Sheryl Lee Ralph and Kevin Ross at premiere of “Underground.” UNDERGROUND: Premieres WGN America March 9, 2016Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the new network WGN America’s premiere of UNDERGROUND in downtown Los Angeles. This was the first episode in a series about slavery and the Underground Railroad. The first four episodes directed by Anthony Hemingway chronicles repeated attempts by horrifically treated blacks to escape the unwanted forced submission and humiliation of slavery along with the effects on the black family unit and the undeniable cruelty and subhuman treatment by white slave owners. Certain scenes really pissed me off leaving me asking myself who is the audience for this? I then realized its millennials. Younger black people who have not been privy to information on slavery in the history of America. Not just blacks kids, who need the history lesson most, but kids from all cultures who could also benefit from the history lesson. Perhaps it is important I surmised, for us all to be reminded of where we’ve been, where we are, WHO we are and where we are going as Black people in America.The lead actors on the show Jurnee Smollet-Bell and Christopher Meloni (Law and Order Special Victims Unit) did an excellent job of creating the initial installment that drives you to want to see more. Attendees for the premiere included Angela Bassett, Jesse Williams, Mehcad Brooks, Michael Ealy and many others. I invite you to watch the premiere of UNDERGROUND, I’d love to know your thoughts,.On a side note: I have to admit, going to more and more events from other aspects of the entertainment industry is beyond refreshing and allows me to realize how dead and boring the radio and music industry are when it comes to events (especially in LA). I truly gave up on events when I kept seeing the same 5 people at music and radio events on the extreme rare occasions that they took place in LA. A couple of friends and I had a long discussion about how drastically the industry has changed and we’ve scheduled a podcast to talk about it. I will keep you posted.
Honda is in the hot seat again. This time, it's the Acura ILX that's making headlines—over 70,000 of these vehicles from model years 2014 to 2020 are getting yanked back due to a defect in the hydraulic braking system. Yeah, you read that right. More than 70,000...
The Longwood Healthcare Leaders San Francisco CEO meeting happened, and you can bet the usual suspects were in attendance. A gathering of biopharma's elite – CEOs, heads of R&D, and other top brass. It sounds fancy, right? Big names throwing around big ideas, with Wilson Sonsini tagging...
Another day, another round of consumer product recalls. It’s almost like clockwork at this point. If you're a regular shopper, you might feel like the odds of picking up something dangerous are increasing. Just last week, several products were pulled from shelves due to safety concerns—everything from...
Manhattan's real estate scene is apparently finding its footing again. Office demand is tightening, and retail is making a comeback. At least, that's what Liz Hart, the President of Leasing for Newmark North America, wants us to believe. She recently spoke with Open Interest about how 2026...
Look, Europe’s lagging behind in the tech race, and here we are, pretending it doesn’t matter. It’s like watching a marathon where one's still on the starting line while others are crossing the finish. So what’s going on? The continent's been struggling to keep pace with Silicon...
The art world is buzzing—it’s supposed to be a victory for artists in their ongoing battle with AI over copyright. But here’s the kicker: only 3% of them are actually in favor of opting out of AI training programs. Seems a bit fishy, doesn’t it?
Liz Kendall, the...
Last week, the federal lawsuit against the Bath boarding school hit a snag. A lawyer from Maine asked to step back from the case, citing some serious missteps by his co-counsel in Massachusetts. Apparently, we’re not just dealing with legal battles here; we’re also talking about 'inaccurate...
Gainesville's small business scene just took a gut punch. A slew of 49 lawsuits has blindsided iconic local establishments, all tied to ADA compliance issues. Just when these owners thought they could catch a break, they're now forced to either settle or brace for costly legal battles.
Here's...
Today’s real estate market is apparently balanced. Not quite a buyer’s bonanza—but hey, it’s “tilting in favor of buyers.” Isn’t that a comforting thought? But let’s dig deeper. The phrase “balanced” sounds good on paper, but what does it actually mean for those trying to buy or...
Blackstone is in a bit of a pickle. Once the darling of private equity, the firm now faces a stark reality. The cheap money era? It’s history. And with interest rates climbing like a kid on caffeine, those bold bets that fueled their meteoric rise are suddenly...
OHSU Health has a new captain steering the ship. This time, it’s an insider taking the helm. But let’s not hold our breath for sweeping changes just yet. Dr. Jason H. Kauffman steps into the role, bringing years of experience within the organization. He’s been with OHSU...
Cathie Wood, the face behind Ark Investment Management, just pulled a $40 million sell-off on some of the biggest tech stocks. Pretty bold move, right? Here’s the deal: she’s known for swooping in when stocks dip and cashing out after they've had a good run. But this...
