By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The sixth American Black Film Festival Honors announced Garrett Morris (“Saturday Night Live,” “Martin”), Taraji P. Henson (“Empire,” “Hidden Figures”), Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction,” “Westworld”), and screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil (“Girlfriends,” “The Game”) as recipients of its annual awards recognizing excellence in the motion picture and television industry.
Presented by Nice Crowd, the “2024 ABFF Honors” will take place March 3 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, hosted by actor and comedian Tommy Davidson. Guests at the intimate, non-televised dinner will include ABFF honorees and festival partners.
Also announced was a Fan Favorite Movie of the Year Award to be determined by an online poll of the more than 100,000 festival alumni; and a call for submissions of films about Black fatherhood for a chance to win $10,000 and a trip to the 2024 ABFF.
For more information, visit www.abffhonors.com. Follow @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook, and @ABFF on X.
RED CARPET WALK: Paramount ‘s “Bob Marley: One Love” starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the reggae icon has its Hollywood premiere Feb. 6 at the Regency Village Theatre. Co-stars Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Michael Gandolfini, director Reinaldo Marcus Green (“King Richard”), Ziggy Marley and other family members are expected to appear around 5:30 p.m.
The following evening, the 32nd Pan African Film & Arts Festival kicks off with the world premiere of the music comedy “A Hip Hop Story” at the Writers Guild Theater with the movie’s producer, director and star Affion Crockett (“Wild ‘N Out”), festival co-founder Danny Glover, cast members Cedric the Entertainer, Lil Rel Howery, Wayne Brady, Lil Mama, Damien Dante Wayans, Norm Nixon Jr. and more. Visit paff.org for details.
TASTY QUIP: “Is this love or just a transaction …because how many more divorce trials are you going to see where a 2 year old ends up with $300,000? I don’t know where y’all from, but there is no such thing as a 3 year old who needs $300,000 a month.” – TYRESE GIBSON (whose new crime thriller “Bad Hombres” is in theaters and on demand) on CBS’ “The Talk”
CLIPPETTES: Grammy Weekend begins Feb. 2 with Robert Glasper’s Annual Jam at The Vermont; the 2024 Celebration of Independence Concert with global stars Davido, Uncle Waffles, and Tokischa; and Jazzy Jeff spinning at House of Cocotte …
Also that evening, Digable Planets – Reachin’ 30th Anniversary Tour comes to The Belasco; and two-night stands begin for comic Hasan Minhaj at the Pantages, actor Andy Garcia & The Cineson All-Stars’ Cuban Jam Session at Catalina Jazz Club; and Stax Records keyboard legend Booker T. Jones, celebrating the 60th anniversary of his huge hit “Green Onion” and the Hammond B-3, with organ prodigy Matthew Whitaker at The Soraya …
The Grammy African Nominee Brunch with Smade & DJ Consequence is being held at 9 a.m. Feb. 3 at Spring Place, to be followed by the Inaugural Black History Month Celebration at Westfield Culver City kicking off the month-long event with a meet and greet by Common promoting his new book,” And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self.” The rapper, actor and author will also sign copies at Malik Books from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. …
Later, the first Just Jazz Foundation Grammy After Party + Jam with Bennie Maupin and Kamau Daaood is going down at Strada Eateria & Bar, while Terry Hunter celebrates his Grammy nomination at Bar Franca; and funk rock band Lettuce is at The Novo …
Blue Note Records’ 85th Anniversary is recognized by The Blue Note Quintet featuring musical director and pianist Gerald Clayton, vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer, Feb. 4, at the Lodge Room …
In addition, the Sun Ra Arkestra plays Zebulon Café and Isaiah Rashad brings his Cilvia Demo 10 Year Anniversary Show to The Novo …
Feb. 6 finds Corinne Bailey Rae‘s Black Rainbows Tour at the Wallis Center; Chicago musician and poet Jamila Woods’ Water Made Us Tour with Kara Jackson at the Fonda Theatre; Rickie Lee Jones singing at the Coach House; and the beginning of a two-week run of “Message In A Bottle,” a dance-theater production set to the music of Sting at the Pantages …
Black Pumas visit Amoeba Hollywood in support of their recent album, “Chronicles of a Diamond,” for a stripped-down acoustic set and LP signing of copies purchased in-store only Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. …
At 7:30, The Broad Museum hosts author Dr. Todd Boyd and Chuck D for a discussion/signing of the book “Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World;” and Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra play The Soraya.
TASTY QUIP: “You’re seeing so many Black shows get canceled, you’re seeing so many executives — especially on the DEI side — get canned. You’re seeing very clearly now that our stories are less of a priority. It’s made me take more steps to try to be independent down the line if I have to.” – ISSA RAE to Porter
TC ON TV: Feb. 2 – “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (Prime): Donald Glover (“Atlanta”) serves as co-creator, executive producer, and star of this version of the spy film with Maya Erskine and an illustrious guest cast of Alexander Skarsgård, John Turturro, Michaela Coel, Parker Posey, Ron Perlman and Sarah Paulson. “Bosco” (Peacock): Tells the true story of a man who planned an ingenious escape from incarceration for the chance to be at his first child’s birth. With Tyrese Gibson, Vivica A. Fox, Thomas Jane, Theo Rossi and D.C. Young Fly. “The Tiger’s Apprentice” (Paramount+): An animated adventure voiced by Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Lucy Liu, Bowen Yang, Sandra Oh and Greta Lee. “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” (Disney): The second season arrives with back-to-back episodes featuring the voices of Laurence Fishburne, Edward James Olmos and Jackee Harry. “American Masters” (PBS): “Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll”
Feb. 3 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”) hosts musical guest Jennifer Lopez (who may bring on hit rapper Latto to perform their new song “Can’t Get Enough”).
Feb. 4 – “The 66th Annual Grammy Awards” (CBS): Trevor Noah returns to host the ceremony with Joni Mitchell making her Grammy performing debut, Billy Joel singing his first single in almost 20 years, U2 going live from Las Vegas’ Sphere, SZA, Travis Scott, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Oliva Rodrigo and more. “The Harlem Hellfighters: Unsung Heroes” (History): Documents the hard fighting regiment of Black soldiers, who battled shocking racism at home and abroad while fighting the Germans in World War I. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO): The 12th and final season begins with Larry David accompanying Leon (J.B. Smoove) to visit family members in Atlanta.
Feb. 5 – “Dee & Friends in Oz” (Netflix): Broadway legend LaChanze adds her beautiful voice to this magical, musical animated adventure for preschoolers. “Celebrity IOU” (HGTV): Zoe Saldana’s Electrifying Surprise”
Feb. 6 – “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): In “Far and Away” Henry Louis Gates Jr. dives into the backgrounds of Sunny Hostin and Jesse Williams. “The Graham Norton Show” (BBCA/Acorn/AMC+): Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Cooper, Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan
Feb. 7 – “The Marvels” (Disney+): This sequel to “Captain Marvel” starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris (“They Cloned Tyrone“), Iman Vellani (“Ms. Marvel”) and Samuel L. Jackson disappointed at the box office hence this quick streaming premiere. It must be said that director Nia DaCosta (“Candyman“) filmed the intricate space swapping action with zest and Zawe Ashton (wife of “Loki” lead Tom Hiddleston) was a terrific villain. “Abbott Elementary” (ABC): The award-winning sitcom returns with an hour-long “Career Day” episode.
Feb. 8 – “Halo” (Paramount+): A continuation of the Xbox-based sci-fi series with Pablo Schrieber (“American Gods”) as the Master Chief and Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo”). “Tokyo Vice” (MAX): The second season of the ‘90s Tokyo set crime drama with Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) and Ken Watanabe (“The Creator“).
END QUOTE: “Many of the shows I danced in don’t exist on film, but they do exist in the memories of those who were in the theater for that single moment in time. And nothing can replace that.” – Broadway legend CHITA RIVERA (“West Side Story,” “Chicago,” “Sweet Charity,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Nine”) who died this week at the age of 91 [RIP]
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.
