December 2015

Bill Cosby Arraigned for Alleged Aggravated Indecent Assault

Bill Cosby arrived in court today after he was charged with alleged aggravated indecent assault earlier this morning by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania.
The comedian, 78, entered the courtroom in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, around 2:30 p.m., walking arm-in-arm with his legal team. He will next appear in court on Jan. 14 and his bail was set at $1 million for the second-degree felony counts against him.
Cosby’s passport was also turned over to the court and he did not enter a plea.

Steve Harvey crowns wrong woman Miss Universe

In subsequent tweets, he apologized to viewers of the live pageant, saying that his announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as ultimate winner was “an honest mistake.”
At the very end of the telecast Sunday, Harvey mixed up the names of Gutierrez and Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach. The error wasn’t addressed until after Gutierrez had already been outfitted with the Miss Universe crown and sash; Harvey had to stop her during her winning walk in order to rectify the situation.

  
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N.W.A. to be Inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The names of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2016 Inductees have been released. They are:

 

Performer Category:

Cheap Trick

Chicago

Deep Purple

N.W.A.

Steve Miller
The 31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will take place on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the second time. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in spring 2016. 

Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording. The 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer Inductees were chosen by more than 800 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, as well as the aggregate results of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s online fan vote. The top five artists, as selected by the public, comprised a “fans’ ballot” that was tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2016 Inductees. Three of the top five artists from the fans ballot will be inducted in 2016.

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, will also open a special exhibit on the 2016 Inductees in conjunction with the 2016 Induction Ceremony.

 

Klipsch Audio, a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer, is a strategic partner and presenting sponsor of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and its Induction Ceremony events. Klipsch’s renowned products deliver the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience throughout the iconic museum. 

 

Tickets will go on sale to the public in February. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members in advance of the public sale date. To be eligible for the member pre-sale, you must be an active Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member by December 31, 2015. Exact sale dates and ticket information will be announced in late January. Details available at www.rockhall.com. To receive Induction Ceremony updates, announcements and ticket information, sign up for the Rock Hall’s e-newsletter at www.rockhall.com/e-newsletter, follow the Rock Hall on Facebook, Twitter (@rock_hall) and Instagram (@rockhall) or join the conversation at #RockHall2016.

LEE DANIELS, MELLODY HOBSON, ERIC HOLDER, PATTI LABELLE AND L.A. REID ANNOUNCED AS “BET HONORS” 2016 EXTRAORDINARY HONOREES

BET Networks will kick off the New Year celebrating black excellence at its ninth annual “BET Honors” special hosted by comedian, television personality and actor Arsenio Hall. The star-studded night will honor five distinguished African Americans performing at exceptional levels in the areas of art, music, theater, technology and business.
This year’s honorees are Lee Daniels (Television and Film Award), Academy Award nominated filmmaker and creator of the hit television show “Empire;” Mellody Hobson (Corporate Citizen Award), President of Ariel Investments, one of the largest African American owned money management and mutual fund companies in the U.S. and current Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dreamworks Animation; Eric H. Holder, Jr. (Public Service Award), the first African American United States Attorney General and partner at Covington & Burling, LLP in Washington D.C.; Patti Labelle (Musical Arts Awards), the iconic Grammy Award winning singer whose powerhouse voice has sold over 50 million records worldwide and L.A. Reid (The Business of Entertainment Award), Chairman & CEO of Epic Records, a three-time Grammy Award winner and prolific music mogul who helped launch some of the biggest music careers and superstars of today.
Arsenio Hall will make his first hosting appearance on the “BET Honors” stage. For over a decade, Hall has been entertaining audiences with his acting and comedic skills on television, film and the stage. He returned to late-night television as executive producer and host of the syndicated “The Arsenio Hall Show,” which aired on stations around the country during the 2013 – 2014 season. Most recently, he appeared on the PBS special “Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize,” which aired in November 2015. Arsenio can currently be seen co-starring on BET’s hit comedy series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” as well as enjoying a triumphant return to his first love of stand-up comedy, performing at venues across the country.
BET.com will join the kudo-fest with the inaugural launch of Next in Class, a digital celebration of young leaders, innovators and influencers whose stars are rising in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), philanthropy & social justice, music, fashion & style, creative arts & entertainment and education. Go to BET.com/NextInClass to vote for this year’s candidates.
“BET Honors” will be taped at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 23, 2015 and will premiere on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 8:00 pm* during Black History Month on BET Networks.
“BET Honors” is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Executive Producers of the network telecast are as follows: Stephen Hill, Connie Orlando and Lynne Harris Taylor from BET; and Jesse Collins from Jesse Collins Entertainment.
For more information on “BET Honors,” visit http://www.bet.com/bethonors . Join the conversation about the special on Twitter by using hashtags: #BETHonors; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BET.

DADDY’S HOME Screenings in NY/ATL/DC 

This weekend, promotions for the upcoming DADDY’S HOME film were in high gear, as screenings and grassroots events took place from coast to coast. In New York, the official red carpet premiere at AMC Lincoln Square was attended by cast members Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Hannibal Burress, Scarlett Estevez and Owen Vaccaro.
   
 
Several blocks downtown at AMC Loews 19th Street, actor Rotimi (“POWER”) and media personality Rae Holliday (StuffFlyPeopleLike.com) hosted a DADDY’S HOME screening attended by Angela Yee (“The Breakfast Club), Reggie Osse (“The Combat Jack Show”), PopLife Podcast co-hosts Shawn Young, Naima Cochrane and Jeff Sledge, blogger Gabriel Williams (StuffFlyPeopleLike.com) and reps from the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, Everything Girls Love PUD and the Moving Mountains Theater Company.

  
In Atlanta, celeb stylist Gocha Hawkins invited her VIP friends, salon staff and members of her Gocha Illumination Foundation to see the family comedy at Regal Atlantic Station hosted by V103. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” personalities Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, DonJuan Clark, Carmon Cambrice, Riley Burruss and Kaela Tucker were on hand to enjoy the film as well as Dice Dixon, Q Parker (112) and his son, Sharlinda Parker, Kahdijiha Rowe, V103’s Patty Richards and Khalilah Abdul-Baqi, executive director of the Compound Foundation, also a promo partner of the screening.

   
 
In Washington, D.C., WPGC 95.5FM hosted a screening for local listeners at AMC Georgetown. Radio personality Poet Taylor intro’d the film and gave away prizes to guests, which included Josh Morgan (NFL free agent), Tracy Morgan (WBBP Memphis personality), blogger Jo Jo Crews and DyRec (hip hop artist).

   
 

Bill Cosby Sues Seven Of His Accusers For Defamation

Bill Cosby  filed a defamation suit again Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie, according to his lawyer Monique Pressley. 

In the suit, Cosby claims the women have made “malicious, opportunistic and false and defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct against him.” He also claims each defendant “knowingly published false statements and accusations.”

Independence Day:Resurgence Trailer 

Independence Day: Resurgence is an upcoming American epic science fiction disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Emmerich, Dean Devlin and Carter Blanchard. It is the sequel to the 1996 film Independence Day. The film stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox and Brent Spiner, reprising their original roles, along with newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Joey King, Angelababy and William Fichtner. The film is scheduled for a June 24, 2016 release. Filming began on April 20, 2015 and ended on August 22, 2015.

 Daniel Holtzclaw convicted of rape, sentenced to life in prison

Former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw has been convicted of sexually assaulting 13 women. He will most likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
Over the course of the trial, a horrifying picture emerged of Holtzclaw using his status as a cop to assault and intimidate at least 13 black women living in one of Oklahoma City’s poorest neighborhoods. He chose his victims for their criminal records and counted on the fact that women with open warrants or previous convictions for drugs or prostitution would be too scared to report his crimes.
Holtzclaw’s reign of terror came to an end after a 57-year-old grandmother he assaulted in June of 2014 bravely reported him to the very same police force that employed him. Sex crimes detective Kim Davis began to investigate and discovered a systematic pattern of abuse of women ranging in age from 17 to 57. Both DNA evidence and GPS logs from Holtzclaw’s police vehicle backed up many of the victims’ claims.

Johnny Gill to Perform at UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball

The UNCF Atlanta office announced today that four-time Grammy nominated R&B recording artist Johnny Gill will provide live entertainment for the 32nd Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta Hotel. 

The annual fundraising gala and premier social event of the holiday season will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a VIP Masked Award Reception, Silent Holiday Auction, Red Carpet Parade of Stars and Dignitaries, Elegant Dining, Parade of Masks, Dancing and Live entertainment by Johnny Gill.

 

Started by Billye Aaron along with former Mayor Andrew Young in 1983, the Ball is hosted by the city’s current Mayor and is largely supported by local corporate and civic entities. A much anticipated holiday event that raises unrestricted dollars for UNCF’s support for local students, the Ball attracts a diverse array of attendees from across the area, including local celebrities, dignitaries, civic and elected officials.  

Johnny Gill’s new album, Game Changer, was released on his label, J Skillz Records in partnership with Caroline​ Music/Capitol Records. Game Changer features songs produced by GRAMMY®Award-winners Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Tony Dixon, Chuck Harmony,​ Claude Kelly, and Vidal Davis. The first single, “Behind Closed Doors,” peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary charts. His latest single, “Game Changer,” produced by Baby face and includes additional songwriting by Anthony Hamilton, is quickly rising​up the charts, currently on Billboard’s Top 20.​

 

Nominations Announced for the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Nominees for the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding individual, cast and ensemble performances in film and television of 2015, as well as the nominees for outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning at the Pacific Design Center’s SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood.
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

BRYAN CRANSTON / Dalton Trumbo – “TRUMBO” (Bleecker Street)

JOHNNY DEPP / James “Whitey” Bulger – “BLACK MASS” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Hugh Glass – “THE REVENANT” (20th Century Fox)

MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Steve Jobs – “STEVE JOBS” (Universal Pictures)

EDDIE REDMAYNE / Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe – “THE DANISH GIRL” (Focus Features)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

CATE BLANCHETT / Carol Aird – “CAROL” (The Weinstein Company)

BRIE LARSON / Ma – “ROOM” (A24)

HELEN MIRREN / Maria Altmann – “WOMAN IN GOLD” (The Weinstein Company)

SAOIRSE RONAN / Eilis – “BROOKLYN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

SARAH SILVERMAN / Laney Brooks – “I SMILE BACK” (Broad Green Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

CHRISTIAN BALE / Michael Burry – “THE BIG SHORT” (Paramount Pictures)

IDRIS ELBA / Commandant – “BEASTS OF NO NATION” (Netflix)

MARK RYLANCE / Abel Rudolph – “BRIDGE OF SPIES” (DreamWorks)

MICHAEL SHANNON / Rick Carver – “99 HOMES” (Broad Green Pictures)

JACOB TREMBLAY / Jack – “ROOM” (A24)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

ROONEY MARA / Therese Belivet – “CAROL” (The Weinstein Company)

RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer – “SPOTLIGHT” (Open Road Films)

HELEN MIRREN / Hedda Hopper – “TRUMBO” (Bleecker Street)

ALICIA VIKANDER / Gerda Wegener – “THE DANISH GIRL” (Focus Features)

KATE WINSLET / Joanna Hoffman – “STEVE JOBS” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BEASTS OF NO NATION (Netflix)

ABRAHAM ATTAH / Agu

KURT EGYIAWAN / 2nd I-C

IDRIS ELBA / Commandant
THE BIG SHORT (Paramount Pictures)

CHRISTIAN BALE / Michael Burry

STEVE CARELL / Mark Baum

RYAN GOSLING / Jared Vennett

MELISSA LEO / Georgia Hale

HAMISH LINKLATER / Porter Collins

JOHN MAGARO / Charlie Geller

BRAD PITT / Ben Rickert

RAFE SPALL / Danny Moses

JEREMY STRONG / Vinny Peters

MARISA TOMEI / Cynthia Baum

FINN WITTROCK / Jamie Shipley

SPOTLIGHT (Open Road Films)

BILLY CRUDUP / Eric MacLeish

BRIAN D’ARCY JAMES / Matty Carroll

MICHAEL KEATON / Walter “Robby” Robinson

RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer

MARK RUFFALO / Michael Rezendes

LIEV SCHREIBER / Marty Baron

JOHN SLATTERY / Ben Bradlee, Jr.

STANLEY TUCCI / Mitchell Garabedian
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (Universal Pictures)

NEIL BROWN JR. / DJ Yella

PAUL GIAMATTI / Jerry Heller

COREY HAWKINS / Dr. Dre

ALDIS HODGE / MC Ren

O’SHEA JACKSON JR. / Ice Cube

JASON MITCHELL / Eazy-E

TRUMBO (Bleecker Street)

ADEWALE AKINNUOYE-AGBAJE / Virgil Brooks

LOUIS C.K. / Arlen Hird

BRYAN CRANSTON / Dalton Trumbo

DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT / John Wayne

ELLE FANNING / Niki Trumbo

JOHN GOODMAN / Frank King

DIANE LANE / Cleo Trumbo

HELEN MIRREN / Hedda Hopper

MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Edward G. Robinson

ALAN TUDYK / Ian McLellan Hunter
TELEVISION PROGRAMS
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

IDRIS ELBA / DCI John Luther – “LUTHER” (BBC America)

BEN KINGSLEY / Grand Vizier Ay – “TUT” (Spike)

RAY LIOTTA / Lorca/Tom Mitchell – “TEXAS RISING” (History)

BILL MURRAY / Himself – “A VERY MURRAY CHRISTMAS” (Netflix)

MARK RYLANCE / Thomas Cromwell – “WOLF HALL” (Masterpiece/PBS)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

NICOLE KIDMAN / Grace – “GRACE OF MONACO” (Lifetime)

QUEEN LATIFAH / Bessie Smith – “BESSIE” (HBO)

CHRISTINA RICCI / Lizzie Borden – “THE LIZZIE BORDEN CHRONICLES” (Lifetime)

SUSAN SARANDON / Gladys Mortenson – “THE SECRET LIFE OF MARILYN MONROE” (Lifetime)

KRISTEN WIIG / Delores DeWinter – “THE SPOILS BEFORE DYING” (IFC)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

JON HAMM / Don Draper – “MAD MEN” (AMC)

RAMI MALEK / Elliot – “MR. ROBOT” (USA Network)

BOB ODENKIRK / Jimmy McGill – “BETTER CALL SAUL” (AMC)

KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

THE 47TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The nominees for the 47th NAACP Image Awards were announced today during a press conference from The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA. The categories and nominees were announced by Guillermo Díaz (Scandal), Tika Sumpter (The Haves and the Have Nots), Danielle Nicolet (Born Again Virgin), Marsai Martin (Black-ish), and Miles Brown ( Black-ish). In addition, the event was live streamed and special commentary was provided by Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight).
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event, which will broadcast LIVE on TV ONE on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 9pm/8c as a two-hour special. A one-hour pre-show will air live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.
“The Image Awards celebrates individuals who model principles of hard work, perseverance, and community empowerment and with the announcement of this year’s nominees the NAACP continues to spotlight the achievements of those in our community,” stated Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “We have enjoyed a great collaboration with TV One and look forward to working with them again this year to create a memorable evening of entertainment.”

“The NAACP Image Awards has become more than just a ceremony, but an institution for artists and social justice warriors of color to be recognized and celebrated,” stated Cornell William Brooks, President and CEO, NAACP. “As the Image Awards continues to grow and evolve, the principles of social justice will remain at its core.”
ABC and BET lead the nominees in the TV categories with 28 and 13 nominations respectively, followed by FOX with 12. In the recording category, Columbia Records leads with 10 nominations, followed by RCA with 9 nominations and BMG with 6 nominations. Warner Brothers leads with 6 nominations, while Universal Pictures and Netflix both received 5 nominations in the motion picture categories.
The 47th NAACP Image Awards is sponsored by AT&T, Bank of America, Chrysler-UAW, FedEx, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Hyundai Motors of America, Southwest Airlines and Wells Fargo.

For all information and latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

Nike Signs Lebron to a LIFETIME Deal Worth…..

Nike has signed Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James to a lifetime deal in what one source familiar with the negotiations said is the largest single-athlete guarantee in company history.
“We can confirm that we have agreed to a lifetime relationship with LeBron that provides significant value to our business, brand and shareholders,” Nike said in a statement. “We have already built a strong LeBron business over the past 12 years, and we see the potential for this to continue to grow throughout his playing career and beyond.”

A source close to the deal told ESPN that it easily surpasses the 10-year, $300 million deal Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant signed with the world’s largest shoe and apparel brand last summer.

Straight Outta Compton Named Top Film of 2015

AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION NAMES STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON AS TOP FILM OF 2015

Will Smith, Teyonah Parris and Ryan Coogler Also Receive Wins from the Nation’s Premiere African American Critics Group
The Danish Girl and Mad Max: Fury Road also take key honors
Los Angeles, CA (December 7, 2015) – Movies that reflect the revolutionary undercurrent running through society dominated this year’s voting for the 7th AAFCA Awards. Straight Outta Compton, the surprise summer box office hit centered on the 90’s rap group N.W.A., captured an overwhelming majority of the votes cast by members of the association. The Universal Pictures film earned multiple awards for Best Picture, Best Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor for Jason Mitchell, who portrayed the group’s founder, Eazy E. Awards were also given to Creed in the category of Best Director for Ryan Coogler; Michael B. Jordan for Breakout Performance and Tessa Thompson for Best Supporting Actress. The top acting honors went to Will Smith and Teyonah Parris for their roles in Concussion and Chi-Raq. AAFCA will hold its 7th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA.

– See more at: http://www.radiofacts.com/168834-2/#.dpuf

A Pair of Game Worn Nike Lebron’s Ended Up in a Thrift Store in Youngstown, Oh

Being a Cleveland Cavalier’s fan isn’t so bad these days, but back in the summer of 2010 times were a little tougher. That was the year that LeBron James decided to take his “talents to South Beach,” leaving fans stunned. Cleveland fans were so outraged by their hometown hero’s sudden departure that many resulted to destroying James’ gear. In addition to burning jerseys, some fans gave away even more precious James’ memorabilia. One fan was so upset that he actually got rid of his game worn Nike LeBron IIs, which ultimately ended up in a thrift store in Youngstown, OH.
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Oprah Winfrey Signs Largest Memoir Deal In Recent History

Deadline reports the media mogul has signed a deal with Flatiron Books publishing, a division of Macmillan, to release The Life You Want. The memoir will include key moments in Winfrey’s life, as well as lessons readers can hold dear. The eight-figure deal also includes her own publishing imprint that will release a handful of non-fiction books personally picked by the mogul every year.
Winfrey said in a statement she hopes her story “inspires other people to live the highest, fullest expression of themselves” and that “anyone can put their life on a new trajectory.”

Anna Faris and Anthony Mackie to Announce the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nominations on Wednesday, Dec. 9

Anna Faris (Mom, the Scary Movie franchise) and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Hurt Locker) will announce the nominees for the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

The nominations announcement will be carried live on TNT TBS, truTV, sagawards.tntdrama.com and truTV.com at 10 a.m. (ET) / 7 a.m. (PT). SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard will introduce Faris and Mackie. Prior to the announcement, this year’s stunt ensemble honors nominees will be announced by SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams and Committee Member Jason George during a live webcast on sagawards.tntdrama.com 9:50 a.m. (ET) / 6:50 a.m. (PT).

Anna Faris stars in CBS’ hit comedy Mom opposite Allison Janney. Additionally, Faris has recently launched her first podcast titled Anna Faris is Unqualified where she answers relationship questions submitted by listeners with surprise celebrity guests.

Anthony Mackie, who was classically trained at the Juilliard School of Drama, is a critically acclaimed actor who is able to capture a plethora of characters.

He currently stars in Seth Rogen’s holiday hit The Night Before and Paul Bettany’s Shelter with Jennifer Connelly. In February 2016 he will star in Triple 9 opposite Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet. Mackie just wrapped production on the HBO adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play All the Way, in which he plays Martin Luther King Jr. opposite Bryan Cranston’s Lyndon B. Johnson.