My Publicist Note Book

Aretha Franklin  Covers  Adele  and the arrangement is killer ! NEW YORK  —  Aretha Franklin is showing some R-E-S-P-E-C-T to her fellow divas: The Queen of Soul will release an album Oct. 21 covering classic songs from other female   singers. That's right, Soul legend Aretha  has shared a fiery cover version of Adele's "Rolling in the deep." Adele is one of the most acclaimed soul singers of her generation. But now she's earned major "Respect" from the all-time greatest. The most contemporary track is a reworking of Adele's colossal hit "Rolling In the Deep," which is the first single off the album. You can make a pretty strong case that Aretha Franklin is the strongest female pop singer — or, hell, the strongest pop singer of any gender — of all time. And on her new album Aretha takes on some of the best-known songs of peers like Etta James, Gladys Knight, and Barbra Streisand , as well as those of descendants like Alicia K...

There is not really a serious contender who could take on Shonda Rhimes for the role of most powerful female showrunner or most powerful black showrunner in television. This is particularly true tonight as ABC launches freshman legal drama “How To Get Away With Murder,” a creation of Rhimes protégé Pete Nowalk that is produced under the auspices of Rhimes’ company ShondaLand, that makes Thursday nights on the network all Shonda, all the time. Annalise Keating (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis) is the charismatic professor at the heart of “How To Get Away With Murder,” the latest installment of Shonda Rhimes’ hugely successful formula. (ABC/Nicole Rivelli) Even with that title secure, it is interesting to think of the nature of Rhimes’ influence. Does her dominance of a whole night of network television prove that Rhimes can turn anything to gold? Or is “How To Get Away With Murder” proof that Rhimes has perfected a formula, but that ABC is not yet willing to take her Midas ...

Comedies with an actual point of view are as rare as they are welcome — especially in a fall awash in mediocre new cookie-cutter romantic comedies. Even in a better season, ABC's provocative and very funny  Black-ish   (9:30/8:30c) would stand out for its broad and biting satire of an uneasily post racial society seen through a very modern-family prism.  Anthony Anderson (a co-executive producer) stars as successful ad exec and family man Andre "Dre" Johnson, who's living the American dream — as he tells us in an incessant voice-over that the show needs to tone down in future episodes — but as often happens in these scenarios, the dream isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Not when it comes at the expense of one's own cultural and racial identity. His spoiled kids are so oblivious to their roots and to race in general that they've become basically color-blind, which in Dre's mind translates to not being black enough. Case in point: His nam...

It's a weekday morning on the  Black-ish  soundstage, and Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross are made up as if they just rolled out of bed: Ross's hair is a crazy mess and Anderson's pajamas are in wrinkled disarray. In other words, they resemble an average, frazzled American couple waking up to a noisy family, ready to face another day at their demanding jobs. Not only do they look the part, but longtime pals Anderson and Ross already boast chemistry that mirrors the relationship between Andre "Dre" and Rainbow Johnson, the married duo at the heart of the sitcom. Dre is concerned that his wife and children have lost some of their heritage and an appreciation for their humble beginnings after the trappings of success - and the assimilation that came along with it - kicked in. Dre's dad, played by Laurence Fishburne (who's also an executive producer), pops in from time to time as well. Anderson, Ross, and Fishburne tell us ...

ATLANTA, GA - THE 9th ANNUAL PEACHTREE VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (PVIFF 2014), THE SOUTHEAST’S PREMIERE INTERNATIONAL FILM AND ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH AN EXCITING SCHEDULE OF SCREENINGS, EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND NETWORKING. SEPTEMBER 26-28 2014  -- ▪  EVENT LOCATION:  444 THEATRE, 444 HIGHLAND AVE, NE ATLANTA, GA ▪  HOST HOTEL:  ARTMORE HOTEL 9 YEARS OF PVIFF “We consider this PVIFF year to be our customer appreciation year as we gear up for our 10th anniversary next year. The film and business community has been gracious to us over the past 9 years. We’re excited about offering decrease registration costs, great programming with powerful educational forums this year as a pre-event for a year of exciting programs in 2015. Celebrities/VIPs/Sponsors: -Winston Johnson (CEO- Maandi Media Holdings) -Lynn Whitfield -Ambassador...

British actor Idris Elba has given fans the biggest hint that he may be the first black actor to play  James Bond . The  Luther  actor, who recently portrayed Nelson Mandela in a biopic about the former South African president, made the claim in a “Ask Me Anything” session over the weekend. Asked by one user if he would take on the role of 007 if it was offered to him, Elba said: “Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely”. Rumors have long been circulating that 42-year-old Elba is set to be the next Bond after Craig’s tenure comes to an end. Craig is currently cast in forthcoming films  Bond 24  and  Bond 25 . In pictures: Bond on screen across the years Pierce Brosnan Brosnan took over the role in 1995 when he played the spy in 'GoldenEye'. He played in a total of four films, and his last time playing 007 was in 2002 'Die Another Day' Sean Connery The Scottish actor first played Bond in the 1962 'Dr. No'. ...

Tyler Perry ’s about to take on his most challenging role yet! The self-made media mogul is going to be a dad! While celebrating his 45th birthday last week, Tyler revealed he’s about to achieve another huge milestone in his life. He joyfully told guests that he’s expecting his first child! Although Tyler was thrilled to announce the big news to his friends during the bash, where  Stevie Wonder  was performing, he supposedly kept the mother’s identity a secret. He has been dating a woman named  Gelila Bekele  on-and-off for the past years, but we don’t know if they’re on or off right now. Either way, Tyler is taking a huge step, and we wish him the best!

"Black-ish":  "Modern Family" gets a perfect companion in this comedy about a multigenerational upper-class black family that moves to a white neighborhood.  The dad (Anthony Anderson) starts worrying that his kids will lose their cultural identity, and they might become a little less black (hence the "ish"). Tackling race in this format is bold, but the trifecta of Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Laurence Fishburne just might be able to pull it off. Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ABC Truth! Anthony Anderson & Marcus Scribner are ready on set. Keep it real? 

Forget Tyler Perry And Oprah. Byron Allen Is The Most Successful Black Person In Hollywood… And You've Probably Never Heard His Name. Byron Allen Folks, better known professionally as Byron Allen, is an American comedian and television producer, who founded and is the chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. television production company Entertainment Studios. If you were to ask 10 strangers to name the most powerful African Americans working in Hollywood today, you'd probably hear names like: Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Will Smith and Denzel Washington.  The name you would probably not hear is " Byron Allen ".   This is pretty insane when you consider that Byron Allen happens to be one of the most powerful and successful producers currently working in the entire entertainment business. He's been 30 shows  running currently on television.  He has a staggering  net worth of $300 million . And yet, even if you were to ...