Despite all the turmoil in her personal life, Wendy Williams staged a triumphant return to TV. How do we know this? Because her self-titled daytime talker has now been renewed for two more years. The high profile media watch on her story has been like nothing The Queen Of All Media has experienced before and the distributors of the show are showing their confidence. The current 11th season of The Wendy Williams Show airs weekdays on FOX29 at 10am.
Jasmine Guy is coming to Grey’s Anatomy. The actress best known for her award-winning stint as Whitley Gilbert on The Cosby Show spinoff sitcom A Different World is returning to Thursday nights on primetime. Guy will play a patient involved in an accident that brings her into the world of Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens) with whom she’s got a mysterious history. Webber is married to Dr. Catherine Fox played by Actress Debbie Allen, who also serves as a Grey’s Anatomy Executive Producer and Director. It’s a reunion as Guy was first brought out to L.A. by Debbie Allen for her hit drama Fame, and Allen was producer and director of Guy’s show A Different World. The Grey’s Anatomy season premiere is Thursday, September 26th at 8pm on ABC.
Actress Naomi Harris takes charge and teams up with Singer/Actor Tyrese in the cop thriller Black And Blue. Harris has been on a hot streak from her performances in the films Moonlight, Pirates Of The Caribbean and three James Bond movies opposite Daniel Craig as Eve Moneypenny, including the upcoming 2020 release No Time To Die. For Black And Blue, Harris plays a rookie cop whose body cam captures the murder of a drug dealer who is connected to a squad of dirty cops. She teams with a stranger, played by Tyrese, to expose the corruption while avoiding the gang bounty put on her head. Philly’s own Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning) and Mike Coulter (Luke Cage; CBS’ Evil) also star. Black And Blue hits theaters October 25th.
Torrei Hart is doing a comedy tour and the infamous sidechick is now suing Kevin Hart for $60 million. First to Torrei: the first wife of the comedian/actor says it’s time to tell her story. Published reports say she wants to tell her side of the divorce. Torrei’s been quiet recently and had even been participating in those blended family events. Since Kevin’s accident and him not working like before, could everybody’s deal be getting complicated. Hmmmm. Meanwhile, Hart’s sidejawn, whose encounter with him was videotaped and went viral, has filed a $60 million lawsuit against Hart. Montia Sabbag claims she’s losing work as an actress, suffered from depression and was painted as an extortionist. At first, Sabbag didn’t go after Hart, but she now alleges he knew about the videotaping. Hart’s then friend, Jonathan Todd Jackson, was arrested and charged with extortion. Sabbag’s encounter with Hart was during his current wife Eniko Parrish Hart’s pregnancy, which added to the scandal. Hart is currently recovering from that severe car accident he suffered as a passenger in his own car during the Labor Day holiday.
One of our favorites Issa Rae is taking on a big challenge in the reboot universe. The star of Insecure is serving as producer in the early stages of development for a remake of Set It Off, based on the 1996 movie that became a surprise box office sleeper hit. Set It Off took in over $41 million on a $6 million budget. The original starred Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox. No word on casting yet for the reboot, but Rae’s production company Issa Rae Production is working with screenwriters Syreeta Singleton and Nina Gloster on the script.
Speaking of reboots, King James himself is getting in on the act. NBA Superstar LeBron James is already remaking Space Jam for 2021, based on the 1996 animated/live action box office smash that starred Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny with a host of NBA and Looney Tunes stars. Now James wants to reboot House Party, the 1990 sleeper hit that took in $26 million on a budget just under $3 million and spawned several sequels. The original, written, produced and directed by Warrington and Reginald Hudlin (Boomerang), starred Kid ’n Play, Full Force, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, John Witherspoon, George Clinton and Robin Harris. No word on casting yet, but LeBron James is developing the remake with his partners under their SpringHill Entertainment company.
We remember music legends Eddie Money and Rick Ocasek. Money, a singer/songwriter of rock/pop, had in recent years acted and become a reality TV star in the show Real Money, which he used to announce his battle with cancer. He’s best remembered for a string of hits in the rock era of the 70’s and 80’s with the hits Baby Hold On, Walk On Water and Two Tickets to Paradise. His break through hit Take Me Home Tonight was a smash and a comeback hit for Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Ronnie Spector, who dueted with Money on the hit. Rick Ocasek was a singer/songwriter of the new wave genre and was the front man for the group The Cars. The group enjoyed a string of hits in the 70’s and 80’s including Double Life, Just What I Needed, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, Let’s Go and their MTV era breakthroughs Since You’re Gone and Shake It Up. Ocasek went solo and enjoyed several top ten hits before staging a reunion with The Cars. He died while recovering from surgery and was discovered by his wife Supermodel Paulina Porizkova. Rick Ocasek was 75, and Eddie Money was 70.
The Sound of Philadelphia will be well represented this October as the Philadelphia Music Alliance inducts its latest members to the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame. Included in this year’s class are Philly’s own Evelyn “Champagne” King, The Hooters, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Mighty, Mighty O’Jays. The O’Jays and the Philly Orchestra go back a long ways. When The O’Jays were signed to Philadelphia International Records, their music was performed by the Gamble & Huff Orchestra MFSB, most of whom also played for the Philly Orchestra. They also played on many of Evelyn “Champagne” King’s hits as well. The induction ceremony will take place on the Avenue of The Arts in Center City and the gala later that evening at the Bellevue Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 22nd. For Tickets and information log onto https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-philadelphia-music-alliance-gala-tickets-68159249149
The 11th Annual ESPN magazine Body Issue is out with the theme celebrating 21 athletes from different sports and with body types. The Superbowl Champion Eagles Offensive Line (Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo and Halapoulivaati Vaitai) have one of the shared covers. Gymnast Katelynb Ohsi, WNBA Star Liz Cambage, NFL Players Michael Thomas, Myles Garrett and NBA Star Chris Paul are also featured. This is to be The Body Issue’s final year in print.
Viola Davis is on the cover of this week’s People magazine.
Tracee Ellis Ross graces the cover of the October issue of Essence magazine. It’s the magazine’s hair issue and the perfect time to introduce Ross’ hair care line Pattern Beauty. The Golden Globe winning actress has a lot going on. Her hit sitcom Black-ish returns to ABC with its season premiere Tuesday, September 24th at 9:30a. The spin-off, that Ross is narrating and producing, called Mixed-ish, also begins a half hour earlier at 9pm on the same night. Mixed-ish is a flashback series on Ross’ Black-ish character Bow and her 80’s childhood starring Tika Sumpter (The Haves & Have Nots), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue; Saved By The Bell) and Arica Himmel as Young Bow. Mariah Carey wrote and co-produced Mixed-ish’s theme song.
Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o is on the cover of October’s Vanity Fair magazine. All adorned in green, this issue explores the film and fashion that changed the actress’ life.
Ebony Magazine is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Among its special features, the 2018-2019 HBCU Campus Queens’ photo shoot in Pensacola.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Saturday, September 28th – Snoop Dogg & Friends at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday & Sunday October 12th & 13th - The Atlantic City Comedy Fest starring Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, George Wallace, Mark Curry, Tommy Davidson, Turae& Sommore and more at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information The Philadelphia Hair Company, OP Productions in Delaware or log onto ticketmaster.com,
Friday, October 18th - The Isley Brothers & The Pointer Sisters at the Mark Etess Arena in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, October 26th- The Sketchbook Tour starring Fantasia, Robin Thicke, Tank and Bonfyre at The Liacouras Center. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.com.
Tuesday, November 5th – Erykah Badu at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, November 9th – The Gentlemen of Soul starring Jeffrey Osborne & Peabo Bryson at The Tropicana in Atlantic City. Tickets and information at ticketmaster.com
Thursday, December 12th – Sinbad in concert at The Parx Casino Xcite Centerin Bensalem, PA City.Log onto tickets.parxcasino.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 28th – Earth, Wind & Fire at the Mark Etess Arena in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, January 3rd – The Femme It Forward Tour starring Monica, Ashanti, Amerie, Lil Mo & Keri Hilson at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
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.