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.
Bill Cosby gets 3 to 10 years, and O.J. Simpson has a warning. The legendary Philadelphia born comedian and actor was not spared with house arrest or probation. He was labeled a violent sexual offender by Judge Steven O’Neill and sentenced for his conviction on sexual assault against Andrea Constand. His two new mugshots and photos of Cosby being led out of court in handcuffs went viral. The prosecution says justice was done, but Cosby’s team labeled the trial racist and sexist and vowed to appeal. Social media lit up with some supporting the sentence, some calling the trial a sham, and other calling for other accused men in the Metoo era to be held to the same standard as Cosby. O.J. Simpson, who served nine years himself on kidnapping and armed robbery, was seen out and about and commented. Simpson said he didn’t follow the case, but Cosby will probably need to be isolated because it only takes one nut to cause him great harm and no warden wants that responsibility. Cosby’s new legal team has filed their notice of appeal, which could take years. If that effort is not successful, the 81-year old must be in prison at least three years before he can be considered for parole.
Will Smith bungee jumps for his 50th! The movie, music and TV star said he wanted to take the plunge as he hit the half century mark. He gathered family and friends, including his former Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Co-star Alfonso Ribeiro, to witness his jump. All went well and after Smith completed his jump, he offered words of wisdom about commitment. The video, of course, has become a viral sensation. Happy Birthday Will!
Boomerang the TV series? Yes! The 1992 blockbuster starred Eddie Murphy, who produced the film with House Party Filmmakers Reginald & Warrington Hudlin. Murphy’s co-stars were Halle Berry, Robin Givens, Grace Jones, Martin Lawrence, David Alan Grier, Geoffrey Holder and Eartha Kitt, and Boomerang grossed $131 million at the box office. Now Co-star Halle Berry has teamed up with Emmy-winning Writer /Actress Lena Waithe (Master Of None) to produce an updated version for BET. Waithe says the TV version is a continuation of the storyline as opposed to a reboot. Boomerang has a ten episode order to premiere in 2019 on BET.
Robin Roberts will have the first interview with Forever First Lady Michelle Obama on her new memoir Becoming. Mrs. Obama is due in Philly on Thursday, November 29th at the Wells Fargo Center for the intimate conversation for her new book. Becoming is set for release Tuesday, November 13th. Robin Roberts sits down with the Forever First Lady from Chicago on that same day, November 13th, on Good Morning America on ABC.
Taraji P. Henson is trying to take the stigma out of talking about mental health and therapy in the African American community. Henson, who returned for her fifth season in FOX’s top rated drama Empire this week, wants black people to embrace more tools to lead to and ensure good mental health. The Oscar nominated actress and her son experienced the deaths of her father and her son’s father, and realized they were both more traumatized than either realized by the events. After going into therapy, including with her fiancé, Henson has turned things around for the positive. She’s established The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, a nonprofit organization named for her father whose mental health challenges arose from his military tour of Vietnam. Among the foundation’s goals, to ensure what it calls cultural competency in the care of African Americans with mental illness by providing scholarships to African Americans studying in the mental health field. Now, Henson’s career is rolling strong. She’s getting ready to marry former NFL Star Kelvin Hayden. And, Henson reigns supreme as the leading lady of Empire, which is back on Wednesday nights at 8pm on FOX.
Jesse Williams of Grey’s Anatomy experienced some social media backlash on his upcoming film directorial debut about Emmett Till’s murder. In 1955, Till was kidnapped and tortured to death by two white men who were tried, acquitted but later confessed to the murder. Their motivation was the accusation the then 14-year old Till sexually harassed a white woman who was the wife of one of the men. The woman, now 84-year old Carolyn Bryant Donham, reportedly admitted to Journalist Timothy Tyson that she lied about the harassment. Jesse Williams is directing a movie based on these events, but posted up pictures of Emmett Till’s mother Mamie Till Mobley at her son’s funeral. After some reaction, Williams removed the pictures and apologized. He added he wasn’t going for sensationalism or promotion, but highlighting the extreme sacrifice of Till’s mom who insisted on the open casket so the world would know what was done to her son. The Emmett Till movie, being produced with Whoopi Goldberg, begins production next summer. Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly features the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. Sharing the cover are Jesse Williams, Kelly McCreary, James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson, Justin Chambers, Camilla Luddington, Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd, Caterina Scorsone and Ellen Pompeo. Grey’s Anatomy’s 15th season airs at 8pm Thursdays on ABC.
Cardi B is negotiating a spot in the Halftime show of the Superbowl, but is she too raunchy? The 2019 Superbowl returns to CBS. That set up the reminders of how allegedly angry ex-CBS Chief Leslie Moonves was with Janet Jackson. After Justin Timberlake ripped her top off and exposed Jackson’s bare breast in the infamous wardrobe malfunction on the 2004 CBS broadcast Superbowl, Moonves was rumored to have used his power to wreck Jackson’s career. Now, critics have sounded off that Maroon 5’s leading the halftime show is not a good show of diversity, so that’s where Cardi B came in…maybe. Could this be déjà vu for CBS and the NFL? Cardi B is no shrinking violet, and her songs could raise the eyebrows over at the network. At press time, no official word yet from Cardi B, CBS or the NFL. Maroon 5 will do the halftime honors at Superbowl 53 from Atlanta airing on Sunday, February 3rd on CBS.
Get Ready for a Tiffany Haddish three pack! The comedienne, fresh off her Emmy win for hosting Saturday Night Live last season, has three new movies on deck. The Oath stars Haddish and Mad TV’s Ike Barinholtz (the writer and director of the movie), John Cho and Nora Dunn (Saturday Night Live). Haddish and Barinholtz play a couple who go to his relatives’ on the Thanksgiving after Americans have been required to sign an oath of loyalty to the government. When talk turns to politics, the reactions are a step up from the Get Out movie, but played for laughs. The Oath opens Friday, October 12th. After that, Haddish joins Tika Sumpter (The Haves & The Have Nots), Amber Riley (Glee), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Whoopi Goldberg for Nobody’s Fool, written and directed by Tyler Perry, hitting theaters November 2nd. But, first up, Haddish and her long time stand up friend and colleague, Kevin Hart, star in Night School. Haddish plays the no nonsense night school teacher who must help drop out Hart earn the G.E.D. to finally make the career change he desperately wants. Night School opens in theaters this week.
Kelis graces the cover of the October issue of Essence magazine, which includes legendary Essence Editor In Chief Emeritus Susan L. Taylor’s tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.
Senators Kamala Harris and Corey Booker join Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on the cover of Ebony magazine for the November political issue, which also features an Aretha Franklin tribute.
Speaking of The Queen Of Soul, Essence magazine has issued a special commemorative issue all about Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin, in words and pictures over the years of her record breaking career.
TV One’s UnSung Hollywood is back. Ray J and Wayne Brady will be among those profiled this season. Everything kicks off with the movie The Best Man. UnSung Hollywood returns to TV One Sunday, October 7th at 9pm.
Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross will return as host of 2018 The American Music Awards (AMA’s). The nominees are led by Cardi B and Drake with eight nominations apiece. Beyonce and Jay-Z share a nomination for Tour Of The Year. Bruno Mars is also up for that award. Khalid, The Weeknd, Ella Mai and The Black Panther Soundtrack are all up for awards as well. Tracie Ellis Ross hosts The 2018 AMA’s on Tuesday, October 9th at 8pm on ABC. And, the season premiere of Ross’ sitcom Blackish is Tuesday, October 16th at 9pm on ABC.
Queen Latifah has been announced as this year’s recipient of The Marian Anderson Award. As a pioneering hip hop performer and groundbreaking female MC, Latifah evolved her career to also include $100 million blockbuster movies (Bringing Down The House; Girls Trip), television (Living Single; The Queen Latifah Show) and production (co-founder of Flava Unit Entertainment). The Marion Anderson Awards will take place at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets, for its 20th anniversary Gala and Concert. Latifah joins past recipients Harry Belafonte, Jon Bon Jovi, Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Patti LaBelle and Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. The festivities will take place November 20th and you can log on to KimmelCenter.org for tickets and information.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, September 28th – Sunday, September 30th – The 40th Anniversary of The Philly Pops featuring Philly’s own Leslie Odom, Jr. at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets. Log onto kimmelcenter.org for ticket information.
This Saturday, September 29th – Maxwell at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Tuesday, October 2nd – Janet Jackson and her State Of The Nation Tour at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for ticket information.
Thursday, October 4th – The Whitney Houston Show starring Belinda at the Keswick Theatre. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheatre.com
Saturday, October 6th & Sunday, October 7th- Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, Jay Pharoah, Sheryl Underwood, Tony Rock and Gary Owen and more over the two days of The Atlantic City Comedy Festival on Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto boardwalkhall.com/events.
Friday, November 16th – Hall & Oates at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Tuesday, November 20th - The 20th Annual Marion Anderson Awards, Gala & Concert honoring Queen Latifah at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets. For more tickets and information log onto KimmelCenter.org.
Saturday, November 24th - The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Thursday, November 29th - Michelle Obama-Becoming: An Intimate Conversation at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
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 The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto the wdasfm.com homepage 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.