In this episode of Box Seats, we discuss last night’s Yankees game as Aaron Judge hits number 61, as in 61 home runs, and ties the American League home run record. We also discuss the upcoming NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins. All of that plus the hottest topics in sports!
Watch the episode below;
Trevor Noah is leaving The Daily Show after seven years as host.
The comedian announced the news during Thursday’s episode of the Comedy Central late-night series. He debuted as host in Sept. 28, 2015, following the departure of Jon Stewart, who had previously made the show a go-to for water-cooler conversation and must-see moments with his biting take on political debate and current events.
“I realized after the seven years, my time is up, but in the most beautiful way,” Noah told the audience Thursday. “I’ve loved hosting this show. It’s been one of my greatest challenges. It’s been one of my greatest joys. I’ve loved trying to figure out how to make people laugh even when the stories are particularly shitty on the worst days.”
Noah, the youngest of the late night hosts at just 38, explained that returning to stand-up after a two-year hiatus amid the pandemic led him to realize he wanted to continue exploring other aspects of his life. The South African-born performer, who currently spends his weekends on an immensely lucrative global tour, aptly titled Trevor Noah: Back to Abnormal, went on to thank the network and show’s team for giving him a chance when he was then-unknown in the States.
Although he did not specify a timeline for how soon he would leave, he made it clear it would not happen immediately and that details were still be ironed out. “I’m not disappearing — don’t worry. If I owe you money, I’ll still pay you,” Noah quipped.
The news comes at a time of significant change for the late-night landscape. Earlier this year, James Corden announced he would be stepping down as host of CBS’ The Late Late Show in 2023, while Showtime’s Desus & Mero and TBS’ Full Frontal With Samantha Bee have also recently ended their runs. The same could be said for Noah’s network, Comedy Central, which is far from the comedy hub it was when Noah joined.
To be sure, Noah’s star has continued to rise since starting on The Daily Show, which initially featured host Craig Kilborn when co-creators Madeleine Smithberg and Lizz Winstead launched the show in 1996. He emceed the White House Correspondents Dinner in April, the same month in which he marked his second consecutive appearance as host of the Grammy Awards. He is also a best-selling author, with a cadre of entertainment projects in various stages of development.
His stint on The Daily Show gained momentum with the 2016 election of former President Donald Trump, bringing a ratings bump and awards clout that the series, previously an Emmys darling during Stewart’s era, had lost after the transition. In a 2019 THR cover story, Noah identified election night, 2016, and what he called “Hurricane Trump” as the moment that he felt he came into his own, and stopped feeling like Stewart’s replacement.
Having come of age under apartheid, the comic recognized on that evening that what seemed horrifying to so many in the Comedy Central audience felt familiar to him. Noah saw in Trump both the attributes and governing style of an African dictator, which he showcased in a Daily Show segment that swiftly went viral. For the first time since he began, Noah’s outsider perspective felt like an asset. In the years since, his iteration of the show has earned a Peabody and five consecutive Emmy nominations for best variety talk series.
The show has long been known as a springboard for top comedy talent, having played a part in the ascension to stardom of such notable alums as Bee, Oliver, Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms, Steve Carell, Hasan Minhaj and Jessica Williams. Its current roster of correspondents includes Roy Wood Jr. , Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta and Dulcé Sloan.
Though The Daily Show is hardly the linear draw it was in Stewart’s era, or even Noah’s earlier days, it did remain something of a crown jewel at Comedy Central during a period of seismic change and diminishing power. Original offerings at the Paramount-owned network are a fraction of what they once were, and as the company shifts more and more attention to its streaming efforts, the question of who replaces Noah is just as pressing as where and how The Daily Show might be presented moving forward.
The timing of Noah’s departure is, at least, not as dramatic as that of his predecessor in 2015. Stewart left The Daily Show on the eve of a presidential election year, one that proved to be (at the time, anyway) the most fraught in U.S. history. The Daily Show, like all politically skewing late-night offerings, gets a viewership boost during election years — and The Daily Show initially suffered from having to introduce a then-unknown to audiences looking for a familiar face to chronicle the Trump-Clinton election. With Noah likely staying put through the midterms, producers have more of a runway to get someone situated in the new role ahead of 2024.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
A Black Lady Sketch Show is a narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests. The show presents sketches performed by a core cast of black women, including Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Quinta Brunson, and Gabrielle Dennis.
Watch a sketch titled Chris And Lachel: Exit Row‘ below;
Marvel’s “Armor Wars,” originally planned as a TV series for Disney+, is being redeveloped as a feature film.
“Armor Wars” will star Don Cheadle, reprising his MCU role of James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine. The project is based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name that follows Rhodes as he must face what happens when Tony Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands. Beyond that, plot and casting details remain scarce, though comic book villains that could potentially appear include Stilt-Man, the Crimson Dynamo and Justin Hammer, who was played by Sam Rockwell in “Iron Man 2.”
Yassir Lester, who was originally set as the series’ head writer, remains attached to write the project.
NBC has given a series order to an untitled comedy pilot written by Mike O’Malley.
The multi-cam series follows Jim (Jon Cryer) and Julia (Abigail Spencer), who, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim when Trey (Donald Faison), the owner of his favorite sports team, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart.
Also starring are Finn Sweeney and Sofia Capanna as Jim and Julia’s kids, Jimmy Jr. and Grace, respectively.
O’Malley and Cryer both serve as executive producers along with Tom Werner, Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari and George Geyer. (Werner is the owner of the Boston Red Sox, and Grousbeck is the owner of the Boston Celtics.) Lionsgate TV and Universal Television co-produce the series.
O’Malley is best known as an actor, with roles including Jimmy Hughes in “Yes Dear,” Burt Hummel in “Glee” and most recently, Sam Roche in “Snowpiercer.” Other prominent on-screen credits include “My Name is Earl,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Justified” and “The Good Place.” As a writer and producer, O’Malley has worked on “Shameless” and “Survivor’s Remorse.” Currently, he serves as showrunner and executive producer of “Heels,” a Starz drama about pro wrestling on which he has also starred in the recurring role of Charlie Gully. He is repped by CAA, Stride Managment, and Lichter Grossman.
Source: Variety
In an Instagram Live stream, DaniLeigh has addressed claims that she had comedian B. Simone pulled from her episode of Wild ‘N Out.
“It was never a demand,” she said, admitting that she has some issues with Simone. “I don’t know why the blogs are putting out that I demanded B. Simone not to be on Wild ‘N Out. That wasn’t the case. Wild ‘N Out asked me, I love Wild ‘N Out shows, I’ve always supported Nick [Cannon], I always supported the comedians on the show.”
Shortly before she addressed the situation, Hollywood Unlocked accused DaniLeigh of laughing off the idea that she “demanded” the removal of Simone. In an interview with Tamron Hall earlier this week, Simone revealed that DaniLeigh made the request to film her episode without her present. During the same interview, she said the singer is “not that mature” even if she “understand[s]” why she made the request.
“Me and B. Simone are not cool. So, I just—my team asked if she doesn’t do the episode that I do, respectfully. It was never anything to be like, ‘I’m a diva, I don’t want’—I thought it’d be more mature to not have us sitting next to each other on a show, making it mad awkward and uncomfortable,” DaniLeigh explained. “I’m protecting my peace. I’m protecting my heart on the situation. It wasn’t petty. She was actually there, so I’m sure she got paid. It wasn’t to take nobody from nobody’s pocket.”
During the same live stream, she accused Simone of making a “whole diss song” about her. She also said that she saw “text messages between” her and DaBaby, the father of her child. DaniLeigh dated the rapper in 2020, although they split in February 2021. The two welcomed a child later that year, and had a publicly messy break-up that included a dramatic confrontation on Instagram Live.
Source: Complex
EPIX (SOON TO BE MGM+) PRESENTS Season Three of Godfather of Harlem Will Premiere January 15th.
Executive producer and Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker will star in 10-episode season from ABC Signature.
Season Three is currently in production in New York.
Godfather of Harlem’s second season was EPIX’s best performing season of all time
The first two seasons are available to watch on the EPIX NOW app, anywhere you access EPIX and on HULU
Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who, in the early 1960s, returned from 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles.
Season Three will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem, with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Taking on the Cuban mob will put Bumpy, his loved ones, and his community in the crosshairs of not only the rival Italians, but ruthless Latin assassins and, ultimately, the CIA. Godfather of Harlem is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.
In addition to Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) as star and executive producer, Season Three cast members include: Vincent D’Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil), Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Lucy Fry (Bright, Vampire Academy), and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Geechee, Passing) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian).
Additional new cast members include Michael Raymond-James (Sweet Girl, Law & Order) as Joe Colombo and Jason Alan Carvell (NCIS: New Orleans, The Baker and the Beauty) as Malcom X.
Produced by ABC Signature, the series is executive produced by Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith and Joe Chappelle. Swizz Beatz is executive music producer.
Godfather of Harlem’s second season was EPIX’s best performing season of all time, and the series broke records for any single title streams in a single day across EPIX’s digital platforms. The season two finale was EPIX’s best performing finale episode to date.
Today, BET announced Baby Tate, Big Boss Vette, Deetranada, Guapdad 4000, Jayson Cash, Ray Vaughn, Reuben Vincent, Sa-Roc, Sauce Walka and Topaz Jones as this year’s on-air cypher talent for “BET Hip Hop Awards.” The show will also unleash a digital-exclusive cypher featuring rising stars Armani Caesar, Kentheman, Nana, Navelle Hice, OT The Real, Yung Pooda, and several social cypher surprises that will compliment the on-air tentpole event. Additionally, BET is expanding its digital programming to bring fans the ultimate hip hop experience leading up to, during and post “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2022, with the premiere of hit series “Rate The Bars” Season 6 and the debut of two new originals, “A Series of Firsts” and “Finish This.” For the first-ever acclaimed podcast “Million Dollaz Worth of Game,” and DJ Envy will host the Nissan Digital Twitter Pre-Show for the second year in a row, interviewing luminaries and celebrated artists on the Red Carpet.
BET Social media channels will also bring you exclusive, and behind-the-scenes content in real-time; including the first-ever #RedCarpetMoment Spotlight Challenge brought to you by BET Social and Snapchat.
Viewers can visit the official site at BET.com/HipHopAwards, to get up-to-date info on this year’s trailblazing “BET Hip Hop Awards,” take a look back on past awards and peer into the future with hot new original digital series and offerings, including:
Showtime announced today that Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight) and Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (Tina -The Tina Turner Musical) will star, and Tony Kgoroge (Invictus), Sindi Dlatu (The River) and Bahle Hadebe (Bone of My Bones) will guest star in the highly anticipated new series KING SHAKA, an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to legendary king. The CBS Studios production will shoot in the historic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Africa province, the birthplace of King Shaka, and will be fully shot in South Africa. The series is produced with Propagate and Hill District Media and will debut on SHOWTIME in 2023.
Bingwa stars as Isisa, a fierce and formidable warrior whose loyalty is thrown into question by a fateful encounter and Obi-Melekwe will star as the Locust Queen, the mysterious leader of a nomadic tribe of outcasts who uses her deep knowledge of the spiritual world to her advantage. Kgoroge is guest starring as Chief Senzangakhona, the proud leader of the Zulu people who denies Shaka’s birthright, Dlathu as Inyoni, a council leader and midwife, and Hadebe as young Shaka.
Bingwa stars in the Paramount+ series The Good Fight as Carmen Moyo and starred in the feature film Black Box. She will next be seen in KING SHAKA executive producer Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation. Additional credits include Trees of Peace, Little Sista and Nekrotronic. Obi-Melekwe earned acclaim in her Broadway debut as Tina Turner in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. She also appeared in the CBS series Bull and the SHOWTIME series SMILF.
Kgoroge starred most recently as police chief Khaya Meyer in the dark comedy series Recipes for Love and Murder. Additional credits include Imbewu: The Seed, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Blood Diamond, Lord of War and Hotel Rwanda. Dlathu is best known for her work in the drama series The River as the villainous Lindiwe Dlamini and as Nomthandazo Buthelezi in Muvhango. She also worked alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the feature film Sarafina. Additional credits include Khululeka and Soul City. Hadebe started his career as a host on the series Yo, and later as a host on Epic Hangout. His credits include Deep State, Down the Zambezi, The Estate and Cash and Carry.
Rooted in actual events, KING SHAKA tells the story of the Zulu Empire founder Shaka (Charles Babalola) and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures. The outcast son of a Zulu Chief, Shaka is a visionary who is prophesized to become a king like none before him. In ferocious battles that test the body and soul, in alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship, a complex sociological system plays out that renders the human cost front and center, for the victors as well as the vanquished, all in an effort to carve out a semblance of identity, fulfillment and ultimately, survival.
KING SHAKA is created and executive produced by Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika, and executive produced by Antoine Fuqua, Bridget Carpenter, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Rodney Ferrell. Seith Mann, who is directing the pilot, and Spencer Medof are also executive producers. Scott Greenberg is a producer, and Michael Callas is producing for Hill District Media. Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane also produce.
As part of the production investment in South Africa and the KZN province, nearly 1,000 locals have been hired for jobs across all facets of the production, including cast, crew, performers and craftspeople. In addition, the production is working in concert with leading South African production services company Film Afrika to help facilitate filming in the region. They are also working closely with the KZN Film Commission and with career-building training programs such as SA Film Academy (SAFA) and the Academy of Creative Excellence to provide production internships and other opportunities.
Coolio, the Grammy-winning Compton rapper who was behind the global hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” has died. He was 59.
His manager, Jarez Posey, said that Coolio died Wednesday afternoon at a friend’s house in Los Angeles. “He went to use the bathroom and never came out,” he said. No cause of death was given.
Indelibly associated with West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap, Coolio reached worldwide success in the mid 1990s with three of his albums — It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta’s Paradise (1995), and My Soul (1997) — crossing over into the mainstream, driven by a clutch of more chart-friendly singles, including “Fantastic Voyage,” “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “C U When U Get There.” The single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” featuring R&B singer L.V., was boosted by its appearance in the 1995 Michelle Pfeiffer drama Dangerous Minds and went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide.
Coolio composed the theme song for the 1996-2000 Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel, starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell; voiced the character Kwanzaa-bot on Futurama; and appeared in such movies as Dear God (1996), Batman & Robin (1997), Submerged (2000) and Stealing Candy (2003).
“This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio,” rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube tweeted.
“Coolio was the West Coast Flavor Flav. He loved telling everyone that. We was supposed to perform together this Tuesday. #RIP my friend,” tweeted
A number of other hip-hop artists and entertainment figures have also responded to Coolio’s death.
Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. in Monessen, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 1, 1963, Coolio grew up in Compton, California. In interviews, Coolio has said he became a fan of hip hop after hearing “Freedom” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He was taken by the flow of rapper Melle Mel and said he tried to imitate his style. He was also hugely inspired by LL Cool J and Ice T. He penned his first song at 15.
A regular performer in the Los Angeles rap scene, Coolio joined the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991 and recorded the album Ain’t a Damn Thang Changed.
He would then go solo and in 1994 signed with Tommy Boy Records which would release his debut studio album It Takes a Thief. The album, which featured classic G-funk beats of the era mixed with Coolio’s more lighthearted take on the gangsta lifestyle, would peak at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, eventually reaching platinum status, and spawned the hit single “Fantastic Voyage.”
The radio-friendly “Fantastic Voyage,” which sampled the 1981 song of the same name by Lakeside, would hit No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart and give the rapper his first crossover hit. F. Gary Gray, who would later go on to direct Friday, The Fate of the Furious and Straight Outta Compton, directed the music video for “Fantastic Voyage.”
Building upon the success and notoriety of It Takes a Thief, Coolio released his second album, Gangsta’s Paradise, in November 1995. At a time N.W.A. members Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E and Ice T were dominating the charts but attracting official opprobrium for glorifying gangsta culture, Coolio was able to find success with chart-friendly music that featured less confrontational lyrics.
Produced by Coolio, Christopher Hamabe, Devon Davis, Doug Rasheed and Bryan “The Wino” Dobbs, Gangsta’s Paradise‘s lyrics delved into the grimmer aspects of street life but maintained a sense of hope. It was a commercial and critical hit, achieving 4 Mics out of 5 in The Source‘s review. The album featured the singles “Gangsta’s Paradise,” “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” and “Too Hot.”
Released in August 1995, “Gangsta’s Paradise” interpolates Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song “Pastime Paradise” and begins with a line from Psalm 23:4 — “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” — before Coolio adds, “I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left.” The song was a breakout global hit, soaring to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top spot in over 25 countries.
The song featured in the John N. Smith high school drama Dangerous Minds and the accompanying music video, directed by Antoine Fuqua, featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her role from the film. The music video has accrued over 1 billion views on YouTube.
The legacy and cultural impact of the “Gangsta’s Paradise” was wide-reaching, and it inspired a parody “Amish Paradise” by “Weird Al” Yankovic which initially Coolio objected to, but in later years the rapper admitted he regretted his early opposition. To this day, the song is included in many Greatest Songs of All Time lists.
On the back of the huge success of “Gangsta’s Paradise,” “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” reached No. 5 Billboard Hot 100, and “Too Hot” peaked at No. 24.
Gangsta’s Paradise, the album, peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, and would go on to double platinum status with sales north of 2 million in the U.S. alone, becoming the rapper’s best-selling record. Buoyed by the hit singles, the album also broke through internationally, reaching the top 20 in major markets like Germany, Australia and the U.K.
In 1996, he won the Grammy for best rap solo performance for “Gangsta’s Paradise,” written with Kylian Mash, and received another nomination for Record of the Year. In a stirring rendition at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, Coolio and L.V. performed the song with a full live orchestra and gospel choir.
The next year, Gangsta’s Paradise was nominated for best rap album. His first of six career Grammy noms was for best rap solo performance for “Fantastic Voyage.”
At the zenith of his success, Coolio’s third studio album, My Soul, quickly followed in August 1997. Despite warm reviews, the record, the rapper’s last on Tommy Boy, failed to recapture the success of Gangsta’s Paradise, and peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard album chart, reaching gold status. The lead single from the album fared a little better, with “C U When U Get There,” which featured the distinctive sample of “Canon in D Major” by Johann Pachelbel, hitting top 20 in the U.S. and numerous countries around the world. The follow-up single, “Ooh La La,” however failed to chart in the U.S. but did internationally.
Coolio would go on to release five more studio albums — Coolio.com (2001), El Cool Magnifico (2002), The Return of the Gangsta (2006), Steal Hear (2008) and From the Bottom 2 the Top (2009) — all independently released, but his star was on the wane as gangsta rap became less popular.
Outside of music, Coolio had a long list of film and television credits, often appearing as himself in genre films and comedies. He was the subject of the 2008 reality show Coolio’s Rules, which lasted six episodes.
He is survived by his six children.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter