BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: New legal drama ‘Delilah’ debuts on OWN

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

“Delilah,” a new legal drama from acclaimed “Greenleaf” creator Craig Wright, who serves as executive producer along with Charles Randolph-Wright and Oprah Winfrey, is set to premiere March 9 on OWN.

In the series, Maahra Hill (“Black-ish,” “How to Get Away With Murder”) stars as Delilah Connolly, a headstrong, highly principled lawyer living in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the series was filmed. She is doing her best to raise two kids alone and keep her ties to family, friends and faith strong, all the while ceaselessly seeking justice for those who need it most, in a time when the rich and powerful of Charlotte and beyond will do anything to stop her.

Jill Marie Jones (“Girlfriends”) appears as Tamara Roberts, Delilah’s confidante, and best friend; Susan Heyward (“Orange Is the New Black”), portrays Demetria Barnes, Delilah’s newly hired, fearless, and ambitious associate; and Ozioma Akagha (Marvel’s “Runaways”), plays Delilah’s unfailingly sunny secretary, Harper Omereoha.

Craig Wright, who also served as writer and producer on “Lost” and “Six Feet Under,” is currently developing a spinoff of “Greenleaf” for OWN while hoping for a 10-year run with “Delilah.”

Viewers may follow the series Tuesday nights on OWN; and on social media at: FB: facebook.com/DelilahonOWN TW: twitter.com/DelilahOWN IG: Instagram.com/delilahOWN

IN SERVICE: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Belle,” “Beyond The Lights”) has been appointed by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as its newest global goodwill ambassador.

“I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to work in support of refugees and help amplify their voices,” said the British actress who has worked with the group for the last four years. “I am always amazed by their courage and strength in the face of such seemingly insurmountable odds and it’s a real honor to play a part in sharing their stories.

“The Covid crisis has made us all aware of the fragility of the lives we build and the importance of doing all we can to support those who have had to leave the place they call home. The crisis has also taught us that, in this interconnected world, we are only as strong as the most vulnerable in society. Inclusion of refugees is vital in ensuring the wellbeing of whole communities.”

She most recently starred in “The Morning Show,” “Misbehaviour” and “Summerland;” and will next be seen in “Loki,” the Marvel limited series premiering June 11 on Disney+.

LOOK UP IN THE SKY: Author Ta-Nehisi Coates (“Between The World And Me”) has been tapped to write a new Superman movie with J.J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) producing.

The rumor mill is heavy on this iteration for DC Films and Warner Bros. being Black with Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”) in the lead. Fans of Netflix’ “Bridgerton” series aren’t having that and have started lobbying for the hot Rege-Jean Page to don the tights, which is not a bad choice if there won’t be a sequel to “Hancock.”   

TASTY QUIP: “I’ve been called [n-word] to my face probably five or six times. And fortunately for my psyche, I’ve never been called [n-word] by a smart person. I grew up with the impression that racists and racism were stupid, and they were easy to get around. I just had to be smarter now while they were very dangerous. I had never looked into the eyes of a racist and saw anything that I perceived as intellect.” – WILL SMITH on “Pod Save America”

CLIPPETTES: By the time you read this, we will have had the opportunity to hear the first single from Silk Sonic — a new project teaming R&B stars Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. The former tour mates reportedly worked on the album to be released later at the famed Abbey Road studios with Disclosure and Nile Rodgers with funk bassist Bootsy Collins serving as a “special guest host”

Winston Duke (“Black Panther”) has signed to portray Black nationalist Marcus Garvey in a film for Amazon Studios to be called “Marked Man”

Motown Records President Ethiopia Habtemariam has been promoted to the role of chair and chief executive officer at the label by the Universal Music Group. Since joining in 2014, she has revitalized Motown with a relocation to New York and addition of chart-toppers City Girls, Migos, Lil Baby and Lil Yachty …

Idris Elba announced that he will be returning to his role of troubled British investigator John Luther for a movie based on the character popularized in a BBC series

Due to allegations relating to sexual abuse, rapper and actor T.I. will not be reprising his role of in the upcoming sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” for Marvel Studios.

FOR DIVERSITY’S SAKE: The Media Done Responsibly Film Festival, connecting diverse storytellers to industry professionals, is set for March 3–10 with participants to include Emmy Award-winning producers Jacoba Atlas (“Miss Representation”), Kibi Anderson (former president of “Red Table Talk”), dynamic industry professionals Shari Page of Ryan Murphy‘s Half Initiative, documentary filmmaker Byron Hurt of God Bless The Child Productions, art activist Fanshen Cox and others. For more info, visit: www.mdrff21.eventive.org/welcome

TC ON TV: March 5 – “Coming 2 America” (Amazon): It will be interesting to see if the streamer’s servers will crack with anticipated huge viewership of the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 blockbuster starring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. The gang’s all back including James Earl Jones, John Amos, Shari Headley and Louie Anderson. New to the cast are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Teyana Taylor and Luenell. “Boss Level” (Hulu): Frank Grillo (“Captain America: Civil War”) portrays a former special forces agent trapped in a time loop that constantly repeats the day of his murder. Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts co-star.  “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Omar Sy of “Lupin” and Lil Durk, featuring 6lack

March 7 – “26th Annual Critics Choice Awards” (CW): Taye Diggs hosts with Zendaya an honoree. “Oprah With Meghan and Harry” (CBS): The Duke and Duchess of Sussex tell all in this rare sit-down. “Tournament of Champions” (Food): Guy Fieri is back with the toughest bracket-style culinary competition where 16 of the best chefs from the East and West coasts go head-to-head in sudden-death cooking battles.

March 8 – “Super Sema” (YouTube): The African animated series, produced by a female-led team, features a young superhero girl named Sema and follows her world-changing adventures fueled by STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). It is helmed by Lynne Southerland, the first female African-American director for Disney (“Mulan II”).

March 9 – “Soul of A Nation” (ABC): H.E.R.

March 10 – ““Last Chance U: Basketball” (Netflix): Hits the hardwood in East L.A. as a coach with strong convictions leads young men who hope to fulfill major college potential. “The Masked Singer” (FOX): Season 5 premieres with Niecy Nash guest hosting several episodes for the COVID-19 recovering Nick Cannon. Also new, viewers will be allowed to make predictions each episode with the most correct ones vying for weekly prizes of $20,000 and a grand prize of $100,000.  See terms and conditions at FOXSuper6.com.

March 11 – “Go-Big Show” (TBS): In a spectacular and emotional finale, only four of the totally amazing acts remain in the hunt to be the winner of $100,000 once Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson and the other judges dubs the show’s first champion. “Fast Foodies” (TRU): Comic actor Ron Funches challenges the three chefs to recreate and update his favorite spicy chicken sandwich. “Dinner Impossible” (Food): Robert Irvine is back to fix a five-star dinner for soldiers in Oahu.

IN MEMORIUM: “These days people think they can do everything they want because Christ already died for their sins. But I don’t think that’s right. ‘Bear the Cross’ means everyone has to give an account of what they do. What you hands do, your eyes see. Even the Nazarene. He’s not going to bear the cross alone and let the world go through. Every man shall be paid according to his work.” – Reggae legend BUNNY WAILER