A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

TONY AWARDS 2013

Well, it’s TONY AWARDS time! ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 invited me back to join my friends, hosts Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier, and share my predictions for Sunday’s telecast as well as some of my pop culture analysis on any sweeps, snubs, etc. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTd5S1wKUs0.

Of course, I was THRILLED for the 4 nominations “Motown: The Musical” got, but made no bones about my disappointment that it didn’t get more:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. [AND MIGHT I ADD that my friend Rhonda Ross was on the same ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 today – promoting the HEARTS OF GOLD walk for children tomorrow (www.heartsofgold.org) + she too weighed in on all things MOTOWN; her amazing career as a singer; her mom; and even a little MJ a la news of late: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK-p7EN2vVk. She tweeted this video as we sat in the green-room awaiting makeup:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201212518624533&set=vb.1517973929&type=2&theater].

TO BULLET THE WINS and MOMENTS of NOTE from the LIVE telecast via Radio City Music Hall:

* the legendary Cicely Tyson (“The Trip to Bountiful”) who won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

*  Billy Porter!!!!!

He won for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (“Kinky Boots”);

* Patina Miller (“Pippin”), who won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical;

* Courtney B. Vance (“Lucky Guy”), who won for Best Performance by an Actor in a featured Role in a Play. 

* Of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” fame, Cyndi Lauper won for Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theater for “Kinky Boots.”

* The Harvey Fierstein musical “Kinky Boots” won SIX, including Best Musical

* Stephen Schwartz’s musical “Pippin” snagged FOUR.

* Berry Gordy’s “Motown: The Musical” was nominated for four awards, but did not win any.

* Neil Patrick Harris hosted The Tony Awards and steered a cast of great appearances – including: Mike Tyson, Audra McDonald, New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Angela Bassett, among others.

* The other nominees of color were on hand: George C. Wolfe (“Lucky Guy”), Condola Rashad (“The Trip to Bountiful”), Valisia LeKae (“Motown, The Musical”), Shalita Grant (“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”), Charl Brown (“Motown, The Musical”) and Keala Settle (“Hands on a Hardbody”).

* The casts of “Motown: The Musical,” “Bring It On,” “Pippin,” “Annie,” “Kinky Boots” and other shows also performed.

 Shout out to all my ARISE TV fam over there (including news: Eugenia Harvey, Lynn Pitts, Debbie Mitchell, Keyon Williams, and many more)! You’ll of course, recall I was on most recently to talk GREAT GATSBY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBT9mSmfmCo). Prior that, of course, it was BLACKS ON BROADWAY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY. And they had a little love for me because I predicted Cicely Tyson’s TONY nomination: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJEs6ruin0.  THANKS to ASPIRE for allowing me a platform to share my intel. In addition to the FAB co-hosts, was also good to see so many of my industry buddies at this promising start-up – including Eugenia Harvey; Paula Witt (my friend who booked me); Keyon Williams (my friend who first told ARISE to book me); and one of my fellow contributors Sean Joelle Johnson, TV exec and entertainment attorney who weighed in on celebrities and their legal issues. BACKGROUND ON THE SHOW (per the producers): The show airs live online and on Sky Cable in London, Monday-Friday at 2pm. The segment lasts 8-10 minutes. These are talk segments only but there will eventually be opportunities for performances. Recent guests included Kevin Liles, Mona Scott, Taiye Sealsi, Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Ian Smith, Kid Capri, Kym Whitley, Michaela Angela Davis and more. ARISE is an African owned global network geared primarily to Africans, African-Americans and people interested in the diaspora. The network has hubs in New York, London, Johannesburg and Lagos, and the New York hub just launched on March 11. As part of the US launch, ARISE 360 airs a daily entertainment show featuring hosts Lola Ogunnaike (former NY Times & Daily News feature reporter, current MSNBC & Today Show contributor and freelance reporter) and Shannon LaNier (Black Enterprise TV). ARISE Entertainment 360 airs online in the US and airs on the Sky Cable in London (currently showing in over 35 countries across Europe). The ARISE entity also owns Arise Magazine (www.ariselive.com). Although it is a separate entity, it is under the ARISE brand.

THE WESTCHESTER CLUBMEN

My friend - incoming President of The Westchester Clubmen Nelson Boyce (and his wife - also a dear friend - Michelle Sanchez Boyce) invited Ant and me to the 54th Anniversary at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle. Was excited to discover that one of my National Association of Black Journalists' mentors Roy Johnson is the outgoing President. The Westchester Clubmen established in 1959, is an organization of African-American men in Westchester County, N.Y., dedicated to educating, supporting and inspiring young African-American and Latino men to fulfill their dreams. This year they honored Phillana Williams - also a friend. Phillana is the single parent of three beautiful children, has worked in the music business over 20 years, is currently the Sr. VP of Marketing & Artist Development at Motown Records and she manages the Recording Artist Miguel. This year, the gala was a tribute to Motown and also there was a special soulful performance by Motown Recording Artist Stacy Barthe. Stacy was signed to Motown recently through John Legend’s label, Homeschool Records. And master poet "Mumms" was in the house with all of my favorite New Ros and Manhattan-ites...and the evening was masterfully hosted by my friend and brother David Ushery, WNBC Anchor/Host/Reporter! Wonderful, purposeful night!

LAWYERS OF COLOR

I was delighted to be hired as host of a “Lawyers of Color” HOT LIST ROLL CALL reception at esteemed law firm Sullivan & Cromwell! It is the first of what is to be an annual celebration of young attorneys excelling in the legal profession. Shout out to DC-based CEO & Publisher of “Lawyers of Color LLC” Yolanda Young for booking me (www.lawyersofcolorllc.com). She and I have been friends for a decade-plus – having actually met through one of my Chicago clients. Yolanda and I are both members of the National Association of Black Journalists. And she has always been and continues to be a truly wonderful, inspiring, and visionary friend. Lawyers of Color was initially founded as On Being A Black Lawyer but now also produces publications for current and future lawyers of South Asian American, Pacific Asian American, Hispanic, and Native American descent. LOC has been recognized by the American Bar Association, National Black Law Students Association, and National Association of Black Journalists. The company provides research, career development, and brand marketing opportunities to its clients. With a core readership of 35,000, nearly 200,000 unique blog visitors, and nearly 4,000 followers and fans, Lawyers of Color has the largest social media presence of any minority legal organization. The honorees were chosen through a two-prong process. The selection committee - comprised of the editorial staff and advisers, as well as law school fellows and interns - spent months reviewing nominations and researching bar publications and legal blogs in order to identify promising candidates. Editorial picks based on research of attorneys who had noteworthy accomplishments or were active in legal pipeline initiatives also took place.

HUMAN SPIRIT

WHAT A GREAT NIGHT! FEELS SO GOOD to honor my MOST-DESERVING girlfriend and colleague Michaela angela Davis at this year’s big HUMAN SPIRIT AWARDS.Proceeds from the event help 10,000 Brooklynites annually via Brooklyn Community Services! The beautiful, inspiring evening featured Michaela’s fellow honoree Danny Simmons and presenter/friend, BLACK GIRLS ROCK’s own Beverly Bond (a BLACK WOMAN who ROCKS and is always SO SUPPORTIVE), and more! And a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT out to Chief Officer for External Relations and Advancement at Brooklyn Community Services, Sonya Shields, for inviting me to sit on the benefit committee and for seating me at a FUN table. My dinner companions for the evening included Emmy-award-winning producer (and friend) Crystal Whaley; independent recording artist Maiysha Kai; my most-impressive Georgia homeboy (and fellow industry tastemaker) Charlie Lewis; etc. Also GREAT to see my BET fam - old and new - out to support our Michaela: Senior Vice President, 360 Consumer Marketing & Brand Strategy at BET NETWORKS, Eddie Hill; producer/director/event GURU Quan Watkins; and more. And it's not a set until my friend/model/actress Chasity Saunders is in the house with a pose and poise! Great night! Congrats Michaela and Danny! I can't think of two people who demonstrate HUMAN SPIRIT (and its next REVOLUTIONARY frontier) better than you two! MUCH LOVE!!!!! TO FIND OUT MORE INFO ON BCS and/or to DONATE:http://bit.ly/ZVFgLS #humanspirit2013

LEADERS OF THE COOL

Friend Chenoa Maxwell invited us out to her NYC solo debut LEADERS OF THE COOL - a one-night pop up photo exhibit showcasing an awesome round-table of artistic, cultural muses that Chenoa holds dear.They include Chef Roble who is starting his new season on Bravo; NFL great Curtis Martin; my BFF Sidra Smith; poet Mumms; our New Ro buddies Cynthia, Elijah, Beyonce's stylist Ty; and too many to mention. Was great to run into Danny Simmons who introduced Chenoa who had a chorus of cameras chronicling her special night for a reality show pilot for OWN. CONGRATS, CHENOA!

LOVE HANGOVER 2.0

I had to rush up to Below 54 for my friend LaChanze's return engagement of LOVE HANGOVER, her tribute to the songbook and seduction of Diana Ross. New songs: "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?", "Remember Me", and "It's My Turn" for encore! BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL! Shout out to my friend, Director Kenneth Roberson, for the invite. And what a pleasure to see and hear Jerry Dixon with LaChanze again on some great Ross tunes: duet-style. His husband Mario Cantone (of "The View" and "Sex & The City" fame) was in the house.

ESCOS

Then, a quick nightcap at Escualita in support of friend Nathan Hale Williams' HOT NEW PARTY at ESCOS! Come join me for Twisted Thursdays! 301 W. 39th Street!  And can I say Nathan didn't miss a beat. It is FABULOUS!

FAMILY

Today was supposed to be a specific kind of FAM day: my nephew Herman and I decided to visit my dear Aunt Charlie Mae - my dad's oldest sister. My cousin Betty Jean was also in the house! Always GOOD to see FAM! Then, as we decided to hang in BK a bit, I ran into Savannah BFF Maurice Marable's son Myles - so GROWN UP and MATURE! And I couldn't be THIS CLOSE to my beloved Moshood without a pop-by. He, Kunle, and all my Moshood fam are celebrating 19 YEARS in the business: www.AFRIKANSPIRIT.com. Moshood pointed out to my nephew that I've been in the Moshood mix since the beginning - pointing out the picture of President Clinton and me in The White House's Roosevelt Room where I interviewed our Commander in Chief (circa January 2001: Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday observance) - in MOSHOOD. Indeed: WEAR MOSHOOD. WEAR YOURSELF! ALWAYS: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2007/7/7/summer-repeats-and-repasts.html.

TAMIA

TAMIA in concert at the Highline Ballroom! Shout out to Michelle Huff for the invite. She was AWESOME - SINGING FOR THE GODS!!!!!!!!! And what a sweet woman. We chatted afterwards! From there, Ern, Weldon, Ant, surprise guest: Spelman sister and childhood sister friend Latecia enjoyed catch-up time at BBQs. Then, a little karaoke.

SUNDAE SERMON

"(Sundae Sermon) It's a must-attend ritual for my household and our friends. It's an awesome chance to congregate with loved ones in a beautiful park with beautiful people --- laughing, eating, toasting, and dancing under the brilliant sky with the most amazing gumbo of musical reflections - from earth to wind to fire to Diana to Chaka to Sylvester to Stevie to MJ... and a wonderful mix of global beats that will make you exclaim - "The-Wiz"-style - "Can You Feel a Brand New Day?"".

AMEN!

--- Patrick L. Riley

Blogger, "A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture and possibilities"

Pop Culture Expert