12/16/15 O&A NYC Wildin Out Wednesday: Jingle Ballerz Special Hip- Hop Nativity – Saturday Night Live

wildin out wednesday

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MTV presents Hip-Hop Nativity, starring Rihanna (Sasheer Zamata), Eminem (Taran Killam), Riff Raff (James Franco), Rick Ross (Kenan Thompson), Justin Bieber (Kate McKinnon), Beyonce (Nicki Minaj) and Kanye West (Jay Pharoah).  Continue reading

12/9/15 O&A NYC Wildin Out Wednesday: The Niggar Family- Chappelle Show

wildin out wednesday

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The Niggar Family, one of comedian Dave Chappelle’s most controversial skits, explores the question of what effect “the n-word” would have if it were just another name. The skit is filmed in black and white, with sets and costumes right out of Father Knows Best or Leave It to Beaver or, for a more recent reference, Pleasantville. We see a squeaky-clean family of aw-shucks pleasantness and golly-jeepers naïveté, a “typical American” (i.e., white) family named Niggar. Continue reading

12/7/15 O&A NYC Hollywood Monday: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Hollywood Mondays

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass Productions and distributed by DreamWorks Classics. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States. The special was based on the Johnny Marks song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which was itself based on the 1939 poem Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer written by Marks’ brother-in-law, Robert L. May.  Since 1972, the special has aired on CBS.  Continue reading

12/4/15 O&A NYC Song Of The Day: Jill Scott- Strange Fruit

Jill Scott

Jill Scott gave a chilling performance of Strange Fruit, the iconic protest song made popular by Bille Holiday, on A&E’s Shining a Light concert special. Scott joined the likes of John Legend, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Aloe Blacc and more for a concert special meant to address racial inequality and violence in America. Continue reading

12/3/15 O&A NYC With WaleStylez: The Wiz Live! Premiere Tonight

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr
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The long await live broadcast of the 1975 Tony Award winning musical The Wiz airs tonight. The special will star performers Queen Latifah in the role of the Wiz, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, Uzo Aduba as Glinda the Good Witch, David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, Common as the Bouncer/Gatekeeper of the Emerald City and Stephanie Mills (who originated the role of Dorothy in The Wiz) as Aunt Em, among a number of other performers. It will also be the professional debut for actress Shanice Williams in the role of Dorothy Gale. Continue reading

12/3/15 O&S NYC Throwback Thursday Holiday Greeting: Eartha Kitt- Santa Baby

THROWBACK HOLIDAY
Eartha Kitt

Eartha Mae Kitt was an actress, singer, cabaret star, dancer, stand-up comedienne, activist and voice artist.  Known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of C’est Si Bon and the enduring Christmas novelty smash Santa Baby. Both songs became US Top 10 hits. Orson Welles once called her the most exciting woman in the world.
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11/30/15 O&A NYC Hollywood Monday: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Hollywood Mondays

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children’s story by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. In 1957 the book was published by Random House, and it also appeared in an issue of Redbook Magazine. The story criticizes the commercialization of Christmas. The 26-minute short directed by cartoon legend Chuck Jones and narrated by Boris Karloff was originally telecast on CBS on December 18, 1966.

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11/29/15 O&A NYC Sunday Afternoon Jazz Concert: Nat King Cole

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An Evening with Nat King Cole is one of the few Nat “King” Cole concerts ever recorded and arguably the best. All but forgotten in a vault for more than thirty years since its original broadcast in 1961 by the British Broadcasting Company, this captivating show is now available on video for the first time, and in color. With its honest simplicity, “An Evening with Nat King Cole” showcases Nat’s ability to touch an audience with his smooth style and gentle grace as seemingly effortless as they are heartfelt. Songs: Day In Day Out, Here’s That Rainy Day, The Way You Look Tonight, When I Fall in Love, Aren’t You Glad You’re You, In the Good Old Summertime, That Sunday (That Summer), Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer, Let There Be Love, It’s Only a Paper Moon, Sweet Lorraine, Ramblin’ Rose, Mona Lisa, Unforgettable. Continue reading