Entertainment News Friday July 16TH 2021
At the movies it’s Space Jam with Lebron James and Don Cheadle. I hear Michael Jordan who starred in the original Space Jammay pop up in this version. Zendaya is also in Space Jam lending her voice to the character Lola. In other Lebron James news he’s releasing his second Childrens book ‘We are Family’ on August 31st. The book is about five new friends who have different dreams and backgrounds but work together to save their basketball season and prove they can succeed if given the chance
Jazz under the Stars is happening Saturday July 17th with The Gerald Veasley All Stars and featured special guests Marion Meadows and Jeff Bradshaw. There will be two shows at the top of the hill at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts. There will be a 3 course dinner and show. Presented by South Jazz Club and Eatible Delights.
The First Wives Club has returned for Season two on BET PLUS. Jill Scott, Ryan Michelle Bathe, and Michelle Bathe are back with a new season of fun and Laughs.
New Edition is Back! Yes Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky Mike, Ralph and Johnny! All six of the guys are putting aside their differences to get back together. They are signed to a new agency and a tour is planned across the country and they will be starting a Residency in Las Vegas.
The Power saga continues on the STARZ Network.This weekend it’s the highly anticipated Raising Kanan.In the story of Raising Kanan, we found out about the character Kanan Who was played by Rapper 50 Cents. The cast of Raising Kanan is outstanding! Actor Mekai Curtis plays Kanan. Actress Patina Miller is going to blow you away as Kanans mother Raquel. Miller is a Tony Award winning Actress. Raising Kanan also stars Omar Epps and Quincy Brown. Streaming starts on Sunday and a second season is already in the works. In other 50 Cents news he is developing a hIp hop competion series for ABC.
Shonda Rhimes recently renewed her contract with Netflix. The new deal is worth 300 million dollars. Rhimes who created many hit shows for the ABC Network including Greys Anatomy and Scandal created Bridgerton for Netflix and the show became an instant hit around the world.
We remember Actress Suzanne Douglass. Douglass best known for her roles in the TV Show Parenthood with Robert Townsend and the movie The Inkwell died at the age of 64 after a battle with Cancer.
We also remember actor Charles Robinson . The 75 year old Actor was a regular on the TV Sitcom ‘Night Court’. He played Mac.
Prayers are going out to Singer Bobby Caldwell. The 69 year old Blued Soul Singer is best known for his hit song ‘What you won’t do for love’. He has sick for awhile.
Cedric The Entertainer will be hosting this years 73rd annual Emmy Awards on CBS Sept. 19th.
Nominees include Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross and the show Blachish for Best TV Show. The Voice is nominated for best competition show. MJ Rodriguez making history as the first Transgendered to be nominated as lead actress. Best Actor Nominee include Sterling K Brown ‘This is Us’. Rege Jean Page ‘Bridgerton.Johnthan Major HBO ‘Lovecraft Country’ Billy Porter Pose. Other nominess include Jurnee Smollett ‘Lovecraft Country. Actress Phylicia Rashad This is Us and Michaela Coel for the HBO series ‘I May destroy you’.
Get ready for the return of House Party. HBO MAX is bringing back the popular movie that starred Kid n Play, Martin Lawrence, The late Comedian Robin Harris and Tisha Campbell. Actor/Comedian Bill Bellamy is going to be in the HBO MAX Reboot.
Dwayne the Rock Johnson is joining forces with Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) and Ryan Reynolds for the Netflix movie Red Notice.streaming starts Nov.12 as criminals prepare for their biggest heist.
Filming has wrapped on the Live Action movie ‘The Lil Mermaid’ starring Hailey Bailey of Chloe and Halle. The movie is coming out next year.
Get ready for the new supergroup of Donnell Jones, Dave Hollister and Singer Carl Thomas. They are forming ‘The Chi’
Congrats to Rapper Meghan Thee Stallion making history as the first Rapper gracing the cover of Sports Illustrateds swimsuit edition.
The Disney/Marvel movie‘Black Widow’ is in theaters. Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansen.it will also be available on Disney Plus with its Premiere Access service on the same date.
Now that Meghan McCain is leaving The View the search is on for her replacement. McCain still had two years left on her contract but sources say she hated being on the show. She was controversial, stubborn and downright mean to her other cohosts. Who is the conservative hosts that will fill her seat and take her place along with Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar.
Now that Bill Cosby is out of jail on a technicality what’s next for Mr. Cosby. Sources say he is planning a comeback and a documentary about his sex assault case. The 83 year Comedian has been very vocal since his release, blaming the media for the January 6 riots on the Capital. He’s is also demanding Howard University repay him any money that he gave them for not supporting his TV Wife Phylicia Rashad. Rashad came out in support of Cosby and all hell broke loose. Rashad was named The Dean of the Howard University Theatre Program and some students and Alumni demanded that she be fired, when she voiced her support for Mr.Cosby.Rashad released a statement saying she supports Victims and will undergo Sensitivity training.
Why did HBO Cancel their very popular show Love Craft Country. Millions would tune in to see the show which was a mixture of Horror and Scifi. The Show starred Actor Johnathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett. The popular show only lasted one season.
Congrats to Singer Patti Labelle! The 77 year old entertainer is starring in a new Old Spice Commercial alongside Deon Cole of Blackish. She plays a meddling mother in law. She’s also celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her first cookbook Labelle Cuisine, recipes to sing about. And she’s coming to Atlantic City September 18th in concert at Caesars.
Jada Pinkett Smith has signed to be in the Netflix movie Knives out 2. The murder mystery will also star Daniel Craug who is best known as James Bond. Singer Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr. and Kate Hudson also round out the cast. The movie is coming out in 2022.
Production has stated on Black Panther 2:Wakanda Forever. Ryan Coogler is back at the helm as Director. The original cast is reportedly back and filming is happening in Atlanta Georgia .Coogler said it is going to be very emotional with the passing of Chadwick Boseman but they areto make a movie that will honor him and make him proud. Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever is due in theaters July 8th 2022.
Kool and The Gang is coming to Parx Casino in Bensalem. Sunday September 5th at the Xcite Center.
As we wait for the start of a new season of HBOS’s Insecure Issa Rae keeps busy. Rae is coming out with a line of Sneakers teaming up with Converse. Rae’s line of sneakers Issa Rae By You will offer inspiration message. You can find them at Converse.com and cost around 115 dollars.
Questlove from The Roots and The Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon is ready to give us a Summer of Soul. 1n 1969 a musical festival took place the Harlem Cultural Fest which was also called The Black Woodstock. It was a who’s who of musical giants including Sly Stone Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, The Staple Singers, BB King, Gladys Knight, 5th Dimension and Mahalia Jackson to name a few. This festival was filmed but it was hidden in a basement. Questlove found it and put it together and now 50 years later we are going to have a chance to see it. Check it out in theaters and streaming on HULU.
Actor Bill Duke plays the original OG in the HBO MAX Movie ‘No Sudden Move’.The movie is set in 1954 Detroit, a group of small time criminals get involved in a bank heist that goes wrong and they try to figure out what went wrong. The movie stars Don Cheadle, Benecio Del Toro, Jon Hamm and Ray Liotta. The movie isstreaming on HBO MAX.
Get ready for The Nick Cannon Daytime Talk Show. The show is kicking off this Fall September 27th at 12 noon on Fox stations. Cannon’s show will be filmed in Harlem . He will not be doing celebrity news and hot topics because he is following the Wendy Williams Talk Show. What is going on with The Real talk? No one is saying will this talk show survive? In the meantime Cannon just welcomed his 7th child with his latest girlfriend. In the past year he has had three babies with three different ladies.
Singer Alicia Keys is producing a new movie for NETFLIX called ‘Resort to Love’. The movie stars Christina Milian as a fading pop superstar who is in need of money and winds up singing at her ex fiancee’s wedding. The romantic comedy also stars Jay Pharoah and Sinqua Walls. The movie stars streaming July 29th
Great News for Mike Epps his Netflix show ‘The Upshaws’ with Wanda Sykes and Kim Fields has been renewed for a second season. The second season will include a longer season. In other Mike Epps news he’s getting a chance to play his idol Richard Pryor in an HBO movie about the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Long awaited prequel to the Sopranos ‘The many Saints of Newark is coming to theatres October 1ST. The HBO Series The Sopranos starred the late Actor James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano. In the prequel The Many Saints of Newark we get to see a young Tony Soprano played by Gandolfini’sson Michael Gandolfini. The movie also stars Tony Award Winning Actor Leslie Odom Jr.
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Get ready for the Black Western ‘The Harder They Fall’ coming to Netflix this Fall. The Movie stars Idris Elba , Oscar Winner Regina King. Johnathan Majors(Lovecraft Country) Delroy Lindo (Da Five Bloods) Daman Wayans, Deon Cole, Laz Alonso, Woody McClain (The Bobby Brown Story) WOW! What a Cast! I can’t wait to see this movie!
Check out the latest issues of Essence Magazine. The cover stars Phillys own Singer Jazmyne Sullivan and Actor Yaya Abdul Mateen II. Yaya won an Emmy for his performance in the HBO Show The Watchmen. He’s also starring in the ‘CandyMan’ movie which opens in theaters August 27th and he’s starring in the new Matrix
There’s a new documentary on Comic/Activist Dick Gregory. The documentary is airing on Showtime.
Actors Danny Glover and Samuel L Jackson will be given Honorary Oscars at next years Academy Awards in March.
Tracee Ellis Ross is teaming up with The OWN Network and HULU for the Documentary ‘The Hair Tales’. The documentary will focus on black women Hair and Identity.
I have an update on Comedienne and Actor Sinbad. Last year Sinbad suffered a stroke and he’s been in recovery mode ever since with the help of his family. The past few months have been rough for the Actor and Comedienne major financial problem and the stroke. Starting in November Sinbad is planning to return to live performing.
Showtime is presenting a Documentary on Rick James. James ruled the music charts in late 70’s and early 80’s with the hits ‘Superfreak’, ‘You and I’ and ‘Give it to me Baby’ . he revived the careers of Motown Legends Smokey Robinson and The Tempations. He discovered Teena Marie. The documentary is being put together by his Former Manager Kerry Gordy, the son of Berry Gordy. James died in 2004 at the age of 56. He led a hard life of sex,drugs and Funk. THE Documentary is taking a hard look at his life and his contribution to the music world.
The Obamas Former President Barack and Former First Lady Michelle are introducing a new animated show on Netflix called ‘We The People’ the 10 episode series is about educating children on Untied States Civic Lessons. The series features the voices of Singers Andra Day, Janelle Monae, Her, Bebe Rexha and the poetry of Amanda Gorman We the People is streaming now NETFLIX.
At the movies it’s Fast and Furious Nine. Yes the 9th installment is back with Vin Diesel, Jon Cena, Tyrese, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriquez, and Charlize Theron. Expect Lot’s of action and Cars and a trip to space.
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.
The trailer is out for the movie Respect. Jennifer Hudson is starring as the Queen of Soul. Marlon Wayans, Forest Whitaker and Mary J Blige also star. The movie Respect opens in theaters August 13th.
Will Smith is ready to tell all in his new book ‘Will’ Smith has been working on this project for the past two years and he says it was a labor of love. The book is coming out November 9th and it will coincide with the release of his latest movie ‘King Richard’ the story of Richard Williams the father of Venus and Serena Williams. Smith is also working on a new variety show. An hour long program with celebrity guests music and comedy debuting on Netflix later this year.
Boys to Men is coming to Atlantic City September 3rd at the Borgata
Envogue is coming to Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City Friday September 10th
Trevor Noah is coming to The Wells Fargo Center Saturday October 16th
The Atlantic City Comedy Festival is coming up at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Two nights of comedy. Saturday October 9th It’s Sommore, Lavell Crawford, DC Young Fly, Kountry Wayne and Karlous Miller. Sunday October 10th Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, Arnez J and Desi Banks. Tickets are on sale now.
Diana Ross is back with her first album since 2006. Thank You from the 77 year old Ross is featuring all new material. The album is coming out in September , The first single Thank You is out now.
Levar Burton is coming to Jeopardy! Mark your calendars for the week of July 26-July 30. Over 250 thousand people signed a petition to get the Roots and Reading Rainbow star on the show. When the longtime host Alex Trebek died last year a permanent Host was not named so new episodes were filmed with a slew of celebrity hosts like Footballs Aaron Rodgers, Dr. Oz, Former Today show host Katie Couric but no Black men were ever considered, then a petition was launched on behalf of Levar Burton, and 245 thousand signatures later it was announced that Burton would be joining the list of revolving hosts. Burton burst onto the national scene as Kunte Kinte in the groundbreaking TV Miniseries Roots. For 21 years Burton has been a part of the Reading Rainbow Educational series and the TV series Star Trek The Next Generation.
The life story of Marvin Gaye is coming to the big screen. In a 80 Million dollar deal Warner Brothers will be doing to project and Dr. Dre will be producing. In this exclusive deal They have the cooperation of the estate of Marvin Gaye which means they have the rights to the Music of Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye one of the greatest Soul Singers of our times and the first Black Singer to sign a million dollar Record. The life of Marvin Gaye was filed with great music but Gaye led a very troubled life, dominated by drug abuse. In 1984 he was 44 years old when he was gunned down by his father. The Big question now is who is going to play Marvin Gaye in this movie?
Check out some of the Stars getting a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.Michael B Jordan, DJ Khaled, The Black EYE Peas, The late Rapper Nipsey Hustle, Actress Regina King, Tessa Thompson, Holly Robinson Peete, Kenan Thompson,Tracee Ellis Ross, George Clinton,Singer Ashanti , Martha Reeves and Michael Strahan to name a few.
There will be shows at the Dell Music Center this August, Starting in August. The season kicks off Sunday August 1st with Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Regina Bell. Thursday August 5th it’s Tank, SWV and Dru Hill. Thursday August 12th it’s Gregory Porter, Stokely and Leela James. Sunday August 15th It’s Lady B and her 40th Anniversary in Radio salute with the Basement Party. Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Roxanne Shante, EPMD, Tuff Crew,,Sugarhill Gang , Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five . Thursday August 19th It’s the Isley Brothers and Singer Kelly Price and Carol Riddick. Sunday September 5th I am having my Annual Party in the Park with The Whispers , Stephanie Mills and After 7. Tickets go on sale Saturday June 26th 9am at the Dell Music Center Box Office 33rd and Ridge. On line sales began on June 26th that afternoon at 1pm. Go to Ticketmaster.com or DellmusicCenter.com
Jay-z’s Made in America returns to Philly Labor day Day Weekend Sept 4th and 5th. Justin Beiber is headlining along with Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, Doja Cat and many others on the Ben Franklin Parkway
Kevin Hart is starring in the Netflix 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 stars.. He also returns to the big screen with Woody Harrelson in the action/thriller Man from Toronto MLK weekend 2022. Kevin Hart has also signed on for the new movie The Superleague of Pets with Dwyane The Rock Johnson, John Krasinki and Keanu Reeves.
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Basketball Superstar Scottie Pippen wants everyone to know that he was the real leader of the Chicago bulls with Michael Jordan. Pippendid not like how he was portrayed in the award winning Documentary ‘The Last Dance’ about the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. He said he was more than just a sidekick to Michael Jordan. He says he got no respect from The Bulls management or the media. His new book Unguarded is coming out on November 21st.
Bell Biv Devoe is coming to Atlantic City. Friday August 27th at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Tickets are on sale now.
Madea is back! In his new deal with ‘Netflix’ Tyler Perry is bringing the popular character back in a new movie ‘A Madea Homecoming’. The movie is coming to Netflix next year.
4 time Olympic Champion Simone Biles just won her seventh all around title and with in weeks she’s set to be the star of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She’s also starring in a facebook watch Docuseries about her road to Tokyo.
Issa Rae is lending her voice to the next animated Spiderman movie. Rae is playing Spider-woman AKA Jessica Drew. Spiderman Into the Spider verse part two follows the adventures of the films hero Miles Morales. It is set to arrive in theaters October 7th, 2022. Issa Rae is the cover girl for the latest issue of Vanity Fair Magazine. This summer Rae is producing a reality show for HBO about Young Black Life in Los Angeles. Also look for the return of ‘Insecure” the fifth and final season in late August on HBO.
Mariah Carey is making news with her new management team. Carey is no longer with Roc Nation. Carey is teaming up with legendary Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for aR&B project and she is planning a new world tour.
Actor Johnathan Majors will play the opponent of Adonis Creed in the movie Creed 3. Michael B Jordan is back as Adonis he is starring and directing Creed 3. Majors is best known for his roles in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, Da Five Bloods, The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Majors is a busy guy he’s also playing King The Conqueror in the marvel movie Antman and the wasps and he’s also appearing in the Netflix Western The Harder They Fall.
Tiffany Haddish has announced to produce and star in a movie based on Olympic Great Florence Grifffith Joyner. Joyner was the darling of the Olympics in track and Field. Her death at 38 years old in 1998 shocked the world. Haddish says she grew up idolizing Joyner and that it’s an honor to do this movie. Haddish is also doing a follow up to the best selling book The Last Black Unicorn. I hear she is being offered Millions to talk about her career in Hollywood.
Actress/Comedian Yvonne Orji who plays Molly on the HBO show Insecure has a new book out called ‘Bamboozled by Jesus’ How God tricked me into the life of my dreams. The Nigerian Actress/Comedian says the book is full of Life Lessons.
The Four Tops musical is coming to Broadway. The Motown Group led by Levi Stubbs is known for their hits ‘Reach out ,I’ll be there’ and I can’t help Myself . Rehearsals are happening now.
Kelly Clarkson will be getting the coveted time left by Ellen Degeneres when she leaves her show next year.
Music Lovers listen up! To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and Philly International Records a 50th Anniversary Box Set of music has been released. This set of songs has all the hits including the first 8 songs released by Philly International records.
Another box set coming is one celebrating Singer Phyliss Hyman. Phyliss Hyman Old Friend is a 9 Disc career retrospective 1976-1998. It’s coming out July 31st. Hyman died in 1995.
The History of African American cuisine is explored in the new Netflix Docuseries‘High on the Hog’. This series is an excellent look at the history of our foods. I teared up, I clapped I cheered, I learned so much. This is a must see ‘High on The Hog is streaming now on Netflix.
Billy Porter the Tony and Emmy Winner is opening up about his private life. The openly Gay star of the FX series Pose recently revealed his battle with HIV. Porter has living with HIV for the past 15 years and he says he kept quiet about because he felt ashamed.Porter is now opening up he has a NETFLIX documentary coming out this Fall and a book coming out in late December.
Actor Morris Chestnut will be starring in the new Lee Daniels Fox Drama ‘Our Kind of People’ the drama also starring YaYa DeCosta is about the Black upper class in Marthas Vineyard. The show will air on Tuesday nights on Fox. Chestnut will also wrap up his role as Dr. Barett Cain on the Fox Show ‘The Resident’ and he will be joining his fellow cast mates from the movie ‘The Best Man” in The Best Man The Final Chapters which is airing on The Peacock Streaming network (NBC) in September.
A new Mike Tyson documentary isstreaming on Hulu. It is excellent! Mike Tyson: The Knockout The Climb, The Crush, The Comeback is a 4 hour hour Docu series that’s takes a hard look at The Boxers life.
Where’s Ghost? Actor Omari Hardwick has moved on from the Power TV series . he has a new movie out withDave Bautista Army of the Dead. Army of the Dead is streaming on Netflix. t. The movie is about a bank heist featuring some unforgettable characters and Zombies. Hardwick is also teaming up with Halle Berry for the Netflix Sci Fi movie The Mothership.
The ABC Network has announced the Upcoming Fall Lineup. Shows not returning are Blackish and Mixish. Blackish will end next year during the midseason it’s 8th season.News show coming to ABC include ‘Abbott Elemtary’ starring Philadelphia Native Quinta Brunson. Brunson is the creator of the show set at a Philadelphia Public School. Abbott Elementary also stars Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) and Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. Another new show coming is Queens starring Phillys own Eve, Brandy and Naturi Naughton. The show focuses on a girl group that was big 20 years ago and they hit the road to rekindle their careers. Is the magic still there.
Snoop Dog is getting a show on NBC’s Streaming Network Peacock called ‘Worlds Dumbest Criminals and he’s teaming up with Kevin Hart for a News and Sport comedy Show.
Dave Chappelle has teamed up with Talib Kweli, and Yasiin Bey to launch a new Podcast called the midnight miracle special guests for season one include Chris Rock, and Questlove.
Rappers Redman and Method Man are teaming up to play brothers on the new season of Power Book 2. Redman and Method Man recently treated their fans to a VERZUZ, and the two are no strangers to acting in 2001 they starred in the movie how high and in 2004 they had the short lived TV show Method and Red. The next Power installment Power Book 3 ‘Rising Kanaan’ debuts next month.
Rapper Lil Kim is ready to tell all. The Queen Bee is the name of the book and it comes out Nov. 2nd. Kim says she is going to reveal the real story of Kimberly Denise Jones. The hidden moments of her reign. She was the side chick to Biggie, the only female in Junior Mafia. In 1996 she released ‘Hardcore’ . In her nearly 30 year career she was a trailblazer with the colorful wigs.
Will Smith is coming to Youtube in a six part fitness fitness series called the Best Shape of my Life. In the Docu series Smith consults with Athletes and Scientists about staying in shape no matter what age you are.
Broadway is returning this Fall in New York Alladdin, September. The Michael Jackson Musical MJ in December. Hamilton, The Lion King, Wicked, Tina Turner and The Temptations Ain’t Too Proud to Beg are also returning this Fall.
Actress Janet Hubert the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has joined the cast of the TBS Show The Last OG. The Last OG stars Tracey Morgan as an ex con rebuilding his life after spending the last 15 years in Prison. The show is entering it’s 4th season. Tiffany Haddish will not be a part of season 4 because she only signed on for three seasons. Anna Marie Horsford (Amen) has also joined the cast and she and Hubert will play best friends.
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.
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 on 105.3 Wdasfm. Or join me on Social Media Twitter:Mspattyjackson Instagram Wdaspatty and Facebook Patty