BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Chris Rock slaps back in March 4 Netflix special

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

Nearly a year after the shocking slap seen around the world — over and over again —  it is Chris Rock’s turn to strike back in a historic Netflix comedy event.

Coming from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre on March 4, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” will mark the company’s first entertainment livestream to be book-ended with special programming.

The evening will kick off with “The Show Before The Show,” a live pre-event at 6:30 p.m. from the world famous Comedy Store on Sunset Strip, hosted by Ronny Chieng with special guests Arsenio HallLeslie JonesDeon Cole and more.

In addition, some of Rock’s friends, including Amy SchumerCedric the EntertainerIce-TJerry SeinfeldKevin HartMatthew McConaugheySir Paul McCartneySarah Silverman and Wanda Sykes, will provide commentary and special messages.

At 7 p.m. Rock, the comedian, writer, director and actor, will hit the stage a week before this year’s Academy Awards where he was assaulted last March by superstar Will Smith in a display believed to be in defense of Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the subject of a prior joke.

Though touring since, Rock has resisted going in on Smith while “kind of processing what happened,” save for a few remarks including: “I got smacked by the softest n—– that ever rapped.”

Expect much more in the hour-plus set to be followed immediately by “The Show After The Show,” a post-special event hosted by David Spade and Dana Carvey. Six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comic/actor JB Smoove will be among the pundits participating in a roundtable to discuss their favorite moments.

The pre-show and post-show will only be viewable live, but “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” will be available for streaming exclusively on Netflix afterwards.

TICKET WATCH: Eight-time Grammy Award-winner Usher has been announced as the headliner for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s annual Blue Diamond Gala June 22. Visit Dodgers.com/Gala for information on the benefit featuring a DJ set by D-Nice and more.

Singer-songwriter-producer Chlöe is embarking on her first-ever live shows, in celebration of her March 31 debut album “In Pieces,” with the new single “How Does It Feel,” featuring Chris Brown. Tickets for the tour, including a May 3 stop at The Novo, will go on sale to the public starting March 3 at 10 a.m. For more info, visit: ChloeBailey.net.

TASTY QUIP: “Eighteen, you know, just don’t sit right with me. You know, it’s like blasphemous, especially when you really put together everything he did for the culture. Not only writing classic songs at 16, 17 that we still feel and play to this day, but also what he went on to do after rap, which opened many doors for people to look at rappers as businessmen, as actors, owning the only Black-owned basketball league in America. Everything he does is for the hip-hop culture, so 18 … disrespectful.” – O’SHEA JACKSON JR. (“Cocaine Bear”) to “The Talk,” on his father Ice Cube’s ranking on Billboard’s 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time List.

CLIPPETTES: South African chorale group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is slated to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 3, as Rolling Loud California is once again in effect for three nights at Hollywood Park with a lineup that includes Travis ScottPlayboi CartiFuture and Lil Wayne 

After last week’s announcement of the cancellation of “Judge Mathis” after 24 seasons, media mogul Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group has come to the rescue by greenlighting a new series “Mathis Court with Judge Mathis” to debut in syndication this fall 

Hip hop duo Little Brother are returning from a 10-year hiatus to hit the stage of The Observatory OC on March 4… 

Lionel Richie has consented to perform for King Charles III’s Coronation May 6 at Westminster Abbey … 

The Grammy Museum hosts “A Conversation with Bonnie Raitt” in a special benefit for music education programs March 5 at 5:30 p.m. … 

George Porter Jr. & Runnin Pardners funk things up March 7 at The Venice West … 

Gospel star Tye Tribbett’s “All Things New Tour” lands at The Wiltern on March 8 … 

Thievery Corporation is at The Wiltern on March 9, while The Suffers and Magnolia Boulevard are at The Mint, and cellist Seth Parker Woods performs at the Wallis Center. 

TASTY QUIP: “It’s 2023. If you’re concerned about who I love, then you need you to get your priorities straight. There’s so many other things to worry about in life. Why are you concerned that these young people — or anybody — love each other? Love is beautiful, and the fact that people have things to say about it, it’s just nonsense.” – STORM REID to Entertainment Weekly on public backlash towards the same-sex relationship involving her character on HBO’s “The Last of Us”

TC ON TV: March 3 – “House Party” (HBO Max): The Lebron James-produced remake of the 90s’ classic starring Jacob LatimoreTosin ColeBill BellamyAllen MaldonadoMyaKid CudiDC Young Fly and a boatload of cameos makes its streaming debut. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Jonathan Majors of “Creed III” opening this day in theaters. FYI: Star Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut is the first sports movie to be filmed entirely in the IMAX format. “Grand Crew” (NBC): A second season of the L.A. millennials sitcom featuring Nicole Byer (who does improv with fun people at Largo on March 7).

March 4 – “Secret Sauce with Todd Graves” (A&E): Visiting Baton Rouge with Shaquille O’Neal. “Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023” (Nick): Hosted by Nate Burleson (“CBS This Morning”) and Charli D’Amelio. “Act Your Age” (Bounce): Kym WhitleyTisha Campbell and Yvette Nicole Brown star in this sitcom about successful 50-something women who are each at a personal crossroads together. “Black Girl Missing” (Lifetime): Garcelle Beauvais is executive producer and star of this movie about a mother fighting the disparity in attention given to missing persons of color cases.

March 5 – “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food): Misty Copeland visits the Barefoot Contessa in the third season premiere. “The Simpsons” (Fox): Kerry Washington makes a return guest voice appearance. “Stranger Next Door” (Lifetime): A thriller starring Vicky Jeudy (“Orange is the New Black”) and Tim Reid. “SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B” (Bravo): A docu-series pulling back the curtain on the personal and professional lives of the multiplatinum-selling ‘90s girl groups as they prepare to hit the stage together.

March 6 – “History of the World, Part II” (Hulu): After waiting over 40 years there is finally a sequel to the seminal Mel Brooks film, “History of the World, Part I” with each episode featuring a variety of sketches that take us through different eras. With Wanda Sykes (as Harriet Tubman), Tyler James WilliamsJay EllisSeth RoganZazie BeetsDavid Duchovny, Danny DeVito and more. “Perry Mason” (HBO): A second season of the remake, starring Matthew Rhys as the famed attorney with Juliet RylanceJustin Kirk and Chris Chalk. “The Daily Show” (Comedy): Marlon Wayans is guest host this week.

March 7 – “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the lost roots of actors Tamera Mowry-Housley (“Sister, Sister”) and Billy Crudup, traveling back generations to recount significant events in history—from the American Revolution to the journey of the Mayflower. “That’s My Jam” (NBC): Jason Derulo and Nicole Scherzinger

March 8 – “Live with Kelly & Ryan” (ABC): Idris ElbaPadma Lakshmi “The Challenge: World Championship” (Paramount+/MTV): Bringing together winners from global competitions for the first time, vying for a $500,000 prize. “Live From The Artists Den” (AXS): Gary Clark Jr. “The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige” (BET): One-on-one with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “Made From Scratch” (Fuse): Danny Trejo

March 9 – “Top Chef” (Bravo): The landmark 20th season is taking place in London, England with interactive social moments promising to elevate the viewing experience for foodies everywhere. Look for Houston Chef Dawn Burrell, a season 18 finalist, to compete again against some of the winners of the international series.

END QUOTE: “We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay — and rise!” – MAYA ANGELOU

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.