Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Mark Griffith
The remix: Netflix’s ‘A Different World’
When the original NBC television series, “A Different World,” first dropped in 1987, it was received mostly as an extension of “The Cosby Show” brand and a star vehicle for Lisa Bonet. Three years earlier, when “The Cosby Show” first aired, a proud and unapologetically Black upper middle class family captivated primetime American television audiences of all stripes.
2026 Emmy Awards countdown: Dubious Distinctions
The Emmy Awards will be held Sept. 14, 2026, and broadcast on NBC and Peacock, although some winners have already been announced. AmNews readers may remember that last year, in an effort to be your friendly neighborhood guide to television achievement (or in some cases, underachievement), I ranked the nominees, from my least favorite to my most favorite, in four marquee categories: outstanding television movie, limited series, comedy series, and drama series.
2026 Emmy Awards Countdown: ‘Pluribus’ — the best of the best
Rhea Seehorn and Carlos Manuel Vesga in "Pluribus" (Credit: Apple TV) Credit: Apple TV The Emmy Awards will be held September 14 and broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Sound and Fury: Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’
Lovers of contemporary mainstream film fall into two camps: Those who, like me, love Christopher Nolan’s work, and those who are routinely irritated by the British-American director’s movies. I’ve always been less impressed with Nolan’s trademark grand scale. Yes, “The Dark Knight” trilogy and “Dunkirk” are sumptuous indulgences, but “Oppenheimer” was an over-hyped bore. One man’s opinion.
Questlove’s love letter to Earth, Wind and Fire airs on HBO
To understand what my favorite band of all time meant to me, read my high school yearbook quote. When I needed to make sense of that time in my life, when I needed to invoke scriptures that stirred something inside me, I turned to the words of the holy Earth, Wind, and Fire (EWF), the Book of “Shining Star”: Born a manchild of the sun Saw my work had just begun Saw I had to stand alone Bless it now I’ve got my own. As I grew into an adult, I watched EWF’s impact and legacy fade.
Manchild of the Sun: HBO Max’s ‘Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World’
To understand what my favorite band of all time meant to me, read my high school yearbook quote. When I needed to make sense of that time in my life, when I needed to invoke scriptures that stirred something inside me, I turned to the words of the holy Earth, Wind, and Fire (EWF), the Book of “Shining Star”: Born a manchild of the sun Saw my work had just begun Saw I had to stand alone Bless it now I’ve got my own. As I grew into an adult, I watched EWF’s impact and legacy fade.
Rob Base, hip hop mainstreamist, dies at 59
American News Updates By Mark Winston GriffithNew York Amsterdam News In a 1990 interview on “Slammin’ Rap Video Magazine,” conducted two years after their single “It takes Two” stormed dance floors, video shows and radio waves, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock spoke plainly about why their music had managed to reach such a wide audience: “Our music […] The post Rob Base, hip hop mainstreamist, dies at 59 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
Son of Saturn - ‘Sun Ra: Do the Impossible’
Sun Ra in “Sun Ra: Do the Impossible” (Leni Sinclaire photo) Credit: Leni Sinclaire At best, any casual music consumer would find the avant-garde work of musician, composer, and bandleader Sun Ra transportive. At worst, they may find it frustratingly inscrutable.
Analysis: What Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns taught us
Rev. Jesse Jackson during his 1984 presidential campaign. Credit: Public Domain photo As the world reflects on the life of Jesse Jackson, it’s hard to fully appreciate the impact of his 1984 presidential run, in which Jackson finished third in the Democratic primary, and his 1988 race, in which he won a total of 11 state primaries and caucuses. It’s not just because few voters and historians alike believe that Jackson could have ever won the general election.
Sizzle Reel: HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry”
(L-R) Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams in HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” (photo: Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max) If you want to measure American cultural regression, take a snapshot of how we are reacting to what’s lighting up screens, big and small, these days. Exhibit A is the $7 million in ticket sales for the opening weekend of the vapid propaganda piece, “Melania,” one of the strongest openings for a documentary in over a decade.
On the clock with the 2026 Fire This Time Fest
Imagine you’re a Black playwright tasked with using just ten minutes of running time to make sense of contemporary Black American humanity. In its 17th season, the Fire This Time Festival invites emerging playwrights of African descent to do just that, make meaning of the moment in ten-minute increments. This year, the festival begins a residency at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria (down the street from theApollo Theater).
On the clock with the 2026 Fire Next Time Fest
Imagine you’re a Black playwright tasked with using just ten minutes of running time to make sense of contemporary Black American humanity. In its 17th season, the Fire Next Time Festival invites emerging playwrights of African descent to do just that, make meaning of the moment in ten-minute increments. This year, the festival begins a residency at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria (down the street from the Apollo Theater).
Condon Elk's celebrate 73rd Annual Cowboy Christmas Event
CONDON — On December 13th, the 73rd Condon Annual Elk's event was held with a spirited Cowboy Christmas theme. Held at the Memorial Hall and before a large crowd with over 30 dignitaries in attendance, Heppner Elks officers, as part of an enduring tradition, conducted the initiation of three new members. Simultaneously, the women enjoyed a Ladies Tea over at the Lodge.
Ten Intriguing Television Shows from 2025
You’ve heard me say it before: “10 Best” lists are overrated. Instead of claiming cinematic omniscience, I try to help you be a more discerning viewer. Below are ten shows with a certain je ne sais quoi that I think are worth checking out. Many comments are taken from my earlierAmNews reviews. A Man on the Inside. (L to R) Mary Steenburgen as Mona, Ted Danson as Charles in episode 201 of A Man on the Inside. Cr. Colleen E.
Jimmy Cliff, reggae ambassador, dies at 81
“Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky Waiting for me when I die But between the day you’re born and when you die They never seem to hear even your cry So as sure as the sun will shine, I’m going to get what’s mine.” —Jimmy Cliff, “The Harder they Come” Back in the aughts when I deejayed a Caribbean Night for a Brooklyn restaurant, I would play Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” whenever I wanted to get folks across generations on the dance floor.
There’s something about Mary: Netflix’s ‘Frankenstein’
(L-R) Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth in “Frankenstein” Credit: (Netflix photo) It’s no secret that the Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro has been waiting all his life to make Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein.” Del Toro has publicly made that claim, while film critics have joyfully amplified it.
Murphy’s Law: Netflix’s “Being Eddie”
Eddie Murphy in “Being Eddie” Credit: (Netflix ©2025) I was in high school the first time I understood the significance of Eddie Murphy. Murphy had finished his first year on “Saturday Night Live” and a seventeen-year-old classmate of mine, who regularly trolled New York City nightlife, gushed about slavishly following Murphy and his entourage around the city.
Karen Gone Wild: Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’
An image of the late Ajike Owens surrounded by mourners. (Netflix photo) By one measure, “The Perfect Neighbor,” a documentary directed and produced by Geeta Gandbhir, tells a simple story. It recounts the events that led to the June 2023 fatal shooting of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four, at the hands of Susan Lorincz, a 58-year-old white woman in Ocala, Florida.
One-on-one: Zohran Mamdani makes his case for Black New Yorkers’ votes
(Editor’s Note: This story has been edited for clarity and length) If Zohran Mamdani, according to the demographic breakdown of the Democratic party primary, is struggling to win over Black voters in advance of the New York City general elections, it wasn’t immediately obvious on one particular sunny day on Nostrand Avenue, in the heart of largely Caribbean central Brooklyn. As Rep.
MWG’s BingeSeeker’s Guide© HBO Max’s ‘Task’ - All in the Crime Family
Thuso Mbedu and Mark Ruffalo (left to right) in “Task.” (Peter Kramer/HBO photo) Credit: MWG’s BingeSeeker’s Guide© Ever get to episode five of an eight-part streaming series only to discover that you’re on a fool’s errand? Welcome to the first installment of MWG’s BingeSeeker’s Guide, your very own canary in the television coal mine. My goal is to help you determine what series are worth binging and dedicating hours of your life to.
Saul Williams Returns to the Stage with Radical Resonance
Carlos Niño and Saul Williams (Todd Weaver photo) This past Sunday night, I bumped into Nick, an old writer friend, at The Sultan’s Room, a live event venue in the heart of Bushwick. We were there to see the poet/vocalist and actor Saul Williams, one of the handful of 1990s Slam-era spoken-word artists to experience any semblance of mainstream breakout fame.
The fire last time: “One Battle After Another” brings current environment to life
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia in “One Battle After Another.” Credit: Photo courtesy Warner Bros.
Finding Home in the Heart: ‘Love, Brooklyn’
(L-R) Andre Holland and DeWanda Wise in “Love, Brooklyn” (Greenwich Entertainment photo) “‘All of the above’ is not an answer.” Such is the love advice issued by the monogamously married, but restless Alan (Roy Wood Jr.) to his best friend, Roger (Andre Holland), the central character in “Love, Brooklyn,” directed by Rachael Abigail Holder and written by Paul Zimmerman.
Your 2025 Emmy Awards ranked-choice guide: Drama Series
The 77th Emmy Awards will be held September 14 and broadcast on CBS and Paramount +. Chances are, you haven’t seen all of the nominated productions, so think of me as your friendly neighborhood guide to 2025 television achievement. Or in some cases, underachievement.
Your 2025 Emmy Awards ranked-choice guide: Comedy Series
The 77th Emmy Awards will be held September 14 and broadcast on CBS and Paramount +. Chances are, you haven’t seen all of the nominated productions, so think of me as your friendly neighborhood guide to 2025 television achievement. Or in some cases, underachievement.
Your 2025 Emmy Awards Ranked-Choice Guide: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
The 77th Emmy Awards will be held September 14 and broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Chances are, you haven’t seen all of the nominated productions, so think of me as your friendly neighborhood guide to 2025 television achievement — or in some cases, underachievement.
Denzel Washington, Spike Lee team up again with ‘Highest 2 Lowest'
Denzel Washington stars in “Highest 2 Lowest.” Credit: (Photo courtesy of David Lee/A24) Spike Lee is showing his age. That’s not a slight, but simply an acknowledgment of the mature set of concerns on display in his latest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” a crime drama set in New York. “Highest 2 Lowest” stars Denzel Washington as David King, a veteran record label mogul whose glory days are behind him.
Your 2025 Emmy Awards Ranked-Choice Guide
The 77th Emmy Awards will be held this September 14 and broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Chances are, you haven’t seen all of the nominated productions. That’s a good thing, trust me.
Hulu's 'Washington Black': It takes a nation of millions to hold Wash Black
New York Amsterdam News | July 31, 2025 It's a tempting speculation. What if the television miniseries "Washington Black" had been adapted to the screen by Ryan Coogler or, say, Steve McQueen, with a hefty budget and HBO production? Certainly, "Washington Black" has no shortage of complex themes for filmmakers and studios with lofty dramatic ambitions and high production values to feed on.
Hulu’s ‘Washington Black’: It takes a nation of millions to hold Wash Black
WASHINGTON BLACK - "Of Love & Caribbean Rum" - As Wash confronts his past, his bond with Tanna grows but is tested by her engagement to McGee. Betrayed and ambushed by bounty hunters, Medwin must act fast. As secrets surface, loyalty and survival hang in the balance. (Disney/Chris Reardon) RICK WORTHY, STERLING K. BROWN, ERNEST KINGSLEY JUNIOR It’s a tempting speculation.
A sense of ‘Purpose’ — A conversation with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Prominent among the buzz generators this Broadway season is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s “Purpose,” playing at the Hayes Theater through this August. “Purpose,” the winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play, examines themes that converge, over a 24-hour period, on two generations of the Jaspers, a Chicago-based family that is explicitly inspired by the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family life.
Harlem on our minds: The impact and legacy of our cultural institutions
“Think about how this community has continued to exist. Think about all those other communities that have disappeared or burnt to the ground. We’ve been able to continue to thrive for a number of reasons, but I think it’s because we’ve been such a cultural center. — Sydney Briggs The recent death of Charlie Rangel, the “Lion of Lenox Avenue” who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 46 years, showed just what the Black community is made of.
Supernatural stories coming out this summer
Now that you’ve seen “Sinners,” surely you’re hankering for some more playtime with the otherworldly, the un/dead, and all things fantastically Black. If so, this is your lucky summer. Three novels by Black authors that are on sale in the coming weeks delve, in their own distinct ways, into supernatural realms that feature adventures in Black culture, family, and community.
A conversation with ‘The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery’ author Clarence A. Haynes
Clarence A. Haynes knows books. Which is to say that he doesn’t just write them, but actively cultivates them. He’s established himself in middle-grade nonfiction with his 2022 authoring of “The Legacy of Jim Crow,” and has made his mark in science fiction by collaborating with actor/producer Omar Epps to co-author the teen fiction companion works “Nubia: The Awakening” and “Nubia: The Reckoning.” Meanwhile, as a freelance editor, he regularly burnishes the offerings of fellow writers.
Molière in the Park’s ‘The Imaginary Invalid’ — A conversation with Sahr Ngaujah
For all the love that summer in New York gets, spring is really where it’s at. The weather is non-oppressive, free outdoors events have started to appear, and New Yorkers have already begun to light up the parks. Molière in the Park checks all of those boxes. Since 2019, this world-class production house has brought the works of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, the 17th-century playwright, actor, and poet known as Molière, to Prospect Park.
Netflix’s ‘Forever’ - the fierce urgency of Black teenage love
Lovie Simone as Keisha Clark and Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards in “Forever.” Credit: Netflix/Elizabeth Morris photo t’s rare to find fully realized Black teenage love on screen. The last 40 years of cinema is strewn with teen romances, but they consist mostly of straight white leads (often accompanied by a Black and/or gay sidekick) who follow some variation of the boy-finds/loses/finds-girl story arc.
32nd New York African Film Fest: 2 billion people, 100 films, 3 reviews
“Black Tea” Credit: FLC Press photo No land is more prone to reductionist narratives than Africa. Whether it’s the invisibilizing of thousands of ethnicities and languages, or its chronic depiction as a place of famine and war, it’s no secret that the Western World is trained to see Africa as a monolith of despair. For that reason alone, it’s exhilarating when the African Film Festival comes to New York. Yes, once again, an entire universe of voice and imagination is crammed into a week-long event.
‘A Wu-Tang Experience’ - Hip-Hop as unifier
Stills from “A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre." (Images courtesy of Breaking Glass Pictures) Early in “A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre,” the impresario Robert Diggs, a.k.a. RZA, the co-founding leader of the Wu-Tang Clan and the co-director of “A Wu-Tang Experience,” declares that “music is a universal language.” It’s a statement so cliche as to make you want to roll your eyes.
New York African Film Festival returns to Lincoln Center
“Black Tea” Credit: (FLC Press photos) At a time when international headlines focus obsessively on Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, we could all use a peek into life on the African continent. Meeting the moment is the 32nd New York African Film Festival, which premieres May 7 and runs through May 13 at Film at Lincoln Center. It then continues at Maysles Documentary Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (as FilmAfrica during DanceAfrica), and at St. Nicholas Park.
Commentary: ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ — What good news looks like
If you want a deeper appreciation for the Broadway production of “Good Night, and Good Luck,” co-written by George Clooney and starring Clooney as the iconic television journalist and CBS correspondent, Edward R. Murrow, take a time machine back to 2005, and then watch the original movie that was co-written and directed by Clooney. There isn’t much difference between the story itself or the telling of it in the film and the subsequent play.
Stevie Wonder’s ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ celebrated at Symphony Space
Broadway stars singing Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” at Symphony Space. (Sean Sime photo) Few pop artists are as universally recognized for their musical genius as Stevie Wonder. And perhaps no album exemplified Wonder’s brilliance more than “Songs in the Key of Life.” The original LP, released in September 1976, was an epic double album of 17 songs, with an additional seven-inch EP, entitled A Something’s Extra, containing four bonus tracks.
OP-ED: My Juneteenth
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
OP-ED: My Juneteenth
“Don’t call it a comeback. I been here for years.”—LL Cool J I was in high school the first time I understood the power of national observance. It was the early ’80s. Stevie Wonder had just released the song “Happy Birthday,” which explicitly campaigned to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday—a proposition that Congress was about to consider legislatively, but naïvely, I couldn’t imagine how anyone could possibly oppose it.
Entertainment complex for Skelmersdale
Part of the Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, England, could be transformed into a WonderWorld entertainment complex soon. According to Place North West, Moorgate Developments has now submitted plans to West Lancashire Council for a range of attractions for the centre’s upper floor, above the Concourse’s main shopping level.
Fun With Balls adds to Multiball platform
German sport technology business Fun With Balls has added 12 new games to its Multiball platform. In total, the interactive system now features 32 games. The additions, which include Balloons, Boxing Zombies, Beach Digger, Flight Simulator, React (pictured), Memory School and Target Practice Pro, have a particular focus on family entertainment, cognitive skill development, precision training in ball sports, fitness workouts, body balance and coordination.
Hologate World entertainment space for Germany
VR specialist Hologate is set to open a new immersive entertainment location, Hologate World, in Fürth, Germany. Opening in September 2021 in the 18,000sq.m Flair location in Fürth, Hologate World is described as an "extended reality" entertainment space.
Outdoor adventure planned for Blists Hill Victorian Town
Plans have been drawn up for a new family-friendly outdoor adventure experience at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire, England, an attraction run by Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. The area, dubbed the Madeley Wood Company Outdoor Adventure, will feature elevated walks above the woodland floor, a log-style basket swing, a seesaw, a lookout tower and a coal chute slide. The plans have been approved by Telford and Wrekin Council.
New entertainment venues for Topgolf
Sports and entertainment provider Topgolf is planning to introduce new venues to the Californian cities of Ontario and El Segundo. These two venues, both slated to begin development in February and open in 2022, will bring the number of such venues in California to four. Topgolf Ontario will be situated on nearly 14 acres of undeveloped land in San Bernardino County.
Sally Dark Rides expands
Sally Dark Rides, creator of family-friendly ride experiences, has expanded its sales department and leadership team. Karen Staley has been appointed as vice president of global sales, while Hudson Wood has joined as a new sales associate. Lauren Wood Weaver has been promoted from director to vice president of marketing and business development, while Victoria Lane, former corporate controller, has stepped into the role of vice president of finance.
Family entertainment revenues plummet
Following a recent member survey, figures released by BACTA have shown a drastic loss of revenue for family entertainment centres in the UK, among other worrying statistics. The survey also showed significant falls in revenue for other sectors, with drops of 71.4 per cent, 55.9 per cent and 59.1 per cent for pub suppliers, AGCs and manufacturers and distributors respectively.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Mark
Contact Mark, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack