TRENDS, TRAVEL, FILM, HISTORY and BOOKS

Trends, Travel, Film, History and Books provide readers with information that might be off the beaten path of their traditional news sources.   Whether its innovation, unique travel, classic or new age films and documentaries, looking at history from a different perspective or discovering new and established authors, it brings a fresh look to things that are either old or new again.

BOUNCE TV POSTS DOUBLE-DIGIT PRIMETIME VIEWERSHIP GAINS AMONG HHS, A18-49 & A25-54 IN OCTOBER

Family Time Becomes Network’s Most-Watched Original Series, Reaches Nearly Two Million Viewers Across First Two Episodes

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

Atlanta, GA – Bounce TV viewership continued to grow in the just-completed October 2014 ratings period and the second season of the networks original sitcom Family Time has proven to be a hit.

In primetime viewership for the month, Bounce TV posted tremendous gains* in households and key sales demos with increases of:

* +53% among HHs (151K)
* +28% among P18-49 (78K)
* +41% among P25-54 (93K)

Bounce TV was also the second highest-rated African American targeted network among HHs & P25-54 for the month.

The second season of Bounce TVs original series Family Time debuted Oct. 14 and the premiere episode reached 341,000 Total Adult Viewers**, making it the most-watched Bounce TV Original in the network’s history. That record-setting performance continued in delivery of Adults 18-34 (71K), Adults 18-49 (121K), & Adults 25-54 (117K) – all records for a Bounce TV Original Series. The first two episodes of Family Time reached 1.7 million total viewers across their runs in October.

Family Time chronicles the lives of the Stallworth family who have recently relocated to the suburbs, headed by the dad Tony Stallworth (Omar Gooding), a struggling general contractor, and his wife Lisa (Angell Conwell), an unfulfilled stay-at-home mom.  New episodes premiere Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET.  

Bounce TV targets African-American adults with a programming mix of original series, theatrical motion pictures, documentaries, specials, game shows and inspirational faith-based programs. Bounce TV is currently seen in 90 markets, including all of the top African-American television markets, 90% of African-American television homes and 73% of the total television homes in the United States.

*Source: Nielsen L+SD | Primetime (M-Su 7p-11p) |October 2014 vs. October 2013

**Source: Nielsen | L+SD | October 2014

Addicted: Tanay Jackson’s New Pop Single Has Fans Raving

SOURCE:  Ascot Media

Addicted: Tanay Jackson’s New Pop Single Has Fans Raving

Los Angeles, CA – Music lovers, take note: Tanay Jackson is singing and dancing her way into the hearts of millions around the world with her new track, “Addicted.”  The single is electrified with energy, and the club beats make it nearly impossible to stay off the dance floor.  Tanay’s dance moves are fierce, and once she starts singing, it’s clear she is a “Jackson.”  

Tanay Jackson – Performance Artist. Photo Courtesy: Tanay Jackson.net

Tanay knows no boundaries when it comes to success and she spends countless hours in pursuit of her music career.  She literally does it all and attacks every opportunity with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Whether she is singing, dancing, directing, designing her own clothes for a performance, or managing her two entertainment companies – Tanay’s personal drive for excellence makes this artist one to watch.  She doesn’t subscribe to the word “can’t” and in fact, made history by being the only Jackson (besides her Uncle Michael) asked to perform in Romania, which she did so last year.    

“I love what I’m doing,” says Tanay. “Music has always kept me grounded.  It’s the creative process, the collaboration, the possibilities … and the fans that keep me motivated to do more.”

Tanay Jackson is the niece of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. She knew at an early age that her heart would follow the music industry.  First recognized for her natural singing ability in grade school, she went on to write her first song (produced in Japan) by the age of 12.  Tanay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and is CEO and president of Roth Entertainment and Lunar Music.  Tanay recently finished a European tour and will be launching her new “Mama Chola” clothing line soon.  

DIRECTOR OF TV ONE’S “R&B DIVAS – LA: DIVALOUGES”, FRED THOMAS, JR. COMES TO ATLANTA WITH HIS AWARD-WINNING PLAY, 12’X9′

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

Los Angeles, CA — Playwright, actor and director, Fred Thomas Jr.’s, NAACP Award winning stage play, 12’x9′ will make its Atlanta, GA debut November 13th thru November 16, 2014 at 7 Stages Theatre (Mainstage), 1015 Euclid Avenue N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307.

NAACP Theatre Award Winning Play from Director of R&B Divas LA Divalouges. Starring Maurice G. Smith “Reggie” From Tyler Perry’s “Meet The Browns” Photo Courtesy: Blacknews.com

The cast includes, Fred Thomas Jr., 24 Hour Love, Maurice G. Smith of Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns and Damien D. Smith, The American Dream. The play is written and directed by Fred Thomas Jr., executive produced by Catherine Washington Pinder and produced by Adenrele Ojo, and Atlanta producer, Valarie Benning Barney. 12’x9′, is a dramatic roller-coaster ride, set in an overpopulated penitentiary. When a prison fire ensues, one convict is faced with having two inmates forced into his cell.

What happens when a reformed drug lord (Maurice G. Smith) with an impending parole hearing, a debaucherous yet noble bible-clutching minister (Damien D. Smith), and a vicious, sociopathic, habitual offender (Fred Thomas Jr.) are thrown together in a cell measuring 12×9? Find out what runs out first: time or faith!

Theatre Critic, Greg Simay of Burbank Beyond admits “Like a good Dickens novel, 12×9 makes you feel the wrongness of a system far too simplistic for the complex, if flawed, characters trapped within it.”

Olu Alemoru, of The Wave Los Angeles declares, 12’x9′ is a ticking time bomb of a play that as a fair warning will have your squirming in your seat.”

Performances run Thursday & Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at showtime. To order tickets contact the box office at 404-523-7647 or purchase online at www.7Stages.org. Group discount available. For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.12x9thestageplay.com. Mature Audiences Only.

About Fred Thomas, Jr
Fred Thomas Jr., writer, director, producer and actor, is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He is a seven time 2012 NAACP award nominee and winner for Best Director, Best Playwright and Best Producer for 12’x9′. Thomas is also the co-writer, director and producer of TV Ones R&B Divas Los Angeles featured stage play What Would Divas Do? Divalogues. He recently directed the independent film 24 Hour Love, starring Tatyana Ali, Flex Alexander and Lynn Whitfield and served as a production team member on Will Smiths, Men in Black 3. Most notably, Thomas is one of the original friends who spawned the iconic Budweiser Whassup Guys commercial campaign. Thomas received his B.A from Lincoln University (PA), and MFA from Temple University where he founded the Temple Universitys Black Media Collective.

A significant portion of the proceeds from book sales goes to AVDA – an organization dedicated to helping and bringing hope to women who have suffered domestic violence. For more information on this very worthwhile cause, please visit: http://www.avdaonline.org .