The Humor Mill

Michelle Buteau To Become First Woman To Film Comedy Special At Radio City Music Hall

Michelle Buteau represents curvy, Caribbean women in all the best ways, but now she’s about to make history. While catching up with the Survival of The Thickest creator at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards, the comedian revealed she will become the first woman—Black or otherwise—to tape a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall. The untitled program will begin filming this summer.

“I have another special coming out. We’re going to be filling it at Radio City Music Hall [on] June 6,” she shared. “I will be the first woman and woman of color to be taping a special there, so that’s why I’m saying these things [representation] matters. You got to lay the groundwork for other people to come and think they can do it and know that they can do it.”

Last week, Buteau teased what’s next for her on-screen character, Mavis Beaumont—and her hilarious best friends (played by Tone Bell and Tasha Smith)—in season two of Netflix’s Survival Of The Thickest.

“It’s bigger, Blacker, bustier, bi**hier than before. All the B-words. It’s adulting next level,” she said at a pre-NAACP Image Awards event. “So, I feel like whatever you connected to, I just can’t wait for you to see what has happened.” Bell also shared that they’re coming back “with a bang,” and he is gearing up to get back in the gym in preparation for a spicy sex scene.

Bell and Buteau also praised the series’ positive representation of platonic relationships between men and women. “That’s one thing that when the show first started, that’s what everybody’s wondering—will Michelle and Tone be love interests? [We’ve] been friends for 15 years. I don’t know why the TV landscape acts like it’s not possible. There’s so many of us that have a good male friends or female friends and it’s about time we see it and in our hue.”

In addition to her upcoming special and next go-round of a comedy series based on her memoir of the same name, Buteau will star in a new film titled Babes. She’ll star alongside Ilana Glazer, who plays Eden, a woman who gets pregnant from a one-night stand and has to rely on her best friend, Dawn (Buteau)—a married mother of two—for support. The Pamela Adlon-directed film debuts on May 17.

Source: VIBE

Prime Video Greenlights New Allen Iverson Documentary

NEW YORK – March 14, 2023 – Today, Prime Video greenlit a new feature-length documentary from Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends and Stephen Curry’s Unanimous Media about the inspiring journey of former NBA superstar Allen Iverson. The documentary will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, and is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.

“I’m ready to tell my story my way, authentic and unapologetically. I look forward to people seeing a side of me they haven’t seen before,” said Iverson.

The untitled Allen Iverson documentary is a feature-length film about the captivating life of basketball legend and global sensation Allen Iverson, whose authentic voice and unapologetic expression of style paved the way for future generations and revolutionized the culture of the NBA. From his origins in Hampton, VA, to his ascent as one of the most tenacious and exhilarating basketball players of all time, Iverson fearlessly embraced his individuality both on and off the court.

His magnetic personality and fierce competitive spirit endeared him to fans, teammates, and opposing players alike. Now, through unprecedented access and personal stories, along with intimate interviews with family, friends, and fellow NBA players and coaches, Iverson shares a more reflective side of his present-day self, as he takes us on a journey through his storied history into the present day where he realizes his cultural impact long after his playing days have come to an end.

“Allen was a pioneer in the world of sports and entertainment, “said Jersey Legends Shaquille O’Neal. “His cultural impact was bigger than basketball and this documentary sets out to properly define his legacy.”

“We’re excited to join forces with Prime Video, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jersey Legends to tell the incredible story of Allen Iverson, a revolutionary figure with deep influence on and off the court,” said Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton of Unanimous Media. “This project provides us the opportunity to pull back the curtains on Iverson’s storied career, legacy, and impact through meaningful storytelling that will appeal to audiences worldwide.”

Presented by Prime Video Sports, the Allen Iverson documentary is produced by Jersey Legends (a division of Authentic Studios) and Unanimous Media. The film is directed by One9, with Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Colin Smeeton, Mike Parris, and One9 serving as executive producers.

Starz Announces Two-Part Fourth And Final Season Of Hit Series ‘Power Book II: Ghost’

Santa Monica, Calif. – March 14, 2024- STARZ announced today that season four of “Power Book II: Ghost” will be the final installment of the epic drama series, airing in two parts. Part one of “Power Book II: Ghost” debuts on Friday, June 7, and part two premieres on Friday, September 6 at midnight on the STARZ app. On linear, both parts will debut on STARZ at 8:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and 9:00 PM ET in Canada.

The season four premiere of “Power Book II: Ghost” on June 7 coincides with the 10th Anniversary of Power’s debut on STARZ. “Power” spawned two additional “Power” franchise spinoffs, including “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” which is currently filming its fourth season in New York and “Power Book IV: Force” which is currently filming its third season in Chicago.

The news quickly follows the announcement yesterday that STARZ plans to expand the Power universe with the development of a new prequel series, “Origins,” that will continue to explore the “Power” universe in a fresh way, delving into the origin story of fan favorite characters Ghost and Tommy.

“This explosive season of ‘Ghost’ is a fitting crescendo in a decade of an immensely popular franchise – fans will not be disappointed,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Programming for STARZ. “While this marks the conclusion of one chapter, our commitment to the Power universe endures with more compelling storytelling on the horizon.”

Viewers can catch up on the high stakes, gripping, third season of “Power Book II: Ghost” in its entirety on the STARZ app, in anticipation for the riveting final season premiere on June 7.

Season four of “Power Book II: Ghost” cast includes Michael Rainey Jr. as “Tariq St. Patrick,” Mary J. Blige as “Monet Tejada,” Cliff “Method Man” Smith as “Davis MacLean,” Gianni Paolo as “Brayden Weston,” Woody McClain as “Cane Tejada,” Lovell Adams-Gray as “Dru Tejada,” LaToya Tonodeo as “Diana Tejada,” Alix Lapri as “Effie Morales,” Larenz Tate as “Rashad Tate,” Caroline Chikezie as “Noma,” Lightskinkeisha as “Brushaundria Carmichael” and Michael Ealy as “Detective Don Carter.”

“Power Book II: Ghost” is the first series in the expanded “Power” Universe franchise. Brett Mahoney (“Empire,” “The Following”) serves as showrunner and executive producer for season four. The “Power” Universe series is executive produced by the creator and showrunner of the original “Power,” Courtney A. Kemp through her production company End of Episode, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television, and Mark Canton through Canton Entertainment. Lionsgate Television produces the series for STARZ.

‘Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring’ Returns With 13 New Episodes

New York, NY (March 13, 2024) – Comedy Central today announced the premiere of a brand new season of “Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring.” The short-form stand-up series, taped at The Lodge Room in Highland Park Los Angeles, will feature 13 hilarious new comics with short and sweet sets, starting on Wednesday, March 13th at 1:30p ET, only on Comedy Central’s Stand-Up YouTube and Facebook.

Season 15 of the digital series will include new weekly episodes, featuring comedy by: Sydney Castillo, Gus Constantellis, Logan Guntzelman, Morgan Jay, Andrea Jin, Papp Johnson, Orion Levine, Kalea McNeill, Sean Patton, Lorena Russi, Amy Silverberg, Madison Sinclair, and Derrick Stroup.

“Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring” is the brand’s snack-able stand-up digital content. The short form originals are produced exclusively for the brand’s Stand-Up YouTube channel with sets running approximately 5-10 minutes in length. Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring includes over 200 comedians and has filmed in Los Angeles, New York City and Austin. To date, the series has garnered over 385M views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

“Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring” was produced by MTV Entertainment Studios. Executive producers from MTV Entertainment Studios are Kristyn Deignan, Akash Goyal, Lisa Kleinman, Tyler McIntosh and Ryan Moran.

Netflix To Broadcast The Mark Twain Prize For American Humor; Kevin Hart To Recieve Award

A year after it moved from its longtime PBS home to CNN, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is switching telecast partners again. Netflix has struck a multi-year deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to move the Mark Twain Prize event to the streamer.

The deal begins this year, with Kevin Hart honored at the ceremony. This marks the 25th anniversary of the Mark Twain Prize, and Hart will be recognized “for his extraordinary contributions to the genre and his impressive achievements across comedy, film, and television.” This year’s event takes placeat the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, March 24, and will be taped to premiere on Netflix on Sunday, May 11 — as the Netflix is a Joke Fest takes place in Los Angeles.

Performers set for this year’s Mark Twain ceremony including Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Chelsea Handler, Nelly, Plastic Cup Boyz, Keith Robinson, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and J.B. Smoove. Adam Blackstone is music director.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Netflix and continue the Center’s 25-year tradition of celebrating exceptional comedians like Kevin,” Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement. “The Mark Twain Prize, which annually brings the comedy community together to recognize comedic excellence and impact, aligns with Netflix’s standing as the eminent home for comedy programming. We’re excited to bring this spectacular night of tributes, roasts, and hilarity to Netflix.”

Comedy Central was the first network to run the Mark Twain Prize, in 1998 and 1999, before PBS took over from 2000 to 2022. CNN took it last year.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor “recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly.”

Previous recipients of Mark Twain Prize include Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009; rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013), Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019), Jon Stewart (2022) and Adam Sandler (2023).

Done+Dusted produces the Mark Twain Prize; David Jammy is exec producer. The 2024 Mark Twain Prize Gala is co-chaired by Barbara Goodman Manilow and Cappy McGarr. David M. Rubenstein is the Honorary Chair for the Mark Twain Prize.

The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and John Schreiber.

CBS And The NAACP Developing The First Black Daytime Soap Opera In Decades

CBS is developing a soap opera about a wealthy family that could become the first daytime TV drama with a predominately Black cast in decades.

The project is titled The Gates and it follows the lives of a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.

The show will be produced by a CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. The Gates will be written by Emmy-winning daytime veteran Michele Val Jean (The Bold & The Beautiful), who will also serve as showrunner. Val Jean has also written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime TV.

The last Black daytime soap was NBC’s short-lived Generations, which launched in 1989 as a half-hour drama and was reportedly the first U.S. soap to center around a Black family from its inception. Also, Fox’s 2015 hit drama Empire was regarded by some as a soap opera, though one that aired in primetime.

The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture (pictured above). “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture. I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring.”

Launching any new daytime soap would actually break a decades-long streak as the genre has fallen out of favor given its declining ratings amid competition from streaming. The last time a broadcaster launched a new soap opera was in 1999 (NBC’s Passions), while CBS’ last new soap was The Bold & The Beautiful, which debuted in 1987.

There are currently only three surviving daytime soaps on broadcast: The Young & the RestlessBold & the Beautiful and General Hospital (with Days of Our Lives on Peacock). In 2011, ABC made headlines for axing two of the long-running soaps, All My Children and One Life to Live. Two years later, Prospect Park later attempted to re-launch the soaps online. But CBS recently renewed the 51-year-old Young & The Restless for four additional years.

Duckworth and Val Jean will executive produce The Gates alongside Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, and Kimberly Doebereiner.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Jermaine Fowler To Headline Martial Arts Comedy At Fox

Actor-comedian Jermaine Fowler is set to co-write, executive produce, and star in an untitled single-camera comedy, which has received a script commitment at Fox.

In the half-hour project, co-written by Fowler and Zack Bernstein, after a self-inflicted fall from grace, a former jiu-jitsu champion’s (Fowler) only shot at redemption is to check his ego at the door and start from scratch at a low-rent strip-mall dojo.

Fowler started Brazilian jiu-jitsu training during Covid.

“When the pandemic hit, I had nothing to do,” he said during a January 2023 interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “I was bored, and I always wanted to try martial arts.”

On jiu-jitsu he said, “It’s a beautiful sport. It’s gruesome, but it’s so beautiful.”

At the time, Fowler was a white belt who had won one fight out of four.

The comedy project was originated and brought to Fox by Tooth Hurty Media, a new production company founded by Austin Sokol and Bernstein that specializes in exploring subcultures through a satirical lens across scripted, unscripted, and docu-comedy formats.

Bernstein and Sokol executive produce alongside Fowler and Sam Laybourne who serves as showrunner. Fox Entertainment Studios is the studio.

This would mark a return to network comedy for Fowler who headlined CBS’ sitcom Superior Donuts in one of his first acting gigs. He was recently seen in the FX murder mystery limited series Murder At the End of World and next stars alongside Zac Efron and John Cena in Peter Farrelly’s comedy feature Ricky Stanicky. Upcoming films also include Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, Sting and Faces of Death. Fowler is repped by Entertainment 360, UTA and Yorn Levine.

Laybourne most recently executive produced the third season of Acapulco at Apple+. He was previously an executive producer on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist at NBC and co-created and executive produced The Michael J. Fox Show for NBC. Laybourne began his career on Arrested Development. He is represented by UTA, Kaplan Perrone and Kim Stenton at Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light.

Source: Deadline

Sinbad Speaks Out For The First Time Since Suffering Stroke

In his first public appearance since suffering a major stroke four years ago, comedian Sinbad expressed gratitude for the support and prayers from his fans. Sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram, the 67-year-old comedian assured his followers that they can expect to see more of him soon and playfully mentioned surprising them by standing behind them. Sinbad emphasized the miraculous nature of his recovery and the importance of believing in God.

Sinbad thanked everyone for their prayers and positive thoughts, acknowledging their significant role in his journey. Despite facing challenges during his recovery, Sinbad is actively involved in a Different World’s HBCU College Tour, where he speaks to students about empowerment and education. The comedian also reflected on his lifelong desire to bring laughter and joy to people. Sinbad’s close friend provided an update on his rehabilitation process, highlighting his efforts to regain mobility and enunciate words. Sinbad encouraged others facing similar health battles, expressing appreciation for the prayers and supportive messages he has received.

Jerrod Carmichael To Launch New Reality Show On HBO

HBO is billing its unscripted series starring Jerrod Carmichael as following the comedian on a “tumultuous quest for love, sex, and truth.” The trailer suggests that quest won’t be a smooth one.

The two-minute trailer for Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, which will have a premiere at SXSW Sunday before its on-air debut March 29, showcases a host of squirmy moments featuring Carmichael and his parents — including a gas station mishap with an RV — and a conversation with someone who apparently didn’t want his face on camera and thus appears wearing a ski mask and goggles and with his voice altered.

The masked man also takes issue with Carmichael’s assertion that he wants to “maintain being truthful on camera.” “This is not truth,” the mystery man replies. “This is narrative that will be edited … that’s not true.”

Carmichael also says in the trailer that he’s “trying to self-Truman Show myself,” referencing the Jim Carrey movie about a man who doesn’t know his entire life has been staged for TV cameras. The clip also showcases the comedian’s romantic relationship (he came out as gay in his 2022 special Rothaniel) and his hopes of reconnecting with his parents, who he says did not react well to his coming out. The trailer then ends with an extremely awkward 20 seconds of Carmichael discussing different kinds of gay men while his dad sits stone-faced next to him.

Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show is executive produced by Carmichael, director Ari Katcher, Eli Despres, Susie Fox, Josh Kriegman, and Elyse Steinberg of Edgeline Films. Maya Seidler produces for Edgeline Films.

Watch the trailer below.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Carl Anthony Payne II Of ‘Martin’ Fame To Star In Horror Film Titled ‘The Grove’

Carl Anthony Payne II (Martin, Binged to Death), Acoryé White (Juanita, Under the Stadium Lights), Psalms Salazar (P-Valley), and Guxci (Night Games) have signed on to star in the indie horror feature The Grove

The script is co-written by White and Patrycja Kępa, who will also co-direct under their Anchored Lens Productions company. The project follows the pair’s previous collaboration on 2023’s Trinket Box. 

The Grove follows a soldier’s homecoming, which takes a dark turn when he forgets to take an experimental medication, triggering a deadly descent into animalistic madness. What was supposed to be a relaxing lake house getaway with friends becomes a fight for survival, testing the limits of love and sanity.

Alestair Shu (Shelter), Graham Edmonds (S.W.A.T.), influencer Anushka Van Lent (When the Ringlights Dim), Jesus Venegas (Bosch Legacy), and Jolena Wu (Eiknuj) round out the supporting cast.

Trinket Box executive producers Tru’Kessa S. Scott, Nelson E. Barnes Jr., and Kennan Walay are all returning for The Grove. Stacey Johnson is also on board as an associate producer. Production is set to start in Atlanta this April, with plans to debut at the Dreamscape International Film Festival in September 2024.

Acoryé White is repped by J Pervis Talent and Robert Stein Management. Carl Anthony Payne II is repped by J Pervis Talent. Psalms Salazar is repped by Aperture Talent. Guxci is repped by Affinity Artists Agency and Bravura Entertainment & Management.

Source: Deadline