By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has been empire building over the years with a slate of film productions including the “Power” and “BMF” franchises, acting roles including the upcoming “The Expendables 4,” and savvy business deals. Now the mogul is making a return to concert stages with his “The Final Lap Tour 2023.”
The tour will commemorate the 20th anniversary of “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” the smash album that spawned hits “In Da Club,” “P.I.M.P.,” and “Wanksta.”
Busta Rhymes and Jeremih are special guests for the dates throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including an Aug. 30 show at Crypto.com Arena. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster and 50Cent.com beginning May 12.
Jackson’s Sire Spirits brands, Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne will be available, tying into Live Nation’s commitment to diversity and supporting fully Black-owned brands, of which Sire Spirits is one of the few.
In the meantime, “50,” Shaquille O’Neal, and writer/producer Kenya Barris have united with investment company Group Black to tender an offer for a majority stake in BET Networks.
Tyler Perry, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Byron Allen (who is suing McDonald’s for reportedly reneging on Black advertising dollars) have also made overtures for the landmark company.
AND IN THIS CORNER: Speaking of “Diddy,” the hip-hop icon announced that his long-awaited Verzuz battle with fellow “platinum” producer/performer Jermaine Dupri will take place at New York’s Madison Square Garden Sept. 8.
In addition, there are rumors that “American Idol” alums Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia might face each other again in song after 20 years! Uh-oh! I sense an Aretha Franklin standoff!
ABOUT FACE: CBS, after being told its abrupt and allegedly duplicitous canceling of “SWAT” was “a f—— mistake” by star Shemar Moore, has renewed the series for a 13-episode, seventh and final season. Didn’t stop them from dropping “East New York” and “True Lies” (with the always welcome Omar Benson Miller), though.
A pity as the former was hitting its stride Sunday nights after “The Equalizer” with a strong ensemble cast led by Amanda Warren, Jimmy Smits and Reuben Santiago-Hudson, Broadway guest stars like LaChanze, Ron Canada, Paul Calderon, and an impressive roster of directors such as Moe McRae, Nijla Mumin and Lou Diamond Phillips.
One must wonder if the OWN network will come to the rescue like they did with that other deposed CBS series, “All Rise.”
TASTY QUIP: “They’ve 100% lost their way and are out of touch. I remember ‘The Way I See It’ lost to J-Hud at the Grammys! I wasn’t even surprised. If you have a day job and work in a corporate building, then that’s who that show is for. Britney Spears won a Grammy before Steely Dan. That’s crazy! There’s no point sitting down and talking about it. All awards shows need to get off TV and just die. Music would be much better if people didn’t make it for an award.” –RAPHAEL SAADIQ to The Quietus
CLIPPETTES: Anderson .Paak is holding his family-oriented fundraising music festival .Paak House 2023 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 12 from 4 to 10 p.m. Later that day Morris Day & The Time are at The Novo, the Ohio Players ride the “Love Rollercoaster” at the L.A. County Fair, along with Rose Royce and Evelyn “Champagne” King. Young Buck drops bars at the Regent Theater and Durand Jones is back at Hollywood Forever Cemetery …
Lots of variety on May 13 with: the 16th BAD West Day of Black Docs at AFI’s Mark Goodson Theater, hip hop’s Lil Wayne at The Wiltern and Cut Chemist at The Venice West, soul singers Freda Payne at Catalina Bar & Grill and The Drifters, The Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters at the Cerritos Center, the Hollywood Bowl’s Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, and “An Intimate Evening with Hawthorne James” (“The Five Heartbeats,” “Speed,” “The Color Purple,” “Amistad”) at the Willie Agee Playhouse in Inglewood’s Edward Vincent Jr. Park …
CNN has named Laura Coates its chief legal analyst, adding specials to her guest appearances and fill-in anchoring…
The Hollywood Improv hosts “Deon Cole: Does This Work?” May 14, while Terry Steele sings Luther Vandross at Vibrato Grill & Jazz …
Writers Bloc Presents Tom Hanks discussing his novel, “The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece,” at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre May 15. Books will be signed …
Amanda Seales’ live game show “Smart Funny & Black” returns May 18 with special guests Wayne Brady and Jaleel White at The Novo, as jam/funk band Galactic plays The Venice West.
TASTY QUIP: “People are human beings and they make human mistakes. So this idea of canceling people out of their lives and saying they can’t exist anymore, or they shouldn’t, I feel that that’s a bridge too far. And it’s usually done in the sense of blind internet power. It is people that have no real attachment to it, just giving an opinion for the moment, and then they jump on the wave and they create this thing that comes rushing at you that makes you look like the worst human being in the world. When it was one mistake, it was a mistake.”– CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER to The Daily Mail
TC ON TV: May 12 – “The Mother” (Netflix): Jennifer Lopez plays an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she had to leave behind in this action thriller from Misha Green (“Lovecraft Country”) with Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick and Gael Garcia Bernal. “Air” (Prime Video): Ben Affleck’s movie about Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan with Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, Marlon Wayans, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon makes its streaming debut. “Mulligan” (Netflix): Tina Fey, Daniel Radcliffe, Phil LaMarr, Sam Richardson, Chrissy Teigen and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”) give voice to this animated, satirical comedy depicting the rebuild of an alien-destroyed Earth. “First Take” (ESPN): Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson comes to school Stephen A. Smith on the XFL. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars” (VH1): Returnees sashay back for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame. “Great Performances” (PBS): “Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best” with numbers by André De Shields, Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams and more. “Dear Mama” (FXX): After attending a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas, Tupac is shot and killed. Afeni Shakur is paralyzed with grief after the death of her son. But she still manages to ensure that their story is told, and the struggle continues.
May 13 – “Dream Moms” (Hallmark): Tamera Mowry-Housley, Chelsea Hobbs and Roger Cross star in this tale of mothers getting another chance in life to make it to the Broadway stage.
May 14 – “The Cube” (TBS): Another season of games hosted by Dwayne Wade, who will be joined by celebrity contestants Shaquille O’Neal, La La Anthony, Gabrielle Union and Jimmie Allen. “Fear The Walking Dead” (AMC): Eighth season premiere. “America In Black” (BET/BET Her): Taraji P. Henson; Michelle Miller profiles Chloe Bailey and Will Packer.
May 15 – “Renovation Wild” (HGTV): Two Zambian safari resorts will get the makeover in the network’s first-ever Africa-based series.
May 16 – “CMT Crossroads” (CMT): The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker
May 17 – “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” (Disney+): A Marvel streaming premiere. “TMZ No BS” (Tubi): DMX “Working: What We Do All Day” (Netflix): Executive producers Michelle & Barack Obama are all over this docuseries exploring the meaning of work for modern Americans in a time of rapid change. “The Family Stallone” (Paramount+): Sylvester Stallone, his wife and three daughters offer a seat at the table of one of Hollywood’s most famous families. “Dave” (FX): Lil Dicky attends his first Met Gala, while Gata attends his first mental health panel.
May 18 – “The One” (TV1): Tammy and Kirk Franklin lead this dating competition, helping Atlanta singles find their soulmates. “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out” (VH1): DJ Quik, Jahi Winston, Antonio Brown, Cuttino Cat Mobley “Celebrity Prank Wars” (E!): Tiffany Haddish vs. Killer Mike
END QUOTE: “People don’t remember me for how high my legs went, even though they went up very high, and how many pirouettes I did. … They remember me and any other dancer because something touched them inside. It’s an indelible memory on the heart and in the mind.” – Alvin Ailey Artistic Director Emerita JUDITH JAMISON celebrating her 80th birthday
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly 1 million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
