Popular co-host of the country’s top-rated The Breakfast Club radio show, Angela Yee, launched a new digital series, MASTERY OF COMEDY on Facebook Monday, April 5, 2021, available via Yee’s Facebook (@teamyee) and IG (@angelayee) pages.
MASTERY OF COMEDY is based on Yee’s “speed dating meets comedic mentorship” concept she created for Facebook’s competitive WE THE CULTURE content program.
Yee partnered with Emmy and Grammy award-winning producer and showrunner Rikki Hughes (Dave Chappelle comedy album and his most recent stand-up show, All Def Comedy, HBO and more) to produce the 6-part weekly series through Hughes production company, Magic Lemonade Productions.
A lover of comedy, Yee’s concept for the series came from her own query, “outside of hard work, what does it take to become a great stand-up comedian? “ She explains, “I was interested in combining the process of what it takes to become a successful comedian with mentorship, and I wanted to offer comedians around the world a lens into what it takes to develop a set that keeps the audience launching and engaged.”
The veteran comedian mentors are: Donnell Rawlings, actor and radio host best known as Ashy Larry from Chappelle’s Show, The Wire and Pixar’s Soul; actor, producer and writer Aida Rodriguez featured in Tiffany Haddish’s Netflix special She Ready, NBC’s Last Comic Standing and her own upcoming HBO Max comedy special; Karlous Miller of MTV’s Wild’n Out; and Roy Wood Jr. from The Daily Show.
Each comic brings their edgy personalities and insights. Rawlings brings a “to the point” mentorship style. Rodriguez teaches her mentee to bring their lived experiences to life with satiric storytelling by being “authentic and conversational.”
Miller shares his beliefs that “it’s the delivery, the comedian, the mindset, the body language” that makes a good comedian with his mentee. While Wood believes the origin point of any joke you write, should be “intentional” and the way your jokes make people feel is as important as making them laugh.
For the second consecutive year, McDonald’s USA, through its Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program, is awarding half a million dollars to incoming and current HBCU students. Through this initiative, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), McDonald’s is furthering its support of the next generation of leaders.
According to “Moving Upward and Onward: Income Mobility at Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” a study conducted by Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute/Rutgers Graduate School of Education, more students experience upward mobility at HBCUs than any other institutions, and nearly 70% of HBCUs students attain at least middle-class incomes. Understanding the impact of HBCUs on Black youth, McDonald’s is committed to helping elevate the Black community by awarding scholarships to students who are striving to turn their dreams of attending and graduating from an HBCU into reality.
“We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with McDonald’s and work with these exceptional students,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). “Amid the uncertainty and confusion of the current state of the world, students remain some of the key drivers of change. They are rising to the challenges they are facing and working hard to provide much-needed support to their families and communities. With the help of partners like McDonald’s, TMCF is committed to supporting these outstanding students and helping them develop into tomorrow’s industry leaders.”
Incoming and current HBCU students are encouraged to apply for the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship now through May 10 at 11:59 PM EST at www.tmcf.org. Thirty-four scholarships, up to $15,000 each will be awarded to students for the 2021-2022 academic year, and winners will be announced this summer.
Launched in 2020, McDonald’s created the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program to help HBCU students continue their education in the midst of COVID-19, which caused financial strain on many students and their families. As a result, 34 students received funding that helped them stay in school, despite challenging circumstances.
“The McDonald’s scholarship I received came at a critical time and allowed me to focus on academics and my career aspirations,” said Olivia Harris, a 2020 Black & Positively Golden Scholarship recipient and junior at North Carolina Central University. “The knowledge I’m gaining at my HBCU is preparing me for the real world, and it’s incredible to see others have this scholarship opportunity as they pursue their dreams.”
McDonald’s is dedicated to providing skills, training and education programs that support people who are building a path forward and achieving their goals, no matter where they are in life. The Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program is one of many company initiatives that is helping serve up bright futures in the communities McDonald’s serves. The company has a longstanding history of supporting HBCUs through scholarships, partnerships and its presence on HBCU campuses and at Classics around the country. During its 20-year partnership with the TMCF, McDonald’s has invested millions of dollars in direct and indirect support to benefit the organization and students, including providing career-building resources and supporting the TMCF Leadership Institute.
“As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the ability of students to attend college, we are honored to provide support and financial resources to help HBCU students nationwide turn their dreams of going to and staying in college into reality,” said Marty Gillis, New Jersey McDonald’s Franchisee and National Diversity Marketing Committee Lead. “We are committed to feeding and fostering the communities we serve, and seeing young, gifted and Black students succeed, and couldn’t be prouder to partner with the TMCF for more than 20 years to do so.”
Students interested in applying must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Will you or your HBCU scholar be next?
To learn more about the Black & Positively Golden movement and scholarship, follow @wearegolden on Instagram and visit blackandpositivelygolden.com.
The 2017 blockbuster film Girls Trip starring Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tiffany Haddish and Regina Hall has a sequel in the works. With the initial offering grossing over $140 million, the film’s producer Will Packer recently stopped by the “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered” podcast and revealed that talks have begun for the follow up.“Here’s the thing, everybody is busy. I want to do it and they want to do it. First of all, we got to crack the story. Tracy Oliver, an amazing sister, who wrote the original along with Kenya Barris, they’re great, already working on some ideas. So I got to get the right idea, then the right window to get the squad back together. … Tiffany, Latifah, Jada, Regina … nobody is sitting around. They’re all booked and busy,” explained Packer.
The Hollywood producer made it clear too that he didn’t want to rush the project and have people disappointed because it didn’t live up to the hype either.“And the other thing Jemele is saying ‘I don’t want to do the sequel and everyone goes, why did you mess it up?’ So it’s got to be right. If I’m going to do Girls Trip 2, it’s really gotta be right. But we are working on it behind the scenes, I will tell you that. Stuff is happening, it just hasn’t happened yet and I think it will be right. I don’t mind that it’s a little bit of time in between, because I think it makes you miss those characters more,” added Packer.
In related news, Packer will serve as the jury president for the 2021 American Black Film Festival. The annual festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a hybrid model, with live events held November 3-7 in Miami Beach, Florida followed by a week of virtual events on abffplay.com available from November 8-14.
“ABFF is one of the single most instrumental institutions in my career. This is more than just a festival for me,” Packer said in a statement to Variety. “Its very existence guarantees there will be more Will Packers making movies from a unique perspective and telling the stories of underserved audiences.”
The ABFF jury presidential appointment is also a homecoming for the producer of hit films like Think Like A Man and Ride Along. Packer got his start when his independent feature film Trois premiered at the festival in 1999.His films Girls Trip, Think Like A Man Too, This Christmas, Takers and Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain all premiered at the festival in the past as well. Packer also received the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award at ABFF Honors in 2016.
Actor and comedian JB Smoove, best known for his iconic role as Leon in HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” will host the 25th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards (ADG, IATSE Local 800) on Saturday, April 10, 2021. Recognizing 25 years of outstanding production design in film, television, animation and commercials, this year’s awards ceremony will be presented on a virtual platform, streaming to a worldwide and more inclusive audience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is free to everyone, but registration is required at www.adgawards25.com.
“We are thrilled to welcome JB Smoove with his amazing comic sensibility to host the 25th Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Awards. His wide range of talent and remarkable career in film, television and live performance will no doubt add the perfect spark to energize what is burgeoning into an amazing awards anniversary night,” said Nelson Coates, President of the Art Directors Guild.
As previously announced, Ryan Murphy, one of television’s most successful award-winning writers-directors-producers whose shows have consistently reflected the highest quality of production design, will receive the esteemed Cinematic Imagery Award, presented by actor Matt Bomer, star of Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” “Glee,” “American Crime Story,” “The Normal Heart” and, most recently, “The Boys in the Band.”
Additional presenters include entrepreneur, supermodel and Emmy®-winning television producer and personality Tyra Banks; executive producer and actor Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman); producer, writer and director Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman};Aasif Mandvi (CBS’s hit show “Evil)”; and Brian Tee (“Chicago Med”), among others.
Production Designer Stuart Wurtzel (AD), Set Designer Martha Johnston (SDMM), Concept Artist John Eaves (IMA), and Scenic Artist Patrick DeGreve (STG) will all be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their outstanding legacies and contributions to their crafts. A full list of nominees of the 25th Annual ADG Awards, originally announced on February 25, 2021, is available on www.adg.org #iwillbethere #adgawards
Damon Wayans Jr. has signed on to star in “Kill the Orange-Faced Bear,” the TBS comedy pilot about a man bent on revenge after a bear eats his girlfriend.
Wayans Jr., whose credits include the much-beloved “Happy Endings” as well as his disappearance and then reappearance on the hit “New Girl,” will be joined by Jessy Hodges (“Indebted”), Alex Karpovsky (“Girls”) and Nate Torrence (“Hello Ladies”).
Wayans Jr., who will also serve as an executive producer, plays Hank, described as a “charming, funny and grieving man who’s hell-bent on tracking down the bear who attacked his girlfriend on a camping trip.” “Kill the Orange-Faced Bear” will be told both from Hank’s point of view, as well as the POV of the bear, “who is just trying to move on from the incident and navigate the other idiot bears in her life.”
Hodges was cast as Stacy, the girlfriend who becomes the bear snack, as well as Stacy’s twin sister Jamie, who harbors a “confusing secret.” Karpovsky will play Ronnie, described as “an oddball park ranger who has a score to settle with Hank.” And Torrence is Hank’s best friend, Murray, who’s also Jamie’s boyfriend.
The pilot to “Kill the Orange-Faced Bear” will shoot this May in Portland. The writer and actor who goes by the single name Romanski (“Blue Mountain State”) is the writer and executive producer. Underground’s Trevor Engelson and Steven Fisher (“Snowfall”) are also executive producers, as is Karpovsky and Jake Szymanski, in addition to Wayans Jr. Szymanski is directing the pilot.
Wayans Jr. can currently be seen in both the films “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and “Cherry.” His other credits include “Let’s Be Cops,” the sitcom “Happy Together” and he recently was cast alongside Gina Rodriguez and Tom Ellis in the Netflix movie “Players.” Hodges was also seen on “Barry,” while filmmaker Karpovksy’s on-screen roles have also included “Homecoming” and the upcoming “Angelyne” and Torrence was also in “Weird Loners.”
Wayans Jr. is repped by WME. Karpovsky is with WME, Underground and Ginsburg/Daniels; Hodges is with Gersh, MGMT and Mitch Smelkinson; Torrence is with Gersh, Melanie Truhett and Ginsburg/Daniels.
Source: Variety
‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!,’ a father-daughter comedy starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, is set to premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, April 14. Full of heart and humor, the multi-cam sitcom is inspired by Foxx’s real-life relationship with daughter Corinne Foxx, who also serves as executive producer. First Look: Jamie Foxx Sitcom ‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!’
Cast: Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Kyla-Drew, Porscha Coleman, Jonathan Kite, Heather Hemmens, Valente Rodriguez
About Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!: Brian Dixon (Jamie Foxx), successful business owner and bachelor, just unexpectedly became a full-time father to his teenage daughter Sasha (Kyla-Drew). Determined to turn over a new leaf, Brian’s going to need all the help he can get from his dad (David Alan Grier) and sister (Porscha Coleman) — and Sasha’s going to need all the help she can get learning how to fit into her new, lovingly imperfect home.
Apple has ordered a half-hour comedy series starring Maya Rudolph that hails from Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard.
The series is about Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars.
Yang and Hubbard created the series and will serve as executive producers. Rudolph will executive produce in addition to starring under her Animal Pictures banner. Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens of Animal Pictures will also executive produce, as will Dave Becky of 3 Arts. Universal Television is the studio. Both Yang and Hubbard are under overall deals at UTV.
Rudolph is one of the most well-regarded comedy actresses working today. An “SNL” alum, she recently made her return to the show to play Vice President Kamala Harris. She picked up two Emmy Awards in 2020 — one for “SNL” and another for her work on the Netflix animated series “Big Mouth.” She is also known for her roles on shows like “The Good Place” and films like “Away We Go” and “Bridesmaids.”
Yang currently works on the critically-acclaimed Apple series “Little America.” He and Hubbard also previously collaborated on the Amazon series “Forever,” in which Rudolph starred. Yang won an Emmy in 2016 alongside Aziz Ansari for best writing in a comedy series for the Netflix series “Master of None.” His other credits include “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place.” Hubbard is also an Emmy winner from his time on the NBC comedy series “30 Rock.” He is also a “Parks and Recreation” alum and has also worked on shows like “Superstore.”
Rudolph is repped by WME, 3 Arts Entertainment, Narrative and Hirsch Wallerstein. Yang is repped by WME, ID PR, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead. Hubbard is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.
The Apple project is the second announced for Animal Pictures this week. It was previously reported that Lyonne would star in a series at Peacock from Rian Johnson.
Deadline first reported the Rudolph series news.
Source: Deadline, Variety
Bennie Upshaw (Mike Epps), the head of a Black working-class family in Indianapolis, is a charming, well-intentioned mechanic and lifelong mess just trying his best to step up and care for his family — wife Regina (Kim Fields), their two young daughters (Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Journey Christine) and firstborn son (Jermelle Simon), the teenage son (Diamond Lyons) he fathered with another woman (Gabrielle Dennis) — and tolerate his sardonic sister-in-law (Wanda Sykes), all without a blueprint for success. But the Upshaws are determined to make it work, and make it to the next level, together. Premieres Wednesday, May 12 on Netflix.
The Upshaws is co-created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes, who serve as executive producers alongside Mike Epps, Page Hurwitz and Niles Kirchner.
Cast: Mike Epps, Wanda Sykes, Kim Fields, Page Kennedy, Diamond Lyons, Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Jermelle Simon, Gabrielle Dennis, and Journey Christine,
#TheUpshaws
Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx has joined Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) and Exact Sciences for a new public service announcement (PSA), which raises awareness about colorectal cancer screenings, early detection and prevention, and focuses on reaching underrepresented communities. The campaign launched today to coincide with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and is in both English and Spanish. The PSA will be placed across print, broadcast, radio, digital and out-of-home outlets.
“Cancer affects everyone. I’ve lost good friends – young friends – to this deadly disease,” said Foxx. “We need to make sure that we are taking care of our bodies, paying attention to certain things, that you didn’t necessarily think about when you were younger. Medical issues come up and you may not know what’s at your disposal, so that is why I am proud to shine a light on the importance of getting screened for colon cancer early and bring awareness to the options that are available with this PSA campaign.”
In 2020, nearly 148,000 Americans received a new diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer. Black people have the highest colorectal cancer rates of any ethnic group in the United States. They are 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from it than any other population. And research has shown that colorectal cancer screening rates are the lowest in Hispanic communities, with Black and Hispanic people typically being diagnosed at a later stage in the disease when it is more difficult to treat.
“We are so thankful to Jamie Foxx for lending his voice to this campaign. We have seen a sharp drop in screenings as a result of COVID-19, and this compounds an already significant screening disparity in minority communities,” said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of Stand Up To Cancer. “With routine screening, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. It’s beatable in 90% of cases when detected early, and lives can be saved with just one simple step. People must get screened!”
“We are thrilled to partner with Jamie Foxx and our friends at Stand Up To Cancer to get more people thinking about their options for colorectal cancer screening,” said Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. “We remain committed to addressing the challenges we face in colorectal cancer screening and helping to save lives with education, awareness and cutting-edge research. Providing personalized outreach and making it easier to get people screened is vital, especially in minority communities.”
The PSA campaign is part of a larger initiative between Exact Sciences and SU2C. With a $10 million grant from Exact Sciences, SU2C will launch a new colorectal cancer ‘Dream Team’ of researchers that will identify communities near anchor institutions serving medically underserved communities. This Dream Team will help pinpoint unique local needs of those areas and will provide free colorectal cancer testing in the identified zones and study samples collected via approved tests for colorectal cancer, including colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and at-home stool tests that analyze fecal DNA and/or blood. The research will aim to develop better approaches to colorectal cancer interception.
The PSA was directed by Tommy Walker and photographed by G.L. Askew II for Petrol Advertising, a creative marketing and advertising agency specializing in gaming, sports, technology and philanthropy. Walker co-directed and produced the feature-length documentary, God Grew Tired of Us, which won Best Documentary and Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and produced the 2019 documentary, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. Askew, originally from Atlanta, is an artist whose work is rooted in communicating the truth of the human experience.
To learn more about screening options, visit StandUpToCancer.org/ColonCancer.
Jane The Virgin alum Gina Rodriguez, Happy Endings’ Damon Wayans Jr., and Tom Ellis from TV’s Lucifer have signed on to star in Players, a romantic comedy from Netflix. Marc Platt and Ryan Christians are producing the pic for Marc Platt Productions with Ross Dinerstein for Campfire.
The Sleepover and Pitch Perfect 3 director Trish Sie is attached to direct the feature from a script by Whit Anderson, who has written for shows like Ozark and Marvel’s Daredevil.
The plot follows Chicago sportswriter Mack (Rodriguez) who has spent years devising successful hook-up “plays” with best friend Adam (Wayans Jr.) and their crew, but when she unexpectedly falls head-over-heels for one of her targets (Ellis), they all must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.
Rodriguez and Molly Breeskin will serve as executive producers under their I Can and I Will Productions label alongside Ross Girard for Campfire and Dan Clarke.
Rodriguez, who starred in Netflix’s Someone Great which she also served as a producer, has an upcoming project slate that includes the Amazon features I Want You Back and comedy-adventure Lost and Found as well as Netflix family series, Lost Ollie. She is repped by WME and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Wayans Jr., who co-starred the Netflix original film Love, Guaranteed, was recently seen opposite Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and appears in the Anthony Russo and Joe Russo-directed crime drama Cherry, which will debut this week on Apple TV+. He is repped by WME.
Ellis, repped by CAA and Anonymous Content, has starred as Lucifer Morningstar for six seasons of the Fox/Netflix series, Lucifer. He also appeared in the 2019 comedy film Isn’t It Romantic.
Source: Deadline