By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
In a year that has already reaped the rewards of a Super Bowl halftime performance and international tour, singer, songwriter, dancer and entrepreneur Usher is now coming to movie theaters around the world.
In cinemas Sept. 12–15, “Usher: Rendezvous in Paris” incorporates the essence of his landmark cultural phenomenon Vegas residencies into a seductive French touch confession.
Captured during Paris Fashion week at La Seine Musicale, the film features chart-topping hits including “Yeah!,” “My Boo,” “Love In This Club” and more from Usher’s 30-year career, performed with never-before-seen costumes and state-of-the-art lighting and special effects.
In addition to bringing the vibrant live concert experience to screen, the movie promises to give audiences a glimpse inside life beyond the stage for the globally renowned, multiple Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 80 million records.
SOON COME: Two of the music industry’s most reclusive superstars are about to release new recordings in the coming months.
Smooth R&B icon Sade Adu was outed as being in the studio two years ago by actor/producer Brad Pitt of all people during an interview with Billboard. Now it has been reported that a song, “Young Lion,” a tribute to her transgender son, Izaak, will be a part of the benefit album “Transa,” to appear Nov. 22.
Also on the road back, according to friend Raphael Saddiq in an interview with Rolling Stone Music Now, is none other than funk crooner D’Angelo.
“D’s in a good space,” he says. “He’s excited. He’s like, ‘you gotta play bass. I’ve got this track. I’m telling you, you got to get on it. It got your name all over it.’ … He’s working on six pieces right now and he seems super excited.”
TASTY QUIP: “R. Kelly. Who else [is the king of R&B] but him? We not talking about him being in jail or what he’s dealing with controversy-wise. Usher is not the king of R&B. Until Usher writes every song he ever (releases) and produces every song he ever (releases) and hands out 60 to 300 R&B hit records to everybody else in the R&B game, he’s not the king. I’m sorry. Chris Brown is not the king of R&B to me (either). They are KINGS. Chris Brown and Usher are 50 times bigger than me. I’m not a king of no type of R&B. I’m a beast at what I do, but they have outsold me and have way more status, Grammys, arenas, and the level of arena shows they do is beyond the scope of anything I’ve ever done. And I, quite frankly, don’t desire that level.” – TYRESE to The Shade Room
CLIPPETTES: In case you haven’t heard, Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show taking place Feb. 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans …
Brenda Russell sings at the Roxy Theatre on Sept. 13, while Santa Monica’s Moss Theater hosts “A Tribute to Langston Hughes: Stories, Poems, Jazz and the Blues,” Jazz at LACMA presents Jamael Dean, The Four Tops & Derek Bordeaux perform at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, Black Milk is at the Lodge Room, and the Hollywood Bowl begins its three-night Fireworks Finale with Boyz II Men & Paula Abdul …
Congrats to Angela Bassett on finally getting her Emmy! After nine previous nominations, the actress was awarded a Creative Emmy Award for her Outstanding Narration of National Geographic’s documentary “Queens” …
Stokley tops the seventh annual Oxnard Jazz Festival on Sept. 14 at Oxnard Beach Park, as the Joshua Redman Group comes to Catalina Bar & Grill, Green Day & The Smashing Pumpkins fill SoFi Stadium, Jessy J blows at Spaghettini’s, Da Lench Mob spit verse at The Venice West, and Frank McComb & Tatiana Tate bring soul to the Miracle Theatre …
Comedian Aida Rodriguez discusses her memoir, “Legitimate Kid” with Brooke Thomas (“Good Day LA”) at 2 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Central Library …
Also that day (and Sept. 18), Mel Brooks’ classic “Blazing Saddles” with a screenplay co-written by Richard Pryor, rides back into theaters nationwide via Fathom Events in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The film starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman and Count Basie will be preceded by a special introduction by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin …
Later that evening, P!NK: Summer Carnival 2024 stops at Dodger Stadium, and the Elliott Bros present the Chris Spencer-hosted Comedy Block Party at The Miracle Theater …
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, comes to The Ebell of Los Angeles on Sept. 17 to discuss her inspiring, intimate memoir, “Lovely One” …
Buju Banton’s The Overcomer Tour arrives to Intuit Dome Sept. 18 while Jeezy is at The Belasco, Rodrigo y Gabriela are at the Hollywood Bowl, Kathy Griffin at The Wiltern and Moses Sumney at the Lodge Room …
Award-winning chefs and activists Bryant Terry (“Afro-Vegan” “Vegan Soul Kitchen”) and Alice Waters will be in conversation about climate activism grounded in a plant-based diet at the Hammer Museum on Sept. 19. Joining them is founder of Support+Feed, Maggie Baird. A special plant-based menu designed by Terry and Waters will be available for purchase at LULU (reservations recommended) and limited free samples from Support+Feed partners will be available to the public.
Afterwards, head to the El Rey for Andra Day (whose acting chops are on display in Lee Daniels’ “The Deliverance” and the Sundance fave “Exhibiting Forgiveness” headed to theaters Oct. 18).
TASTY QUIP: “There’s more white people in America and unfortunately, they don’t vote based on ability and achievements. It’s still sometimes a white and Black thing.” – MATTHEW KNOWLES to TMZ on the Country Music Awards snubbing of daughter Beyoncé’s No. 1 debuting “Cowboy Carter“
TC ON TV: Sept. 13 – “How To Die Alone” (Hulu): Follows Mel (series creator and executive producer Natasha Rothwell of “Insecure” and “The White Lotus” fame), as a broke, fat, Black JFK Airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary. “In Vogue: The 90s” (Hulu): The six-part series tells the definitive story of the fashion industry in the 90s through the eyes of the magazine’s editors including Edward Enninful and Anna Wintour. “Civil War” (MAX): The controversial move that asks What if? comes to streaming. “Friday Night Vibes” (TBS): More Will Smith magic with “Independence Day” and “Men In Black.”
Sept. 14 – “Have I Got News For You” (CNN): Acclaimed comedian Roy Wood Jr. (“The Daily Show”) hosts this much-anticipated American version of the long-running BBC comedy series adding Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black as team captains.
Sept. 15 – “Tulsa King” (Paramount+): A second season of the entertaining Sylvester Stallone-led mob drama. “76th Emmy Awards” (ABC): Hosted by father and son Eugene Levy and Dan Levy of “Schitt’s Creek” with presenters to include Viola Davis, Lily Gladstone, Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Steve Martin, George Lopez, Mindy Kaling, Damon Wayans, and John Leguizamo. “Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing” (Discovery): A winner emerges to put on some clothes.
Sept. 16 – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC): “9-1-1” vs. “Jury Duty” to be followed by the special “The Best of Steve Harvey.” “Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman” (History): “Breakout in Plain Sight” ends the second season. “Global Soul Kitchen” (FYI): Chef Deborah VanTrece prepares Smothered Meatballs with Spaetzle and Cajun Steak Diane with Foie Gras Dirty Rice.
Sept. 17 – “Child Star” (Hulu): Demi Lovato makes her directorial debut with this exploration of the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight through the lens of the likes of Raven-Symoné, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, JoJo Siwa, and Drew Barrymore. “Deon Cole: OK, Mister” (Netflix): From the telltale signs of aging to bedroom mishaps and dating deal-breakers, the comedian gets playfully candid in this stand-up special. “Dancing With The Stars” (ABC/Disney+): Reginald VelJohnson (“Family Matters”), NBA star Dwight Howard and reality royalty Phaedra Parks are among the hoofers for the 33rd season. “30 For 30” (ESPN): Suemay Oram’s “Stolen Gold” delves into the incredible true story of Ramón Torres and the Spanish intellectually disabled basketball team’s dramatic journey to the gold medal at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. “Caught In The Act” (MTV): A third season of Tami Roman and her team of relationship experts giving victims of infidelity the chance to catch their cheating partners and take them down. “American Sports Story” (FX): Producer Ryan Murphy ventures into telling the story of the rise and fall of NFL superstar turned murderer Aaron Hernandez in this mini-series directed by Carl Franklin. “High Potential” (ABC): This crime procedural stars Kaitlin Olson as a single mom whose pinpoint crime analysis leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata). With Amirah J, Javicia Leslie and Judy Reyes.
Sept. 18 – “Agatha All Along” (Disney+): This spinoff of Marvel’s “WandaVision,” finds the infamous witch Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) down and out of power. With Aubrey Plaza, Patti LuPone and Sasheer Zamata.
Sept. 19 – “The Penguin” (HBO/MAX): Colin Farrell reprises his unrecognizable role from Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” as Oz Cobb (aka “The Penguin”). The series features Carmen Ejogo, Clancy Brown, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Theo Rossi.
END QUOTE: “Thank you dear JAMES EARL JONES (Jan. 17, 1931 – Sept. 8, 2024) for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.” – COLMAN DOMINGO
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.
