Singer/Songwriter August Alsina set off a super firestorm around himself and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith. Alsina decided to go on a podcast and confess an affair with Jada that he claims was OK’d by her husband Will. Alsina says he met the Smiths through their son Jaden. Alsina detailed the affair with Jada left him with a true understanding of love even if he never had another. Translation: he was turned all the way out. For her part, Jada at first released a statement that there was no truth to any affair with Alsina OK’d by Will. As time progressed and the story kept growing, Jada took to her social media saying it was time for some healing and she was bringing herself to the Red Table. At press time, we don’t know when this will happen. So far, Will has kept quiet on this, but as a result it revived those open marriage rumors about The Smiths. Will this Red Table conversation help or hinder?
Where’s Rihanna? She hasn’t put out new music since 2016. So what’s she doing? The record breaking singer/songwriter is concentrating on the beauty business. Rih Rih is developing a new skin care line while things are shutdown due to the coronavirus. The line will be sold alongside her mega successful Fenty Cosmetics. Rihanna is already doing great with Savage X. This appears to mean music isn’t the priority, at least not now. Published reports say she nixed all current plans for her ninth studio album to concentrate on her cosmetics and beauty business interests.
GMA 3 has been cancelled. The third hour of Good Morning America hosted by Michael Strahan, Sara Haines and KeKe Palmer had its title changed to GMA: Strahan, Sara & KeKe and was going pretty well until COVID-19 hit. Then the show was placed on hiatus as the coronavirus pandemic grew into a shutdown. The show did try going ahead with no audience and the three hosts remotely checking in, but that didn’t last long. GMA: Strahan, Sara & KeKe was replaced by Pandemic: What You Need To Know with Amy Robach, TJ Holmes and Dr. Jennifer Ashton. Fans took to social media to voice their displeasure. There’s also talk of whether this was fallout from the internal town hall ABC News executives hosted. ABC’s been under fire and had to suspend a top executive for alleged racial remarks aimed at Robin Roberts and Sunny Hostin. During the town hall, Michael Strahan reportedly voiced the turmoil he experienced making the awkward transition into Good Morning America from the Live with Kelly & Michael he hosted with Kelly Ripa. It was ABC’s call at the time. Strahan reportedly mentioned how he had to be guarded in speaking up as not to be perceived as too aggressive in the work environment. At press time, ABC News hasn’t made a statement on GMA: Strahan, Sara & KeKe and what will replace it permanently.
Just because GMA: Strahan, Sara & KeKe has been cancelled doesn’t mean work stops. KeKe Palmer moves on. The actress/singer/TV personality is on the cover of Cosmopolitan. She talks about her life and activism with Black Lives Matter. She’s in talks to reboot her Nickelodeon series True Jackson, VP. Palmer also has a movie project. She signed on for the motion picture Alice. It does have a slave twist. Runaway slave Alice flees her captors through the forest. When she parts the trees to escape, she lands in 1973, which is full of Watergate, Sound of Philly, Motown, Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom, Black Power and post civil rights. Palmer says she thought it was important to do this movie.
Halle Berry has pulled out of a controversial role. The actress has not been shy of her choices with past movies like Swordfish and her Oscar winning performance in Monster’s Ball. This time, Berry was to portray a character born female and who transitioned to a male. When she announced this was likely her next project, the backlash came quite quickly. There were also reports dogging her that in an interview, Berry misgendered the character. The 53-year old award winner took to her social media. Berry released a statement that said in part the transgender community should have the opportunity to tell their own story. She also apologized for the remarks she made when describing her consideration of the project. Berry vowed to be an ally in front of and behind the camera and was grateful for the conversation that came out of the situation.
Vivica A. Fox and 50 Cent: ROUND II. Remember back in the day when Auntie Viv dated the rapper/actor/entrepreneur? That really didn’t go well, 50 was not so nice to Auntie. They both talked about the fallout post relationship in various platforms years ago. Well, it’s time for a reboot because of some controversial remarks 50 Cent made recently on the record, and Vivica Fox’s reaction to them on the record. Seems that 50 was on Rapper Lil Wayne’s podcast Young Money Radio, and 50 talked about his preference to date an exotic woman. In the process, he also talked about that preference making black women mad, and how they angrily check him on it in public. This caused Auntie Viv to react on the FOX Soul streaming network and call out her former flame. She says the rapper just can’t handle a black woman and that the problem lies with him. ZAP! 50 responded. Not only did he accuse Vivica of still being hung up on him, but 50 decided to describe a particular bedroom act he says she used to practice on him. POW! I hope we can leave it at this. Vivica Fox is my girl, and 50 just love who you love without putting down black women.
Charlemagne The God is coming to TV, but will he stick with radio? The controversial member of the syndicated morning radio show The Breakfast Club is coming to Comedy Central with his own show. It’ll be a mix of pop culture, politics and entertainment. The untitled project will premiere just around election time. Now with this new weekly talk show, will Charlemagne quit the Breakfast Club? WDAS Morning Man Steve Harvey is a good example of how to play this. Remember when Harvey was on three networks in primetime at the same time and still doing standup appearances. Well, Steve never left radio because he realizes it’s the straw that stirs the drink. Without that straw, the drink gets flat. Charlemagne, that’s a good lesson to take to heart, but meanwhile congrats on the new gig.
Nia Long is coming to Netflix and she’s teaming with Omar Epps. This is an opportunity for Epps to show off his acting range playing an unusual role for him, a bad guy. Fatal Affair is the cautionary tale of a married woman who steps out on her husband and soon comes to regret it by way of the other man. Long has teamed up with Netflix and serves as producer as well. The twist is rather than the husband, it’s the wife who cheated and must deal with the consequences as the cheater.Fatal Affair starring Nia Long, Omar Epps, Stephen Bishop, KJ Smith and Singer/Actress Estelle begins streaming on Netflix July 16th.
Guess who’s going to star as the new live action Frosty The Snowman? We remember the three classic productions from 1969-1979 with the voice of the late Comedian Jackie Vernon as Frosty, and of course, the title song is a holiday classic. There were two additional TV specials in 1992 with John Goodman (Roseanne) as Frosty and in 2005 with Bill Fagerbakke (Coach) taking over the role. Now a proposed live action and CGI combination may star…. Jason Momoa. The action star who brought DC Comics’ Aquaman to the big screen in a billion dollar blockbuster is currently in talks to take the role of Frosty. Family fair is not totally out for Momoa. He’s married to Lisa Bonet. Along with his 31-year old stepdaughter Zoe Kravitz, Momoa and Bonet have two young children (12 and 11-years old). While talks continue, Momoa will next be seen in the Warner Bros. film Dune, a sci-fi movie where Momoa plays Duncan Idaho. Barring anymore COVID-19 complications, Dune is due in theaters December 18th
We remember Singer Sharon Paige. Paige, a West Philly native, is best known for coming to prominence through Producer and Harold Melvin & The Bluesnotes group leader Harold Melvin.In 1975, Melvin hired his own musicians and took his two protégés, Paige and Teddy Pendergrass, into Sigma Sound Studios here in Philly. Melvin revived the song Gamble & Huff wrote and recorded on Dusty Springfield in 1970 called Let’s Get Together Soon as a project for Paige, Pendergrass and himself. Gamble and Huff heard Melvin’s production and all three men share a producing credit since Gamble & Huff only needed to add a few Sound of Philly touches. The title was changed to Hope That We Can Be Together Soon and included on the gold-selling hit album To Be True. The song hit number one in 1975. Paige essentially became a Bluenote at that point. She continued the magic with Melvin as her duet partner and producer on You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good; After You Love Me, Why Do You Leave Me; He Loves You And I Do Too and If You’re Looking For Someone To Love. Gamble & Huff wrote and produced her solo vocal I’m Searching For A Love, and Melvin produced her remake of The Intruders’ classic I Wanna Know Your Name. Paige continued to appear in various concerts like at the Dell Music Center. She had a memorable turn on Soul Train with The Bluenotes and Richard Pryor guest hosting. After he went solo, Teddy Pendergrass featured Paige in a cameo on his Teddy Live Coast To Coast album. One of Paige’s final TV appearances was on the 2008 Sound Of Philadelphia PBS TV special from Atlantic City celebrating the release of the 2008 Love Train Gamble and Huff Box set and DVD. Paige performed with the late Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes. Sharon Paige was 67.
The NBA players will not be wearing their names on their jerseys when they return. The players will have social justice statements on them. This all part of a new awareness sports in general is trying to embrace even as they navigate returning in the coronavirus era. The abbreviated NBA season is scheduled to begin Friday, July 31st with all games taking place at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The season will feature 22 teams and no fans. 13 teams on the western conference and 9 on the eastern conference and the season will end October 12th.
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.