By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Mark your calendars and get your seats in advance. Aug. 27 is the second annual National Cinema Day when more than 3,000 movie theaters will sell tickets for all showings of all movies in all formats for only $4. Many chains are also offering deep discounts on concessions.
This will be your chance to see new flicks like “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” starring Archie Madekwe, Djimon Hounsou, David Harbour and Orlando Bloom; the violently funny “Bottoms” with breakout star Ayo Edebiri of “The Bear,” Punkie Johnson from “Saturday Night Live,” and Marshawn Lynch; the biopic “Golda” toplining Helen Mirren; and “Retribution” featuring Liam Neeson’s certain set of skills.
You may also catch up with current mainstays like 2023’s top grossing movie “Barbie” and its tag team partner “Oppenheimer,” “Blue Beetle,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Sound of Freedom,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a singalong version of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” “Haunted Mansion” starring LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson, “Elemental” and much more.
Take advantage because Labor Day weekend the regular prices return, and it will be all about Denzel Washington back in action as the efficient Robert McCall in Antoine Fuqua’s “The Equalizer 3.”
REUNITED: “‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my creator. I wrote love songs and protest songs — (still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.” — MS. LAURYN HILL announcing touring with The Fugees (Wyclef Jean & Pras) in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her landmark album. Ticketmaster has the details including a Nov. 5 date at The Forum
CLIPPETTES: Boy George and Culture Club tumble 4 ya for the first of two consecutive nights Aug. 25 at the Hollywood Bowl, as Metallica headlines at SoFi Stadium (also Aug. 27) …
Other shows Aug. 25 include the start of a two-night stand at Irvine’s FivePoint Amphitheatre by the Dave Matthews Band; the kickoff of guitarist John Pizzarelli’s three nights at Catalina Bar & Grill; Bastille at The Wiltern; Yung Bleu at the Fonda Theatre; Lady Blackbird at The Sun Rose; Sudan Archives at The Bellwether; Cory Henry at Hollywood Forever Cemetery; and the Shonda Buchanan-hosted Black Voices Poetry Night at Grand Performances …
“Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé” is also screening at the Academy Museum at 7:30 p.m. …
“Minister of Soul” Al Green has released his first single in five years — a cover of Lou Reed’s 1972 song “Perfect Day” …
The free fourth annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival kicks off with Carmen Lundy, Poncho Sanchez, Gerald Clayton, Keyon Herrold and more Aug. 26 from 12:30 to 9 p.m. at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza …
Later that evening, comic George Lopez (of the No. 1 movie “Blue Beetle”) is at the Greek Theatre; José James sings Erykah Badu at The Ford; K-pop group BlackPink hits Dodger Stadium; Grandmaster Flash and Tierra Whack tribute J Dilla at The Broad; and Boney M, Samantha Fox, and BBB are on the bill of Starlight Bowl Amphitheatre (also Aug. 27) …
After enjoying major success this year with their beautiful acoustic version of the BeBe & CeCe Winans song “Heaven,” singers Anthony David and Algebra Blessett have collaborated once again for a just released gorgeous rendition of Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” …
The Hollywood Bowl presents Smooth Summer Jazz with Dave Koz & Friends (Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, Maysa & Jeffrey Osborne), Morris Day & The Time, and Jazz Funk Soul (Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp & Paul Jackson Jr. on Aug. 27; while Nichole Henry joins Paul Taylor at Spaghettini’s Jazz Club, and the Yellowjackets jam at Vibrato Grill & Jazz …
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures screens Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” on Aug. 29 with introductions by the film’s casting director, Robi Reed and casting director Kim Taylor-Coleman …
50 Cent’s The Final Lap Tour with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih comes to Crypto.Com Arena on Aug. 30; as Thee Sacred Souls perform at The Ford; and the Grammy Museum welcomes singer Major for an evening of conversation and performance celebrating the release of his new EP, “The Hope Of My Soul” …
TASTY QUIP: “My face is changing, and I love that my face is changing and aging. People think I had a facelift. They’re like, ‘What did she do to her face?’ I’m like, ‘B*tch, I’m just aging! It doesn’t mean I got bad plastic surgery. This is just what happens.’” – CHARLIZE THERON (“Fast X”) to Allure
TC ON TV: Aug. 25 – “Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity” (Prime Video): A cinematic ode to the late, great jazz saxophonist/composer on what would’ve been his 90th birthday from executive producer Brad Pitt. Featuring the man himself, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Joni Michell, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Terence Blanchard and many others. “Vacation Friends 2” (Hulu): The surprise hit comedy starring Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji as a couple upended by a raucous John Cena and Hagner gets a sequel. “The Comeback” (Peacock): Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones lead this new romantic comedy about returning Atlanta transplants. “The Flash” (Max): Rushes to streaming after a less than stellar time at the box office. Watch it for the amazing Batman action sequences with both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton, some otherworldly cameos, and the punk reinvention of Supergirl. “Time of Essence” (OWN): “Chapter Two: The 1980s”
Aug. 26 – “Napa Ever After” (Hallmark): Denise Boutté (“Meet The Browns”) stars as a high-powered attorney who inherits her estranged grandmother’s winery and finds romance along the way. “Hip Hop Treasures” (A&E): DMX
Aug. 27 – “Survive The Raft” (Disc): It appears that racial bias has, perhaps predictably, risen in this revived social experiment from the 70s. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the boat afloat.
Aug. 28 – “The Conversations Project” (Hulu): A conversational series inspired by The Harlem Renaissance Salon: a dinner gathering of great African-American philosophers, writers, musicians, singers, dancers, comedians and actors of the period. Hosts Elaine Welteroth, David Lawrence and Marc Spears lead the way with their phenomenal guests. “Undisputed” (FS1): The post Shannon Sharpe era begins as Skip Bayliss welcomes a new cast of debaters including ex-NFL players Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson in addition to NBA reporter Rachel Nichols and rap star Lil Wayne, who will be featured on Fridays. “America In Black” (BET): “March on Washington 60 Years Later” “Claim To Fame” (ABC): As the second season comes to a conclusion, how in the world are these people not guessing the most obvious relative in the house? Must be a generation gap.
Aug. 29 – “American Historia” (PBS): John Leguizamo sets out on his most ambitious journey yet in the new three-part documentary series he co-created with award-winning filmmaker Ben DeJesus, who also serves as director. “Justified: City Primeval” (FX): There is a faction of fans who feel the relationship between Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and Carolyn (Aunjanue Ellis) has crossed the line. Judge for yourself in this season finale.
Aug. 30 – “Vice Special Resort” (Vice): “Sold Out: Ticketmaster and the Resale Racket” Enabled by the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly, shadowy ticket brokers buy up all the best seats and sell them at a huge profit — but the music community is fighting back.
Aug. 31 – “As Luck Would Have It” (LMN): Part of a three-part movie series event starring Jackée Harry (“Days of Our Lives”) as a retired criminology professor who solves murders on the side. The films will run for the next two Thursday evenings. “60 Days In” (A&E): “After The 60 Days: Part Two” concludes the riveting eighth season.
END QUOTE: “Life imitated art today, and one of the most wonderful people the world has ever seen is no longer with us. The world is a little less bright. Brother, you are loved. And you will be missed. Keep them laughing in the next phase of existence, and I’ll see you when I get there.” – STERLING K. BROWN on the death of his “This Is Us” dad, the stage and Emmy Award-winning actor RON CEPHAS JONES
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.
