A Review Of The Pilot Episode of Blackish on ABC Words By Raymond Tyler

Let me say that because of the lack of depth in the current offering of programs that feature people of color I wanted to love and embrace ABC's new comedy Blackish.

First I want to like anything on TV that does not show grown black women acting like mean girls waiting to go to prom and throwing liquor on people.

Second, I believe ABC wants people to love Blackish too. Evidence in the fact that it premiered opposite their (ABC's) number one show Modern Family.

Although catch the follow article where I chronicle ABC's past sins with great black shows they had in the past.

When it comes to the new show Blackish I give the first episode a B minus.

Here's what I thought of Blackish.

• The opening was better than expected. As a person that has been the first black and only black at places like The America Red Cross and Atlantic City Weekly, you always feel like you are under a microscope. And those are the good times. I definitely identified with the scene where Anthony Anderson imagines a safari tour coming down his street and saying his family was "mythological".

 

• I recognized the different family members. I knew the wife that seems to be concerned with the money rather than the well being of her husband. I recognized the teen ager wanting to play hockey to fit in at school.
• I loved that the wife was not more concerned with the money and the teenager had a master plan behind playing hockey.

Here's what I didn't love.

• Blackish could have  stronger writing.
• After watching The Middle and The Goldbergs and Modern Family I was about "family-ed" out. That being said, giving the individuals on Blackish some serious character development can really make the show sharp. 5 years ago I would have said they have too many characters on the show but that doesn't seem to hurt The Big Bang Theory on CBS which seems to increase its cast each year. The large cast works on ABC's The Middle (a show I love) and CBS's Big Bang because the characters have defined personality that makes them appealing.
  Right now... Anthony Anderson and Tracey Ellis Ross's characters are written and directed as parents with as much flavor as June and Ward. At times the looked like they were almost reading lines. Now Laurence Fishbourn as the grand dad does bring a lot of personality to his role.
• If Blackish is going to survive among the 3 very strong comedies that ABC has on Wednesday...the show will have to forge its way out of the shadows of those comedies and find a way to shine on its own. I have faith the people involved can do it.

As actors I love Anthony Anderson and Tracey Ellis Ross and I pray that Blackish not only works for them, but will bring some other great black actors to the small screen in guest roles. I also hope that CBS and NBC will join in and green light some shows with Black, latino and Asian casts. There are a lot of stories to tell and deeper realities to show.

WATCH BLACKISH WITH THE FAMILY.

Years ago when I was a kid we watched Good Times and then talked about what we just saw.
Infact with many episodes of Good Times we never stopped talking about those shows.
I hope and pray that Blackish has that kind of impact on people moving forward.

Raymond Tyler is a poet, freelance writer and motivational speaker.
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Tatoo U

The Atlantic City Tattoo Expo returns to the Tropicana Casino and Resort for an amazing weekend of the meeting of the marked November 7th thru the 9th.

Better known as “Drawin’ the Wild Card,” the expo has planted roots in one of Atlantic City’s most entertaining gaming venues now calling the Tropicana home.

The 2014 expo will feature tattooist and ink aficionados from around the planet as they converge on Atlantic City to leave their mark. This year’s event will highlight art and ink as we celebrate the artist and the canvas that adorn them. The Atlantic City Tattoo Expo will feature something for everyone, live entertainment, tattoo contest, seminars, parties and meet and greets. 4,000 plus attendees are ...expected to assemble over the week at the Tropicana, invading this game space for the love of Art and Entertainment.

While the main focus of the expo (www.actattooexpo.com) is the opportunity to meet (and get tattooed by) over 60-plus tattoo artists from around the globe, the expo also offers a chance to check out unique exhibitors including a variety of clothing, jewelry and novelty vendors. The event also promises to astonish and amaze with its circus antics, pin up contest and tattoo contests.

The 2014 event will play host to a wide range of tattoo “reality” personalities including Ink Master Contestants HALO, Matti Hixon, and James Vaughn. The 2014 expo offers a unique opportunity to meet as well as get tattooed by these off the wall reality TV tattoo personalities at the Tropicana all weekend long.
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The Atlantic City Tattoo Expo is open to the public and held on the 4th Floor exhibition space at the Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City

Friday, November 1st, 5pm-10pm
Saturday, November 2nd 11am-10pm
Sun November 3rd, 11am-5pm

Admission is $20 for a one-day pass,
$35 for a two-day pass and
$40 for a three-day pass.

An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18.

Kids under 12 get in free with a parent or guardian.

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School Dazed...Why Nicki Minaj Should Be Allowed to Speak at Her Former Highschool

Words By Raymond Tyler

Well it seems rap star Nicki Minaj will NOT be going back to school this September.
According to her twitter feed the principal at the high school from which she graduated declined her offer to speak to students.
I usually support teachers and principals but here's my little list on why Nicki should have been allowed to speak (although I would not use her stage name in the any way at a public school.)

1. Everyone should offer to go back to their high school to speak and volunteer.
For whatever reasons we all can't be Nicki Minaj, however we can all go back and help the students that are sitting in the seats we were in.
Her appearance may have inspired not just the students but the parents and her adult fans to get more active in the community and in education.

2.She Could Have Challenged The Students.
Imagine what would have happened if she challenged students to graduate and then offer several opportunities.

She could offer a graduate or graduates opportunities to work on her staff as assistants or summer interns.

She could have offered opportunities to work in the studio or even record.
All types of wonderful chances to work with "Team Nicki" but get that diploma.

Lastly, she could/should have challenged the graduating class of 2014 to come back and create opportunities for students in the future.

In fact you may have some youth that will now never come back.

3. Let The Students Decide.
Many people that have never shaken hands with Nicki Minaj have problems with her.
Granted I would not want her giving my niece life advice but my niece is 6 years old, not 16.
At 16 young people are just learning who they are and deciding what kind of adults they want to be and high school is a dress rehearsal.
Students in high school I found are more perceptive than we give them credit for.
So letting them hear Nicki speak not a bad idea. Letting students on stage to party with Nicki? Terrible idea because teens are impulsive.
Allow the students to hear what Nicki has to say.
The students need to hear from many voices. Our youth are smart enough to decide what parts of a person's life inspires them and what parts do not. That will be true whether the guest speaker is Nicki Minaj , Michelle Obama and any other speaker.

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Good Night Robin Williams

News just broke of the passing today of Oscar Winning legend Robin Williams.

We will not speculate on the cause of death until more info is in.

As a sci-fi head and some one that loved Gary Marshall's 70's/80's TV Shows.....I laughed a lot and thought about the human condition a lot during my time watching Williams on MORK and MINDY!

Even though I out grew the show...I still love what they did and tried to do.

Robin Williams has a host of films and TV appearances that will stay with me and his fans.

Mr. Williams was 63.

My favorite episode...where Robbie The Robot teaches Mork about "letting go."


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Retired Art Teacher Shelly Wentz Showcases Her Paintings At The AC Art Center

Shelly Wentz Talks To The AC Beat about her paintings on display at The AC Art Gallery!

 

 

 

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Playhouse 20...Calling All Theater Hands

Today at 7pm.
The Little Wellness Arts Center is hosting a mixer for actors, film makers, and anyone interested in the theater arts business.

We the gallery want to meet with film makers to discuss supplying the art for your films, music videos, commercials , ect.

Also the gallery is available for rental to shoot videos, to have release and trailer parties and events.

Any one interested in any and all aspects of theater arts, acting, play writing, ect. should make an appearance tonight.

Including writers with books that they want to because plays.

Admission $20 for non members
Little WAC Members only $10

For more information call 609-453-8851


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www.MosAllOccasionCatering.com

 

 

Always Fresh....Karyn Parsons Will Tell The Janet Collins Story....

Karyn Parsons is known the world over as the big sister/cousin "Hillary Banks" on the show Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Since her "Fresh Princess" days , Ms. Parsons has been playing the role of "Fresh Producer" creating animated films about Black history for children and families.

Her past projects like The Story Of Henry Box Brown have been little told gems hidden in the history of people of color,  stories that also lend themselves to the wonder of animation. With The Box Brown Story, Mr. Brown literally mailed himself to freedom

The next story Karyn Parsons will be telling is The Story of Janet Collins a dancer that beat the odds to become a world wide and all time great.

This time around Ms. Parsons allowed her friends, family and fans to help produce via kickstarter.

Last Friday, July 11th she reached her fund raising goal of
$77,000.

Very soon we will all be able to sit down with our families thanks to Parsons and friends and enjoy The Janet Collins Story.

This time around because of kickstarter many more people will be able to also explain "we did it."

Editors Note: Karyn Parsons has been a guest on Raymond Tyler's radio show. She has been a great guest and we at The Little Wellness Arts Center congratulate Ms. Parsons on a job well done.

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Good Night and Thank You...Rich Nichols Words By Raymond Tyler

Photo by Jeff Fusco

I woke up early this morning to the news that the manager for the band The Roots , Rich Nichols has passed away.

Now word on what happened yet.

What I know is that Nichols and The Roots along with The Jazzy Fatnastees helped rebirth The Philly Music Scene. With Nichols help Philly Music expanded beyond Philly International Records and Will Smith to a new era of soul and hip hop creativity representing Philadelphia.

Behind the scenes Nichols helped The Roots and The Jazzies bring great new music to records, tapes, CD's and Mp3 and downloads.

During the 1990's The Roots and Jazzies could be heard coast to coast on FM radio.While articles about the artists Nichol's managed could be found in The Source, Vibe, Essence and other magazines.

In my mind however, Nichol's biggest contribution to The Philly and World Music scene was his contributions to establishing The Black Lily. The Lily was an Tuesday night performance series set at Philly's coolest, slickest, hippest lounge of the time The Five Spot.

The Black Lily helped start the performance careers of Jill Scott, Musiq Soul Child and so many other now famous singers and songwriters.

Nichol's did more than just provide a venue, his vision served to inspired myself and thousands of Black Lily style showcases across the country since Nichol's  had started The Black Lily.

I had the chance to speak with Nichols twice about his experience  developing The Black Lily and changing what popular music could and should be. His insight has saved me a lot of money and heart ache. I learned from his expressed mistakes, but I also was inspired because he helped generations of musicians get their voices heard.

If you have ever enjoyed a night of music and performance at The Little Wellness Arts Center....?
Rich Nichol was a key inspiration.

Good Night Brother, Rest In Peace and Thank You.

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Good Night Ruby Dee Words By Raymond Tyler

 

It is with heavy heart that I report you our readers that yet another artist which was the inspiration for The Little Wellness Arts Center has moved on.

 

It is being reported that Ms. Ruby Dee born October 27, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio passed away late last night.

 

Dee was known for being the wife of the late activist Ossie Davis. Dee was herself a writer, actress and activist of note.

 

Most prominently Dee was known for playing the wife in The Broadway and film versions of A Raisin In The Sun.

We will have much more as details become available.

 

 

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Rakim In Philly Today

Every year on the first Sunday in June is Odunde in Philadelphia.

A day long festival celebrating the love of African and Black Culture.

For more than 10 years I have attended.

Expect a great free festival that spans more than 6 city blocks in Philadelphia.

Headlining this year is the one and only RAKIM.

Where else can you go and see a free concert featuring a hip hop icon like RAKIM?

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Good Night "ALICE"

Just reported a little while ago that Emmy award winning actress Ann B. Davis known for playing Alice "The House Keeper" Nelson on The Brady Bunch (1969-1974) has just passed away.

Not many details available yet.

We will update when possible.

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