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.
Within 48 hours, Philly’s own Kevin Hart went from host of The 91st Annual Academy Awards to departing the festivities. It boils down to homophobic tweets Hart sent out years ago. He apologized, but still The Academy wanted additional apologies. You know I love "My Nephew" and he's grown so much since those jokes. He doesn't even do that kind of comedy anymore, very family friendly now. After the big media back and forth, Hart decided to stick to his original mantra: I've apologized in the past and I moved forward. Hart says to keep from being a distraction he's passing on the 2019 Oscars. Plus, the hosting gig can be a tricky one. Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock and Richard Pryor have all hosted with good and not so good years. I'm remembering when Eddie Murphy pulled out of hosting the Oscars. You know at some point Murphy was set to host and then was like you know what, y'all got this. Hart and Murphy spoke about it back then. You know the Oscar sensibilities about humor can sometimes be a little constricting. Hart is no worse for wear though. He just played Australia and his irresponsible tour will hit the Hard Rock in Atlantic City on December 28th. He just saw two of his films cross the $100 million mark back to back with Night School and Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle. And his new movie, filmed here in Philly, called The Upside, with Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies and Aja Naomi King, opens in theaters Friday, January 11th. The 91st Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24th at 8pm on ABC, but who will host now?
Cardi B and Offset have broken up. The rapper/singer/songwriter/reality show star married the high profile member of the rap trio Migos last year after he proposed to her in Philly at Power 99’s Powerhouse. They welcomed a daughter Kulture in July. Cardi took to social media and confirmed the end of the couple’s union. So what happened? A 20-year old Instagram model named Human Doll that’s what. Offset and Human Doll reportedly tried to set up a threesome with another woman. The other woman got mad, took plenty of pictures, audio and made sure they got to Cardi B. Cardi says she and Offset will remain friends and business partners, but the marriage is done.
Last week I told you how Toni Braxton talked about how money and her autoimmune disease lupus broke up her 12-year marriage to Keri Lewis of Mint Condition, but Lewis is firing back. He says he didn’t dump her over money or lupus. Lewis took to social media to declare when Toni got sick he did all he could for her. He also says he worked a long time at trying to keep their marriage together. As for the alimony, Lewis says it was Braxton’s reps who put that in place before their wedding, and he didn’t even use a lawyer to contest the prenup. He says he received about three years of alimony. Lewis also takes issue as the father of her two sons with being reference as a B**ch. At press time, no response yet from Braxton, who is now engaged to Rap Entrepreneur Birdman.
Speaking of the Oscars, Academy Award Winner Viola Davis’ latest role has been announced. The star of ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder will play the trailblazing author, educator and political icon Shirley Chisholm, the first woman to campaign for the U.S. Presidency back in 1972. Chisholm, who spent 14 years as a U.S. Congresswoman representing New York, died in 2005, and was posthumously awarded The Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama. Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon will produce the Chisholm project under their production banner JuVee Productions.
Three big developments on the MeToo front involve ex-CBS Chairman Les Moonves, Black Lightning Producer/Director Salim Akil and now TV Personality and Astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson:
First there’s Tyson, who over the past week responded to three accusations. A 2009 groping under a dress charge, but Tyson says that was a friendly searching under the shoulder of a sleeveless dress for a tattoo. A 2018 unwanted sexual advance during a dinner, but Tyson says there was a handshake and a hug the woman initiated and he accepted. Finally, a 1984 drugging and rape accusation which Tyson says never happened. The 60-year old media fixture is now being investigated by the networks (FOX and NatGeo) that carry his show, Cosmos. After Tyson’s explanations on social media, he also accompanied his statements with a confirmation that he welcomes the investigations. He also cautioned such accusations can ruin a reputation and a marriage. Tyson, the father of two, has reportedly been married to Alice Young for 30 years. At press time, reports surfaced of a fourth Tyson accuser ready to come forward.
Then there’s disgraced former CBS chief Les Moonves, who stepped down after a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct in and out of the workplace. Moonves has denied all wrongdoing and says all of his encounters were consensual. Moonves has a $120 million severance package on the table that could be in danger if CBS’ investigation shows Moonves was in violation of workplace protocol. Now come reports in the media that Moonves has allegedly been evasive with investigators and destroyed evidence. The reports also accuse the 69-year old media titian of further misconduct in and out of the CBS workplace. At press time, CBS nor Moonves representatives are commenting on these latest reports.
Meanwhile, Salim Akil’s lawyers call his accusations deeply disturbing and totally untrue. The writing/producing/directing husband and wife of team Salim and Mara Brock Akil and Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel are facing a lawsuit from Actress Amber Dixon Brenner. Brenner is suing Salim for an alleged physically and sexually abusive decade long relationship, and the entire group for taking several of her ideas to create the OWN series Love Is. Brenner contends this relationship happened despite both being married to other people, as they still are. Warner Bros., the studio that produces Black Lightning and Love Is with the Akils, has opened an investigation. Meanwhile, Salim Akil’s lawyers say he did have a past relationship with Brenner, but deny all wrongdoing and look forward to clearing Akil’s name.
Congratulations to Eddie Murphy on baby number 10! The 57-year old comedy legend welcomed Max Charles Murphy with his fiancée Australian Actress/Model Paige Butcher, 39. Max’s middle name is for Murphy’s late brother Comedian/Actor Charlie Murphy. This is the second child for the couple as they have a two year old daughter named Izzy. Murphy has eight other children from previous relationships. Father, Mother and Son are all doing fine!
Mark your calendars for The Triple A event, which is The All About Aretha/Second Annual Showcasing For Toys Event. This incredible night is a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin and will feature performances by Denise Montana, Barbara Walker, Tanqueray Hayward and many more. It all takes place Thursday, December 13th at The Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center , 7 Lock Street, in Manayunk and is presented by Val Ray Productions and Brenda Smith Productions. For tickets and information you can call 267-979-3940 or log onto valrayproductions.ticketleap.com/triple-a-all-about-aretha/
We remember the late 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush. Beginning in 1980, Bush spent eight years as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President. In 1988, Bush ascended to the U.S. presidency himself after being decisively elected by voters. During his presidency, he successfully oversaw the Gulf War, signed The Americans With Disabilities Acts into law and officially crafted the details to end of The Cold War with The Soviet Union. A troubled economy, the controversial Clarence Thomas Supreme Court appointment and his putting country over party by breaking his No New Taxes pledge saw him only serve one term to be followed by Bill Clinton. This week the Obamas, The Clintons and The Trumps attended services with the family of Bush’s son, also a former President, George W. Bush. George W. Bush delivered a tearful eulogy, but before was able to share a smile with Michelle Obama. Reports say he passed mints to her just as they did at John McCain’s homegoing. A millionaire businessman, A World War II hero and a former U.S. Ambassador, C.I.A. Director and Congressman, President George H.W. Bush died at age 94 following his wife, Barbara Bush’s death in April at age 92.
Entertainment Weekly has crowned The Women Of Black Panther as Entertainers Of The Year. Black Panther, the box office champion, which grossed over a billion dollars this year, prominently featured Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o, who all share the Entertainment Weekly cover.
Speaking of Angela Bassett, her husband, Actor Courtney B. Vance, has a new big screen leading lady… Julia Roberts in Ben Is Back. Roberts and Vance are the Burns family. When Roberts’ eldest son Ben, Vance’s stepson, returns home for the Christmas holidays, his continued fight to stay drug free after many failures takes its toll on the entire family over a turbulent 24-hour period. Ben Is Back opens in theaters this Friday.
Harper’s Bazaar presents their first ever digital issue with Willow Smith, her mother Jada Pinkett Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield Norris. The three generations are social media superstars with their Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk where almost no topic is off limits. The ladies followed that mantra through their photoshoot talking about dating, sex and the changing times affecting parenting, education and social norms.
Jason Momoa has been spun off the DC comics movie franchise into his own movie with his big screen character Aquaman. Following in the footsteps of the big screen adaptions of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, “Arthur Curry” (Aquaman) must protect both the land and seas from criminals and plunderers whose greed would destroy both. Momoa, who has two children with his wife Actress Lisa Bonet, hosts Saturday Night Live this week and is on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. Aquaman, co-starring Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, opens Friday, December 21st.
Taraji P. Henson is on the cover of InStyle magazine celebrating her latest film What Men Want opening in theaters February 8th.
Ciara is hosting the Los Angeles portion of the 47th annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2018 with a performance from Ella Mai. Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy will be live from Times Square airing December 31st on ABC.
This weekend, Oprah will be among a galaxy of starts paying tribute to her mentor Quincy Jones. Will Smith, Dave Chapelle, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Gladys Knight, Fantasia, LL Cool J, Usher, Charlie Wilson and, Quincy Jones daughter, Actress/Director Rashida Jones, just to name a few, will all pay tribute in Q85: A Musical Celebration For Quincy Jones on BET this Sunday, December 9th at 8pm.
Our Forever First Lady 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.
Oprah At Home With Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade And Their New Baby (Kaavia James Union Wade) will air this Saturday, December 8th at 8pm on OWN.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This 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.