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.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence made the announcement together that there will be Bad Boys III. The two took to social media while they were filming on location. Smith had signed on first, but it took a while for Martin. Now both men are set. Bad Boys first began as a 1995 take on the buddy cop movie that also co-starred TV’s Madame Secretary herself, T’ea Leoni. The 2003 sequel co-starred Gabrielle Union, whose currently working with Jessica Alba on a TV spinoff of Union’s character, F.B.I. Special Agent “Syd Burnett.” The goal is a January 2020 release for Bad Boys III.
Stringer Bell is People’s Sexiest Man Alive! Yes, I just took you back to The Wire where Actor/Director/Musician/DJ Idris Elba exploded on the scene! Since then he’s become a Golden Globe winning actor for his acclaimed TV roles in the BBC series Luther and his appearances on The C Word. He has a new 2019 Netflix sitcom he’ll star in and produce called Turn Up Charlie. Then there’s his string of movies like Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Obsessed, This Christmas, Daddy’s Little Girls, The Gospel, and his appearances in the Marvel franchises Thor and Avengers as “Heimdall.” Now, the 46-year old father of two is riding high just securing the role of villain “Brixton” in next summer’s Fast & The Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw co-starring with former Sexiest Man Alive Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Elba is newly engaged to Sabrina Dhowre, and popped the question at his film directorial debut, Yardie, this year. Many are saying it’s about time for this People magazine choice. In fact, Elba’s co-star in last summer’s The Dark Tower and former Sexiest Man Alive Matthew McConaughey predicted it was Elba’s time. Now that Elba’s nabbed The Sexiest Man Alive title, could “James Bond” be next? People, which also acknowledges Today Show News Anchor Craig Melvin, Actor Chadwick Boseman, Actor Michael B. Jordan, Actor Chris Pine and McConaughey, hits newsstands this Friday.
Diana Ross and John Legend will headline this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Is the daughter of a reality star dating Usher? Shaniece Hairston is the 25-year old daughter of Basketball Wives Castmember Evelyn Lozada. Usher, 40, brought Hairston to Sean ‘Puff Daddy” Combs’ 49th birthday party. Hairston was herself featured heavily on her mother’s other reality show on OWN, Livin’ Lozada. So how serious is this between Hairston and Usher? Well there may be issues to clear up first….like Usher’s marriage. While his estranged wife, Grace Miguel, filed for divorce, nothing has been finalized yet. There’s also the matter of those lawsuits by accusing the Confessions singer of exposing a man and women to the STD herpes. Those suits are still to be heard. Is this the real thing between Usher and Hairston or is Hairston a much needed distraction?
Speaking of reality stars, congratulations to Kenya Moore Of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. She’s just given birth. Moore and her husband, Marc Daly, welcomed their first child, daughter Brooklyn Doris. Moore and Daly were married in June 2017, and it added a cliffhanger to The Real Housewives show as she kept his identity a secret. Then Moore announced her pregnancy on the Real Housewives’ reunion show. Mother, Father and Baby Brooklyn are all doing fine.
The Color Purple is making its way back to the big screen with Oprah, Quincy and Spielberg working behind the scenes. The original film from 1985 was based on the Alice Walker novel and starred Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey. The movie took in over $100 million despite the controversies of the portrayal of African Americans and getting shut out at the Oscars despite its many nominations. Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg produced the movie with Spielberg directing. As time went on, The Color Purple came to Broadway produced by Winfrey, Jones and Scott Sanders, but this time as a musical. Now the producers are teaming up with Spielberg to bring the musical version to the big screen. All is still in development so we could see both the Broadway and original film represented in some form or fashion in the new project.
Is the price to live like a Queen really $800,000? That’s what the reported asking price is for the Detroit estate of the late Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin, who passed away earlier this year. Franklin’s home consists of five bedrooms, six and a half baths and a three car garage, just to name a few of its features. But, why such a low price for the Queen’s Detroit estate? We’ll probably learn more as the bids roll in. Meanwhile, in more Queen Of Soul news, her movie is finally coming out. No, not the bio-pic, it’s the documentary Oscar winning Director the late Sydney Pollack shot in 1972. The film is a look at the making of what many consider to be Franklin’s masterpiece 1972 album, Amazing Grace. The film was out of sync because the picture and audio weren’t aligned so it wasn’t released. Years later, another producer and company got the rights to the film, but were promptly sued by Lady Soul for trying to release it without her permission. Now the studio and Franklin’s estate are on the same page and have signed off on the film’s release. It will premiere this Monday at the DOC-NYC Festival in New York. More events are scheduled for next year in Detroit and L.A. Word is there’s a big Oscar push not only for Best Documentary, but Best Picture.
The Beastie Boys are telling their story. The three young Jewish boys from New York with a flair for hip hop sold 50 million albums worldwide, and became the third rap group inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Michael Diamond (Mike D), Adam Yauch (MCA) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) enjoyed a string of hits like Pass The Mic, Girls, Shadrach, Hey Ladies and (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party). When the hits stopped coming, the men continued to tour and record until the death of Adam Yauch (MCA) in 2012 of cancer. Now the new book is called Licensed To Ill, titled after the group’s debut 1986 album, which sold over ten million copies. In the book Mike D and Ad-Rock describe how they’ve now taken up social advocacy these days. They also cover the wild ride going from unknown and unwelcomed to the top of the charts and back again to life after the top. Licensed To Ill is out in stores and online now.
We remember Bandleader/Musician/Songwriter Roy Hargrove. The Grammy-winning trumpeter died of cardiac arrest this week. Not content to only do jazz, Hargrove’s collaborations range from Joe Henderson, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride and Stanley Turrentine to Nile Rodgers (Chic), D’Angelo and Macy Gray. Hargrove’s albums include Moment To Moment, Earfood, Family and Parker’s Mood, to name a few. Roy Hargrove was 49-years old.
Viola Davis leads an all-star cast in the crime caper-thriller Widows. When the husbands of three wives are killed, the wives learn not only about their husbands’ criminal activities, but of the debt they owe to a high powered crime boss putting their lives in danger now. Davis co-stars with Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), and Liam Neeson. The film is directed by Steve McQueen, the Oscar-winning producer of 12 Years A Slave. Widows opens in theaters Friday, November 16th.
Michael B. Jordan reprises his role in Creed II, which Jordan filmed largely in Philly and co-stars Sylvester Stallone. Creed II opens Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd.
Erykah Badu and Faith Evans will be the big honorees at this year’s Soul Train Awards this Thanksgiving weekend. The Soul Train Awards will be hosted by Martin castmates and longtime friends Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell (she dropped the Martin from her last name since she and her hubby Duane Martin are divorcing). H.E.R. leads the nominees along with Beyonce, Major, Ella Mai, Ledisi, Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino and John Legend. The Soul Train Awards ‘18 air on BET on Sunday, November 25th at 8pm.
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.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 9th, 10 and 11th - God’s Trombones, Produced & Directed By WDAS’ own Frankie Darcell, at the Independence Seaport Museum Theater, 211 Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106. For tickets and group rate information log onto Eventbrite.com/godstrombones or call (267) 751-9624.
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.
Saturday, February 16th – Erykah Badu in concert at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
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.
Saturday, March 30th – Mariah Carey in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
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.