Teyana Taylor wearing all white with a red leather corset, Taylor put her seductive spin on the holiday classic of Eartha Kitt’s Santa Baby on VH1 Divas. Taped at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater after a four-year hiatus, the network celebrated the holiday season by reviving its iconic special with some veteran divas (Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan) and divas-in-training (Teyana Taylor, JoJo).
Category Archives: Television
(REPOST) 12/16/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Judith Jamison, Kevin Rotardier, and George Faison perform Revelations at the Hollywood Palace (1968)
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). The episode hosted by Diahann Carroll helped give the then fledgling dance company national attention. The cast included Judith Jamison, George Faison and Kelvin Rotardier. Continue reading
12/14/16 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: The Honeymooners- Twas The Night Before Christmas
The Honeymooners 1955 episode Twas The Night Before Christmas has the elements of a quintessential Honeymooners story line with a dash of O.Henry’s The Gift of the Magi.
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12/13/16 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: I LOVE LUCY – JINGLE BELLS
Jingle Bells is a lost piece of I Love Lucy that originally aired at the end of the episode titled: DRAFTED, from 1951. It was the inspiration for the ending of another Lucy Christmas episode 5 years later. Continue reading
12/9/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland- Nutcracker Grand Pas de Deux
During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S. Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara.
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12/5/16 O&A NYC Hollywood Monday: Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
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.
11/27/16 O&A NYC Gospel Sunday: Clara Ward Singers- Swing Low Chariot
Clara Ward Singers perform Swing Low Chariot (1962) Continue reading
11/25/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Revelations Excerpts- Hollywood Palace (1968)
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). The episode hosted by Diahann Carroll helped give the then fledgling dance company national attention. The cast included Judith Jamison, George Faison, Kelvin Rotardier, and Dudley Williams. Continue reading
11/21/16 O&A NYC COMEDY/POLITICS: Donald Trump Prepares- Saturday Night Live
When faced with making good on his campaign promises, president-elect Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) starts to panic. Continue reading
11/16/16 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Chris Rock- How Not To Get Your Ass Kicked By The Police!
Chris Rock discusses his list for how not to get your ass kicked by the police. Continue reading