BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Alicia Keys ushers in ‘Music’s Biggest Night’ with Grammys
“Music’s Biggest Night” arrives Feb. 10 as the 61st Annual Grammy Awards gets underway at Staples Center broadcast live by CBS.
The ceremony, hosted by 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, will feature performances by the industry’s hottest recording artists including Cardi B, Janelle Monáe, Travis Scott, H.E.R., Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Musical tributes are planned for the 60th anniversary of the Motown label led by Jennifer Lopez; and for Aretha Franklin with Smokey Robinson up front.
Diana Ross also will be spotlighted with a segment singing many hits from her storied career.
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Dionne Warwick, Donny Hathaway, Sam & Dave, Billy Eckstine, Julio Iglesias and Black Sabbath will be acknowledged as deserving recipients of Grammy’s highest honor — the Lifetime Achievement Award — with a presentation and concert in Los Angeles set for May 11.
TICKET ALERT: Seats go on sale at Ticketmaster Feb. 8 for Bruno Mars’ Las Vegas residency consisting of 11 shows at the Park Theater and Park MGM, beginning April 29 and ending Sept. 14.
Also available now are tickets for Chaka Khan’s co-headlining tour with Michael McDonald arriving at the Hollywood Bowl July 31. Visit either ChakaKhan.com or MichaelMcDonald.com for instructions.
MOVIE WATCH: ShortsTV, working with Magnolia Pictures, will open the 2019 Oscar Nominated Short Films on more than 500 screens around the world Feb. 8.
The Animated and Live-Action Shorts will be shown in L.A. at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre (separate admissions). Of the former, Tasty Clips recommends the touching “Bao,” which was attached with Disney’s “The Incredibles 2” last summer. In the latter program, the shocking “Skin” from director Guy Nattiv is a must see piece of filmmaking.
The Documentary Shorts, which features UK director Ed Perkins’ racial examination “Black Sheep,” opens locally at Laemmle Glendale on Feb. 8th and Feb. 9th for one night at Laemmle NoHo. For a sneak peek, visit: http://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/
“Moko Jumbie,” the feature film debut of filmmaker Vashti Anderson, arrives on DVD and digitally just in time for Valentine’s Day. The gothic punk Caribbean love story, beautifully shot in rural Trinidad, was an Official Selection at the 2017 LA Film Festival where it was also nominated for the World Fiction Award. The film will also be available on the streaming IndiePix Unlimited.
The week’s additional DVD releases include “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool.”
CLIPPETTES: Jazz stars Gregory Porter, Peter White and Euge Groove unite Feb. 8 for a concert at Long Beach’s Terrace Theater. Also that evening, Travis Scott’s Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour arrives at the Forum; Robert Glasper’s Grammy Jam with special guests convenes at The Mint; and Brian McKnight performs at Anaheim’s City National Grove …
“The Hate U Give” director George Tillman, Jr. is mining that book’s author Angie Thomas for his next film “On the Come Up” based on her upcoming novel about a young female rapper …
A Bowie Celebration, featuring alumni band members such as Mike Garson, Carmine Rojas and Bernard Fowler, among others, performing a mix of David Bowie‘s hits and deep-cuts, is set for The Cerritos Center Feb. 9 …
Producer/author DeVon Franklin discusses and signs copies of his latest book ”The Truth About Men” Feb. 12 at The Grove’s Barnes & Noble …
Love rules Feb. 14 with Tank at The Saban and Ja Rule with Ashanti at The Novo.
TASTY QUIP: “The live theater opened up so many worlds for me as a young man. From the moment I saw professional actors on stage, I knew I could find a way forward in life as a performer and as an activist. With humility, it brings me great joy that my story will now become a stage production that I hope will inspire audiences to follow their own dreams.” – HARRY BELAFONTE on becoming the subject of a Broadway musical.
TC ON TV: Feb. 8 – “Wendy” (Syn): Keke Palmer fills in for Ms. Williams while she continues to battle Graves disease. “High Flying Bird” (Netflix): Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) and Andre Holland (“Moonlight“) star in the basketball drama from director Steven Soderbergh (“Magic Mike”) shot on an iPhone. “Kevin Hart‘s Guide To Black History” (Netflix): The comic/actor highlights the fascinating contributions of black history’s unsung heroes in this edutainment special with Saniyya Sidney and Lil Rel Howery. “Remastered” (Netflix): “The Two Killings Of Sam Cooke” “Hell’s Kitchen” (FOX): Will 35 year-old returnee from season six Ariel Contreras-Fox of Brooklyn, NY win? Tune in and see in the two-hour grand finale. “Live From Lincoln Center” (PBS): Dominique Morrisseau’s riveting play “Pipeline,” about an inner-city teacher desperate to save her son, is presented. “2 Dope Queens” (HBO): In the second season premiere, Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams chat about fashion moments with Lupita Nyong’o, and challenge her to a braiding competition. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Erykah Badu
Feb. 9 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Halsey
Feb. 10 – “Hustle” (Viceland): Singer Alicia Keys and Chef Marcus Samuelsson are executive producers of this aspirational docu-series starring John Henry, a Dominican-American business wunderkind who by 25 has already sold his first company, launched a venture capital fund in Harlem, and who has been recognized by Ebony and Forbes Magazine. Each episode features Henry meeting a New York-based entrepreneur pinpointing and solving the exact issues holding them back.
Feb. 11 – “Independent Lens” (PBS): RaMell Ross‘ Academy Award-nominated “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” is an intimate glimpse into the southern black experience.
Feb. 12 – “Boomerang” (BET): The 1992 romantic comedy film that starred Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry is updated in series form by Berry, who is an executive producer with Lena Waithe (“The Chi”). This version explores contemporary workplace dynamics, including the changing role of gender, office politics, relationships and the conflicts between Generation X and Millennials. Rapper/actor Joey BadA$$ (“Mr. Robot”) and Tequan Richmond (“Everybody Hates Chris”) are among the cast members.
Feb. 13 – “Weird City” (YouTube): Jordan Peele is the co-creator of this half-hour sci-fi comedy anthology series featuring Rosario Dawson, Ed O’Neill, Laverne Cox and LeVar Burton along with Awkwafina, Yvette Nicole Brown, Trevor Jackson, Steven Yeun, Malcolm Barrett and Mark Hamill. “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back” (Fox): L.A.’s Boardwalk 11, a gastro pub and karaoke bar, gets revamped. “Celebrity Big Brother” (CBS): Can’t predict who will win in the two-hour finale but Tamar Braxton has been a lot of fun this season.
Feb. 14 – “Ken Jeong: You Complete Me, Ho” (Netflix): In his first-ever stand-up special, TV’s “Dr. Ken” shares hilarious stories from his Hollywood career — and reveals how “The Hangover” saved his life.
TASTY QUIP: “He opened doors for me and many. He opened doors for people who don’t even realize he opened doors, but he did. He opened doors and he was so committed to his craft. He always wanted to be better. He wanted to touch people and he did.” – SHEMAR MOORE to People on his “The Young and the Restless” co-star KRISTOFF ST. JOHN [R.I.P.]
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment newspaper columns on the West Coast, serving nearly one million weekly readers. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com or via Twitter @tastyclips.
