Kanye West

Photo By Everett Collection/ Shutterstock

This year, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church Easter service will feature some illustrious guests.

The Houston-based church will livestream its Easter Sunday service this week. Entitled "Hope Is Alive," the service will boast a few famous faces—including Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, and one Kanye West. Carey will supposedly perform some kind of tribute to healthcare workers, possibly "Hero," and Perry will offer words of encouragement. West will, of course, bring his Sunday Service choir (appropriately social distanced).

"We saw an incredible five million people tune in online on Palm Sunday. We expect even more Easter weekend," stated a church representative.

Last year, West brought his Sunday service to the church, back in the pre-coronavirus era, and performed for over a thousand people.

This year's virtual Sunday Service will stream online Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 8:30AM and 11AM. Viewers can tune in via the church's website, YouTube channel and Facebook page, or Roku, AppleTV and SiriusXM Channel 128.

Kanye West - Follow Godwww.youtube.com

MUSIC

The Best Moments from the 2019 BET Awards

The BET Awards brought together the personal and the political while showcasing today's top talent.

Last night, The BET Awards reminded everyone that most mainstream entertainment award shows don't adequately feature the energy, talent, and perseverance of inspiring black artists.

The show was personal, political, entertaining, fun, inspiring, and moving. The abundant talent on display reminded audiences how overlooked these incredible artists have been (and continue to be) by mainstream culture

Regina Hall's Opening Number

Regina Hall got to live out her Homecoming fantasy by recreating Beyonce's epic performance as a DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) Go-Go routine. The Washington, DC native used her host position to shed light on the #DontMuteDC movement. Ronald Moten, a D.C. native and Go-Go promoter, sparked the #DontMuteDC movement when a record store that played the DMV's music was pressured by new residents in a nearby condo to stop. The #DontMuteDC movement demonstrates one of the many effects of gentrification across the country.

Sugar Bear, a member of the DMV-based Go-Go band E.U., performed his 80s' go-go hits, "Do You Know What Time It Is," "Da Butt," and "Run Joe," while Hall and Taraji P. Henson shook their booties to the bops.

Marsai Martin Created A Meme

The youngest producer in Hollywood won the Young Stars Award (to no one's surprise but her own). Her reaction was hysterical and memed by many. .

Doja Cat's Red Carpet Look

Doja Cat brought camp to the BET Awards. The 23-year-old wore an outfit worthy of her name, rocking an all-pink dress made of yarn, a cat feather headpiece, and futuristic shades that said, "Meow meow."

The Icon, The Legend: Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige Performs “My Life," Real Love," & More In ICONIC Performance! | BET Awards 2019www.youtube.com

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul brought the house down. After being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, Blige took the stage herself to honor her own work. The audience jammed out to the singer's iconic discography. Even Lil' Kim popped in to remind everyone she's still got it, rapping her verse on "I Can Love You." The smooth Method Man also made an appearance to rap the intro of "You're All I Need."

Lizzo Performs "Truth Hurts"

Lizzo Proves She's 100% That B***h In “Truth Hurts" Performance! | BET Awards 2019www.youtube.com

The breakout performance of the evening had to be Lizzo's rendition of "Truth Hurts." The 31-year-old singer owned the stage, even whipping out a flute for a head-bopping solo.

Mama Burna's Speech

Burna Boy's mother accepted the Best International Act award on behalf of her son. She took a moment in her speech to spread the message, "Every black person, please remember that you were Africans before you became anything else."

Exonerated 5 Receive a Standing Ovation

The Exonerated Five Are Honored For Their Truth & Resilience | BET Awards 2019www.youtube.com

Last night, the BET Awards took a moment to highlight the injustices black people still face in our country.

Regina King renamed the Central Park Five—Raymond Santana Jr., Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Korey Wise, and Kevin Richardson—the Exonerated Five. The men are finally receiving proper recognition after they were wrongly accused of raping a jogger in NYC when they were teenagers. The men received a standing ovation.

Tyler Perry's Powerful Speech

Tyler Perry Gives Powerful Speech Of Motivation As He Accepts Ultimate Icon Award | BET Awards 2019www.youtube.com

Tyler Perry accepted the Ultimate Icon Award with grace, recounting his upbringing and how that informed his desire to be an inspiration rather than an icon. Perry reminded his peers that instead of trying to get a seat at the table, he built his own table in Atlanta.

He candidly expressed that every successful black American should try to bring other black people into their success, like he did, explaining, "When I started hiring Taraji, Viola Davis, and Idris Elba, they couldn't get jobs in this town, but God blessed me to be in a position to be able to hire them."

He concluded by noting that the land he owns in Atlanta (for his studio) is in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. He then proudly proclaimed, "There were Confederate soldiers on that base, plotting and planning on how to keep 3.9 million negroes enslaved. Now, that land is owned by one negro."

Nipsey Hussle is Honored

YG, DJ Khaled & Marsha Ambrosius & John Legend Perform Tribute to Nipsey Hussle | BET Awards 2019www.youtube.com

Nipsey Hussle, who posthumously received the Humanitarian Award, was honored with a tribute performance by Marsha Ambrosious, Y.G., DJ Khaled, and John Legend.

Marsha Ambrosious began by singing a heartfelt rendition of "The Marathon Continues." Hussle's close friend, Y.G., performed "Last Time I Checc'd" shouting out, "Nip Hussle I love you, bro." Finally, DJ Khaled and John Legend closed out the evening on a high-note with their choir rendition of Hussle's "Higher."

The performance concluded with the audience raising a finger to the sky to remind everyone, again, "The Marathon Continues."

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind | Offical Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Welcome back to "Now in Theaters: 5 New Movies for the Weekend."

February felt surprisingly long, but thankfully a new month means a new Madea movie.

WIDE RELEASE:

Greta

GRETA - Official Trailer [HD] - In Theaters March 2019www.youtube.com

In this female-centric horror/thriller, Chloë Grace Moretz plays a young New Yorker trying to make her way in the big city. After returning a missing handbag to an older piano teacher named Greta, the two develop a nice friendship...but uh oh, things are not what they seem. That missing handbag? Planted. And Greta? She's crazy. Now Chloë Grace Moretz needs to escape the clutches of insane, geriatric Greta before it's too late. If you've ever wanted to see a horror movie where the ultimate terror is a nice old lady, here's your chance.

Tyler Perry's a Madea Family Funeral

Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral (2019 Movie) Official Trailer - Tyler Perry, Cassi Daviswww.youtube.com

Madea is back, and this time she's organizing someone's funeral for some reason. Why would they let Madea do that? Don't they know that Madea's involvement is sure to lead to wacky hijinks? Maybe if you wanted your funeral to be filled with big farts and slapstick humor involving your corpse, then you'd want Madea to organize things. Otherwise, you should probably hire a professional funeral director.

NETFLIX:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind | Offical Trailer [HD] | Netflixwww.youtube.com

Directed, written by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the story of a young boy in Malawi who builds a windmill to save his village from famine. Based on a true memoir of the same name, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is sure to be an emotional ride showcasing the power of human imagination and ingenuity in the face of turmoil. Check it out on Netflix from the comfort of your own couch.

LIMITED RELEASE:

Climax

Climax | Official Trailer HD | A24www.youtube.com

French director Gaspar Noé, best known for his controversial art films, possibly has his best movie yet with Climax. Part dance film, part gruesome, LSD-driven horror, Climax is a wholly original and disturbing take on party films. The movie is incredible on a technical and cinematic level, but it's also not a good choice for the easily disturbed. Consider this one a highly recommended film with the caveat that you might not be able to handle it.

The Hole in the Ground

The Hole in the Ground | Official Trailer HD | A24www.youtube.com

This movie's got it all: a hole, the ground, and best of all SPOOKY BOIS™. Yes, in this weekend's newest Spooky Boi flick, a young mother discovers that her son has become a true spook after seeing a hole in the ground outside their new home. You better believe this boy is dedicated to spooking. He's eating spiders! He's breaking peoples' arms! He's slurpin' his spaghetti. Very impolite! Now, as always, this young mother is forced to choose between putting up with a Spooky Boi in her home or abandoning her maternal instinct and murdering him. Hooray!


Dan Kahan is a writer & screenwriter from Brooklyn, usually rocking a man bun. Find more at dankahanwriter.com



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From The Cosby Show to the Checkout Line, Geoffrey Owens Gets Acting Offer from Tyler Perry

"Shamed" for Taking a Job at Trader Joe's, Longtime Actor May Be Back on Screen

Trading in TV for Trader Joe's, Geoffrey Owens is back in the public eye.

While The Cosby Show has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as of late, many people still recall the sitcom with fond memories for its content and characters. And one memorable character from the show was "Elvin," husband of Dr. Huxtable's eldest daughter, Sondra, played by actor Geoffrey Owens.


Why are we bringing up Owens after all these years? Sure, he has had a few acting parts ( That's So Raven, Lucifer, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and others) since his stint on the sitcom, but after The Cosby Show, his career never really made headlines.


Until now. See Owens, like many actors, needed to find another job…at least 'till a decent acting role came his way. So, what did he do? He found a job at Trader Joe's in Clifton, NJ. And plenty of out-of-work actors will tell ya, making ends meet when the roles are few and far between is a must. Even if it means waiting tables, driving an Uber, or, as in Owens' case, bagging groceries.

Owens appeared on Good Morning America where he explained, "I'd been teaching, acting, directing for 30+ years, but it got to a point where it just didn't add up enough and you gotta do what you got to do," he shared, adding the job (at Trader Joe's) offered 'flexibility,' so he could 'try to stay in the business.'" He has been employed by Trader Joe's for approximately 15 months.

We would have never heard about Owens' job at Joe's if not for a shopper who snapped his pic and posted it online to "confirm" it was, indeed, the actor bagging up loaves of bread and cans of beans. She told Daily Mail, "I would have thought after The Cosby Show he would maybe be doing something different. It was a shock to see him working there and looking the way he did. It made me feel really bad. I was like, 'Wow, all those years of doing the show and you ended up as a cashier.'"

Uh…what's to feel "bad about" exactly? Granted, television may be more glamourous than groceries, but like the rest of us, a man's gotta make a living. If bagging pays the bills, then Owens did what he needed to for himself and his family. And other actors came forward on social media to give credit to the former Cosby star for being down-to-earth and not believing he's "too good" to work the checkout line. One went so far as to offer him a role.

As per USA Today, "Tyler Perry offered the 57-year-old actor a gig on the Oprah Winfrey Network days after pictures of Owens working at the supermarket in Clifton, New Jersey, went viral." It's not clear how Owens will proceed with Perry's generosity. He told GMA, "I wouldn't feel comfortable getting acting jobs from this event. I wouldn't mind getting auditions, I don't mind if people call me in to try out for things, due to what's happened, but I actually wouldn't feel comfortable (with) someone giving me a job because this happened. I want to get a job because I'm the right person for that job."

An honest human being who wants to make it in the biz for his talents, not because he's "trending." Trader Joe's is lucky to have him. For now anyway.


Melissa A. Kay is a New York-based writer, editor, and content strategist. Follow her work on Popdust as well as sites including TopDust, Chase Bank, P&G, Understood.org, The Richest, GearBrain, The Journiest, Bella, TrueSelf, Better Homes & Gardens, AMC Daycare, and more.


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BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN | All is fair in love and its consequences

MARCH 30TH - APRIL 1ST | What's coming to theaters this weekend?

Take a break from Easter egg hunts and Passover seders to take a trip to your local cinema.

In Popdust's column, Box Office Breakdown, we aim to inform you of the top flicks to check out every weekend depending on what you're in the mood to enjoy. Looking to laugh? What about having your pants scared off? Maybe you just need a little love? Whatever the case may be, we have you covered. Take a peek at our top picks for this week…

God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | Just in time for the religious holiday season, Reverend Dave Hill is put in a troubled position when his church burns down in a fire and the neighboring university looks to throw the group off-campus instead of rebuilding it. The community and the church are at odds when they disagree on how to move forward with the process. Legal battles quickly come up. Reverend Dave must reach out to his estranged brother, an atheist, to help him with the case. It will bring up the question of who believes, who does not, and the power of choice.

Purchase Tickets for God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness

PG | Running Time 1hr 46m | Pure Flix Productions | Director:Michael Mason

Starring:David A.R. White, John Corbett, Shane Harper, and more!

All I Wish | The question of what to do on your birthday can sometimes be a challenging one. For Senna, it's also another reminder of how she is getting older and still doesn't have a steady relationship (something her mother reminds her of frequently). Then, she meets a man who might just change her mind on the whole 'not needing to get married' business. He's nice. He's funny. And she suddenly thinks she might want more. No, there is nothing more complicated about it than that, so don't expect there to be. But do be prepared for seeing the age-defying Sharon Stone in a bikini!

Purchase Tickets for All I Wish

R | Running Time 1hr 34m |ETA Films | Director:Susan Walter

Starring:Sharon Stone, Tony Goldwyn, Ellen Burstyn, and more!


The Last Movie Star | It's nice to get an award, especially when you hear that other legendary actors have also been awarded the same title. However, no other actors were stupid enough to fall for the invitation to come to the teeny tiny Nashville, Tennessee film awards. One actor makes that mistake when he is honored late in his career and then begins a strange journey back through time. He meets the film buffs who are obsessed with his work and tries to revisit those he's met from his past. In this odd and heart-warming tale, see what it means to have a so-so second act and to bring it back with a killer finale.

Purchase Tickets for The Last Movie Star

R | Running Time 1hr 43m | Broken Twig Productions Inc. | Director: Adam Rifkin

Starring: Burt Reynolds, Ariel Winter, Clark Duke, and more!


Finding Your Feet| It's apparently never too late for a little romance, as we found out this week at the movies. When Sandra realizes that her beloved husband has been having a long-standing affair with her best friend, she runs off and takes refuge with her wild, eccentric sister, Bif. Though the two couldn't possibly be any more different, they lean on one another for support as they work to restore their relationship, their faith in love, and their dancing skills in a community class Bif signs up for. Love, lust, and an inability to fear the possibility of getting old make this a delightful treat.

Purchase Tickets for Finding Your Feet

PG-13 | Running Time 1hr 51m | Eclipse Films | Director: Richard Loncraine

Starring: Timothy Spall, Joanna Lumley, Imelda Staunton, and more!


And our ⭐️ TOP PICK ⭐️ ...

Tyler Perry's Acrimony | Oh, how complicated matters of the heart can be... and dark, too. In this film, we have a wife who thought she had it all in her husband. However, it quickly becomes clear to her that there must be something he is hiding. The question is who and what. One woman will go as far as it takes to figure out why her husband has decided to deceive her, and how she is going to get back at him for it. Complex, thrilling, and as dangerous as all romantic affairs, you will be nervous until the end as this couple unravels in a dramatic fashion.

Purchase Tickets for Tyler Perry's Acrimony

R | Running Time 2hr | The Tyler Perry Company | Director: Tyler Perry

Starring:Taraji P. Henson, Lyriq Bent, Crystle Stewart, and more!


Really like a film you've seen or know of one coming out soon that we should check out? Shoot me an email and let me know!

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