If there was ever any doubt, Friday night’s star-studded black-tie gala at the Winspear Opera House proved how loved and respected Bishop T.D. Jakes is. Even a show where so much went wrong turned out to be perfectly all right.
Featuring a surprise cameo by Oprah Winfrey, and co-hosted by Tyler Perry and CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien, the epic-length event celebrated the Dallas-based spiritual leader, TV star and entertainment mogul for his 35 years of ministry. From the red carpet to the army of cameramen filming it for future broadcast to the $150-and-up ticket prices, it was a major soiree befitting The Potter’s House senior pastor, whom Oprah called “an American treasure.”
But it was also a party full of glitches that, at times, became a comedy of errors. And that seemed to be just fine with the Bishop’s loyal friends and flock who made up the near-capacity crowd.
Gaffes began from the start when the audio went silent during a video featuring Bill Clinton and others singing Jakes’ praises. Perry ad-libbed while the crew tried to correct the problem. But after 10 minutes, he was tongue-tied.
“I need a drink,” he said. “I already gave all my jokes. What you want — Madea out here?”
Perry never brought out his cross-dressing Madea character. But Oprah quickly came to the rescue, waltzing onstage in an orange gown to the roar of the crowd. “The whole idea was I was going to be on the videotape, and then step out as a surprise,” she explained.
Technicians never did quite fix the video, which kept going silent throughout the show, prompting good-natured laughter from crowd. Stars also had problems reading a TelePrompTer placed 20 rows from the stage on the main floor.
Dr. Bernice King — Martin Luther King Jr.’s youngest child — flubbed a line twice before getting it right, and actress Loretta Devine mistakenly called Jakes “Bishop Blakes.” Later, Perry had so much fun with Devine’s gaffe he had to delay the show twice until the crowd laughter died down.
“When we put that in editing, it’s all gonna look fantastic,” he said.
Co-produced by Ron Weisner — who’s produced the BET Awards — the “Triumphant Journey” gala found a smoother road in the musical performances, which included veteran gospel acts Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, BeBe Winans and the duo Mary Mary, which had the crowd on its feet after its sanctified overhaul of the Beatles’ “Yesterday.”
Jazz-pop keyboardist Keiko Matsui flew in from Tokyo to play with saxophonist Kirk Whalum and singer Kem. Chaka Khan got the crowd rocking with a medley of hits including "Ain't Nobody" and "Through the Fire." Kelly Price and Ledisi represented a younger generation of female R&B stars, and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre gave a colorful interpretation of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." The show also featured actors from Jakes' various film productions, including the remake of 1976's Sparkle.
But all the tributes and performances were, in essence, a warm-up for an appearance by the bishop and his wife, “First Lady” Serita Jakes, who dubbed the gala “a warm group hug.”
“It’s hard to overwhelm me,” T.D. Jakes said, with tears welling up in his eyes. “But you’ve done it to me this time. I’ve never had a night as amazing as this one.”
Thor Christensen is a Dallas freelance writer.