Comedian and talk show host Sherri Shepherd heads to Tempe, Arizona this weekend to tape a comedy special while Tom Joyner’s favorite flick, the ahead-of-its-time comedy, “Blazing Saddles”, shows up on CMT. But the weekend’s marquee event is the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which features big nominations for R&B newbie Frank Ocean, rapper Nas, and Kanye West and Jay-Z. Nominated sixteen times with no wins, Nas is up for four this year, which hopefully will be the year he picks up his much deserved first award.
HOT ON TV
All Times Eastern
Friday,February 8
BLAZING A COMEDY TRAIL
“Blazing Saddles” 9 p.m. CMT
“Blazing Saddles” a.k.a. Tom Joyner’s favorite movie, heads to CMT this weekend. This ground-breaking comedy stars Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder and writer/creator Mel Brooks, who co-authored the screenplay with Richard Pryor. The movie is a satire of Hollywood westerns, which typically don’t include the Native Americans or African-Americans who helped develop the West. Released in 1974, it eventually went on to be nominated for three Academy Awards.
Saturday, February 9
BATTLE FOR RIHANNA
“Battleship,” 8 p.m. HBO
You may have to be a diehard Rihanna fan for this one, unless you can appreciate the eye candy offered by “Friday Night Lights’” Taylor Kitsch, or “True Blood’s” Alexander Saarsgard. This is Rihanna’s film acting debut.
Sunday, February 10
I WANNA THANK….
Grammy Awards 8 p.m. CBS
Frank Ocean, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa, Rihanna and Alicia Keys are among the performers on the 55th annual Grammys hosted by LL Cool J. Will four-time nominee Nas get his first Grammy? Will Frank Ocean be awarded Best New Artist? Will Kanye and Jay-Z pick up more hardware? It’s all up for grabs this Sunday.
READ IT
“When Baldwin Loved Brendan” By Electa Rome Parks
Former college lovers reunite at a funeral of one of their classmates. Can their healing help the entire group of friends heal?
HOT ON SCREEN
IDENTITY THEFT
Starring Melissa McCarthy, Jason Bateman and Morris Chestnut centers around a man who travels cross-country to track down a seemingly harmless woman who has stolen his identity. Click HERE to listen to Nikki Woods’ interview with Morris Chestnut.
SIDE VIEW
Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rooney Mara star in “Side Effects” about what can happen when the long list of side effects of many anti-depressive medications affects one patient.
R
BALLIN’ OUTTA CONTROL
Diana is living the good life – on someone else’s good credit. Sidney Bigelow is the identity Diana’s stolen but the real Sidney is coming for her. Melissa McCarthy of “Mike and Molly” starts with Jason Bateman in this comedy from the same director of “Horrible Bosses.”
R
IN CONCERT
Friday, February 8
WASHINGTON, DC
Howard Theater
8 p.m.
R&B crooner checks into the DMV for a sultry concert just before V-Day
DESOTO, TX
African American Repertory Theater
The Nacirema Society by Pearl Cleage
7:30 p.m.
DETROIT, MI
the Detroit Institute of Arts
Black Women Rock! This Detroit-based group of vocalists, musicians and visual artists will celebrate women in music and the arts communities.
8:30 p.m.
CLEVELAND, OH
Play House
D.L. Hughley
HOLLYWOOD, CA
The Robert Glasper Experiment f/Ledisi
The Roxy Theater
8:30 pm.
The jazz-hip-hop group partners up with jazzy R&B stylist Ledisi for a night of multi-genre music
Saturday, February 9
TJMS PICK
TEMPE, AZ
SHERRI SHEPHERD
The author/actress/comedienne heads to Arizona where she’ll be performing “It’s My Time to Talk” a live television special for EPIX. You can be a part of it, too. The co-hostess of “The View” TV’s most popular chatfest is also an author who’s new book on managing diabetes “Plan D” will be released soon. Catch her in person, on Twitter @SherriEShepherd or on “The View” on ABC weekdays at 11 a.m. or online. Her live taping in Tempe is for shows beginning at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Click here for tickets and info.
MIAMI, FL
Trayvon Peace Walk
The event takes place at the Ives Estate Park in Miami, it will focus on “motivating youth on peaceful conflict resolutions instead of gun violence,” the firm said in a statement. The following evening, the foundation plans to hold a remembrance dinner at the DoubleTree Miami Airport Hotel’s convention center.
10 a.m.
BLADENSBURG, MD
Bladensburg Community Center
Black History Showcase, and afternoon of African dance and poetry.
4-7 p.m.
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
House of Blues Atlantic City
8 p.m.
The Bad Boy of R&B heads to the East Coast for a rare solo show
ATLANTA, GA
Valentine’s Day Weekend Celebration with Keith Sweat, El DeBarge and Johnny Gill
Atlanta Civic Center
8 p.m.
If you need to get a V-Day gift, any woman would appreciate this trio of love song singers
Sunday, February 10
TACOMA, WA
University of Puget Sound – Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m.
America’s dad Bill Cosby heads to the Pacific Northwest