Oakland '90s R&B group teases future biopic
En Vogue may be the next music legends to get the biopic treatment.
The Oakland R&B group — currently made up of members Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones and Rhona Bennett — celebrated the 35th anniversary of its first album during an appearance on 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' last week and hinted at the possibility of a film adaptation of its career journey.
'Do you think there's a world where there would be an En Vogue biopic?' Hudson asked the singers during a rapid fire question segment of the episode, which aired Thursday, May 15.
'Yes,' Herron immediately responded, prompting the studio audience to erupt into cheers.
'That's a good question,' Ellis said with a laugh as the other members of the group flashed knowing smiles.
Hudson then asked if there would be a role for her to act in the hypothetical film, to which Jones replied, 'Yes,' while her bandmates continued to giggle.
En Vogue was formed in 1989 by songwriters Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy. Ellis, Herron and Jones were founding members, and Bennett joined in 2003, replacing Dawn Robinson. Robinson departed the quartet in 1997, later joining the supergroup Lucy Pearl, led by Tony! Toni! Toné! frontman Raphael Saadiq, who also grew up in Oakland. She eventually launched a short-lived solo career.
En Vogue rose to widespread fame in the 1990s with hit singles such as 'Free Your Mind,' 'My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)' and 'Hold On,' which the group performed on the show.
After gathering around a piano for an acoustic rendition of 'Hold On,' which was En Vogue's first-ever single, Herron revealed that the song almost didn't get a release by Atlantic Records.
'The label didn't love it. They didn't think it was a radio song, but our producers fought for it to get released as a single. So the label decided to service radio without the a cappella,' she told Hudson, referring to the soulful intro of the song.
Herron went on to explain that radio hosts somehow discovered the version with the a cappella intro portion that most fans know and love today, and it skyrocketed to success.
Before the '90s R&B group sat down with Hudson, the four singers did a on-camera strut down the Spirit Tunnel as part of the talk show's pre-interview hallway tradition. These filmed hallway dances, shared to the show's social media accounts, are a signature feature where all guests make their entrance, greeted by staff members who line the walls and serenade them with various songs.
This time, 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' team chose to sing 'En Vogue is here in the Spirit Tunnel' to the tune of the group's 1992 hit 'My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It).' The clip has since gone viral.
All four members began grooving down the hallway, each in lightly colored pantsuits, before stunning the team by whipping out silver fans and striking a pose. They were met with cheers as they continued to shimmy along, waving their fans.
In February, En Vogue was back in the national spotlight during the NBA All-Star Game, hosted at San Francisco's Chase Center. The singers performed alongside rappers E-40, Too Short and Saweetie as part of a tribute to the Bay Area. Saadiq was also in attendance, and delivered a pregame performance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
What to watch for at the Tony Awards, Broadway's biggest night
NEW YORK — Twenty-nine shows on Broadway got Tony Award nominations this season, but not all will walk away with a trophy — and the box office attention they usually bring. Here are some key things to know as Broadway's biggest night approaches, including how to watch, who is poised to make history, what old favorite gets to take a victory lap and how you can see George Clooney on Broadway from the comfort of your couch. The Tonys will be broadcast to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. central time, live from Radio City Music Hall. On CBS and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. Tony-, Emmy- and Grammy-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, the 'Wicked' star, will be making her debut hosting the Tonys. She won the lead actress in a musical Tony in 2016 for 'The Color Purple' and will have just released her new album, 'I Forgive You.' A pre-show will be broadcast on Pluto TV from 5:40 p.m.-7:00 p.m. central time, where some Tonys will be handed out. Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry will host that telecast. Viewers can access it on their smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to Pluto TV and clicking on the 'Live Music' channel, found within the Entertainment category on the service. A total of 26 competitive categories, from lead and featured actors to scenic, costume and lighting design. Some technical award handouts may be pre-taped and winners won't appear on the live show, only cut down into edited bits sandwiched into the telecast. There are three of them: 'Buena Vista Social Club,' which takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary; 'Death Becomes Her,' based on the 1992 cult classic film; and 'Maybe Happy Ending,' a rom-com musical about a pair of androids. Each have a leading 10 nominations. For new musicals, it's 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Dead Outlaw,' 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' and 'Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical.' For new plays, it's 'English,' 'The Hills of California,' 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' 'Oh, Mary!' and 'Purpose.' Many of the races are unusually tight this year, the product of a Broadway heaving with shows after having largely rebounded from the pandemic. 'I haven't seen one nominated show that I haven't been wowed by. Everything brings something,' says Lowe Cunningham, lead producer of 'Death Becomes Her' and also a Tony voter. 'How dare the Broadway community come together with such excellent work,' she jokes. 'I needed everything else to be much worse, and I don't appreciate it.' Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extending her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She will push the record for a performer to most wins with seven if she prevails on Tony night. And Kara Young — the first Black actress to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years — could become the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively should she win for her role in the play 'Purpose.' Other possible firsts: — Daniel Dae Kim could becomes the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' And Marjan Neshat and her co-star Tala Ashe are vying to become the first female actors of Iranian descent to win a Tony. Normally, shows open for several years don't get any Tony telecast attention but 'Hamilton' is no normal show. The original cast will celebrate the show's 10th anniversary on Broadway with a performance featuring creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and actors Goldsberry, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Javier Muñoz, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan and Phillipa Soo. Any repeat of last year, when Jay-Z's electrifying reunion with Alicia Keys on what appeared to be a live duet of 'Empire State of Mind' was actually pre-taped hours before the live show. The appearance by the rapper in support of Keys' musical 'Hell's Kitchen' turned out to be a piece of Hollywood trickery, undercutting the Broadway community's full-throated embrace of live singing and dancing. The health of Broadway — once very much in doubt during the pandemic lockdown — is now very good, at least in terms of box office. The 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, the highest-grossing season in recorded history, overtaking the pre-pandemic previous high of $1.8 billion during the 2018-2019 season. In terms of attendance, Broadway welcomed nearly 14.7 million ticket buyers, the second best attended season on record, behind only 2018-2019. But sky-high ticket prices have led to fears that Broadway is getting financially out of touch. A revival of 'Othello' with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal broke the record for top-grossing play in Broadway history with a gross of $2,818,297 for eight performances, fueled by some seats going for as high as $921. Even if you haven't been able to get to Broadway this season, you can still see one of the shows. The night before the Tonys, 'Good Night, and Good Luck' — starring and co-written by Clooney, a Tony acting nominee — will stream across CNN properties.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Did 'MobLand' just kill off Tom Hardy? Boss explains
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Season 1 of the Paramount+ drama 'MobLand' ended on Sunday, June 1, wrapping up the hit series starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren. When it premiered on March 30, the crime drama broke records as the streamer's biggest global series launch ever, drawing 2.2 million viewers on premiere day. 12 Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan and Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ 12 Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ 12 Jez Butterworth attends the MobLand Premiere after party at The Twenty-Two on March 31, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Paramount+ Spoilers below for the 'MobLand' Season 1 finale. At the end of the Season 1 finale, mob fixer Harry Da Souza's (Hardy) wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt), accidentally stabs him in the chest with a knife during an argument. The burning question: is that fatal? 'I mean, if you think about it, 'is Harry dead?'' writer and executive producer Jez Butterworth exclusively told The Post. 'No. We're not gonna – We love Harry. We love Tom.' 12 Emily Barber as Alice, Joanne Froggatt as Jan Da Souza and Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ Butterworth, who also co-wrote the 2014 Tom Cruise movie 'Edge of Tomorrow,' added, 'I felt strongly that throughout the whole tale, the ball that he kept dropping was his home life,' referring how Harry and his wife were having friction, due to her unhappiness with his job. 'It felt satisfyingly dramatic that having walked through fire for 10 episodes, what happens at the end is the one thing he's not expecting.' The show follows the Harrigans, a London crime family led by patriarch Conrad (Brosnan). His wife Mave (Mirren) frequently schemes behind his back. She hates his illegitimate daughter, Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillon), and fawns over his sociopathic grandson, Eddie (Anson Boon). Over the course of the season, one of their sons, Brendan (Daniel Betts), got brutally killed by an enemy, while their other son, Kevin (Paddy Considine), came into his own. 12 Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza and Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ 12 Keith Cox, President, Development and Production, Paramount Network & TV Land, David Glasser, Dame Helen Mirren, Guy Ritchie, Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Chris McCarthy, President and CEO, MTV Entertainment Group attend the Global Premiere of 'MobLand' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on March 27, 2025 in London, England. Getty Images for Paramount Plus Harry is their fixer who cleans up their messes, at the expense of his home life. Since Harry and Jan have been married for over a decade, one might think she'd be used to his line of work. 'I think in all relationships, the things that we like at first gradually drive you crazy…[Harry] is too freewheelling,' Butterworth, a Tony-winning playwright who also co-wrote the 2015 James Bond film 'Spectre,' explained. 'I think what you're seeing here [between Harry and Jan] is just the attritional cost of dealing with this level of unpredictability, anxiety and stress.' 12 Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, Mandeep Dhillon as Seraphina Harrigan and Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ 12 Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan and Anson Boon as Eddie Harriganin 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ Paramount has not announced a Season 2 yet. But if Season 2 happens, Butterworth hopes that the 'chaotic' dynamic of the family will continue. 'They resemble most families, which is to say, they're chaos. I can't be working out in my family who's the craziest! That's going to continue.' 12 Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan in 'MobLand.' Jason Bell/Paramount+ 12 Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ He added that if the show continues, it will also keep its focus on the 'beating heart,' of the story, which is the 'Jeeves and Wooster relationship that Harry has with this family,' he said, referring to the '90s British sitcom about a wealthy man and his valet who gets him out of mishaps. Conrad hasn't exactly run a tight ship. His family is full of double crossing, impulsive actions, and scheming. 'I liked the idea of coming in at a point where perhaps their great days are behind them, and for that to be the test that Conrad is presented with, and that he has to meet the challenge of,' said Butterworth, who also wrote the screenplay for the Matt Damon and Christian Bale sports drama 'Ford v Ferrari.' 12 Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan and Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ 'We've been watching somebody who is perhaps questioning if they are at the end of their reign. Are they going to be able to rise to that and overcome that? I think that's a fascinating narrative.' The Season 1 finale also killed off the Harrigan's adversary, Ritchie (Geoff Bell). At times, he was sympathetic. 'I loved the fact — and a lot of it's down to the actor — that he has a melancholy quality that really makes you feel sorry for somebody who is a monster,' said Butterworth. 12 Geoff Bell as Richie Stevenson in 'MobLand.' Luke Varley/Paramount+ '[Ritchie] was not a monster. He had a monster in him. Whereas, I think Conrad is a monster with a human being [in him] that's trying to be heard. It's a slightly different balance.' 'It was a sad day when I felt that Richie's time had run out,' he continued. 'But I also wanted to squeeze all of the juice out of that particular storyline, and leave us in a position where we could vault from it and move on.' As for the future of 'MobLand' if renewed, he told The Post: 'I'd like this to run for as long as it fascinates and delights and stimulates an audience. If it's doing that, then long may it continue.'
UPI
19 hours ago
- UPI
Patti LuPone apologizes for remarks about Kecia Lewis, Audra Macdonald
1 of 3 | Patti LuPone has apologized for disparaging remarks she made about her fellow Broadway stars Audra Macdonald and Kecia Lewis. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo May 31 (UPI) -- Patti LuPone has apologized for her recent remarks about her fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra Mcdonald after hundreds of members of the New York theater community attempted to get LuPone disinvited to the Tony Awards. "For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today," LuPone said in an Instagram post Saturday. "I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful," she added, referring to comments that appeared at the end of a wide-ranging article published online May 26. "I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have a chance to speak to Audra [McDonald] and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies." Variety said an open letter -- signed by about 500 people connected to the New York theater community -- made the rounds Friday, condemning LuPone's remarks and asking the organizers of the Tony Awards to ban her from Broadway's biggest night. Audra McDonald: 20 images of the Tony winner Audra McDonald (L), who plays the lead role of Sarah, and novelist E.L. Doctorow listen to opening night speeches during curtain call for the Broadway musical "Ragtime" based on the E.L. Doctorow novel in New York City on January 18, 1998. Doctorow died in 2015 at the age of 84. Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
