New York, NY – (June 11, 2021) – Today, BET announces that Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actor, filmmaker and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson will host the 2021 “BET AWARDS” and GRAMMY® award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor Queen Latifah will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement BET Award. The “BET AWARDS” airs LIVE on BET on Sunday, June 27 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT.
“For more than 20 years, the BET Awards have been a celebration of Black creativity, art and excellence,” said Taraji P. Henson. “Returning live, this year’s show will be unlike anything we have ever seen before, and I am honored to be sharing the stage with so many powerful and prolific women in music and entertainment. The BET Awards will once again be at the forefront of Black culture.”
“Black women have been essential drivers of change throughout history, from the political sphere to the cultural zeitgeist,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “The BET AWARDS is the ultimate celebration of Black culture, and we are looking forward to spotlighting and celebrating Black women during this year’s show, recognizing them for everything they’ve accomplished and applauding them for what’s to come.”
Taraji P. Henson most recently wrapped her iconic run as “Cookie Lyon” on Fox’s hit musical drama EMPIRE, which has earned her three Emmy® nominations, a Golden Globe® Award, a Critics Choice Award, and three BET Awards. She portrayed NASA mathematician Katherine G. Johnson in the Academy Award®-nominated film HIDDEN FIGURES, as well as lent her voice to Disney’s RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2. In Fall 2018, she launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her late father. The organization provides scholarships to African-American students majoring in mental health disciplines, offers mental health services to youth in urban schools, and works to lower the recidivism rates of African-American men and women. Henson, along with her best friend and foundation partner, Tracie Jade, recently co-hosted the Facebook Watch series on mental health called PEACE OF MIND WITH TARAJI, for which they received a Daytime Emmy® Award nomination for “Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.”
Additionally, the “BET AWARDS” will be honoring Queen Latifah with this year’s Lifetime Achievement BET Award. Latifah has had amazing success since her career began in Hollywood and became the first hip-hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. She received rave reviews, industry recognition, and accolades for her roles in feature musical CHICAGO and cable films LIFE SUPPORT and BESSIE, which she also produced. Additionally, Latifah starred in the hit comedy GIRLS TRIP and has also taken to the stage and small screen as the title character in the television musical, THE WIZ LIVE!. Flavor Unit Entertainment, the production company owned and operated by Latifah and Shakim Compere, was behind the hit comedies, BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, BEAUTY SHOP, and THE PERFECT HOLIDAY. Latifah currently stars in and is an executive producer on the CBS series reboot of THE EQUALIZER, which quickly became TV’s #1 scripted series this year.
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET will oversee The “BET Awards” 2021 and serve as Executive Producer along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
Voting for the 2021 BET AWARDS ‘Viewer’s Choice Award’ is now open here. BET.com/betawards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year’s show.
Will Packer’s production company and Red Arrow Studios’ Kinetic Content have secured the film and television rights to “Seven Days in June,” a bestselling romance novel by Tia Williams. Will Packer Media and Kinetic will adapt the novel, a June selection by Reese Witherspoon’s book club, for the small screen.
The novel follows Eva Mercy, a successful erotica author and the daughter she’s raising on her own in Brooklyn. Unbeknownst to Eva, the love of her life is about to return— and she hasn’t seen him since their affair ended abruptly, fifteen years ago.
“Every so often I get to engage in a project that I am absolutely sure will be a game-changer. This is that project. ‘Seven Days in June’ is provocative, timely and wildly entertaining,” Packer said in a statement. “The sexiness, the intensity, the unashamed Blackness makes this an ideal project for us at Team Packer. Tia is so incredibly talented and Kinetic Content are such perfect partners, this is the right project for the right team at the right time!”
“We were blown away by Tia’s masterful storytelling on ‘Seven Days in June’ and were passionate about winning the commission, which was sought after by so many in our industry,” Melissa Myers, president and partner of Kinetic Content, added. “We are excited about working with Tia and the team at Will Packer to bring this beautiful and emotional love story to the screen.”
The novel from Grand Central Publishing hit book stores this month and immediately notched a slot on the New York Times best seller list for fiction. Williams previously wrote “Accidental Diva” and the “It Chicks” series; “The Perfect Find,” is being adapted into a Netflix feature starring Gabrielle Union. She is repped by Cherise Fisher of Wendy Sherman Associates and Olivia Blaustein of CAA.
Alongside Williams, Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content, Myers, Packer and Carolyn Newman, head of WPM Scripted Television, will executive produce the show. The project is the first to be announced since the launch of Kinetic Content’s scripted division last year.
Packer, producer of “Girls Trip,” has a number of TV and film projects in the works and recently produced “The Photograph,” starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield.
Source: Variety
Jaboukie Young-White is headed for HBO.
The writer-comedian is adapting Vanessa R. Panfil’s book The Gang’s All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members as a TV series for HBO.
Young-White will pen the script and exec produce the half-hour entry for the premium cable network. Issa Rae and her HBO-based Hoorae banner will exec produce the potential series alongside 3 Arts.
The project, currently in the development stages, revolves around a closeted 20-something in Chicago who, grieving a gang-related death, ditches college to find closure.
Young-White and Rae exec produce alongside Hoorae’s Montrel McKay and 3 Arts’ Jonathan Berry, Olivia Gerke and Dave Becky. Hoorae’s Sara Rastogi will co-exec produce.
Young-White, who came out as gay during an appearance on The Tonight Show in 2017, counts writing credits on Netflix’s Big Mouth and American Vandal and was a correspondent on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah. On the acting side, his credits include Rough Night, Set It Up, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. He’s repped by CAA, 3 Arts and Lev Ginsburg.
Rae, who inked a sprawling five-year overall deal at WarnerMedia earlier this year, has a number of projects in the works for the company. They include the recently renewed A Black Lady Sketch Show, HBO Max comedy Rap Sh*t, a revival of Project Greenlight and Nice White Parents, among others. Rae is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and John Meigs.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
If you have been following the drama over the last couple of days where comedian Katt Williams claims that Cedric The Entertainer stole his joke years ago while Ced was on the Original Kings Of Comedy Tour, then you know things have been heating up in comedy circles for Ced to address it.
So, earlier today, Cedric The Entertainer decided to address the news, and we can only imagine the conversations that lead up to it. Here is his response;
Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill have teamed up for a comedy feature at Netflix.
Hill will star in the project, which he co-wrote with Barris. Barris, perhaps best known for creating the critically acclaimed ABC comedy Black-ish, is set to make his feature directorial debut.
The two are also producing, Barris via his Khalabo Ink Society banner, Hill through his Strong Baby shingle. Also producing is Kevin Misher of Misher Films.
Plot details are being kept under the cloche, but it is said to be a modern look at the themes tackled in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, the 1967 classic that saw a white couple’s daughter surprise her parents with a Black fiancé. (The movie starred Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton.)
The aim is to shoot this fall in Los Angeles.
Exec producing are E. Brian Dobbins, Strong Baby’s Matt Dines and Ali Goodwin, and Andy Berman.
Barris’ Black-ish ran seven seasons on ABC and spawned a few spinoffs, with the showrunner also directing a handful of episodes. As an in-demand screenwriter for Black voices in film, his recent credits include Coming 2 America with Eddie Murphy and the Cheaper by the Dozen remake, now filming. The multi-hyphenate has numerous film and TV projects on the go, including a Richard Pryor biopic that he is to write, producer, and direct, as well as a feature based on the songs of Bob Marley.
Hill recently wrapped a starring turn opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in Adam McKay’s satire Don’t Look Up, which Netflix will release later this year. He last wrote Mid90s, a coming-of-age drama that he also directed.
Barris is repped by CAA, Artists First and attorney Gregg Gellman. Hill is repped by WME, LBI and attorney Karl Austen.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Today, Montreal-based comedy festival Just For Laughs unveiled the concept and lineup for their first-ever curated travel experience, Just For Laughs Escapes – Cancun, taking place November 3-7, 2021. Collaborating with leading travel company Pollen Presents, Just For Laughs will be taking over Barcelo Maya Grand Resorts, creating a premier experience of top-tier comedic programming, featuring stand-up comedy, interactive events, bespoke activities, pool parties, club nights, all-inclusive amenities and more with fans from around the world. This new project welcomes fans to experience star-studded stand-up comedy and comedy podcasts in sunnier and more exotic destinations.
Lauded as the world’s largest international comedy festival, Just For Laughs has brought the industry’s most iconic names to Montreal for nearly 40 years. As a mecca for both emerging and established comedians alike, JFL’s events have featured the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, Hannah Gadsby, Sebastian Maniscalco, Russell Peters, John Mulaney, Bo Burnham, Jo Koy, Amy Schumer, and countless others.
Whether you’re a comedy enthusiast or simply want to experience something outside of the norm, Just For Laughs Escapes – Cancun will pair one of the world’s marquee travel destinations with a powerhouse comedy lineup including star acts such as Jim Jefferies, Tom Segura, Nikki Glaser, Steve-O, Nicole Byer, Jay Pharoah, Girls Gotta Eat, Donnell Rawlings, Ron Funches, Debra DiGiovanni, the Goddamn Comedy Jam and more! Programming includes solo/headlining shows, multi-comic shows, Q&As, podcast recordings, exclusive VIP events and more.
Travel packages include five-star luxury accommodations, full Just For Laughs hotel takeover, and gourmet food and drink, plus access to stand-up comedy sets, live podcast recordings, and late-night events. Early bird packages start at $859 USD.
Pollen Presents also offers a COVID-19 Money Back Guarantee ensuring the event is 100% refundable if cancelled or rescheduled due to COVID-19.
More information on travel packages and prices can be found on the Pollen Presents website – pollen.co
SHOWTIME has announced that DESUS & MERO will mark its return to a revamped studio when it resumes new episodes beginning Sunday, June 20 with guest Lil Nas X. The show has been filmed remotely from the hosts’ own homes since March 2020.
Currently in its third season, DESUS & MERO will continue to air weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT from New York City on SHOWTIME. Each episode of DESUS & MERO, which won a WGA Award earlier this year, features co-hosts Desus Nice and The Kid Mero giving their take on the day’s hot topics and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more, with past guests including President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, YoYo Ma, Missy Elliott, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Eddie Murphy, Demi Lovato and David Letterman. Longtime acquaintances Desus Nice and The Kid Mero reconnected online in the early days of Twitter, where they unleashed their potent personalities and found themselves kindred spirits. That led to stints on Complex and MTV, the Bodega Boys podcast, and a daily late-night show on Viceland, developing a feverish following. The quick-witted duobrings a distinct voice to late night, delivering smart and comedic commentary on any and all topics, that keeps audiences buzzing. Desus and Mero continue to host their long-running and wildly popular Bodega Boys podcast. Their life advice book, God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx, was released by Random House on September 22, 2020 and made the New York Times Best Seller List.
Produced for SHOWTIME by JAX Media, DESUS & MERO is executive produced by Desus Nice, The Kid Mero, Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez, Victor Lopez, Suzanne Fagel and Mike Pielocik. For more information about DESUS & MERO, visit SHO.com, follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and join the conversation using #DESUSandMERO.
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SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY, the directorial debut from producer Andre Gaines (The Lady and The Dale, Bill Nye: Science Guy). The documentary feature unpacks the career of Dick Gregory, the activist, pop-culture icon and thought leader who changed the lives of millions across the world through constant disruption and awareness. The film will have a World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, June 19 as part of the festival’s inaugural Juneteenth programming slate, ahead of the SHOWTIME premiere on Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.
“There is no more important time than now to revisit the life of Dick Gregory,” said Malhotra. “His fearless voice rose to the challenges of his time, calling upon Americans to question their beliefs, in an era where you risked your livelihood – maybe even your life – to speak out. Though a comedic genius of his generation, comedy turned out just to be the beginning of one of the most unique and impactful journeys of any person we’ve seen. Andre and team have done a remarkable job in showing just how Gregory walked the walk and talked the talk in a way we have rarely seen anyone else do.”
Gregory inspired a generation through on-the-ground activism, an untiring desire to help and his influential comedy. Featuring archival footage of his early career as a comedian, the film is bookended with Gregory’s own voice just before his death in 2017, reflecting on the impact of his life on the world as a self-described “agitator.” Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Wanda Sykes, W. Kamau Bell and others discuss Gregory’s paradigm-shifting significance on the art of comedy and culture. The film features original music by Black Thought of the Grammy® award winning hip-hop band The Roots.
“Dick Gregory is as present to me now as he was when I first started filming him six years ago – a trivial length of time when compared to the nearly six decades that this one man so greatly influenced American history, comedy, activism, and nutrition,” said Gaines. “He emptied himself completely for the movement, and while the enormity of his sacrifices are rarely acknowledged, he gave every artist a master class for what it truly means to both entertain and educate. Knowing Dick Gregory was a transformative experience that not only influenced the making of this film, but me as a man. Vinnie and the team at SHOWTIME have been incredible partners to help bring this timely story to the world, and I cannot wait for Dick Gregory to finally get his due.”
Gaines founded and runs Cinemation Studios which is based in Los Angeles. His producing credits include the four-part documentary series, The Lady and the Dale, the remake of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn, Spike Lee’s Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, and the award-winning film Bill Nye: Science Guy.
THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY is a Cinemation Studios production, written and directed by Gaines, and produced by Gaines and Valerie Edwards. The film is executive produced by Kevin Hart and Bryan Smiley for Hartbeat Productions, Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani for Hillman Grad Productions, and Christian Gregory, Chad Troutwine and Matt Rachamkin.
CBS is sticking with “The Talk” talent to host this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards, but with a twist: This year, Sheryl Underwood will handle solo duties. The Eye network announced on Tuesday that Underwood will host the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which airs on Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, as well as streaming live on Paramount Plus.
This is the fifth time that Underwood has hosted the show; in the past, she has done it with her “The Talk” colleagues. Underwood will emcee the show from Los Angeles, where a stage has been set up for the show, but the pre-taped broadcast will also include presenters and honorees from their own show studios and homes to accept their awards. Although many of the key daytime drama, game and talk show awards will be presented on the telecast, additional winners will be announced simultaneously on Twitter, via the @DaytimeEmmys handle.
Awards for Daytime Children’s Programming, Animation and Daytime Lifestyle Programming will be presented in a separate ceremony in July.
Underwood first joined “The Talk” ten years ago. The comedian also hosts “Sheryl Underwood Radio” which has 511 domestic and international affiliates, and “The World According to Sheryl – The Podcast of Sheryl Underwood Radio.” Underwood has guest-starred in the daytime dramas “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and her film credits include “Bulworth,” “I Got the Hook Up” and “Beauty Shop,” starring Queen Latifah.
The Daytime Emmys, presented to programs broadcast between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m., as well as all forms of children’s television programming and certain categories of streaming and syndicated content, received more than 3,100 submissions this year. The show includes content that originally premiered in calendar year 2020, and is judged by a pool of peer professionals from across the television industry.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Associated Television International (ATI) produce the Daytime Emmy Awards, which last year aired on CBS as a completely remote telecast. (CBS also holds the rights to next year’s ceremony). Adam Sharp and Steve Ulrich are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer and director from ATI.
Source: Variety
Die Hart, an action-comedy series starring Kevin Hart, has been renewed for a second season — for the second time.
The series made its Roku Channel debut on May 20 as part of the library the streaming device maker acquired from defunct short form streamer Quibi. The pickup — season two will be called Die Harter, keeping up the play on Die Hard and its sequel — is the first renewal for what are now called Roku Originals.
It’s not, however, the first renewal for Die Hart. Quibi picked up the series for a second season in September 2020, about a month before the streamer announced it was shutting down. Production on season two hadn’t started, and the renewal didn’t carry over to Roku. The company says Die Hart has performed well enough since its launch, however, to merit another run. (Roku is following the familiar streaming playbook of not releasing viewing data for its programming.)
“Die Hart exploded out of the gate and after a record-setting debut weekend, has quickly become one of the most watched Roku Originals on The Roku Channel,” said Colin Davis, head of original scripted programming at Roku. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring an equally hilarious, action-packed second season to the record number of viewers who have watched in recent days.”
Season one of Die Hart follows the comedian, playing a fictionalized version of himself, as he looks to break out of his “comic sidekick” niche and land an action-star role. He goes to an action-star school run by a lunatic (John Travolta), where he’s pushed by a rival student (Nathalie Emmanuel).
Season two will be produced by LOL Studios, the production division of Hart and Jeff Clanagan’s Laugh Out Loud.
“The return of Die Hart marks a pivotal moment in the continued growth and expansion of LOL Studios,” said Clanagan, CEO of Laugh Out Loud. “We’re excited for the opportunity to team up with Roku and be the first Roku Original to get a second season. We can’t wait for fans to dive into what is sure to be an even bigger, more action-packed season two.”
Hart and Clanagan executive produce Die Hart with Tripper Clancy, Candice Wilson, Bryan Smiley and Thai Randolph. Director Eric Appel is set to return for season two.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter