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.\
Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross graces the cover of InStyle magazine for its November issue. She talks about living her best life, fashion, her legendary mom, Diana Ross, and the new season of Black-ish. This Tuesday, Tracee Ellis Ross returns as host of 2018 The American Music Awards (AMA’s). Performers include Khalid, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Missy Elliot and Gladys Knight will lead an all-star tribute American Music Awards winner and one time host, The Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin. The nominees are led by Cardi B and Drake with eight nominations apiece. Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Khalid, The Weeknd, Ella Mai and The Black Panther Soundtrack are all up for awards as well. The 2018 AMA’s air this Tuesday, October 9th at 8pm on ABC, and, the season premiere of Tracee Ellis Ross in Blackish airs Tuesday, October 16th at 9pm on ABC.
Damon Wayans is leaving the Lethal Weapon TV series. The action drama was adapted from the hit movie franchise that starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. The TV series has been plagued with problems. Original co-star Clayne Crawford was dismissed from the show after allegations of emotional abuse on the set hit the press. Wayans himself on since deleted social media post called Crawford an emotional terrorist. Crawford was replaced by Seann William Scott (the American Pie movie franchise) this season, which has a 13-episode order. Now Wayans says he’s done after those 13. Why? The comedian says he’s 58 and diabetic and he can’t work 16-hour days anymore. Plus, the show was taking him away from family. His mother and his daughter both recently had surgery and he couldn’t be there. It would appear by year’s end that would be it for Wayans. Will the show fold too? Lethal Weapon airs Tuesdays at 9pm on FOX.
Michael B. Jordan is on the cover of the November issue of Vanity Fair. The 31-year old gets frank about his career and personal life. First, he’s marking his territory on acting and declares he’s ready to be that next big cinema star. Like Denzel Washington, Will Smith and Brad Pitt, Jordan is lining up the roles and the experience. Jordan also spoke of the constant dragging he takes on social media for dating outside of his race. The Creed actor says he dates women of all races including sistas. Meanwhile, pick up Vanity Fair and Creed II, which Jordan filmed largely in Philly and co-stars Sylvester Stallone, opens Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd.
In other movie news, Chadwick Boseman is taking a page out of his Black Panther Co-star Michael B. Jordan’s book and filming here in Philadelphia. Boseman teams up with Emmy Winner Keith David (Greenleaf; Barbershop; The Thing; Night School) for 17 Bridges. The film is a thriller about a manhunt for a cop killer and shutting Manhattan down to find him, including all 17 of its bridges. Boseman is a disgraced cop who happens upon the conspiracy supporting the cop killer and soon becomes a target himself. While set in Manhattan, some of the filming is happening here in Philly. Boseman’s co-star Jordan wrapped filming Creed II here earlier this year. 17 Bridges is scheduled for a July 12, 2019 release.
Congratulations to Singer/Actor Tyrese and his wife Samantha Lee Gibson. The couple just welcomed a daughter Soraya Lee Gibson. The couple have been married since Valentine’s Day 2017. Tyrese also has a 10-year old daughter, Shayla, from a previous relationship. Mother, father, sister and baby are all doing well.
Speaking of babies, Eddie Murphy is expecting baby number 10 and he’s gonna jump the broom again. The superstar comedian and his girlfriend, Paige Butcher, have been together since 2012. The couple are expecting their second child together, a son, due in November. They already have a 2-year old daughter Izzy. This will be the second marriage for Murphy after more than a decade with his ex, Model TV/Personality Nicole Murphy. Meanwhile, Eddie Murphy is reportedly developing a reboot with Think Like A Man Director Tim Story of the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau 90’s hit Grumpy Old Men. Samuel L. Jackson has been mentioned as a possible co-star. Murphy is also prepping his high profile project on Netflix, Dolemite Is My Name. The movie is essentially the bio-pic of legendary Comedian Rudy Ray Moore, who financed the first Dolemite movie with the proceeds from his underground comedy albums. When the Dolemite movie became a hit, it began a franchise for Moore. Murphy will play Moore, and he’ll be joined by Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Keegan-Michael Key, T.I. and Craig Robinson. Dolemite Is My Name is expected to be available for streaming by the end of 2018.
John Legend is coming to town with a holiday tour and has a new album of Christmas music. The new album is called A Legendary Christmas and features the holiday standards Silver Bells, The Christmas Song and a duet with Stevie Wonder on Wonder’s classic What Christmas Means to Me My Love. Legend will also be in the area for A Legendary Christmas Tour at The Borgata in Atlantic City on Black Friday, November 23rd and The Met Philadelphia Tuesday, December 4th. The new album, A Legendary Christmas, will be released Thursday, October 26th.
The Legendary Peabo Bryson is back. The singer enjoyed a string of hits in the 70’, 80’s and 90’s including A Whole New World, Feel The Fire, Beauty And The Beast, Tonight (I Celebrate My Love For You), We Don’t Have To Talk About Love, Can You Stop The Rain and I’m So Into You, to name a few. Peabo and I go way back anyway including the day he took me shoe shopping (Smile Peabo!!!). Now he’s back with a brand new album, Stand For Love, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on their reactivated label Perspective Records. He’s already got two hot singles off the album: Love Like Yours And Mine and his latest All She Wants To Do Is Me. Peabo is celebrating over 40 years in the business and is touring with a possible stop in Philly this December. And, at 67, the singer/songwriter is keeping up with his and wife Tanya’s eight month-old baby boy Robert. Bryson also has a daughter, Linda, from a previous relationship. Stand For Love is Peabo’s 21st album and is available now in stores and online.
Another Music Legend is Elton John. He is currently in the midst of his farewell tour, and has a movie coming out about his life story. The singer/songwriter has enjoyed a record setting run on the charts and concert trail. His personal life has been much more turbulent with drugs, an eating disorder, his risking his career coming out as gay, and his fight to see a cure for AIDS, which has taken the lives of many of his close friends. There’s also his famous battles with celebrities (Tina Turner; Madonna) and close legendary friendships (John Lennon; Billy Joel; Dionne Warwick; George Michael). John has special connections to Philly. In 1977, he got Philly Soul Producer Thom Bell (The Stylistics; The Delfonics; The Spinners) to produce The Thom Bell Sessions including the million selling Mama Can’t Buy You Love at Sigma Sound in downtown Philly. Before that, in 1975 his song Philadelphia Freedom topped the charts. That song and Bennie And The Jets were so popular on the R&B charts as well, that they were the two songs he performed on Soul Train. He was that show’s first white artist. Rocket Man, one of John’s hit songs and the name of his record company, is the title of his bio-pic. Taron Egerton of the Kingsman movies, will play the legendary singer-songwriter. Rocket Man is scheduled for a May 2019 release.
The Hate U Give is a new film from Soul Food Director George Tillman, Jr. and explores the issues of race and police brutality. When a teenager is the star witness to the shooting death of her best friend at the hands of police, she feels the pressure from various sides on how she should react and doing what’s right. The film stars Amandla Stenberg (Sleepy Hollow; Hunger Games), Regina Hall (Girls Trip; Think Like A Man), Russell Hornsby (Fences; Creed II; Lincoln Heights) and Algee Smith (The New Edition Story; Detroit). The Hate U Give opens in theaters Friday, October 19th.
Night School with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish makes a big splash at the box office. By taking in over $27 million last weekend, the film was the best opening for a comedy this year. This was one of the big three for Haddish. The Emmy winner next joins The Oath with 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.
So how does BET follow up their back to back successes with The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story? They do it with Soul Train, of course. The legendary weekly soul music show was first aired to a national audience 47 years ago this month, and BET is celebrating The Mighty Train with a drama on its making. The scripted series will be called American Soul and the cast includes Kelly Price, Kelly Rowland as Gladys Knight and Sinqua Walls as Soul Train Host and Creator Don Cornelius. American Soul began filming in Atlanta in September, and the series is expected to debut on BET in 2019.
In more BET News, a salute to Quincy Jones celebrating his 85th birthday is coming to the network. Appearing to salute the man known as “Q” will be Oprah Winfrey, Fantasia, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Ledisi, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Danny Glover, Yolanda Adams and Stevie Wonder, just to name a few. Q85: A Musical Celebration For Quincy Jones will air in December on BET. Meanwhile, Jones has a Netflix documentary covering his life and times. From growing up in Chicago, his children and loves of his life, longtime friendships with Ray Charles, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, his record label Qwest, putting Fresh Prince, Will Smith, on network television and, of course, the legendary three Michael Jackson albums, it’s all covered. The documentary, called Quincy, co-directed and produced by daughter Rashida Jones, is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Ciara graces the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. Mrs. Russell Wilson talks about getting at the goodies and how to level up in her first cover shoot for the magazine which will be out on stands Tuesday, October 9th.
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 and Uncensored are back. The film The Best Man, Actor/Reality Star Ray J and TV Host/Actor/Comedian Wayne Brady are among those profiled this season. Then There’s Uncensored. A candid sit-down with current celebrities and newsmakers on their observations and what makes them tick. This season includes Singer K. Michelle, Comedian/Actor Lil Rel Howery, and Actress Tichina Arnold (Martin; Everybody Hates Chris; The Neighborhood). UnSung Hollywood airs at 9pm followed by Uncensored at 10pm on TV One this Sunday, October 7th at 9pm.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This 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.