BET Celebrates Michelle Obama and Rashida & Quincy Jones in December

BET Celebrates Black Excellence with Two Uplifting Specials Premiering in December

“A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” Premieres on Wednesday, December 5 AT 9PM ET

“Q85: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” Premieres on Sunday, December 9 AT 8PM ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BET Networks is set to premiere two powerful specials in December, embracing the holiday spirit that uplifts and celebrates black excellence. “A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” premieres on Wednesday, December 5,2018 at 9PM ET and “Q85: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” will air on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 8PM ET.

“A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” is an empowering new one-hour special featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama in candid conversation with former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett at the Leading Women Defined symposium at the St. Regis hotel in Miami, FL. The women discuss a range of topics as Michelle Obama shares words of uplift, stories of sisterhood, the importance of self-care and her marked growth through her husband’s eight years in office.

Tune in to the captivating conversation with the Former First Lady as she shares anecdotes and salient advice from her worldwide bestselling autobiography, Becoming. “A THOUSAND WORDS WITH MICHELLE OBAMA” premieres Wednesday, December 5 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.

WATCH & SHARE: Please see exclusive clips from the highly anticipated special below. Additional assets and photos are available at: BET Press Room.

Michelle Obama on confidence and identity, “I always laugh when people ask, ‘how did you figure out how to be the First Lady?’”: https://youtu.be/YsrQciMbUsQ

…On sisterhood, “When I meet good women, hold on to them and don’t compete with them”: https://youtu.be/zYrg_ov0mOs

…On “sharing your shine”: https://youtu.be/JYyP_HsVkLc

…On self-care, “You’re worthy of a quality of life…why do you think you deserve to live a grind…to only leave yourself the crumbs of your day?”: https://youtu.be/pxY4RLeybY4

For photos and exclusive assets from BET Presents: “Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones,” please visit BET Press Room.

For any broadcast requests for the above content via downloadable link, please contact Melissa.Nyarko@bet.net.

“Q85: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR QUINCY JONES” is a star-studded evening that celebrates the life and legacy of the icon. Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Brian McKnight, John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan, Fantasia, Charlie Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Meghan Trainor, Patti Austin, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Cynthia Erivo, and Gregory Porter all hit the stage to pay tribute to Mr. Jones performing his classic works in this nostalgic musical special. Additionally, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Danny Glover, Usher Raymond, Dave Chappelle, LL Cool J, Rashida Jones, Ludacris, and Aloe Blacc share their personal stories of how Quincy has impacted them throughout the years.


ABOUT BET NETWORKS:
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 7th to 13th, 2018 - Update #19

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From Variety:  James Emswiller, an Emmy-winning sound mixer, died after a fall on the set on Tom Hank's Mr. Rogers' biopic, "You Are My Friend."  Emswiller was 61 years old, and won his Emmy for his work on Queen Latifah's "Bessie."

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MOVIES - From Variety:  HBO has acquired the Jeffrey Wright prison drama, "O.G."

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TELEVISION - From TVGuide:  Jennifer Garner confirms that a reboot of her early 2000s ABC series, "Alias," is happening, but that it is still in the early stages.

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DISNEY - From Variety:  Fox will be ready to close the Disney deal January 1, 2019.

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COMICS-FILM - From YahooET:  Maggie Gyllenhaal remembers her "The Dark Knight" co-star, the late Heath Ledger, for being "on a whole other level" on the set of Chris Nolan's 2008 film.

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AWARDS-MUSIC - From PopSugar:  Here is a list winners from the 2018 American Movie Awards.

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STAR TREK - From Deadline:  First look at Rebecca Romijn as "Number One" on CBS All Access' "Star Trek: Discovery" Season 2.

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COMICS-TV - From YahooEntertainment:  First look at actress Ruby Red as "Batwoman" has been released.  Batwoman will appear in The CW's "Arrowverse" event that crossover through episodes of "Arrow," "The Flash," and "Supergirl."

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COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  James Gunn is in talks to writer "Suicide Squad 2" for Warner Bros./DC Comics, with the possibility of directing the film also.

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MUSIC - From RockHall:  Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Radiohead among 15 nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. The acts that win induction for the Class of 2019 will be announced in December (2018).

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TELEVISION - From ShadowandAct:  Fox is developing a late-night talk show featuring Nick Cannon.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Michael Pena of Marvel's "Ant-Man" franchise, is to play "Mr. Roarke" in a film based on the classic TV series, "Fantasy Island."  The late Ricardo Montalban originated the role on the ABC series.

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MUSIC - From RollingStone:  Foo Fighters stage Nirvana reunion.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/5 to 10/7/2018 weekend box office is "Venom" with an estimated take of $80 million.  That is the largest box office opening weekend for October.

From TheWrap:  "The Hate U Give" and "Free Solo" lead indie box office.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, Alex Gibney, talks about how his film, "No Stone Unturned" could cause him to be arrested.

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JAMES BOND - From IndieWire:  Don't expect a female James Bond, says Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

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BUSINESS - From QZ:  Did you know that Amazon has its own private brands?

OBITS:

From ESPN:  Basketball coach and innovator, Fred "Tex" Winter, has died at the age of 96, Wednesday, October 10, 2018.  Winter pioneered the "triangle offense," which helped propel the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls to multiple NBA championships.

From Variety:  Movie producer, Arnold Kopelson, has died at the age of 83, Monday, October 8, 2018.  Kopelson won a "Best Picture" Oscar for producing Oliver Stone's film, "Platoon."   He earned a "Best Picture" Oscar nomination for producing "The Fugitive."

From Variety:   The actor, Scott Wilson, has died at the age of 76; it was announced Saturday, October 6, 2018.  Wilson was best known for playing the farmer, "Hershel Green," on AMC's "The Walking Dead" from 2011 to 2014.

From Deadline:  The actress, Celeste Yarnell, has died at the age of 74, Sunday, October 7, 2018.  "Star Trek" fans remember her for playing "Yeomen Martha London" in the "Star Trek: The Original Series" second season episode, "The Apple."  She appeared in a number of episodes of TV series in the 1960s and 1970s and in the 1968 Elvis Presley film, "Live a Little, Love a Little."

Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Adele to Perform at 58th Grammy Telecast

GRAMMY® Nominees Kendrick Lamar, Little Big Town, and The Weeknd to Perform on the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

10-Time GRAMMY Winner Adele Returns to the GRAMMY Stage

Special Tribute to Honor GRAMMY Winner and MusiCares® Person of the Year Lionel Richie

Music's Biggest Night® — Hosted By LL COOL J — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 15, 2016

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The first round of performers for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® telecast has been announced and includes two-time GRAMMY® winner and current 11-time nominee Kendrick Lamar, GRAMMY winners and current two-time nominees Little Big Town, current seven-time nominee The Weeknd, and 10-time GRAMMY winner Adele. A special tribute to 2016 MusiCares® Person of the Year, Lionel Richie, will highlight the GRAMMY winner's wide-ranging career. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J is set to host Music's Biggest Night® for the fifth consecutive year. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Additional performers will be announced shortly.

This year's top GRAMMY nominee, Lamar is up for Album Of The Year (To Pimp A Butterfly), Song Of The Year ("Alright"), Best Rap Performance ("Alright"), Best Rap Song ("All Day" and "Alright"), Best Rap Album (To Pimp A Butterfly), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (with Taylor Swift for "Bad Blood"), Best Music Video ("Alright" and "Bad Blood"), Best Dance Recording (with Flying Lotus for "Never Catch Me"), and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("These Walls").

Nominated for two awards, Little Big Town will take the GRAMMY stage for the first time. The band is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance ("Girl Crush") and Best Country Album (Pain Killer).

This year's GRAMMY telecast will also mark The Weeknd's debut GRAMMY performance. One of this year's most nominated artists, The Weeknd received seven nominations: Record Of The Year ("Can't Feel My Face"), Album Of The Year (Beauty Behind The Madness), Best Pop Solo Performance ("Can't Feel My Face"), Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Song Written For Visual Media ("Earned It [Fifty Shades of Grey]"), and Best Urban Contemporary Album (Beauty Behind The Madness).

Returning to the GRAMMY stage after four years, GRAMMY winner Adele will perform a track from her current blockbuster album, 25.

The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

For the latest news and content, follow the GRAMMY conversation on social:

Facebook: Facebook.com/theGRAMMYs
Twitter: @theGRAMMYs
Instagram: @thegrammys
Snapchat: thegrammys
Tumblr: thegrammys.tumblr.com
Vine: vine.co.theGRAMMYs
Cheat Tweet: .@theGRAMMYs announce @kendricklamar @theweeknd @littlebigtown @adele to perform at #GRAMMYs


About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards® — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education, and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

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Spike TV Launches "Spike UK"

Spike Bursts onto UK Television with Breaking Bad, Big-Name Talent and British Commissions

Stephen Merchant, Vinnie Jones to feature from 15th April launch

Breaking Bad to air in its entirety for 1st time on British TV and new seasons of The Walking Dead

US pop culture phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle joins lineup for new channel
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new free-to-view TV channel will launch with a bang in millions of UK homes on 15th April, when Spike goes on air offering a mix of British commissions and big-name talent alongside a range of acclaimed drama and entertainment.

    “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”

Original commissions will feature prominently on Spike from launch. Police Interceptors Unleashed marks a return to British TV screens for actor and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, who will front the series, following the work of the high-speed police interception unit. Another new series, Tattoo Disasters UK, will seek out some of the most painful examples of British body art and the individuals having to learn to live with their inky mistakes.

Spike’s launch line-up will also feature some of the most acclaimed and talked about TV drama of recent times, including Breaking Bad, which will be broadcast from start to finish for the first time on British TV. The latest and fifth series of The Walking Dead will also be available on Spike, the first time it will be accessible free-to-air to British TV viewers.

Other acquired dramas that will broadcast on Spike from launch include the British TV premiere of mythological blockbuster, Olympus, Emmy nominated Justified and crime thriller Sons of Anarchy.

Lip Sync Battle, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winner LL COOL J, will be the entertainment flagship of Spike’s launch schedule. The highly-anticipated half-hour original series – based on the cultural phenomenon of lip sync battling seen by millions on television and online – has been created by Jimmy Fallon and his Eight Million Plus Productions, Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies, Extras, The Ricky Gervais Show), John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land, It’s Complicated), Matador (Banksy Does New York) and Casey Patterson. Merchant also features on-screen as one of the many A-list musical combatants in the series.

Social media comedy phenomenon, Fail Army, has also been reworked for television and will be introduced to UK TV audiences by Spike.

Spike will also be the UK TV home of mixed martial arts. The channel will televise Bellator MMA, the emerging sports franchise featuring many of the world’s greatest fighters including British champion, Liam McGeary, and Paul Daley. Spike has also signed an exclusive deal with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) for its tournaments, which will feature in a Saturday 'Fight Night.'

The channel will also offer a range of reality series from Spike in the US, including Catch a Contractor and Frankenfood, as well as repeats of some of Channel 5's most popular factual output.

The 24-hour network will be available from launch on the majority of the UK’s digital TV platforms, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview, on which it will occupy channel slot 31.

Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Programme Director, whose editorial team will oversee commissioning, scheduling and acquisitions for the new channel, said: “Spike is a driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now. I can’t wait to see our viewers embrace this exhilarating new channel.”


About Spike UK
Spike UK is the latest general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 stable, bringing its portfolio of free-to-air UK networks to nine. The channel will be available from launch on 15th April via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV, Freesat and Freeview on which it will occupy channel slot 31. Spike UK offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the U.S., which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks. Both Spike in the U.S. and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Live It Like Spike by accessing www.spiketv.co.uk and following the channel on social media – twitter.com/spiketvuk and www.facebook.com/SpikeTVUK.

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The Grammys Announces All-Star Line-up of Presenters for 57th Annual Grammy Awards

The Biggest Stars Join Music's Biggest Night® as Presenters Line up for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Dierks Bentley, James Corden, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Barry Gibb, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pentatonix, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Keith Urban, The Weeknd, And Stevie Wonder Are Set To Present On The 57th GRAMMY Awards

LL COOL J Returns To Host Music's Biggest Night® Airing Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A diverse, all-star lineup of celebrities will take the stage as presenters for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. This year's presenters – which include GRAMMY® nominees, previous winners and stars from film and TV – are: GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley; actor and late night TV host James Corden; current nominee Miley Cyrus; actor Josh Duhamel; Academy Award® and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx; nine-time GRAMMY winner Barry Gibb; 15-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl; Academy Award and GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jennifer Hudson; four-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY winner Enrique Iglesias; singer Nick Jonas; actress Anna Kendrick; actor Shia LaBeouf; actress Katharine McPhee; current nominee Nicki Minaj; Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow; current nominees Pentatonix; GRAMMY winner Smokey Robinson; three-time GRAMMY winner Nile Rodgers; Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriguez; Emmy®-winning TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Taylor Swift; current nominee Meghan Trainor; four-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Keith Urban; GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and 25-time GRAMMY winner Stevie Wonder; and singer The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Previously announced performers are GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Beck; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Tony Bennett; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Mary J. Blige; nominee Eric Church; nominee Brandy Clark; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Common; nominee Ariana Grande; GRAMMY winner Herbie Hancock; nominee Hozier; nominee Jessie J; GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; 20-time Latin GRAMMY winner and current nominee Juanes; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Lady Gaga; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Miranda Lambert; internationally acclaimed pianist and GRAMMY Cultural Ambassador To China Lang Lang; GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Annie Lennox; GRAMMY winner Adam Levine; the legendary Jeff Lynne's ELO; GRAMMY winner Madonna; GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Chris Martin; GRAMMY winner John Mayer; nominee Katy Perry; GRAMMY winner Questlove; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Rihanna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sia; nominee Sam Smith; GRAMMY winner Gwen Stefani; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Usher; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Kanye West; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Pharrell Williams; and GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

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LL Cool J to Host the 57th Annual Grammy Awards

Two-Time GRAMMY® Winner LL COOL J Returns to Host the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Watch What Happens on Music's Biggest Night®, Live on CBS, Feb. 8, 2015

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY® winner LL COOL J is set to return as host of the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® marking his fourth consecutive year as MC. Over the years, the dynamic host has presided over 10 GRAMMY shows, tributes, and specials, and served as a producer for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®" and "A Very GRAMMY Christmas" holiday special.

    “As both a GRAMMY-winning recording artist and an accomplished actor, LL COOL J's wide range of talent, dynamic personality, and charismatic energy make him the perfect choice to host the GRAMMY Awards”

"As both a GRAMMY-winning recording artist and an accomplished actor, LL COOL J's wide range of talent, dynamic personality, and charismatic energy make him the perfect choice to host the GRAMMY Awards," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "His unique expertise allows him to set the right tone for the show and connect with everyone — from his musical peers to fans at home. We are honored to have him back."

"I'm thrilled to again be part of Music's Biggest Night," said LL COOL J. "The performances and moments you see on the GRAMMY stage are nothing less than amazing throughout the years and this year's show is shaping up to be one you will never forget."

The lineup for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards currently includes previously announced performers AC/DC, Eric Church, Common, Ariana Grande, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Usher, and Pharrell Williams. The eclectic lineup sets the stage for what's sure to be an incredible night for music. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.


About The Recording Academy®
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.

About LL COOL J:
LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has found great success crossing into multiple mediums. A two-time GRAMMY winner, recording artist, talented actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur and philanthropist, LL continues to display his wide range of talents with every project. First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Records flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass 10 consecutive platinum-plus selling albums. The multi-platinum artist and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee is currently tied for third place for most Billboard chart debuts by a rapper. As an actor, LL COOL J has successfully transitioned to one of the consistently highest rated shows on television. He currently stars in the CBS hit primetime drama series, "NCIS: LOS ANGELES," and his performance on the show garnered him a NAACP Image Award four years in a row for his role as Special Agent Sam Hanna. Continuing his musical expedition three decades after he first released music, LL most recently released his critically acclaimed album Authentic, which scored him his 13th Top 10 Album on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart.

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BET Chronicles Hip Hop in "The Message" 4-Part Documentary

BET Networks Celebrates Black Music Month with the Launch of “The Message,” a Four Part Hip Hop Documentary Exploring the Evolution of Hip Hop Culture and Music over the Past 40 Years

Features Hip Hop Heavyweights Including Russell Simmons, Ice Cube, Birdman, Pharrell, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, MC Lyte, Master P and More

Premieres June 4 at 10PM ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BET Networks launches “THE MESSAGE,” a provocative documentary showcasing the influence of Hip Hop and how its sheer power has changed the sociopolitical landscape of America as well as the world. The four part narrative explores the factors behind its longevity and covers more than 40 years of this uniquely urban voice born in the streets of the South Bronx. “THE MESSAGE” examines the digital boom that transformed the sound, face and business of Hip Hop over the last 15 years and explores the expansion of the genre throughout the U.S, and the impact each region had on its collective voice. “THE MESSAGE” premieres on BET Networks on Wednesday, June 4 at 10:00 pm ET, followed by new episodes every Wednesday throughout the month of June.

    “Hip Hop is a seed planted and nourished amongst the “broken glass everywhere”

“Hip Hop is a seed planted and nourished amongst the “broken glass everywhere” of mid-seventies New York. It has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon and the dominant culture of at least one generation. This exciting series examines the origin and the path of the music and message taking care to objectively analyze its factions and movements,” said Stephen Hill, President of Music Programing and Specials, BET Networks.

“THE MESSAGE” features intimate first person testimonies from Hip Hop’s most influential contributors including Russell Simmons, Ice Cube, Birdman, Pharrell, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, MC Lyte, Master P, LL Cool J, Big Boi, Bun B, 2 Chainz, Eve, Angie Martinez, Funkmaster Flex, Luther Campbell, Clive Davis, Mona Scott-Young, Questlove, A$AP Rocky, E-40, David Banner, Fab Five Freddy, Nelson George, Big Tigger, Sway and many more including Chris Lighty’s final on-air interview.

“THE MESSAGE” will be broken down into four, one hour episodes:

Episode 1 – The Birth and Proliferation of Hip Hop – The premiere episode traces the roots of Hip Hop from its birth in New York and spread to California with limited support from the mainstream media. Watch your favorite rappers reminisce on the first time they heard Hip Hop and be transported to the block parties, DJ Kool Herc’s sound system and the infectious rhymes of the Universal Zulu Nation and Grandmaster Flash. Premieres June 4 at 10:00 pm

Episode 2 – Trials and Tribulations – Will Hip Hop be able to grow up in a world that is no longer just about peace, love, unity and having fun? Hip Hop faces its first roadblocks with violent realities and extreme opposition from those who disagree with its messaging. Meanwhile, a new voice begins to form. Premieres June 11 at 10:00 pm

Episode 3 – Women, Cash, Clothes - Hip Hop explores a new reality of lasciviousness, wealth and entrepreneurship characterized by fast cars, big jewelry, the birth of the video vixen and the start of popular clothing lines including Rocawear, Sean Jean and Wu Wear. Premieres June 18 at 10:00 pm

Episode 4 – The Digital Revolution – The Internet creates new opportunities for Hip Hop to change the face of America. From the rise of the first major Internet superstar rapper Soulja Boy to the infamous 360 deals, this episode explores the future of Hip Hop. Premieres June 25 at 10:00 pm

Narrated by Joe Budden, “THE MESSAGE” is produced by Sam Walker II, Director of Music Specials and Productions, BET Networks, Keith Clinkscales and The Shadow League Media. For more information, visit www.bet.com/themessage and join the conversation on social media with #TheMessage.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA, VIAB), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Follow us on @BET_PR

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Review: "Deep Blue Sea" is a Good Shark Movie (Happy B'day, LL Cool J)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 30 (of 2002) by Leroy Douresseaux

Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Running time:  105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – R for graphic shark attacks, and for language
DIRECTOR:  Renny Harlin
WRITERS:  Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, and Wayne Powers
PRODUCERS:  Akiva Goldsman, Tony Ludwig, Don MacBain, and Alan Riche
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Stephen Windon
EDITORS:  Derek G. Brechin, Dallas S. Puett, and Frank J. Urioste
COMPOSER:  Trevor Rabin

THRILLER/SCI-FI/HORROR

Starring:  Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Jacqueline McKenzie, Aida Turturro, and Samuel L. Jackson

The subject of this movie review is Deep Blue Sea, a 1999 science fiction thriller and horror film from director Renny Harlin.  The film takes place on an isolated, sea-based research facility where a group of scientists find themselves being hunted by a trio of intelligent sharks.

On an isolated underwater research facility, a group of scientists search for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease using Mako sharks.  Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) and Jim Whitlock (Stellan Skarsgard) have illegally used genetic engineering to make the sharks’ brains bigger.  When Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson), the businessman who funds the disease research, arrives at the facility, the sharks are already bigger, faster, and more aggressive.

During a severe storm, the scientists celebrate their success.  However, the intelligent sharks take advantage of the storm to make an attack upon the facility that causes it to begin sinking.  A shark wrangler, Carter Blake (Thomas Jane), and the facility’s cook, Preacher (James T. Smith/LL Cool J), lead a group of survivors in a race to reach the surface while the facility quickly floods.  The sharks also gain entrance to the facility and hunt the fleeing humans.

Directed by Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight), Deep Blue Sea is a cat and mouse game in which the characters run an obstacle course to save their lives.  Harlin and the film’s writers continually drop trouble in the lap of the cast, who must use every resource at hand to save themselves.  Deep Blue Sea is not Jaws.  While the latter remains a powerful suspense thriller, the former is a quite effective edge-of-your-seat action movie.  Harlin has a knack for taking what could have been only pedestrian material and making good, light entertainment.

The cast is quite good, and LL Cool J adds a touch of humor to the film as Preacher.  Thomas Jane’s Blake and Cool J’s Preacher are the characters with whom we identify and attach ourselves.  One is the stoic, tough action guy and the other is funny man who keeps the show from getting too serious.  Samuel L Jackson is once again the actor who brings an air of seriousness in a performance that is quite good and that sets the tone for the film.  Much of the cast is shark fodder, but each one is determined to give a solid performance.  Deep Blue Sea is quite a bit of fun and stands up to repeated viewings.  It won’t be remembered as a cinematic classic, but it is a good time.  Quite a few action films try to be that and fail, but Deep Blue Sea delivers.

6 of 10
B

NOTE:
2000 Image Awards:  1 nomination:  “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (LL Cool J)

Updated:  Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Sandra Bullock Among Stars to Appear at 2014 People's Choice Awards

Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Sandra Bullock, Ellen DeGeneres, LL COOL J, Josh Holloway and Many More to Attend PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2014

People’s Choice Awards To Air Live on CBS Wednesday, January 8, 2014

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Sandra Bullock, Kaley Cuoco, Ellen DeGeneres, Emily Deschanel, Roma Downey, Marg Helgenberger, Josh Holloway, LL COOL J, Chris O’Donnell, Michael Weatherly and many more are scheduled to attend PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2014, to be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8 (9:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, hosted by Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls).

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2014, which is Executive Produced by Mark Burnett and Jane Mun, will feature performances of the Grammy-nominated song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles and the chart-topping single “Counting Stars” from OneRepublic. The live show will also feature comedy pre-tapes starring the host and a series of special guests. All PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2014 winners will receive a Waterford Crystal trophy, individually handcrafted in Ireland by Waterford, the official trophy designer and manufacturer of the People’s Choice Awards.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2014 winners, nominees and categories are determined by the fans who thus far, have logged a record-breaking half a billion votes. The categories of “Favorite New TV Comedy,” “Favorite New TV Drama,” and “Favorite Music Fan Following” remain open for voting at http://www.PeoplesChoice.com/pca/vote/ until show night.

ABOUT PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Now in its 40th year, the People’s Choice Awards continues to be the only major awards show voted on entirely by the public for fan favorites in music, movies and television. The People’s Choice official website at www.PeoplesChoice.com houses the voting platform where fans determine the categories, nominees and winners for the annual awards show. Every year, potential nominees are determined by national ratings averages, box-office grosses, music sales, social media presence and PeoplesChoice.com data, then vetted through EPoll Market Research. Fred Nelson is the President of People’s Choice, Mark Burnett and Jane Mun are the Executive Producers and the awards show is produced by Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc. [NYSE:PG].

CHEAT TWEET: Tune in to CBS on Jan 8 to see @jessicaalba @xtina @TheEllenShow @LLCoolJ and more! #PeoplesChoice

Website: http://www.PeoplesChoice.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/peopleschoice

People’s Choice Awards Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeoplesChoice

Twitter: @peopleschoice

Instagram: @peopleschoice

Review: "S.W.A.T." is by the Book Crime Thriller

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 126 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

S.W.A.T. (2003)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence, language and sexual references
DIRECTOR:  Clark Johnson
WRITERS:  David Ayer and David McKenna; from a story by Ron Mita and Jim McClain (based upon characters by David Hamner)
PRODUCERS:  Dan Halsted, Chris Lee, and Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Gabriel Beristain
EDITOR:  Michael Tronick
COMPOSER:  Elliot Goldenthal

ACTION/CRIME/DRAMA

Starring:  Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt, Olivier Martinez, Reginald E. Cathey, Larry Poindexter, and James DuMont

The subject of this movie review is S.W.A.T., a 2003 action-thriller and crime film.  The film is based on the short-lived television series, “S.W.A.T.”  This ABC action-crime drama (Feb. 1975 to April 1976) was created by Robert Hamner and Lee Stanley.  In S.W.A.T. the movie, S.W.A.T. tries to prevent an imprisoned drug kingpin from breaking out of police custody.

When the law gets a hold of Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez), billionaire drug lord and arms dealer, Montel offers 100 million dollars (say it in a heavy Al Pacino/Tony Montana accent to get the full effect) to anyone who can free him.  Who you gonna call?  How about the Los Angeles Police Department’s finest – S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics)?

Led by a legendary S.W.A.T. veteran, Sgt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson), the group includes LAPD’s best, brightest, and toughest: Jim Street (Colin Farrell) a disgraced S.W.A.T. officer Hondo gives a second chance; Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez), repeatedly denied admission into the S.W.A.T. program because she is a female; and David “Deke” Kay (LL Cool J), a tough street cop who can run down you and yo mama.

S.W.A.T. is a by the book action thriller that correctly presses all the right buttons except those bothersome story and character buttons.  But the fireworks, explosions, gunshots, and machismo all work, and that’s pretty much all that’s needed to make an successful action movie – one that doesn’t make you feel like you’ve wasted your money as soon as you leave the theatre.  The plot is simple and straight, and the script contains familiar American archetypes:  Jackson’s Hondo is the black mentor to Farrell’s Street, the dangerous young white stud.  Hollywood seems intent on making Farrell a matinee idol whether the matinee wants him or not.

The movie was fun, a pleasant distraction, pleasantly intense, not manically and obscenely intense like Bad Boys II, but intense in a way that lets us get excited about overwrought gun battles.  There’s even an ultra hilarious segment in which an L.A. street gang tries to liberate Montel for his 100 meeeeell-yon dollerz!  There’s no meaningful drama in the story, nothing to make you really care for the characters other than the fact that you’d like to see Street show the department it was wrong for disgracing him.  But this is good film popcorn, one I’d heartily recommend to fans of hardcore action films and one I’ll see again.

Of course, if you want a gritty cop film, something with meat on the bones, there’s always Joe Carnahan’s Narc.

5 of 10
B-

NOTES:
2004 Black Reel Awards:  1 nomination: “Best Film” (Christopher Lee, Neal H. Moritz, and Dan Halsted)

2004 Image Awards:  1 nomination: “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Samuel L. Jackson)

Updated:  Wednesday, August 07, 2013

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Review: "Charlie’s Angels" Pure Pop Pleasure

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 99 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux


Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Running time: 98 minutes (1 hour, 38 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for action violence, innuendo and some sensuality/nudity
DIRECTOR: McG
WRITERS: Ryan Rowe, Ed Solomon, and John August (from the television series by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts)
PRODUCERS: Drew Barrymore, Leonard Goldberg, and Nancy Juvonen
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Russell Carpenter (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Peter Teschner and Wayne Wahrman
COMPOSER: Edward Shearmur

ACTION/COMEDY

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Bill Murray, Sam Rockwell, Kelly Lynch, Tim Curry, Crispin Glover, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, Tom Green, LL Cool J, and John Forsythe (voice)

The subject of this movie review is Charlie’s Angels, a 2000 action comedy from director McG (the stage name of Joseph McGinty Nichol). The film is an adaptation of the television series, “Charlie’s Angels,” which was originally broadcast on ABC from 1976 to 1981. The film stars Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women employed by a private investigation agency and working for the voice known as “Charlie.”

When I first saw Charlie’s Angels, the big-screen adaptation of the late 70’s television series of the same name, I was sure that it was the best action/comedy that I’d seen in years, if ever. Having seen it again in anticipation of the 2003 sequel, I’m sure that it is one of the best action movies I’ve ever seen and one of the best action/comedies ever made. Although the film’s tongue is firmly planted in the Angel’s cheeks and the film is geared towards men, it’s so very entertaining that everyone should get the joke.

The mysterious Charles “Charlie” Townsend (voice of John Forsythe) has three very special little ladies in his employ: Natalie Cook (Cameron Diaz), Dylan Sanders (Drew Barrymore), and Alex Munday (Lucy Liu). Under the supervision of John Bosley (Bill Murray), Charlie’s Angels use martial arts, high tech skills, and sex appeal in their investigation work for clients who can afford Charlie’s agency. This time the client is kidnap victim Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell) who runs a giant software company. The girls not only have to rescue him, but also have to retrieve Knox’s revolutionary voice-ID software. However, the girls run into more than they were told to expect, including a sleazy billionaire (Tim Curry) and his mysterious, tall, thin, ass-kickin’ bodyguard (Crispin Glover).

Directed by music video maestro McG (videos for Korn and Sugar Ray, among others), Charlie's Angels is a high-octane, comic book-styled, action movie parody and farce. None of it should be taken seriously, least of all its conspiracy-within-a-conspiracy script. This is played for fun, recalling the best action movie scenes and clichés: car chases, exploding buildings, pumping soundtrack, quick-cut editing, and Matrix-style “wire-fu” martial arts. Maybe the funniest thing about this film is that this time women do the butt stomping. Usually in action movies, the girls are just the hang-ons of the male stars, following them around and screaming at the appropriate moments during gun fights, fist fights, car chases, aircraft falling out the sky, explosions, etc. This time the girls are in control. This time their sex appeal rules the story instead of just being sex used to decorate the violence. The ladies kick the butts and leave the men panting.

It’s all done so stylishly, and it’s all good and so cool. The vapid material gets inspired performances from the cast, but the actors really make this fun to watch. Bill Murray is tired though. His Bosley is just him doing his shtick, but it is so uninspired that he should have been embarrassed to see himself in the finished product. He was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong again.

But don’t let that keep you from watching this funny, exciting, and very wild action cartoon. Come on. Pull the stick out. Sit back and be entertained by this delicious serving of popcorn movie.

7 or 10
B+

NOTES:
2001 Black Reel Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Song” (Jean Claude Olivier-Writer, Samuel Barnes-Writer, Cory Rooney-Writer, Beyoncé Knowles-Writer, and Destiny’s Child-Performers for the song “Independent Women Part 1”)

Updated: Thursday, June 27, 2013

"Babel" Wins "Album of the Year" at 2013 Grammys

by Leroy Douresseaux

Babel, the second album from English folk rock band, Mumford and Sons, won "Album of the Year" at the 55th Grammy Awards.  Dan Auerbach was the night's big winner, winning four trophies - three as a member of The Black Keys and one as "Producer of the Year, Non-Classical."

The 55th Grammy Awards were held on February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show was broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and hosted for the second time by LL Cool J. Nominations were announced on December 5, 2012.

There are currently 81 categories, up from 78 at the 54th Grammy Awards. The three new categories are “Best Classical Compendium,” “Best Latin Jazz Album,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.”  A full list of winners can be found at www.grammy.com or www.grammy.org.

Winners in top categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year:
"Somebody That I Used To Know," Gotye Featuring Kimbra
- Wally de Backer, producer; Wally de Backer & François Tétaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer

Album of the Year:
"Babel," Mumford & Sons
- Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Song of the Year:
"We Are Young," Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe).

New Artist:
fun.

Pop Vocal Album:
"Stronger," Kelly Clarkson

Rock Album:
"El Camino," The Black Keys

R&B Album:
"Black Radio," Robert Glasper Experiment

Rap Album:
"Take Care," Drake

Country Album:
"Uncaged," Zac Brown Band

Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album:
"Imaginaries," Quetzal

Jazz Vocal Album:
"Radio Music Society," Esperanza Spalding

A top category that does not get enough attention, as far as I’m concerned:

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Dan Auerbach (from The Black Keys)

Of concern to movie fans are the film music and soundtrack categories:

Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (best movie soundtrack):
Midnight In Paris – Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (best original music-score for a film):
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers

Best Song Written for Visual Media (best song for film or television):
"Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games)
 - T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (performed Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)

Nominees in the three new categories for the 55th Grammys:

Best Classical Compendium:
Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis - Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers

Best Latin Jazz Album:
¡Ritmo! – The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

Review: "Halloween H20" is a Standout in the Franchise

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 82 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Running time: 86 minutes (1 hour, 26 minutes)
MPAA – R for terror violence/gore and language
DIRECTOR: Steve Miner
WRITERS: Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg; from a story by Robert Zappia (based on the characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill)
PRODUCER: Paul Freeman
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Daryn Okada
EDITOR: Patrick Lussier
COMPOSER: John Ottman with Marco Beltrami and Jeremy Sweet

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, LL Cool J, Adam Hann-Byrd, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Janet Leigh, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nancy Stephens, and Chris Durand

The subject of this movie review is Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, a 1998 slasher film from director Steve Miner. Although he is only credited as one of the executive producers, Kevin Williamson, the screenwriter of the hit horror movie, Scream, contributed as a writer on Halloween H20.

Halloween H20 is also the seventh film in the Halloween horror film franchise that began in 1978 with the highly influential John Carpenter film, Halloween. Halloween H20 takes place 20 years after the events depicted in Halloween and its sequel, Halloween II (1981). Once again, the cursed brother-sister duo of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode must struggle against one another. Halloween H20 ignores the third (which did not involve Michael Myers) through the sixth installments of the franchise.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later opens in 1998. As Halloween approaches, Michael Myers (Chris Durand) reappears. Meanwhile, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is living in Summer Glen, Northern California under the assumed name, “Keri Tate.” She is the headmistress at the posh, secluded, private boarding school, Hillcrest Academy High School. Laurie also has a boyfriend, Will Brennan (Adam Arkin), but her life isn’t quite perfect. She is a functioning alcoholic, forever fearful that Michael will come coming looking for her. Her son, 17-year-old John Tate (Josh Hartnett), is tired of dealing with his mother’s paranoia. On Halloween night, however, John will discover that his mother has to face her fears one more time.

I have to keep it real. I really like Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. I have seen it in its entirety three times, and I still watch bit and pieces of it whenever it is shown on television. It never fails to thrill me, and it is easily the best Halloween film since the first two. I give a lot of the credit for this movie’s quality to director Steve Miner and the various screenwriters.

Miner is a veteran film director, having helmed several horror films, including House (1986), Lake Placid (1999), and two installments of the Friday the 13th franchise. Miner uses some of the techniques that Carpenter used in the original film. He builds intensity with musical cues, eschews gore in scenes of violent death, uses darkness and shadow to create an atmosphere that suggests fear and mystery, and turns every setting into a place of danger, regardless of the time of day. Halloween H20 is quiet and ominous rather than frantic and clumsy, which some of the Halloween films are.

I don’t know which writers contributed what to the screenplay, but clearly (to me at least) the respect for the original films comes first for Kevin Williamson. Halloween H20 is smooth and also stripped down to its raw essence: Michael Myers’ relentless drive to kill his sister and Laurie’s naked fear of Michael finding her and killing both her and her son.

Without John Carpenter and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the Myers character had not been able to carry this franchise. With Myers alone, each Halloween was simply another bad slasher flick – a movie that was little more than product turned out, like a cheap fast food hamburger, to separate a sucker from his money. With Miner doing his best work, Curtis returns and makes Halloween H20: 20 Years Later one of the best horror movies of the 1990s. It is scary, thrilling, a little funny, and sometimes a nail-biter. The people that control this franchise should have stopped here.

8 of 10
A

Thursday, November 01, 2012

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The 43rd NAACP Image Awards Winners: Television Categories

The 2012 NAACP Image Awards winners:

Television:

Comedy series: "Tyler Perry's House of Payne"

Actor in a comedy series: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, "Reed Between the Lines"

Actress in a comedy series: Tracee Ellis Ross, "Reed Between the Lines"

Supporting actor in a comedy series: Nick Cannon, "Up All Night"

Supporting actress in a comedy series: Keshia Knight Pulliam, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne"

Drama series: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Actor in a drama series: LL Cool J, "NCIS: Los Angeles"

Actress in a drama series: Regina King, "SouthLAnd"

Supporting actor in a drama series: James Pickens, Jr., "Grey's Anatomy"

Supporting actress in a drama series: Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"

TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: "Thurgood"

Actor in a TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"

Actress in a TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Taraji P. Henson, "Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story"

Actor in a daytime drama series: Emerson Brooks, "All My Children"

Actress in a daytime drama series: Tatyana Ali, "The Young and the Restless"

News/information, series or special: "Unsung"

Talk series: "Oprah's Lifeclass"

Reality series: "Dancing With the Stars"

Variety series or special: "Oprah Presents: Master Class"

Children's program: "I Can Be President: A Kid's-Eye View"

Performance in a children's program, series or special: Keke Palmer, "True Jackson, VP"

Writing:
Comedy series: Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil, "The Game"
Dramatic series: Lolis Eric Elie, "Treme"

Directing:
Comedy series: Leonard R. Garner, Jr., "Rules of Engagement"
Dramatic series: Ernest Dickerson, "Treme"

Eminem Leads Grammy Nominations, Justin Bieber Scores "Best New Artist" Nod

Press release:

Eminem Leads GRAMMY® Nominations with 10; Bruno Mars Earns Seven; Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum, and Lady Gaga Each Garner Six; and Jeff Beck, B.o.B, David Frost, Philip Lawrence, and John Legend Each Earn Five

Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry Vie for Album of the Year at 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Feb. 13, 2011, Live on CBS

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nominations for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® (http://www.grammy.com/) were announced tonight by The Recording Academy® and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year, as determined by the voting members of The Academy. For the third year, nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced on primetime television as part of "The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®," a one-hour special broadcast live on CBS from Club Nokia at L.A. Live. The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 13, 2011, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys. For a complete nominations list, please visit http://www.grammy.com/.

Eminem tops the nominations with 10; Bruno Mars garners seven; and Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum, and Lady Gaga each earn six nods. Jeff Beck, B.o.B, David Frost, Philip Lawrence, and John Legend receive five each; and Alex Da Kid, the Black Keys, Drake, Cee Lo Green, Ari Levine, Katy Perry, Rihanna, the Roots, Dirk Sobotka, and Zac Brown each have four nominations.

"This year's nominations are a true reflection of an exceptional and talented community of music makers that embody some of the highest levels of excellence and artistry in their respective fields," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "It is most gratifying to see the GRAMMY Awards process once again produce a broad cross-section of diverse and impressive nominees across multiple genres. Coupled with the third year of our primetime nominations special, the road to Music's Biggest Night, the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in February, is off to an exciting start."

Following is a sampling of nominations in 108 categories from the GRAMMY Awards' 30 Fields:

GENERAL FIELD

Album Of The Year:
The Suburbs — Arcade Fire
Recovery — Eminem
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster — Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream — Katy Perry

Record Of The Year:
"Nothin' On You" — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Love The Way You Lie" — Eminem Featuring Rihanna
"F*** You" — Cee Lo Green
"Empire State Of Mind" — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
"Need You Now" — Lady Antebellum

Best New Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & The Machine
Mumford & Sons
Esperanza Spalding

Song Of The Year:
"Beg Steal Or Borrow" — Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
"F*** You" — Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
"The House That Built Me" —Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Love The Way You Lie" — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
"Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

POP FIELD

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
"Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version)" — "Glee" Cast
"Misery" — Maroon 5
"The Only Exception" — Paramore
"Babyfather" — Sade
"Hey, Soul Sister (Live)" — Train

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
"Airplanes II" — B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams
"Imagine" — Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
"If It Wasn't For Bad" — Elton John & Leon Russell
"Telephone" — Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
"California Gurls" — Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

DANCE FIELD

Best Dance Recording:
"Rocket" — Goldfrapp
"In For The Kill" — La Roux
"Dance In The Dark" — Lady Gaga
"Only Girl (In The World)" — Rihanna
"Dancing On My Own" — Robyn

ROCK FIELD

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
"Ready To Start" — Arcade Fire
"I Put A Spell On You" — Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
"Tighten Up" — The Black Keys
"Radioactive" — Kings Of Leon
"Resistance" — Muse

Best Hard Rock Performance:
"A Looking In View" — Alice In Chains
"Let Me Hear You Scream" — Ozzy Osbourne
"Black Rain" — Soundgarden
"Between The Lines" — Stone Temple Pilots
"New Fang" — Them Crooked Vultures

Best Rock Song:
"Angry World" — Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
"Little Lion Man" — Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
"Radioactive" — Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
"Resistance" — Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
"Tighten Up" — Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriter (The Black Keys)

ALTERNATIVE FIELD

Best Alternative Music Album
The Suburbs — Arcade Fire
Infinite Arms — Band Of Horses
Brothers — The Black Keys
Broken Bells — Broken Bells
Contra — Vampire Weekend

R&B FIELD

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
"Take My Time" — Chris Brown & Tank
"Love" — Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller
"You've Got A Friend" — Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
"Shine" — John Legend & The Roots
"Soldier Of Love" — Sade

Best Contemporary R&B Album:
Graffiti — Chris Brown
Untitled — R. Kelly
Transition — Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid — Janelle Monáe
Raymond V Raymond — Usher

RAP FIELD

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Nothin' On You" — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Deuces" — Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
"Love The Way You Lie" — Eminem & Rihanna
"Empire State Of Mind" — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
"Wake Up! Everybody" — John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song:
"Empire State Of Mind" — Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)
"Love The Way You Lie" — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)
"Not Afraid" — M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem)
"Nothin' On You" — Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars)
"On To The Next One" — Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Best Rap Album:
The Adventures Of Bobby Ray — B.o.B
Thank Me Later — Drake
Recovery — Eminem
The Blueprint 3 — Jay-Z
How I Got Over — The Roots

COUNTRY FIELD

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
"Bad Angel" — Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
"Pride (In The Name Of Love)" — Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
"As She's Walking Away" — Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
"Hillbilly Bone" — Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
"I Run To You" — Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Best Country Song:
"The Breath You Take" — Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
"Free" — Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
"The House That Built Me" — Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"I'd Love To Be Your Last" — Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
"If I Die Young" — Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
"Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Best Country Album:
Up On The Ridge — Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give — Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song — Jamey Johnson
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Revolution — Miranda Lambert

AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD

Best Americana Album:
The List — Rosanne Cash
Tin Can Trust — Los Lobos
Country Music — Willie Nelson
Band Of Joy — Robert Plant
You Are Not Alone — Mavis Staples

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Giant — James Cotton
Memphis Blues — Cyndi Lauper
The Well — Charlie Musselwhite
Joined At The Hip — Pinetop Perkins & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites — Jimmie Vaughan

This year's Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to: Rob Cavallo, Danger Mouse, Dr. Luke, RedOne, and The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine).

This year's GRAMMY Awards process registered the highest number of submissions ever with nearly 20,000 entries. However, due to low entries in Category 60 — Best Regional Mexican Album — submissions in this category were sorted into other categories for consideration. As a result, the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will feature 108 out of 109 categories.

GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 15 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 12, 2011, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the GRAMMY telecast.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, and Louis J. Horvitz is director.

"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night," hosted by two-time GRAMMY-winner LL Cool J, featured the announcement of nominations in several categories as well as performances by pop star Justin Bieber, rapper B.o.B, country artist Miranda Lambert, singer/songwriter/producer Bruno Mars, singer/songwriter Katy Perry, and GRAMMY-winning band Train. Presenters included actor and late-night TV host Craig Ferguson, singer/actor Selena Gomez, seven-time GRAMMYwinner Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), singer/songwriter Hayley Williams (Paramore), and 25-time GRAMMY winner Stevie Wonder.

Established in 1957, is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

"Kingdom Come" is Tyler Perry-Like

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 (of 2001) by Leroy Douresseaux


Kingdom Come (2001)
Running time: 91 minutes (1 hour, 31 minutes)
MPAA – PG for thematic elements, language and sensuality
DIRECTOR: Doug McHenry
WRITERS: David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones (based upon their play Dearly Departed)
PRODUCERS: Edward Bates and John Morrissey
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Francis Kenny
EDITOR: Richard Halsey
(NAACP) Image Awards nominee

COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring: LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Loretta Devine, Anthony Anderson, Toni Braxton, Cedric the Entertainer, Darius McCrary, and Whoopi Goldberg

When the despicable head of a black family dies, family and close friends band together for a few tumultuous days to bury the old turd.

His long-suffering wife, Raynelle Slocum (Whoppi Goldberg), must bear the presence of her fractious clan. Her oldest and most reliable son, Ray Bud (LL Cool J) deals with burying a father he wasn’t particularly fond of, while he and his wife Lucille (Vivica A. Fox) struggle over their difficulty to conceive a child. Ray Bud’s brother Junior (Anthony Anderson) arrives broke and unemployed with his shrewish wife Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith) and their brood of noisy boys. And there are many more mini-dramas in this huge cast of characters.

Kingdom Come is wholly and unabashedly a black movie. The cast is all black, and the writers created a cast of characters who are black rural and black Southern archetypes and stereotypes. If movies can revolve around story, setting, and/or characters, this one complete hangs upon its large cast. The plot is sparse: bury the old bastard as fast as we can so we don’t have to stay around each other too long.

Based upon a stage play, the movie, adapted by the playwrights, is very talky. Many of the actors spend much of their screen time screaming at their screen partners or just plain talking and explaining. The movie obviously has a message about families sticking together that it repeatedly pounds into our heads. Like many stage plays aimed at African-Americans, this one aims to both entertain and to teach. Its message is both obvious and familiar and geared towards black folks. African-Americans can nod their heads in agreement at the play’s message and vicariously gobble down huge servings of soul food with the cast.

Director Doug McHenry, a prolific producer and director (House Party 2 and Jason’s Lyric) chooses bluntness over subtlety, but he wisely follows each cast member’s every move, as this film could not hang upon its story. To understand Kingdom Come, one must come to understand the characters’ motivations. The film is average goods that does have some very funny and touching moments.

Kingdom Come’s importance is that it exists at all, and it is much needed in a Hollywood landscape that mostly ignores the audience that wants films like Kingdom Come. The cast also includes R&B vocalist Toni Braxton, Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale and What Women Want), and Cedric the Entertainer. The quality of the acting ranges from surprising to really good, and the actors overcome the average script and directing in making their characters fun to watch.

In the end, anyone with an extended family, regardless of ethnic background, will recognize the family template upon which this family is based. It’s a universal story with universal themes set in one particular group. Its family dynamics are as similar as “Everybody Loves Raymond,” or Parenthood. While it is not great, or even very good, for that matter, it is a good choice on home video and for family viewing.

5 of 10
B-

Queen Latifah Lovely in "Last Holiday"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 28 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux


Last Holiday (2006)
Running time: 112 minutes (1 hour, 52 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some sexual references
DIRECTOR: Wayne Wang
WRITERS: Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman (based upon the screenplay by J.B. Priestley)
PRODUCERS: Laurence Mark and Jack Rapke
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Geoffrey Simpson, ACS
EDITOR: Deirdre Slevin

COMEDY with elements of adventure/drama/romance

Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardieu, Alicia Witt, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kellermann, Jascha Washington, Michael Nouri, and Ranjit Chowdhry

Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) lives a quiet life in New Orleans, La., where she is a shy cookware salesman for Kragen department store. Suddenly, one day, a company doctor diagnoses her with a rare and terminal disease of the brain, and she only has three weeks to live. Georgia, who has always lived her life in a box tucked inside her big dreams, decides to go out with a bang. She quits her job, cashes in her bonds and retirement accounts, and embarks on a vacation to the central European resort village of Karlovy Vary.

Georgia arrives at the Grandhotel Pupp having undergone a metamorphosis that, in turn, affects everyone around her, and her new, uninhibited personality shakes up hotel staff and guest alike. Georgia makes a bond with the hotel’s venerated chef, Didier (Gerard Depardieu), and even attracts the attention a Louisiana Congressman, Senator Dillings (Giancarlo Esposito), who is from her neighborhood. Coincidentally, Georgia also runs into her old retail magnate boss, Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton), and his besieged assistant/lover, Ms. Burns (Alicia Witt), who are both convinced that she is a business rival. In spite of all the attention she draws, Georgia enjoys the hotel’s snowy slopes, spectacular spas, delectable dinners, and midnight balls. Living a lifetime in the span of a few weeks, Georgia is about to get an even bigger surprise on New Years Day, as an old coworker, Sean Matthews (LL Cool J), arrives with a shocking announcement.

Last Holiday, a remake of a 1950 starring Sir Alec Guinness, is the perfect vehicle for Queen Latifah’s talents. Her abilities as a comic actress and her friendly, opening personality shine in this film, which might seem like piffle, but has some meat on it. Director Wayne Wang, known for his independent films like Smoke and Chinese Box, and for such mainstream, family friendly fare as Maid in Manhattan and Because of Winn-Dixie, smartly plays up to Latifah’s strengths, so where the film might falter on script or characters, it revives whenever the Queen is on stage.

And there are some weak characters. Timothy Hutton’s Matthew Kragen is the typical narcissistic antagonistic billionaire wannabe who, of course, has lost sight of what really matters in life; heck, it would be nice if he could just be nice to people. It’s no surprise that it is Georgia Byrd who will eventually help him see the light. Alicia Witt’s Ms. Burns is Kragen’s typically put upon assistant and sweet stuff on the side. I’ve always liked Alicia, and she does indeed give Ms. Burns, as she does with any character she plays, a bit of her distinctive personality. That’s kind of the same thing LL Cool J does. He may not be an A-list movie star, but the man is a good actor and belongs in movies. Giancarlo Esposito also makes the most of his underutilized character, Senator Dillings, just by doing his usual good work.

Ultimately, this is Queen Latifah’s show, and if you like her, you’ll really dig the charming Georgia Byrd with her effervescent personality. You’ll probably get a champagne kick out of this poignant, but more-sweet-than-sad film. The drama in Last Holiday might come across as a bit phony, but there is something honest and true about Georgia’s plight to finally stop waiting for life to happen and try to at least live part of her fondest wishes.

7 of 10
B+

Saturday, February 4, 2006