President Barack Obama praised Beyoncé and Shonda Rhimes while delivering a commencement speech at my alma mater, Howard University, May 7, Variety reports. Obama painted a picture of progress while discussing race relations in the U.S., but he also noted that much more still needs to be done. He said the country is a better place today than when he graduated from Columbia University more than 30 years ago. “A lot of folks didn’t even think Blacks had the tools to be a quarterback,” Obama told the HBCU crowd in Washington, D.C. “When I was a graduate, the main Black hero on TV was Mr. T. Now Shonda Rhimes owns Thursday night and Beyoncé runs the world.”
Tyler Perry reportedly sold his mansion in the tony Buckhead section of Atlanta for a record $17.5 million, making real estate history in the process. The magnificent 35,000 square-foot estate was touted by the listing agent as “perhaps the most compelling private residence to ever be offered to market in the history of Atlanta.” Sources say the spectacular property boasts 17 manicured acres, a larger-than-Olympic-size swimming pool, an IMAX theater, a tennis court atop a parking deck and a bedroom with a full-sized tub and massage table adjacent to the four-poster canopy bed.
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network’s popular reality series, “Livin Lozada,” featuring Evelyn Lozada, returned with all-new episodes Saturday, May 7, at 10 p.m. In this all-new season, Lozada, her fiance, L.A. Dodgers star Carl Crawford, and their toddler son, Leo, head back to their home in Arizona for the off-season. Tensions arise when Lozada’s 22-year-old daughter, Shaniece, finds herself feeling alone in L.A. as she tries to launch her burgeoning modeling career, deciding on a potential lucrative offer from Bow Wow. Finally, as the big 4-0 approaches for Lozada, she begins to realize that her dream of conceiving another child with Crawford may come with a series of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
In fall 2016, the American Black Film Festival will unveil the ABFF Creators Summit in Los Angeles. Hosted by Creative Arts Agency, the one-day summit for a select group of writers, producers and directors will include award-winning filmmakers from the 2016 American Black Film Festival. The goal of this intensive program is to provide diverse storytellers valuable insights into the process of pitching and
developing film, television and web-based projects. Attendees will also be connected with studio and network executives, agents and industry experts, who will help foster their careers and will provide them with advice and knowledge about the entertainment industry.
According to Variety, Eriq La Salle is set to join the cast of “Wolverine 3,” starring Hugh Jackman. Plot details are being kept under wraps, as are details behind La Salle’s role. “Wolverine 3” will be the 10th film in the X-Men franchise. Best known for his portrayal of Dr. Peter Benton on “ER,” La Salle most recently recurred on the CBS series “A Gifted Man” and “The Widow Man.” He has also been directing episodes of TV shows such as “CSI: Cyber,” “Madame Secretary,” “Crisis,” “Battle Creek” and “Night Shift.”