The Wiz Live has it’s first confirmed cast member! Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the Broadway production of The Wiz, will play Auntie Em in the NBC live production coming this holiday season. No word yet on other cast members but we’ve got our fingers crossed that our predictions come true. [Deadline]
Season 2 of the blockbuster hip-hop soap opera Empire will feature some changes. This upcoming season will consist of 18 episodes, be split into two season during the fall and spring, and will have Ne-Yo on board as the coco Music producer alongside Timbaland. Maybe he’ll act in a few episodes too. We’ll have to wait and see. [Deadline]
George Zimmerman has been involved in yet another Florida shooting only this time, he’s the victim. WESH2 News in Orlando reports that two men were involvedin a shooting where Zimmerman suffered a minor gunshot wound. Another report says Zimmerman was shot in face after a road rage incident.
Zimmerman was arrested earlier this year for assaulting his girlfriend. He was arrested in threatening his then-wife with a gun. And of course, Zimmerman got away with the shooting and murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012. [Jezebel]
After walking the red carpet at the Met Gala, Zendaya walked across the stage for her high school graduation. “I’m such a freakin dork,” she wrote on an Instagram pic of her senior portrait. The cap and gown look just as good on her as her Fausto Puglisi dress. Congrats, Grad! [Billboard]
Two comedic geniuses and talk show moguls are joining forces to bring some joy in the lives of children. Steve Harvey and Ellen DeGeneres are co-producing Little Big Shots, a variety show featuring kids on NBC. Little Big Shots will showcase “young musicians, dancers and every form of wunderkindin the country…and conversations and interviews, with hilarious results.” [Deadline]
Last year, restauranteur B. Smith revealed her longtime battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, she and her husband Dan Gasby are joining forces with the Brain Health Registry to encourage minorities to be screened for the debilitative illness.
“The biggest misconception is people believe that only old people can get it. And the reality is people now in their 40s and 50s are showing signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia,” he revealed. “And then within the African-American community we don’t want to deal with things that have certain stigmas to them. And so, we don’t want to talk about it and we try to hide it. And that’s not the way to get it done.” [Huffington Post]
