The Most Woke, Beautiful, Furious, Fired, Split Up




The First Annual Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk will take place Saturday, June 17th at XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, 201 North 17th Street. All the registration info and details are on the wdasfm.com page.


Fate Of The Furious just earned over $100 million at the U.S. box office, but don’t look for The Rock to get his own Fast And Furious spinoff because of it. Sources say that was the real beef between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Vin Diesel. With the passing of Paul Walker, it’s Diesel who is the face and anchor of the Fast And The Furious. The Rock was looking to get his own shine out of the franchise with a starring vehicle for himself. That didn’t go over too well. How is everyone now? The cast couldn’t be happier and are talking up the praises of each other…..on camera. Is the infighting done? Time will truly tell. Meanwhile, Fate Of The Furious took in an additional $400 million plus in the international box office, and this installment stars, along with Diesel and Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Michelle Rodriguez, Charlize Theron, Kurt Russell and is directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton; The Italian Job; A Man Apart; Set It Off; Friday).


It’s the pitter patter of little Tennis feet for Serena Williams. The multi-championship winning sports phenom took to social media, showed off her baby bump and captioned it Twenty Weeks. The Queen Of Tennis and soon to be wife of Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian is going to be a first time mom. Williams took the picture off her social media soon after it went viral. She’s been keeping all of the other details mum. Williams and Ohanian are still trying to work out their upcoming nuptials as well. Congrats to the happy couple!


Things are getting strange for Janet Jackson because in addition to her estranged husband, her two sisters and mother are now facing some family strife! First, Janet separated from her husband of three years, Wissam Al Mana, months after welcoming their first child, son Eissa. Wissam took to social media to make a few posts that seemed to declare his true love, and then a state strong message of ignoring the haters especially when they don’t share your faith. The last one could be because of alleged cheating rumors that are swirling around the couple. It also appears that Janet missed the spotlight. She put her life on hold to be a wife again, but now regrets such a drastic change. And if being unfaithful was in the mix, why would she want to keep sacrificing? I’m hearing Miss Jackson is working on losing the baby weight already and is eyeing tours stops here in Philly and Atlantic City.


This all leads us to the other family battles for Janet Jackson. Apparently on and off estranged sister LaToya Jackson is accusing her sisters Janet and Rebbie of keeping their mother Katherine away from her. Katherine Jackson, 87, has been besieged with all kinds of family issues. She was given custody, by order of will, of late son Michael Jackson’s children. With the reported problems from the past with this arrangement and the latest news that essentially youngest son Blanket is pretty much raising himself and living alone eating burgers and candy everyday isn’t helping. Katherine left for London to be with Janet and her new baby for a while, but that didn’t work out with Wissam. So, now Katherine’s back in the states. LaToya is complaining of being shut out of her own mother’s life. LaToya has aired many a Jackson family secret in the past, including accusing family patriarch Joe Jackson of molestation. Are Janet and Rebbie keeping LaToya away from Katherine? If they are, what’s the reason?


NBA Star Carmelo Anthony, 32, and his wife TV Personality LaLa, 37, have separated. Both have been seen individually out and about, in some cases not wearing rings, but not commenting as of yet. The complication is a published report alleging Anthony got a woman pregnant. At first, this alleged 25-year old side-jawn was called a stripper, but word has it she’s actually a social worker. Is this lady really having Mello’s baby, and is that the straw that broke the camel’s marriage back? Time will tell because nine months flies by fast.


While we wait for Gabrielle Union's BET drama Being Mary Jane to return in July, she is prepping her new book, We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, And True, plus new hair care and clothing lines. In the book, Mrs. Dwyane Wade presents a series of essays on race, sexuality, friendship, marriage, self-awareness and feminism. Union also speaks about growing up in Suburban California and spending times with relatives in Nebraska as well as her parents’ divorce and her own struggles with doubt, crushes and even puberty.  We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, And True will be out this fall. For Union’s clothing line, she’s teaming up with New York & Company to create trendy but affordable pieces based on her Being Mary Jane character. The hair care line is called Flawless, and the products are what Union used to return to her natural, healthy hair. The themes of the clothing and hair lines are empowerment and affordability. Meanwhile, Being Mary Jane will return to BET Tuesday, July 18th.  


Bill O'Reilly is toast at the FOX News network because of all those sexual harassment allegations. Last week, O’Reilly announced he was going on vacation, and guest hosts filled in for him. Then more accusers came out, including an African American FOX employee who claims O’Reilly called her Hot Chocolate. Finally, FOX News and O’Reilly issued a joint statement confirming O’Reilly’s departure. The FOX press release had nothing but praise for O’Reilly’s 20 years plus at the network. Media analysts say this chorus of accusers plus new ones coming out were too much for the network. Former FOX News Chief Roger Ailes had to be removed, and he was behind the scenes. Keeping O’Reilly would have meant more protest, more loss ad revenue and perhaps more accusers or settlements. O'Reilly, despite the settlements, continues to deny the merits of the accusations.


Shemar Moore, who left the hit series Criminal Minds, will return to his old stomping grounds this season and then gear up for his own show this fall. Moore will reprise his role as Derek Morgan for the season finale of Criminal Minds. Then, Moore is doing the third reboot of the S.W.A.T. franchise. The 1975 ABC series starred Robert Urich. Then the 2003 film version starred Samuel L. Jackson. Now, it’s Moore turn as he plays S.W.A.T.’s unorthodox leader, Lt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, who balances his loyalty to both the law and the streets. S.W.A.T. is slated for CBS this fall, and Moore returns for the Criminal Minds season finale Wednesday, May 10th at 9pm on CBS.


Oprah Winfrey and Tony Award winning Actress Renee’ Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) are starring together in The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks, the true story of the contribution made to science by an African American woman who never received credit for it until decades after her death. The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks airs this Saturday, April 22nd on HBO at 8pm.


The 2017 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame airs in next week. Lenny Kravitz will perform a special tribute to Prince, and Alicia Keys is also set to perform that night as well. Snoop Dogg will do the honors inducting his late friend and former Death Row label mate Tupac Shakur. Shakur would have been 46-years old this year. Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams will present Chic’s Nile Rodgers The Award for Musical Excellence. Rodgers will accept for himself and his musical partner and Chic Co-founder the late Bernard Edwards. Rodgers and Pharrell teamed up with Daft Punk for the Grammy-winning, Chic-styled hit Get Lucky in 2013. The 2017 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony will air on HBO Saturday, April 29th at 8pm. 

  

Get ready for Kevin Hart Day this summer! Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, has declared the native home of the actor/comedian will have a day of appreciation. “My nephew” has been in town filming with Emmy Winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) the upcoming movie Untouchables, which follows the relationship of a paralyzed man and the caregiver he hires to help him adjust to his new reality and disability. Hart’s also hit up local comedy clubs, donated $10,000 to the local Ronald McDonald House charity and has been attending local activities like the Sixers’ games. The man is on a roll. His movie Untouchables is due out in 2018. And, Kevin Hart Day in Philadelphia will happen this summer, Thursday, July 6th.


Oscar nominee and Empire Co-star Gabourey Sidibe is telling all. Sidibe is now adding author to her resume and has written the new book This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare. The woman who gave an iconic performance in the Academy Award winning Lee Daniels movie Precious details the struggles she deals with despite being a star. Sidibe talks about her very personal decision to have lap band surgery, her type 2 diabetes diagnosis and her teenage battle with bulimia and self-esteem issues. Despite these challenges, Sidibe is feeling pretty good these days. She reunited with Lee Daniels for the number one drama series Empire. Her weight is coming down quite a bit. The actress says she’s ready to receive her gentleman caller. This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare, will be available in May.


Tiger Woods commemorates the 20th anniversary of his Master’s win at Augusta with a new book. The 1997 Masters: My Story chronicles not just the moment he broke golf’s color barrier and changed the face of the game forever, but his journey to and since that trailblazing moment. Woods covers the racial harassment he received as a child being called slurs on the golf course and having lemons, limes and rocks thrown at his family’s house. He writes how his brothers, Kevin and Earl, Jr. kicked down the door of the perpetrators and after a little talk, the fruit and rocks were no longer thrown at the house. While he didn’t confirm the names or number of affairs, Woods did go into his regrets about the cheating scandal that nearly totally derailed his career. He says now he and his ex-wife Elin are in a good place as co-parents. The 1997 Masters: My Story by Tiger Woods is available now.


John Oates of Hall & Oates has a new book. The mustached half of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted singing/songwriting team, which launched here in Philadelphia, has written the memoir Change Of Seasons. Oates details the ups and downs of fame, the process of trying to live a normal life before, during and after becoming a hugely successful Pop/Rock/R&B act. The book also covers Oates meeting Darryl Hall at a Philly ballroom 50 years ago and playing together since their Temple University days. Oates has been keeping a journal since 1970, and used it for the book. Here at WDAS, Hall & Oates found a big fan in our late Program Director Butterball. Their music has been found on the WDAS playlist in some form or fashion for decades, and some of the hits were even launched at ‘DAS first. Hall & Oates sold over 60 million albums and became the most successful duo in music history. Their songs include Sara Smile, Rich Girl, Private Eyes, Maneater, Out Of Touch, I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) and One On One, just to name a few. Among the revelations Oates makes: even being married to a supermodel didn’t work because Hall & Oates were the hottest guys on the charts at the time. Shaving off that trademark mustache wasn’t just for style but a rebirth of sorts for his lifestyle. Being told he was broke after selling millions of albums. Oates say he blames ex-Lawyer Allen Grubman and ex-Manager (and Mariah Carey’s ex-husband) Tommy Mottola, now a high-powered music exec. Oates says they didn’t cheat them, but he feels Grubman and Mottola should have warned them the high spending and lavish gifts would come at a price. Hall & Oates have since fought to recover millions in residuals and now have righted their personal finances. Hall & Oates will headline Philly’s First Annual HoagieNation on Memorial Day. Along with 80’s Rock Group Tears For Fears, HoagieNation will also feature Philly’s own Vivian Green, Son Little and G. Love & Special Sauce, to name a few.  The First Annual HoagieNation Starring Hall & Oates will take place at Penn Landing’s Festival Pier on Memorial Day, May 27th and for tickets and information log on to HoagieNation.com. The book, Change Of Seasons, is out now, and Oates will also have a new, solo music release of original and traditional songs, like a live version of Maneater, coming soon.


At the movies this week it's Unforgettable. Rosario Dawson (Men In Black II; He Got Game; Luke Cage; Daredevil) stars as a woman whose new husband and stepdaughter are perfect for her life. But, Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy; Knocked Up) is the ex-wife and mom of Dawson’s new family whose jealousy turns into a nightmare for the new wife. Unforgettable, also starring Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), hits theaters this Friday.


The April/May issue of Ebony magazine features two-time NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) on the cover. It’s the travel issue and also features catching up with En Vogue, who’ll be at the Mann Thursday June 1st, and the Vacations For Mom And Me article.


Essence Magazine’s May issue is themed 100 Woke Women. On the cover features over a dozen women in Stay Woke t-shirts and inside the magazine they speak of their activism and the importance of the work still to be done to reach equality. Among the women on the cover include TV Writer/Producer/Mogul Shonda Rhimes, MSNBC Journalist Joy-Ann Reid, Women’s March co-chairs Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez, Women’s March organizer Janaye Ingram, Political Commentator Angela Rye and Circle Of Mothers Founder and Mother of Trayvon Martin Sybrina Fulton, to name a few. The May issue of Essence, featuring 100 Woke Women, is out now.    


People magazine’s Most Beautiful issue is out this week. Oprah Winfrey, Oscar/Emmy/Tony Winner Viola Davis, Singer/Songwriter/Actress Janelle Monae, Oscar/Emmy Nominee Taraji P. Henson and Actress Susan Kelechi Watson (NBC’s hit drama This Is Us) all made a spot on the list. Singer/Actress turned first time Author Kelly Rowland is also featured in the issue discussing her new book, Whoa Baby! The book is a first timer’s guide so new moms can be better prepared for motherhood. Rowland’s Whoa, Baby! is available in bookstores and online now. The People magazine Most Beautiful issue, with Julia Roberts on the cover for a record breaking fifth time, is on newsstands Friday.


Time magazine’s Most Influential People of 2017 was revealed this week. Multiple covers will include Viola Davis, Musician/Singer/Songwriter/Filmmaker John Legend and British Actor Riz Ahmed will be available. Also named inside are Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles, Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, NBA Champ Lebron James, Oscar Winning Writer/Director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight); Singer/Songwriter Alicia Keys; Saturday Night Live’s Leslie Jones, U.S. Congressman John Lewis, NFL Player Colin Kaepernick, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, just to name a few.


Check out Supermodels Maria Borges and Jasmine Tookes on the cover of Elle. It’s Elle’s celebration of top models issue.

 

The cast of Underground (Aldis Hodge, Alano Miller, Amirah Vann and Aisha Hinds) cover the latest Upscale magazine. The TV series Underground, co-executive produced by Singer/Songwriter John Legend, is currently in its second season on WGN America and airs Wednesdays at 10pm.


Essence Magazine has released a commemorative collector’s book on the former First Family. The Obamas: The White House Years is available now.

 

Former First Lady Michelle Obama covers a special Ebony magazine collector’s issue. Ladies First: 100 + Of The Most Powerful Women Of All Time is now available and was designed for Women’s History Month. Meanwhile, Former President Barack and the former FLOTUS have closed their first post White House book deal rumored to have a $65 million price tag. Penguin/Random House won the bidding war, but isn't confirming if the books are memoirs or not. As for the hefty pay, The Obamas are choosing to donate a great deal of that money to charity, including The Obama Foundation. Expect new books from both the former POTUS and FLOTUS in 2018.


Essence Magazine is gearing up for its 23rd Annual Essence Fest and The Hip Hop Queen Of Soul, A Legend and The Boss will be in the house! Yes! Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Motown Legend Miss Diana Ross will headline the now legendary festival. Chaka Khan, Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan, India.Arie, Solange, Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls, Ro James, Tweet, Shaggy, Michel’le, Yuna and Lalah Hathaway will also be performing with more acts to come. The 2017 Essence Fest will be June 29th through July 2nd in New Orleans.


Check out who's coming to town:

Sunday, April 30th – Tower Of Power at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa.  For tickets and information log onto keswicktheatrephilly.ticketoffices.com.

Thursday, May 4th – Marsha Ambrosius and Eric Benet at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa.  For tickets and information log onto keswicktheatrephilly.ticketoffices.com.

Saturday, May 13th – Mother’s Day Weekend concert starring Frankie Beverly & Maze, Gladys Knight and Kem at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto boardwalkhall.com.

Saturday, May 13th –Brian McKnight at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com.

Sunday, May 14th – Mother’s Day Concert starring Stephanie Mills and Troop at The Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto ticketmaster.com.

Sunday, May 28th – Maxwell with Leela James and Ledisi in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.

Thursday, June 1st – Bell/Biv/DeVoe with special guests SWV and En Vogue at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd & Parkside Avenue. Tickets go on sale April 21st and for more information log onto manncenter.org.

Sunday, July 16th   – Jill Scott in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.

Saturday, July 29th – Diana Ross’ In The Name Of Love Tour at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd & Parkside Avenue and for tickets and information log onto manncenter.org.

Tuesday, August 1st – Earth, Wind & Fire and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers at The Wells Fargo Center. Tickets go on sale 10am Saturday, April 29th and for more information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.

Sunday, August 13th   – Kool & The Gang and The Commodores in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.

Wednesday, August 16th – The All The Hits Tour Starring Lionel Richie & Special Guest Star Mariah Carey at The Wells Fargo Center. This is the new date from the cancelled March concert. Tickets and information at wellsfargocenterphilly.com.

Friday, September 1st - The I Love The 90’s Tour: The Party Continues starring Blackstreet, TLC, Montell Jordan, Naughty By Nature, Biz Markie, Snap and C&C Music Factory at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ. 

 

If you would like more info please email me at pattyj1053@aol.com or Pattyjackson@clearchannel.comor check me out with my midday reports at 10:35am, 12:35pm and 2:35pm during the day.


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