Courtesy photo
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The 2025 Upfronts, a preview of the upcoming television season presented to advertisers and ad agencies, is generating a lot of news out of New York City.
NBC struck first with the announcement that it is teaming Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe (the Harry Potter franchise) and Erika Alexander (“Living Single”) for “The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins.” The sitcom from Tina Fey’s production company has a “Jerry McGuire” premise with Morgan as an ex-footballer and Radcliffe as his publicist.
Also slated is “Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together,” a Peacock reality series focusing on the marriage of the rapper and singer and their child; “Wicked Live,” a musical special with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to hit before the sequel “Wicked: For Good;” the self-explanatory “Snoop Dogg New Year’s Eve;” and the addition of basketball great Michael Jordan as a special contributor to NBC’s recently acquired NBA coverage rights.
Prime Video has ordered a “Barbershop” series starring Jermaine Fowler (“Coming 2 America”) as the grandson of a legendary barber at Chicago’s “Calvin’s;” and “Delphi,” a drama set in the Philadelphia boxing gym as featured in the “Creed” movie franchise. It comes from Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society and may feature Wood Harris (“The Wire”) reprising his role as trainer Tony “Little Duke” Burton.
Check this space next week for more announcements as they develop.
AT THE THEATERS: BADWest’s Day of Black Docs, a two-day long celebration of documentaries that highlight the Black experience, is back for an 18th session May 16 and 17 at the American Film Institute.
In addition to the opening reception, panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As, this year’s showcase features the L.A. festival premiere of “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned it,” directed by Paris Barclay; “We Want the Funk,” directed by Stanley Nelson & Nicole London; “It Was All A Dream,” directed by dream Hampton; and “Shepherd’s Calling,” directed by Wubetu Shimelash.
Tickets must be purchased online only by May 17 at 9 a.m. No walk-ins. For more information, visit www.DayofBlackdocs.org.
CLIPPETTES: Damson Idris, who wowed American audiences as Franklin Saint in “Snowfall” and who has “F1” with Brad Pitt opening in theaters this June, has just landed his next big role — as iconic trumpeter Miles Davis. “Miles & Juliette,” executive produced by Mick Jagger, will focus on the jazzman’s 1949 Parisian romance with Juliette Gréco (to be portrayed by Anamaria Vartolomei of “Mickey 17”) …
May 16 is Black Theater Lover’s Night at the Geffen Playhouse for “Furlough’s Paradise,” a poetic piece that explores family dreams of a utopia yet to be realized. Starring DeWanda Wise (“Jurassic World: Dominion,” “She’s Gotta Have It“) and Kacie Rogers, tickets are 25% off using the code FP25BCE at geffenplayhouse.org …
Also that busy evening, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe jam at Venice West, Jazz Is Dead presents legendary Ghanaian musicians Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas’ Americas Farewell Tour at The Ford for two dates; and groundbreaking cellist Seth Parker Woods is featured in “Ravel & Adolphe” at Walt Disney Concert Hall, May 16–18 …
The Grammy Museum is the May 17 home of the Express Your PosSCZible: Talent Showcase — an evening celebrating creativity and talents within the schizophrenia community in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event will be hosted by Taye Diggs and his sister, Christian Diggs, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult. Register for this free event at EventBrite …
Keyboardist/vocalist Frank McComb plays The Sun Rose May 17 as The Wooten Bros. are at the Troubadour, British soul pioneer Omar at The Moroccan Lounge, rapper Curren$y with a live band at Catch One, and Deon Cole at the Improv for four nights …
Debbie Allen’s free public workshop “Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts” is back the morning of May 18 at 1850 S. Manhattan Place. Later, you’ll find jazz trumpeter Matt Von Roderick at The Peppermint Club, reggae artist Matisyahu at The Saban, and ScHoolboy Q at The Novo (with a show the following night at Anaheim’s House of Blues …
Jon Batiste’s Maestro Tour comes to Walt Disney Concert Hall on May 19 while rising soul singer Jalen Ngonda with The Emkays are at the El Rey …
Catalina Jazz Club presents a celebration for the legendary Quincy Jones on May 20 with co-host Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence of The Supremes, and Joyce Vincent of Tony Orlando and Dawn. Meanwhile, Gloria Hendry and her All-Star Big Band are at Vibrato Grill, and Allison Russell sings at The Belasco …
Wynton Marsalis and a 10-piece all-star jazz ensemble performs a score comprised primarily of Marsalis’ own compositions to accompany the 2010 film “Louis: A Silent Movie” at the Orpheum on May 21. The film is described as “an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and the birth of American music,” starring Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry and Anthony Coleman …
That same evening, composer Michael Abels, well known for the opera, “Omar,” and his genre-defying scores for the Jordan Peele films “Get Out,” “Us,” and “Nope,” will be joined by composers of “The Acolyte,” “Agatha All Along,” “Andor Season 2,” “Dying for Sex,” “Good American Family,” and the music supervisor of “Paradise,” at the Grammy Museum for a discussion …
Also, The Bad Plus plays Zebulon Café, Silas Short is at The Moroccan Lounge, Mereba is at The Fonda, Wayne Brady’s WHAT IF?! opens at The Laugh Factory with Jonathan Mangum and Pete Holmes, and the Grand National Tour starring Kendrick Lamar and SZA arrives at SoFi Stadium.
WHY IT HAS BEEN CANCELED: “We gained traction with [a Netflix film take on the novel “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun”] in the wake of the George Floyd murder and in a moment where there was a cultural correction and people seemed to want to do better. But now we’re in a moment where it’s evident that a lot of that was performative and not bone-deep.” – Producer/Actor DAVID OYELOWO to the L.A. Times
TC ON TV: May 16 – “Jenna & Friends” (NBC): Queen Latifah “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syn): The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs an excerpt from “Cry.” “S.W.A.T.” (CBS): Hondo (Shemar Moore) and 20-Squad take on their final mission against a violent crew of Russian mercenaries in this two-hour series finale.
May 17 – “Good Morning America” (ABC): Lynn Whitfield of “The Chi” whose seventh season has begun on Paramount+ with a Showtime debut May 18. “Maneet’s Eats” (Food): Maneet Chauhan shares her tips on making chicken biryani. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Scarlett Johansson is host of the 50th season finale with musical guest Bad Bunny.
May 18 – “American Idol” (ABC): It’s the grand finale! The Top 3 give their final performances on a star-studded night with music legends and top stars. Then, this year’s winner is revealed live. “Tucci in Italy” (Nat Geo): Stanley Tucci, in this follow-up program to his CNN culinary adventures, visits Tuscany. “Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain” (CNN): “San Sebastian and the Basque Country”
May 19 – “The Warehouse Phase” (Peacock): A new series about an overlooked musician (portrayed by executive producer/writer Charlie Curtis-Beard) who begrudgingly dives into the world of content creation and influencers after an infamous rapper and influencer, dies unexpectedly. “Trapped: What Is Happening To Wendy Williams?” (ID/Max): An hour-long special which delves into the #FreeWendy movement and the current push by the former radio and daytime TV host’s fans and loved ones to have her released from the guardianship she has been under since 2022. The documentary will also showcase an extensive interview with Yazmin Ramos, Williams’ former senior producer.
May 20 – “The View” (ABC): Angela Bassett, Dawn Staley, Jessica Biel
May 21 – “Nine Perfect Strangers” (Hulu): New strangers connect under the wing of mysterious guru Masha (Nicole Kidman) at a transformation wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps. With Regina Hall, Tiffany Boone, Bobby Cannavale, Luke Evans, Melissa McCarthy and Michael Shannon. “Masterchef” (Fox): Enters its 15th season with a brand-new theme twist pairing home cooks while welcoming a new judge: award winning chef Tiffany Derry. To be followed by the new series “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service” which places the culinary titan undercover to infiltrate and rescue struggling restaurants.
May 22 – “She The People” (Netflix): Executive producers Tyler Perry, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Terri J. Vaughn (who also stars) are behind this comic series about a lieutenant governor candidate who after a successful campaign must figure out how to thrive under a sexist and condescending governor while attempting to keep her family in line. With Jo Marie Payton (“Family Matters”). “Onyx” (BET+): Jennifer Freeman (“The Black Hamptons,” “My Wife and Kids”) toplines this movie placing friends at a rural Arizona adventure camp in the midst of an alien invasion.
END QUOTE: “I’m a teacher, an NYU tenured professor; I’ve got a lot of students. Before spring break, the [school] administration sent an email, ‘Don’t go away for spring break.’ It’s scary. I mean, if you are an international student, clean record, and you see what’s happening in the world. This is the year of living dangerously.” – SPIKE LEE 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, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
