John Amos, iconic TV father from Good Times and storied actor, has died at age 84. According to his son, K.C. Amos, he died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natrual causes.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K.C. Amos said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
John Amos built a career that spanned over five decades. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1939, Amos was best remembered for portraying James Evans Sr. on the groundbreaking TV series Good Times (1974–1976). As the strong, no-nonsense father in the first African American two-parent family on prime-time TV, Amos earned acclaim for his authentic depiction of a working-class father navigating life in a Chicago housing project.
Before Good Times, Amos starred as the beloved weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1973), showcasing his range in comedic roles. In 1977, he delivered a memorable performance in Roots, the Emmy Award-winning miniseries based on Alex Haley’s book. His portrayal of Kunta Kinte’s older self cemented his place in television history and earned him an Emmy nomination.
Amos also enjoyed success in film, with notable roles in movies like Coming to America (1988), where he played Cleo McDowell, the owner of McDowell’s restaurant. He reprised the role in the sequel Coming 2 America (2021).
Amos worked steadily in dramatic and comedic roles throughout his career, appearing in shows like The West Wing, Two and a Half Men, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His commanding presence and versatile talent earned him respect as one of Hollywood’s most enduring actors.
R. Kelly’s daughter says that she has a “heartbreaking secret” to reveal that will come to light in her new documentary about her troubled father.
Buku Abi aka Joanne Kelly is slated to drop her doc titled R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, which will air on October 11 on TVEI streaming service. The new documentary will feature interviews from Buku herself, her brother Robert Kelly Jr. and R. Kelly’s ex-wife Drea.
In the doc’s trailer, Buku tearfully admits, “For a long time, I didn’t even want to believe that it happened. I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person that he would do something to me. I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life.” Buku adds, “Nobody wants to be the child of the father that is out here hurting women and children.”
His ex-wife says in the trailer, “What he did to me, he did to me, but you didn’t have to do it to my kids.”
Meanwhile, R. Kelly has been trying to have the convictions for his sexual crimes overturned, petitioning the United States Supreme Court in July on the basis that his alleged crimes occurred decades ago and the charges therefore fall outside the statute of limitations.
The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the appeal in the coming months.
Ahead of Netflix and Most Valuable Promotion’s Paul vs Tyson on Friday, November 15th, COUNTDOWN: PAUL VS. TYSON, a three-part follow-up doc leading up to the mega-event, is set to premiere November 7th.
The much-anticipated July 20 heavyweight fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 after Tyson had to pause his training on doctor’s orders after an ulcer flare-up. On Sept. 26, Netflix announced Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson, a three-part follow doc chronicling the journey to the fight, which will take viewers behind the scenes of Paul and Tyson’s respective training. The doc will also follow the lead-up to the Taylor vs. Serrano rematch, one of the most anticipated women’s fights in history.
Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) as they prepare for Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) highly-anticipated Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson heavyweight boxing mega-event, airing live on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
The documentary series will take viewers behind-the-scenes of Paul and Tyson’s respective training camps to capture the incredible grit, determination and physical demands needed to prepare for what will be an explosive, can’t miss professional boxing mega-event.
COUNTDOWN will also follow the lead up to one of the most anticipated women’s fights in history, the rematch between undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), as the two train to face off for the undisputed super lightweight championship title in the co-main event.
Episodes 1 + 2 will premiere on November 7; Episode 3 will premiere on November 12.
Once word was out that a new documentary series, “Tupac: Cover Up,” was released for the late rapper’s death anniversary on September 13, 2024, a panicked group of individuals began to call major platforms, making false claims about the show in an attempt to have it taken off the air.
In fact, the docuseries’ producers were contacted about the matter, and one of the platforms made an unprecedented request: ” Remove certain content, or we will remove the documentary.”
One need only look at the docuseries as a whole- NOW AVAILABLE ON XUMO PLAY to understand why certain groups are creating pressure on these platforms to silence the filmmakers: the documentary focuses on the life and death of the Grammy-winning artist Tupac Shakur, but also focuses on the moments following the unsolved shooting. The series makes the claim that from five minutes after the shooting until charges were returned from a Las Vegas Nevada Grand Jury last year, a group of self-interested individuals, some of which were alleged to be informants for the Federal Government, have carefully planted and cultivated a 27-year narrative that in truth has not one shred of physical evidence attached to it—just “hood lore” which they have perpetuated.
“Tupac: Coverup” features new and unheard interviews with celebrities (Mykelti Williamson, of Heat and Forrest Gump fame) Death Row Insiders (Kevin Black, Mike Nixon), Industry Insiders (Billy Johnson, Jr., Cynthia Horner, Janie Jennings), Law Enforcement (FBI Special Agent Phil Carson, who lead the Tupac/Biggie investigations for the FBI) as well as unheard and unreleased material from former Tupac bodyguards, friends and family. Athena Bond is the Executive producer, and Edna Sims is the film’s producer.
“We have had documented communications with the platforms showing that individuals with- shall we say- clear conflicts of interest didn’t follow the platform procedures for making claims against a show,” says Producer Richard “RJ” Bond, known for his previous works on the matter: 2020’s “Last Man Standing” and the beloved “Tupac Assassination” trilogy of movies.
“They did stupid stunts like calling the platform customer service departments and screaming at the poor representative on the phone. In our current “squeaky wheel” culture, extreme acts and rhetoric get moved to the front of the line. The platforms don’t always want to support Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Speech. This form of “consumer terrorism”- and resulting censorship- is a big problem for everyone.”
The “Tupac: Cover Up” producers took last week to decide: Do they leave the story out—which has received incredible reviews from fans who viewed an estimated 400,000 minutes of the show for its premiere date—untouched? Or do they make politically correct changes to cave to trouble with radical individuals?
“Well, let’s take a look at how Tupac viewed pressure; he went after C Delores Tucker and the entire government over trying to suppress his message. How would we honor him by silencing voices to serve a convenient and popular narrative?” added Bond.
Bond has put together a block-busting list of Former FBI agents, former Vegas law enforcement, Death Row “insiders” and music industry leaders that give credible and damning information regarding the motives behind the “False Narrative”. “Tupac: Cover Up” uses Vegas’ police files, grand jury testimony, and impeachable statements to demonstrate how flimsy the Vegas case is. This is a problem for those with less-than-clean agendas.
“After the documentary dropped, I was contacted by the family of Mr. Davis, the man charged in the murder of Shakur. They are understandably interested in the show’s talking points and feel we adequately addressed the situation. I hope to be in better contact with his defense team, whom I intentionally did not speak to until the show’s release.”
Last week, September 4, Peacock celebrated the premiere of limited series FIGHT NIGHT: THE MILLION DOLLAR HEIST at Jazz at Lincoln Center, followed by an exclusive after party in The Appel Room overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park.
Coinciding with the eve of NY Fashion Week, the red carpet kicked off with a surprise fashion show in partnership with GQ. Drawing inspiration from the series, models showcased high-fashion 70s-inspired looks, blending retro styles with modern sophistication. Adding to the 70s flair, the red carpet featured a replica of Chicken Man’s (played by Kevin Hart) 1966 Cadillac Calais, custom-built by the renowned West Coast Customs.
Over 800 guests were ushered into the Rose Theater for a packed screening of the first two episodes, “Round One: The Ballad of Chicken Man” and “Round Two: Fight Night”. Following the screening, attendees enjoyed an exclusive after-party, emanating 70’s nightclub, complete beats from DJ Trauma, and a photo op with Roc Nation’s Lenny Santiago’s iconic gold couch.
Attendees included Executive Producer Will Packer; Executive Producer, Writer, Creator, and Showrunner Shaye Ogbonna; Executive Producer and Star Kevin Hart; and cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard, Chloe Bailey, Sinqua Walls, Dexter Darden, Lori Harvey and more.
Additional celebrity guests included writer and comedian Amber Ruffin, Love Island USA S6 winner Kordell Beckham, actress and comedian Ego Nwodim (Mr. Throwback, SNL), actor and comedian Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback), WWE Star “Sheamus” Stephen Farrelly, rapper and singer SAINt JHN, actress Lorraine Toussaint, rapper Busta Rhymes, Chicago Sky basketball star Kysre Gondrezick, Guerdy Abraira (The Real Housewives of Miami), Karen Huger (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Sunny Hostin (The View) and more.
André 3000, one of Hip Hop’s great craftsmen, writers and performers, brings his woodwind passion full circle today with the world premiere of the album’s official visual component, Listening To The Sun (an intimate album film for New Blue Sun 11/17/2023), a 90-minute long short film (or visual listening session). The feature, directed by Terence Nance (Random Acts of Flyness) and premiered on YouTube, is a performance art piece that finds André physically channeling the spirit of his latest studio album set in a serene, blue-lit setting with his aura and flute taking centerstage.
“I hope you enjoy the ride as much as we did. What you hear is what we did as it was happening,” André 3000 says about the “formations” that comprise New Blue Sun at the onset of his new short film. The artist and multihyphenate, with the help of just a few props (including a lit candle and a traffic cone), provides a captivating visual companion to his first studio album, which will perhaps serve as inspiration for how to experience the eight-track LP.
André was candid with GQ in a November cover story about his inspirations behind the album. “I’d like to make things that when I’m dead and gone 3,000 years from now, people may dig up and find,” he said. “So if that’s sculpting, if that’s actually physical artwork, painting, designing instruments, that’s where I’m at right now.” The Atlanta-bred artist’s audience, cultivated during parts of three decades, is on that journey with him.
New Blue Sun peaked at no. 1 on Billboard’s New Age and Current Alternative Albums charts, as well as Apple Music’s Alternative Albums chart following its release, in addition to a no. 2 peak on iTunes Albums and Apple Music overall albums charts, massive performances for the thematically tangential release. The album’s staying power has matched its intrigue, as it peaks once again at no. 1 on the Current Alternative Albums Chart this week, to go with a no. 2 slot on the LP Vinyl Chart. André and his flute have got something to say, and the world is both listening and witnessing it live. André 3000 will tour his debut LP for the second time this year in September, when he kicks off a 26-date North American trek beginning September 19 in New Orleans, and concludes on November 14 in André’s hometown of Atlanta.
André 3000’s flute path, which has taken him from the Venice coast where he met the manufacturer of his first flute, to a North American tour of his new album, has led him to yet another point on his exploration timeline: Listening to The Sun.
The following post will have spoilers about the Deadpool & Wolverine movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to change that.
In the latest edition of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wesley Snipes reprised his role as Blade but he is not the only one who could have made a return. Halle Berry revealed to ComicBook.com that she was prepared to become X-Men’s Storm again.
So what was the hold-up? Ryan Reynolds never asked, even after Berry told his wife, Blake Lively, who also made a cameo, that she would join.
“Blake [Lively] asked me one time — I ran into her at a Marc Jacobs fashion show — and she said, ‘Would you ever be in my husband’s movie as Storm?’ I said, ‘Yeah, if he asked me,’ but he never asked me.”
You will be able to see Berry in a new movie on Netflix, The Union, where she stars alongside Mark Wahlberg.
On Monday, August 12, Netflix hosted the Los Angeles premiere and pre-reception of “The Union” at The Egyptian Theater. The event saw the attendance of cast members Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, Mike Colter, Jackie Earle Haley, Jessica De Gouw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alice Lee, and Patch Darragh, along with producers Stephen Levinson, Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff, and director Julian Farino.
Directed by Julian Farino, “The Union” features a screenplay by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim, based on a story by David Guggenheim. The film is produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Jeff Waxman, with Jennifer Madeloff serving as executive producer. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, Jackie Earle Haley, and J.K. Simmons.
“The Union” follows the story of Mike (Mark Wahlberg), a construction worker in New Jersey who is thrust back into the world of espionage when his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Halle Berry), reappears. She recruits him for a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe, rekindling their romance amidst high-speed car chases and spy intrigue. Directed by Julian Farino, known for his work on “Giri/Haji” and “Entourage,” the film promises a mix of action, romance, and adventure.
Yesterday, Monday, August 12, Netflix hosted the Los Angeles premiere and pre-reception of “The Union” at The Egyptian Theater. The event saw the attendance of cast members Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, Mike Colter, Jackie Earle Haley, Jessica De Gouw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alice Lee, and Patch Darragh, along with producers Stephen Levinson, Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff, and director Julian Farino.
Directed by Julian Farino, “The Union” features a screenplay by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim, based on a story by David Guggenheim. The film is produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Jeff Waxman, with Jennifer Madeloff serving as executive producer. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, Jackie Earle Haley, and J.K. Simmons.
“The Union” follows the story of Mike (Mark Wahlberg), a construction worker in New Jersey who is thrust back into the world of espionage when his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Halle Berry), reappears. She recruits him for a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe, rekindling their romance amidst high-speed car chases and spy intrigue. Directed by Julian Farino, known for his work on “Giri/Haji” and “Entourage,” the film promises a mix of action, romance, and adventure.
Peacock’s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist packed a punch with a star-studded panel and closing night party at Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.
The evening kicked off with beats from DJ Trauma ahead of the festival’s founders, Stephanie and Floyd Rance, who introduced the closing night programming starting with POWER OF LEGACY AND INFLUENCE: A CONVERSATION WITH WILL PACKER — a retrospective discussion between the series’ executive producer Will Packer and journalist Danielle Cadet, held on Roc Nation’s Lenny Santiago’s iconic gold couch.
The sold-out screening of Peacock’s Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist screened for the first time, and the audience then heard from Will Packer, showrunner, creator, and executive producer Shaye Ogbonna, and cast members Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Chloe Bailey, moderated by journalist Tiffany Cross.
After the screening, Peacock hosted the Closing Night Party of the festival at The Loft with notable guests including singer song-writer, Ledisi, actor Glynn Turman, President of MSNBC, Rashida Jones, actress Lynn Whitfield, best-selling author and television personality Elaine Welteroth, and more who celebrated with Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist cast and executive producers ahead of the premiere on Peacock on September 5th.
Scarface fans are saddened after the news of the passing of one of the film’s co-stars, Angel Salazar, reportedly passed away over the weekend in Brooklyn.
Salazar was 68 years old.
Salazar was staying at a friend’s house and when the friend went to check on Salazar in the morning to wake him up, they found his body in the bed, according to his rep and closest friend, Ann Wingsong.
Salazar is best known for his role as “Chi Chi”, the quiet, trustworthy member of Scarface’s crew in the Brian De Palma-directed film and was most recognized in the bloody hotel scene on Miami Beach, when Tony Montana yelled to his partner, “Chi Chi, get the yayo..”
Outside of his work in Scarface, Salazar was also known for working opposite Tom Hanks in the 1988 drama/comedy Punchline and Pacino again in 1993 drama, Carlito’s Way.
Condolences go out to Salazar’s fans, family and friends.
