BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: All-star cast to reunite for ‘The Best Man: Final Chapters’ 

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

One of the most beloved romantic movie franchises is at long last getting a third installment.

Only this time, the characters of Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace and Murch will return in “The Best Man: Final Chapters,” a 10-episode dramedy series for Peacock.

Building upon what transpired in 1999’s “The Best Man” and its 2013 sequel “The Best Man Holiday,” the star-studded original cast from the hit films are set to return including Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Harold Perrineau.

“Here we go! The band is back together! I am very excited to bring these iconic characters back to the fans who have supported us through this franchise,” said Malcolm D. Lee, who will continue as writer, director and executive producer of his pet project. “We are thrilled to deliver everything one would expect from this group of friends in ‘The Best Man’ universe and take them through their final chapters. We can’t wait! I told you it wouldn’t be 14 more years.”

It’s not like Lee hasn’t been busy. His LeBron James-led sequel “Space Jam: A New Legacy” will premiere July 16 on HBO Max; and he has several projects in development, including “I Almost Forgot About You,” an adaptation of Terry McMillan’s novel with Viola Davis.

TASTY QUIP: “Black women been equalizers for a long time, from Kamala Harris to Rosa Parks, to every last one of y’all that have sat in those chairs, Stacy Abrams for that matter. I’m the daughter of a police officer. I’m a cop’s kid, a tactical officer’s kid. I like to say some people were born with a silver spoon in [their] mouths, I was born with a gun in my hand.” – QUEEN LATIFAH of CBS’ “The Equalizer” on “The Talk”

CLIPPETTES: Dave Koz and Brian McKnight, with special guest Sheléa, kick off Valentine’s weekend with a one-night-only live concert special Feb. 13. Visit davekoz.com for details … 

Among the Feb. 14 offerings are Mario: The Luxury Of Love. Live. and A Take 6 Kind of Love Virtual Valentine’s Experience with tickets for the shows available at boxoffice.mandolin.com/

Meanwhile across the ocean, acid jazz group The Brand New Heavies take to the stage of London’s Jazz Café in their first performance since last year’s lockdown. Get your tix at Streamzy.co.uk

OG rapper, actor and author Ice-T will discuss his life in the arts and on the streets live via Zoom with Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law at USC Jody Armour on Feb. 16. Admission is free, but you must RSVP at visionsandvoices.usc.edu/

Brittany Howard, Angelique Kidjo, Valerie June, Tessa Thompson, Laurie Anderson, Eddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama are slated for the 34th annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert to be held Feb. 17. Ticket packages and merch are at boxoffice.mandolin.com/ … 

Also that date, “Sound Field,” a music education series, premieres a new episode entitled “How Fela Kuti Pioneered Afrobeat” at PBS.org and YouTube

The Rewind: A Celebration of Black Culture, with an introduction by journalist/musician Greg Tate, will highlight artists Gloria Gaynor, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, Kool DJ Red Alert, Rema and more on Feb. 18 at SummerStageAnywhere.org

Later in the day, writers Quincy Troupe and Erin Aubry Kaplan discuss the life and music of trumpeter Miles Davis, who is featured in the exhibition “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” RSVP for Zoom instructions at caamuseum.org/programs/talks-and-workshops/.

TASTY QUIP: “He is a figure that encapsulates so much of what people today are fighting for in America, and around the world. He was murdered at 21 and he was a channel, a vessel for all these incredible ideas, incredible philosophies, that are still being used today. And what the Black Panther party represented, as well, really resonated with me, with how I see the world, and how I want the world to be. So, it was that. And it was also working with Shaka [King, director], working with Lakeith [Stanfield, co-star], working with [producers] Ryan [Coogler] and Charles [King], all of those factors, it was like so many stars aligned. So, it just made sense.” – DANIEL KALUUYA to Deadline on what made him say yes to portraying Fred Hampton in “Judas and The Black Messiah” premiering Feb. 12 in select theaters and on HBO Max

TC ON TV: Feb. 12 – “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Disney+): By popular demand, the 1997 TV movie musical starring Brandy, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg is released from the vaults. “Buried By The Bernards” (Netflix): In this new reality series, a bickering but big-hearted family manage their budget-friendly Memphis funeral home. “Nadiya Bakes” (Netflix): “The Great British Bake Off” winner, chef and author Nadiya Hussain returns to her happy place while exposing creative kindred spirits. “Hip Hop Uncovered” (FX): A six-part documentary series taking a deep dive into the paradox of America’s criminalization of the genre and its fascination with the street culture that created it. “Havana Street Party Presents” (HBO Latino/Max): Spanish singer-songwriter Beatriz Luengo takes the stage in Cuba for an acoustic set.

Feb. 13 – “CBS This Morning Saturday” (CBS): Chef JJ Johnson “Death Saved My Life” (Lifetime): Real-life sisters Meagan Good and La’Myia Good portray siblings in this fact-based film which tells the story of a woman who faked her own death to trap her husband after he hires a hitman to kill her. “Geraldo Rivera’s Murder In The Family” (Reelz): Back to back episodes focusing on Bill Cosby and Aretha Franklin. “Austin City Limits” (PBS): New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint  “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Regina King hosts.

Feb. 14 – “Black Lives Matter: A Global Reckoning” (Vice): Brazil  “American Idol” (ABC): Superstar judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan return along with host and producer Ryan Seacrest to usher in the 19th season auditions. “Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day” (Bounce): A movie that serves as a bridge to the fifth season of the series starring Vanessa Bell Calloway, Clifton Powell, Keith Robinson and Dawn Halfkenny.

Feb. 15 – “American Experience” (PBS): “Voice of Freedom” explores the life of singer Marian Anderson and her triumphant 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

Feb. 16 – “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Farewell Play” (BET): The acclaimed theater production starring Perry, Cassi Davis Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann and more has its network debut. “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): Pharrell Williams and Kasi Lemmons discover their enslaved ancestors. “Queen Sugar” (OWN): Season five of the Bordelon saga begins. “Young Rock” (NBC): As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his surreal life that’s helped shape him into the man he is today in this sitcom reminiscent of “The Wonder Years.” “Kenan” (NBC): Is “Saturday Night Live” regular Kenan Thompson ready for primetime? “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” (PBS): The preachers. The music. The frenzy. This moving four-hour, two-part series from professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. traces a 400-year-old story embedded in the spiritual history in this country.

Feb. 17 – “Amend” The Fight For America” (Netflix): Executive produced and hosted by Will Smith, this series tells the stories of the brave Americans who fought to right the nation’s wrongs and enshrine the values held most dear by the Constitution. “Skyville Live” (CMT): Gladys Knight joined by Estelle and Martina McBride to perform her beloved classics.

Feb. 18 – “Your Attention Please: The Concert” (Hulu/YouTube): Craig Robinson hosts this event featuring performances by five groundbreaking artists including 24kGoldn, Joy Oladokun, Kiana Ledé, Lil Yachty and Swae Lee. “Screening Room” (Fox Soul): A weekly, hour-long program hosted by Vivica A. Fox spotlighting short films by Black filmmakers.

IN MEMORIUM: “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, MARY WILSON of the Supremes. [They] were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’ Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 60s. After an unprecedented string of number one hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others. I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva, and will be deeply missed.” – Motown founder BERRY GORDY

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, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.