Join us for our WDAS’ Women Of Excellence event happening Saturday, April 6th.This year’s honorees include: Jenice Armstrong, Metro Columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer; Keir Bradford-Grey, Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia; Facetta Greene, Operations Manager of The Dell Music Center, Philadelphia; Amber Hikes, Executive Director, Office of LGBT Affairs, Mayor’s Office; Renee Chenault Fattah, Iconic Philadelphia Anchor Woman & News Personality. Our Special Trailblazing Woman of Excellence honor will be presented to Grammy Award Winning Rapper, Songwriter, Actress, Co-host of the CBS’ The Talk and West Philly Native Eve. Plus, musical performances by Brian McKnight, Pastor Marvin Sapp, and Raheem DeVaughn! Log onto WDAS-FM.com for tickets and information.
Jordan Peele has done it again with his new movie Us, which took in a record breaking $70 million in its opening weekend. Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke play a married couple with two children who are confronted by the entire family’s look a likes (doppelgangers). There’s a twist ending and that’s got critics calling Peele the millennial Master of Suspense and heir apparent to Alfred Hitchcock. Peele also noted that you may not see a lead white male actor in his films anytime soon. Why? Not that he doesn’t like them, but because the Oscar winning filmmaker says he’s seen that movie already. Peele says he’s enjoying this new renaissance and busting all the myths that usually discourage studios from all-black or predominately black casts. That led This Is Us Emmy Winner Sterling K. Brown to tweet Jordan’s quotes out and Brown responding with the student’s hand raised emoji Ooh Ooh Ooh…I’m Black! Us is in theaters right now, and Jordan is hosting The Twilight Zone reboot series on CBS All Access streaming service beginning Monday, April 1st.
Taraji P. Henson is on a roll in 2019 and her latest film is called The Best Of Enemies. Set in Durham, North Carolina, Henson plays Civil Rights Activist Ann Atwater who has been battling with local Klu Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis. Both experience a life changing event when they agree to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a 1971 court ordered school desegregation plan. The movie is co-produced by Actor Tobey Maguire (Spiderman) and Empire Producer Danny Strong. The Best Of Enemies hits theaters Friday, April 5th.
Dr. Dre learned the hard way that it doesn’t pay to brag. The rap legend took to social media to declare his daughter got accepted into USC All On Her Own.Dre also wrote No Jail Time. That seemed like a shot at Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, both of whom are among 50 people arrested in connection to a college cheating and admissions scandal and are facing federal charges. Well, turns out Dr. Dre forgot to mention in his comments that he and longtime business associate and Music Mogul Jimmy Iovine donated $70 million to USC and now have a school named for both of them. The critics came for the good doctor on how he could think his $70 million didn’t influence USC to admit his daughter. For the record, there’s no cheating or even allegation of wrongdoing as far as Dr. Dre’s daughter’s college admission is concerned. Still, Dre decided it was a good idea just the same to take down his post.
Oprah is teaming up as Apple to go hard into the streaming business and they’re not alone. Because Netflix has become absolutely huge in the streaming game, the competition wants in on the action….and the profits. Disney, AT&T/ Warner Brothers, Viacom/CBS and Comcast are all establishing new streaming services despite the fact that they already own broadcast and cable networks. They’re all taking on Netflix and about to play hardball as they begin to pull the content they own from Netflix and run them on their own streaming platforms. This is why Netflix has been in such a hurry to produce original programming. Meanwhile, as far as Apple is concerned, they’re ready to roll with streaming entertainment in 2019. They have signed up Steven Spielberg, Rashida Jones and Jennifer Garner for original programming. And, The Mighty O herself, Oprah Winfrey, is producing The Morning Show, a scripted program starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carrell and Jason Momoa. Apple intends to launch their original streaming content this fall.
All charges have been dropped, his record clean and the evidence sealed for Jussie Smollett. An emergency court appearance this week allowed Smollett to walk free of the 16 felony counts he once faced. So what happened? This is just the latest turn of events in the case of the alleged hate crime against the actor/singer/songwriter. When Chicago police announced that they arrested Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging the attack himself and filing a false police report, Smollett pleaded not guilty and maintained he’s been truthful through the entire ordeal. Before he was arrested a family representative Tina Tchen, former Chief of Staff for Michelle Obama, called prosecutor Kim Foxx with concerns on how the Chicago PD were handling things. From there Foxx recused herself but not before allegedly pushing to get the F.B.I. involved to check behind Chicago Police. After Foxx recused herself, Prosecutor Joe Magats from Foxx’s office took over. Magats announced in light of Smollett forfeiting his $10,000 bail and his recent community service work in Chicago for Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push organization and not being a danger to the community, the charges were being dropped. Magats did say there was enough evidence to prosecute and he doesn’t believe Smollett is innocent. Meanwhile Smollett maintains his innocence and says he’s always been truthful about this incident. Smollett’s Attorneys Patricia Brown Holmes and Mark Geragos insisted there was no plea deal. The Chicago P.D. union is calling for an F.B.I. investigation and Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson blasted the prosecutors for dropping the charges. However, because of the well known history of the crime rate in Chicago, the union, the police and the mayor are also being sharply criticized for, what some allege, being more energized on Jussie Smollett than on Chicago homicides, gun violence and police brutality.
Did R Kelly get caught in a phony story? Remember he wanted permission to be able to go to Dubai and perform, and possibly meet the Prime Minister. Well, official from the country claim that’s all news to them because there are no plans to request Kelly perform or meet any officials. Because of all the negative publicity surrounding the Chicago born singer/songwriter, the concert market in this country may not be helpful for him. This is why he was seeking permission to perform outside of the U.S. to earn money.Kelly’ lawyers have let the public know their client is not in the best shape for money, and claimed fans raised the money to get him out of jail on his latest child support issue. The prosecution isn’t in favor of Kelly leaving at all and deemed him a flight risk a la Roman Polanski, the famous director who jumped bail after being charged and later convicted in absentia with drugging and raping a 13-year old girl.Will Kelly’s money options run out and land him back in jail? He faces 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse.
Speaking of R Kelly,Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing several R Kelly accusers, has been charged with fraud and trying to extort $25 million from Nike. Avenatti says he’s innocent, but the government claims to have recordings of the famed attorney demanding money from Nike executives who recorded the conversations and were working with the government. Avenatti is accused of threatening to expose a high school basketball scandal involving the shoe company, players and their parents. Avenatti says he’s innocent, but was ready to expose what he alleged were amateur high school basketball players and illegal cash payments that involved the highest levels at the shoe company. Celebrity Lawyer Mark Geragos (Chris Brown; Michael Jackson; Jussie Smollett) has been named by several media outlets as Avenatti’s co-conspirator. Geragos hasn’t been charged, but CNN announced he’s no longer working for them as a legal analyst. Meanwhile, Avenatti, who claimed he brought prosecutors a new R Kelly sex tape, could see that alleged evidence thrown out based on his current situation. Avenatti is also reported to have said on the government recordings that 90% of what he talks about for both R Kelly and Donald Trump in regards to sexual misconduct is Bulls**t! WOW!The famed lawyer faces 100 years in prison if he’s convicted.
Wendy Williams has relapsed and is going on another leave. Reports are Williams’ husband, Kevin Hunter, and his alleged sidejawn welcomed a baby girl in a Philly hospital and weed was found in the baby’s system. Published newspaper reports allege it was Hahnemann Hospital and they paid cash and used fake names. Also, Hunter’s name isn’t on the birth certificate. So back to Wendy, who checked herself out of the sober house she just talked about on her show. She was found in New Jersey drunk, and she was rushed to the hospital. Does Kevin have something on Wendy? Why else is she staying? Should she get out in front of this and tell her own story so nothing can be held over her head. As of press time, Wendy will take another week off and return Monday April the 8th.
Michelle Obama just might break an all time record. Her memoir, Becoming, is already the best selling title of the year. Now comes word that at the ten million copies mark, Becoming may very well be the bestselling memoir of all time. Can you say Forever First Lady?!!!!!
Issa Rae is awkward no more looking fabulous on the cover of the April edition of Essence magazine and movies are her life starting with Little. Rae, who is also on the cover of Women’s Health magazine,plays the assistant of high powered and super mean business executive Regina Hall (from Girls’ Trip) who is transformed back into her 13-year old self with her present day mind (Marsai Martin, “Diane” from Black-ish). Rae’s character is the only one who knows the truth, and must keep her boss’ business going until they can make her normal again. Little, co-starring Tone Bell (CBS’ Fam) and Justin Hartley (NBC’s This Is Us), opens in theaters April 12th. HBO hasn’t announced the fourth season premiere date of Insecure yet, but Rae still has other projects rolling anyway. She’ll team up with Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out; Atlanta; Straight Outta Compton) to film the romantic drama The Photograph, and Rae just wrapped The Lovebirds, with Kumail Nanjiani and Anna Camp, set to be released on March 6th, 2019.
Diana Ross is on the cover of Ebony magazine, but unfortunately had re-earn her name as The Boss. She’s celebrating her 75th birthday this month and Motown’s 60th anniversary, the legendary music label that started her career.
Ciara is on the cover of InStyle magazine’s April edition. Mrs. Russell Wilson talks about motherhood, finding unconditional love and releasing new music, entitled Greatest Love, for the first time in three years on a new label and being in charge of her album.
Check out Essence magazine digital as Actress and Walking Dead Alum Sonequa Martin-Greengraces the cover. Currently, Martin Green can be seen on the CBS All Access streaming network in Star Trek Discovery as the first African American lead in the franchise’s 53-year history.
The Being Mary Jane two hour series finale just confirmed a big reveal: Morris Chestnut versus Michael Ealy! The BET drama that stars Gabrielle Union will return to close out the series in April. Union’s character, the very successful journalist Mary Jane Paul, finds herself in a love triangle. When Mary Jane’s romance with Jason (Michael Ealy) goes south, enter a brand new love interest (Morris Chestnut). How will Mary Jane move forward especially after Jason decides he wants her back? Being Mary Jane’s two hour series finale airs Tuesday, April 16th at 9pm on BET.
Tuesday, April 25th and Wednesday, April 26th are the two days in which The Young And The Restless will pay tribute to the late Kristoff St. John. The actor, who set a record as the longest running black character on a daytime soap, won multiple Emmys for his portrayal as Neil Winters. St. John died last month, and many attributed it to alcohol poising. The autopsy results were released and St. John died of heart disease triggered by alcohol poising. Reportedly, the actor had been struggling with his mental health and just got out of rehab. It had been a year since the death of St. John’s son Julian, who died by suicide. The actor had been struggling with that loss ever since.Reports are that St. John’s eldest daughter, Paris, had to file for control of his estate because the actor had no will.Meanwhile as for the CBS tribute, the cast of Y&R, past and present, will be a part of the tribute including Shemar Moore, who got his start playing St. John’s TV brother Malcolm, and Victoria Rowell, who played St. John’s TV wife Drusilla.
Dionne Warwick will release her first album in five years. Produced by her son, Damon Elliot, the album is simply entitled She’s Back. The album consists of remakes and new songs, and Warwick will duet with Kenny Latimore, Musiq Soulchild, and Krayzie Bone from Bone, Thugs & Harmony. YES, Krayzie Bone and Auntie Dionne! It’s a big year for legendary songstress as she’ll receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Grammys in a special celebration in May, and she begins her Las Vegas residency April 4th – 27th at Bally’s. Her album, She’s Back, will be released May 10th.
Anthony Anderson of Black-ish will return to host The 50th Anniversary of The NAACP Image Awards on TV One airing this Saturday, March 30th.
Smokey Robinson and Cedric The Entertainer (CBS’s The Neighborhood) will host a Grammy special entitled Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration. Performers include Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Boyz II Men, Chloe X Halle, Ne-Yo and Thelma Houston. The 60th Anniversary Motown special airs Sunday, April 21st at 8pm on CBS.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Saturday, March 30th– Mariah Carey in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
April 10th – April 21st – Pride & Joy, the new musical featuring the music of Marvin Gaye at the Merriam Theater on the Avenue Of The Arts (Broad Street between Locust and Spruce Streets). Log onto kimmelcenter.org for tickets and information.
Friday, April 26th – The New Stylistics featuring Russell Thompkins, Jr., The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and The Delfonics featuring William Hart in concert at The Keswick Theater, Glenside, Pa. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com/events/all.
Friday, May 3rd – Wayne Brady at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter.
Friday, May 10th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring The Whispers & The Force MD’s at Caesar’s Circus Maximus Theater in Atlantic City. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, May 11th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kem, Al B. Sure and Christopher Williams at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Sunday, May 12th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring After 7 and Dru Hill at Tropicana Showroom Theater in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, June 1st – The 2019 Roots Picnic has a new location at The Mann Music Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside! Celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Roots album Things Fall Apart with special guests H.E.R., Raphael Saadiq, 21 Savage, City Girls and more. Log onto rootspicnic.com for more information.
Thursday, June 6th – One Nation Under A Groove-George Clinton’s Farewell Tour with Parliament-Funkadelic at the Franklin Music Hall, formerly The Electric Factory, 421 North 7th Street. For more ticket information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, June 29th– Diana Ross in concert at Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto theborgata.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 6th– Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Friday, July 12th and Saturday, July 13th– Lionel Richie in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com 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.