WDAS presents our Fourth Annual Women Of Excellence Luncheon Saturday, March 31st. This year’s honorees include Broadcast Legend Rev. Louise Williams Bishop, City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker, TV Icon Lisa Thomas Laury, First Lady of Mother Bethel AME Church Leslie Patterson-Tyler, The Philadelphia Tribune’s own Shonda McClain and our Special Trailblazing Woman of Excellence honor to Hip Hop Legend and Oscar Nominee Queen Latifah! It all takes place Saturday, March 31st from 11am-4pm at The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, 17th and Race. All the details are at wdasfm.com.
Jennifer Hudson will play Aretha! Clive Davis confirmed at his annual Grammy Party that The Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, officially gave the nod to Oscar Winner and American Idol Alumnus Hudson. No details yet on when the bio will begin filming, but Hudson’s selection is a big step forward to getting Franklin’s incredible life story to the big screen.
The Simone Biles Story: Courage To Soar is coming to Lifetime. Based on the book written by the 19-time Olympic and World Championship medal winner, the TV drama will focus on Biles’ journey and her parents support throughout winning gold at the 2016 Olympic Games. Tisha Campbell-Martin (My Wife & Kids; Martin) and Julius Tennon (How To Get Away With Murder) star as Biles’ parents and Jeante’ Godlock stars as Simone. The Simone Biles Story: Courage To Soar premieres on Lifetime this Saturday, February 3rd at 8pm.
Speaking of Julius Tennon from How To Get Away With Murder, that Viola Davis drama will do a crossover episode with Kerry Washington’s Scandal. Details are being kept close, but each leading lady took instagram shots on the other’s set: Washington in the courthouse and Davis in the White House. Both shows are produced by Shonda Rhimes as part of the blockbuster ABC-TGIT lineup. Scandal, which is in its final season, has welcomed Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Kobe Bryant to the set. Scandal will also air Kerry Washington’s directed episode this season. The Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder crossover event airs Thursday, March 1st beginning at 9pm on ABC after Grey’s Anatomy.
Fly Eagles Fly. The Philadelphia Eagles are returning to the Superbowl. The NFC champions will take on the New England Patriots this Sunday. Broadway Star, Tony Award Winner and Philly’s own Leslie Odom, Jr. will sing America The Beautiful at the game. Also, Justin Timberlake is back for the halftime show, and Doylestown’s own Pink will do the National Anthem. The Superbowl airs on NBC this Sunday, February 4th.
Has Omarosa Manigault-Newman landed on CBS’ Celebrity Big Brother? Yes. Reality’s favorite TV villainess is returning to her roots. Omarosa’s housemates will included Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show; House Of Payne), Ross Matthews (The Tonight Show; E! Entertainment), TV Personality/Singer Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and Brandi Glanville (Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills). The former member of Donald Trump’s administration also signed with a booking agent and was thought to be doing $50,000 a shot speaking engagements. Could Big Brother impact that and the story she said America wanted to hear but earned a Bye Felicia from Robin Roberts? Celebrity Big Brother premieres on CBS Wednesday, February 7th at 8pm.
ESPN’s Jemele Hill has been ousted from her co-anchor spot on the weekday edition of SportsCenter. ESPN has cut talent and staff recently, but many are wondering if something else is involved here. Hill was suspended last year by ESPN after she used her personal twitter to call President Donald Trump a white supremacist. White House Spokesperson Sara Huckabee Sanders said such tweets were a fire-able offense. Hill apologized for the fact that ESPN was now involved, but not for the tweet. Hill also suggested boycotting sponsors was an option for those who didn’t like team owners pressuring their players to stand for the National Anthem. With three years left on her four year ESPN contract, the network announced Hill’s new position will be senior correspondent for the network and senior columnist for the website. The controversial Sage Steele even took a swipe at her colleague Hill. ESPN’s Steele faced backlash for criticizing a player who didn’t stand for the National Anthem and protestors of the Trump travel ban. Steele reportedly said in an interview that Hill brought the problems on herself. Without mentioning Steele by name Hill responded by twitter. Hill says her policy for saying anything regarding a colleague is she’ll say to them in private. She also noted she rarely cares what most of those colleagues’ opinions are anyway. Ouch!
Philly’s own (and my “nephew” SMILE) Kevin Hart takes his Irresponsible Tour to Atlantic City. The real deal is Hart’s wife Eniko. She’s marching forward with her own sense of humor by appearing on a hilarious video with her husband declaring she’s on tour with him to keep him out of trouble. Kevin stood up to the cheating/blackmail scandal and marched forward himself. Check out the couple in Hart’s tour trailer on my Patty TV page on WDASFM.com. Hart’s Irresponsible Tour comes to The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday, May 26th.
Essence magazine released the Essence Music Festival schedule and lineup for 2018. The festivities return to New Orleans July 5th through the 8th. Performers include Janet Jackson, Jilly from Philly Jill Scott, Philly’s own The Roots, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing Experience (Wreckx-N-Effect, Blackstreet and Guy), Idris Elba, Fantasia, Miguel and Mary J. Blige with more acts to be announced. All the details are on Essence.com
American Idol, with Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry in the judges seats and Ryan Seacrest as host, returns to TV on its new network ABC, Sunday, March 11th at 8pm.
Lee Daniels’ dramas Empire and Star return to FOX Wednesday nights March 28th beginning at 8pm.
The Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish has been renewed. Actress Yara Shahidi’s character, “Zoey Johnson,” and her adventures in college is a hit on the ABC’s cable network Free Form. Grown-ish airs Wednesdays at 8pm on Free Form, and will return for a second season later this year.
Also renewed is Oscar winner Angela Bassett, Peter Krause (Sports Night; Parenthood) and Connie Britton (Spin City; Friday Night Lights) in FOX’s drama 911. The show about ambulance driving rescue workers is a hit and airs Wednesday at 9pm on FOX. Meanwhile, look for Bassett in Marvel Comics big screen adaption of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman, to be released February 16th. Speaking of Black Panther, Co-star and Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o is on the cover of the Hollywood Reporter. Along with Boseman, Bassett and Nyong’o, Black Panther co-stars Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Forest Whitaker, Phylicia Rashad and Sterling K. Brown, and is directed by Ryan Coogler. Marvel Comics’ Black Panther hits the big screen Friday, February 16th, and has already set a new record in advanced tickets sales through Fandango. If you can’t wait until February, check out the trailer on my Patty TV page on WDASFM.com.
Yours Truly is in the latest edition of Philadelphia Magazine. I’m talking about life after stroke. Much progress has been made in terms of my health, but a few goals to go as well. Philadelphia magazine is out now.
We remember NBA Player and Philly Native Rasual Butler and his wife former American Idol Contestant and Singer Leah LaBelle. Both were tragically killed in a car crash this week. Leah LaBelle appeared on the 2003-2004 season of Idol and made it to the semi-finals. She eventually signed with L.A. Reid and Epic Records and released the R&B song Sexify, though her album was not released. Bulter grew up in the Point Breeze section of South Philly. After graduating from Roman Catholic High, he had a stand out college basketball career at La Salle University. He then moved on to a 13-year NBA career as a small forward and shooting guard with The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Washington Spurs and, finally, with the San Antonio Spurs. Rasual Butler, 38, and wife Leah LaBelle, 31, were together when the crash happened. Police are still investigating.
The Oscar nominations are out and Get Out made a huge showing. The unlikely box office blockbuster, which returns to theaters this weekend, broke all kinds of records when it grossed over $250 million at the box office last year. It took nods for Best Picture (Jordan Peele and his producing partners), Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Screenplay and Directing (both for Peele, his debut in both positions). Also nominated Denzel Washington (Best Actor) for Roman J. Israel, Esq.; Supporting Actress nods for Mary J. Blige in Mudbound and Octavia Spencer in The Shape Of Water. Dee Rees and Virgil Williams are nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Mudbound, and Dee is the first African American woman to ever be nominated in that category. NBA Legend Kobe Bryant has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film (Dear Basketball) as a producer. Mary J. Blige is actually up for two Oscars. She shares her second nomination with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson for Best Original Song (Mighty River from Mudbound). Common is also nominated again this year and is sharing his nomination with Diane Warren for Stand Up For Something taken from the movie Marshall. Jimmy Kimmel hosts the 90th Annual Academy Awards Sunday, March 4th at 8pm on ABC.
UnSung is back. The TV music and Hollywood documentary series will kick off its 12th season after winning the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News and Information Program. UnSung returns Sunday, February 19th at 9pm with music group Silk as the season premiere.
Oprah Winfrey is on the cover of March’s InStyle magazine, and Winfrey, Writer/Director Ava DuVernay and Actress Storm Reid are all on the cover of the newly black-owned Essence magazine talking about their new movie A Wrinkle In Time. Oprah calls the movie the new Wizard Of Oz. A Wrinkle In Time hits theaters March 9th.
Gabrielle Union in a mother’s day thriller from Will Packer. Union reunites with Producer Will Packer for the thriller Breaking In. Union plays a woman whose father passes and when she brings her two children to his highly secured home, the horror begins. When a group of criminals break into the home, hold the kids hostage and try to extort Union’s character, her race against time becomes recuing her children. Breaking In opens Mother’s Day, May 13th.
Speaking of the big game, Comedienne/Actress Tiffany Haddish will team up with Groupon for a Superbowl ad. Haddish went on Jimmy Kimmel Live and told a hilarious story about using Groupon for a swamp tour with Will and Jada Smith. The story went viral and the team up seemed totally natural. Haddish says she should have already been with Groupon since she’s been talking about them publicly for years. Her ad will air in the fourth quarter of the Superbowl. She’s also signed a two-year first look deal with HBO. Undoubtly, a comedy special will probably be part of the deal. Haddish also has the TBS show The Last OG with Tracy Morgan coming in April, and she has the movie Night School coming in September with Kevin Hart.
Uncensored is coming to TV One in February. The series explores the intimate lives and past experiences of some of today’s hottest talent from various media. Tiffany Haddish, Tamar Braxton, Rick Ross, NeNe Leakes and Nia Long are a few of the featured subjects. The biography series Uncensored debuts Sunday, February 18th at 10pm on TV One.
Taraji P. Henson is currently starring in the action-thriller Proud Mary, which will reunite Color Purple Co-stars Danny Glover and Margaret Avery. Soon will be Henson’s Tyler Perry-psychological-thriller Acrimony, co-starring Tika Sumpter (The Haves & Have Nots; Ride Along), opening March 30th.
Singer/Songwriter/Actor John Legend is coming to TV as…..Jesus Christ. The Oscar winner will star in NBC’s revival of the legendary Broadway smash Jesus Christ Superstar. Legend is no stranger to Broadway works as he won a Tony for producing the revival of August Wilson’s Jitney. This project is the latest in the live revivals of movies and plays by network television. Rock Legend Alice Cooper will also be in the cast. Jesus Christ Superstar will air live on NBC Easter Sunday, April 1st.
Larenz Tate (Love Jones; Dead Presidents) and Erica Ash (The Real Husbands Of Hollywood) will host The 2018 Trumpet Awards, the celebration of African American achievement and history in society, airing Sunday, February 11th at 9pm on Bounce TV.
Check out who’s coming to town:
February, Friday, the 16th and Saturday, 17th – Mary J. Blige in concert at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Tickets and more information at WWW.THEBORGATA.COM!
Saturday, February 10th – Chris Tucker comedy show at The Sugar House Casino, 1001 Delaware Avenue. For tickets or for more information log onto sugarhousecasino.com
Sunday, February 11th – The Juice Crew Reunion starring Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Marley Marl, Tuff Crew, Kool G. Rap and MC Lyte at The Electric Factory on 7th Street between Willow and Spring Garden. Tickets and more information log onto Ticketmaster.com
Saturday, February 17th – Kem/Fantasia/Avant in concert at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com.
Sunday, February 18th – The Soul Jam starring The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Blue Magic and Bloodstone At The Tropicana in Atlantic City. Tickets and more information log onto Tropicana.net
Saturday, February 24th – Katt Williams in concert at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto boardwalkhall.com/events.
Friday, March 9th – Keith Sweat in concert at The Liacouras Center, Broad & Montgomery. Tix are on sale now and for more information log onto Liacourascenter.com/events.
Thursday, April 5th – Patti LaBelle in concert at The Academy Of Music, 240 South Broad Street, between Locust and Manning Streets. For tickets and information log onto kimmelcenter.org
Friday, April 13th – The Philly Spring Jam starring Ginuwine, Tank, Brandy, Teddy Riley & Guy and 112 at the Liacouras Center and for more information log onto Liacourascenter.com/events.
Friday, May 11th – The 10th Anniversary Of Platinum Shows’ Mother’s Day Music Festival begins with the Friday concert starring Singers Joe and Stokley (from Mint Condition) kick things off Friday, May 11th at Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City. For Ticket information log onto ppshows.com.
Saturday, May 12th – The 10th Anniversary Of Platinum Shows’ Mother’s Day Music Festival with the Saturday concert starring Maxwell, Gladys Knight and Vivian Green at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For Ticket information log onto ppshows.com.
Sunday, May 13th – The 10th Anniversary Of Platinum Shows’ Mother’s Day Music Festival concludes with the Sunday concert starring The Whispers and L.J. Reynolds & The Dramatics at The Tropicana in Atlantic City. For Ticket information log onto ppshows.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.