HOT NEWS SIXTEEN
ENTERTAINMENT FOR FRIDAY, April 16TH2021
This Weekend it’s the movie Envy on Lifetime. Bishop TD Jakes and Shaun Robinson (Formerly of Access Hollywood) are producing this movie based on the seven deadly sins. Envy airs Saturday night at 8pm on Lifetime starring Serayah,(Empire) Rose Rollins (The L word) and Kandi Burrus (Real housewives of Atlanta).
Filming starts next week on the DC Comics film Black Adam starring The Rock Dwayne Johnson. The movie comes out next year. Black Adam was always seen as the Anti Hero.
This is a very busy time For Actress and Singer Jennifer Hudson. On May 7 her latest movie ‘Monster’ starts streaming on Netflix. Monster stars new comer Kelvin Harrison Jr. as an honors student who world has been turned upside down when he is charged with a felony murder. The movie was supposed to be released three years ago. John Legend and Rapper Nas joined forces to produce the movie which also stars Jeffrey Wright, John David Washington, Rapper A$AP Rocky and Jharrell Jerome. Hudson is also lending her voice to the animatedmovie Pierre the Pigeon Hawk. The movie features the voices of Snoop Dog, Will.i.am Whoopi Goldberg and Howie Mandel. This August Jennifer Hudson stars as the Legendary Aretha Franklin in the movie ‘Respect’
Poet Laurette Amanda Gorman is the cover girl for the latest of Vogue Magazine.. The 22 year old who wowed us at this years Inauguration is also hosting this years Met Gala, fashions biggest night in September along with Designer Tom Ford.
We Remember Midwin Charles. The CNN, MSNBC legal Analyst died unexpectedly last week at the age of 47.
Tyler Perry is teaming up with the Showtime Network for a drama about Madea. Every Legend has a beginning and we are about to find out about Mabel Simmons. Mabel/Madea was a smart fierce irresistible and crazy 20 something who arrived in Atlanta in 1972 and took the city by storm. The series is going to be a drama. On May 14th Perry is joining Angelina Jolie in the western Thriller Those who wish me dead. The movie will be in theaters and HBO MAX Tyler Perry’s new show ‘All the Queens Men’ debuts on BET Plus this summer. The show is about Male exotic dancers based on the book by Actor Christian Keys’ Ladies Nights’. The show stars Eva Marcille (Americas next top Model and Housewives of Atlanta) she plays Madam Deville. Christian Keys is playing a hitman. There will be ten
Filming is underway in New York City for the Michael B. Jordan movie a letter for Jordan. Denzel Washington is directing the movie which is a true story of a young man who dies in the Iraq War and the letters he wrote to his son and wife back home. His son was 7 months old when he died and the movie is filmed in a series of flashbacks. Actress Chante Adams will play his wife. Michael B Jordans new movie with Actress Lauren London ‘Without Remorse’ starts streaming on Amazon Prime April 30th. Michael is returning to Philly later this year for Creed 3. The Rocky franchise continues but don’t look for Sylvester Stallone to return. In a statement Michael B Jordan says the spirit and Essence of Rocky will also be there but it is time to move into the Creed era, as Sylvester Stallone retires his character Rocky. In this installment Michael B Jordan will be directing and Producing. Actresses Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad are returning as the story of Creed continues.
So what’s next for Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers after their epic Verzuzbattle with Earth Wind and Fire. A new music project . Ron Isley and Brother Ernie Isley are teaming up with Rapper Snoop Dog for the song Friends and Family.
Congrats to Leslie Odom Jr. He is a Tony Winner for his role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He is nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Sam Cooke in the Film One Night in Miami and now he is celebrating the birth of his second child. Odom Jr recently announced he and his wife are the proud parents of a baby boy who is joining his big Sister.
Rapper Snoop Dog is coming to the NBC Reality Show The Voice. Snoop is going to be a mega mentor on the show. This is the first time a Rapper has served in this role. In other Voice News Singer Arianna Grande is joining the show in the Fall Replacing Nick Jonas. I hear she’s getting 20 million to appear along with fellow judges Blake Shelton, John Legend, and Kelly Clarkson.
In other reality show news American Idol is inviting a live studio audience to join in the fun. 50 families who have been Covid tested will be allowed to be in the live studio.
Get ready for another season of Dancing with the Stars. The show is returning in the Fall. Tyra Banks will once again serve as the Executive Producer of the show as well as Host the show. All of the Judges are returning Derek Hough, Len Goodman, Carrie Inaba and Bruno Tonelli
Jamie Foxx has returned to TV in the Netflix Comedy ‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me’ . The series HAS started streaming . The show is about Foxx’s real life relationship with his Daughter Corrinne. Corrine is not in the show but she is the show’s Executive Producer. Kyla Drew is playing the role of his daughterand David Allen Grier is reteaming with Foxx, remember their days on In Living Color. Grier is playing Jamies Dad. Foxx has also signed on for a TV Movie about Boxer Mike Tyson. The movie is being produced and directed by acclaimed Directors Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and Martin Scorcese (Casino, Raging Bull) Jamie Foxx is playing iron Mike Tyson.
A lot people are discovering a rising star in Country Music Mickey Guyton. Guyton is a 37 year old African American Woman who made history at the recent Grammy Awards . Guyton performed her song ‘Black Like ME’. Guyton who became a first time mom a few weeks ago made history as the first black woman to be nominated for Best Country performance by a female. Guyton is also making history this month when she becomes the first African American to Cohost the Academy of Country Music awards. She’s hosting along with Keith Urban. The show will air on CBS on Sunday April 18th.
Comedienne Chris Rock is taking a serious turn in his next movie. The horror movie Saw hits theaters on May 14th. Saw is gory and bloody as Rock teams up with Samuel L Jackson to find the killer who is shaking up New York City.
The Idris Elba movie ‘Concrete Cowboy’ is now streaming on Netflix. The movie which was filmed in Philly also stars Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things, The New Edition Story) is playing Elba’s son who is sent to live with him when his mothers deems him too much to handle. The film tells the story of the real life Urban Cowboys in North Philly. Emmy Winner Jharell Jerome (When they See Us) and Rapper/Actor Method Man also star.
Godzilla VS Kong is in theaters and on HBO MAX .It’s the battle between the Monsters. One critic said the movie is the feel good movie we’ve been waiting for.
Sherri Shepherd is returning to TV in the ABC Comedy Show ‘Black Don’t Crack” Actress Essence Atkins (Marlon Show Actress Tisha Campbell (Martin, My wife and Kids) and Isiah Mustafa who became famous wearing just a towel in The Old Spice Commercials is rounding out the cast. Oscar Winner Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon will be the shows Executive Producers along Sherri Shephard.
Now speaking of Viola Davis she is the part of the cast of the upcoming movie Suicide Squad. Suicide Squad hits theaters August 5th, 2021. The movie will also feature Margo Robbie, Idris Elba and Jon Cena.
How do you top Coming to America 2. Well for Comedian and Actor Jermaine Fowler you team up with Amazon for the Spy Comedy USPS.
A new season of the HBO comedy show A Black Lady Sketch show kicks of April 23. Robin Theade the star of the Show and Issa Rae are the Producers of the show. One big change in this season is Quinta Brunson will not be involved. Who is Quinta Brunson you ask?Brunson is a West Philly, she’s an Actress, Comedian, Author and the Queen of Memes. Brunson has just signed on the ABC Comedy show about Teachers who love to Teach. The show doesn’t have a title as of yet but the cast is great Sheryl Lee Ralph (Moesha, Ray Donavan) Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) will also star. Brunson is slated to release her debut book ‘She Memes Well’in June.
Another Philly Native making waves is Actor Colman Domingo. Domingo hails from West Philly 52nd Street. Domingo is an Actor, Writer and Director. He is best known for his role as Ali on Euphoria, as Mr Rivers in the movie ‘If Beale street could talk, Cutler in Ma Raineys Black Bottom. He’s also going to be in the new Michael B Jordan movie ‘Without Remorse’ as Pastor West and he’s going to be in the upcoming horror movie Candyman and finally he returns as Victor Strand in ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ which airs on AMC.
Filming has wrapped on the latest Spiderman Movie No way Home The film scheduled for Christmas release was filmed in New York and Atlanta. Tom Holland returns as Spiderman with Zendaya by his side but I am hearing that former Spidermens Andrew Garfield and Toby McQuire will also be returning as well as former Villains Jamie Foxx as Electro and Alfred Molina as Doctor Otto Octavius.
The Life Story of Tina Turner is now airing on HBO and HBO MAX.
Congrats to NAACP Image Awards winner Issa Rae she recently signed a 40 Million Dollar Deal with HBO for the next five years. HBO gave Rae her first big break after her You Tube series Adventures of an Awkward Black Girl which helped to launch Insecure.
The FX series Snowfall has been renewed for a fifth season. The 1980’s Drug drama was created by the Late Director John Singleton, has thrived since his death. British Actor Damson Idris leads the cast as Franklin Saint. Snowfall airs Wednesday nights at 10pm on FX.
April 21st marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Prince. On that date Fans of Prince will be allowed to tour his Minnesota Estate.
Raven Simone s returning to TV. This time on HGTV in the show What Not to Design. Simone will be surrounded by a team of experts as they fix Home design disasters.
Congrats to David E Talbert and his wife Lynne. After the success of their Holiday Film Jingle Jangle they have signed a first look deal with the Network.
Halle Berry has a new film in the works for Netflix. She’ll be teaming up with Mark Wahlberg in the movie ‘Our Man from Jersey”.
Janet Jackson’s family is not happy about her upcoming Docuseries about her life. The series will air on Lifetime Next year and she is producing it with her brother Randy. Sources say Janet is going to reveal the good, the bad and Ugly about the Jackson family. Was their dad Joe Jackson a bully? How her life transformed when she left his management and went to work with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Was Brother Michael really Bizarre? The series is also going to take a hard look at her life she’s 54, divorced again and raising a three year old son. The docuseries will also coincide with the 40th anniversary of her debut album
Oscar Winner Morgan Freeman, Alfre Woodard, Trevor Jackson and Rapper Actor are teaming up for the Movie ‘Hate to see You Go’. Freeman will play a Bluesman hitting the road one last time.
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The Academy award nominations were announced. Viola Davis became the most nominated Black Actress in Oscar history for her nod for Ma Raineys Black Bottom. Chadwick Boseman is also nominated for Ma Raineys Black Bottom. The late Actor has a best Actor nod. He has already won this awards with the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards. Singer Andra Day who won Best Actress from the Golden Globe Awards is nominated by the Academy for her portrayal as Billie Holiday in the Lee Daniels movie The United States VS Billie Holiday. If you have not seen her , she is incredible in this movie as Billie Holiday. The movie is streaming now on HULU. Leslie Odom Jr. is up for Oscars best Supporting Actor for ‘One Night In Miami’ where he plays Singer Sam Cooke and for best song for an original song he wrote for the movie. Actors Daniel Kaluua and Lakeith Stansfield were also nominated for Best Supporting Actors in the Movie ‘Judas and the Black Messiah now streaming on HBO Max. The 93rd Annual Academy Awards will take place Sunday April 25th on ABC. Tyler Perry is getting a special honor that night with the Humanitarian award. There will be no host for the awards show this afternoon. QuestLove from the Tonight Show and The Roots will be the music director the awards show
Theres a lot of magic in Upper Manhattan Lin Manuel Miranda long awaited ‘In The Heights is coming to the big screen and HBO MAX June 11th. Miranda the Tony Award Winner who brought us Hamilton is bringing this Broadway Production to the big screen starring Anthony Ramos and an ensemble cast featuring also starring Corey Hawkins (Straight outa Compton) and Singer/Songwriter Leslie Grace . The movie is directed by Jon Chu who brought us ‘Crazy Rich Asians.
We all know Stephan A. Smith from ESPN and his sports commentaries now he’s gearing up for a Docuseries about HBCU Schools. The series entitled ‘Black Excellence will feature Black Colleges and Universities in American Society. Politics, Business, Culture, Sports and Entertainment will be covered. Special guests on the Docu Series include Madame Vice President Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Tariji P Henson and Senator Raphael Warnock. Black Excellence is coming out next Year.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is streaming on Disney Plus. These will be six original shows starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson (Before he becomes Capt. America) ad Sebastian Stan Bucky Barnes. Marvel Studios there will be lots of Action and Adventure with these Buddies.
Get Ready for Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman onHBO Max in the Justice League movie.. This is actually a fresh take on a movie that came out 4 years ago. This is called the Snyder cut.
Congratulations to Queen Latifah her new TV Show ‘The Equalizer’ has been renewed for a second season. Queen Latifah and The Equalizer airs Sunday Nights at 8pm on CBS3.
The next Disney/Marvel movie coming out will be ‘Black Widow’ which will be in theaters July 9th. Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansen.it will also be available on Disney Plus with its Premiere Access service on the same date.
Kevin Hart is also coming to Netflix in the dramatic movie ‘Fatherhood’ Fatherhood is based on the book Two Kisses for Maddie:A Memoir of Loss and Love. Kevin Hart plays a single dad who has to raise his infant daughter after her mother dies in childbirth. Alfre Woodard plays his mother in Law and the movie also stars Lil Rel Howery, Actress Dewanda Wise (Dear White People) and Actor Paul Reiser also star. Fatherhood with Kevin Hart starts streaming on Netflix June 18th. He also returns to the big screen with Woody Harrellson in the action/thriller Man from Toronto MLK weekend 2022.
We have an official date for the last Fast and Furious movie F9 will be in theaters June 25th. F9 stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez, Tyrese, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Charlize Theron, Dame Helen Mirren, Ludacris, Cardi B and Wrestler turned Actor Jon Cena. In F9 Vin Dielsel is taking on a new nemesis his brother new comer Jon Cena and to the delight of many fans the popular character Hans is returning. I hear the car stunts in this movie will be crazy.
Director Spike Lee says his next project will focus on New York City. From 9/11 to today. This year marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 a day that changed America forever.
The 73rd Annual Prime time Emmy awards are happening Sunday Sept. 19th on CBS.
The OWN Network has announced that they will be producing a Gospel Reality show for the network. The show will focus on young women based in Connecticut.
The Proud Family is returning, this time on Disney Plus. The Proud family Louder and prouder will show the characters a little older. Penny Proud is now in high school. The twins are three, Mom Trudy is running her Veterinary Clinic and Dad Oscar is running a very successful Snack Company.
Paramount Plus has launched. Paramount Plus used to CBS All Access. The new streaming service is bringing back some old favorites like Yo MTV Raps, a reboot of the Kelsey Grammar Show Frasier, a reboot of the teen show ICarly. MTV’S Behind the Music. Paramount plus will also have access to movies once they finish their run in theaters such as Top Gun Maverick and Mission Impossible 7. Both movies star Tom Cruise.
Eve the Rapper/Actress/Talk Show Host is returning to TV. Late last year she left the CBS talk Show The Talk saying she wanted to focus on her family but now Eve has signed on for the ABC Hip Hop Drama Queens. Queens is 4 women who ruled the music charts in the 90’s and now they are in their 40’ looking to revive their careers to see if they still got it. Eve plays the married mother of five kids, Back in the day she led the group as Professor Sex.Actress NaturiNaughton (Power) has also been added to the cast as well as Singer Brandy.
The President and The Boss. Former President Barack Obama is teaming up with the Boss Bruce Springsteen for a Podcast called Renegades. Renagades will feature the men discussing, Fatherhood, their Lives, Race Relations and more. Check out their Podcast on Spotify.
The Godfather of Harlem is returning to the EPIX Channel Sunday April 18th. Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker stars as Harlem Gangster Bumpy Johnson.
Kerry Washington and Oscar Winner Charlize Theron are teaming up for the Netflix movie Fairytales. It’s about a fairytale school for good and evil.
The Nominations were announced this week for the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nominees include Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, LL Cool J ,The Foo Fighters and The Go Go’s to name a few. How does one qualify to be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. You will to be the music business at least 25 years or more. You can vote for your favorite by going to Rock Hall.com. The Nominees will be announced in May. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is happening this Fall in Cleveland. Go toRockHall.com to cast your vote.
Gabrielle Union and her husband Ex Basketball Star Dwayne Wade are coming out with a baby book based on their three year daughter Kaavia James. Kaavia who has her own Instagram page is quite the lady and she is known for her shady looks and expressions. The book call Shady Baby is their first Picture book.Shady Baby soon realizes she is Powerful Funny, Supercute Baby Girl who uses her Shadiness as a gift, a superpower with moral compass and Inner strength. Shady Baby is coming out in May.
Gospel Singer Kirk Franklin has launched his first Podcast. Good Words with Kirk Franklin shows faith and humor with some of your favorite celebrities. You’ll find Kirk Franklins podcast on most podcast outlets.
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