The WDAS Holiday Jam is back and it’s happening at the newly restored Met Philly at Broad and Poplar. The WDAS Holiday Jam, Starring Uncle Charlie himself, Charlie Wilson and Stokley of Mint Condition, is happening Saturday, December 22nd. Tickets and information can be found on the wdasfm.com homepage.
Queen Latifah is going to become a first time mom. The 48-year old hip hop pioneer and her long time partner Eboni Nichols are expecting a baby. Latifah, who is also working on the FOX series Star, has always wanted to be a mom. It’s been difficult year for the Queen as she lost her mom and after declined the Marian Anderson Award for personal reasons, but the baby news is helping the upswing.
Actress Pam Grier has been giving some interesting interviews lately when it comes to her throwdown sessions. At 69, she says when you get older and have orgasms they last longer but your teeth hurt. Stock up on your toothpaste because the reigning Queen of Blaxploitation films (Coffy; Sheba, Baby; Friday Foster; Foxy Brown; Jackie Brown) says things get better with time. Grier also says move over Pitt and Jolie because she and legendary Comedian Richard Pryor were almost the original Brangelina. Grier and Pryor were red hot in the 1970’s and had a long term relationship. She even helped him go cold turkey from drugs for nine months. Pryor wanted Grier to be his producing partner. What stopped things? Pryor wanted to shack up, but Grier said she was already good. She also didn’t commit to the late comedian Freddie Prinze (Chico & The Man). He wanted her to have babies and she needed to stay independent. And, who is the love that Grier is still friends with today? It’s none other than NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Grier says her basketball college sweetheart was almost like her first love. Grier is currently the ambassador for the Brown Sugar Streaming Service, which runs many of her films.
A-Rod needs his child and spousal support cut!! While legendary former Baseball Player Alex Rodriguez is having the time of his life in a whirlwind romance with Jennifer Lopez, he’s seeking a little relief for his wallet. A-Rod is asking a court to reduce his child and spousal support which is a reported $115,000 a month, tax free. He and ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis divorced in 2008 and have been battling over support for months. A-Rod’s position is since he retired from the New York Yankees, his income has dropped by 90%. He reportedly wants to do $20,000 a month even though he calculates the expenses for the couple’s two daughters between $7,000 and $12,000 a month. Reports are Scurtis, who has a new child and fiancé, wants a number at about $50,000 a month. Neither side is confirming any of this to the press. If this has to get solved in a courtroom, things could get ugly.
Jeffrey Osborne and The O’Jays have new music and (separately) are coming to the area in December. They have more than that in common. Jeffrey got his start as a drummer for The O’Jays and Smokey Robinson. First Singer/Songwriter Jeffrey Osborne has a string of hits as a solo artist (Baby Stay With Me Tonight; You Should Be Mine/The Woo Woo Song; On The Wings Of Love) and as a former member of L.T.D. (Love Ballad; Holdin’ On; Concentrate On You). Now, he’s got new a new album, Worth It All, now available. Meanwhile, The O’Jays say this is their last album as a group. They’re set to retire in 2020 after a string of hits with Gamble & Huff (Love Train; For The Love Of Money; Usta Be My Girl) and in the New Jack Swing era (Have You Had Your Love Today; Keep On Lovin’ Me; Don’t Let Me Down). Their new album is called The Last Word, and it touches on many the political and social happenings of today. Jeffrey Osborne will be at the SugarHouse Casino in Philly on Saturday, December 1st, and The O’Jays will be with The Commodores at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on New Year’s Eve.
Singer/Songwriter Tracy Chapman is suing Nicki Minaj for allegedly sampling her song. Chapman is a Grammy winning and platinum selling artist who brought back black folk music with her 1988 song Fast Car. Chapman’s reps say Minaj used the song Baby Can I Hold You on her new song Sorry. What helps Chapman’s case is that she claims Minaj and her team made multiple requests to sample in the past, and all requests were rejected by Chapman.
An R Kelly docudrama miniseries is coming to Lifetime and they hold nothing back. Surviving R Kelly features his ex-wife, ex-girlfriends, his brothers and John Legend? Huh? John Legend? Queen Of All Media Wendy Williams and Tarana Burke, the African American woman who actually started the Metoo Movement, are also featured. The docudrama takes the slant that in the Metoo era, R Kelly’s accusations seem to fall by the wayside because they involve African American women. Bottom line form the docu-series is R Kelly is good but Robert, his real name, is the devil. Also addressed is the marriage to Aaliyah, and questions on paying off other girls’ parents to keep quiet about what R Kelly allegedly did to their daughters. Surviving R Kelly premieres January 3rd, 4th and 5th on the Lifetime channel.
Tamar Braxton is trying to rush her divorce from her estranged husband and former manager Vince Herbert. Tamar has issued papers, but no signature from Vince as of press time. Meanwhile, there could be troubled in paradise. Tamar has a new boyfriend from Nigeria. This is the man who was so great and she couldn’t wait to meet his mom. But, now the conversations are turning into: hey you don’t want to lose me; don’t lose this Pisces. What happened? Did someone talk too soon? You must always be careful not to talk too soon about the new bae. Don’t let the divorce come through then get dumped by the new man. Meanwhile, Tamar is urging a judge to speed up the proceedings.
Luke Cage has been cancelled by Netflix, and Orange Is The New Black is going away after this season. Netflix is being accused of using race to lure viewers then push them away. Remember when UPN & The WB (now the CW) and FOX networks were all accused of this back in the day. They had shows like In Living Color, Martin, The Wayans Brothers, The Game, Girlfriends and The Jamie Foxx Show. As soon as those shows reeled in viewers, they were cancelled and replaced by shows with almost no diversity. Netflix definitely wants to avoid that label at all costs. Especially after Comediennes Mo’Nique and Wanda Sykes put them on blast for their alleged unequal pay structure. Meantime, it’s not all bad news for the now cancelled Luke Cage Star Mike Colter. The 42-year old actor and his wife, Netflix Executive Iva Colter, welcomed a newborn daughter. The couple hasn’t announced the name yet, but baby, mom, dad and 3-year old big sister Naiella are all doing fine.
Ray Donovan and The Game Star Pooch Hall is facing a possible 6 ½ years in prison. Police say they arrested the actor earlier this month because he was allegedly behind the wheel, under the influence and letting his two-year old son drive as well. No one was injured despite Hall’s car crashing into a parked car after veering off the road. The 41-year old is facing D.U.I. and felony child abuse charges.
Looks like a wrap for Megyn Kelly at NBC News and her blackface controversy seems to be the last straw. Earlier this week, the Today Show’s third hour host moderated a panel on political correctness on Halloween costumes. When Kelly told her all-white panel it was OK to dress in blackface, social media erupted. She was even called out the next day by her NBC News Colleagues Craig Melvin and Al Roker, who particularly schooled the audience on the history of blackface’s ties to Jim Crow. Kelly has been accused of racism previously during her stint at FOX News. One example is when she said on air that Jesus and Santa Claus were white. NBC is scrambling. They quickly released an apology from Kelly followed by assembling prominent African American pundits Roland Martin and Amy Holmes to talk with Kelly on air about the controversy. Despite Kelly’s near tearful on air apology, calls for her firing continued. Her talent agency representation also parted company with her. Now comes word the cast of House Of Cards cancelled a visit to Kelly’s show as well. Remember, NBC hired Kelly and replaced the 9am show that was previously hosted by Al Roker and Tamron Hall. Hall promptly left the network after her show’s cancelation and is now prepping her own daytime talker with ABC for next year. Kelly’s 9am hour of Today has not lived up to ratings expectations anyway. Networks are especially concerned these days with any appearance of a sexist or racist workplace. NBC has ceased live production with Kelly, and sources say she’ll be phased out before year’s end.
Tina Turner discusses her health battles, her son’s suicide and her kidney transplant in the latest edition of O magazine. Turner also has a new autobiography My Love Story. Plus, she’s also preparing to bring her life story musical to Broadway in the fall of 2019 after a successful run on the European stage. Tina Turner: My Love Story, is now available in bookstores and online.
Steve Harvey Morning Show Team Member Nephew Tommy is coming to OWN. WDAS’ resident prank phone caller and stand-up comedian hosts Ready For Love, a reality show dating series. The show focuses on African American men and women in their 30’s and 40’s, who are looking for long lasting and authentically loving relationships. Host Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles guides the participants and the audience through the dating adventures these adults face, and whether they really do want to be in loving committed relationships. Ready To Love regular slot begins this Saturday, October 27th at 10pm.
At the movies this week, The Hate U Give is a new film from Soul Food Director George Tillman, Jr. and explores the issues of race and police brutality. When a teenager is the star witness to the shooting death of her best friend at the hands of police, she feels the pressure from various sides on how she should react and doing what’s right. The film stars Amandla Stenberg (Sleepy Hollow; Hunger Games), Regina Hall (Girls Trip; Think Like A Man), Russell Hornsby (Fences; Creed II; Lincoln Heights) and Algee Smith (The New Edition Story; Detroit). The Hate U Give is now playing.
Tiffany Haddish joins Tika Sumpter (The Haves & The Have Nots), Amber Riley (Glee), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Whoopi Goldberg for Nobody’s Fool, written and directed by Tyler Perry, hitting theaters November 2nd.
John Legend is coming to town with a holiday tour and has a new album of Christmas music. The new album is called A Legendary Christmas and features the holiday standards Silver Bells, The Christmas Song and a duet with Stevie Wonder on Wonder’s classic What Christmas Means to Me My Love. Legend will also be in the area for A Legendary Christmas Tour at The Borgata in Atlantic City on Black Friday, November 23rd and The Met Philadelphia Tuesday, December 4th. The new album, A Legendary Christmas, is available now.
Actress Tessa Thompson (Dear White People; Creed II) graces the cover of the November issue of Essence magazine, which covers Our Time To Heal and The Metoo movement.
Senators Kamala Harris and Corey Booker join Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on the cover of Ebony magazine for the November political issue, which also features an Aretha Franklin tribute.
Speaking of The Queen Of Soul, Essence magazine has issued a special commemorative issue all about Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin, in words and pictures over the years of her record breaking career.
Ciara graces the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. Mrs. Russell Wilson talks about getting at the goodies and how to level up in her first cover shoot for the magazine which is out now.
Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross graces the cover of InStyle magazine for its November issue. The season premiere of Ross’ Emmy nominated sitcom Black-ish airs Tuesday, October 16th at 9pm on ABC.
Michael B. Jordan is on the cover of the November issue of Vanity Fair. Meanwhile, Creed II, which Jordan filmed largely in Philly and co-stars Sylvester Stallone, opens Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Saturday, November 3rd- Live Saturday Night with Patty Jackson/Mimi Brown/DJ Doc B/DJ Jamar at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1612 N. DuPont Highway in New Castle, Delaware. For Tickets and Information livesaturdaynight.com
Friday, November 16th – Hall & Oates at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Friday, November 23rd – A Legendary Christmas starring John Legend at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
Saturday, November 24th - The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Thursday, November 29th - Michelle Obama-Becoming: An Intimate Conversation at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Friday, November 30th – Michael McDonald in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Tuesday, December 4th – A Legendary Christmas starring John Legend at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto themetphilly.com/events for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 1st – Jeffrey Osborne at the SugarHouse Casino, 1001 North Delaware Avenue. Log onto sugarhouseentertainment.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 8th – Maxwell at the Tower Theater on 69th Street in Upper Darby. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, December 22nd – The WDAS Holiday Jam starring Charlie Wilson and Stokley at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto the wdasfm.com homepage for tickets and information.
Monday, December 31st – The O’Jays & The Commodores at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Friday, February 8th – Herbie Hancock in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Saturday, February 16th – Boyz II Men celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the album II at The Met Philly, Broad and Poplar. Log onto themetphilly.com/events for tickets and information.
Sunday, February 17th – Gladys Knight in concert at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Saturday, March 16th – Comedian JB Smoove at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
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.