AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Dave Chappelle tested positive for the coronavirus just before his comedy show scheduled for Thursday, forcing his upcoming appearances to be canceled, a spokeswoman said.
Chappelle was expected to perform Thursday through Sunday at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas. Those shows have been canceled and Chappelle is quarantining, his representative Carla Sims said in a statement. The comedian is asymptomatic.
Chappelle had been performing socially-distanced shows in Ohio since June, and moved his shows to Austin during the winter, Sims said. Rapid testing for the audience and daily tests for Chappelle and his team were implemented.
Comedian Joe Rogan was scheduled to perform at the shows Friday and Saturday. He apologized on Instagram to followers for the canceled shows, saying they’d be rescheduled. A post earlier this week showed Rogan at Stubb’s with Chappelle and other stars including Donnell Rawlings, Ron White and Elon Musk.
Refunds will be available for ticketholders at their point of purchase.
Yvonne Orji is developing a semi-autobiographical comedy series at Disney Plus that boasts David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey among its executive producers, Variety has learned.
Titled “First Gen,” the half-hour show is based on Orji’s personal experiences growing up as a Nigerian immigrant in America. As a child, she’s caught between trying to honor her parents and culture while simultaneously trying to assimilate to American life.
Orji will write and executive produce the project, which will mark her first scripted series writing credit. Oyelowo will executive produce under his Yoruba Saxon Productions banner, with Winfrey and Carla Gardini executive producing for Harpo Films. 20th Television will serve as the studio.
Orji is best known for her role as Molly on the hit HBO series “Insecure,” which is set to end after its fifth season. She was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy for the show in 2020. Her other acting credits include “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and “Jane the Virgin” as well as the 2018 comedy film “Night School.” She released the stand up special “Momma, I Made It” in 2020.
She is repped by UTA, Odenkirk Provissiero, and Del Shaw Moonves.
“First Gen” marks the second collaboration between Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon and Winfrey’s Harpo Films. The company’s recently worked together on Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut “The Water Man.” Oyelowo also starred in that project in addition to producing, with Gardini and Winfrey executive producing. Winfrey also produced and appeared in the 2014 film “Selma,” in which Oyelowo starred as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Oyelowo is primarily known for his acting work. He received a Golden Globe nomination for “Selma” as well as the HBO film “Nightingale.” His other feature credits include “Queen of Katwe,” “Interstellar,” “A Most Violent Year,” “The Butler,” and “Jack Reacher.
He is repped by CAA, Hamilton Hodell and Del Shaw Moonves.
Source: Variety
“Insecure” is set to end after its upcoming Season 5 on HBO.
The critically-acclaimed comedy was renewed for a fifth season in May 2020 as Season 4 was just beginning.The fifth and final season is scheduled to begin production later this month and is set to debut later this year.
“Issa has turned insecurity into an iconic form of comedy,” said Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO Programming. “The show is as incisive as it is heartfelt, and it has resonated strongly with its audience because of the deeply personal work that Issa, Prentice, Melina, the cast and the writers have put into it. This talented team has conceived a brilliant final season for ‘Insecure’ and we look forward to having many more stories to tell with this singular group of collaborators.”
Series co-creator Issa Rae heads the ensemble cast, which also includes Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales and Alexander Hodge.
The show was created by Rae and Larry Wilmore. Rae also executive produces the series along with Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Amy Aniobi and Jim Kleverweis. The show is partially based on Rae’s web series “Awkward Black Girl.”
“Insecure” has received widespread critical acclaim across its four seasons, with the series averaging a 95% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also received a host of award wins and nominations throughout its run. That includes an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations for Rae in the lead actress in a comedy category.
Source: Variety
Kevin Hart has officially inked a film deal with streaming giant Netflix.
The comedian-turned-actor-turned-producer inked a first-look film production deal with the streamer under his HartBeat Productions banner, and is kicking off the new partnership with four Netflix-exclusive films which he will star in and produce, Shadow and Act reports.
Hart expressed his excitement for the new deal in a statement, stating that “partnering with Netflix is an amazing opportunity for HartBeat and myself.”
“I am excited to act in and produce cutting edge films with Netflix. I am extremely grateful to Ted Sarandos and Scott Stuber, we share the same creative vision and always put the audience first,” he continued. “This business is about growth and my HartBeat team continues to exceed my expectations with their ability to develop stories and relationships. Our goal is to make the HartBeat name synonymous with first-class entertainment and narratives.”
Scott Stuber — head of original films at Netflix — echoed Hart’s sentiments about the genius partnership, calling him one of the “few artists who can attract audiences of all ages.”
“Netflix has enjoyed a long relationship with Kevin and we’ve been lucky enough to partner with him many times,” Stuber said in a statement. “He’s a hands-on producer and it’s been great to watch him build an incredible company with HartBeat. There are very few artists who can attract audiences of all ages and succeed in making comedies, dramas and family films. We’re excited to partner with Kevin, and his great team at Hartbeat, to entertain our audience for years to come.”
According to Variety, Hart has previously worked with Netflix over the last few years to debut his comedy specials, including his latest “Zero F*cks Given.”
Beyond stand-up comedy, Hart has proven to be a consistent hit at the Box Office, raking in over $4 billion in worldwide ticket sales for films like “Jumanji,” “The Upside,” and “Central Intelligence.”
Deadline shared a quote from HartBeat President Bryan Smiley, saying, “I am beyond thrilled about this exciting new chapter in our company’s history. Kevin and I are committed to making ‘best in class’ films with our new partners at Netflix. This groundbreaking deal guarantees HartBeat productions will be viewed by millions of people globally, for many years to come.”
This is a major moment for both Hart and Netflix. According to Deadline, the last time the streamer made this big of a film commitment with a comic star, it renewed a deal with Adam Sandler that was said to be in the $150 million ballpark.
WASHINGTON – Millions of people around the country have suffered devastating consequences due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, the impact for students and families within the Historically Black Colleges & Universities community has been disproportionately high.
Humor Mill TV and Visionary Farm, Inc., are joining forces to make a difference through JUSTFLOW: The HBCU Comedy/Variety Show Telethon. The six-hour event will be live-streamed from select HBCUs and cultural arts centers, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington. There will be various comedians, student performances, callouts and much more.
Proceeds will be used for student scholarships and a relief fund for their families. A portion will go to Ellington to support arts education at the high school level. Several acclaimed entertainers, advertisers, and sponsors have expressed interest in joining this monumental effort.
“Our goal is to secure relief funds for as many families as possible,” says Frank Holder of Humor Mill TV, an urban comedy broadcast linear channel. “We need everyone’s support to make that happen.”
“We are looking for partners at various levels to join us in this effort,” says William Overton of Visionary Farm, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Monica, Calif. “That includes possible broadcast networks as well as sponsors to provide specific product-based releases.”
“We are honored to be part of this historic event,” says Ellington Principal Sandi M. Logan. “It will be thrilling for our students to work alongside HBCU students on pre-production and live elements of this fantastic show.”
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (WDTN) – Comedian Dave Chappelle is set to open a comedy club in what was formerly the Miami Township Fire Station.
The Yellow Springs Development Corporation (YSDC) said Monday that they finalized an agreement to sell the fire station to Iron Table Holdings, LLC, owned by Chappelle.
YSDC said the agreement came after a several-month long process during which interested buyers were first asked to submit a preliminary development plan to the YSDC Fire Station Subcommittee.
Interested parties later toured the facility and presented detailed business and architectural plans for the building. The presentations were evaluated on several criteria including job creation, local impact, environmental impact and diversity.
YSDC said Iron Table Holdings, LLC ranked highest in the criterias of profits/wages/taxes, environmental impact, local impact, diversity and COVID-19 considerations.
The agreement is the first community-based transaction the corporation has carried out.
Los Angeles – OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will air “Revisiting Underground,” an all-new half-hour special from Sony Pictures Television, immediately following the previously announced January 5 premiere on OWN of the critically acclaimed historical drama “Underground on OWN” at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The dramatic series acquired from Sony Pictures Television will have a revitalized presentation on OWN, with newly filmed episodic introductions by cast members, never-before-seen behind the scenes footage and more. The premiere episode has been expanded to 90 minutes, with “Revisiting Underground” debuting at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Grounded in this moment of cultural shift, “Revisiting Underground” reminds us of the importance of taking history off of the shelves and bringing it into our daily lives. Executive Producers John Legend, Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, along with the cast and crew, share personal stories, reflect on their time working on the show, and discuss the power of activism and the relevance of the show today.
We’ll look at the research everyone did to prepare for their roles, hear their personal stories of challenges and triumphs from their time working on these intense stories, and explore the music of the show. Finally, we’ll share how the cast honors the heroes of the Underground with the activism in their daily lives.
“Underground,” which aired for two seasons (20 episodes) on WGN America, was co-created by Misha Green (“Lovecraft Country,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Heroes”) and Joe Pokaski (“Cloak & Dagger,” “Heroes,” “Daredevil”). They serve as executive producers alongside Emmy®-nominated director Anthony Hemingway (“Power,” “Red Tails,” “Treme”); Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind,” “I Am Legend”) of Weed Road Pictures; Tory Tunnell (“Spinning Out,”“King Arthur”) and Joby Harold (“King Arthur,” “Edge of Tomorrow”) of Safehouse Pictures; and EGOT winner John Legend, Emmy® and Tony® Award winner Mike Jackson and Emmy® winner Ty Stiklorius of Get Lifted Film Co (“Rhythm + Flow”, “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”); and Mark Taylor (“MadTV”). Additionally, Legend and Get Lifted oversaw the score, soundtrack and all music aspects of the series.
In 1857, a restless slave named Noah (Aldis Hodge) organizes a small team of fellow slaves on the Macon plantation outside Atlanta, and puts together a plan to run for their lives — 600 dangerous miles North — to freedom. The odds of success are slim; the path to freedom’s terrain is unforgiving, and Tom (Reed Diamond), their politically ambitious owner will surely kill anyone attempting to run. For those who make it off the plantation, the risks and uncertainties multiply. They leave family behind to pay for their sins, as they face danger and death at every turn. They’re aided along the way by an abolitionist couple in Ohio, new to running a station on the Underground, unprepared for the havoc it will wreak with their personal lives, while they evade a ruthless slave catcher hell-bent on bringing them back, dead or alive.
“Underground” stars Aldis Hodge (“City on a Hill,” “Brian Banks,” “Hidden Figures”) as Noah, a restless slave who organizes a small team of fellow slaves on the Macon plantation to plan an escape; Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country,” “Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” “True Blood”) as Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage; Emmy-nominated actor Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Happy!”) as August Pullman, a secretive man who walks a tightrope between morality and survival; Alano Miller (“Cherish The Day,” “Jane The Virgin,” “Loving”) as Cato, a cunning, charismatic man despised and feared by his fellow slaves; and Jessica De Gouw (“Pennyworth,” “The Crown,” “The Last Tycoon”) as Elizabeth Hawkes, a socialite who shares the abolitionist ideals of her husband, John (Marc Blucas, “Knight and Day,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), a lawyer whose principles clash with the legislation he’s sworn to uphold. The internationally renowned cast includes Adina Porter (“American Horror Story,” “True Blood,” “The 100,”) as Pearly Mae, a strong-willed wife and mother; Mykelti Williamson (“Fences,” “Forest Gump”) as her husband Moses, a fiery preacher; Amirah Vann (“How to Get Away with Murder,” “Star Trek: Picard,” “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G”) as Ernestine, head house slave and fiercely devoted mother; Johnny Ray Gill (“Rectify”) as Sam, Rosalee’s half-brother and a talented carpenter; Chris Chalk (“When They See Us,” “Perry Mason,” “Homeland”) as William Still, an abolitionist ally; Reed Diamond (“13 Reasons Why”) as Tom Macon, a plantation owner and political candidate; and Jussie Smollett (“Empire”), who joins his sister Smollet in the cast as Josey, a wild-eyed runaway who doesn’t trust anyone. In season 2, Legend guest stars as iconic abolitionist, orator and author Frederick Douglass, Aisha Hinds (“9-1-1,” “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G,” “True Blood”) steps into a recurring guest star role as HarrietTubman; and Sadie Stratton (“Westworld”) portrays notorious slave trader Patty Cannon.
Bounce TV has set the showrunners and lead cast for its dramedy series Johnson.
The show follows life-long best friends — all with the same last name of Johnson — as they navigate love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth.
Led by D.L Hughley, the cast also includes Thomas Q. Jones, series creator Deji LaRay, Philip Smithey, Derrex Brady, Khalilah Joi, Terri Abney and Rosa Acosta. Jones and LaRay serve as showrunners.
Johnson has begun filming in Atlanta, where the show also takes place. The dramedy is set to premiere in the summer of 2021.
Created by LaRay, Johnson is produced by Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, along with LaRay and Jones’ Midnight Train Productions. Along with Jones and LaRay, Cedric the Entertainer, and Rhone and Reesha L. Archibald will also executive produce. Knoko Chapple is producer.
“Black people are not monolithic and we as Black men can be very complex. We want to peel back those layers on the show and give women an inside look at why men do and say the things we do,” said LaRay. “While our lead characters are specifically speaking from the Black man’s point of view, they truly represent all men. Our goal is for men and women to have a better understanding of each other when they watch the show.”
Added Jones, “We created this series because we weren’t seeing anything like it on television. Insecure and Sex and the City and other shows capture the beautiful essence of friendship among women, but it’s harder to distill that for men.”
Jones, a former NFL running back, has appeared in film and television shows such as Straight Outta Compton, P-Valley, Luke Cage, Shameless, Being Mary Jane, Runaway Island and A Violent Man, which he also executive produced.
Bounce, a broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network that targets African Americans, is owned by Scripps.
Source: Bounce
Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.
Directed by Craig Brewer
Screenplay by Kenya Barris and Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield
Story by Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield and Justin Kanew
Based on characters created by Eddie Murphy
Produced by Kevin Misher and Eddie Murphy
Costumes by Ruth E. Carter
Executive Produced by Brian Oliver, Bradley Fischer, Valerii An, Kenya Barris, Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Michele Imperato Stabile and Andy Berman
Starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, with Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones. Also starring John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Paul Bates, Nomzamo Mbatha, Bella Murphy
#Coming2America
One of television’s most iconic legal dramas is poised for a comeback. ABC is developing LA Law, a new incarnation of the Emmy-winning Steven Bochco series, with Blair Underwood set to reprise his role as attorney Jonathan Rollins and executive produce.
The new LA Law is written/executive produced by Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow co-creator/executive producer Marc Guggenheim and Arrow/Legends writer Ubah Mohamed, and directed/executive produced by Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway. In it, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high-profile, boundary-pushing and incendiary cases. Underwood reprises his role as Rollins, who has gone from idealistic to more conservative as he clashes with millennial JJ Freeman to decide the best path forward for the firm to effect political and legal change.
While the focus will be on the new generation of lawyers at the firm working with Rollins, I hear other original cast members will likely make appearances should the project go to series.
Bochco’s son, TV director-producer Jesse Bochco, who has played a key role in putting the project together, and the late producer’s widow, Dayna Bochco, executive produce via Steven Bochco Productions. Hemingway’s producing partner Simon Mirren and producer Dan Shaw are also part of the production team. 20th Television, which was behind the original series, is the studio.
Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, LA Law ran for eight seasons on NBC, from 1986-1994, followed by a reunion movie in 2002. The show was set in and around the fictitious Los Angeles-based law firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak. Many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-button issues such as capital punishment, abortion, racism, homophobia, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. Underwood joined the cast in Season 2 and remained on the show until its end, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
L.A. Law won 15 Emmys throughout its run, including four for Outstanding Drama Series.
Underwood, a 2020 Tony nominee for A Soldier’s Play, recently had a major roles on the Netflix limited series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker opposite Octavia Spencer and on the third season of the streamer’s Dear White People. The Quantico alum also appeared in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix limited series When They See Us, Netflix’s Bad Hair and the new Showtime drama Your Honor. Underwood, an Emmy winner for the non-fiction series Give, is repped by ICM Partners, Thruline Entertainment and Felker Toczek
This marks a return to the legal drama beat for Guggenheim, a lawyer by trade who practiced for five years before pursuing a career as a writer. His first writing job was on ABC’s The Practice, created by another attorney-turned-writer, LA Law alum David E. Kelley. Guggenheim also co-created with frequent collaborator Greg Berlanti ABC legal drama Eli Stone. Guggenheim went on to become one of Berlanti’s top lieutenants in building the Arrowverse on the CW with stints as executive producer/showrunner on Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, which he co-created. During his tenure, Guggenheim also spearheaded the franchise’s annual crossover events, most recently the massive “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Guggenheim is currently writing/executive producing Berlanti Prods.’ upcoming Green Arrow series for HBO Max as well as a Spider-Man Universe movie Jackpot For Sony and Prophet for Studio 8. He is repped by Syndicate Entertainment.
Mohamed has been working on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow since Season 3 after co-writing an episode of Arrow. She is repped by Gersh.
Hemingway recently wrapped production on Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, on which he is executive producer and director. Through Anthony Hemingway Prods., he produces the upcoming animated short Skin Deep alongside 6 Point Harness. He also is attached to direct ABC’s Waiting to Exhale series reboot. Hemingway also has teamed with Pose star Hailie Sahar for a Sir Lady Java biopic and will direct college football drama Workhorses in the works at Amazon, written by Sheldon Turner. Hemingway is repped by WME, Gotham Group and attorney Tom Hoberman.
Through Steven Bochco Prods., Jesse and Dayana Bochco also executive produce 20th TV’s upcoming Doogie Howser reboot Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., based on the series co-created by Steven Bochco, for Disney+. They also executive produced ABC’s 2019 NYPD Blue pilot, based on Steven Bochco’s groundbreaking cop drama.
Source: Deadline