Courtesy photo
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
After news of CBS canceling once again its enduring crime drama “S.W.A.T.” for what looks like a final time, its executive producer and star Shemar Moore took to social media this week to make a final plea.
“[CBS] I don’t think you’re making the right choice,” he wrote. “But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly from my heart. We were canceled twice, two years in a row. Now I don’t know my history, but how many shows get to say that? I’m gonna say none, or I’m gonna say that we’re close to one of the none.”
In the interest of moving on, Moore decided to publicly shop the show to potential suitors.
“Hey Netflix,” he added. “How you doing? It only took us about two weeks to go from number 15 to number one [there]. And then we stayed in your top 10, top 15 for about six months, nine months, maybe a year. So Netflix, if you’re interested in a show that is on autopilot that the world is watching, we’d love to come play.”
“NBC, Fox, ABC, hey, you want to come flirt with me? You’re invited to the barbecue. Pick your favorite restaurant. I will pay the bill.”
NOW PLAYING: Launching this week is a new podcast series called “IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson,” pairing the former first lady with her brother who is the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The duo will bring their unique experiences and candid perspectives to answer your questions each week with a special guest or expert. Expect Issa Rae and Keke Palmer to join them in episodes from Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.
AT THE MOVIES: “Meanwhile,” a groundbreaking docu-poem opens in theaters March 15. Meshell Ndegeocello, Jacqueline Woodson and Erika Dilday are among the collaborators united for this rare cinematic meditation on identity, race, racism and resistance.
TICKET WATCH: Promising to be one of the most exciting editions in its history, Baja Beach Fest 2025 is set for Aug. 8-10 just 45 minutes south of the California border in the beachside town of Rosarito Beach, Mexico. For tickets for the Latin Music and Reggaeton event with J Balvin, Don Omar, Maluma, Anitta, Nathanial Cano, Danny Ocean and more, visit BajaBeachFest.com.
HEARTBROKEN: “I too am deeply disappointed that the continuation of Tiana’s journey in series form has been cut short. The series was a long time coming, and a lot of beautiful work was put into it by all of the creatives. … As hurtful as it is for anything you’ve put your heart and soul in to be prematurely ended, my hope is that when what is now to be a ‘Tiana Special Event’ airs, that all of you beautiful, loving, loyal fans who’ve been championing not just the series, but a ‘Princess and The Frog’ sequel, tune in.” – ANIKA NONI ROSE on Disney+’s cancellation of the long in development continuation
CLIPPETTES: “Othello,” the revival of William Shakespeare play directed by Kenny Leon and starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has set a Broadway record raising nearly $3 million in ticket sales for its first sold-out week. Some seats are rumored to be going for over $1,000 for the show running through June 8 at the Barrymore Theatre …
Being held on what would have been his 92nd birthday, Quincy Jones Symphonic: A USC Concert Experience will be presented at Bovard Auditorium March 14 with special guests Ledisi, Greg Phillinganes, the USC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Parnther and more. Reservations for the free event are required at Eventbrite.com …
Also that evening, jazz couple Iqua & Adegoke Steve Colson are at The World Stage, while country superstar Kane Brown is at Toyota Arena …
CBS has renewed its longest running sitcom “The Neighborhood,” starring Cedric The Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, for an eighth and final season. In the meantime, look for two spinoffs: Paramount+’s “Crutch” with Tracy Morgan; and a pilot focused on the characters of Sheaun McKinney and Marcel Spears …
Emmy Award-winning best-selling author Tabitha Brown celebrates her first children’s book, “Hello There, Sunshine!” on March 15 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Pierce College with free tickets and signed copies through Eventbrite.com …
Later, Vibe Revived: Reflections from Vibe Magazine’s Trailblazing Writers and Editors is set at USC Newman Recital Hall with Keith Clinkscales, Rob Kenner, Joan Morgan, Scott Poulson-Bryant and Emil Wilbekin. Visit Eventbrite.com for free tickets …
In addition, sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is at the Fonda Theatre, Mase & Cam’ron are at Long Beach’s Terrace Theater, Masta Killa of Wu Tang and Killah Priest are at La Santa OC, and The Blues Is Alright Tour arrives at the Peacock Theater with King George, Tucka, Pokey Bear, West Love, Lenny Williams, Theodis Ealey and others …
Nicole Ari Parker (“And Just Like That…,” “Soul Food“) has been cast as the mother of Aaron Pierre (“Rebel Ridge”) for “DC’s Lanterns” an upcoming HBO series featuring the latter as Black superhero John Stewart …
RuPaul’s “The House of Hidden Meanings” Book Tour comes to the Montalban Theatre on March 18 …
Ron Carter’s “Foresight” Quartet with Donald Vega, Jimmy Greene & Payton Crossley holds court March 20 at Catalina Bar and Grill as rapper Nardo Wick is live at The Observatory.
TASTY QUIP: “Sometimes we just have to leap and then grow our wings in midair. And if we indeed collapse onto the ground before us, a fall is still forward motion.” – ROBIN ROBERTS
TC ON TV: March 14 – “Dope Thief” (Apple TV+): This eight-episode crime drama comes with the high pedigree of executive producer Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”) starring and Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) directing the first episode. It follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise. With Wagner Moura (“Narcos”) and Ving Rhames (“Mission: Impossible”). “Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years” (Hulu): The combustible comic offers his takes on everything from male sadness to dating advice. “The Electric State” (Netflix): This latest film from The Russo Bros. (“Avengers: Endgame”) imagines a post-apocalyptic robotic world with Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Colman Domingo, Giancarlo Esposito and the voices of Anthony Mackie and Woody Harrelson. “The View” (ABC): Wendy Williams makes a return to daytime TV with Ginalisa Monterroso (founder and president, Connect Care Advisory Group). “Jenna & Friends” (NBC): Dwayne Wade co-hosts. “GMA3” (ABC): A report on Master P’s efforts to teach kids financial literacy. “Ready To Love” (OWN): The 10th season concludes with “The Nudist.”
March 15 – “Taken At A Basketball Game” (Lifetime): Inspired by real events, D.B. Woodside (“The Night Agent,” “Lucifer”), Claire Qute and Moni Ogunsuyi star in this movie about an abducted daughter and her father racing against the clock to save her.
March 16 – “No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski” (NGC): “Henry Golding’s Malaysian Adventure” “Watson” (CBS): Bille Woodruff (“Beauty Shop”) directed this episode. “WWE Rivals” (A&E): “The Rock vs. Mick Foley” “$100,000 Pyramid” (ABC): Tiffany Haddish, Chandra Wilson
March 17 – “Anora” (Hulu): The Oscar-winning Best Picture makes its streaming debut. “Live with Kelly & Mark” (ABC): Da’Vine Joy Randolph “The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (Fox): Hosted by LL Cool J live from the Dolby Theatre, this year’s honorees include Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, and FireAidLA.org. With performances by Bad Bunny, GloRilla, Nelly, Gracie Abrams, Muni Long and Billie Eilish.
March 18 – “House of Knives” (Food): Top-tier chefs enter the ultimate culinary arena for a $100,000 grand prize in this epic new series judged by Marcus Samuelsson and Judy Joo.
March 20 – “The Residence” (Netflix): From executive producer Shonda Rhimes (“Bridgerton”) comes this series about a brilliant, eccentric detective (Uzo Aduba) who must solve a murder in the White House residence. With Giancarlo Esposito, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Susan Kelechi Watson, Randall Park, Jason Lee, Edwina Findley and Bronson Pinchot. “O’Dessa” (Hulu): Sadie Sink, Regina Hall and Kelvin Harrison Jr. are featured in this offbeat dystopian fantasy musical retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. “Tyler Perry’s Duplicity” (Prime): Kat Graham (“The Vampire Diaries”) portrays a high-powered attorney out to discover who killed her best friend’s husband. With Tyler Lepley and RonReaco Lee. “Den of Thieves 2” (Netflix): The caper sequel with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. comes to streaming. “Darwin” (AllBlk): A group of thieves that prey on the affluent millennial society gets more than they bargained for when they encounter an adversary more formidable than they could’ve imagined.
END QUOTE: “People are always defining and re-defining music. My style of playing has been characterized as smooth jazz and acid jazz. I listen as I play; I’m not caught up in defining the type of music I play.” – Vibraphonist, composer and vocalist ROY AYERS (“Everybody Loves The Sunshine,” “Running Away,” “Searching,” “Mystic Voyage”) [R.I.P.]
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.
