphy said in an interview, he needed a test to confirm the child was his and, at the time, Mel said publicly she didn’t just fall over and get pregnant. Things went sour from there. Eddie Murphy is currently expecting baby number 10, a son, with model Paige Butcher and has a big Rudy Ray Moore/Netflix bio-pic soon to hit the streaming network. Mel was warned not to talk about Murphy, but she had nothing but good things to say in the book. Murphy does have a relationship with his and Mel’s daughter, Angel. The exes also came up with a private agreement. Brutally Honest hits shelves and online stores November 27th.
Michelle Obama is on the cover of Essence’s December/January issue, Ebony’s December/January Power 100 issue, and her Becoming is the hottest title in the book world. Obama’s book had the best first week sales in about three years, and passed this year’s champ the Bob Woodward-Trump White House expose Fear. Meanwhile, Mrs. Obama was joined with a surprise visit from her husband, former President Barack Obama, on the DC leg of her Becoming book tour. Mrs. Obama joked that Presidential appearance is NOT happening at every tour stop. Meanwhile, President Obama compared his surprise visit to Jay-Z popping out on Beyonce’s tour set….same thing! Mrs. Obama stops in Philly on the 29th. Becoming, by Michelle Obama, is available now.
Speaking of Ebony magazine, Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner are hosting the magazine’s Power 100 Gala. The gala coincides with the magazine’s issue hitting November 27th, and spotlights the movers and shakers in community work, politics, entertainment and education.
Last week, we learned Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union welcomed their first daughter, and now we know her name and with whom she’ll make her TV debut. Kaavia James Union Wade will be with Oprah Winfrey as she travels to the home of Wade and Union. Photos have already surfaced of The Mighty O holding the newest addition to Dwyane and Gabrielle’s family. Wade has three sons from previous relationships, and he and Union are raising his nephew. Oprah At Home With Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade And Their New Baby will be their first interview as a family and air Saturday, December 8th at 8pm on OWN.
Erykah Badu and Faith Evans will be the big honorees at this year’s Soul Train Awards to close out this Thanksgiving weekend. There’s a surprise opening too! The Soul Train Awards will be hosted by Martin castmates and longtime friends Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell (she dropped the Martin from her last name since she and her hubby Duane Martin are divorcing). H.E.R. leads the nominees along with Beyonce, Major, Ella Mai, Ledisi, Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino and John Legend. The Soul Train Awards ‘18 air on BET on this Sunday, at 8pm.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday – A Legendary Christmas starring John Legend at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
This Saturday- The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Thursday, November 29th - Michelle Obama-Becoming: An Intimate Conversation at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Friday, November 30th – Michael McDonald in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Tuesday, December 4th – A Legendary Christmas starring John Legend at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto themetphilly.com/events for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 1st – Jeffrey Osborne at the SugarHouse Casino, 1001 North Delaware Avenue. Log onto sugarhouseentertainment.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 8th – Maxwell at the Tower Theater on 69th Street in Upper Darby. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 22nd – The WDAS Holiday Jam starring Charlie Wilson and Stokley at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto the wdasfm.com homepage for tickets and information.
Friday, December 28th - The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Monday, December 31st – The O’Jays & The Commodores at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Friday, February 8th – Herbie Hancock in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Saturday, February 16th – Boyz II Men celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the album II at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto themetphilly.com/events for tickets and information.
Saturday, February 16th – Erykah Badu in concert at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Sunday, February 17th – Gladys Knight in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Saturday, March 16th – Comedian JB Smoove at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter.
Saturday, March 30th – Mariah Carey in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
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.