By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — One of the top Black women executives in the entertainment industry has a major new job. Channing Dungey, formerly vice president of originals at Netflix, will succeed Peter Roth as chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group when he steps down in early 2021. The announcement was carried Monday in various entertainment publications and on multiple websites, though initially reported in Variety. “This is a homecoming of sorts for Channing, who was a production executive at Warner Bros. early in her career, and we’re excited to have her rejoin the Studio,” WarnerMedia studios and networks…
Author: Ron Wynn
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — After five seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” Leslie Jones is enjoying a new role and being more in the spotlight as opposed to being part of an ensemble. The new host of “Supermarket Sweep,” seen Sunday nights at 7 p.m. on WKRN-2, told USA Today that she was a huge fan of the ‘90s version of the show. “I just loved the whole game,” Jones said. “And I had a mission of winning that $5,000 (grand prize). Back in the day, $5,000 was a lot of money. Now, I didn’t know the taxes involved…
The National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) both hoped that they could get through full seasons without the COVID-19 pandemic affecting them, a notion that was problematic from the start, and at best illogical. Now that pro and college football teams are dealing with outbreaks, it’s clear whatever policies the NFL and NCAA had previously implemented have to be consistently examined, updated and overhauled. It’s also clear that at least in the NFL, some teams either aren’t fully paying attention to protocols, or just deliberately ignoring them. The Titans’ situation has drawn national attention because…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The reshaping of the Nashville Predators got underway in major fashion last Friday as they announced the signings of two free agent defensemen. The main signing was Mark Boroweicki, who is now on board for two years at four million dollars. The other is defensman Matt Benning. He also signed for two years, but for two million. They are both expected to add depth and toughness to the defensive corps, but are only part of the general makeover of the organization after a very disappointing loss to the Arizona Coyotes in the Stanley Cup…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Given how special “Lovecraft Country” has been this season, it’s not a surprise that an unconventional and highly distinctive artist would be featured in a highly unusual concert special. Actress/vocalist Janelle Monae will perform a one-of-its-kind VR concert special to mark the season finale of the HBO series. HBO will conclude the first season with “Lovecraft Country: Sanctum,” a series of exclusive virtual reality that transports invited guests into a world inspired by the show, with the social VR experience Music of the Cosmos. For the final VR experience via the Oculus Quest headset,…
The careers of the greatest sister act in tennis are nearing their end. If these were ordinary times, that would be major news in the sports world. But the COVID-19 pandemic has turned everything upside down, including the sports scene. With pro basketball and hockey playoffs extended into the fall, the baseball season reduced to 60 games, and both pro and college football battling outbreaks and postponements, tennis has also seen its season completely altered. There was no Wimbledon this year, and no fans allowed at the US Open. Then last week at the French Open both Serena and Venus…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — This year’s 54th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards will make some history. The show will air live from the Music City Center in downtown Nashville from 7-10 p.m. CST Nov. 11. The co-hosts will be Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker. It’s McEntire’s fifth hosting stint and the first for Rucker. It’s also the first time a Black performer has co-hosted the CMA Awards since Charley Pride joined Glenn Campbell in 1975. “I’m thrilled to be back hosting the CMA Awards and even more thrilled that I get to share the stage with Darius…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville vocalist Brauninger McDaniel’s distinctive mix of jazz, blues, and soul influences has already won her many fans throughout the Middle Tennessee area, but now she’s added a new title to her resume – award-winning vocalist. McDaniel recently won the International Singer-Songwriter Association’s (ISSA) 2020 Gold Female Vocalist of the Year award. This follows her triumph last year as their Female Songwriter of the Year. “It’s quite an honor and very rewarding,” McDaniel told the Tribune. “It’s a realization that the hard work is playing off.” McDaniel’s vocal talents come quite naturally. Her uncle…
Many players are good. A select bunch are great. But there are even fewer who are special, and Gale Sayers was one of them. Sayers, who died last Wednesday at 77, was an artist on the football field. He brought a grace and flair to the running back position that remain unequaled many decades after his retirement. Even though his career was short due to injury, it was so amazing in its entirety that Sayers was eventually voted into the Hall of Fame as the youngest player ever at 34. He was nicknamed “The Kansas Comet,” and he blazed into…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The ratings may have been lackluster, but Sunday night’s Emmy Awards were special in one regard – the number of Black actors and/or projects featuring people of color that were winners. A record 10 of the 19 performer category awards went to Black actors. Leading the way was Regina King, who earned her fourth Emmy for “Watchmen,” while Zendaya, the star of “Euphoria,” shocked everyone by becoming both the youngest person to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series and the second Black actress to win the award. Other winners included “Mrs. America’s”…