BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Angela Bassett receives fifth Oscar nomination

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

Kudos to Angela Bassett for extending her record to five in becoming the most nominated Black actress in Oscars history and the first to be nominated from a Marvel movie for her stirring performance as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

TV’s highest-paid woman for Fox’s “9-1-1” appears to be the frontrunner to win best supporting actress this time for the movie, which also boasts a nomination for the first film’s Oscar-winning designer Ruth E. Carter. Its streaming premiere is Feb. 1 on Disney+.

Bassett is also being honored with the Montecito Award at the 38th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Feb. 9, including an in-person conversation about her career.

It is a bit shocking that former Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis (“Fences”) was not nominated for best actress as expected for “The Woman King,” but she continues to win through her JuVee Productions with husband and producing partner Julius Tennon signing a new media deal with Entertainment One.

She appears on PBS’ Jan. 31 episode of “Finding Your Roots,” uncovering her family’s records from slave plantations in South Carolina, and will also serve as co-chair with “Tár” best actress nominee Cate Blanchett, Tom Ford, Simu Liu, and Quannah Chasinghorse for the first Green Carpet Fashion Awards debuting in L.A. March 8 during Oscar week. The Green Carpet Fashion Awards Board includes Bethann Hardison, Amber Valetta, Christopher Bevans, and Vogue fashion editor Tonne Goodman. Visit eco-age.com/gcc-handbook for the mission and more.

Davis’ return to the movies comes April 5 with the release of “Air,” the story of Nike’s early relationship with Chicago Bulls rookie Michael Jordan. The film will mark Chris Tucker’s return to the big screen after seven years in a cast that includes Marlon WayansMatt Damon and Jason Bateman, to be directed by Ben Affleck.  

Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was nominated for the best original song Oscar, so it is sure to be added as she prepares to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show Feb. 12. The pregame entertainment has added Babyface, singing “America the Beautiful,” Sheryl Lee Ralph gracing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Chris Stapleton performing the national anthem.

The Academy is promoting Feb. 11 as Global Movie Day and, though many are already on streaming services, the Regal Best Picture Film Festival (March 3-12) is screening all 10 Oscar-nominated best films at their cinemas for $6 a title before “The Oscars” with host Jimmy Kimmel on ABC March 12.

TICKET WATCH: Coldplay announced a special West Coast run as part of its Music of The Spheres World Tour with special guests H.E.R. and fast-rising New Jersey artist 070 Shake. Tickets go on sale Jan. 27 via Ticketmaster.com for dates including a Sept. 30 stop at the Rose Bowl.

FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY: Watch live at home the critically acclaimed production of “Between Riverside and Crazy,” directly from Broadway’s Hayes Theater. Common, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”), and Michael Rispoli (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan”) star in the show. Lolst.org has tickets.

TASTY QUIP: “Run-DMC is over. The only way Run-DMC gets back together is if the Beatles get back together. Can that happen? The final show that we are ever going to do is going to be at Madison Square Garden in April. It’s going to be the last episode of the documentary we’re doing. ‘Cause, it’s time for [Rev] Run to go be Paul McCartney and me to be John Lennon. We done did what we could do.” –DARRYL “DMC” McDANIELS to “Rock The Bells”

CLIPPETTES: According to “Girls Trip” co-writer Tracy Oliver, a sequel is coming that will place Queen LatifahRegina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish at Ghana’s popular Afrochella festival

Amanda Seales (“Insecure,” “Smart Funny & Black”), whose new Reach Media-syndicated program and podcast is now heard on Radio One-owned stations in Philadelphia, Houston, Columbus, Richmond and Charlotte, is performing at the Hollywood Improv Jan. 27… 

Also Fitz and the Tantrums hit the Belasco Theater; Harry Styles’ rescheduled shows continue at The Forum; and the immersive Bob Marley One Love Experience comes to the U.S. for the first time through April 23 at Ovation Hollywood. For more information, visit bobmarleyexp.com 

Say what? Director Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day” “The Equalizer,” “Emancipation”) is attached to helm a forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic to be called “Michael” 

F. Gary Gray’s classic movie “Set It Off” is being screened at the Aero Theatre Jan. 30, to be followed by a Q&A with its casting director Robi Reed (“The Best Man,” “Soul Food”). Reed is currently the BET VP of talent and casting for original programming …

Tasty Clips caught “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kenya Moore celebrating an early 52nd birthday, and gospel superstar Kirk Franklin (barely recognizable with the hair and workout bod) with a big group at Atlanta’s exclusive new Nobu restaurant. Do try the recommended fruit forward Nobu Junmai Ginjo 71 sake 

The Grammy Museum celebrates Grammy Week with an intimate conversation and performance spotlighting Muni Long Jan. 31 in celebration of her three nominations this year for best new artist, best R&B song, and best R&B performance 

Big buzz out of Utah’s Sundance Film Festival about “A Thousand and One,” the 1994-set film starring Teyana Taylor as a young mother navigating with her son the New York City foster care system. Husband Iman Shumpert, executive producer Lena Waithe, and director A.V. Rockwell were in attendance for its premiere …

Lee Edward Colston II’s “The First Deep Breath,” a stage play starring Tony Todd (“Candyman”) and Ella Joyce (“Roc”) is running Feb. 1 through March 5 at the Geffen Playhouse. In addition, Todd is the heavy in a just-released action thriller, “All Gone Wrong,” now available on demand …

Ari Lennox’s “Age/Sex/Location” Tour comes to The Wiltern Feb. 2; YG: “The Red Cup” Tour hits The Forum; and Black Joe Lewis shreds at The West.

TASTY QUIP: “This is the mentality of someone who’s a hoe. Because she’s saying, ‘If you got the bigger bag, then I’ll listen. But if their bag ain’t right I’m out.’ That’s hoe talk.” – 50 CENT on Gabrielle Union admitting to cheating on her first husband.

TC ON TV: Jan. 27 – “You People” (Netflix): Director Kenya Barris (“black-ish”) also co-wrote this comedy with Jonah Hill, who leads with Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Lauren London, Mike Epps, Sam Jay, Deon Cole, Rhea Perlman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny; “Shotgun Wedding” (Prime Video): A romantic action comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Lenny Kravitz, Sônia Braga, Cheech Marin and Jennifer Coolidge; “Immortal City Records” (Tubi): Ron Reaco Lee (“Survivor’s Remorse”) is in this tale of a label where dreams become nightmares; “Jennifer Hudson” (Fox): Samara Joy; “Next at The Kennedy Center” (PBS): “The Roots Residency” documents the hip hop legends at the Kennedy Center.

Jan. 28 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Michael B. Jordan (“Creed III”) hosts with musical guest Lil Baby 

Jan. 29 – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+): The series’ new Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvell) is featured in “Mecca,” focusing on the beginning of the human rights activist’s life-changing journey.

Jan. 30 – “Independent Lens” (PBS): “The Picture Taker” essays Memphis photographer Ernest Withers, whose nearly 2 million images were a treasured record of Black history. His legacy was complicated by decades of secret FBI service revealed only after his death. The documentary asks, “Was he a friend of the civil rights community or an enemy — or both?” “The Daily Show” (Comedy): D.L. Hughley guest hosts this week.

Jan. 31 – “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World” (PBS): Authored by Public Enemy’s Chuck D, who famously labeled hip hop as “the Black CNN.” Featuring interviews with Killer Mike, Will.i.amMonie Love, Ice-T, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte and many more, the series will paint a portrait of the unique relationship between the culture and the political history of the U.S. “Jennifer Hudson” (Fox): Ledisi, “Will Trent” (ABC): Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright (“Greenleaf”).

Feb. 1 – “Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong” (ABC): Black Eyed PeasKal Penn, The Muppets, Ne-Yo, Raven Symoné, Retta, Shaquille O’Neal, Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta, and more special guests warble the lyrical lessons. “Soul of a Nation” (ABC): “Black in Vegas”

Feb. 2 – “The Reading” (BET+): At long last Mo’Nique reunites with her 2009 “Precious” producer Lee Daniels for a horror movie with Charnelle Brown (“A Different World”). “Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power” (Peacock): Archival footage of activists Ella Baker, Stokely Carmichael and Martin Luther King Jr. is utilized in this documentary chronicling the struggle for voting rights in Alabama.

END QUOTE: “If you’re gonna get your panties in a twist about something I’ve been talking about since 2005 — in not one but two New York Times best-selling books — at least listen to the whole thing so you know where your anger actually is. People really felt anger that a woman would dare be just as dysfunctional as a man.” – GABRIELLE UNION to “Entertainment Tonight” on 50 Cent 

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.