Serena Williams on Harper's Bazaar
Now, I’m not one for I told you so’s, except when it comes to Stevie Wonder. The 69 –year old Motown legend took to the concert stage and confirmed that his doctors have located a matching kidney for transplant surgery later this summer. Wonder is currently on dialysis because he hadn’t been taking care of his health as he needed to in the past. He was calm, cool and collected when he told his audience the latest. As many of you know, I broke this story on my WDASFM.com PattyTV page, and do you know the internet trolls, including the professionals, tried to come for your Auntie Of Pop Culture. Well of course we’re all thinking about Wonder now and how we wish him nothing but the best in his health. He has every intention of hitting the road again after he recovers from surgery. The Oscar and Grammy winner has an entourage of family, friends and other that depend on him to keep the magic of Stevie rolling, but beside that he’s our treasure. We love you Stevie!!!
Are the Wendy Williams’ romances a publicity stunt? We thought she was out here living her best life. Her latest picture the cute guy she was with is her lab technician. Mr. Lab Technician has a girlfriend who let it be known these pictures were staged. Williams has been seen with range of men from a twenty something fresh out of high school to a PH.D. fifty some-year old. Now, Williams TV show ratings have been down, but you know we don’t want her to get caught up in fake publicity stunts because they always backfire. The Queen Of All Media announced her divorce from her husband Kevin Hunter after a barrage of accusation against him surfaced in the media including affairs to second homes with a mistress to a sidejawn baby. It’s been a rough 2019.
And, speaking of Wendy Williams’ estranged husband Kevin Hunter, he did stand up in court for the couple’s son and the case against Jr. has been dismissed. Kevin Hunter, Jr. was charged with assault after brawl in a New Jersey parking lot with Kevin Hunter, Sr. Bystanders had to separate the two after Jr. Published reports say a heavily redacted police report showed among other things Sr. hit Jr. with an open hand after the son called his father a B**ch. Sr. denied this. Sr. did go to court and on the record told the judge he agreed with prosecutor’s decision to dismiss the charges. Williams was not in court.
Steve Harvey is not letting the end of his talk show mean the end of new projects. The WDAS morning man recently took his wife Marjorie on a reported multi-million dollar cruise to the Mediterranean with twenty pieces of luggage in tow. Wow! This is why Harvey keeps working. While his daytime talk show will be ending, Family Feud continues and so does Celebrity Family Feud on ABC Sundays at 8p. And now, he’s the Publisher’s Clearing House Pitchman. Harvey follows in the footsteps of Wayne Brady, the late Dick Clark and, of course, Ed McMahon, who was the signature pitchman before he passed away. Well Steve and Marjorie can continue those cruises as long as the work keeps on rolling.
The horror movie franchise Saw is getting a reboot from Chris Rock. Yes, Comedian Chris Rock! Saw is about the zigzag killer and Rock will play a police detective. Samuel L. Jackson will play his dad. Look for a lot of cussin’ in the movie. (SMILE) The Saw reboot is scheduled for an October 23rd 2020 release.
How To Get Away With Murder (HTGAWM) will end its run with the upcoming sixth season on ABC. The Thursday night Shonda Rhimes drama, set in Philadelphia, was a popular piece of ABC’s Thank God It’s Thursday (TGIT) line up and stars Oscar Winner Viola Davis. Davis became the first African American woman to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama for How To Get Away With Murder. Davis also won People’s Choice and NAACP Awards for her portrayal of Annalise Keating. Producers promise to wrap up the many twists and turns in the journey of Davis’ character. The final 15 episode season of How To Get Away With Murder will premiere Thursday, September 26th at 10pm on ABC.
“My Nephew” Kevin Hart turned 40 over the holiday weekend but the paparattzi caught him maybe having too good a time. The published reports claimed here’s a tipsy Kevin Hart. What was the money shot? It was his wife Eniko carrying the comedian/actor out of his party on her back. That’s right….. on her back! Eniko is ride or die. I wish “My Nephew” the happiest of birthdays and let’s keep that party at home!
We remember Comedian/Actor Arte Johnson. Johnson appeared in a number of classic television shows like Bewitched, The Andy Griffith Show and McHale’s Navy all the way up to Murder, She Wrote and General Hospital. Johnson is best remembered as an Emmy winning series regular on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, the sometimes controversial comedy variety show that topped the ratings two years in a row starting in 1968 on NBC. Johnson’s characters included the World War II soldier who’s heavily accented “Very Interesting” was a huge catchphrase along with the dirty old man, Tyrone F. Horneigh, who Ruth Buzzi’s character would beatdown with her purse after he said something obscene. Artie Johnson battled prostate and bladder cancer and died at age 90.
Actor Rip Torn has died. His time on stage and screen stretches back to the 1950’s. Torn played Judas in the 1961 epic film of the life of Jesus in King Of Kings. Torn controversy was replaced in Easy Rider by Jack Nicholson by Director and Co-Star Dennis Hopper. The role was Nicholson’s breakthrough, but Torn would eventually sue and win damages in a defamation case against Hopper in relation to being replaced. Torn is perhaps best remembered for his role in the Will Smith-Tommy Lee Jones Men In Black franchise as Agency Boss Zed, and, for his Emmy winning role as Artie, the producer in Comedian Garry Shandling’s talk show spoof The Larry Sanders Show. Rip Torn was 88-years old.
If you’re wondering why you didn’t see James Earl Jones in the cast picture of Disney’s The Lion King reboot, don’t worry he’s good. Donald Glover and Beyonce' Knowles-Carter head up the all-star cast that includes Jones reprising his role as Mufasa. Jones, 88, is based out of the east coast and the cast photos were done on the west coast. Scheduling didn’t allow for him to make it. Jones’ infamous baritone voice be alongside Alfre Woodard, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric Andre, Seth Rogan and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years ASlave; Inside Man; Amistad) as Scar. The Lion King opens in theaters July 19th.
Mariah Carey is on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. She talked about her love life and says she’s only been with five men.Mariah, we love you but our count of men that we know about (and aren’t supposed to know about SMILE) adds up to more than five. Anywho, the 49-year old songstress looks fabulous.
Idris Elba is on the cover of Vanity Fair and talks about his journey from England to Hollywood. The newlywed Elba has new movie, Hobbs & Shaw, and it’s the first spinoff from The Fast & The Furious movie franchise. Elba is the high-powered villain co-stars Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Jason Statham take on. Hobbs & Shaw hits theaters Friday, August 2nd.
Actress/Singer Janelle Monae is on the cover of InStyle magazine. The actress/singer gets candid about not waking up fearless in the morning but her active steps to stay that way to make it through her journey.
Serena Williams is on a dual cover of Harper’s Bazaar and let’s just say it’s a great show coming and going. The edition, Serena Unretouched has the In Her Own Words cover with stylish gold dress. Then there’s the Naked Truth cover where she shows her athletic “assets.” Williams speaks on her new outlook after going to therapy to deal with her competitive issues. At press time, she’s still in contention at this year’s Wimbledon.
Ciara, Teyana Taylor and the legendary Iman split the cover Essence magazine. It’s the July/August issue and the summer themed edition celebrates 25 years of Essencefest.
The cover of this month’s Ebony features the cast of Shaft: Samuel L. Jackson, Regina Hall (Girls Trip), Jessie T. Usher (Independence Day: Resurgence), Alexandra Shipp (X-Men; Straight Outta Compton), Method Man and Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft). Shaft is in theaters now.
The Dell Music Center has announced its 2019 line up for the summer:
Thursday, July 18th: Ne-Yo and Tamia
Thursday, July 25th: The Whispers and Stephanie Mills
Thursday, August 1st: India.Arie/Raheem DeVaughn/Major
Thursday, August 8th: Anthony Hamilton/Ledisi/Gregory Porter
Thursday, August 15th: Guy featuring Teddy Riley/Tank/Avant
Saturday, August 17th: Jordan Feliz
Thursday, August 22nd: SWV/Faith Evans/Silk/Next
Thursday, August 29th: Keith Sweat/Johnny Gill/Stokley
Hip Hop’s Billionaire, Jay-Z, is presenting Made In America 2019 in Philly. Cardi B and Travis Scott are headlining. Also on the bill are Freddie Gibbs, Grace Carter, Kodak Black and Anderson.Paak. The festivities take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, August 31st through Sunday, September 1st. Tickets and information can be found at madeinamericafest.com.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, July 12th and Saturday, July 13th– Lionel Richie in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
This Friday, July 12th– Patti LaBelle in concert at The Parx Casino Xcite Center in Bensalem, PA City. Log onto tickets.parxcasino.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 20th– The Royalty Tour starring Mary J. Blige & Nas at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 20th– JB Smoove in concert at The Parx Casino Xcite Center in Bensalem, PA City. Log onto tickets.parxcasino.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, August 17th – Hammer’s House Party starring MC Hammer, Kid ‘n Play, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Biz Markie & DJ Koolat The Mann Center for The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Avenue, on Saturday, June 29th. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
Monday, September 2nd – Patty Jackson’s Annual Party In The Park starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Whodini and Big Daddy Kane at The Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com or log onto mydelleast.com
Saturday, September 7th - The Royalty Tour starring Mary J. Blige & Nas at The Liacouras Center. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.com.
Saturday, September 28th – Snoop Dogg & Friends at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Thursday, December 12th– Sinbad in concert at The Parx Casino Xcite Center in Bensalem, PA City. Log onto tickets.parxcasino.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.