BILL VAUGHAN'S TASTY CLIPS: CBS To Air 'Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards'

With a desire to give Black icons their flowers while alive, entertainment mogul Byron Allen through his African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio recently honored an esteemed group of leaders and legends at the inaugural theGrio Awards, a star-studded, black-tie event held at the Beverly Hilton.

Now this event will be broadcast as “Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards” Saturday, Nov. 26 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live on Paramount +*.

Co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood (“The Talk”) and Taye Diggs (“All-American”), the two-hour extravaganza celebrates excellence in film, music, comedy, television, sports, philanthropy, business, fashion, social justice, environmental justice and education, and the cultural icons and innovators whose many contributions positively impact America. The special pays tribute to and amplifies the history makers, change agents and artists who define and influence our world.

Honorees include Dave Chappelle (Cultural Icon Award), Ben Crump (Justice Icon Award), Allyson Felix (Sports Icon Award), Jennifer Hudson (Trailblazer Icon Award), Patti LaBelle (Music Icon Award), Queen Latifah (Television Icon Award), Norman Lear (Champion Award), Alena Analeigh McQuarter (Young Icon Award), Don Peebles (Business Icon Award), Tyler Perry (ICON Award), Robert F. Smith (Philanthropy Award) and Kenan Thompson (Comedy Icon Award).

Also, the special features musical performances by Yolanda Adams, Tyrese, Fantasia and LaBelle. Greg Phillinganes serves as musical director, and DJ Kiss acts as both D.J. and announcer for the awards special.

"I created theGrio Awards to celebrate and amplify African-American excellence and the incredible champions from other communities who truly support us," said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. "As a child, strong, positive African-American icons such as Berry Gordy, Jr., Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King, Jr. helped me see myself differently and changed the trajectory of my life. Celebrating and amplifying iconic individuals is something we can never do enough of, especially for our children."

CLIPPETTES: The Weeknd plays SoFi Stadium on Nov. 26; as The Millennium Tour: Turned Up! returns to the Kia Forum with Bow Wow, Mario, Keri Hilson, Lloyd, Pleasure P, Bobby V, Sammie, Ying Yang Twins, Chingy, Dem Franchize Boyz, Lil Scrappy, Travis Porter, Crime Mob, Trillville, and the reunion of Day26 … ?

Poncho Sanchez Comes Home: A Thanksgiving Celebration will be held at The Venice West on Nov. 27 …

Performers Alley Presents Billy Higgins Birthday Celebration & Concert with Marvin “Smitty” Smith Sextet featuring saxophonists Ralph Moore & Dale Fielder on Nov. 29 at World Stage Performance Gallery. Tickets are available for the venue as well as a livestream at www.hipstersanctuary.com …

Bow Wow Wow is at Whiskey A Go Go on Nov. 30 …

Actress, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen’s “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” with original songs from Mariah Carey and others returns Dec. 1 and 4 to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. For info, visit: goldstar.com/shows/2188608/checkout/new …

Jo Koy brings his stand-up comedy to the Honda Center on Dec. 1.

TASTY QUIP: “I knew when I really started to focus on my happiness. I feel like women, we tend to focus on everybody else’s happiness, making sure that everybody else is OK — meaning our children, our friends, our family — but at the end of the day, it’s about self-love. When you start to really work on yourself, love yourself, know your value and know your worth, then all of a sudden, there’s this awakening. And it’s not easy. It’s a hard journey, but at the end of the day, I feel like it is so, so worth it. It’s not about staying in something because however long you are in that situation that equals success. It’s about really, again, are you happy? Because life is really short.” – TIA MOWRY on her divorce from Cory Hardrict to “Today”

TC ON TV: Nov. 25 – “Fantasy Football” (Paramount+): Starring and co-produced by Marsai Martin (along with LeBron James and Maverick Carter), this sports family fantasy boasts a cast of Omari Hardwick (“Power,” “Army of the Dead”), Kelly Rowland (“American Soul”), and Rome Flynn (“How to Get Away with Murder”). “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” (Disney+): RUN DMC's Rev Run brings us along for a reimagining of The Nutcracker ballet set in New York City with Stephen "tWitch' Boss, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the Jabbawockeez and more. “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” (Disney+): Written and directed by James Gunn with the original cast and Kevin Bacon.

Nov. 26 – “OWN Spotlight” (OWN): Oprah and Quinta Brunson “2022 Soul Train Awards” (BET/BET Her): Hosted by Deon Cole with Ari Lennox, Chanté Moore, Tank, Coco Jones, D-Nice and more as performers. “Silent Night - A Song For The World” (CW): A special on the world’s most famous Christmas carol narrated by Hugh Bonneville (“Downtown Abbey”) with Kelly Clarkson, Joss Stone, Randy Jackson, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Sheléa, Josh Groban and more. “I’m Glad It’s Christmas” (GAF): An original movie with Gladys Knight.

Nov. 27 – “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (ABC): With Black Eyed Peas, Jordin Sparks, Ne-Yo, and Run DMC doing “Christmas in Hollis.” “The Equalizer” (CBS): Kelly Rowland guest stars. “A Holiday Spectacular” (Hallmark): With Ann-Margaret and Eve Plumb (“The Brady Bunch”). “The Simpsons” (FOX): Simu Liu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) and Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”) make guest voice appearances. “The Howard Stern Interview” (HBO): Bruce Springsteen ??????????

Nov. 28 – “Live with Kelly & Ryan” (ABC): Zoe Saldana “Celebrity IOU” (HGTV): “Terry Crews' Outdoor Upgrade” ?

Nov. 29 – “The View” (ABC): Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson “Queen Sugar” (OWN): The series finale followed by the special “Take Flight: The Legacy of Queen Sugar.”

Nov. 30 – “Willow” (Disney+): An all-new live-action fantasy adventure series based on the classic 1988 feature film. “The View” (ABC): “The Inspection” star Gabrielle Union and director Elegance Bratton. “Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding” (VH1): A sequel starring Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, MC Lyte, Redman, Cassie, Terrence J, Serayah, Shad "Bow Wow" Moss and Valarie Pettiford. “The Masked Singer” (FOX): Wait! George Clinton and Sheila E have been on this season? The finals are here. “90th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC): With Alicia Keys, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Katherine McPhee, and “true R&B” group The Shindellas. “If We're Being Honest With Laverne Cox” (E!): “The People's Choice Awards”

Dec. 1 – “Rolling Into Christmas” (BET+): Rhyon Nicole Brown (“Empire”), Gary Dourdan (“CSI”) and Brandee Evans (“P-Valley”) are featured. “You Light Up My Christmas” (AllBlk): Kim Fields reunites with some of her “Facts of Life” cast mates for this film directed by Rhonda Baraka. “Inside The Black Box” (Crackle): A return of the celebrity interview show spotlighting the world’s greatest artists of color, from actors to producers to directors, writers, and musicians. Led by Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Morton and casting director/celebrity acting coach Tracey Moore. “Wicked City” (AllBlk): Follows five urban witches who push their supernatural powers to new heights after uncovering dark secrets and accidentally entering the world of the forbidden. With Chanel Mack, Chantal Maurice, Columbus Short and Vanessa Bell Calloway. “Sesame Street” (HBO Max): Zazie Beetz, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden “The Best of All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson” (SHO): Killer Mike

END QUOTE: “I believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” – VIOLA DAVIS

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached [email protected], via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.