New Comedy-Horror Titled ‘The Blackening’ Set To Be Released Juneteenth Weekend By Lionsgate

Lionsgate has set the release of MRC’s acclaimed horror-comedy The Blackening for June 16, 2023 – Juneteenth weekend.

The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a twisted killer. Forced to play by his rules, the friends soon realize this ain’t no motherfu**in’ game. Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and co-written by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) and Dewayne Perkins (The Amber Ruffin Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), The Blackening skewers genre tropes and poses the sardonic question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first?

One of the runaway hits out of the Toronto International Film Festival, The Blackening stars Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Pharoah.

iHeartMedia To Launch All New Slate of Comedy Podcasts Featuring Star-Studded Lineup Including Eric Andre, Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Alexander, Amber Ruffin, And More

NEW YORK – November 29, 2022 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced a new lineup of comedy podcasts coming to the iHeartPodcast Network in the upcoming months. The new slate includes top comedic talent Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Alexander, Eric Andre, Amber Ruffin and more. Additionally, several podcasts from Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network and one limited series with Comedy Central will debut by the first quarter of 2023. This slate furthers the growth of the company’s robust list of over 750 original shows including “The Ron Burgundy Podcast,” “Fake Doctors, Real Friends,” “Las Culturistas,” among others, that are distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and are available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.

“We are thrilled to share the newest slate of iHeartPodcasts, hosted by some of comedy’s biggest icons and hilarious new voices,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We are so proud of the success our company has seen in the comedy podcast space and cannot wait to bring audiences even more laughs with these comedians in the coming months.”

iHeart’s All New Slate of Comedy Podcasts Includes:

• “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy from The Daily Show” — Now Available, HERE — On his adventures into MAGA country during The Daily Show’s short-form series “Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse,” Jordan Klepper encountered some of the more imaginative, conspiratorial minds America has to offer. In his all-new six-episode limited podcast series by Comedy Central and iHeartPodcasts, “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy from the Daily Show,” Jordan steps off the trail to dig deep into some of the wildest theories he’s heard, and trace their origins with journalists, experts, and anyone who might have a lead on when JFK Jr. is coming back. The podcast offers an opportunity to better understand some of the most extravagant stories Americans tell themselves. Listen now, HERE. 

• “Man Thinkers” — Now Available, HERE — Hosts George Kareman and Dan Klein welcome you to “Man Thinkers,” a podcast from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network where the facts are up for debate. For decades, the lamestream media has prevented real men from sharing their knowledge. On “Man Thinkers,” there are no degrees and no rules. The hosts aren’t impressed by run-of-the-mill “experts.” “Man Thinkers” is a new space populated by iconoclastic thinkers, academic renegades, and media personalities that sound unlike anything else. Cable news is for the old and social media has become too toxic to trust. George and Dan courageously have the tough conversations that mainstream media won’t touch. Man Thinkers is a safe space from safe spaces, nothing is off limits. Listen now, HERE.

• “The History Of Curb Your Enthusiasm With Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin” — January 2023 — Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman are joined by cast, crew and super fans of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to break down every episode to date of the infamous HBO program. 

• “Onward with Rosie O’Donnell” (working title)  — February 2023 — Legendary entertainer Rosie O’Donnell shares her take on fame, family and fun from her vantage point at 60. Onward Folks! We have no other choice. During her weekly show, Rosie will speak with friends, celebrities, newsmakers, artists, poets and TikTokers. 

• “Really? No, Really?” — February 2023 — Every Tuesday best friends Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) and Peter Tilden are joined by experts, newsmakers and celebrities in an attempt to find answers to the things that make people go…”Really? No, Really?” Listeners can even suggest topics as the two hosts search for the answers to life’s most baffling, intriguing, confusing and annoying questions.

• “The Amber and Lacey Show / Lacey and Amber Show” (working title) – Launching 2023 — From late-night comedian Amber Ruffin (Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Amber Ruffin Show) and her sister Lacey Lamar comes “The Amber and Lacey Show / Lacey and Amber Show” a new comedy podcast from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network featuring celebrity guests, comedic games and a huge dose of sibling rivalry.

• “Bombing with Eric Andre” — Spring 2023 — Coming to iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network, “Bombing with Eric Andre” is a comedy interview show featuring comedians, musicians, and artists sharing their best stories of bombing on stage in front of a live audience and more outlandish comedy premises in Eric Andre’s signature style.

All shows will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Kevin Hart’s ‘Cold As Balls’ Returns For 7th Season

Kevin Hart’s Cold as Balls series is returning for its seventh season. In the forthcoming season’s new trailer, Hart returns to the ice tub with a new cast of guests, including various athletes from across the sports world. The first episode of Cold as Balls‘ seventh season air on Tuesday (Nov. 29) and will include an appearance from former NBA star Dwight Howard.

All subsequent episodes of the new season will air every Tuesday on the Laugh Out Loud YouTube channel, Cold as Balls Facebook page, and Hart’s Facebook page. Additional guests will include Allen Iverson, John Wall, Patrick Beverly, Austin Ekeler, and Kelsey Plum. The series is produced by the Philly native’s HartBeat Productions and OBB Pictures.

In a shared statement, Hart spoke about the success and continued growth of Cold As Balls over the years, as well as what the new season has in store for viewers.

“Seeing Cold as Balls grow over the past six seasons has been so rewarding, and I can’t wait for fans to see what’s to come in Season 7,” the 43-year-old shared. “This season you can expect outrageous stories and even more laughs while I deep dive into the lives of some of the greatest guests I’ve had the pleasure of icing with yet.”

Michael D. Ratner, Founder/CEO of OBB Media, issued a statement about his partnership with Kevin on the show and how its evolution over the years has been a joy to witness.

“Building this show with Kevin to reach more than a billion people for the better half of a decade has been nothing short of an incredible and humbling experience,” Ratner expressed. “We’re so proud to launch season seven; with each new season our audience grows and their support for the series never ceases to amaze me. We’re very grateful to the fans for their continued support.”

Cold as Balls, which is currently presented by Old Spice, has included past appearances by Draymond Green, Marshawn Lynch, Gabby Douglas, Lamar Odom, Odell Beckham Jr., Floyd Mayweather, Jerry Rice, A’ja Wilson, and more.

Watch the trailer for season seven of Cold as Balls below.

Cedric The Entertainer Shares Details Behind the Steve Harvey and Bernie Mac Feud During ‘The Kings Of Comedy Tour’

Twenty-two years ago, comedians Cedric The Entertainer, Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, and D.L. Hughley filmed the classic stand-up, “The Original Kings of Comedy.” The Spike Lee-directed documentary follows the four comedians as they go on tour from state to state, making audiences laugh. Most of the film featured footage from their live show at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a rare time for comedians to sell out the arena with 25,000 seats. Audience members were left in tears after the funny entertainers shared jokes about their lives, family, race, and much more with Harvey acting as host. The film did wonders for careers, taking some to new heights and bigger checks.

During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe‘s “Club Shay Shay,” Cedric revealed that he actually closed that show that night and not the late Bernie Mac as shown in the film. The actor said they “made a lot of money” on tour while having fun. But there was tension and animosity between Harvey and Mac.

“They both alpha males. They both…they just saw it different,” he explained. “But at the end of the day, they was able to get through it.”

The “Proud Family” star admitted Harvey and Mac’s feud is what caused him to not participate in the second part of “The Original Kings of Comedy.” He said, “I think of course that was definitely a contributing circumstance but I also think it had a lot to do with the promoters on the thing. Because he got a bigger head than all of us. So the dude that put us all together started to really think it was really about him.”

The promoter Cedric mentioned is Walker Latham of Latham Entertainment. He’s worked with fellow comedic giants like Chris Rock and Chris Tucker. The North Carolina-based entrepreneur also put together “The Queens of Comedy” documentary tour that aired in 2001 with comediennes Mo’Nique, Laura Hayes, Adele Givens and Sommore. Another one of his successful productions includes “P. Diddy Presents The Bad Boys of Comedy.”

Later in the discussion, Cedric touched on the comedians being self-aware of the context of their jokes. He noted that jokes were acceptable back then because no one got offended.

“But that’s the difference,” he said. “Climate. The times we live in…what’s acceptable in society. And we just got to a point again we just have a lot more exposure to each other. We have a lot more growth that’s happened as people. So sensitivity, awareness about things that just wouldn’t be acceptable. None of the gay culture [jokes] would be acceptable back then. None it.”

It’s unclear exactly what sparked the feud between Harvey and Mac, but the gloves came off after a 2003 interview with GQ. As previously reported, Mac alleged the host of “Celebrity Family Feud” was jealous of his success and stole shows from him. Harvey later admitted he was hurt by such allegations during a 2010 interview on BET’s “Conversations with Ed Gordon.”

“I was upset at first because it just wasn’t true,” Harvey said, as reported by Gapersblock.com. “Me and Bernie had a lot of good times together, and then this article in GQ came out and put all this vicious stuff in there.”

Regarding the GQ interview, the talk show host claims, “B’ said he never said it. I had to take him at his word for it.”

Mac, who had battled with sarcoidosis, a condition that causes inflammation in tissue, died from complications with pneumonia on Aug. 9, 2008. He was 50 years old and best known for his rapid-fire punchlines and strong delivery. Harvey claims he eventually moved on after Mac’s passing with help from his widow, Rhonda McCullough.

‘Rhonda of all people knows the truth. It was a cleansing moment for me because I was able to let go of a lot of stuff,” added the 65-year-old.

“The Original Kings of Comedy” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Pluto TV, and more.

Source: Atlanta Black Star