The verdict is in. The jury in the Harvey Weinstein rape trial in lower Manhattan has come to a decision after five days of deliberation.
Weinstein was found not guilty on charges 1 and 3, the more serious charges that would have sent him to jail for life. He’s facing up to 25 years on one count, and 4 years on the other. For Weinstein, it’s a victory in the sense that his punishment is severe but not as terrible as it could have been.
More to come…
Cher Tweets from a sickbed:
“Karma.
Socialist Who Doesn’t Know How Much His Programs Cost,BILLIONAIRE”WHO’LL BUY”THE FINAL JEWEL IN HIS
👑
.PRES.WHO’S TRAITOR,& WAS SO Afraid Of Joe Biden He Threatened a Country,at WAR, With Loss Of 400 Mill
💸
,2 Put Joe In JAIL.STRANGE,Joe’s Only 1 With REAL Experience.
💫
VP”
Maybe she’ll let the Biden campaign use “Believe” as a theme song. I think she’s right after seeing Bernie Sanders on “60 Minutes.” He doesn’t know what anything costs or how he’s going to pay for it. He’s a smart man, but his plans are not practical.
Karma🚂.
Socialist Who Doesn’t Know How Much His Programs Cost,BILLIONAIRE”WHO’LL BUY”THE FINAL JEWEL IN HIS👑.PRES.WHO’S TRAITOR,& WAS SO Afraid Of Joe Biden He Threatened a Country,at WAR, With Loss Of 400 Mill💸,2 Put Joe In JAIL.STRANGE,Joe’s Only 1 With REAL Experience.💫VP— Cher (@cher) February 24, 2020
Actress Sophia Ann Caruso has broken her silence about her abrupt departure from “Beetlejuice”: “Thank you to my Beetlejuice family! I love you! This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Broadway was my dream and It came true!”
Caruso left last Wednesday, which caused a lot of speculation about what happened. Did she quit? Was she fired? I think the thing to remember is that she’s 18, the show is closing in June, and maybe it was just time to move on. A replacement will be announced this week.
I loved “Beetlejuice” the minute I saw it last year. The show received Tony nominations but didn’t get the attention like “Tootsie” did. Nevertheless, “Beetlejuice” prevailed while “Tootsie” closed. In the end, the show proved itself. They’ve been making over $1 million a week. They’re only closing because they’re losing the theater. But you never know, I think if we say “Beetlejuice” three times, it will come back in some form.
And what about Alex Brightman, the star? I can’t wait to see what he does next, as well as Leslie Kritzer, who was robbed of a Tony!
So sing along. Day-o! Some actors come and some actors go!
After being basically abandoned, Destin Daniel Cretton’s excellent film, “Just Mercy” won Best Picture and Best Ensemble, rightly so, at last night’s NAACP’s Image Awards. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor, and Jamie Foxx was Best Supporting Actor. This film was going to be a Best Picture nominee for the Oscars until “Joker” stole its thunder at Warner Bros. A labor of love, “Just Mercy” deserved better in the mainstream.
Lupita Nyong’o won Best Actress for her work in “Us,” and Marsai Martin took Supporting Actress for “Little.” So it turned out there were enough black nominees for all categories, except at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and other awards shows. Isn’t that interesting? And really terrible? The movie business remains completely segregated. All of the nominees listed below are as good as or better than the ones we just dealt with in awards season.
PS. I don’t understand how “Dolemite,” from Netflix, is considered an ‘independent’ movie.
Also, many congrats to my old pal Lynn Whitfield (and she’s not old, that’s not what I mean), winner of Best Supporting Actress in “Greenleaf.” If Lynn were white, she’d be a superstar. Actually, she is anyway. That’s her SEVENTH Image Award. A great beauty, with so much talent, Lynn deserves to be in a big Hollywood movie and get an Oscar nomination.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Angela Basset
• Billy Porter
• *WINNER* Lizzo
• Regina King
• Tyler Perry
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Motion Picture
• “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
• “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• *WINNER* “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
• “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
• Chadwick Boseman – “21 Bridges” (STX Films)
• Daniel Kaluuya – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
• Eddie Murphy – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
• *WINNER* Michael B. Jordan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Winston Duke – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Alfre Woodard – “Clemency” (Neon)
• Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
•*WINNER* Lupita Nyong’o – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
• Naomie Harris – “Black and Blue” (Screen Gems/Sony Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
•*WINNER* Jamie Foxx – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Leslie Odom, Jr. – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• Sterling K. Brown – “Waves” (A24)
• Tituss Burgess – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)
• Wesley Snipes – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
• Janelle Monáe – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• Jennifer Lopez – “Hustlers” (STX Films)
• *WINNER* Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)
• Octavia Spencer – “Luce” (Neon)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture
• Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
•*WINNER* Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)
• Rob Morgan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Shahadi Wright Joseph – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
• “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
• “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• *WINNER* “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
• “Us” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
• “Clemency” (Neon)
•*WINNER* “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)
• “Luce” (Neon)
• “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)
• “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)
• Alfre Woodard – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
• Donald Glover – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
•*WINNER* James Earl Jones – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)
• Lupita Nyong’o – “Serengeti” (Discovery Channel)
• Sterling K. Brown – “Frozen II” (Walt Disney Studios)
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
• “Ballers” (HBO)
•*WINNER* “Black-ish” (ABC)
• “Dear White People” (Netflix)
• “Grown-ish” (Freeform)
• “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
•*WINNER* Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Cedric The Entertainer – “the Neighborhood” (CBS)
• Don Cheadle – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
• Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO)
• Tracy Morgan – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Logan Browning – “Dear White People” (Netflix)
• Jill Scott – “First Wives Club” (BET+)
• Tiffany Haddish – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)
•*WINNER* Tracee Ellis Ross – “Black-ish ” (ABC)
• Yara Shahidi – “Grown-ish” (Freeform)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
•*WINNER* Deon Cole – “Black-ish” (ABC)
• Laurence Fishburne – “Black-ish” (ABC)
• Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
• Tituss Burgess – “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Halle Bailey – “Grown-ish” (Freeform)
• Loretta Devine – “Family Reunion” (Netflix)
•*WINNER* Marsai Martin – “Black-ish” (ABC)
• Regina Hall – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
• Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Outstanding Drama Series
• “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
•*WINNER* “Greenleaf” (OWN)
• “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
• “The Chi” (Showtime)
• “Watchmen” (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• Billy Porter – “Pose” (FX Networks)
• Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
• Kofi Siriboe – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
• *WINNER* Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz)
• Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• *WINNER* Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (FOX)
• Regina King – “Watchmen” (HBO)
• Rutina Wesley – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
• Simone Missick – “All Rise” (CBS)
• Viola Davis – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Delroy Lindo – “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access)
• Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
•*WINNER* Harold Perrineau – “Claws” (TNT)
• Nigél Thatch – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
• Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Prime Video)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• CCH Pounder – “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS)
•*WINNER* Lynn Whitfield – “Greenleaf” (OWN)
• Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
• Susan Kelechi Watson – “This Is Us” (NBC)
• Tina Lifford – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
• “American Son” (Netflix)
• “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
• “Native Son” (HBO)
• “True Detective” (HBO)
•*WINNER* “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
• Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Ethan Henry Herisse – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America)
•*WINNER* Jharrel Jerome – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Mahershala Ali – “True Detective” (HBO)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
• Aunjanue Ellis – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
• Kerry Washington – “American Son” (Netflix)
•*WINNER* Niecy Nash – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
• “PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools” (PBS)
• “Surviving R. Kelly” (Lifetime)
• “The Breakfast Club” (REVOLT)
• “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” (National Geographic)
•*WINNER* “Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
•*WINNER* “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
• “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
• “The Real” (Syndicated)
• “The Shop: Uninterrupted” (HBO)
• “The Tamron Hall Show” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show
• “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
• “Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
•*WINNER* “Rhythm + Flow” (Netflix)
• “Sunday Best” (BET Networks)
• “The Voice” (NBC)
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
• “2019 Black Girls Rock!” (BET Networks)
• “Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones” (Netflix)
•*WINNER* “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
• “Wanda Sykes: Not Normal” (Netflix)
Outstanding Children’s Program
• “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
•*WINNER* “Family Reunion” (Netflix)
• “Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History” (Netflix)
• “Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest” (Disney XD)
• “Motown Magic” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
• Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
• Lonnie Chavis – “This Is Us” (NBC)
• Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
• Marsai Martin – “Black-ish” (ABC)
• Miles Brown – “Black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
• Angela Rye – “Young Gifted and Broke: A BET Town Hall” (BET Networks)
•*WINNER* Jada Pinkett Smith – “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
• Lester Holt – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” (NBC)
• Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
• Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman, Ana Navarro – “The View” (ABC)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
• Iyanla Vanzant – “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
• LL Cool J – “Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
• Regina Hall – “2019 BET Awards” (BET Networks)
•*WINNER* Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
• Wayne Brady – “Let’s Make A Deal” (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series
• Blair Underwood – “Dear White People” ( Netflix)
• David Alan Grier – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
•*WINNER* Kelly Rowland – “American Soul” (BET Networks)
• MAJOR. – “STAR” (FOX)
• Sanaa Lathan – “The Affair” (Showtime)
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
• “Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool” (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
• “The Black Godfather” (Netflix)
• “The Apollo” (HBO)
•*WINNER* “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” (Magnolia Pictures)
• “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” (HBO)
Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special)
• “Free Meek” (Prime Video)
• *WINNER* “Hitsville: The Making of Motown” (Showtime)
• “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)
• “Martin: The Legacy of A King” (BET Networks)
• “ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke” (Netflix)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
•*WINNER* Cord Jefferson – “The Good Place” – Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy (NBC)
• Gloria Calderon Kellett, Mike Royce – “One Day at a Time” – Ghosts (Netflix)
• Jason Kim – “Barry” – Past=Present x Future Over Yesterday (HBO)
• Karen Gist, Peter Saji – “Mixed-ish” – Let Your Hair Down (ABC)
• Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Steve King’s Comments
Meet Trevor Noah: Racism Detective (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
• Ava DuVernay, Michael Starrbury – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)
• Damon Lindelof, Cord Jefferson – “Watchmen” – The Extraordinary Being (HBO)
• *WINNER* Nichelle Tramble Spellman – “Truth Be Told” – Monster (Apple TV+)
• Nkechi Okoro Carroll – “All American” – Hussle & Motivate (The CW)
• Pat Charles – “Black Lightning” – The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal
Son (The CW)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)
• Cas Sigers-Beedles – “Twas the Chaos Before Christmas” (BET)
• Melissa Bustamante – “A Christmas Winter Song” (Lifetime)
• Patrik-Ian Polk – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
•*WINNER* Suzan-Lori Parks – “Native Son” (HBO)
• Yvette Nicole Brown – “Always a Bridesmaid” (BET Networks)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
• Chinonye Chukwu – “Clemency” (Neon)
• Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Doug Atchison – “Brian Banks” (Bleeker Street and ShivHans)
•*WINNER* Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
• Kasi Lemmons, Gregory Allen Howard – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
•*WINNER* Anya Adams – “GLOW” – Outward Bound (Netflix)
• Justin Tipping – “Black Monday” -7042 (Showtime)
• Ken Whittingham – “Atypical” – Road Rage Paige (Netflix)
• Randall Winston – “Grace and Frankie” – The Pharmacy (Netflix)
• Shaka King – “Shrill” – Pool (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
• Ava DuVernay – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)
• Carl H. Seaton, Jr. – “Snowfall” – Hedgehogs (FX Networks)
•*WINNER* Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson – “Power” – Forgot About Dre (STARZ)
• Debbie Allen – “Grey’s Anatomy” – Silent All These Years (ABC)
• Jet Wilkinson – “The Chi” – The Scorpion and the Frog (Showtime)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
• Codie Elaine Oliver – “Black Love” (OWN)
• Janice Cooke – “I Am Sombody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story (Lifetime)
• Kenny Leon – “American Son” (Netflix)
•*WINNER* Rashid Johnson – “Native Son (HBO)
• Russ Parr – “The Bobby Debarge Story” (TV One)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)
• Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)
• Kasi Lemmons – “Harriet” (Focus Features)
• Mati Diop – “Atlantics” (Les Films du Bal Presente en Co-Production avec Cinekap et Frakas Productions en Co-Production avec Arte France Cinema et Canal+ International for Netflix)
• Reginald Hudlin – “The Black Godfather” (Netflix)
RECORDING
Outstanding Album
• “Cuz I Love You” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
•*WINNER* “Homecoming: The Live Album” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• “I Used To Know H.E.R.” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
• “Sketchbook” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
• “Worthy” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
Outstanding New Artist
• Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
•*WINNER* Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
• Lucky Daye (Keep Cool/RCA Records)
• Mahalia (Burkmar/Warner Music UK)
• Mykal Kilgore (Affective Music)
Outstanding Male Artist
•*WINNER* Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
• Khalid (RCA Records)
• Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
• MAJOR. (BOE Music Group/EMPIRE)
• PJ Morton (Morton Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
•*WINNER* Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
• H.E.R. (RCA Records)
• India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
• Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
• “Enough” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
• “Jerome” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
•*WINNER* “SPIRIT” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• “Stand Up” – Cynthia Erivo (Back Lot Music)
• “Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
• *WINNER* “Before I Let Go” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• “Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
• “Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
• “Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)
• “Motivation” – Normani (Keep Cool/RCA Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
• *WINNER* “Brown Skin Girl” – Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyoncé & WizKiD (Parkwood
Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• “No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA
Records)
• “Say So” – PJ Morton feat. JoJo (Morton Records/EMPIRE)
• “Shea Butter Baby” – Ari Lennox feat. J. Cole (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
• “Show Me Love” – Alicia Keys feat. Miguel (RCA Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
• “Carib” – David Sanchez (Ropeadope)
• “Center of The Heart” – Najee (Shanachie)
• *WINNER* “Love & Liberation” – Jazzmeia Horn (Concord Jazz)
• “SoulMate” – Nathan Mitchell (Enm Music Group)
• “The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron” – Vanessa Rubin (Vanessa Rubin)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary)
• “I Made It Out” – John P. Kee feat. Zacardi Cortez (Kee Music
Group/Entertainment One)
• *WINNER* “Laughter” – Bebe Winans feat. Korean Soul (Regimen Records)
• “Love Theory” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Records/RCA Records)
• “Not Yet” – Donnie McClurkin (Camdon Music/RCA Inspiration)
• “Victory” – The Clark Sisters (Karew Records/Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
• “Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
• *WINNER* “Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
• “No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA
Records)
• “Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
• “Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
• “Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Terence Blanchard (Back Lot Music)
• “Queen & Slim The Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Motown Records)
•*WINNER* “The Lion King: The Gift” – Beyoncé w/Various Artists (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
• “The Lion King Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Walt Disney Records)
• “Us (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Michael Abels (Back Lot Music)
LITERATURE
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
• “New Daughters of Africa” – Margaret Busby (HarperCollins Publishers)
• “Out of Darkness, Shining Light” – Petina Gappah (Simon and Schuster)
• “Red at the Bone” – Jacqueline Woodson (Riverhead Books PRH)
•*WINNER* “The Revisioners” – Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counter Point Press)
• “The Water Dancer” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World)
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
• “Breathe: A Letter to My Sons” – Dr. Imani Perry (Beacon Press)
• “STONY THE ROAD: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow” – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Penguin Press)
• *WINNER* “The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations” – Toni Morrison (Alfred A. Knopf)
• “The Yellow House” – Sarah M. Broom (Grove Atlantic)
• “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays” – Damon Young (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (Random House)
• *WINNER* “I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer” – Hal Banfield (Author), Javier Vasquez (Illustrator), (Literary Revolutionary)
• “More Than Pretty: Doing The Soul Work To Uncover Your True Beauty ” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)
• “Such A Fun Age” – Kiley Reid (Penguin Publishing Group)
• “The Farm” – Joanne Ramos (Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
• “Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System” – Cyntoia Brown-Long (Atria Books)
• “Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward” – Valerie Jarrett (Viking Press)
•*WINNER* “More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)” – Elaine Welteroth (Viking Press)
• “My Name Is Prince” – Randee St. Nicholas (HarperCollins Publishers)
• “The Beautiful Ones” – Prince (Author), Dan Piepenbring (Edited by), (Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
• “Inspire Your Home: Easy, Affordable Ideas to Make Every Room Glamorous” – Farah Merhi (Tiller Press)
• “Letters to the Finishers (who struggle to finish)” – Candace E. Wilkins (New Season Books)
• “More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work that Uncovers Your True Beauty” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)
• “Vegetables Unleashed” – José Andres (HarperCollins Publishers)
• *WINNER* “Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, And Opportunity For Black Women In America” – Karen Arrington (Author), Joanna Price (Illustrator), Sheryl Taylor (Forward) (Mango Publishing)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
• “A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration of African American Women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland” – DaMaris B. Hill (Bloomsbury Publishing)
•*WINNER* “Felon: Poems” – Reginald Dwayne Betts (W.W. Norton Company)
• “Honeyfish” – Lauren K. Alleyne (New Issues Poetry and Prose)
• “Mistress” – Chet’la Sebree (New Issue Poetry and Prose)
• “The Tradition” – Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
• “A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation” – Barry Wittenstein (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator), (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House Publishing/Penguin Random House)
• “Hair Love” – Matthew A. Cherry (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Kokila)
• “Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment” – Parker Curry (Author), Jessica Curry (Author), Brittany Jackson (Illustrator), (Aladdin Books)
• “Ruby Finds a Worry” – Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Publishing)
•*WINNER* “Sulwe” – Lupita Nyong’o (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, BFYR)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
• *WINNER* “Around Harvard Square” – C.J. Farley (Akashic Books)
• “Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to Walk” – Meredith Davis (Author), Rebeka Uwitonze (Author), (Scholastic Inc.)
• “Hot Comb” – Ebony Flowers (Author), Ebony Flowers (Illustrator), (Drawn and Quarterly)
• “I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” – Gilly Segal (Author), Kimberly Jones (Author), (Sourcebooks Fire)
• “The Forgotten Girl” – India Hill Brown (Scholastic Inc.)
Harrison Ford hasn’t really made a whole film since “42,” the Jackie Robinson story, seven years ago. At 79, he’s been in two of the three last “Star Wars” movies, however, so that’s kept him up to date.
Now Ford has a surprise hit with “Call of the Wild,” which finishes at number 2 this weekend after making $24 million. It comes from Chris Sanders, who directed the first “How to Train Your Dragon” animated film back in 2010, which was a huge hit.
“The Call of the Wild” only hit 63% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It wasn’t like it was being celebrated. But a scruffy looking Ford and a friendly dog sold it. Also, there isn’t much family fare out there right now besides “Dolittle,” which is just about to exit theaters after losing around $100 million.
It won’t mean anything to the kids in the PG audience, but “Call of the Wild” also stars Dan Stevens (still cursing his luck after “Downton Abbey”), Omar Sy from “The Intouchables,” Karen Gillan of Marvel fame, and Bradley Whitford.
The movie is such a nice hit I’m hearing Jack London, who wrote the book, will be contacting Disney-Fox for royalties!
On the other end of the box office, bad news for Katie Holmes. Why in the world did she want do a sequel to a bad horror film, and one not from Blumhouse? The first version “Brahms Bad Boy” only made $35 million in the US. The new one struck out with a $5.9 million weekend. Oh, the horror! Katie needs a great peak-TV show from HBO, Hulu, etc.
Jennifer Hudson has just wrapped “Respect,” the biopic of Aretha Franklin. You can tell she’s overcome from the shoot and doesn’t want to let it go. She announced on Instagram she bought herself a Hammond 1968 organ, the kind we hear on so many of Aretha’s classic soul tracks. I have a lot of faith that “Respect” will be a tremendous moment for JHud, and for Aretha. The movie, previously scheduled for released in August, is now on deck for October and Oscar consideration. This spring, we’ll get the Discovery channel mini series about Aretha starring Cynthia Erivo. I know Aretha is enjoying all this attention. Her friends miss her terribly.
Listen to Jennifer sing a little bit of “Think” while they test the organ out in the Chicago showroom.
“My @respectmovie wrap gift to myself is an Hammond 1968 organ . After all the live music , with real musicians . Real singing and real praise in real churches , I couldn’t help but be inspired and fell in love with the organ . This is my “Aretha Franklin” organ . This was the first thing I did after I got home from wrapping on the @respectmovie . To think Hammond organs were originated in my hometown chicago ! It will make it just in time for her birthday March 25th . Thank u @daveshand my md for help picking it out . #hammondorgans #think #church #respect look for @respectmovie out October 9th , 2020″
It’s been a long, cold winter on Broadway. Not much has been happening besides “West Side Story” opening to vicious reviews. (The Wall Street Journal called it “Worst Side Story.”)
So a little brouhaha has gone a long way. Sophia Anne Caruso, the 18 year old star of the hit musical, “Beetlejuice,” left the show this past Wednesday without so much as a goodbye. She simply posted news of her exit on Instagram and was gone. Caruso originated the role of Lydia Deetz, the role made famous in the film by Winona Ryder.
The press agent for the show said in a statement that Caruso had taken advantage of an “out” in her contract so she could do TV work. But that makes little to no sense. For one thing, it’s unlikely she had an “out” in the 11th month of the show’s run. Also, “Beetlejuice” is set to close in June. For another thing, it’s not like Caruso as a TV career to go to. And leaving a hit show– “Beetlejuice” makes more than $1 million a week– under a cloud isn’t a good way to start any career, on TV or Broadway.
A source with the show told me, “No one knows what’s going on. Usually when a star of a show leaves there’s notice, and a party, at least a cake, and a goodbye. She is just…gone.”
There are plenty of rumors on the ‘net of Caruso being fired, not getting along with her co-star Alex Brightman, who plays Beetlejuice, and so on.
Caruso’s understudy, Presley Ryan, will step up and play Lydia for the time being. She should just get the role at this point. If anyone knows more, please email me at showbiz411@gmail.com.
Yes, Justin Bieber’s “Changes” is number 1 for the week. Hitsdailydouble.com says it sold 212K copies including streaming. Actually, physical sales were slightly higher than streaming.
Miraculously, Justin had a late week sales surge, since his real time numbers through Wednesday suggested total sales of around 140,000. But all of a sudden, around a hundred thousand people more wanted those “Changes.”
Still, “Changes” sales are off around 65 percent from the “Purpose” album in 2015. That album had sales of around 620K including streaming. More than half the audience is gone. And that’s reflected in the slow sales of his tickets.
Is his reign in pop over? I’d say so. With “Changes” he didn’t move the ball forward, just tossed it up in the air. And I say that with the best of Intentions. Get it?
“Friends” is the gift that keeps on giving.
HBO Max, the streaming service of HBO, has ponied up at least $20 million film a “Friends” reunion show. This will be like a talk show with clips, it’s a reunion episode that updates the characters. It will be the six main actors– Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc– reminiscing about their years making the hit series.
HBO Max will use this to launch their streaming reruns of “Friends,” all ten seasons, for which they paid gazillions of dollars and ruined Netflix’s day. The reruns launch on May 1st, which means this reunion show will be taped soon, produced and directed by Ben Winston, James Corden’s producer and now the hot guy in Hollywood. (He’s also taken over the Grammy Awards.)
The special will be taped at Warner Bros, at the same location the show filmed at for all those years.
What can I say? I am probably the wrong generation for “Friends.” “Seinfeld” was my show. “Friends” seem like a pale imitation. It wasn’t particularly good as a comedy. It was almost like a soap opera, I thought. The two main stories were Ross and Rachel, and whether Matthew Perry would make it through another season. The latter’s weight changed so dramatically from season to season, you wondered why none of his so-called friends never did anything about it.
Now that the show is in reruns around the clock on many platforms, I’ve watched it again, sort of passive aggressively. I always thought Lisa Kudrow was the underrated star. But because Phoebe wasn’t in a romantic pairing, you could feel the writers straining find places to put her. Courteney Cox– always had a crush on her. Her Monica is the most interesting because she’s got the past of being overweight and now is OCD. David Schwimmer also seems underrated, in hindsight. He was like Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin from “The Graduate.”
With paychecks for the special of between $2 million and $4 million per person, this cast really lucked into the deal of a lifetime 25 years ago. And the money for the special doesn’t include what they get with each new deal. There used to be a monkey in the first couple of seasons. I doubt he’s getting a cut.
Justin who?
Korean KPop group BTS has somehow taken over the iTunes charts. All 20 songs from their new album are now lodged at numbers 1 through 20. This is, insane. Maybe it’s “Parasite” fans, who knows?
The top two songs are “On” and another version of “On” with Sia as the featured singer. Justin Bieber’s song, “Intentions” has been knocked down to number 26.
BTS has done this before with iTunes, and it’s always been questioned. Are their fans gaming the system? So far, none of those songs has turned up on Apple Music’s streaming service, which makes me wonder: who’s exactly listening to this stuff? If it’s not streaming at all, it could mean the fans are just “stuffing the ballot box” as it were, and jamming iTunes with multiple sales.
A lot of money is invested in the success of BTS. We’ll see how long this latest incursion lasts. Real numbers will be available by Sunday.