By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The life and career of musical icon Tina Turner is examined in a new feature documentary from Academy Award-winning directors Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin called “Tina.”
The film is a revealing and intimate look at her improbable rise to early fame as a partner in love and song to husband Ike Turner making musical history with their hits “A Fool in Love,” “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”
It also covers their tumultuous relationship which led to a divorce that cost her everything but her name; and a triumphant comeback as a solo artist in her 40s after recording the album “Private Dancer” with her first and only number one hit “What’s Love Got To Do With It.”
The unvarnished, dynamic account features insightful interviews with Tina herself, conducted in her hometown of Zurich, Switzerland, and with those closest to her. It also features a wealth of never-before-seen footage, audio tapes and personal photos, telling a deep and absorbing story about the queen of rock ‘n’ roll in all its complexity.
In addition to a stunning amount of archival footage spanning 60 years, the documentary includes interviews with Angela Bassett, who portrayed her on the big screen; “number one fan” Oprah Winfrey; journalist Kurt Loder who co-authored “I, Tina,” which inspired the feature film; playwright Katori Hall, who wrote “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”; and husband and former record executive Erwin Bach, among many others.
“Tina” debuts March 27 on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Daughters of the Movement gathers a remarkable group of women who sat at the feet of those who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement in a Zoom event March 29.
Participants include Gina Belafonte (Julie and Harry Belafonte); Suzanne Kay (Diahann Carroll); Stacy Lynch (Bill Lynch); Hasna Muhammad (Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee); Ilyasah Shabazz (Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz); Dominique Sharpton-Bright (Rev. Al Sharpton); and Keisha Sutton-James (granddaughter of Percy Sutton).
It is free with RSVP at visionsandvoices.usc.edu/.
Hoda Kotb from SiriusXM’s TODAY Show Radio will host the free virtual Pandora LIVE Powered By Women on March 30 with special guest performers Gwen Stefani and Jazmine Sullivan (“Heaux Tales”) joined by singers Lauren Alaina and Becky G. In addition to the music, they will sit for a roundtable with perks for those who RSVP at pandoralivepoweredbywomen.splashthat.com.
CLIPPETTES: Country singer Kane Brown headlines a free Tip-Off Concert to March’s Final Sixteen basketball-filled weekend on March 26. For details, visit: krogersocialsocial.com …
Also that day, Christian McBride’s New Jawn, a new piano-less quartet featuring the six-time Grammy-winning jazz bassist along with saxophonist Marcus Strickland, trumpeter Josh Evans and drummer Nasheet Waits is christened with a concert on demand through April 1 at celebrityseries.org …
That long in the works Mike Tyson biopic starring Jamie Foxx will now become a limited series to be produced by Antoine Fuqua and Martin Scorsese …
Black Futures, a free, three-day symposium presented by The Underground Museum in partnership with One World, has been organized by editors Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham to happen March 26-28. Register for the music, meditation, film screenings and moderated conversations at underground.nationbuilder.com/black_futures_symposium …
Pop superstar Lizzo is looking for full-figured dancers and models to enter for a spot on an unscripted series in development with Amazon Studios. Those with the juice should apply at biggrrrls.castingcrane.com …
Blues/Folk music legend Taj Mahal sits in with Fantastic Negrito in a collaboration of multiple Grammy winners on March 27 at boxoffice.mandolin.com …
“Snowfall,” the John Singleton-produced FX series depicting the crack trade in 1980s L.A., has been renewed for a fifth season …
Barnes & Noble presents former President Barack Obama in a free virtual event to discuss his bestselling autobiography, “A Promised Land,” with Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the critically acclaimed bestseller, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” on March 29. Register for the conversation at Eventbrite.com …
Life Amplified, a free virtual concert featuring Eric Roberson is set for April 1 to kick off Donate Life Month. This unique interactive event will be interwoven with powerful stories inspired by love and legacy. Search Eventbrite.com for the hook up …
Internationally renowned violinist Karen Briggs headlines “A Night of Hope Virtual Concert” on April 1. She will be joined by recording artist Marissa Luna. Register for tickets at texasliverfoundation.org.
TASTY QUIP: “We’ve been wanting to do [a reboot of “A Different World”] forever. Honestly, it’s strapped behind the whole situation with Mr. [Bill] Cosby — which is unfortunate. But the show was his idea. There’s a studio and network situation where they can’t allow any money to go into his company. I said, ‘Can’t we contribute it to schools or something?’ But you can’t take somebody’s name off of a show. [It] needs to have a second life, and we know how to do it. I was so close to doing it with Issa Rae.” – DEBBIE ALLEN to the Hollywood Reporter
TC ON TV: March 26 – “Godzilla Vs. Kong” (HBO Max): The “biggest” fight of the year comes to home screens! Demián Bichir, Brian Tyree Henry, Rebecca Hall, Lance Reddick, Millie Bobby Brown and Alexander Skarsgård co-star. “Invincible” (Amazon): An adult animated comic-based series from “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman with an all-star voice cast including Best Actor Oscar nominee Steven Yeun (“Minari”), Djimon Hounsou, Jon Hamm, Mahershala Ali, Nicole Byer, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Sonequa Martin-Green and Zazie Beetz. “Bad Trip” (Netflix): Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish star in this this hidden-camera prank comedy from the producer of “Jackass” and “Bad Grandpa.”
March 27 – “52nd Annual NAACP Image Awards” (CBS/BET): Nominees for the Entertainer of the Year award include D-Nice, Regina King, Trevor Noah, Tyler Perry and Viola Davis; with Eddie Murphy to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Maya Rudolph returns to host with musical guest Jack Harlow.
March 28 – “Great Performances” (PBS): “Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP the Magazine” honors the best films and performances of 2020 including “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” “One Night in Miami” and “Da 5 Bloods.” “Unsung” (TV1): Leela James “City On A Hill” (Showtime): A second season of the Boston based cop drama starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge. “Uncensored” (TV1): Mona Scott Young
March 29 – “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” (NGC): National Geographic is officially the new home of the wildly popular hit series which opens this season with Anthony Mackie (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) in the Italian Dolomites.
March 30 – “Live with Kelly & Ryan” (ABC): Jennifer Lopez, Tika Sumpter and Jeanette Jenkins “Women Making History” (Lifetime): A one-hour special with Vice President Kamala Harris and profiles on Oscar nominee Andra Day, COVID vaccine innovator Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and activists Crystal Echo Hawk and Amanda Nguyen. “American Experience” (PBS): “The Blinding of Isaac Woodard” documents the 1946 incident of racial violence that became a catalyst for the civil rights movement. “Our Own Easter” (OWN): A gospel music special celebrating the glory of the Resurrection hosted by BeBe Winans and his talented niece Deborah Joy Winans (“Greenleaf”). It will feature performances by Fantasia, CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton and The Hamiltones, Ledisi, Travis Greene, Jonathan McReynolds, with appearances by Cedric the Entertainer, Michelle Williams and others. “Soul of a Nation” (ABC): “Shut Up And … “
April 1 – “The Challenge: All Stars” (Paramount+): Twenty-two of the most iconic, boldest and fiercest competitors from the original “Real World” and “Road Rules” have been selected to return for a second chance at winning $500,0000. “Notorious Queens” (AllBlk): From “Growing Up Hip Hop” creator Datari Turner, this half-hour series follows Stormey Ramdhan, ex-fiancé and mother of two sons to Death Row CEO Marion “Suge” Knight; Tonesha Wright, recognized as “the first lady of BMF” (Black Mafia Family); R&B artist and former “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” cast member, La’Britney; and former “Basketball Wives” and “Bad Girls Club” cast member, Meghan James. “Creepshow” (Shudder): Keith David and Iman Benson (“BlackAF”) are on board for season two of the horror anthology series. “Top Chef” (Bravo): The 18th season finds the culinary competition calling Portland, Oregon home while kicking off with two weeks of supersized episodes.
TASTY QUIP: “You wanna fly, you got to give up the s–t that weighs you down.” – TONI MORRISON (“Song of Solomon”)
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.
