Jay-Z and Beyonce’ were among the all-stars at Sean “P Diddy/Brother Love/Puffy/Puff/Puff” Daddy Combs’ 50th birthday party, but Hova had to lay down the law. Combs hit the half century mark in November because he and I share the same day, but Combs decided to have a big party covered by Vanity Fair this month. A who’s who of celebs showed up, but the big talk was when a dude got bold took out his phone and started filming Beyonce on the dance floor. Jay-Z was also on the floor, spotted what the guy was doing and snatched his phone on the spot. Apparently, only the Vanity Fair people were allowed film or take pictures, so Mr. Carter wasn’t having it. Other than that dust up, a good time was had at the black tie party by attendees Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Mary J. Blige, Kim Kardashian & Kanye West, Lala Anthony, 2Chainz, Cardi B & Offset, Jhene’ Aiko & Big Sean, Oscar Winner Regina King, Janelle Monae’, Paris Hilton, Lil’ Kim, Ellen Pompeo & Chris Iveryand Naomi Campbell.
Is Jussie Smollett ready to return to Empire? The Lee Daniels produced-FOX drama is slated to return this spring to close out its sixth and final season. Smollett hasn’t been on the show since the controversial racial-homophobic attack he reported to authorities earlier this year. Authorities determined Smollett staged the attack and charged him criminally though prosecutors would later drop the charges. Smollett is still being investigated federally and is facing civil litigation from the City Of Chicago. Earlier, Lee Daniels reportedly said Smollett wouldn’t be returning to Empire. But, the Empire showrunner hinted it would be strange not to resolve Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyons, as the show sails off into the sunset. Stay tuned Empire returns to FOX this coming spring.
Actor Michael B. Jordan catches a lot of grief for the ladies he’s seen out and about with, and now he’s boo’ed up with Singer Snoh Aalegra…..at least in her new video Whoa. We’re playing Aalegra’s single I Want You Around on WDAS. Reports are she comes from Sweden though her parents are from Iran and she reportedly mentions how she’s half black on social media. Now I personally say she doesn’t need to mention or qualify, just love who you love Snoh and Michael. Speaking of Michael B, there’s talk he could be the next big screen Superman. Can you see Jordan taking on the legendary DC Comics character that’s been a staple for the past 80 plus years? Meanwhile, Jordan’s latest movie with Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx is Just Mercy. Jordan is Lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his client is convicted murder Walter McMillian (Foxx). The film follows the true story of their attempt to appeal McMillian’s Alabama death sentence and all of the questionable actions from the police investigation to the judge’s initial sentence that preceded it. Just Mercy opens Christmas Day.
Congratulations to Mariah Carey for rewriting the music record books. She just broke a record 25 years after her holiday classic All I Want For Christmas Is You was released. The song has appeared and reappeared on the charts over the years, but for the first time it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s the first time a holiday song has hit number one since Alvin & The Chipmunks’ The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late). Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas gives the singer/songwriter her 19th number one and she moves past her tie with Diana Ross and is now second only to The Beatles.
Is Idris Elba welcoming a new addition to the family? Reports have Elba his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, on babywatch by the media, but the couple isn’t commenting….yet. It’s a good time for Elba. He’s part of the cast of the film adaption of Cats, the legendary Broadway musical. The cast also includes Taylor Swift, Jason Derulo, Oscar Winner Judi Dench, James Corden, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson with Ballerina Francesca Hayward and Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson. Cats opens this Friday in theaters.
It appears that Oprah Winfrey and members of the hip hop community are at odds again. Shortly after The Mighty O was announced as an executive producer of a documentary on former Def Jam Executive and Russell Simmons rape accuser Drew Dixon, Winfrey was blasted by Rapper 50 Cent and Russell Simmons, himself. 50 took to social media and asked why white suspects (Jeffrey Epstein; Harvey Weinstein) are getting a pass from Winfrey while she targets black men (Michael Jackson; Russell Simmons). Simmons finally broke his silence on social media. Along with asking why Winfrey would pursue allegations that could never be proven because of the time, Simmons also confirmed he took and passed three 9 hour lie detector tests. Simmons says he took those tests for his daughters. He also said he couldn’t begin to list how much Winfrey has meant to him and his family, but finds her singling him out in this documentary troubling. At press time no response from Winfrey on 50’s or Simmons’ comments.
We remember Herman T. Boone. Boone was the high school football coach whose life was immortalized on the big screen when Oscar winner Denzel Washington portrayed him in 2000’s Remember The Titans. It was in post-civil rights era early 70’s that Boone broke racial barriers at the T.C. Williams High School when he became the head coach of the Titans Football Team. Much of the racial hostility Boone faced in the position was reflective of what the students, his newly integrated football team and greater community faced also. By leading the team victory in the Virginia AAA state championship in 1971, it forced the community to face the racial tensions head on. The greater school district even merged three of its high schools to create a single integrated school. Boone continued to be honored by T.C. Williams High School years later. He battled cancer and died at the age of 84.
This week is it! Former Saturday Night Live Cast member Eddie Murphy (1980-84) returns to host SNL. Murphy hasn’t hosted since the 1984 SNL Christmas show. Time Magazine’s Entertainer Of The Year Lizzo will be the musical guest when Murphy hosts this Saturday on NBC.
WDAS Morning Man Steve Harvey has a new talk show that will debut on Facebook Watch Monday, January 6th.
Will Smith and Tom Holland (Spiderman: Homecoming) have a new animated movie called Spies In Disguise. In the movie, Smith voices ultra cool super spy Lance Sterling and Holland the nerdy scientist Walter Beckett. The two are forced to team up after Beckett’s experiments accidentally turn Sterling into a pigeon. Sterling and Beckett still need to stop a technology madman from wrecking havoc and taking over all of the world’s computer systems for evil. Spies In Disguise opens Christmas Day.
Speaking of Will Smith, he reteams with Martin Lawrence for Bad Boys For Life reprising their roles as Detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. Bad Boys For Life opens Friday, January 17th.
The 77th Annual Golden Globes Awards, with returning Host Ricky Gervais, airs Sunday, January 5th at 8pm on NBC.
Alicia Keys hosts The Grammys on Sunday, January 26th at 8pm on CBS.
Zendaya is on the cover of Allure magazine.
Beyoncé is on the cover of Elle magazine.
Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek Pinault cover January’s InStyle magazine. The three ladies star in the new film comedy Like A Boss as two friends and their benefactor who team up to start a beauty company, but things take a turn when dishonesty comes into play. Like A Boss opens in theaters January 10th.
Michelle Obama is on the cover of People magazine’s 2019 People Of The Year.
Singer/Dancer Normani, formerly of Fifth Harmony, graces the cover of Cosmopolitan.
Oscar Winner Regina King is on the cover of the latest issue of Essence Magazine. The actress/director is on the Black Masterpiece-Art themed issue.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, December 20th– The WDAS Holiday COMEDY Jam starring Nephew Tommy, Earthquake, Kier Spates a.k.a. Junior and J. Anthony Brown at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
This Friday, December 20th – Holiday Hits Tour starring Ceelo Green at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com
This Saturday, December 21st – The WDAS Holiday Jam starring Kem, Kirk Franklin and Brownstone at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, December 27th – Fantasia in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto theborgata.com
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
Tuesday, December 31st – Kool & The Gang and KC & The Sunshine Band 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
Saturday, January 18th - Coolio, Tone Loc and Young MC in concert at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com
Sunday, January 19th –The 10th Anniversary of The All-Stars of Hip Hop starring KRS-1, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Sugar Hill Gang & The Furious Five, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Dana Dane, Monie Love, Kwame, Three Times Dope, Tuff Crew, Tracey Lee and Schoolly D at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, February 14th – Boyz II Men’s Valentine’s Day Concert at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, February 15th –Valentine’s Day Concert starring Johnny Gill, Next, KeKe Wyatt and Stokley from Mint Condition at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Sunday, February 16th – Valentine’s Soul Jam starring The Stylistics, Enchantment, Bloodstone, The Intruders and Peaches & Herb at Ovation Hall at The Ocean Casino & Resort in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, March 7th– The Millennium Tour starring Omarion, Bow Wow, Ashanti, Pretty Ricky, Soulja Boy, Lloyd, Ying Yang Twins and Sammie at The Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University on Broad Street between Montgomery and Cecil B. Moore Avenues. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.com.
Saturday, March 28th – Charlie Wilson in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto theborgata.com
Saturday, April 4th– Martin Lawrence hosts The Lit AF 2020 Comedy Tour starring Michael Blackson, Donnell Rawlings, Benji Brownand more at The Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University on Broad Street between Montgomery and Cecil B. Moore Avenues. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.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.