TODAY is Jackie Washington Day!!!

Jackie's Back is a 1999 television movie directed by Robert Townsend. It premiered on the Lifetime Television Network on June 14, 1999.

Presented as a mockumentary, Jackie's Back chronicles the life and career of Jackie Washington (Jenifer Lewis), a 1960s/1970s R&B diva. After several years of toiling in obscurity, Washington decides to organize her own comeback concert with filmmaker Edward Whatsett St. John (Tim Curry) filming the event. The film also features numerous cameo appearances by celebrities.

• Jenifer Lewis as Jackie Washington
• Tangie Ambrose as Shaniqua Summers Wells (Jackie's daughter)
• T.V. Blake as Antandra Washington (Jackie's daughter)
• Loretta Devine as Snookie Tate (Jackie's childhood friend)
• Tim Curry as Edward Whatsett St. John
• Whoopi Goldberg as Nurse Ethyl Washington Rue Owens (Jackie's sister)
• Tom Arnold as Marvin Pritz (Jackie's former manager)
• Robert Bailey, Jr. as Wilson Wells (Jackie's grandson)
• Alan Blumenfeld as Ivan
• Loren Freeman as Kim
• Johnny Brown as Reverend Eustace Barnett
• Julie Hagerty as Pammy Dunbar
• David Hyde Pierce as Perry
• Kathy Najimy as Lola Molina
• Kyla Pratt as Little Jackie Washington
• Isabel Sanford as Miss Krumes
• JoBeth Williams as Jo Face
• Mary Wilson as Vesta Crotchley (Jackie's 3rd grade teacher)

Another "Jumping the Broom" Movie in theaters May 6th

TriStar Pictures film JUMPING THE BROOM, which features an all-star cast of Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine and so many more in theatres May 6, 2011.

Produced by T.D. Jakes and Tracey Edmonds, JUMPING THE BROOM is a romantic comedy depicting the love and laughs that result when two families from different socioeconomic backgrounds meet for a weekend wedding in Martha’s Vineyard.

For Colored Girls Movie Poster - November 5, 2010

Click here to watch them ALL

For Colored Girls Posters

Nina Simone, Leona Lewis, Ledisi, and Janelle Monae Featured on 'For Colored Girls' Soundtrack

Here's a look at the soundtrack cover for Tyler Perry's 'For Colored Girls,' which will be released by Atlantic Records on Nov. 2.

The soundtrack features all new and unreleased music from artists such as Nina Simone, Gladys Knight, Leona Lewis, Estelle, Laura Izibor, Macy Gray, Janelle Monae and Lalah Hathaway.

The soundtrack sets the many stories of struggle told within the film's chore poem to music that reflects women's ongoing battle with love, abandonment and self-awareness.

Official track listing

1 Main Title – By Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington with Joshua Bell, Aaron Zigman & The Hollywood Studio

2 Longer & Stronger – By Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

3 All Day Long (Blue Skies) – By Estelle

4 What More Can They Do – By Laura Izibor

5 Sun – By Lalah Hathaway

6 Ansomnia – By Zaki Ibrahim

7 Settle – By Gladys Knight

8 La Donna In Viola – By Karen Slack, Andrea Jones-Sojola & The Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra

9 Sechita (A Senhora em Amarelo) – By Anika Noni Rose & Carondelet Percussion Ensemble

10 Stand Up – By Macy Gray

11 Without A Fight – By Janelle Monàe

12 Four Women – By Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor & Ledisi

13 I Know Who I Am – By Leona Lewis

Directed by Tyler Perry, the film is based on Ntozake Shange's 1975 Tony Award-winning play and stars Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Michael Ealy, Kimberly Elise, Omari Hardwick, Hill Harper, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Khalil Kain and Richard Lawson.

'For Colored Girls' hits theaters on Nov. 5.

for Colored Girls Movie Trailer

By Kristopher Tapley

Ever since Lionsgate announced a November 5 release date for Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls,” talk has circulated around an expected Oscar campaign. A set of posters dropped recently that went a long way toward showcasing the female acting talent on display. But is it a contender? Could one of these ladies (or the film itself) slide into the race? Or should we expect the usual from Perry? Lionsgate did a fine job launching “Precious” on the same release date last year, but it also had a headwind coming out of the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. We’ll have to wait and see. The new trailer for Perry’s film, released today, is at the very least handsomely mounted.

Dirty Laundry alumnus gets GREAT PRESS in 2010

In 2008, Director, Producer and Actor Maurice Jamal released the independent award winning movie Dirty Laundry. A modern-day prodigal son story with a twist follows Patrick, a magazine writer, who seems to have the "perfect life," until one day and there is a knock at the door. On the other side stands a secret that brings him face to face with the traditional southern family he hasn't seen in over 10 years.


Actors, Aaron Shaw who played Gabriel, Erica Watson as Clarine and Loretta Devine, Evelyn, the monarch of the family have continued to receive great press in 2010.



AARON SHAW makes his debut in the critically acclaimed and 20th Season of NBC’s TV Drama “Law & Order,” Boy on Fire Episode Air Date, 10pm EST, Monday, March 8th.

When a 16-year-old student's burning body is found, Lupo and Bernard question his young mentee, who was the last person to see him alive; the investigation draws attention to a vicious high-school rivalry. Cast includes: S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Alana de la Garza, Jeremy Sisto, Linus Roache, Anthony Anderson and new comer Noel Rodrigurez.

Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf. The Emmy Award winning show premiered on September 13, 1990, and is currently in its twentieth season, which began airing on September 25, 2009 on NBC. Law & Order is currently the longest running crime drama on American prime time television and is tied for longest running drama with Gunsmoke. It was renewed for a 21st season and will become the longest running American prime time television scripted drama.

Aaron first drew national attention with his starring role as Gabriel opposite fellow actors, Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Devine and Jenifer Lewis in “Dirty Laundry”. Several commercials and smaller roles later, he landed the role on of Oliver on HBO’s Original Series “In Treatment” as a second season regular in 2009.

Watch your skinny backs Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho and John Leguizamo --ERICA WATSON is coming to claim her crown as Queen of the theater/standup hybrid show with the New York Premiere of FAT BITCH! After workshops in NYC and Chicago, this new solo show written and performed by Watson runs February 11- 25, 2010 at The Laurie Beechman Theater.


FAT BITCH! is a funny, provocative glimpse at the American “fat and sassy” black woman stereotype. Plus-sized performer Erica Watson explores society’s obsession with weight, race and class and how black women’s bodies have always been subjected to both admiration and ridicule. Drawing upon iconic images including “Mammy” and “Hottentot Venus,” Watson illustrates how media images have impacted her self-esteem as she touches on PETA’s “Save the Whales” campaign aimed at overweight women, the “war on obesity,” and the controversy surrounding President Obama’s nomination of a plus-sized black woman for Surgeon General.

Born and raised in Chicago, Erica Watson is an actor, stand-up comedian, and film/television director. Currently, she can be seen in the Oprah Winfrey/Lee Daniels film Precious. She has also starred in the feature film Dirty Laundry. Watson is currently featured in two Gracie Award-winning commercials for the Oxygen Network called "Tresstify" and "Kiss & Tell,” as well as the March Madness Comedy special on MSG-TV. She has appeared on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," and was a commentator and pundit for five BET specials including “Top 12 BET Award Show Moments,” “Countdown to 2009: BET Year in Review,” “The Evolution of Mary J. Blige,” and “The Evolution of Jay-Z”. Additionally, Watson is a recurring politics and pop culture panelist on the BETJ talk show "My Two Cents,” director of the reality TV Series "My Model Looks Better Than Your Model" on the BETJ Network and a blogger for the Huffington Post.

FAT BITCH! runs February 11- 25, Thursdays at 7:00pm. The Laurie Beechman Theater is located inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 47th Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street. Tickets are $15, plus $15 food/drink minimum, available at 212-352-3101 or www.SpinCycleNYC.com.


Award winning actress LORETTA DEVINE stars in Don B. Welch’s hit gospel stage play, “Hallelujah Mahalia (HM).” Ms. Devine joins recording artist and gospel sensation Tamika Patton. Ms.Patton, who has been starring in Hallelujah Mahalia since the mid 1990’s, cris-crossing the country in the lead role told the Philadelphia Tribune, “Her life (Mahalia’s) is so similar to mine in many different ways. It just seemed like she was always striving to get that message of love and peace and gospel in any way that she could, and it was in her own unique way”.

The production also stars Barry Lyons, pastor of The Living Waters of The San Fernando Valley Church in the role of Thomas A. Dorsey, (known as the “Godfather of Gospel) and legendary musical director, Rev. Alexander Hamilton. HM also stars: Contrella Patrick Henry, Kim Yarbrough, Charmaine Charles, Nei-Ce Knight Pruiett, Lisa C. Thompson, Delores Lakey Stewart & Andrea Jones.

“HM pays tribute to the music and legacy of America’s greatest gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson. Welch’s stage play chronicles the life and music of Jackson, from her humble beginnings in Chicago to her untimely death in 1972. Audiences can expect to hear all of the Mahalia classics such as: “Move On Up A Higher”, “How I Got Over”, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”, “Precious Lord”, & “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen” among others. Along with little-known historical facts like it has been rumored that Mahalia sat with The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King the night before, as he pondered which of the two speeches he had prepared to give on the March of Washington the next day. “Give ‘em the I have A Dream speech Martin! That’ll stir them up”.

“Hallelujah Mahalia” premieres Saturday, February 27, 2009 5:00 p.m. and The Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, Ca.

Death at a FUNERAL the movie

Frank Oz's 2007 black comedy laugher Death at a Funeral is given the remake treatment with an urban spin in this Chris Rock -penned production. The comedian will head up an ensemble that comes together after a death in the family, with disastrous results. Rock penned the script with Aeysha Carr for director Neil LaBute (The Wicker Man).

Starring; James Marsden, Zoe Saldana, Luke Wilson, Columbus Short, Neil LaBute, , Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Loretta Devine, Tracy Morgan, Peter Dinklage, Regina Hall and Martin Lawrence, the film centers around a funeral and all of the misadventures that happen from family secrets being revealed to the body coming up missing. Judging from the trailer and the excellent ensemble cast, this looks like a film worth watching when it hits theaters on April 16, 2010!