Where will you find Singers Will Downing, Philly’s own Vivian Green and Major (Honest; Why I Love You)? Performing at WDAS’ Fourth Annual Women Of Excellence Luncheon on Saturday, March 31st of course!!! 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.
Oprah At The Apollo is coming to OWN. The Mighty O, in the tradition of the Barbara Walters Oscar specials, has taken the mantle and is talking to some of entertainment’s hottest. Oscar nominee Salma Hayek-Pinault, Oscar nominated Writer/Director of Get Out and Comedian Jordan Peele and Daily Show Host and Comedian Trevor Noah joined Winfrey as she taped this special in front of the legendary Apollo audience in Harlem. Oprah At The Apollo airs Tuesday, February 27th at 10pm on OWN.
Sade is back!!! The singer/songwriter took a previous ten year break, came back with Soldier Of Love and a successful international tour in 2010. Now in 2018, just shy of another ten-years, Sade is releasing a song for the soundtrack to the Ava DuVernay epic A Wrinkle In Time. Director DuVernay tweeted she didn’t think Sade would say yes and calls her a kind and giving goddess. Sade will perform Flower Of The Universe for the A Wrinkle In Time soundtrack. A Wrinkle In Time, starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris Pine and Storm Reid, hits theaters March 9th.
After the Olympics on NBC, Saturday Night Live returns with a debut host and a four-time host. First up is Sir Charles Barkley. The former 76er and current NBA analyst is returning to host SNL on March 3rd for his fourth time, one away from The Five Timers Club. Barkley’s musical guest will be Migos. Also, Emmy/Golden Globe/NAACP Winner Sterling K. Brown of NBC’s This Is Us will host for the first time March 10th with musical guest James Bay.
Wendy Williams is going on hiatus because of illness. The Queen Of All Media has announced that’s she’s suffering from Graves’ disease and will take three weeks off to focus on her health. Graves’ disease is an immune system disorder that causes the over production of thyroid hormones. Williams says one of the symptoms is the bulging eyes people have noticed of her lately. Tremors, anxiety and heat sensitivity are among the others. Williams passed out on air back in October blaming it on being overheated in her Halloween costume. As for now Williams, whose marriage is still facing scrutiny in the media, vows she won’t be replaced and will return to her show.
Did money troubles get Singer R Kelly evicted from his home? A property management company has reportedly filed in Fulton County that two homes Kelly rented in the Atlanta area are $31,000 behind in rent. At press time, these properties don’t seem to be connected to the Kelly accusations of keeping young women in a cult like atmosphere. There are also no criminal notices with this eviction although Fulton County’s D.A. office is reviewing a police file on the cult allegations.
Taraji P. Henson and her Baby Boy Director, Oscar Nominee John Singleton, will reunite for the big screen. Henson is producing and starring in a film on the brief life of Emmett Till. Till was the black teenager tortured to death in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant. Bryant’s husband Roy and his brother J.W. Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury of murder and kidnapping though they confessed to the lynching after the trial years before their deaths. Carolyn Bryant is still alive and has reportedly confessed to a journalist that she lied about her encounter with Till. She’s never been charged with a crime. Taraji P. Henson says she’s been interested in bringing the story to the big screen since the black teen Trayvon Martin was shot to death by George Zimmerman, who was also acquitted of murder. Henson reports there’s no start date yet, but the John Singleton is set to direct and the deal has been signed.
In more Taraji P. Henson news, the Oscar and Emmy nominated actress is currently starring in the action-thriller Proud Mary, which reunites 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.
Tiffany Haddish joins Tracy Morgan for the TBS show The Last OG. Morgan is an ex-con released from prison to find his old neighborhood gentrified and his ex-girlfriend (Haddish) has moved on and married a new man who’s helping raise the twins that Morgan’s character never knew existed. The Last OG debuts on TBS Tuesday, April 3rd at 10:30pm.
Jamie Foxx walks out on ESPN over a Katie Holmes question. During NBA All-Star Weekend in L.A., the Oscar winner was participating in the celebrity All-Star game. He chatted with ESPN’s Michael Smith about the game and the weekend’s festivities. But, when Smith made a sly reference to Foxx practicing with Actress Katie Holmes, Foxx removed his headphones, got up and left the interview without a word. Awkward! Foxx and Holmes, who have been spotted out and about, have not confirmed to any media they are dating. This despite plenty of surfacing photos including the couple playing basketball together on Valentine’s Day. Hmmmmmm! Later in another TV interview for TMZ, Foxx was asked about the Black Panther movie success and realized out loud it coincided with Black History Month. So Foxx declared No White Girls Til’ March 1st and drove away. Will Foxx and Holmes keep playing cat and mouse with the press?
Speaking of couples and Black Panther, the internet and fans, in the worse way, want Co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o to become a couple. The two, along with the rest of the Black Panther cast, have been doing publicity for the movie. But, Jordan and Nyong’o have been looking so at ease and cozy together, that social and mainstream media have wished them out loud as an It Couple. The two are close and have been having fun at press events with a push up contest and flirty twitter messages back and forth to each other. Some of this stems from Jordan’s past multi-cultural dating preferences, which he has faced some criticism for. Now you know I say to Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Foxx for that matter, that love is love. But, Michael, if you’re looking at Lupita with new eyes, call me and give me the scoop (SMILE).
In more Black Panther news, the big screen Marvel Comics’ blockbuster has shattered records. Though it cost $200 million to make, it’s already taken in over $462 million worldwide in its first full week of release. It’s also the biggest debut by an African American director in history (Director and Co-writer Ryan Coogler). This movie is a movement. Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Forest Whitaker, Phylicia Rashad and Sterling K. Brown lead the cast. The powerful showing at the box office for sure spells sequel for Black Panther.
Black Panther keeps rolling as Chadwick Boseman covers Rolling Stone in a much talked about cover shot and Essence magazine’s March issue is also a salute to the movie. There are three Essence covers featuring Chadwick Boseman, the second with the men (Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya and Forest Whitaker) and the third with the ladies (Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright and Danai Gurira). The issue is on newsstand this Friday.
Ebony magazine’s Love Issue is on stands now. The cover features super couples Common & Angela Rye, Jay-Z & Beyonce and Ciara and Russell Wilson.
Gabrielle Union wants you and her Being Mary Jane co-stars to live your best lives. Union discusses this and more as she graces the cover of Redbook magazine. Mrs. Dwyane Wade also 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.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is out and 24-year old Danielle Herrington, becomes just the third black woman to grace the cover after Tyra Banks and Beyonce. Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue with cover model Danielle Herrington is on stands now.
How To Get Away With Murder will do a crossover episode with Scandal. 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. Bryant, an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short Film (Dear Basketball) as a producer, will also guest star on How to Get Away With Murder. The Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder crossover event airs Thursday, March 1st beginning at 9pm on ABC after Grey’s Anatomy.
Iyanla Fix My Life season premiere airs on OWN Saturday, March 3rd at 9pm.
Chris Rock: Tambourine is the latest comedy special from the comedian and is also part of his deal on Netflix. But, in the special, it is also confession time. Rock fesses up to cheating with three women while on the road and says he wasn’t a good husband in the show. He also says he was addicted to porn and the habit not only desensitized him but, made him 15 minutes late everywhere. Chris Rock: Tambourine is currently available on Netflix.
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 Oscar nominations are out and Get Out made a huge showing. The unlikely box office blockbuster 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.
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.
NBA Champ Kyrie Irving is getting into movies with Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Chris Weber, Lisa Leslie, Erica Ash and Tiffany Haddish. Irving stars as elderly basketball playing Uncle Drew in a big screen adventure based on the character created for the Pepsi Max commercials. Philly’s own Charles Stone, III directs this big screen adaption. Uncle Drew hits theaters June 29th.
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
Check out who’s coming to town:
This 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.
Saturday, March 31st – Martin Lawrence, Adele Givens and DeRay Davis are all coming to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for a comedy concert. For tickets and information log onto boardwalkhall.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.
Saturday, May 26th – The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Saturday, June 2nd - The 11th Annual Roots Picnic with host Dave Chappelle. Scheduled to perform with The Roots are 2 Chainz, DVSN, Fabalous, Jadakiss, Rapsody and Brandy, just to name a few. It all takes place at Festival Pier in Philly. For passes and information log onto rootspicnic.com/philly.
Wednesday & Thursday, September 19th and 20th – Bruno Mars and Cardi B on Thee 24K Magic North American Concert Tour at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.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.