In the world of the new crypto-currency and all of the talk about NFT’s (whether you understand what they are or not), this seems to be the new medium in the very, very near future.
As we look up there are more and more NFT’s popping up everywhere and I guess sooner or later there was going to be one in comedy. Well, now we can add a comedy special to this ever-changing world.
Samson Crouppen is the first comedian that has been able to launch his first comedy special as an NFT; Crouppen directed it, filmed it, edited it, and then prepped it for the NFT launch.
We should also mention that upon the launch he was able to get many folks in the comedy world to support his endeavors, such as Tiffany Haddish and Donnell Rawlings. As of this writing, he was able to sell each NFT for his asking price of $1,000!
Anyway, we got a chance to talk to Crouppen to discuss what an NFT is and how he was able to apply it to comedy, and what it feels like being the first comic to bring it to the market.
See the interview below;
Ok, lets get right to it; Spider-Man: No Way Home is the best Spider-Man movie ever made. Period.
There, I said it.
Now this COULD be debated by many of the Andrew Garfield fans out there who loved his performance in the previous Spider-Man films because of his acting ability (which was phenomenal by the way), and some fans may love the first films which starred Toby Maguire, but you really can’t deny the story, acting, directing-everything of Spider-Man: Now Way Home.
And I didn’t even mention how great Tom Holland and Zendaya were in this film. I stick by my earlier remarks; easily the best film of the Spider-Man universe.
Now, let’s jump to the film; Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up moments after the ending of Far from Home, in which J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) revealed Spider-Man’s secret identity to the world. This bombshell upends the lives of Peter Parker, M.J. (Zendaya), and Ned (Jacob Batalon), even resulting in their applications to M.I.T. getting rejected.
Peter then decides to go see Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and ask for a spell. There is one, but it will cause everyone to forget who Peter is; it would be as if he’d never existed. While they attempt to modify the spell to exclude Peter’s loved ones, things spin out of control. Before long, supervillains from alternate universes descend upon Spider-Man’s world, and his hands are full. He’s going to need some help.
Now, without giving away too much- because this film has a ton of spoilers, Peter eventually is able to get the help he needs while learning several lessons along the way. There are also some tear-jerking moments, but again, that’s giving away too much.
The film wraps with Peter making a choice, after showing a brief dark side, that could lead him to many more adventures.
I walked away thinking that if the studio wanted to wrap up the Tom Holland/Zendaya cast they could because it did sum things up nice and tidy. BUT, Sony/Marvel could open the door to many new possibilities because of the way the film twisted and turned.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was fun, witty, and definitely exciting. I think the spoilers and surprises had me gasp the most as some of them I didn’t see coming a mile away. Either way, this is a film that you have to run to see- not walk, run because you will be very upset if someone ruins it for you on social media. And believe me, there are many folks trying to ruin it for you. Its an experience you want to see in the theaters and this film might actually get everyone back.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently in theaters.
We discovered, thanks to social media, that comedian and actor Flex Alexander has gone back to doing stand-up comedy!
If you are familiar with the actor who is probably best known for his performances on Snakes On A Plane, One On One, and She’s All That, then you know that he started out as a dancer and a stand-up comedian while he was trying to make it in Hollywood as an actor.
Life took over and his career did too, and before you know it, he was a star and his days of doing stand-up and dancing became in his rearview mirror even though many have told us that he had a great chance to succeed if he had continued on doing stand up.
Well, as we previously stated, it looks like the fans may get that chance! Last night we discovered that Flex was at Ontario Improv with comedians Chris Spencer, Ambrea Allan, and David Arnold. Word is he’s working on several big projects on the comedy front too, for 2022. Is he preparing for a comedy special?
Either way, we shall see.
This story is developing….
Flex Alexander on stage
The first teaser from Marvel’s upcoming animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur has been released, giving us a look at the neon-colored action we can expect Summer 2022 on the Disney Channel.
Diamond White, best known for her work on The Bold and the Beautiful and Disney’s animated series The Lion Guard, will star as Moon Girl herself, Lunella Lafayette. Alfre Woodard will voice Mimi, Lunella’s grandmother, and Libe Barer will voice Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey. Sasheer Zamata and Jermaine Fowler will play Lunella’s mother and father Adria and James Jr., and Gary Anthony Williams will voice Lunella’s grandfather, Pops. Laurence Fishburne will voice The Beyonder; he also serves as the series’ executive director with Helen Sugland via their company, Cinema Gypsy Productions.
In the series, the highly-intelligent Lunella brings a dinosaur into present-day and becomes a superhero. According to the official description:
“Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, the highly-anticipated series follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City via a time vortex, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.”
Check out the trailer below.
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur has been in development since 2018. The series was officially announced as an upcoming Disney Channel series Aug. 2019. The show is based on the popular comic book series that has been in publication since 2016.
Source: Shadow & Act
Former First Lady Michelle Obama breaks bread with the Johnsons in the first photos from black-ish‘s eighth and final season.
As teased in October, Obama will guest-star in the ABC comedy’s Season 8 premiere, titled “That’s What Friends Are For” and airing Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
In that episode, Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) convinces Dre (Anthony Anderson) to attend a fundraising event for When We All Vote, in hopes to make some new couple friends (and, you know, to do their part to increase participation in each and every election). Though Dre is convinced there will be nothing but “dud husbands” there to befriend, their expectations are far exceeded when the special guest for the evening is none other than Michelle Obama.
Then, to their greater surprise, the former First Lady accepts an invitation for dinner at their house! But on the evening of the special meal, the rest of the Johnsons all decide to crash the special occasion.
ABC announced last spring that black-ish would end after Season 8. “To all the people in the world I love, honor, respect and care for it is both exciting and bittersweet to share that black-ish been renewed by ABC for it’s eighth… and final season,” Barris posted to Instagram in May. “In this day and age it is rare to get to decide when your show should come to an end, and we are grateful along with ABC to be able to make this final season exactly what we’d hoped for – and to do it with the entire and amazingly stellar cast coming back to close this chapter out with us the right way!”
Obama is not the first political figure to appear on black-ish. Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, lent her voice to an animated election special last October, for which she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
Trevor Noah was clearly not happy with his alleged botched surgery. “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” host reportedly is suing a New York-based doctor and hospital after he underwent the cosmetic surgery.
The 37-year-old filed the lawsuit in the New York County Supreme Court. In the docs, which was filed on November 29, the comedian listed Dr. Riley J Williams III and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) as the defendants and accused them for “negligence.”
The South African native claimed he underwent the surgery in November 2020 at HSS in New York City. However, the operation seemingly didn’t go well since the TV personality alleged that the doctor and the hospital “were negligent and careless in failing to treat and care for [him] in a careful and skillful manner.”
The lawsuit went on to state that the defendants failed “to use approved methods in general use in the care and treatment” of Trevor and “to inform the plaintiff of the risks, hazards and alternatives to the treatment.”
Felischa Marye’s (13 Reasons Why) comedy series Bigger will not be returning at BET+ as the streamer has dropped the show after two seasons.
“We’re sad to announce that #BiggerOnBet will not get a third season. We know, we know,” tweeted Marye, who serves as creator, executive producer, and showrunner on the series. “We can’t believe it either, but want to say thanks to our #BiggerSeries Hive for being such loyal and passionate fans.”
Bigger is produced by Will Packer Productions and follows five 30-somethings living in Atlanta as they navigate love, heartache, friendship, and career goals while trying to build professional and personal lives they can be proud of. After the sudden death of a college acquaintance, the group is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about each other
The series stars Tanisha Long (I Love Bekka & Lucy) as Layne Roberts alongside Angell Conwell (The Young and the Restless) as Veronica Yates, Rasheda Crockett (All Rise) as Tracey Davis, Tristen J. Winger (Insecure) as Vince, and Chase Anthony (Journey of a Goddess) as Deon. Lucius Baston (Lovecraft Country) also appears in a recurring role as Terry.
In her Twitter thread about the cancelation, Marye thanked the cast and crew, as well as the fans, writing, “We wanted to give audiences a hardcore funny comedy with a big heart, and our fans were there for it, so we thank you! We had a lovely dinner last week to end the year, while ending such a special show…”
Marye also shared a photo with the cast, followed by a post praising them for their work on the series. “Until we meet again!” she concluded.
Famed comedian Gary Owen returns to SHOWTIME for his fifth stand-up comedy special, Gary Owen: Black Famous, premiering Friday, December 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
In the hour-long special, filmed in his hometown of Cincinnati at the Memorial Hall OTR, Owen hilariously embraces his new life as a divorceì following a very public and messy end to his marriage. Unable to diffuse rumors until now, Owen airs some of his dirty laundry and continues to dazzle viewers with more of his beloved real-life stories. But as Owen likes to say, this one ends with a “big twist!”
Owen has been entertaining audiences for decades with his comedy, performing to sold-out crowds across the country. On the big screen, he has starred in the popular franchise Think Like a Man and the follow-up Think Like a Man Too, as well as Ride Along, Little Man, Daddy Day Care, Meet the Blacks and The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2.
In 2016, Owen starred in The Gary Owen Show, which chronicled his dynamic and interracial family life in small-town Ohio. His other small-screen credits include co-hosting the sketch series Upload with Shaquille O’Neal, a recurring role in the comedy series Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, hosting the comedy special Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam – Live from Orlando, Mike Epps Presents: Live from Club Nokia, Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment and winning and hosting two seasons of the multicultural comedy competition show ComicView.
Gary Owen: Black Famous is executive produced by Brian Volk-Weiss (Pete Davidson: Alive From New York, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra) and Cisco Henson for Comedy Dynamics. Gary Owen (Breakin’ Out of the Park, I AGREE WITH MYSELF, #DOINWHATIDO) serves as executive producer along with Lisa Blum-Strode (Scary Movie and Haunted House Franchises). The special is directed by Brian Volk-Weiss.
Photo: Rob Butler/Courtesy of SHOWTIME
Watch the new trailer here:
Wilmer Valderrama is attached to star in and executive produce a live-action “Zorro” series that is in development at Disney Branded Television.
In “Zorro,” Valderrama would star as Don Diego de la Vega and his swashbuckling alter ego, the masked horseman known as Zorro, in the days of Spanish California.
The show is a reimagining of the Disney-ABC “Zorro” series starring Guy Williams that aired in the 1950s. That show also starred Gene Sheldon, George J. Lewis, and Henry Calvin. It aired for 78 episodes between 1957 and 1959, with four hour-long episodes airing in the early 1960s.
“We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style — with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense and humor of the original, iconic Zorro,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”
Along with Valderrama, the new should be executive produced by Gary Marsh, the outgoing president and chief creative officer of Disney Branded Television. The show is part of Marsh’s production pact with Disney General Entertainment. John Gertz of Zorro Productions Inc. is also an executive producer.
“Growing up, Zorro was the one character that made me, as a Latino, feel like I could be a hero,” Valderrama said. “As an adult and a storyteller, I have a responsibility in the stories that I help bring to life. To partner with Gary and Disney to bring Zorro back into the family after 60 years and be a part of the legacy for other children to know they too can be the heroes of their own stories is a dream come true.”
Valderrama is best known for his role as Fez on the hit sitcom “That ’70s Show” as well as his role as Nick Torres on “NCIS.” He has worked with Disney multiple times in the past, including the Disney Junior animated series “Handy Manny” and the Disney animated films “Onward” and “Encanto.”
He is repped by UTA and Silver Lining Entertainment.
Source: Variety
Sherri Shepherd, who was scheduled to be a guest host for the ailing Wendy Williams as host of The Wendy Williams Show this week, has undergone emergency surgery for appendicitis and is unable to appear.
“Due to appendicitis, Sherri Shepherd underwent an emergency surgery yesterday. The procedure was successful and Ms. Shepherd is doing fine and resting,” Shepherd’s publicist said in a statement to Deadline. “She is absolutely devastated that she will not be able to guest host The Wendy Williams Show today, but she is following doctors orders and expected to make a full recovery. Thank you all for understanding and respecting her privacy.”
A spokesperson for The Wendy Williams Show says Michael Rapaport will be filling in for Shepherd, and that Shepherd hopes to be back on the show later in the week.
Shepherd has been among a rotating list of guest hosts for the show while Williams recovers from complications of Graves disease.
The show’s scheduled September 20 Season 13 premiere was delayed for weeks after Williams tested positive for a breakthrough case of Covid-19. Prior to her Covid diagnosis, the show said Williams would be stepping back from promotional activities ahead of the premiere due to “ongoing health issues.”
Williams has battled various maladies over the last few years. Her battle with Graves disease, an immune system disorder, dates to 1999. She also passed out on live TV in 2017 during the show’s Halloween episode, an incident that was attributed to dehydration.
The show was on hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic but had a brief remote stint with Williams broadcasting from her New York apartment. Later, production was again paused for several weeks so Williams could be with her family following her mother’s death.
The nationally syndicated Wendy Williams Show is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury and has been renewed through the 2021-2022 season by the Fox Television Stations.
Source: Deadline