By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrates its centennial season at the Hollywood Bowl with a blockbuster lineup of artists across all genres of music.
The historic slate will include Ricky Martin with the LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel (July 22-23), Boyz II Men and TLC (July 29), the Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes (Aug. 19-20), Diana Ross (Aug. 26-27), fireworks shows headlined by Steve Martin & Martin Short (July 2, 3 and 4) and Duran Duran (Sept. 9, 10 and 11), and Grace Jones and CHVRCHES (Sept. 25).
Film presentations with live accompaniment include a fourth edition of Black Movie Soundtrack with bassist Marcus Miller leading a house band in the best music from the history of Black cinema, with Craig Robinson as host and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins (Aug. 24).
A partnership once again with radio station KCRW will produce a series of genre-spanning concerts spanning from Flying Lotus and Hiatus Kaiyote with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Aug. 21); to a night of reggae hits performed by UB40, the Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain (Sept. 18).
The annual Jazz at the Bowl programs will run throughout the summer, beginning with the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival (June 25 & 26) including the Roots, Gregory Porter, Tower of Power, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, among others.
Other programs include: a Tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra with Billie Eilish, Debbie Harry, Dianne Reeves, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christian McBride, the Count Basie Orchestra and more (July 27); Sheryl Crow and Keb’ Mo’ (Aug. 3); and Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown (Aug. 10) showcasing New Orleans musicians Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Neville: the Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk performing the music of the Meters and the Soul Rebels. George Benson, Boney James and Lalah Hathaway will offer an evening of Smooth Summer Jazz (Aug. 28).
Four exceptional jazz presentations are scheduled for September: Wynton Marsalis will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (Sept. 7); Pink Martini returns (Sept.14); Chucho Valdés and guests will appear in an evening of Latin jazz (Sept. 21); and Herbie Hancock, the Philharmonic’s creative chair for jazz, performs the final jazz concert of the celebratory 100th season (Sept. 28).
For the entire schedule and tickets, visit hollywoodbowl.com or call (323) 850-2000.
CLIPPETTES: Pioneering ballet dancer Misty Copeland will discuss virtually her new middle-grade non-fiction book, “Black Ballerinas: My Journey To Our Legacy” on Feb. 18, followed by an audience Q&A. Find more info on the free event at lapl.org …
Later that evening, Kenny G blows at the Saban; and Galactic jams at the Fonda Theatre …
Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer have been selected by producer Will Packer to host the 2020 Oscars airing March 27 on ABC. Other new additions are a fan-voted favorite film category to be tallied by Twitter live (probably rewarding the film that saved the movie industry, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”); and the move of the Governor’s Award, honoring Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Glover, Elaine May and Liv Ullman to March 25 …
George Lopez’ OMG HI Comedy Tour lands Feb. 19 at the Microsoft Theater, while jazz drummer Nate Smith + Kinfolk play the Lodge Room …
Angela Davis, Edwidge Danticat, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Tayari Jones and other luminaries are set for a virtual public reading of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” Feb. 23-24 at 4 p.m., with tickets at events.literacypartners.org/bluesteye/.
AARP Atlanta’s virtual Black History Month concert, “For the Lover in You,” will feature Howard Hewett on Feb. 24. Visit local.aarp.org/atlanta-ga/ for details.
TC ON TV: Feb. 18 – “Lincoln’s Dilemma” (AppleTV+): A four-part documentary series offering a fresh exploration of the president’s complex journey to end slavery. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright and featuring the voices of Bill Camp as Abraham Lincoln and Leslie Odom Jr. as Frederick Douglass. “The View” (ABC): Mary J. Blige “Alien Abduction: Betty & Barney Hill” (Disc+): The true story of the interracial couple who in 1961 became famous via their alleged encounter. “2022 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game” (ESPN): Country singers Kane Brown and Jimmie Allen; comic actress Tiffany Haddish; and rappers Quavo and Jack Harlow are among those suiting up. “Everything’s Gonna Be All White” (SHO): “White Colour Crime”
Feb. 19 – “Caught In His Web” (Lifetime): From executive producer Whoopi Goldberg comes this thriller starring Garcelle Beauvais.
Feb. 20 – “From” (Epix): A contemporary sci-fi horror series led by Harold Perrineau (“Claws”) which unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town in middle America that traps all those who enter. “Underground Railroad: The Secret History” (Science): “Contradictions Along The Atlantic”
Feb. 21 – “Wendy Williams” (Syn): Sherri Shepherd returns with a new title – permanent guest host. “Ellen” (Syn): Usher “All American” (CW): Another season of the high school football drama starring Daniel Ezra, Taye Diggs and Bre-Z. “Black Ink Crew: Compton” (VH1): Katrina “Kat Tat” Jackson returns to the franchise for the first time in four years, being the first BIPOC woman to own a tattoo shop in Beverly Hills. “Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War” (History): Executive produced and hosted by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Feb. 22 – “Race: Bubba Wallace” (Netflix): A docuseries on the only Black driver currently in NASCAR’s Cup Series, as he uses his voice and talent to change the sport. “Nick Cannon Presents Wlid ‘N Out” (VH1): Fat Joe “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America: An America ReFramed Special” (PBS): A portrait of the fearless Mississippi sharecropper-turned-human-rights-activist. “black-ish” (ABC): Charlie (Deon Cole) announces that he is marrying Vivica A. Fox and asks Dre (Anthony Anderson) to be his best man in the episode titled “My Work-Friend’s Wedding.” “Doubling Down with The Derricos” (TLC): The 14 kids, including four sets of naturally conceived multiples, are getting older presenting new challenges for parents Deon and Karen. “To Tell The Truth: (ABC): Cynthia Erivo, Gary Owen, Donald Faison
Feb. 23 – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney+): The highly anticipated revival of the groundbreaking Disney Channel series featuring an all-star celebrity cast of Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, Billy Porter, Carlos Mencia, Cedric the Entertainer, EJ Johnson, JoMarie Payton, Karen Malina White, Keke Palmer, Soleil Moon Frye and Zachary Quinto. “Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches” (HBO): Executive produced by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the documentary brings to life the words of our country’s most famous anti-slavery activist as read by Nicole Beharie, Colman Domingo, Jonathan Majors, Denzel Whitaker, Jeffrey Wright and André Holland. “Snowfall” (FX): The legacy of John Singleton continues with the fifth season two-hour premiere of his creation starring Damson Idris.
Feb. 24 – “Beyond Ed Buck” (AllBlk): The film examines the deaths of the two Black men killed by the political donor. “Karma’s World Music Videos” (Netflix): An animated kids series from Ludacris based on his daughter. “The Game Plan with Shaquille O’Neal” (TNT): Highlights inspirational stories of Atlanta-based entrepreneurs as they receive business advice from Shaq and some of his successful celebrity friends including Quavo, Killer Mike, Lisa Leslie and Big Boi. “Law & Order: The Right Thing” (NBC): 12 years after its 20th season, the series has been revived with Anthony Anderson and Sam Waterston back.
END QUOTE: “Sorry Ye, but I would never betray my friends … for anything less than triple salary. That’s right, $90K a year! Full medical, Full dental, 4 weeks vacay, corner office. Plus, a pair of Red Octobers. Size 12. And you gotta make some beats for my band, ‘The Slap Butts.’ And you gotta tell me what you’re gonna wear to work the night before so we can look like twins. You do that for me, I’ll Rambo that whole building!” – MICHAEL CHE of “Saturday Night Live” on Kanye West’s offer of doubling his salary if he would stop working with fellow cast member Pete Davidson who is currently dating West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
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.
