Courtesy photo
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Inspired by Henry Hampton’s legendary documentary series “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Movement,” Executive Producer Dawn Porter (“Luther: Never Too Much,” “John Lewis: Good Trouble”) has spearheaded a new installment of the groundbreaking 1987 PBS series.
“Eyes on the Prize III — We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015” presents contemporary history in context with archival footage and intimate interviews with those who personally participated in collective movements.
The series will illuminate topics such as the fight for fair housing and health care in New York’s South Bronx and Philadelphia; the profiling of public defenders in Washington, D.C. and South Los Angeles; the Million Man March; the growing environmental justice movement in West Virginia and Florida; the complexities of affirmative action policies; the years of America’s first Black president; and the emergence of Black Lives Matter.
It debuts on HBO Feb. 25 with two new episodes each night through Feb. 27 before streaming afterwards on MAX.
TICKET WATCH: The LA Phil announced the 2025 Hollywood Bowl summer season with some landmark bookings planned at the storied venue from June through September.
Opening Night at the Bowl will be An Evening with Hugh Jackman (June 7); The Roots Picnic Experience with Lil’ Kim, Method Man & Redman, Goodie Mob and more (June 8); the newly minted Blue Note Jazz Festival (formerly Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival) with Grace Jones, the Isley Brothers, De La Soul, Stanley Clarke, and others (June 14 & 15); Rhiannon Giddens (June 18); and Wizkid (June 19).
This year’s July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular features Earth, Wind & Fire (July 2, 3 & 4); with the month’s other offerings to include SiR (July 20); and Diana Ross (July 25 & 26).
Best Actress Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) has been cast as Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Aug. 1, 2 & 3). Also coming that month are Alabama Shakes (Aug. 13); Damian and Stephen Marley (Aug. 17); Herbie Hancock (Aug. 20); Charlie Wilson, Babyface and K-Ci Hailey (Aug. 27); Angélique Kidjo and Yo-Yo Ma (Aug. 28); a farewell tour stop for Cyndi Lauper (Aug. 29 & 30); and Dave Koz’s Summer Horns with The Ohio Players, Jonathan Butler and Kayla Waters (Aug. 31).
September brings Hiatus Kaiyote and Snarky Puppy (Sept. 3); the debut of Wynton Marsalis’ “Concerto for Orchestra” (Sept. 9); Black Movie Soundtrack V with host Craig Robinson, musical director Marcus Miller, and curator Reginald Hudlin accompanied by Derrick Hodge and Color of Noize Orchestra (Sept. 10); Chicago with fireworks (Sept. 12, 13 & 14); “Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute” (Sept. 24); and John Legend (Sept 28).
For additional info, visit: hollywoodbowl.com.
CLIPPETTES: Je’Caryous Johnson Presents: “Jason’s Lyric Live!” starring Allen Payne, Eva Marcille, Treach, K. Michelle and Tyrin Turner at the Orpheum Theatre for a two-night stand beginning Feb. 21 …
Also that date, Tyler, The Creator’s “Chromakopia: The World Tour” with Lil Yachty & Paris Texas concludes its run at Crypto.com Arena and Pete Escovedo & Family kick off two-nights at Catalina Bar and Grill …
It was wonderful seeing Maxine Jones at long last reuniting with her En Vogue mates for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show. Now if only Dawn Robinson could come back to the fold …
Celebrate Black History Month at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza with music, lite bites and rare shorts screenings of the Queen Latifah-produced “Teen Dream” and “Catwoman vs. The White House” featuring Eartha Kitt on Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. …
Additionally, The World Stage hosts its Big Band with Ernie Watts, progressive jazz trumpeter Theo Croker plays The Sun Rose, the Blind Boys of Alabama & Shemekia Copeland team for a date at Soka Performing Arts Center, comedian Russell Peters’ “Relax World Tour” comes to the Peacock Theater, and the FlyPoet Classic Slam is being held at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center …
Join Ted Lange for a free staged reading of his new historical play “The Spirit of John Hanson,” which answers the question of who the first president of the United States really was. It’s happening at Theatre West on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. …
Actress Regina Hall joins renowned producer and filmmaker Will Packer for a party Feb. 24 celebrating the launch of his new memoir “Who Better Than You?” at The Commons Event Center at Universal Pictures. Tickets for the 7 p.m. event are free at Eventbrite.com …
Actors Jason George (“Station 19”), Glynn Turman (“Rustin”), Miia Harris (“Monster High: The Movie”) and Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”) convene for a reading of acclaimed mystery writer Walter Mosley’s latest novel “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Right” at the Mark Taper Auditorium at the L.A. Central Library. They will all be joined by the author and book critic Paula L. Woods for the free Feb. 26 event, which also has registration at Eventbrite …
Meanwhile, Fantastic Negrito’s “The Son of a Broken Man Tour” visits The Venice West with the singer appearing the following afternoon at Amoeba Hollywood for an in-store performance and album signing …
“Nollywood in Hollywood,” presenting free screenings of the best three Nigerian films, lands at the Egyptian Theatre and Norris Theater, Feb. 28 and March 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. …
The Grammy Museum hosts a special screening of “Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande” documenting the impact of the ‘70s Black UK band with insights from DJ Maseo (De La Soul), Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Louie Vega, Kool DJ Red Alert and more on Feb. 27. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with group founders Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio who will lead a reunion concert the next night at The Bellwether.
TASTY QUIP: “I’m probably most excited that the story about wealthy African Americans is being told. There are wealthy African Americans, but we’ve never really gotten into that. We’ve had a little touch here and there in one show or another, but I like the fact that we’re looking at this social group in the soap opera genre. So, there will be scandals and secrets and lies and all kinds of stuff going on.” – CLIFTON DAVIS on his new daytime drama “Beyond The Gates” premiering Feb. 24 on CBS
TC ON TV: Feb. 21 – “Surface” (Apple TV+): More of the Reese Witherspoon-produced drama with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Marianne Jean Baptiste and Stephan James. “Elevation” (MAX): Anthony Mackie stars as a father trying to save his son in a post-apocalyptic world. “A Thousand Blows” (Hulu): A series inspired by the true-life story of Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) on the run from Jamaica who is thrusted into the criminal underbelly of the 1880s London bare-knuckle boxing scene. “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syn): Coco Jones “American Masters” (PBS): “The Disappearance of Miss Scott” about jazz virtuoso and screen superstar Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have her own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality.
Feb. 22 – “56th NAACP Image Awards” (CBS/BET/Comedy/Logo/MTV/Pop/Smith/VH1/BET Her): Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Dave Chappelle and The Wayans Family will be honored during the ceremony airing live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “I Am” (CW): “I Am Joe Frazier” celebrates the rise of a humble but driven boxing perfectionist who triumphantly emerged from Muhammad Ali‘s long shadow to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
Feb. 23 – “1923” (Paramount+): A second season of the “Yellowstone” origin story with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren was guaranteed, but nothing is more compelling than Aminah Nieves’ Teonna Rainwater fighting back against the brutal indoctrination of indigenous people. “WWE Rivals” (A&E): “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T
Feb. 24 – “The Neighborhood” (CBS): Series regular Tichina Arnold makes her directorial debut for the show with this episode.
Feb. 25 – “American Experience” (PBS): “Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP” tells the story of the blond hair and blue eyed self-described “Black man occupying a white body” who became arguably the most influential civil rights activist in mid-century America.
Feb. 26 – “Design My Space: Atlanta” (BET Her): Award-winning designer Tyka Pryde lends her expertise to enhance client surroundings. “Pound 4 Pound” (BET): A 13-part original dramatic series from BET Africa about a team of women boxers.
Feb. 27 – “Fighting To Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story” (BET+): About the Oakland celebrity stylist/fashion icon who secretly financed a lavish lifestyle by fraudulently acquiring millions using her criminal organization. With D.B. Woodside and A.J. Johnson. “Running Point” (Netflix): Jay Ellis (“Insecure”) and Chet Hanks are regulars in this series about a woman (Kate Hudson) who is appointed president of one of Los Angeles’ storied NBA franchises when her brother is forced to retire. Sound familiar?
END QUOTE: “”What really matters to you? The fact that you’re alive means you’ve been given a reprieve to think deeply about that question. How will you use what matters in service to yourself, your community, and the world?” – OPRAH WINFREY
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.
