By Bill Vaughan, Entertainment Writer | Los Angeles WAVE
Hot upon the surprise release of his excellent album “GNX” catapulting to the top of the sales charts last week (along with hit singles “Squabble Up,” “tv off,” “luther” and “wacced out murals”), Compton superstar rapper Kendrick Lamar will follow his Super Bowl halftime show appearance by going on the road.
The “Grand National Tour,” with his frequent star collaborator SZA, is set for 19 stadiums nationwide with it arriving at SoFi Stadium for shows May 21 and 23.
Tickets go on sale to the public Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. For further details, visit grandnationaltour.com.
RED CARPET WALK: Walt Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” is having its Hollywood premiere on Dec. 9 at the El Capitan Theatre. Voice actors for the film including the hot Aaron Pierre (“Ruby Ridge”), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“Chevalier”), Thandiwe Newton, Keith David, Donald Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Seth Rogan and perhaps Blue Ivy Carter and mom Beyonce could arrive between 5 and 6:30 p.m.
REMEMBRANCE: In honor of the late Tony Todd (“Candyman”), who sadly passed away recently, the world theatrical premiere of “The Activated Man,” featuring his final starring film role, is scheduled for Dec.12 at the Laemmle Fine Arts Theatre. Additionally, the movie will have a weeklong theatrical run in L.A. and other cities across the U.S. and Canada beginning Dec. 13 and on demand.
TASTY QUIP: “I have observed behavior of my white counterparts on set where people will get loud and frustrated. It is couched as being passionate or just sort of, like animated, like it’s given a moniker that is not ‘angry.’ I see it happen and I go, ‘If I did the exact same thing, I do not get the pass.’ Just by being Black in general, the level and amount of latitude for bad behavior, you have different consequences.” – STERLING K. BROWN (“This is Us”) on his podcast, “We Don’t Always Agree”
CLIPPETTES: iHeartRadio Jingle Ball with SZA, Kane Brown, T-Pain, Shaboozey and more comes Dec. 6 to Intuit Dome as Martin Lawrence’s “Y’all Know What It Is! Tour” with Ms. Pat, Desi Banks and Benji Brown is at Crypto.com Arena …
Also, Roddy Richh is at the Palladium, Thee Sacred Souls at The Wiltern, and Jo Koy kicks off two nights of comedy at Long Beach’s Terrace Theater …
The Comedy Store In support of the WeHo LAFD, is gathering gift donations for local kids and teens this holiday season. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for the taping of George Lopez’ next special on Dec. 7 …
Musically, Donell Jones, Dave Hollister and J. Holiday are at the Saban Theatre, TV On The Radio at the El Rey Theatre, and Kenny G’s “The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour” lands at the Pechanga Resort …
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali will be honored with the prestigious Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity and Emmy Award winner Niecy Nash-Betts will receive the Voice Arts Icon Award at the Voice Arts Awards Gala 2024 on Dec. 8 at the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom …
Additionally, that night for the very first time, Andrea Bocelli comes to the Kia Forum as part of his “30th Anniversary Tour” …
Martin Lawrence’s third annual Toy Drive “Celebrity Go-Kart Holiday Kick-Off” will be held Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each racer has submitted a three-item “gift wish list,” and potential sponsors and contributors are invited to participate by purchasing gifts through their gift registry at amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2CAFS1HX5AXBN. Just buy a gift and they will send you the location …
Peacock has renewed “Bel-Air,” its dramedy spin-off for a fourth and final season. Since many of the original cast have appeared in different roles, one must wonder if it is time for “The Fresh Prince” himself, Will Smith. In the meantime, Smith is set for two intimate live performances at the Observatory North Park in San Diego, Dec. 11 and 12. Tickets (with airfare and accommodations through drawings) are available at Fandiem.com …
On Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the 11th annual TDE Christmas Concert & Toy Drive featuring SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Doechii and more will be held at William Nickerson Gardens Skate Park …
The spirit continues at 7 p.m. with “Jingle & Jams 2024: Lalah Hathaway’s Holiday Lounge” presented by The Melanated Elves at Inglewood’s Miracle Theater. Event highlights include live performances, DJ Spark, immersive photo ops, festive food and drinks, do-it-yourself crafts, games and shopping …
Meanwhile over at Catalina Jazz Club, master bassist and composer Marcus Miller begins his engagement …
Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty (“America The Beautiful”) and Ledisi (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”) have been added to the pre-game mix for the Super Bowl to be held in New Orleans.
TASTY QUIP: “We’ve been in the business long enough to know that when folks go, ‘It’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No, it ain’t. It’s an honor to win. You get nominated and folks go, ‘Yeah I remember that.’ Or most people forget. Generally, it’s a contest you didn’t volunteer to be in. I didn’t go in there, so I could flex. ‘Let me do my scene, so you can remember who I was.’ They nominate you and people go, ‘What is that movie you’re nominated for? What’s the name of that thing?’ And after it’s over and people have a hard time remembering who even won.” – SAMUEL L. JACKSON to the Associated Press
TC ON TV: Dec. 6 – “Evolve and Flex” (TruTV): A weekly look into celebrities’ personal growth and fashion evolution kicks off with a profile on Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. “Today” (NBC): Leon Bridges
Dec. 7 – “Once Upon a Christmas Wish” (GAF): Starring Mario Lopez, his wife Courtney Lopez (“A Chorus Line”), and their son Dominic Lopez. “A Very Merry Beauty Salon” (Lifetime): Tia Mowry is the executive producer and star of this one, co-starring RonReaco Lee, Donna Biscoe, and Cocoa Brown. “A Season To Remember” (OWN): Roger Bobb is the director of this romantic comedy about a sports reporter and photographer. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Paul Mescal (“Gladiator II”), Shaboozey.
Dec. 8 – “The Equalizer” (CBS): In this special holiday episode, McCall (Queen Latifah) finds herself isolated with her budding boo, Dante (Tory Kittles) and ex-husband, Miles (Stephen Bishop).
Dec. 9 – “The Real Full Monty” (Fox): In the all-new two-hour special, Anthony Anderson rallies a cast of male celebrities, including himself, Taye Diggs, Chris Jones, Tyler Posey, Bruno Tonioli, and James Van Der Beek to encourage men to get checked and strip the stigma around prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer.
Dec. 10 – “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened” (Netflix): Foxx returns to the stage to set the record straight on his debilitating illness last year. “Lego Masters Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular” (Fox): Holly Robinson Peete and Lil Rel Howery join the two-night competition as guest builders. “Black Comedy in America” (Vice): “Kevin Hart”
Dec. 11 – “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World” (Netflix): A teen with autism unlocks a joyous world of self-expression as she shares her voice using a letter board in this short documentary for the first time. “A Motown Christmas” (NBC/Peacock): Hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, the special will feature Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Temptations, Jamie Foxx, Bebe Winans, Jordin Sparks, Andra Day, Ashanti, October London, Pentatonix, and the Broadway company of “MJ the Musical,” with an 11-piece band led by Rickey Minor.
Dec. 12 – “Too Many Christmases” (BET+): With Jackée Harry, Michael Colyer and Adele Givens. “No Good Deed” (Netflix): In this dramedy, Emmy winners Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano lead a star-packed cast, including Teyonah Parris, Anna Maria Horsford, and O-T Fagbenle. “Billboard Music Awards 2024” (Fox): Hosted by Michelle Buteau. “Bookie” (MAX): A second season of the darkly funny series about an L.A. bookie (Sebastian Maniscalco) and his best friend/enforcer (Omar J. Dorsey).
END QUOTE: “Look, I live in L.A., ultimately, but I definitely want to have a life that says that I’m a citizen of the world, and I hope to have enough success to have the ability to move around the world as freely as possible. The perspective that you gain, the knowledge that you gain, the empathy and compassion that you gain from leaving your home country or your resident country is invaluable.” – JODIE TURNER-SMITH (“The Agency”) to the Hollywood Reporter
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
