By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The entertainment industry was shocked at the news this week of Erica Ash’s death from cancer at the age of 46. She was one of those gifted with the ability to believably weave between comedic roles such as in “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “We Have A Ghost” to more serious parts in “Jean of the Joneses” and “Survivor’s Remorse.”
We met eight years ago, and I later asked the actress, singer, dancer and former model, what can’t she do? “That would be nothing,” she said, cracking me up. “I find the YouTube clips; I will figure it out. OK? Gimme a language, an accent, a craft, I am on it.”
The daughter of two preachers talked about getting the acting bug at Georgia’s DeKalb School for the Performing Arts alongside the budding RonReaco Lee, Dorian Missick and Omar J. Dorsey of “Queen Sugar” and “Bookie” who was her prom date. Ash warned me, “If you ask me for the picture or try to get it and print it, I’ll sue!”
The role she coveted but never got to play was of Black aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman.
“When you think of the world of aviation you think older white male,” Ash said, “but she was actually the first female aviator, even before Amelia Earhart. She’s never ever gotten her proper due.”
That project has never taken flight. Back in the early 90s, “A Dry White Season” director Euzhan Palcy tried to do it with Whoopi Goldberg.
“There are so many figures in Black history that just silently do wonderful things,” she said. “They’re unsung. I think if we really sat down and made a list of all the people we could do biopics for in the African-American community, who have affected us in ways we don’t even really know about, we could have TV for the next decade.”
Truly …
Donations in her memory can be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation or the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
RED CARPET WALK: Lionsgate’s “Borderlands” starring Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, Jack Black and Jamie Lee Curtis has its Hollywood Premiere on Aug. 6 at TCL’s Chinese Theatre around 5:30 p.m.
AT THE MOVIES: “Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande,” spotlighting the group of Black British musicians of Caribbean descent who were embraced in the U.S. during the ‘70s, but not at home, is coming to Laemmle Santa Monica on Aug. 7 and the Laemmle NoHo on Aug. 8.
Despite three brilliant albums, the band broke up in 1975, yet influenced generations of artists and fans. Among them, DJ Maseo (De La Soul), Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Cut Chemist, Louie Vega, Kool DJ Red Alert and Mark Ronson give insights for this stranger than fiction documentary.
TASTY QUIP: “If you let somebody talk you out of a place that God has put you in, you are going to find yourself in hell. I know for a fact that what I’m doing is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, because for everyone who is a critic, I have thousands of — what used to be — emails from people saying, ‘This changed my life. Oh my God, you know me. Oh my God, you saw me. How did you know this about my life and my family?’ That is what is important to me.” – TYLER PERRY on “Baby, This is Keke Palmer”
CLIPPETTES: The Greek Theatre is home to “An Evening with John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories” for two nights beginning Aug. 2 as the Steve Gadd Band kick off three nights at Catalina Jazz Club, and “A Night of Comedy!” is hosted by Lamorne Morris at the Hollywood Improv …
Aug. 3 is about the laughs as the Hollywood Improv hosts House Party with Ron Funches, while Rob Haze is at The Comedy Store, “Ted Lasso” writer/actor Brett Goldstein is at The Cosmopolitan, and Finesse Mitchell is at The Bourbon Room …
Musically, Goapele is the free concert at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park and Lady Blackbird is at the Sun Rose …
Also, Marcus Folmar’s “Chicken Stories” opens at Broadwater Main Stage with a red carpet and chicken reception at 6 p.m.. The show, produced by Folmar, Reggie Currelley and Columbus Short, covers the fowl favorite and its centrality in Black American culture and Black American cuisine. It ends Aug. 18 …
“Usher: Rendevous in Paris,” a filming of the performer’s concerts last year at La Seine Musicale, is headed to movie theaters Sept. 12–15 …
Jamrock Reggae Night at the Hollywood Bowl with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Stephen Marley is happening Aug. 4, as Norah Jones plays The Greek …
More hilarity is in store Aug. 5 with Deon Cole and DeRay Davis at the Hollywood Improv; and The Comedy Store hosting Horribly Funny with Arsenio Hall, Dane Cook, Margaret Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, and more …
Ludacris brings his hits to Ventura County Fairgrounds on Aug. 6, while Chris Brown begins two nights at Crypto.com Arena …
Singer Alice Smith begins An LA Residency at the Peppermint Club Aug. 8 and continuing at the venue every Thursday in August …
In “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” news, Kendra Moore is out for season 16 which has Phaedra Parks and Kim Zolciak returning.
TASTY QUIP: “All I can say is I don’t [know] where [TNT] goes from here. I mean how many episodes of ‘Law & Order’ can you air? I’m just trying to figure it out, along with some of your other programming. You need something live, you need something fresh. How many old movies can you air? So it’s going to be real interesting to see what they do beyond next season. The last days of TNT, the NBA on TNT, is arriving next season.” – STEPHEN A. SMITH on his podcast.
TC ON TV: Aug. 2 – “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (Hulu): One of the year’s best films comes streaming. “Rebel Moon – Chapter One & Two” (Netflix): Zach Snyder’s director’s cuts retitled “Chalice of Blood” and “Curse of Forgiveness” arrives with three hours of extra footage, more sex and bloody action. “Friday Night Vibes” (TBS): “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” “The Braxtons” (WE): This one-hour special boasts the “Most Braxt-rageous Moments.”
Aug. 3 – “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” (HBO): A revealing portrait of the Hollywood legend and activist in her own words. “CBS Saturday Morning” (CBS): Black Pumas “I Thought My Husband’s Wife Was Dead” (Lifetime): A new thriller led by two-time Grammy Award winner LeToya Luckett (“Greenleaf,” “Treme”) and Angela “Black Chyna” White (“The Black Hamptons”).
Aug. 4 – “39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards” (BET/BET Her): Loni Love and Rickey Smiley are co-hosts of the ceremony honoring Kim Burrell and Tye Tribbett with performances by Kierra Sheard, Israel Houghton, Karen Clark Sheard, Kelontae Gavin, Koryn Hawthorne, Mali Music, Ricky Dillard, Tamela Mann and more. “Miss USA 2024” (CW): Hosted by Garcelle Beauvais (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”) from the Peacock Theater. “House of the Dragon” (HBO): Season finale, already?! They certainly delivered on the dragons. “Raising Fame” (TV1): Fantasia “The Icons That Built America” (History): “Fight the System: Hip Hop & Grunge” closes the first season.
Aug. 5 – “Olympic Highlights” (Peacock): With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson. “Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman” (History): “San Quentin Breakout” “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out” (VH1): Tami Roman, Jazz Anderson, Sleazyworld Go
Aug. 6 – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC): Fat Joe vs. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias “Bobby’s Triple Threat” (Food): Chef Bobby Flay’s “Titans vs. Eric Adjepong”
Aug. 7 – “In the Arena: Serena Williams” (ESPN+): After losing in the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, Williams hires a new coach, navigates her 30s and reflects on the similar path followed by her friend Roger Federer. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” (ABC): In the Hot Seat: “Lil Dicky” Dave Burd and his hype man GaTa.
Aug. 8 – “Kold x Windy” (WE): More of the adventures of a rap duo navigating the dangers of the drill music game and the streets in Chicago. With Sh’Kia Augustin, Nijah Brenea and Brely Evans. “Mr. Throwback” (Peacock): A down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer (Adam Pally) looks for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry (who plays himself in this sitcom with Ego Nwodim of “Saturday Night Live” fame).
END QUOTE: “When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed, but when we are silent we are still afraid, so it is better to speak.” – AUDRE LORDE
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.
