By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
As an actress and producer, Kerry Washington (“Scandal,” “Unprisoned,” “Little Fires Everywhere”) has been a force to be reckoned with. No better example is needed than to observe her grind in promoting her latest feature film, “Shadow Force.”
In addition to numerous television appearances, Washington took time to present a marquee, sold-out screening of the movie at the 49th annual Atlanta Film Festival where the Emmy Award winner was honored with the prestigious 2025 Ossie Davis Award for Innovation in Filmmaking, recognizing her groundbreaking portrayal of a fiercely protective mother navigating extraordinary, high-stakes circumstances, redefining the traditional boundaries of women’s roles in action cinema.
The award, presented by Emayatzy Corinealdi, star of Hulu’s “Reasonable Doubt,” which Washington executive produces through her Simpson Street banner, is a rare and distinguished recognition, awarded only five times in the past 20 years, with past honorees including Spike Lee, Cicely Tyson, John Sayles & Maggie Renzi, Keke Palmer, and Bill Duke.
After visits to New York and Los Angeles, Washington returned down south for a private screening with the ladies of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” With Shamea Morton, Brittany Eady, Angela Oakley, Drew Sidora, Cynthia Bailey and Kelli Ferrell in attendance, the celebration of Black excellence in entertainment was filled with vibrant conversations, laughter, insights about the film and motherhood.
Directed by Joe Carnahan (“The Grey,” “Smokin’ Aces”), “Shadow Force” tells the story of two former elite operatives (portrayed by Washington and “Lupin” star Omar Sy) who risk everything for love and family, forced into hiding to protect their child from their dangerous pasts.
The action-thriller, with Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cliff “Method Man” Smith and Mark Strong, explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice and resilience, and is set for nationwide release via Lionsgate exclusively in theaters May 9.
FLASHBACK: The late Frank Zappa and his band the Mothers of Invention, featuring keyboardist George Duke and drummer Chester Thompson (of Weather Report and Santana fame), are front and center for the release of their unaired 1975 television special that has been freed from the vault after more than 50 years. The two-hour concert film and companion live album, “Cheaper Than Cheep” is available exclusively on zappa.com.
TASTY QUIP: “… May be some swagger jackin going on… WHAT YALL THINK?? I say me and Bruno Mars settle this once and for all on the Verzuz Stage. Have some fun!! Band For Band!! Swizz Beats! Timbaland! Where y’all at? Let’s Go!” – MORRIS DAY issuing a challenge while getting set to play Prince Celebration 2025 (June 5-8 at Paisley Park – Minneapolis) with The Time, Jesse Johnson, The Family (St. Paul Peterson, Jellybean Johnson, Jerome Benton, Susannah Melvoin, Eric Leeds), and more.
CLIPPETTES: Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour concludes its run at SoFi Stadium May 9 as J Balvin is at The Forum, Denzel Curry at the Shrine Auditorium, and Sister Nancy at The Venice West …
EmpowHER Music Festival, with Jazmine Sullivan, Kehlani, Normani, Saweetie, Flo Milli, Natasha Bedingfield, Madds and more, opens at noon May 10 at the blocked off 7021 Hollywood Blvd. …
At the same time Brookside at the Rose Bowl, it’s Just Like Heaven 2025 with Vampire Weekend, Toro Y Moi, TV on the Radio and others …
Later, My Platinum Playlist with Ashanti, Fabolous, Jeremih, and Lloyd commences at The Greek, Talib Kweli is at The Wayfarer, pianist David Benoit is at Catalina Jazz Club, comic Shang is live at The Nitecap, and Rich Medina Presents Home: House, Rare Groove, Garage Classics with special guest DJ Mr Sonny James at High Tide …
Mother’s Day arrives May 11 with The Queens — Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills — at The Forum. Meanwhile at Toyota Arena we have Xscape, Blackstreet, 112, Ginuwine, Jon B and more. Additional shows include the free Mother’s Day Music Festival with D-Nice and Leela James at the Obama Sports Complex, Terry Steele singing Luther Vandross at Vibrato Grill, and reggae group Israel Vibration at The Coach House (also May 14 at the Venice West) …
As part of the series 1975: Fifty is the New Hollywood, “Cooley High” is being screened May 12 at the Egyptian Theatre followed by a Q&A with its director Michael Schultz and stars Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs moderated by Robert Townsend …
José James will discuss his new album, “1978: Revenge of The Dragon” and will perform at the Grammy Museum on May 12 after a special screening of his kung fu short film of the same title. It is also Monderays at the Improv with DeRay Davis …
Executive producer Kerry Washington (“Unprisoned”) will next take on rebooting “Desperate Housewives” for a Hulu series named after the street on which they lived – “Wisteria Lane” …
Bilal teams with Georgia Anne Muldrow for a concert at the Troubadour May 13 as Earthquake shakes the Hollywood Improv …
Yelawolf;s 45 Tour lands May 14 at Anaheim’s House of Blues as Halsey headlines at the Hollywood Bowl with Evanescence and The Warning, Diana Krall croons at The Soraya, and Sheryl Crow, Lauren Daigle and Andy Grammer unite for the Just Help 1 Concert against homelessness at the Peacock Theater. Also bringing jokes to The Improv is Chloé Hilliard …
No excuses now! Back by popular demand, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is returning in its preferred format of IMAX 70mm for one week only beginning May 15 at Universal Cinema AMC at Citywalk Hollywood and similar theaters nationwide …
Also, Harry Mack’s Anomaly Tour 2025 with Souls of Mischief closes the week at the Hollywood Palladium.
TASTY QUIP: “Fans don’t boo nobodies.” – REGGIE JACKSON
TC ON TV: May 9 – “Love Hurts” (Peacock): The action comedy starring Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose with Daniel Wu, Mustafa Shakir and Marshawn “Beastmode” Lynch debuts on the streamer. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” (Paramount+) The show’s 10th season premieres followed by RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked.” “Hollywood Squares” (CBS): Celebrity guests include Tichina Arnold, Mario Cantone, Jo Koy, Tig Notaro, Luenell, Debi Mazar, Patton Oswalt, Ravi Patel and Reggie Watts.
May 10 – “Maneet’s Eats” (Food): “Samosas and Pork Vindaloo” “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus” actor giving Richard Widmark vibes, hosts with musical guests Arcade Fire.
May 12 – “Sherri” (Syn): Mara Brock Akil (Netflix’ “Forever,” “Being Mary Jane”)
May 13 – “Tamron Hall” (Syn): You’re invited to The Cookout with Bill Bellamy. “Sherri” (Syn): Leela James, Jim Gaffigan
May 14 – “Tamron Hall” (Syn): The cast of “The Chi” (Lynn Whitfield, Luke James, Jacob Latimore) and Jojo Siwa join the Tam Fam!
May 15 – “Duster” (MAX): Set in the 1970s Southwest, J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan’s new series explores the life of a gutsy getaway driver (Josh Holloway) for a growing crime syndicate that goes from dangerous to wildly, stupidly dangerous when a tenacious young agent (Sydney Elisabeth) comes into town hell bent on taking his crime family down. With Keith David and Rachel Hilson. “Love, Death & Robots” (Netflix): Volume 4 of the Emmy-winning animated sci-fi anthology arrives with voices by Kevin Hart, John Boyega, Niecy Nash-Betts, Phil Morris, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Roy Wood Jr. and Jonathan Capeheart.
END QUOTE: “… I meditated. I calmed myself down. And I isolated a little bit, but not like made myself lonely, not the way I used to when I was depressed. I isolated myself in a mindful way where I had no distractions. I loved to distract myself with people. I loved to distract myself with food. I loved to distract myself with drinking. I loved to distract myself with problems that I would create. I would love to do that. And I stopped doing that. And I just focused on me.” – LIZZO on getting healthier on TikTok Live
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.
