BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Janet Jackson opens her closet for charity auction

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

Memorabilia from the Queen of Pop herself will be available to the public for the first time as Julien’s Auctions presents “Iconic Treasures From The Legendary Career And Life of Janet Jackson,” an auction taking place in Beverly Hills and live online at Julien’s Live May 14-16.

More than 1,000 of her most spectacular music video, tour and television performance costumes and ensembles, red carpet appearance gowns as well as personal items and accessories owned and used by the five-time Grammy award-winning superstar headlines this three-day extravaganza happening during Jackson’s birthday weekend.

Among the goods are:

  • A Helen Storey-designed floor-length metallic silver coat worn by Jackson in the 1995 “Scream” music video with brother Michael Jackson. Costing $7 million at the time, the music video was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive music video ever made.
  • A Richard Tyler black coat with velvet lapels, worn by Jackson on her 1990 Rhythm Nation Tour while performing her hit singles “Control” and “Nasty.”
  • Jackson’s 17th century ensemble worn while performing “If” on her 1993-1995 Janet World Tour; her 2001 “All for You” music video ensemble; her 2008 Rock Witchu Tour Atelier Versace red chiffon sequined gown with Versace metallic red platform stilettos; and more.

Fans and collectors will also have a once in a lifetime opportunity to take home a special keepsake as the house is offering a beautiful, special edition three volume set of personally signed hardcover catalogues featuring a different black and white iconic photograph on the covers.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit Compassion International, a global child-advocacy ministry that partners with churches around the world to release children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty.

For more, including info on free public viewing hours, visit: JuliensAuctions.com.

TASTY QUIP: “What can I tell ya? That boy HOT!” – BRUNO MARS to fans disappointed with his upcoming Las Vegas residency selling out in minutes.

MOTHER’S DAY LOVE: The next #ASCAPRealSounds “Sunday Inspiration” event celebrating ASCAP’s faith-based community and members will be held on May 9 via IG: @ASCAPUrban and @ASCAP at YouTube.

The virtual session features pre-recorded musical performance videos and interviews with chart-topping gospel artists Ted & Sheri, Kelontae Gavin, Brandon Camphor & Oneway and DJ Camper.

There also will be a brunch cooking demonstration with chef Andrea Hamilton, who will show viewers how to prepare French toast.

Dionne Warwick – At Home With You” presents the legendary vocalist in concert bringing all the hits and more for two shows on May 9. Tickets are available at boxoffice.mandolin.com.

TASTY QUIP: “The misconception is that there are drugs that can help you do your job. No there isn’t. There aren’t drugs that help you memorize to be creative, to come up with something that someone didn’t already say. To figure out the funny thing in something tragic. Those are not the side effect of drugs. Those are the side effects of brilliance. So if you think there is some state you can be in that can deliver you a higher frame of comedy, there isn’t.” – KATT WILLIAMS on IG’s Fat Joe Live

CLIPPETTES: The latest installment of Femme It Forward x Verzuz has ‘90s R&B supergroups, SWV and Xscape going head-to-head May 8 at 5 p.m. Check in for free at IG: VERZUZtv, @triller app,and @femmeitforward

Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”), Laverne Cox (“The Equalizer”), Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”), Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”) and more unite for a one-time virtual reading of Larry Kramer’s groundbreaking autobiographical play “The Normal Heart;” preceded by a special intro by Martin Sheen; and followed by a live Q&A with its Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay and cast. Tickets for the event supporting the legacy of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ activists through the ONE Archives Foundation are available at watch.eventive.org

Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos are teaming for a rendition of “Dreams of the San Joaquin” to benefit RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and the United Farm Workers of America. The classic song, made famous by both Kenny Rogers and Linda Ronstadt, is now available exclusively via Bandcamp, with a wide release on all streaming services May 14

Celebrate virtually the 75th Anniversary of the CARE Package May 11 with Iman, Michelle Williams, Judith Hill; former presidents Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; and more special guests to be announced

Also that day, celebrated national leader and bestselling author Stacey Abrams discusses her new novel “While Justice Sleeps” with ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts in a virtual event sponsored by Barnes & Noble. $35 at bit.ly/3ebcSk1 will get you a signed copy plus admission

TASTY QUIP: “I was the first Black woman at my law firm, I was the first Black woman in my gifted classes in high school. The first Black woman in most of the pageants I was ever in. I was the first Black woman to host an early prime time show on Fox News Channel. I chose to wear it as a privilege. As Kamala Harris says, ‘If I’m first, I better damn well not be the last.’” – EBONI K. WILLIAMS to Page Six on being the first Black cast member in the 13-year history of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York.”

TC ON TV: May 7 – “Monster” (Netflix): Kelvin Harrison Jr. (last seen as Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in “The Trial of The Chicago 7”) leads this intimate drama co-starring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright.

May 8 – “VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World” (ABC/CBS/FOX/YouTube): Hosted by Selena Gomez with performances by Jennifer Lopez, H.E.R., J Balvin, Eddie Vedder and Foo Fighters. “Pink Skies Ahead” (MTV/Pop): The anticipated coming-of-age film showcasing mental health issues features Mary J. Blige, Evan Ross, Marcia Gay Harden, Rosa Salazar and Henry Winkler.

May 9 – “Biography” (A&E): WWE wrestler Booker T. “DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic” (BET): “Mother’s Day Edition” with Patti LaBelle and Johnny Gill. “Unsung” (TV1): Lyfe Jennings “What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye’s Anthem For The Ages” (CNN): Don Lemon looks at the groundbreaking album 50 years after its release to explore why has it sparked a new generation. “Uncensored” (TV1): Jaleel White “United Shades of America” (CNN): “Black To The Future” “Ziwe” (Showtime): An outrageous variety series starring and executive produced by the writer, comedian and performer who previously worked on “Desus & Mero.”

May 10 – “Ellen” (Syn): Michael B. Jordan, Tahar Rahim, Rag’n’Bone Man “Variety’s Power of Women: The Comedians: (Lifetime): Honoring Maya Rudolph, Mindy Kaling, Sofia Vergara, Michaela Coel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kate McKinnon.

May 12 – “The Upshaws” (Netflix): Comedic dream team Wanda Sykes and Mike Epps executive produced this series and star alongside sitcom veteran Kim Fields. “The Big Interview with Dan Rather” (AXS): Lil Jon and his son DJ Slade. “Kids Say The Darndest Things” (CBS): Tiffany Haddish teams up with Cedric The Entertainer to chat with identical twins.

May 13 – “From Cradle To Stage” (Paramount+): Pharrell and Dr. Carolyn Williams “Growing Up Hip Hop” (WE): Grammy Award-winning producer Stevie J, daughter Savannah and son Stevie Jr., as well as famed industry vet Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell and daughter Cree, join the stacked cast this year. “The Rich and The Ruthless” (BET+): The streamer lands the fourth season of the dram-com soap opera starring the award-winning Best Ensemble Cast of Victoria Rowell, Richard Brooks, Robert Ri’chard, Chrystale Wilson, Michael Colyar and Dawnn Lewis.

TASTY QUIP: “[Chadwick Boseman’s] passing is still extremely raw for me. And I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there. But at the same time, we have a leader in [writer/director] Ryan [Coogler], who feels very much like we do, who feels the loss in a very, very real way as well. And his idea, the way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world. So it feels spiritually and emotionally correct to do this.” – LUPITA NYONG’O to Yahoo Entertainment on the just announced sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” to open July 8, 2022.

 

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.