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Chris Rock to finally have his say in new stand-up special

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A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock is poised to finally have his say.

The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night will perform his first stand-up special since last year’s Oscars. He’s doing it in “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” streaming live on Netflix at 10 p.m. EST. Not only will Rock present about an hour of stand-up from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, but Netflix — in its first ever live show — will bookend the special with star-studded commentary.

The pre-show, beginning at 9:30 p.m., will feature Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Matthew McConaughey, Cedric the Entertainer, Ice-T and two hosts from last year’s Oscars: Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer. Afterward Rock’s set, Dana Carvey and David Spade will host guests including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Arsenio Hall and JB Smoove.

While Smith has apologized and repeatedly spoken about the incident since last March, Rock has avoided all the usual platforms where celebrities often go to air their feelings. He never sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and turned away the many media outlets that would have loved to land an exclusive in-depth interview.

Instead, Rock has for much of the past year been touring new material in a long string of performances as part of his Ego Death tour. The shows, which had been announced before the 2022 Oscars, have featured performances with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

On the road, Rock has often worked in jokes and reflections on the slap, though it’s never been more than an element of his shows. There’s no guarantee that he will talk it about Saturday night, but he’s widely expected to and has long suggested this would be his chosen forum.

Rock first broke his public silence about the slap three nights after the Oscar ceremony, last year in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd. He added that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

Now, after plenty of processing, Rock will be taking the cultural spotlight just a week before the March 12 Oscars, where the slap is sure to revisited by this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. In the aftermath of last year’s events, Smith resigned his membership to the film academy. The academy board of governors banned Smith from the Oscars and all other academy events for a decade.

At the annual luncheon for nominees held last month, motion picture academy president Janet Yang voiced regret about how the incident was handled, calling the academy’s response “inadequate.” Bill Kramer, the academy’s chief executive, has said the academy has since instituted a crisis communications team to prepare for and more rapidly respond to the unexpected.

“Selective Outrage” is Rock’s second special for Netflix, following 2018’s “Tamborine.” They’re part of a two-special $40 million deal Rock signed with the streamer in 2016.

While rivals have gotten into live streaming and sports, “Selective Outrage” marks Netflix’s first foray into live programming. Netflix, with 231 million global subscribers, also recently signed on to stream next year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, signaling that “Selective Outrage” may be just the start of a new trend.

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Fantasia, Babyface, Rickey Smiley, and More Sizzle at the Inaugural Music Fest Orlando

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Fantasia delivered an unforgettable performance at the inaugural Music Fest Orlando, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (Photo by Dutches Scott / Florida National News)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Over 8,000 patrons flocked to Orlando on Saturday, March 25, for the inaugural Music Fest Orlando held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The good vibes and ambiance were felt from the gates to the vendors and the stage. Setting the tone for the festival was the opening artist’s segment that included: Arkeshia, Ashley Peck, Lolita, Pretti Emage and The Don D’rel. The vibes continued with legendary DJ’s, Demp, Nasty 305 and BoWeezy , who kept the crowd on their feet and the energy flowing. The outdoor festival continued with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, with a riveting and soul-stirring performance by headliner Fantasia and an R&B nostalgic performance by Babyface. We took a trip down South with the sounds of Goodie Mob, Plies, the 69 Boyz and JT Money. In addition, fans enjoyed a soulful set with Lyfe Jennings and Levelle, and the festival also included some afro-beats tunes with artist KowKow. Special appearances included Havier Daivon, Married to Medicine costars Dr. Scott and Contessa Metcalfe, and Tyesha Williams. Also, the one-day outdoor live music festival was hosted by acclaimed comedian, actor, and national radio personality, Rickey Smiley, who kept the crowd entertained all night.
Music Fest Orlando has proved to be the ultimate music and cultural experience in the heart of Orlando, gathering fans from the southern region, including Miami, Jacksonville, Atlanta and even the city of Orlando. Tanya Baskerville, a resident of Orlando and an avid festival goer, stated, “I had an amazing time! It was a beautiful experience to see everyone come together to support our own! From the artists to all the beautiful black businesses. Felt like a family reunion. Nothing but positive vibes. I loved it and can’t wait until next year! I will be back!”

Music Fest Orlando is a celebration of Black music and culture and a party with a purpose. A portion of the ticket proceeds over the weekend will benefit students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the HBCU Initiative. This initiative seeks to provide students in the Central Florida area with financial assistance to further their post-high school education. Also, Music Fest Orlando Founder Ernest Wilson donated $2,000 to Pink Possible, a non-profit organization focused on breast cancer survivors. “Giving back to assist kids furthering their education and contributing to assist Brest Cancer survivors is a passion of mine,” states Founder Ernest Wilson Music Fest Orlando.

In addition to the live performances, the 2023 Music Fest Orlando featured delectable bites and a myriad of retail buys featuring a diverse assortment of small and minority-owned businesses, including Clique Wines. Music Fest Orlando is the adult spring break experience of the south at the intersection of music, art, and culture.

Also, during the weekend, attendees enjoyed a pre-social party hosted by artist CeeLo Green the night before the festival, March 24, 2023, at Dove Cote in the heart of downtown Orlando. For more information on next year’s festival, visit www.musicfestorlando.com.

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‘Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures’ Takes Families on a Fun-Fueled Excursion

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Photo courtesy of Disney and Feld Entertainment.
Photo courtesy of Disney and Feld Entertainment.

TAMPA, Fla. — Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures will whisk families away on an immersive getaway chock-full of magical participatory moments. Featuring new and classic tales, this a multi-generational experience visits Amalie Arena from March 23 -26.

Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and his pals for a high-octane ride in Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations. See the world from the rooftops of London with Mary Poppins and Jack and his band of dancing lamplighters. Travel to the sun-soaked Motunui and help Moana restore the heart of Te Fiti. Set off on a safari and snap unforgettable photos of wild cheetahs and monkeys when guests traverse through the Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa. Discover a whole new world and be swept up in Aladdin’s princely parade filled with spectacular stunts, magical moments with Genie, and a brand-new song from Jasmine that will render the audience “Speechless.” Mosey on over to a larger-than-life comedic carnival and team up with Woody and Bo Peep as they search for their new friend Forky. Fans will hit a high note with Mickey and pals while singing along to beloved Disney tunes as they welcome Merida, Belle, Ariel, Mulan and Tiana to the ice.

Families should be prepared for a getaway jam-packed with unexpected hijinks and surprise, up-close character interaction as Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures makes a pitstop right in Tampa!

Event Location: Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602

Dates and Times of Performances:


Thursday, March 23 7 PM
Friday, March 24
7 PM

Saturday, March 25 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM

Sunday, March 26 11 AM, 3 PM

For ticket prices and to purchase tickets visit www.disneyonice.com

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Winners from the 2023 Oscars

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Michelle Yeoh accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Michelle Yeoh accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscar winners announced Sunday:

Best picture: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best actress: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best actor: Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”

Best supporting actor: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best supporting actress: Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Original song: “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”

Film editing: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best animated feature: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

International feature film: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)

Documentary feature: “Navalny”

Live action short: “An Irish Goodbye”

Cinematography: James Friend, “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Makeup and hairstyling: “The Whale”

Costume design: Ruth E. Carter, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Documentary short: “The Elephant Whisperers”

Animated short: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”

Production design: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Music (original score): Volker Bertelmann, “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Visual Effects: “Avatar: The Way of Water”

Original screenplay: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Adapted screenplay: “Women Talking”

Sound: “Top Gun: Maverick”

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