*Groundbreaking actress Juanita Moore, an Academy Award nominee for her role as Lana Turner’s black friend in the classic film “Imitation of Life,” has died, reports the Associated Press.
Actor Kirk Kelleykahn, her grandson, said that Moore collapsed and died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99, according to Kelleykahn.
Moore was only the fifth black performer to be nominated for an Oscar, receiving the nod for the Douglas Sirk-directed film that became a big hit and later gained a cult following. The 1959 tearjerker, based on a Fannie Hurst novel and a remake of a 1934 film, tells the story of a struggling white actress’ rise to stardom, her friendship with a black woman and how they team up to raise their daughters as single mothers.
It brought supporting actress nominations for both Moore and Susan Kohner, who played Moore’s daughter as a young adult attempting to pass as a white woman. Kohner’s own background is Czech and Mexican. By the end, Turner’s character is a star and her friend is essentially a servant. The death of Moore’s character sets up the sentimental ending.
“The Oscar prestige was fine, but I worked more before I was nominated,” Moore told the Los Angeles Times in 1967. “Casting directors think an Oscar nominee is suddenly in another category. They couldn’t possibly ask you to do one or two days’ work. You wouldn’t accept it. And I’m sure I would.”
Actress Juanita Moore arrives at the TCM Classic Film Festival’s “A Star Is Born” held at Mann’s Chinese Theater on April 22, 2010 in Hollywood, California
Born in Los Angeles, Moore started her career as a dancer at Harlem’s Cotton Club, and made her film debut in 1949 with a bit-part in “Pinky,” which – like Imitation of Life – examined the experience of a black woman “passing for white” in the mid-20th-century. Other notable appearances included roles in “The Girl Can’t Help It” and “The Singing Nun.” Her last feature was as a grandma in the Disney film “The Kid” in 2000.
Moore also had an active stage career, starting at Los Angeles’ Ebony Showcase Theatre in the early 1950s, a leading black-run theater. She also was a member of the celebrated Cambridge Players, with other performers including Esther Rolle and Helen Martin. Her grandson is currently president and CEO of the Cambridge group.
She appeared on Broadway in 1965 in James Baldwin’s play “The Amen Corner” and in London in a production of “Raisin in the Sun.”
“The creative arts put a person on another level,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s why we need to bring our youngsters into the theater.”
Among Moore’s other films were “The Girl Can’t Help It,” ”The Singing Nun,” ”Paternity” and “The Kid.” Her TV credits include “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” ”Adam-12,” ”Judging Amy” and “ER.”
Moore is survived by her husband, Charles Burris, her grandson and two nephews.

Documentary series on contemporary African Diaspora premieres 
on public television’s WORLD Channel
NEW YORK , N.Y. – Acclaimed actor Anthony Mackie adds TV host to his resume as he joins “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange.” The star, best known for his roles in “8 Mile,” “The Hurt Locker” and “Pain & Gain,” will emcee the sixth season of the documentary program, which brings films about popular culture across the African Diaspora to the small screen. The series, produced by National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) and co-presented by American Public Television (APT), premieres on public television’s WORLD Channel on Monday, January 13, at 8 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT and runs weekly on Mondays through February 10. Along with the WORLD Channel airings, APT will distribute “AfroPoP” to additional public television channels in February 2014.
This season “AfroPoP” cuts to New York City to examine the birthplace of the worldwide pickup basketball phenomenon with Bobbito García and Kevin Couliau’s “Doin’ It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC,” co-presented by Latino Public Broadcasting (January 13). “AfroPoP” hoofs it across America and India to catch the dynamic collaboration of two dance masters, Indian Kathak guru Pandit Chitresh Das and African-American tap star Jason Samuels Smith, with “Upaj: Improvise” by Hoku Uchiyama, co-presented by the Center for Asian American Media (January 20).
The series then journeys to Africa for a special look at Sierra Leone with two films: Rebecca Richman Cohen’s “War Don Don” (“The War Is Over”), an inside view of the U.N. special court trial of senior rebel leader Issa Sesay for his role in the country’s 10-year conflict (January 27), and Daan Veldhuizen’s “Stories from Lakka Beach,” which captures the engaging stories of a colorful mix of villagers in the post-conflict nation (February 3). “AfroPoP” rounds the bases with “Boys of Summer” by Keith Aumont and a scrappy but determined band of young ballplayers on the Caribbean island of Curaçao who are trying to make it to the Little League World Series for the eighth year in a row (February 10).
“As an actor I’ve been blessed to be immersed in various world cultures, so I’m honored to have a role in sharing compelling stories like these with people across America,” said Mackie. “Film is such a powerful tool in bringing understanding and harmony to people of all backgrounds and life experiences.”
“NBPC is especially pleased to be working with one of today’s brightest actors, Anthony Mackie, whose career we’ve been following since he starred in the 2004 feature film ‘Brother to Brother,’ which we helped fund,” said NBPC Director of Programming Leslie Fields-Cruz, who is also co-executive producer of the series. “With Anthony agreeing to serve as this year’s ‘AfroPoP’ host, in many ways it feels that NBPC’s important work has come full circle.”
Mackie joins an exclusive club. Past hosts of the series are Idris Elba, Anika Noni Rose, Wyatt Cenac and Gabourey Sidibe.

For all things “AfroPoP,” visit www.blackpublicmedia.org. To find out when and where to watch, including additional air dates for each of the episodes, check your local listings or go to www.worldchannel.org.

NEW YORK (AP) — James Avery, the bulky character actor who laid down the law at home and on the job as the Honorable Philip Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” has died.
Avery’s publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told The Associated Press that Avery died Tuesday in Glendale, Calif., following complications from open heart surgery. He was 68, Snyder said.
Avery, who stood more than 6 feet tall, played the family patriarch and a wealthy attorney and judge on the popular TV comedy that launched the acting career of Will Smith as Banks’ troublemaking nephew.
The sitcom, which aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996, was set in the Banks’ mansion, to which Smith’s character was sent from Philadelphia when things got tough in his own neighborhood. Fans came to know the imposing Banks as “Uncle Phil.”
Avery liked to say that the way to be an actor was to act, and he had a busy and diverse career before, during and after “Fresh Prince.” His TV credits included “Grey’s Anatomy,” ”NYPD Blue” and “Dallas,” and among his many films were “Fletch,” ”Nightflyers” and “8 Million Ways to Die.” His voice alone brought him many jobs, notably as Shredder in the animated TV series “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
According to Snyder, he will be seen in the film “Wish I Was Here,” directed by Zach Braff and scheduled to premiere later this month at the Sundance festival.
Avery grew up in Atlantic City, N.J., and served in the Navy in Vietnam in the late 1960s. After returning to the states, he settled in California and studied drama and literature at the University of California at San Diego.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and stepson Kevin Waters.

 NEW YORK, N.Y. – WE tv has announced an expansion into scripted programming by greenlighting its first original scripted series, The Divide, written by the award-winning and Academy® Award and Emmy® Award nominated Richard LaGravenese (Behind the Candelabra, The Fisher King, Water for Elephants, The Ref, The Bridges of Madison County) and co-created by LaGravenese and Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, Conviction, Justified, Damages, Dexter, A Walk on the Moon). The pair will executive produce along with Emmy® Award winner John Tinker (The Practice, Chicago Hope) who will also serve as executive producer and showrunner on the project. Andrew Sugerman (Shopgirl, Conviction) will co-executive produce. The series will be produced by AMC Studios, which produced the pilot, directed by Goldwyn. Season one will consist of 10, one-hour episodes premiering in 2014. WE tv also announced development deals for three additional scripted dramas.
WE tv President and General Manager, Kim Martin, said, “The Divide is the kind of compelling, high-quality storytelling that we think will set the right tone for our entry into scripted drama, a significant step in our network’s evolution. We could not be more excited about this project and the talent behind it. We are also very pleased to be following our first scripted series order with three projects in development being driven by an incredible array of award-winning creators.”
Ed Carroll, Chief Operating Officer of AMC Networks, said, “Originally developed and piloted at AMC, The Divide gives WE tv the opportunity to enter the scripted space with a truly engaging series. It will join other series such as The Walking Dead (AMC), Low Winter Sun (AMC), Mad Men (AMC) and Rectify (Sundance Channel) that AMC Networks has developed or produced in our commitment to telling distinctive stories and bringing viewers quality, cinematic entertainment.”
LaGravenese said, “It’s really exciting to be a part of creating a new series with the WE tv and AMC gang at a time when – for me as a writer – the television frontier is expanding at such an incredible rate, with all these new venues and new possibilities for storytelling. We also have a kick-a** cast who will give us endless opportunities for kick-a** characters to write.”
Goldwyn said, “In The Divide we set out to explore the ethical grey zone entered by people driven by a sense of higher purpose and convinced of their own moral infallibility.”
At its core, The Divide is an exploration of personal morality and how all people – especially ambitious people – struggle with the shades of grey found in the absence of a simple, ordered moral universe. The show probes how truth coexists in the modern justice system alongside ambition, ethics, politics and race. As an impassioned case worker with The Innocence Initiative, Christine Rosa delves into the case of a death-row inmate she believes was wrongly convicted of a young family’s heinous murder 11 years earlier. She chases down new evidence in a search for the truth and confronts an equally passionate district attorney, Adam Page, whose view of justice is colored by shades of grey. Throughout the journey, Christine and Adam’s pasts resurface as they are faced with the question of one man’s guilt or innocence intertwined with their own personal histories.
Marin Ireland will co-star with Damon Gupton. Ireland hails from the legit stage with many critically-acclaimed television performances (Homeland, The Killing, Law & Order, Mildred Pierce). There to counteract her every move is Gupton as Adam Page (Prime Suspect, Deadline). The cast also includes Joe Anderson (Across the Universe, The Grey, The River), Aunjanue Ellis (Ray, The Help, The Mentalist), Clarke Peters (The Wire, Treme, Person of Interest) and Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl, Water for Elephants, Parks and Recreation).
Additional scripted projects in development for WE tv:
 ALL AMERICAN WOMAN (wt)
America: 1964. 1988. 2013. Three years set in distinctive decades that changed the cultural landscape of the country forever. In All American Woman, the lives of three unique and compelling women unfold against the backdrop of one common thread – All American Woman magazine. All American Woman is executive produced by the Academy® Award nominated Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy) and Andrew Miano through Depth of Field productions, with Emmy® Award nominated executive producers/writers Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott (Runaway Bride, The Starter Wife) and co-executive producer Jenni Ross. The project is from Fox Television Studios.
DIRTY – From writers Nancy Fichman and Jennifer Hoppe (Damages, Nurse Jackie) and executive producer Emmy® Award winner RJ Cutler (Nashville, September Issue), Dirty pairs Lucy – a successful financier who has fallen on hard times and is forced to live and work with her former housekeeper, Maize, in an unexpected and clever enterprise. The project is from Fox Television Studios.
HEADHUNTERS – Executive produced by Emmy® Award winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, Copper) and Academy® Award winner Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag The Dog, Copper) and written by Susanna Styron (Borgia, Shadrach, 100 Centre Street). As generations of women are being encouraged to ‘lean in’ in new and innovative ways, Headhunters examines their attempts to confront the ambiguity and conflicting choices that surround their lives today.

By Esther Callens

K. A. Tucker returns with yet another phenomenal read.  One Tiny Lie is the title of this second installment in the extraordinary Ten Tiny breaths series.  Sure to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor which is a Goodreads Choice 2013 Nominee, One Tiny Lie offers yet another emotional tale from the Cleary sisters.
In One Tiny Lie, Livie (the youngest) is cast in the forefront. Kacey (Livie’s oldest sister) was mentally a wreck after the horrific accident that killed their parents and almost claimed her life. This places her on the road of destruction. Eventually, she goes into therapy and finds healing within herself. Livie has always been the “stable sister” as she has always kept her emotions under control with a maturity that was beyond her adolescent years – which is proven to be somewhat of a disadvantage.
Now is it years later and Livie has lived up to the promise she made her father.  She has excelled and now is enrolled in Princeton with a plan to eventually attend medical school and someday marry the man of her dreams. To Kacey, this is typical of Livie – but is it what she really wants or needs?  Through Kacey’s urging (advised by Dr. Stayner, therapist), Livie goes to her first college party where she is introduced to a lot of new experiences – one named Ashton.
Ashton is the captain of the rowing team and all that is the exact opposite of what Livie wants. He is also best friends with Connor – whom Livie feels is her prince charming. However, Livie finds a strange attraction in Ashton and her axis is tilted off course.  The results blow a huge hole in Livie’s agenda.
K. A. Tucker has written an absorbing tale with loveable young characters. She is an exceptional writer that never ceases to amaze with her brilliancy in storylines.

By Esther Callens

Bringing a wonderfully unique sound and style is vocalist Les Grant. His latest, Way Forward Way Back puts a new spin on some remarkable jazz standards. He is a stellar artist with plenty of panache.
Les is an unforgettable singer. He is a modern cut of the fantastic swing era. His music is full of energy – and that is something that’s profoundly evident.
Additionally, Les is equally comfortable on the paced tunes such as “I Get Along Without You Very Well” (Except Sometimes) and “My Funny Valentine” as well as bluesy melodies like “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)”– which are featured on his album. He is outstanding.
Les Grant is quite the talent. In addition to his distinctive vocals, he is an actor, businessman, entrepreneur and writer. He has appeared off-Broadway, in independent films, regional theatre, commercials and even done voice-overs. He attended Circle in the Square’s Musical Theatre Program in NYC, studied acting at the Wilma Theatre. He wrote and starred in the one-person show Lonesome When You Go, which was featured at the Pulse Ensemble Theatre’s OPAL series and selected by the NBC network for their PSNBC program in New York.
Additionally, he is a former member of the University of Pennsylvania’s award-winning Counterparts vocal jazz ensemble. He and his band, The Les Grant 5, perform frequently in New York and throughout Europe.

Track Personnel: Les Grant (vocals), John Chin (piano), John Ellis (sax), Matt Povalka (bass), Dan Rieser (drums).
Track listing: Blues Skies (Radio Edit), You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, I’m Old Fashioned, I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes), One For My Baby (And One More For The Road), Angel Eyes, Old Devil Moon, You And The Night And The Music, My Funny Valentine, Blue Skies (full).

BY MEREDITH COOPER

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Ridge expresses his disappointment after learning that Brooke has spent the past year in a relationship with Bill Spencer. The Spencer brothers go back and forth on whether Hope should return to Los Angeles with Liam or stay in Hawaii with Wyatt. Despite having the holiday blues, Katie contemplates forgiving Brooke. Katie is taken aback that Ridge knows about Brooke and Bill’s relationship, and by his concern for her well-being. Ridge and Katie commiserate over the parts that they played in pushing Bill and Brooke together. Liam makes one final plea for Hope to return to Los Angeles with him and go through with their plans to get married. Carter puts his law books on the shelf for the day when he takes part in a sexy photo shoot with Maya. Knowing that Hope is still hurting by the cancellation of another wedding, Wyatt plans something special with the intentions of cheering her up. Angered at what prevented him and Hope from walking down the aisle, Liam confronts Quinn about her being the cause. Bill makes it very clear to Brooke that no one, not even Ridge, will stand in the way of him being with the woman that he loves. Wyatt attempts to take Hope’s mind off of her sadness by sharing with her his favorite traditions of Hawaii. Liam and Quinn exchange in a war of words as they discuss which man will ultimately have a future with Hope.
THIS WEEK: Quinn and Donna compete in a power-play over who has more pull at Forrester Creations. Bill attempts to make Brooke realize that Ridge is not the man for her.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Eric and Nicole are stunned as Daniel accuses Brady of once again using drugs. Gabi, Kate, Sami, EJ and Sonny panic when it appears Will won’t keep their secret about Nick. JJ schemes to undermine Jennifer’s date with Liam. On New Year’s Eve, Sami and EJ work together to help Sonny. After a physical altercation with Daniel, Brady agrees to get help. Nicole fights her attraction to Eric. Jennifer catches on to JJ’s manipulation and calls him out on it.  EJ gives Sami an ultimatum about their future. Will is rattled when he goes to the river and runs into someone unexpected. Gabi freaks out when Abigail gets a message from beyond the grave. Things heat up between Rafe and Jordan while Kate plots Jordan’s downfall. Daniel and Nicole save Brady from a dangerous situation. Eric struggles with his growing feelings for Nicole. Sami demands that EJ finally come clean about Kristen. Gabi seeks EJ’s help when it appears Abigail will uncover the truth.
THIS WEEK: Daniel makes a stunning accusation. EJ gives Sami an ultimatum.

GENERAL HOSPITAL
It’s New Year’s Eve in Port Charles. The reunited Robin & Patrick and the newly romantic Sam & Silas ring in 2014 in emotional and touching ways. Maxie meets the handsome Det. Nathan West, whose arrival in Port Charles could spell trouble for Silas and Ava. Britt makes a revelation to Lulu. Britt hides her guilt about Dante and Lulu from Nikolas. A disbelieving Sabrina makes her own vow. At the stroke of midnight, Lulu makes a bold move with no point of return. Sonny confronts a guilty Morgan about the melee at the warehouse, daring him to just shoot him right now since that’s what Julian told him to do. Julian’s trust in Morgan is waning, and he mulls the threat TJ and Morgan posed in the shooting. Ava defends Morgan to Julian. Morgan tells Julian he wants out. Shawn makes a strong case to TJ. Rafe makes another play for Molly’s affection. A fearful Shawn tries to convince TJ not to take to the police what he knows about the warehouse shooting. Duke pumps Anna for information on the shooting. Jilted teen lover Rafe seeks an audience with Anna and revenge on TJ. Det. Nathan West keeps up the pressure on Silas. Ava becomes aware of the new evolution of Silas’s relationship with Sam. Nathan tells a suspicious Anna his reasons for moving to Port Charles. Silas gets a visit from Nathan. Franco freaks out when he thinks he sees Heather. Olivia reminds Franco that Heather’s other son, Steve Webber, killed someone. Maybe it’s genetic. Carly defends Franco to Michael. Ava and Carly have a fierce argument. Julian isn’t about to consider Morgan’s pleas to let him out of the Jerome business.  Sonny urges Shawn to get TJ out of town. Rafe wants to tell Anna everything. Nathan questions Silas. Sam tells Molly that she trusts Silas. Molly may be forced to tell Sam that Rafe will never be able to accept that she is with TJ again. When Sam’s alone, Nathan shows up and she asks the detective what his visit is about? His response leaves her reeling in shocking disbelief. Heather is out for blood.
THIS WEEK: Morgan makes a big decision about his situation. What if the police find out that TJ witnessed the warehouse shoot-out?

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Billy bumps into Adam and learns that he has reunited with Chelsea. Billy declares that anything is possible if Chelsea would forgive Adam for all he has done. Alex tells Gloria that Kevin can’t give her any information about Delia’s investigation or Fen’s case. Gloria demands answers and a frustrated Alex leaves. Later, Gloria questions how Chloe has been coping during the holidays without Delia. Gloria watches happily as Kevin and Chloe share good memories of times with Delia. Jill discovers an unwrapped present under the Christmas tree and is shocked to find Katherine’s music box. Later, Hilary brings Jill the Bonaventure file for her to look over.  Devon tells Jill and Hilary about the identity theft, and Jill warns him to be careful whom he trusts. Courtney grows uncomfortable when Noah says that he wants to meet her family. Courtney starts to tell Noah about her family but is interrupted by a text that she has to deal with. Noah explains that he heard about Zach from Summer. Kyle gives his findings of Bonaventure to Victor. Victor tells Kyle that he doesn’t want any weak links in his businesses. Meanwhile, Adam tells Jack that he is bowing out of the plan against Victor and that he wants to focus on his life with Chelsea and his son. Jack tells Jill that he thinks it would be good if Billy was in charge of the foundation that was set up in Delia’s name.  Jill thinks it’s a great idea and calls the charity to find out who she should speak with about Delia’s foundation. Billy finds Kelly crying in the park. Meanwhile, Victoria returns to her home to look for Billy after their flights to D.C. get cancelled. When Dylan questions Nikki about his biological father, Nikki tells him that she hopes he isn’t planning to go look for him. Dylan says that he has questions only Ian can answer. Before she leaves, Nikki asks Dylan to be careful. Traci and Ashley surprise Jack on New Year’s Eve and tell him that he needs to start living his life again. Jack grows resentful and feels that they want him to abandon Phyllis.  Traci and Ashley maintain that they aren’t asking Jack to give up but they do hope he will continue to get out there and live his life. Later, Ashley asks Victor to try and make peace with Jack. Victor taunts Jack over what happened last New Year’s Eve and how Adam helped him. Victor asks Jack if he repaid Adam by helping him cover up something equally horrible. Adam tells Jack that if something were to happen to him and Chelsea, he doesn’t want Connor ending up with Victor.
THIS WEEK: Sharon meets Stitch for the first time at the coffee house. Courtney assures Noah that there is nobody that matters to her more than him.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Police have arrested a man on two capital murder charges in the fatal shooting of rapper Doe B. and another man at an Alabama bar. Six others were also wounded.
Montgomery police said Monday that 25-year-old Jason Quan McWilliams of Montgomery turned himself the previous evening and that he’s being held without bond. Jail records show he faces two counts of capital murder but don’t say whether he has an attorney.
City officials closed the Centennial Bar and Grill after the 22-year-old rapper, whose real name is Glenn Thomas; and Kimberle Johnson, a 22-year-old Troy University student, were fatally shot early Saturday.
A police statement said the shooting stemmed from a dispute involving the rapper.
The six others wounded were in stable condition over the weekend.