INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas... “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, not to mention that Christmas is one of the biggest movie going days of the year, so it’s time to check out what this holiday season has to offer. Whether in a theater or in front of your home screen for a Netflix/Hulu binge and chill, there’s some great movie fare for you to consider and here’s a list to get you started. Among the big releases I’m really excited about are “Jumanji, The Next Level,” starring Kevin Hart, and DeWayne ’ The Rock’ Johnson. “Spies In Disguise,” featuring Will Smith and the big flick of the season, “Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker.” Kevin Garnett is set to star alongside Adam Sandler, the Weekend and
LaKeith Stanfield in the crime thriller, Uncut Gems. And Michael B. Jordan is getting rave reviews for his role as a lawyer defending Jamie Foxx, who stars as a man sentenced to die for the murder of an 18 year old in “Just Mercy”, which will have a limited release this Christmas, with a wider release in January. Let's not forget the highly anticipat-
ed “Cats,” featuring Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, James Cordon and Jason Derulo. I’m going in cautiously, meow. Other soon-to-be favorites on Netflix are: “Holiday In The Wild,” “The Knight Before Christmas,” “Christmas Break-In,” and my silly cooking fave is, “Nailed It, Holiday Special.” And, for family fun check out, “Klaus,” and “Family Reunion” A Christmas special featuring Loretta Devine, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, and Anthony Alabi. There’ll be a quite a few movies to entertain and inspire, so snuggle up with the family or grab your jacket and get to movie-ing and whatever else, Hometown: Philadelphia, PA “Have Yourself a Merry Little Big Break: “Undeclared’ and “Paper Soldiers” Christmas!” Peace & Blessings for a Current Projects: “Jumanji: The Next Level” Great 2020.
Q&A
Kevin Hart
DUE IN THEATERS THIS MONTH
HOLLYWOOD BUZZ
Jumanji December 13
Cats December 20
Lizzo and Lil Nas X Dominate 2020 Grammy Nominations
The 2020 Gramy nominations were released and leading the pack was Lizzo with a total of eight nominations. The artist scored a rare “Grand Slam” by being nominated for all four major awards at the same time: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Lizzo was also nominated for best Pop Solo Performance, Best R&B performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album. Lil Nas X also had a successful year, earning six total nominations. R&B singer H.E.R also got nominations for Record, Song of the year and for Album of the Year. She totals out at five nominations. Beyoncé has four nominations for “Spirit,” The Lion King: The Gift and Homecoming The late Nipsey Hussle also earned three posthumous Grammy nominations including best rap performance for “Racks in the Middle,” best rap/sung performance for “Higher and best rap song for “Racks in the Middle.”
Mo’Nique Files Racial and Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against Netflix Mo’Nique, the Oscar-winning actress and comedian,
Spies in Disguise December 25
has filed a lawsuit against Netflix for racial and gender discrimination. According to People, Monique Hicks is accusing the streaming giant of offering her less money for a special than her fellow male or white female comedians. The lawsuit outlines Netflix offering a “talent fee” of $500,000 and references the offers made to other comedians like Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais. For example, it claims Seinfeld signed a $100 million deal in 2017 and that Chappelle’s deal for three specials in 2016 was worth $60 million. Schumer, it adds, negotiated a $13 million deal for a stand-up special in 2017. “Despite Mo’Nique’s...documented history of comedic success, when Netflix...made a lowball offer that was only a fraction of what Netflix paid other (non-Black female) comedians,” the lawsuit said. “In short, Netflix’s offer to Mo’Nique perpetuates the drastic wage gap forced upon Black women in America’s workforce.”
R o b y n Crawford Opens Up About Relationship With Whitney Houston In her new memoir, Robyn Crawford has revealed some new details about her relationship and love affair with best friend Whitney Houston. Breaking her silence seven years after Houston’s tragic death, Crawford addressed the
Clemency December 27
long-discussed rumors and confirmed that she once had a romantic relationship with Houston. “I’d come to the point where I felt the need to stand up for our friendship. And I felt an urgency to stand up and share the woman behind the incredible talent,” she said. Crawford further wrote that their “connection was undeniable.” “You could feel it...We were partners. I didn’t know how long it was going to last, but I knew we were meant to be,” she added. “We never talked labeles, like lesbian or gay. We just lived our lives.” Crawford explained that their romantic relationship ended when Houston’s career soared in 1982.
Actor Courtney B. Vance Named New President of SAG-AFTRA Foundation Courtney B. Vance, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, has been named the new president of the SAGAFTRA Foundation. Vance will succeed JoBeth Williams who leaves the organization after a decade and his nomination represents the next phase in a plan to make the SAG-AFTRA Foundation “part of the industry fabric,” Vance told Variety. With a $6 million annual budget, the foundation is able to provide aid to all SAG-AFTRA cardholders. These services include emergency health and financial assistance, disaster relief and artistic and business education programs. “The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a vital organization and it is a privilege to shine a light on it in my new role as President. My parents raised us to be helpers and just as there are no small roles, there are no small jobs. This is an opportunity to help people and educate artists who are the backbone of our industry,” Vance added in a statement.
The stand-up comedian and actor was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where he was raised in a singleparent household by his mother, Nancy. His father, a cocaine addict who was constantly in and out of jail throughout his life, spurred Kevin to turn to humor as a way to cope. After graduating from high school and briefly attending community college, Hart began pursuing a career in comedy. He has since reached an impressive comedic reputation, selling out comedy tours and starring in prominent film and TV shows. On his upbringing and struggles... North Philadelphia. 'The hood.' It wasn’t bad when you’re in there. When you get out, you see what it is and how it can be misconstrued. At the end of the day, here’s the reality, when you’re growing up in the innercity, it’s not a lot of options for a lot of these guys. Those who stay true to beliefs, upbringing, education, and the motto of “Get a good education, go to school, so you can do something with yourself,” they do. That’s not the answer for everybody. Some people want the quick dollar, and selling drugs is the answer to that. And I was around that a lot, but I had a mother that was strongwilled, that made sure I didn’t participate. She kept me busy in extracurricular activities, and I saw no part of that life. It doesn’t mean that I look down on the people that did, because I’m not a guy who’s not a realist. I understand reality, and I understand when people’s backs are against the walls sometimes, and they’re faced with no choice but to do what they feel at that time is the right decision. I don’t knock it. But it’s my job to push that kind of positive message to the younger guys that are coming up now, that you don’t have to go that route. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you’re strong enough to wait for it. On how he first discovered he was funny,,,, I’'ve always been a funny guy, but when I went to community college and was working at the same time, I was known as the guy who would hold court. But it kind of hit me when some of my friends kept suggesting that I pursue comedy. They said, 'You're funny as hell.' You hear that kind of thing enough and eventually you're going to try it. When I did, I fell in love with it and knew it would be my career. On the line between jokes that are edgy and jokes that are offensive... We've lost the thought that comedians try to be edgy and funny. That's what comedians do. That's not me justifying it – that's me trying to make people have the common-sense side of it, see the reality of what a comedian's attempt is behind the job. It doesn't mean that you get it right all the time. It doesn't mean you're going to knock the ball out of the park all the time. ... There was a joke I used to have where I referred to midgets as midgets. And then I later was educated that midgets don't like to be called midgets! They like to be referred to as little people. I didn't know that! It was just a joke. ... I won't do that anymore. It's within the attempt to be funny. It doesn't mean that there's a malicious piece to it, you're just trying to make people Kevin Hart continued to page 24