Entertainment

ABOVE PHOTO:  Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. By Sergio Shadow and Act Last week, it was reported that Fox TV’s prime time hip-hop soap opera “Empire” was renewed for a second season. No doubt the network was happy with the ratings for the show, and felt that it was strong enough to survive its…

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Interview with Kam Williams After directing and/or producing such successful feature films as The Butler, Monster’s Ball [for which Halle Berry won an Academy Award], and Precious [for which Mo’Nique won hers], two-time Oscar-nominee Lee Daniels [for Precious] has set his sights on TV for the first time. Here, he talks about directing the new…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Selma director Ava DuVernay. (Helga Esteb / shutterstock.com) By Kam Williams Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel have emerged as the early Oscar favorites after garnering nine Academy Award nominations each. Both of those films are excellent movies and well-deserving of all the accolades they’ve received. Nevertheless, the simultaneous snub of Selma is…

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By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act Spike Lee will be presented with the NAACP President’s Award at the 46th NAACP Image Awards. The NAACP President’s Award, chosen by NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks, is an honor that recognizes the special achievement and distinguished public service of its recipient. Past honorees include Van…

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By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act Promising a definitive portrait of the Black Panther Party – its rise and fall – acclaimed veteran director Stanley Nelson aims to paint a complete and accurate account of the revolutionary black nationalist organization, in his very timely new documentary “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” a…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Josh Gad and Kevin Hart in The Wedding Ringer. By Kendall Alexander Doug Harris (Josh Gad, Frozen) is a lonely, lonely guy.  He spends the first few minutes of the movie calling up random guys from his past asking if they will do him a solid and act as his best man for…

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THIRTEEN’s American Masters series and Pittsburgh PBS affiliate WQED join forces to explore the life and legacy of playwright August Wilson (April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) — the man some call America’s Shakespeare — from his roots as an activist and poet to his indelible mark on Broadway. American Masters – August Wilson:…

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By Kendall Alexander Philadelphians and a few Midwesterners took a chilly trip into Center City last week to the Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music to marvel at musical mastery—”Motown the Musical.”  The auditorium was packed and anticipation built exponentially as audience members were teased with a gigantic gold emblazoned M at center stage, signifying the…

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Yaya DaCosta and Arlen Escarpeta star as famed couple LOS ANGELES — Golden Globe® Award winner and Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett makes her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie “Whitney,” featuring Yaya DaCosta (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) in the lead role with Arlen Escarpeta (Final Destination 5) alongside her as Bobby Brown. The…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Angela Bassett directs Yaya DaCosta and Arlen Escarpeta in a scene from the Lifetime Original Movie, Whitney.  (Photo: Jack Zeman) Yaya DaCosta and Arlen Escarpeta star as famed couple LOS ANGELES — Golden Globe® Award winner and Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett makes her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie “Whitney,” featuring…

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