Posted in Celebration, Dr. G's Pop Culture Corner (PCC), Dr. G's Weekly Hot Topics, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Pop Culture Corner

For all my travel buddies and those imagining their next adventure, check out Tracee Ellis Ross in her new Roku Channel series Solo Traveling.

In the first three episodes, Ross takes us to Morocco, Mexico, and Spain, and sightseeing is not all we see. She’s giving viewers a masterclass in rituals, reflection, and, yes, what to do when a TSA agent finds your hidden vibrator in your luggage. So don’t wait, check it out now!!


The hardest-working man in showbiz, Samuel L. Jackson, is at it again with a spinoff of the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King,” titled “NOLA King,” which has officially been greenlit.

“‘NOLA King’ follows Russell Lee Washington Jr. (Jackson) who, after befriending Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) during a ten-year stint in federal prison, is sent to Tulsa by New York’s Renzetti crime family to take Dwight out once and for all. Inspired by what Dwight created in Tulsa and impressed with the possibilities of second chances, Washington returns to New Orleans, the home he abandoned forty-years ago, to rekindle his relationship with his family, friends, and to take control of the city he left behind. In so doing, he incurs the wrath of his former employers in New York, and makes himself vulnerable to old NOLA foes, both criminal and cop.”

Season 3 of “Tulsa King” is slated to premiere in September on Paramount+, with “NOLA King” reportedly planning to begin shooting in early 2026.


“Mural Mural on the wall, whose the fairest of them all”…Well, that would be the iconic Josephine Baker, who was just recently memorialized on a Paris wall. The unveiling of the mural took place on July 19th as part of the street art festival, “Paris Colors Ourq.” The mural comes from urban artist Franck Duval, known as FKDL, who tells the Associated Press’ Nicolas Garriga that his work focuses on “bringing women back into the urban landscape.”

On the mural, you can see a quote from one of Baker’s songs written in a bold Gothic font in French: “I have two loves: my country and Paris.” According to FKDL, the mural of Baker, is meant to symbolize freedom and resistance, and is among several painted in recent days in the neighborhood and organized by the association Paris Colors Ourq. He further notes, “Josephine Baker has always been, for me, a somewhat iconic figure of that era. Both wild and free-spirited, but also deeply connected to music, musicals, and dance…She was an extraordinary character, an incredible woman.”


Look out world…History has been made!! Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo is now a part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame legacy as the “First Black African Musician.” This recognition celebrates her four-decade career, marked by her unique blend of West African music with funk, jazz, and R&B, and her global advocacy work. The 64-year-old from Benin was hailed as Africa’s “premier diva” during a press conference for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.


Aww, shucks, one of my favorite television series is coming back!!! The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is returning for a third season with more laughs, guests, and meaningful storytelling. Evolving in multiple ways, this new season, Penny Proud and her friends are navigating the middle school chaos, but to push the envelope further, they’re going global. The international adventures and sharp social commentary will feature guest appearances from stars such as Janelle James, Sanaa Lathan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Chance the Rapper. In addition, returning cast members include Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, JoMarie Payton, Cedric the Entertainer, and Karen Malina White. We will also see how music plays a significant role this season, with 10 new original songs composed by Grammy winner Roccstar and longtime series composer Kurt Farquhar.

Oh, and as a bonus, before it even premieres, it has already been renewed for a fourth season. I like the sound of that kind of news!! Season 3 of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder premieres Tuesday, August 6th, on Disney+.

Posted in Dr. G's Pop Culture Corner

Dr. G’s Pop Culture Corner (PCC)

Well, folks, I’m back with a few pop culture nuggets! Nothing like sharing some exciting news and updates. This week we have a range of topics including BASL representation, Black hair care, comic book teaser alerts, and Adidas footwear.

Photo by Igor Sanches on Pexels.com

Check this week’s news below:

Making HUGE moves for the BASL community…Right on time for its July 4th release on Max, fans of the acclaimed film Sinners will be able to watch it two ways: by 1) streaming the exact theatrically released version, and 2) choosing Sinners in Black American Sign Language (BASL).

According to Warner Bros., this is the first time a streaming service has interpreted a film into BASL. According to Max, the release of Sinners in BASL marks “a major step forward in accessibility, representation and visibility in streaming. Interpreted by Nakia Smith, she is “an influential voice in the Black Deaf community, who delivers a powerful interpretation with cultural depth and linguistic richness that aligns with the film’s themes and historical timeline.”


Nothing like the perfect cocktail for your hair…Just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the popular “Girlfriends” show, Tracee Ellis Ross is turning mixology into hairology through her PATTERN hair care line. Described by Ross in a press release, “Hair cocktailing is a common practice in our community—we layer curl gels, creams, oils and more to create a personalized formula that works best for our own hair.” As noted in Essence, with almost six years on the market, PATTERN’s very first commercial gives air to a wash day ritual Black women almost instinctively do. 


The products include a Styling Cream and a Strong Hold Gel, which can be used to shape a bouffant afro, as well as the Curl Gel and Leave-In Conditioner to define coils. Lastly, there is the Curl Mousse for definition and shine.


It looks like we may see DC’s first Black Female Superhero, Nubia, on a television or film screen near you in the near future. While waiting on news about Batman in The Brave and the Bold and the DCU’s plans for Wonder Woman, an interviewer (Pay or Wait) slyly asked famed director James Gunn about the addition of two other characters, Nubia and Static Shock. As one of DC’s most significant but underused characters (sometimes connected to Wonder Woman), Gunn explains “I am very aware of Nubia. And yes, we are very much talking about that, and I want to have all sorts of people represented in the DCU and, yeah, you might be very happy in the not too distant future.”  Although a release date has not been set, I look forward to seeing what happens with the character on the big screen.

DC Comics Nubia & the Amazons #1 (October 2021), art by Alitha Martinez & Laura Martin

In more comic news, from Marvel Animation, viewers get a sneak peek into another part of Wakanda in the 4-part series, Eyes of Wakanda.

Eyes of Wakanda is a “new action-adventure series that  follows the adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history. In this globe-trotting adventure, the heroes must carry-out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from the enemies of Wakanda. They are the Hatut Zaraze and this is their story.”

The series casts a stellar, dynamic voice cast including Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint,  Anika Noni Rose , and Isaac Robinson-Smith. It will be the first series of Phase Six of the MCU.

See the teaser trailer below, set to stream on Disney Plus August 27th:


Looks like Samuel L. Jackson is making his mark in the shoe game, as he lends his voice to a new Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign. The campaign is set to honor the timeless silhouettes of Adidas through storytelling. This teaser marks the first installment in a multipart campaign featuring a cross-generational roster of creatives. In a statement from the brand, “When icons wear icons, culture moves.” For a brief history of the Adidas Original Superstar shoe, see here.

Posted in #30DaysofBlackJoy Series, Celebration, On The Radar

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 12-“Must Watch Summer TV”

Good Day, Friends and Family!! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I know I did it was filled with lots of laughs, tasty treats, and good fellowship!! It’s nothing like finding joy in the small things of life! And for me sitting on my couch, curled up with a snack and a spirited beverage, while binging the latest television series is just the prescription I need!!

So today’s #BlackJoy moment is about sharing some upcoming “Must Watch Summer TV”!! I have compiled a list of TV shows that either just dropped or will be dropping soon that feature primarily Black cast and shows that have Black folks as the lead. These are shows that can be viewed across several streaming networks.

Check them out below:

  • Season 2-Run the World (Starz)
  • Season 2-The Wonder Years (ABC/Hulu)
  • I’m a Virgo (Prime Video)
  • Secret Invasion (Disney+)
  • Hijack (Apple TV+)
  • Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
  • Twisted Metal (Peacock/USA)
  • Average Joe (BET+)
  • The Lazarus Project (TNT)
  • Grown-ish (Freeform/Hulu)
  • The Upshaws (Netflix)

What other shows are you watching or looking forward to watching this summer??

See you all tomorrow!!

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!

It’s the top of the month and we got new alerts for you! Check them out below:

Dead Ringers (Streaming on Prime Video April 21st)

Clock (Streaming on Hulu April 28th)

White House Plumbers (Streaming on HBO Max May 1st)

Elemental (In theaters June 16th)

Extraction 2 (Streaming on Netflix June 16th)

Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion (Streaming on Disney+ June 21st)

Blue Beetle (In theaters August 18th)

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!-Marvel Edition

Can we just say Marvel is not playing any games!! Wasting no time pulling the fans into theaters and updating their streaming services!! This week’s trailer alerts are dedicated to all the upcoming Marvel television series and films!! Check them out below:

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Streaming on the Disney Channel February 10th) [Now I’m super siked about this one!!]

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (In theaters February 17th)

Season 2-What If…? (Streaming on Disney+ Early 2023)

Secret Invasion (Streaming Spring 2023 on Disney+)

Guardians of the Galaxy-Vol. 3 (In theaters May 5th)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (In theaters June 2nd)

The Marvels (In theaters July 28th)

Season 2-Loki (Streaming on Disney+ Summer 2023)

Kraven the Hunter (In theaters October 6th)

X-Men ’97 (Streaming on Disney + Fall 2023)


While there are no trailers just yet for these next few we do have a time period for when to be on the lookout!!

  • Ironheart (Streaming on Disney+ Summer 2023)
  • Echo (Streaming on Disney+ Summer 2023)
  • Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Late 2023)
Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Closing out the month of September with a fresh slate of new trailers!! Check them out below:

The Visitor (Streaming on EPIX October 7)

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (In theaters October 7)

Halloween Ends (In theaters and Streaming on Peacock October 14)

Season 1-The Peripheral (Streaming on Prime Video October 21)

Strange World (In theaters November 23)

They Cloned Tyrone (Streaming on Netflix December 30)

Secret Invasion (Streaming on Disney+ Early 2023)

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Conversations with Beloved & Kindred, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Conversations with Beloved & Kindred-Eve’s Bayou

Tune in on this Thursday May 12th at 3 pm/ET as Dr. Robinson and I continue our discussion n Blackness and horror with a discussion on the 1997 film, Eve’s Bayou!!

Check it out on Auburn Avenue Research Library Facebook Live and YouTube!!

This discussion explores the 1997 film Eve’s Bayou. Actress Kasi Lemmons made an auspicious debut as a writer and director with this delicately handled, wrenchingly emotional drama, hailed by critic Roger Ebert as one of the best films of 1997. Eve’s Bayou begins with ominous narration: “The summer I killed my father, I was 10 years old.” From that point the story moves backward in time and memory to Louisiana in 1962, when a young girl named Eve (Jurnee Smollett) witnesses a shocking act on the part of her womanizing father (Samuel L. Jackson). But what really happened? And can Eve be certain about what she saw when there is more than one interpretation of the facts? Less a mystery than a study of deeply rooted emotions rising to the surface to affect an entire family, the film has the quality of classic Southern literature, with layers of memory unfolding to reveal a carefully guarded truth.

Just in case you want to refresh your memory of the movie, check out the trailer below:

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

It’s the first of the month and I got new trailer just for you!! Locked and loaded, ready for you to hit play!! Check them out below:

The Weekend Away (Streaming on Netflix March 3rd)

The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey (Streaming on Apple TV+ March 11th)

Windfall (Streaming on Netflix March 18th)

Pachinko (Streaming on Apple TV+ March 25th)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (In theaters April 15th)