A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights.

Some features to look forward to:

1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.

2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".

3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.

4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".

PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!

Patrick L. Riley

Entries in COZI TV (3)

prove it on me

prove it on me

HI FOLKS! The chance to reconnect with AMEN’s “Thelma”: THE Anna Marie Horsford! An opportunity to meet BRAVE from R&B DIVAS-LA! SINGING “BEST OF MY LOVE” with MISS MONIFAH!

EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153006964663737/?type=2&theater

WHAT A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF RILEY! Please make sure you POP BY and/or MAKE YOUR HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED RESERVATIONS at BILLIE’S BLACK for “BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: 212.280.2248. We never know who is going to roll through…

ALL STAR KARAOKE – WEEK 4

That’s right! Monifah not only sang with me, she blessed us with an a cappella take on her new song ONE MOMENT... and shut us all down: http://bit.ly/onemoment_plr. BE SURE TO GET IT ON ALL PLATFORMS! ALSO: Monifah is Assistant Directing a TRIBUTE to GERALD LEVERT next month at The Beacon (SOLD OUT) and The New Jersey Symphony Hall (a few tickets left). MONIFAH also generously joined us to take care our SPONSOR business: Miss Jessie's is our weekly sponsor… and partner Miko Branch had lots of giveaways for everybody – including her AMAZING new book: “Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally” and the amazing MISS JESSIE’S products! AND OF COURSE, our NEW FRIENDS and our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS sang ALL NIGHT LONG! LOL! Well, folks! We’re up every Tuesday from 7p-10p --- through mid-July. #billiesblack

#allstarkaraoke#iammissjessies #wearemissjessies #motownmay #monifah

#monifahcarter #onemoment

COVE – 3^RD ANNIVERSARY

Shout out to Michelle Huff Elliott - HUFF Events and PR/Strategic Heights Media (www.HUFFent.com) and Alyah Horsford-Sidberry for Cove Lounge's 3-year anniversary celebration - hosted by Ed Lover and actress Anna Maria Horsford, who is always such a joy! I asked her for some scoop...and she gave it to me! She's playing the mother of the Transgender character inside a hot plot I'm watching daily on one of my favorite soaps CBS' "Bold and the Beautiful". Was a delight to meet "R and B Diva" Brave Williams who performed a special vintage set for the Harlem Nights theme: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153008271668737/?type=3&theater. Fun night!

ARISE 360 – MEMORIAL WEEK

I did a week of guest co-hosting at ARISE 360 this week - filling in for my friend Shannon Lanier and co-hosting with the FABULOUS MISS Lola Ogunnaike. In the course of the week, we interviewed singer/songwriter Elle Varner; the iconic Antonio Fargas - new brand ambassador for one of my recurring pop culture critic locales Cozi TV; Vivica A. Fox; Darren DeWitt Henson; Robert Ri'chard - all from Chocolate City Movie; superproducer/rapper/writer Rico Love; and more! MEANWHILE, YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand via www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

LOTS OF CLIPS below:

Elle Varner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgA8AJbz1yc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPVwFtjfKb0

Wedding expert Jason Mitchell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddrjhDETpSk

Kate Pierson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfUPRPk9ScM

Rico Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkiO2PoNFoM

Lance Knowling from Harlem's Bluejeen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYOAZSJ65w

Dog Trainer Ann Grossman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRL5TsT19Q

Elijah Bland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaK_p2ZahM

Pop culture expert Rhonda Ridley and Comedian Adam Wade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cn5xd77_xY

NBA Star and Coach Craig Speedy Claxton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi32bkTxMCI

Eden Wexler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2xAZJ0IZE

ALSO did a BILLBOARD recap this week on ARISE AMERICA:

http://youtu.be/Z29BrWEdAk8

Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 08:45AM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in Antonio Fargas, COZI TV, Chocolate City, Essence magazine, Independence Day sequel, Memorial Day, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Rico Love, Vivica A. Fox |

valid dreams

Last year, LIFE OF RILEY was in L.A. during OSCAR weekend - a party I got to help throw with the African American Film Critics Association: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-log/2013/2/26/oscar-and-remy-martin.html This year, LIFE OF RILEY got in on a little of the POST-OSCAR fun by way of COZI TV at NBC's 30 Rock in New York City!

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Post-Oscar-Panel/248296351 GO Ellen! I've also been talking a lot of TV on COZI - before this an appearance about the Golden Globes. Prior to that, it was an EMMY RE-CAP with TV Guide Magazine's Matt Roush: http://youtu.be/lKDDhF_6qy4 and that was a call-back that came from the EMMY NOMINATIONS ROUND-UP we did in July: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Emmy-Nominations-for-2013/216162211). And I'd originally done a BROADWAY segment with them a few months ago: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html. I am inside a lot of bookings from NBC-related entities - one from MSNBC's "First Look" to weigh in on Beyonce's Inauguration performance (a phoner). NBC's other platforms have come a calling: NBC News/The Grio has been calling on me - recently to weigh-in on the NAACP's endorsement of gay marriage: http://www.thegrio.com/politics/will-naacp-gay-marriage-resolution-change-black-hearts-and-minds.php; On New Year's Eve to 2011, I made my "debut" on THE TODAY SHOW (as on-cam 'pop culture analyst') inside a piece that Mara did on the ball drop in New York's Times Square (http://216.117.188.141/PRiley/PatrickDemoSept2011.mov). P.S. LIFE OF RILEY HEADS UP: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/Belle/ Remember I told you about this today. Shout out to my Harlem buddy Tracy Grant hipped me to her brother in law’s new film (He's UK producer Damian Jones of D.J Films). "BELLE" hails from Fox Searchlight Pictures the way that 12 Years a Slave did a year or so ago... and this HISTORIC TALE brings forth yet another story that chronicles the horrors of slavery and what reversals and progressions have transpired in its time. I would be remiss if I did not mention Belle's director Amma Asante http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1392994/ It opens May 2, Mothers Day. Please spread the word! #belle #12yearsaslave #foxsearchlight

Posted on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 12:32PM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in 12 Years a Slave, Academy Awards, COZI TV, Dallas Buyers Club, Ellen, Lupita Nyongo, NBC, Oscars |

motortown prevue

COZI-TV

After a blast on MSNBC last month; a reccent booking on BET's "Don't Sleep"; and other spot on-cam work, I was invited to talk about Blacks on Broadway on a LIVE, in-studio segment (5-minutes-or-so) for NBC News 4 New York's 7p show:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html

. In a nutshell: "Motown: The Musical"; "The Trip to Bountiful"; and the "Pippin" revival; however, there are many other new offerings on Broadway this season: - including "Kinky Boots" (starring Billy Porter; music by Cyndi Lauper); and Deborah Cox comes back to Broadway opposite American Idol-alum Constantine Maroulis in "Jekyll & Hyde". News 4 New York's 7p is a one-hour show that is a combination of news, guest segments & lifestyle issues on cable station COZI-TV. This episode was hosted by NBC 4’s own Scott Stanford and produced by NBC 4’s own Tiffany Zeno – both TOTAL JOY! COZI-TV reaches more than 5 million homes & can be seen on Channel 161 on Time Warner systems. The show also simulcasts live on www.NBCNEWYORK.COM.

It is also available on other cable providers.

Here's the channel guide:

Cablevision 109 and 118

Time Warner Cable 161

Comcast 248 and 158

Verizon Fios 460

RCN 28

As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT and LOVE!

If you miss it, the segment will live on www.NBCNEWYORK.COM. (SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR BREAKING NEWS)

Please feel free to FORWARD and to let me know your thoughts.

MOTORTOWN PREVUE

What JOY and NOSTALGIA "Motown: The Musical" brought me on the first PREVIEW NIGHT earlier this week!

ADDED features to the special evening include: experiencing it with Ant; seeing my friend Brandon get called up by "Diana Ross" (as portrayed by Valisia LeKae) to sing along on "Reach Out & Touch (Somebody's Hand)" (Worth noting that he stumbled into his ticket no hour before the show yet SANG HIS BUTT OFF with "Miss Ross" [Great also to chat with Brandon Victor Dixon who plays "Berry Gordy"]).

I got to say HI AGAIN to Mr. Gordy.

Also, so many other GREATS were in the house - including:

Suzanne de Passe;

Jimmy Iovine; Dr. Dre; legendary publicist Ken Reynolds; singer and friend Phil Geston – fellow lover of all things ROSS;

costume designer Emilio Sosa (who I had the chance to interview him after a performance of one of his last shows "...By the way, Meet Vera Stark...");

and Marketing Consultant - my friend - Marcia Pendelton, often my passport to Broadway. Walk Tall, Girl! ESSENCE legend Susan Taylor (in attendance with her husband Khephra Burns) said to me "...this has never been done..." - referencing the palpable evidence of interest not only with the lines-around-the-block to this sold-out, first preview, but at closer inspection, one of the groups there was comprised of Detroit cops who filled a bus and drove in to see the first preview of "Motown: The Musical". My Spelman sisters Melanie and Tiffanie also traveled from Atlanta and Dallas respectively to see "Motown". Afterwards we did some karaoke at Yuki 55 - "Broadway baby Brandon" in tow - including, of course, some Motown/Ross, Wonder, et al!!!!

WWW.BLACKTHEATERONLINE.COM reports the following: We have received phone calls and emails telling us that code SMOKEY was not working or was not being accepted by Ticketmaster. The good news is -- the code is alive and well. The bad news is -- it may not be available on the date you want to attend a performance.

Here is the update:

Discount codes for MOTOWN: The Musical, including code SMOKEY, are no longer available for any performance in March. This does not mean that you can't buy tickets. It means that if you want to see the show this month, you are going to have to pay full or premium prices for tickets.

HOWEVER, there are performance dates when you can definitely use code SMOKEY. They are:

Monday 4/1

Tuesday 4/2

Wednesday 4/3 Evening

Tuesday 4/9

Wednesday 4/10 Evening

Thursday 4/11

Tuesday 4/16

Wednesday 4/17 Evening

Tuesday 4/23

Wednesday 4/24 Evening

Tuesday 4/30

Wednesday 5/1 Evening

Tuesday 5/7

Wednesday 5/8 Evening

Tuesday 5/14 Evening

Wednesday 5/15 Evening

Please remember that code SMOKEY IS BASED ON AVAILABILITY AND CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME WITHOUT NOTICE. The teeny tiny mouse print at the bottom of the gorgeous ad above gives you all of the restrictions. It is a good practice to read them before you attempt to buy tickets with any discount offer, including the ones from Black Theater Online.

Just as discount codes can be withdrawn at anytime, they can also be extended. Although the restrictions state that this offer is available through May 12, it has been extended through May 15.

We hope this clears up any questions about code SMOKEY.

Like we said when we sent out this offer back in February -- BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY. He/she who hesitates will be without tickets to MOTOWN: The Musical. Or, will wind up standing in the cancellation line at the theater trying to get one.

Tickets for MOTOWN: The Musical are selling fast. BROADWAY PREVIEWS HAVE BEGUN (as of yesterday): $49 (Mid Mezz/REGULAR - $87); $89 (Orch/Front Mezz/REGULAR - $137).

For tickets, visit www.Ticketmaster.com or call 877.250.2929: CODE: SMOKEY

WWW.MOTOWNTHEMUSICAL.COM

THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL

Earlier that same day, I popped by NYC’s famed Sardi’s Restaurant for a media morning with the cast of Broadway’s THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, which starts previews SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH and opens TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD AT the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 W 43rd Street). Over the last year, I’ve had great run-ins with the show’s stars (www.thetriptobountifulbroadway.com): Cicely Tyson (at B. Michael show, but I also interviewed her many times over the years for my Chicago client); Cuba Gooding Jr. (at Thurgood Marshall Foundation benefit, though I have interviewed him at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention where he’s brought many films); Vanessa Williams (last week at Dance Theater of Harlem gala but have had nice media moments with her over the years); Condola Rashad (at Steel Magnolias premiere in NYC). With my invite to ‘meet’ the cast alongside other press, I did snap some shots of them on the step and repeat. Also, I enjoyed the company of hairstylist genius Chucki Amos - @CHUCKIELOVE – who did this day’s work on Miss Vanessa Williams - @VWOFFICIAL. ALSO, and as always, GREAT to see my fellow NYC journalist friends – including Jean Parnelle (once-Miss Hayes, the first teacher to give “little Alicia Keys” her singing confidence note when she cast her as Dorothy in the grade-school production of “The Wizard of Oz” – a point made recently on my recurring client OWN’s air (Oprah’s Next Chapter - http://www.oprah.com/own-master-class/First-Look-Oprahs-Master-Class-with-Alicia-Keys-Video). JOIN ME at “THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL” – www.thetriptobountifulbroadway.com! BACKSTORY ON PLAY: The touching American classic, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, tells the story of Carrie Watts (Cicely Tyson), who is trapped in a cramped Houston apartment with her soft-spoken son (Cuba Gooding Jr) and self-absorbed daughter-in-law (Vanessa Williams), dreaming of a return to her home in the small Gulf Coast town of Bountiful, where she grew up and raised her own family. Fearing that she’s an imposition and chafing under her daughter-in-law’s watchful eye, she steals away with her latest pension check and heads home in the journey of a lifetime. The result is an unforgettable meditation on the idea of home and its power to sustain us. For more information via the social channels: www.facebook.com/BountifulBroadway and TWITTER: @BountifulBway and INSTAGRAM: @BountifulBway and YOU TUBE: www.youtube.com/bountifulbroadway and TWEET my friend @CHUCKIELOVE who does all the great DIVA HAIR these days! SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO: TOM WOPAT (Childhood favorite “Dukes of Hazzard” and so much more – especially from Broadway).