By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’ passion work for the New York Times Magazine, “The 1619 Project,” has been adapted into a six-part limited docu-series premiering Jan. 26 on Hulu.
In keeping with the original opus, the series seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
The episodes — “Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear” and “Justice” — are adapted from essays from the New York Times’ No. 1 bestselling “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story” and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.
Hannah-Jones hosts and is an executive producer along with Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams; Caitlin Roper, an editor of “The 1619 Project” and the New York Times’ executive producer for film and television; Kathleen Lingo, the New York Times’ editorial director for film and television; and Oprah Winfrey.
TICKET WATCH: The 40th annual PaleyFest LA this season will feature the cast and creatives from “Abbott Elementary,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Mandalorian,” “Yellowstone,” “Yellowjackets,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Visit PaleyFest.org on Jan. 20 for tickets for the screenings and moderated Q&As being held from March 31 to April 4 at the Dolby Theatre.
Also on sale is the second edition of Lovers and Friends at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on May 6 with a line-up of headliners including Usher, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Pitbull, T.I., 50 Cent, Flo Rida, Boyz II Men, Christina Aquilera, Miguel, Summer Walker, Busta Rhymes and many more. Visit LoversAndFriendsFest.com for the full roster and tickets.
Madonna’s The Celebration Tour, highlighting the 40th anniversary of her hit-filled career, is traveling to 35 global cities including a Sept. 27 date at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena. Tickets go on sale Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. local time at Madonna.com/tour.
Now on sale are tickets for Monterey’s 12th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival on May 25-28. The 2023 roster boasts Wu-Tang Clan, Shaggy, Cypress Hill, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Steel Pulse, Ozomatli feat. Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, Rebelution, Stick Figure, Sublime with Rome, Collie Buddz & Friends, Hieroglyphics feat. Del the Funky Homosapien, Matisyahu, Thee Sacred Souls, and many more. CaliforniaRootsFestival.com has all the answers.
HISTORIC SALE: The collection of legendary fashion editor André Leon Talley is up for bid beginning Jan. 27 by auction house Christie’s. As the first Black man to hold the title creative director of American Vogue, Talley held a rarefied status in the fashion industry.
The sale features a custom Pink Crocodile Coat by Prada, a personalized Rough H Calf Box Leather Hac Birkin 60 with Gold Hardware from Hermes and A Green, White, and Tan Printed Cotton Caftan by close personal friend Diane von Furstenberg. As a whole, the collection reflects Talley’s decades-long relationships with iconic designers, including many lots given to him by Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford, Ralph Rucci and more.
Proceeds from the live and online auctions at Christies.com will benefit the New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church and Durham, North Carolina’s Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church; both of which were close to Talley’s heart.
CLIPPETTES: Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Lakecia Benjamin, Christian Sands and more stops at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Jan. 20; while pop legend Kenny Loggins is at the Saban Theatre …
Also opening that evening, Je’Caryous Johnson presents “New Jack City,” a stage iteration of the cult classic hit movie starring Allen Payne, Big Daddy Kane, Gary Dourdan, Flex Alexander and Treach of Naughty by Nature at the Orpheum Theatre through Jan. 22 …
Sherri Shepherd’s talk show “Sherri” has been renewed for two more seasons by Fox TV stations who have also renewed “The Jennifer Hudson Show” for one more year …
“Fela! The Concert,” featuring original member of the Broadway show’s cast, lands at The Soraya on Jan. 21 …
Just Jazz Presents Oscar Seaton’s Love Revolution with Seaton on drums, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, keyboardist Brandon Coleman, bassist David “DJ” Ginyard and a very special guest on Jan. 25 at The Paramount …
Also, the Ray Stark Family Theatre hosts a free screening of “Baby Boy” as part of John Singleton: A Celebration, to be followed by a panel with special guests …
Cécile McLorin Salvant sings at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Jan. 26; as Wailing Souls play The Venice West; and the first of the rescheduled Harry Styles shows from November begin at The Forum with additional dates Jan. 27 and 29.
TASTY QUIP: “I do believe in living and let living. But I’m a fiscal conservative. I’m not Republican or conservative, really in any other way, but two ways, economically and security. But for the most part, I’m just pretty much open because I understand the world evolves and you learn more, and as a result of learning more, you need to learn to be more receptive, more open, more inclusionary, than our previous generations have been.” – STEPHEN A. SMITH to Vanity Fair
TC ON TV: Jan. 20 – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+): A third season of mysteries starring Octavia Spencer as true-crime podcaster Poppy Parnell adds Gabrielle Union to the cast. “Represent” (Netflix): In this irreverent political comedy, a youth center leader from the suburbs of Paris becomes a candidate in the presidential election. But is France truly ready for a Black president? “Violent Night” (Peacock): The enjoyable David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as Santa Claus actioner (with a wicked turn by John Leguizamo) comes to the streaming service. “The Legend of Vox Machina” (Prime Video): The raunchy animated fantasy season is back. “The Real Friends of WeHo” (MTV): An unfiltered and honest look at some of West Hollywood’s most influential and successful LGBTQ+ celebrities, personalities and entrepreneurs including choreographer and singer Todrick Hall, actor Curtis Hamilton, celebrity stylist Brad Goreski, entrepreneurs Dorión Renaud and Joey Zauzig, and TV host and business owner Jaymes Vaughan. “Criss Angel’s Magic with The Stars” (CW): Hosted by Eddie Griffin. “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO): The sportswriter gets a second season of probing interviews and commentary. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Kenya Barris, Tobe Nwigwe
Jan. 21 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Aubrey Plaza (So good as “Emily The Criminal”) hosts with musical guest Sam Smith.
Jan. 22 – “Accused” (Fox): Based on the BBC’s Bafta-winning crime anthology, a collection of 15 intense, topical and exquisitely human stories of crime and punishment are presented each episode with a powerhouse cast including Wendell Pierce, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Michael Chiklis, Whitney Cummings, Robert Wisdom, Baron Vaughn, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Julia Chan.
Jan. 23 – “The Lazarus Project” (TNT): A new sci-fi action thriller starring Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”) as a recruit to a secret organization that has harnessed the ability to turn back time whenever the world is at the threat of extinction. But if you had the power to re-write your past, what would you sacrifice to do it? “The Daily Show” (Comedy): Wanda Sykes guest hosts this week. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Aaron Judge, Josh Duhamel, Freddie Gibbs featuring Anderson .Paak
Jan. 24 – “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): Henry Louis Gates Jr. maps the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, exploring records in Italy, Korea and Mexico to uncover ancestors whose stories were lost when their families immigrated to America. “American Masters” (PBS): “Roberta Flack” follows the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.
Jan. 26 – “Poker Face” (Peacock): A 10-episode mystery of the weekly series from Rian Johnson (“Glass Onion,” “Knives Out’) starring Natasha Lyonne (“Orange is the New Black”) as a woman who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. Guests stars this season to include Benjamin Bratt, Lil Rel Howery, Luis Guzmán, Nick Nolte, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tim Meadows, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Adrien Brody.
END QUOTE: ““Forty years, what have we done for the planet? How have we really helped each other? Where has poverty been eliminated, why are guns still protected, and why has hate been elevated? Truthfully, we’ve done very little in 40 years. Now it is time for us to grow the f— up and get out of our virtual delusions that sell murder, mayhem, terrorism and hate.” – STEVIE WONDER
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.
