Black Hollywood and the Black entertainment scene were abuzz with activity this week, from plans to bring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to film to the return of a “blacklisted” actor in a big way. From film to TV to pop music, we continue to represent…
THE QUEEN BEHIND A KING: One of the most difficult biographies to film has been the story of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Many have tried, including Stephen Spielberg, Jamie Foxx and Oliver Stone — all who left projects due to various challenges, including King family approvals.
Enter hot film director Ava DuVernay, whose indie films “Middle of Nowhere” and “I Will Follow” made the industry take notice. She stepped into the troubled production “Selma,” about MLK's 1965 voting rights campaign, and it started moving in the right direction.
Her rewrite of the script was said to be so strong that after slipping it to Oprah Winfrey, the media mogul consented to becoming a producer. It's the second such project for Miss Winfrey, who also has a seven-part HBO miniseries in the works called “America: In the King Years.” That program will be based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning books by historian Taylor Branch.
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Isaiah Washington may have found himself hands-off by Hollywood for a while, but his talent seems to have aced all that. His arresting role in last year's “Blue Caprice,” based on the D.C. Sniper killings, made people take notice. His movie “Blackbird” (with Mo'Nique) was the hit of this year’s Pan African Film Festival, and distribution deals are quickly being made to release it to the masses.
Now he's making news on the small screen again. He is one of the stars of the new apocalyptic drama “The 100,” premiering on March 19 on The CW.
As it that weren't enough, Washington is being welcomed back to the set of “Grey's Anatomy” for a special episode to air later this season. Looks like remarks made in the past have been forgiven to the benefit of the show's viewers.
ARE WE STILL BOYCOTTING? Perhaps as backlash to the tune-out by African-Americans of Donald Trump's “The Celebrity Apprentice” — due in part to Trump’s attacks on President Obama — the NBC show is rumored to be upping its ante. This year's cast is said to be including an Oscar winner (Mo'Nique), a rapper (Ludacris), an Atlanta ‘real housewife’ (Kenya Moore), a singer (K Michelle) and an actor Ving Rhames. Chef Gordon Ramsay (whose “Hell's Kitchen” returns to FOX on March 14) and wrestling legend Hulk Hogan are also reported to be in the mix. Will that be enough to get folks to watch again or will the mogul stick his foot in his mouth again before it airs? Stay tuned.
TASTY CLIPS ON TV: Add Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) to the cast of that Lee Daniels' music industry pilot “Empire” we told you about last week. She'll be joining Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson and Malik Yoba in the Fox project that will be scored by Timbaland...
Macy Gray (“Training Day”) and Ernie Hudson (“Oz”) star in “The Grim Sleeper,” premiering March 15 on LIFETIME. It's based on the true story of an L.A. journalist’s work in exposing a serial killer...
Condola Rashad (“Smash”) nabbed the lead in FOX's ancient Egypt-based fantasy series for next season, “Hieroglyph.” She'll play Nefertari, the Pharoah's half-sister…
Harold Perrineau (“The Best Man's Wedding”) will be an angel in the NBC adaptation of the comic, “Constantine”…
Congrats to Don Lemon, who is closing the first of a five week trial as host of his own daily primetime news show on CNN... Congrats also to CBS News' Bill Whitaker who will join the 60 Minutes team this fall…
That Prince takeover of “The Arsenio Hall Show” doubled his normal audience to tie Jimmy Kimmel Live...
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” host Cedric the Entertainer will be performing similar duties for the CW's Barber Battle, which sees what masters can make the cuts…
Jennifer Beals (“The L Word”) has been cast as the lead in “Proof,” a pilot for TNT about a doctor investigating the paranormal...
Benjamin Bratt (“Law & Order”) will be one of the familiar faces in the Jack Bauer revival, “24: Live Another Day,” premiering May 5 on FOX...
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Girlfriends”) landed the coveted role of Anthony Anderson's wife in an upcoming family comedy (yet untitled) on ABC. The network also has green-lighted a pilot based on Kevin Hart's life with Romany Malco (“Think Like a Man”) slated to star….
Terry Crews (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) is lobbying for the Luke Cage role and he’ll likely excel in the role as the Marvel Comics hero.
THERE WILL BE MIRACLES: While the long-awaited return of “The Boondocks” to the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block nears on April 15, its creator, Aaron McGruder, is prepping a live-action series for the net that may be just as controversial: Black Jesus!
According to Deadline/TV, the show will star newcomer Gerald "Slink" Johnson (“Grand Theft Auto V”) as Jesus living in present-day Compton on a daily mission to spread love and kindness throughout the neighborhood. This Jesus will be aided by a small but loyal group of downtrodden followers, played by Charlie Murphy, Corey Holcomb and John Witherspoon. Filming has begun in L.A. with a late 2014 premiere in mind.
TASTY CLIPS ON MUSIC: Famed South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela (“Grazing in the Grass”) is having a 75th birthday celebration at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 22. Expect special guests and friends to join in and jam.
Sharon Jones is also celebrating life by returning to touring after a bout with cancer. The recording artist, whose new release “Give The People What They Want” is climbing the charts, will hit the stage of The Wiltern LG with her group, The Dap-Kings, on March 25.
With his second album, “The Invasion Parade,” Cuban pianist and composer Alfredo Rodriquez called upon his "mentor and champion" Quincy Jones to help produce the effort — and when Quincy Jones gets on board, people pay attention! Bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding and percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez signed on to perform on the nine album tracks. Rodriguez will perform March 22 at Santa Monica College and April 22 at The Blue Whale.
CONGRATS to Ray Parker, Jr. on his induction last week into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The singer/songwriter/guitarist, who began his career as a Motown sideman, enjoyed a number of hits with his group Raydio (“Jack and Jill,” “You Can't Change That”); and as a solo artist (“Ghostbusters, The Other Woman”). He currently is working on a record he hopes to release by year's end.
The 11th annual “Be Good To Women Day” festivities kick off March 21 with a screening of “Stand Down Soldier” to be hosted by “Young and The Restless” star Kristoff St. John at the Barbara Morrison Theatre (4305 Degnan Ave.) at 7:30 p.m.
The three-day event continues the next day with a panel discussion, and on Tuesday, March 25 with a prayer vigil and community forum, both at Bryant Temple AME Church (2525 West Vernon Ave.). All events are free and open to the public. Call the church for details at 323-293-6201.
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is teaming with American Family Insurance to celebrate the power of black film with “Through A Black Lens.” Upload your dream for the future for a chance to collaborate with actor Morris Chestnut to turn your vision into a film. This year's winner will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to see the film that their dream inspired at the ABFF event in New York (June 19-23). Go to AMFAM.COM/BLACKLENS to submit an entry between now and March 28.
FINALE: "I’m the new Black girl on SNL! The makeup department was thrilled because they get to use products they haven’t used in a decade.” — Actress-comedian Sasheer Zamata on joining the cast of Saturday Night Live this year.
“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of Black celebrities and artists on television, in music and at the movies. Turn to “Tasty Clips” each week for the latest on Black entertainment.
