ABC is looking to turn The Rookie into its latest franchise.
The network on Tuesday announced plans for a potential spinoff series starring Niecy Nash. The Claws alum will guest star in a two-episode arc as the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. The episodes will serve as a backdoor pilot as the Disney-owned network looks to launch a new franchise out of the fourth-year Nathan Fillion cop drama.
Nash will play Simone Clark, who is described as the living embodiment of a dream deferred. In the episodes, her trainee will unite with LAPD officer John Nolan (Fillion) and the L.A. division of the FBI who enlist Clark when one of her former students is suspected of terrorism following an explosion at a local power station. Airdates for the episodes have not yet been determined.
“I’m so excited to guest star on The Rookie and bring Simone Clark to life! She is a spirited and spicy fish out of water,” Nash said in a statement announcing the news Tuesday. “The cast is amazing and I can’t wait to play!”
The potential Rookie spinoff arrives as ABC, under network topper Craig Erwich, is looking to broaden out its franchises. The network currently has stalwart Grey’s Anatomy with firefighter offshoot Station 19 (both renewed for next season). Meanwhile, Black-ish — which has produced Freeform spinoff Grown-ish and since-canceled ABC offshoot Mixed-ish — is ending this season with plans for the previously announced Old-ish seemingly stalled though there have been talks of the spinoff moving to Erwich-led Hulu. Elsewhere, The Goldbergs is showing its age and has already produced the since-canceled spinoff Schooled.
Franchises remain a major piece of the broadcast puzzle. NBC has three Chicago and Law & Order shows; Fox has a pair of 911 procedurals; and CBS has multiple FBI and NCIS shows with the revival of CSI also in the works. The latter franchise has produced multiple offshoots over the years. Over at The CW, the network has the connected DC universe, a pair of All American shows as well as an upcoming Nancy Drew spinoff, Tom Swift. The network’s pilot roster also includes a Supernatural prequel and Walker spinoff.
The Rookie is created by Alexi Hawley and is a co-production between ABC Signature and Entertainment One.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Wendy Williams will not be returning to her daytime talk show this season, but the future of her show remains in flux.
Meanwhile, Sherri Shepherd is in advanced discussions with Debmar-Mercury for her own daytime talk show, which could potentially replace Williams’ series, sources say.
Currently in its 13th season, “The Wendy Williams Show” is one of the biggest hits in daytime TV history. Launching in national syndication from Debmar-Mercury in 2008, the show was built around Williams, who, at the time the show premiered, was a popular radio host known for her no-holds-barred take on celebrity gossip.
Williams has been absent from her show all this season, as she has been battling ongoing health issues. Williams suffers from Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder.
While Williams has been gone from her talk show in 2021 and 2022, guest hosts have filled in for her throughout this entire season, including Shepherd, who has been popular with audiences and who, sources say, has emerged as the frontrunner to possibly take over Williams’ timeslot — that is, if Williams does not return and if station partners would greenlight a show hosted by Shepherd for a full season.
A source says it’s unclear whether Williams will ever come back to her show, but if she is in good enough health to do so and wants to return, executives would be thrilled to welcome her back with open arms. After all, Williams has been a huge hit for Debmar-Mercury and a stalwart in daytime television on the Fox TV Stations.
“We’ll deal with the fall when we get there, but she’s not returning this season,” a source close to Williams says.
Williams’ spokesperson, PR veteran Howard Bragman, declined to comment on this story.
In the meantime, Shepherd is in advanced talks with Debmar-Mercury, the same production company behind “The Wendy Williams Show,” to star in her own talk show.
If Williams does not return next season, a show starring Shepherd would be a sensible option to fill the daytime slot. Insiders say the show being developed would fully be Shepherd’s own show — not a replacement for Williams on that show. A deal is currently being negotiated, but the paperwork is not signed.
Aside from Shepherd, “The Wendy Williams Show” has had a slew of guest hosts during its current season, including Leah Remini, Michael Rapaport, Whitney Cummings, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Kym Whitley, Finesse Mitchell, Devyn Simone, Julissa Bermudez, and correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister. Next week, Bevy Smith and Terrence J will host, and then Shepherd will return the following week.
A source close to Williams says the host is “incredibly grateful for all of the guest hosts who have held down the fort” on her show.
A spokesperson for Debmar-Mercury told Variety that they are not commenting on any speculation regarding Williams or Shepherd.
Earlier in the season, Debmar-Mercury released this statement, in support of Williams: “Wendy is a valued and stalwart member of the Debmar-Mercury family and has been so for 12 years. We want her health to be her top priority,” the statement continued. “As soon as she’s ready, she will be back in her treasured purple chair. We very much appreciate the respect for Wendy’s privacy, as well as all the good wishes from her fans, station partners and advertisers.”
Source: Variety
In this exclusive interview we conduct with Guy Torry and Executive Producer Reggie Hudlin, we discuss the early comparisons of Phat Tuesdays to the legendary HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comic View. Torry talks how the show was able to get started and more. Hudlin speaks about how the two came together for this iconic project.
If you are not familiar, Prime Video has released the documentary which includes interviews from Anthony Anderson, Tiffany Haddish, Steve Harvey, Regina King, and many more.
Its Black history month and Phat Tuesdays tells the unbelievable black history moment of how Torry, moved mountains to launch an all-Black comedy night at The Comedy Store. What started as an experiment in 90’s Los Angeles turned into a breeding ground for today’s greatest comedians, elevating Black voices to have their turn on the stage.
Watch the interview below;
Laugh Out Loud, the multi-platform comedy brand founded by Kevin Hart announced the addition of special guest comedian TIP “T.I” HARRIS along with Tony Roberts and special guest DJ Spinderella to the long-anticipated return of “All Star Comedy Jam.” The iconic event, originally dreamed up as a partnership between basketball hall of Famer, media personality and entrepreneur, Shaquille O’Neal and LOL CEO Jeff Clanagan, will kick-off Superbowl Weekend, live from Downtown Los Angeles, with a special one-night-only experience on Thursday, February 10 at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live.
The event, known for breaking stars and celebrating legends, will be hosted by DeRay Davis, and present hilarious performances from some of the biggest names in comedy including Bill Bellamy, Michael Blackson, Earthquake, Tony Roberts, and Mo’Nique and featuring surprise special guests, musical acts, and from the front row—the man himself—Shaquille O’Neal.
“From delivering numerous sold-out tours to being among the first to give a national stage to current comedy legends such as Mike Epps, DeRay Davis, and Kevin Hart, All Star Comedy Jam has been a fixture on the comedy scene, dedicated to elevating the brightest up-and-coming comedic voices,” said Shaquille O’Neal. “I’m looking forward to working with the Laugh Out Loud team to bring this iconic franchise back to a live audience for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of comedy.”
“There is nothing like a night of live comedy, and I couldn’t be more excited for the return of All Star Comedy Jam,” said Laugh Out Loud CEO, Jeff Clanagan. “What started as an idea between Shaq and I for a comedy show during All-Star weekend, has grown into a true comedy staple that showcases some of the heaviest hitters in comedy alongside the most promising up-and-comers, and this return feels better than ever. LOL’s mission is to keep the world laughing together, and right now, a good night with a lot of laughs is exactly what we need.”
Tickets are on sale now at axs.com.
WHEN: Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 8 PM PT
WHO: DeRay Davis (host), Bill Bellamy, Michael Blackson, Earthquake, Mo’Nique, Tony Roberts, Spinderella
February 7, 2022 – Bounce will premiere the highly-anticipated 23rd Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration on Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm ET. The debut telecast will be followed by an encore on Bounce’s sister network ION Sunday, February 13 at 12 am ET, and will continue to be available to stream in front of the paywall on Prime Video and on IMDb TV throughout February in celebration of Black History Month.
Bounce and ION Telecast Schedule:
Themed “Catch the Light,” the groundbreaking praise and worship extravaganza is an annual highlight of Super Bowl weekend, hosted this season by inspirational figure Sarah Jakes Roberts and funnyman DC Young Fly. This unique annual praise fest highlights NFL players and their faith, with uplifting songs of joy and shout-worthy, never-before-seen performances and mashups. Viewers are offered a rare glimpse into the spiritual lives of their favorite NFL players, as well as what inspires them to greatness each day. The hour-long show was taped in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas as a concession to the still ongoing COVID pandemic.
“This 23-year journey with the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is a testament to how faith can grow the seed of a dream into a reality far greater than any plan we might have set out to achieve. Despite every obstacle placed in our path, our faith in this vision has been rewarded with this anointed production that has touched the lives of so many,” said Melanie Few, Founder and Executive Producer.
Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is making a special presentation to the 2022 Lifetime of Inspiration Award recipient Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, sponsored by the Amazon Black Business Accelerator Program. The current head coach for Jackson State University’s football team, two-time SuperBowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year is being honored for his commitment to bringing more visibility to HBCU sports franchises and reinvigorating HBCU sports into high-profile must-watch events. Coach Prime is one of only four NFL Players to ever receive this prestigious award.
“As we approach our 23rd anniversary, I am so very thankful for the support and partnership of the National Football League. I am also excited for the amazing partners that have joined forces to help elevate this brand. It is truly a privilege to honor Coach Prime as I have followed him his entire career and watched him be a light to others, both on and off the field,” added Few, the only woman and person of color that produces an NFL sanctioned event during Super Bowl week.
“Super Bowl Gospel provides an opportunity for our players to celebrate their faith,” said Arthur McAfee, the NFL’s senior vice president for player engagement. “A large number of our players are of faith, and they celebrate that faith many ways during the course of the game and throughout the season. You may see them take a knee and pray, either prior to or after the game. This is one of the natural connections we have to help players elevate their platform.”
This year’s production features a roster of anointed performances including a Gospel medley from multiple Grammy Award winner CeCe Winans; a duet between Pastor Mike, Jr. and multi-talented entertainer CeeLo Green; Mali Music joining singer/actress Chloe in a heartfelt collaboration to salute individuals impacted by cancer; singer/songwriter Natalie Grant; and a cypher led by two-time Grammy-winning Christian rapper LeCrae. Songstress Regina Belle is joining the famed NFL Players Choir for an inspiring song selection closing out the show.
Other slated guest appearances include Seattle Seahawks Quarterback – Russell Wilson, Cleveland Browns Defensive End – Myles Garrett, New Orleans Saints Defensive End – Cam Jordan, Minnesota Vikings Quarterback – Kirk Cousins, Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver – Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots Linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year contender – Matt Judon.
The Black Women’s Health Imperative, the first and only national non-profit focused on the health and wellness of Black women and girls, will present special recognition to retired Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams for his contributions to driving life-saving cancer screenings through his nonprofit, The DeAngelo Williams Foundation.
The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will be available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and on IMDb TV in the U.S. and the U.K.
Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (SBGC) was originally founded and executive produced in 1999 as a gospel brunch in Miami by Atlanta-based marketing consultant Melanie Few and continues as the only multicultural program and inspirational event sanctioned by the NFL during Super Bowl weekend. The evening brings together an ensemble of NFL players, gospel/contemporary Christian performers, award-winning musicians spanning all genres, and faith-based leaders on one stage for a spectacular show filled with song, prayer, hope, and uplifting messages.
Past SBGC shows have featured performers such as Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Koryn Hawthorne, Patti Labelle, Erica Campbell, Gladys Knight, Fantasia, Donnie McClurkin, and Anthony Hamilton among others.
This year’s Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is sponsored by NFL Player Engagement, Black Women’s Health Imperative, United Airlines, Juice Plus, Amazon Black Business Accelerator Program, and Compassion International.
For more information, visit superbowlgospel.com and join the social conversation using #SuperBowlGospel and #CatchTheLight.
Streaming – Prime Video
● Premiere – Saturday, February 12, 2022
● Video On-Demand – All of February 2022 as Black History Month Spotlight
Just For Laughs, the largest and most widely-respected comedy festival in the world, is excited to announce a collaboration with AEG Presents, the leading sports and live entertainment company, and The O2, the world’s most popular music, leisure and entertainment venue. Together, the trio will be launching a new annual comedy festival, Just For Laughs LONDON, with the first edition scheduled to take place at The O2 in North Greenwich, London from March 2-5 2023.
Just For Laughs is expanding their international festival footprint by creating a brand-new comedy festival curated for comedy fans in the UK, made possible by collaborating with AEG Presents and The O2. The O2 has been visited by over 100 million people since opening in 2007 and hosts over 200 live events per year spanning music, sport, and comedy. In 2020, it was named Billboard’s Venue of The Decade. Just For Laughs LONDON will surely be one of 2023’s hottest tickets.
Just For Laughs LONDON will be a four-day pass-based festival, and feature the company’s signature premium comedy programming. Must-attend events will include solo shows, live podcast recordings, in conversations, and cast panels; from both UK-based artists, as well as international stars.
Since the festival’s inception, Just For Laughs has fostered a deep relationship with Britain’s incredible pool of talented comedians. At the time, many British rising stars came to JFL to further their careers including the likes of John Oliver, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Eddie Izzard, Gina Yashere and Sarah Millican; while some of the country’s legends such as Stephen Fry, John Cleese, Lenny Henry and Rowan Atkinson, who launched “Mr. Bean” at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, make up some of JFL’s proudest accomplishments. Working with the vast repertoire of UK comedians who have appeared at the festival has become an integral part of the company’s DNA.
Over the last 40 years, the unique and edgy style of British humour has become synonymous with what JFL is known for. They introduced prime-time TV audiences to these rising British comedy stars on Channel 4, BBC, Channel 5 and to global audiences. Now, with the launch of this new festival, JFL and AEG will be providing Britain’s best acts with a JFL stage in their hometown, as well as the opportunity for international comedians to gain exposure from what will surely become the UK’s biggest comedy festival.
“We couldn’t be happier to be producing a Just For Laughs festival in the UK, celebrating the contribution and influence British comedy has had on JFL as well as the industry as a whole,” shares Bruce Hills, President of Just For Laughs. “With British comedy being a fundamental touchstone of our company for the last four decades, we are so excited to work with AEG Presents and The O2, and deliver our UK fans an irreplicable first-class JFL experience at a world class London venue”.
“Just For Laughs has produced many successful superior comedy festivals and tours in cities across the globe, and we are now beyond excited to plant some roots by adding a new comedy festival in one of the world’s most notorious comedy cities, London, England”, adds Charles Décarie, President and CEO of Just For Laughs Group. “We believe that expanding our festival’s international reach is part of the organization’s natural evolution, and we are looking forward to being in the UK next year at London’s The O2.”
“We are delighted to be working with such a well-respected and talented company as Just For Laughs, and look forward to presenting an amazing festival at The O2 next year,” said Steve Homer, CEO of AEG Presents UK.
Emma Bownes, VP of Venue Programming at The O2 added, “The O2 is thrilled to be partnering with both JFL and AEG Presents on Just For Laughs LONDON in March 2023. Just for Laughs are world leaders in comedy programming, and we can’t wait to host the very best UK and global stars, alongside podcast recordings, table reads and breakout comics across multiple stages under our roof. We look forward to Just For Laughs LONDON returning to The O2 for years to come.”
Details regarding programming and where to purchase passes and individual show tickets to Just For Laughs LONDON will become available in the coming months.
Almost 20 years after teaming up with Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy and Lil Jon on Urban Legend‘s “Stand Up,” T.I. is trying his hand at a different kind of stand-up.
On Thursday (January 20), footage circulated online showing the Grand Hustle general putting his mic skills to the test at a comedy club. In the two-minute clip, Tip stands on stage and delivers a stand-up routine touching on infidelity.
“If you ever get into the area of cheating, that’s no man’s land,” the Atlanta rapper — who has been married to his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris for 12 years — joked. “Can you be in a committed relationship and still have a friend from the opposite sex? Now, if you fucking, it don’t count!
“The ladies like, ‘Yes it do, it still count!’ See, y’all muthafuckas ain’t shit, man. Ladies cheat! They ain’t better than us, so don’t get into the game because the shit is gonna be fucked up for you.”
T.I.’s stand-up comedy set got laughs from the crowd, which included his wife, but some of the reactions on social media weren’t as enthusiastic.
“(Throws tomatoes) boooooooooo! Get off the stage!” one user commented on The Jasmine Brand‘s Instagram post, while another wrote, “How is this stand up. Sound like a relationship seminar.”
While it remains to be seen whether T.I. has a future in comedy, it wouldn’t be his only creative pursuit outside of rap. The 41-year-old boasts an acting résumé that includes roles in ATL, American Gangster and Takers, as well as his VH1 reality series T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.
Despite his various ventures, rest assured T.I.’s heart is still in Hip Hop as the self-proclaimed King of the South recently reasserted his place at the top of the game next to JAY-Z, Nas, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Pusha T.
“When it comes to getting behind that muthafucking mic, n-gga, putting some shit to music, ain’t nobody fucking with me, n-gga. None of ’em,” he declared in an Instagram video. “You ain’t never heard of me on no record with nobody and they dusted me, n-gga.”
Source: Hip Hop DX, The Jasmine Brand
Louie Anderson, the big-hearted everyman who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, then channeled the spirit of his late mother for his Emmy-winning turn as Christine Baskets on the FX series Baskets, has died. He was 68.
Anderson died Friday in a Las Vegas hospital of complications from cancer, his longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz told The Hollywood Reporter. Anderson had been undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Mentored by legendary stand-up Henny Youngman, the gap-toothed Minnesota native was named one of “100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time” by Comedy Central in 2004. He also co-created Life With Louie, the Saturday morning animated series in which he played a version of his 8-year-old self and hosted a revival of the game show Family Feud.
For his first big part, Eddie Murphy picked Anderson to portray Maurice, a upward-striving employee at McDowell’s, in Coming to America (1988), and he returned for the 2021 sequel.
“You know, I started on clean-up just like you guys,” he tells Murphy and Arsenio Hall’s characters in the original. “But now, see I’m washing lettuce. Soon I’ll be on fries, then the grill. In a year or two, I make assistant manager, and that’s when the big bucks start rolling in.”
Baskets, created by Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel, starred Galifianakis as Chip and Dale Baskets, one a struggling circus clown, the other his obnoxious identical twin. Yet it was Anderson, as their melancholy yet optimistic single mom, who stole the show during its four-season run (2016-19).
When Galifianakis began describing Christine’s voice to his Baskets‘ co-creators, both immediately thought of Anderson to take on the part. The comic related to the character, who he said was just like his mother, who died in 1990.
“I’m pretty sure my mom orchestrated it from the great beyond,” Anderson told the Los Angeles Times in 2017. “I mean, how would that come up otherwise? She always could have been a star herself, so she’s finally getting a chance to act.”
Anderson’s portrayal of Christine earned him his Primetime Emmy in 2016, the first of three straight years with a nomination.
“Mom! We did it!” he exclaimed after making his way to the podium on Emmy night. “I haven’t always been a very good man, but I play one hell of a woman. This is for my mother, Ora Zella Anderson, who I stole every nuance, shameful look, cruel look, loving look [and] passive-aggressive line from.”
“In its first year, Baskets laid the groundwork to prove that having ’80s stand-up icon Anderson playing the mother to the main characters played by Galifianakis was not a stunt,” THR chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg wrote in 2017.
“Honestly, it never felt like one, and in episodes like “Easter in Bakersfield,” Anderson made Christine into a character of subtle complexity, exactly the sort of quiet, spotlight-shy work you wouldn’t expect from a former game show host who put himself and his autobiography at the center of much of his material. Anderson’s investment was always in honoring Christine as a person, not in getting attention for oddball casting.”
Louie Perry Anderson was born on March 24, 1953, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The second-youngest of 11 children (six boys and five sisters), he grew up poor in the Roosevelt Homes housing project. He blamed his father, Louis, an abusive failed musician who battled alcoholism, for the family’s woes and praised his mother for filling the household with love and hope.
Anderson, who said he had a “lifelong food addiction,” claimed his weight problem was the result of the turmoil at home, and he told People magazine in 1987 that he ate to escape.
After graduating from Johnson Senior High School in St. Paul, Anderson spent several years counseling troubled youngsters.
While attending a comedy show at Mickey Finn’s in Minneapolis in 1978, Anderson noted the lack of laughs and thought he’d take a crack at stand-up. “I signed up next week, my mom and dad came down, my family came down, my co-workers,” he said. “And I did three minutes, and I felt like I did good.”
Anderson mined his early material from his family life, his oversized frame and his love of eating. Two early jokes: “Let me move the microphone so you can see me” and “I was the first kid on the block voted most likely to become a group.”
In 1981, Anderson took first place in the Midwest Comedy Competition, hosted that year by Youngman, who hired him as a writer and helped shape him as a performer.
“His work ethic had the biggest influence on me,” Anderson told the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2019. “He said, ‘Just do your jokes.’ But I was more of a person who wanted to tell stories. I didn’t want to just present jokes. But I did have a bunch of one-liners when I started my act each time. I got that from him and his work ethic.”
Anderson’s breakthrough came in November 1984 when he made his national TV debut on The Tonight Show. True to form, his 5 1/2-minute routine was mostly made up of fat jokes, starting with, “I can’t stay long, I’m in between meals, so bear with me.”
A few months later, Anderson was featured alongside Bob Saget, Rita Rudner and Sam Kinison on HBO’s ninth annual Young Comedians special.
Anderson made his film debut as a taxi driver in Cloak & Dagger (1984), then showed up in the 1986 films Quicksilver, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Ratboy. In 1988, he starred with Richard Lewis and Richard Belzer in The Wrong Guys and had his memorable cameo in Coming to America.
Paramount execs wanted someone white to be in that movie, Murphy recalled in March 2021 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
“The whole cast is black — and this was back in the ’80s — so it was like, ‘We have to have a white person! There has to be a white person in the movie.’ What?” he said. “So it was, ‘Who’s the funniest white guy around?’ And Louie, we knew, we was cool with him. So that’s how Louie got in the movie.”
TV stardom beckoned when Anderson was picked to play Larry opposite Bronson Pinchot’s Balki on the sitcom Perfect Strangers. A pilot was filmed in 1985, but he was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker, and the show became a hit that lasted eight seasons.
He voiced his younger self as well as his father on 1994-98’s Life With Louie, winning two acting Daytime Emmys along the way. The series also collected three Humanitas prizes.
In 1996, Anderson headlined the CBS sitcom The Louie Show, playing a Minnesota psychotherapist alongside Bryan Cranston and Paul Feig, but it lasted just six episodes.
Anderson headlined several comedy specials over the years and performed often on the Comic Relief fund-raiders. His TV résumé also included guest spots on Grace Under Fire, Chicago Hope, Touched by an Angel, Scrubs, Joey, Young Sheldon and Twenties. He hosted the syndicated Family Feud from 1999-2002.
In 1989, Anderson published Dear Dad: Letters From an Adult Child, a series of emotionally charged letters he wrote to his late father that explored the sense of shame and insecurity he felt growing up and how it fueled his comedy. Next came a tribute to his mom, 2018’s Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, but You Can Read Them Too.
He also wrote 1994’s Goodbye Jumbo … Hello Cruel World and 2002’s The F Word: How to Survive Your Family.
Anderson wed his high school sweetheart in 1985, but their marriage lasted four weeks. Survivors include his sisters, Lisa and Shanna Anderson.
In his Union-Tribune interview, he said he always tried to “laugh with my audience. I try to say, ‘Hey, aren’t we all pathetic?’ I just put myself out there as the main pathetic person: ‘I can’t stop eating, but I have to because I’ve already eaten everything.’ I’m laying it out there.
“That’s the Richard Pryor effect. If you’re honest enough about it all, it’s really rewarding. It is healing. I feel very good out there onstage.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
NBC is losing a Small Fortune.
The network has canceled the Lil Rel Howery-hosted game show after one season. It comes after the series, which is based on a British format, aired between May and July last year.
It is the latest unscripted cancellation at NBC this week; Deadline revealed on Tuesday that Ellen’s Game of Games has been axed at the broadcast network after four seasons.
Small Fortune saw teams of three friends compete in the tiniest of challenges for a chance to win big money. In order to win, players must face tasks set in real-world destinations that test their precision and technique. From a shrunken sushi conveyor belt with tiny chopsticks to a mini Ellis Island, each team must prove their skills on miniature playing fields. Challenges will require considerable dexterity and intense focus because with games this small, there’s no room for error as the slightest miscalculation or tremble may result in elimination. To take home the small fortune, teams that make it to the end must tackle one last teeny-tiny but epic game. If players can control their nerves and avoid the slightest mistake, they will walk away with a big cash prize.
Howery, who starred in Jordan Peele’s horror film Get Out, hosted and exec produced.
It was co-produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio and Youngest Media. Lucas Church and David Flynn served as executive producers for Youngest Media alongside Steve Barry and Joe Braswell, who served as executive producers for Kelchris Media and showrunners for the series.
Source: Deadline
Prime Video announced the new docuseries Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy, which celebrates Phat Tuesdays at The Comedy Store, the influential comedy showcase that helped launch the careers of some of the most famous Black comedians in the industry today. Prime Video also released the official key art and a sneak peek for Phat Tuesdays, which will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, February 4, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Phat Tuesdays’ founder and host—comedian, writer, and actor Guy Torry (American History X, Life)—serves as executive producer, along with and Academy Award-nominated producer Reginald Hudlin (The Black Godfather, Marshall, Django Unchained, House Party), who also directs the three-episode docuseries.
Phat Tuesdays features some of today’s most famous comedians and personalities, including Anthony Anderson, Tichina Arnold, Nick Cannon, Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg, Cedric the Entertainer, Tiffany Haddish, Steve Harvey, Lil Rel Howery, Regina King, Jo Koy, Luenell, Flame Monroe, Jay Pharoah, Craig Robinson, JB Smoove, Chris Tucker, Kym Whitley, and more, and tells the unbelievable story of how Guy Torry moved mountains to launch an all-Black comedy night at The Comedy Store. What started as an experiment in ‘90s Los Angeles turned into a must-see, hilarious experience, elevating Black voices to have their turn on the stage. In addition to Torry and Hudlin, Byron Phillips also executive produces, along with Jeff Hasler, Brian Lovett, and Jeff Bumgarner for Original Productions, and Kelsey Grammer and Tom Russo for Grammnet Productions. Joshua Firosz, Darren Toon for Original Productions, and Jordan McMahon for Grammnet Productions serve as co-executive producers.
“I can’t wait for the world to experience the story of Phat Tuesdays,” said Torry. “It was more than a night of laughter—it was a movement. Phat Tuesdays was Black, bold, and brilliant. It was the best damn comedy show, period!”
“Against all odds, Guy Torry created a venue where the next generation of comedy superstars could launch their careers, and turned the lamest night of the week into the hottest, with the sexiest superstars in Hollywood showing up to laugh till they cried,” said Hudlin. “Phat Tuesdays tells that story and much more. It’s the funniest people on Earth explaining comedy from every perspective as an artform, as a business, and as a force for social change.”
“We are proud to celebrate the legacy of Phat Tuesdays and shine the spotlight on Guy Torry for his trailblazing efforts to give Black comedians their turn on stage in ‘90s Hollywood,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon Studios. “The stories and first-person accounts that Reggie Hudlin and Guy help showcase in this docuseries are not only hilarious and entertaining, but powerful as well, and celebrate how the Black community came together to evolve comedy and entertainment.”
Loaded with exclusive interviews with comedians and celebrities who were there—either performing on stage or in the audience—and never-before-seen footage of legendary comedy sets from back in the day, Phat Tuesdays is the inspiring story of how a little experiment to help Black comedians following the tragedy of the 1992 LA riots turned into a triumphant must-see experience. The showcase regularly brought together people from all walks of life—icons and ex-cons, stars and starlets, pros and regular joes—for one purpose, laughter, and became the most popular comedy show in Hollywood during the ‘90s.
Phat Tuesdays is produced by Amazon Studios, Original Productions, Phat Tuesday Productions, and Grammnet Productions.