Niecy Nash To Host New Daytime Syndicated Talk Show
Niecy Nash may be adding talk show host to her résumé.
CBS Television Distribution, the studio behind The Drew Barrymore Show, is nearing a daytime syndicated talk show set to be hosted by the Reno 911! and Claws actress.
Sources say a presentation will be filmed in the near future for the potential series, which is being produced as a co-production between CTD and Ben Winston and James Corden’s Fulwell73. A showrunner has not yet been determined. Reps for CTD declined comment.
Should the show move forward, it would mark a return to hosting duties for the actress and comedian. Nash previously hosted — and earned a Daytime Emmy — for Style Network’s Clean House (2003-10). More recently, she has guest hosted series including Today and Access Hollywood Live.
On the acting front, Nash has continued to remain in high demand with roles including Reno 911! (and its Quibi follow-up), Mrs. America, Claws, Scream Queens, Never Have I Ever, When They See Us, The Soul Man and Getting On. She is repped by WME, Artists First and Jackoway Austen.
CBS TV Distribution recently launched The Drew Barrymore daytime syndicated series. The unit of ViacomCBS is also behind syndicated hits Judge Judy, Dr. Phil, ET, Rachael Ray and The Doctors.
Should Nash’s series move ahead, it would join a roster of syndicated daytime talk shows hosted by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Kelly Clarkson, Tamron Hall and Wendy Williams.
Winston and Corden’s Fullwell73 has a long relationship with CBS, where the latter hosts the network’s Late Late Show.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Showtime Orders New Untitled Series Starring Writer And Comedian Known As Ziwe
SHOWTIME has placed a straight-to-series order for an untitled variety series starring and executive produced by rising star Ziwe. The series will feature interviews, sketches and more – including unscripted and unpredictable real-world rendezvous between everyday people and Ziwe, a writer, comedian and performer. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.
In addition to writing for DESUS & MERO®and OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT on SHOWTIME and Dickinson, Ziwe hosts an online show, in which she invites friends and celebrities alike as guests and, armed with a smiling and biting wit, overtly baits them into comically uncomfortable conversations about race. The show is seen by rapidly rising audiences on YouTube and Instagram. She has also been a voice performer as Kamala Harris among other roles for OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT, as well as Tooning Out the News, and she appears in her own Pop Show, which she created and performs at Brooklyn’s Union Hall with original pop songs off her album Generation Ziwe. Ziwe’s comedy career began as an intern for Comedy Central, and a year later she wrote for The Onion and The Rundown with Robin Thede.
“Through her addictive online series and her work for our own DESUS & MERO and OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT, Ziwe has clearly emerged as an auteur voice in comedy and culture,” said Malhotra. “She has turned all of our heads here at SHOWTIME, and we’re excited to be the home for her new series as she continues to grow her edgy and hilarious brand of commentary on race, politics and everything in-between.”
Said Ziwe: “I am beyond excited to make my dream a reality with the brilliant minds at SHOWTIME and A24! I can’t wait to make an iconic show with even more iconic guests.”
The UNTITLED ZIWE PROJECT is produced by A24. This continues the partnership between SHOWTIME and A24, who recently announced the forthcoming comedy series MOONBASE 8, premiering on November 8.
Eva Longoria Joins Ice Cube In New Sci-Fi Pic For Universal
Eva Longoria is set to join Ice Cube in the untitled grounded sci-fi movie for the studio with Patrick Aiello and Timur Bekmambetov producing. Rich Lee will direct from a script by Kenneth Golde.
Plot details are vague other then it being described as a grounded sci-fi film in the vein of District 9already that touches on themes of privacy versus surveillance. Universal has greenlighted the film and has fast tracked it by having it go into production this month.
Universal landed the package last month and what really sealed the deal was the technology that Bekmambetov has been fine-tuning ever since signing his five-picture deal with the studio. The idea behind this format that was part of the presentation is a production that had the look of commercial event film but at the budget of a contained thriller. This new technology will allow for a fully remote production with all actors and crew working from their individual separate locations. So basically if Cube or Longoria wanted his part of the shoot to be done from his home, it could be done without a problem and with crew working from somewhere else.
The shoot would be a first of its kind at this scope and is not only done at a lower budget but also provides the safe working environment every studio is trying to achieve during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Longoria, who recently signed with WME, was most recently seen Dora And the Lost City Of The Gold and Slyvie’s Love. She also set to star in Flamin’ Hot for Searchlight, the recently announced Spa Day for Sony and 24/7 for Universal, which she will also direct.
She is also repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners andJ ackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.
Source: Deadline
Sony Pictures Enters First Look Deal With Jeff Friday’s American Black Film Festival Titles
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is changing the game with its latest venture. The studio has revealed that they have inked a unique first-look deal with Jeff Friday Media (JFM), the newly-formed production house launched by the company CEO Jeff Friday, founder of the annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), which has become a leading festival and touchstone for Black content creators.
Under the multi-year deal, Sony will be offered first consideration for narrative feature films submitted to the Festival, and year-round access and introductions to emerging filmmakers discovered by Friday. In a time when Hollywood is actively seeking diverse and inclusive voices in front of and behind the camera, the deal will broaden SPE’s pipeline, ushering in the next generation of storytellers, and accelerating exposure and opportunity for filmmaking talent of color. Friday will serve as producer of the original films created by the talent he discovers.
“Diverse voices and stories propel our studio and the industry at large,” said Josh Greenstein, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group President. “We are grateful to Jeff for opening up his vast rolodex to us and are looking forward to meeting and working with these brilliant, creative minds.”
“We are very excited to grow our partnership with SPE and create opportunities for emerging writers and directors of color to produce studio films,” said Friday. “Our goal is to aggressively expand the market for Black and Brown content and demonstrate that diversity is great for the motion picture business.”
“This distinct partnership accelerates relationship-building, inroads and opportunity on both sides, which is critical for a sustainable pipeline,” said Paul Martin and Keith Weaver, co-chairs of Sony Pictures Action, the studio’s racial equity and social justice initiative. “We are energized about capturing the breadth of emerging storytellers and content and bridging the gap; funneling creators and projects directly into the hands of our engaged studio executives.”
For over two decades, Friday has been an advocate and supported the early work of many Black artists that have now become some of the most prominent names in the industry. This includes Ava DuVernay, Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, Ryan Coogler, Will Packer, Issa Rae, Anthony Anderson, Omari Hardwick, Saladin K. Patterson, Ben Watkins, among others.
The first virtual edition of the American Black Film Festival took place from August 21-30. The fest honored Curtis, directed and written by Chris Bailey, as the Best U.S. feature while Hisonni Johnson was named Best Director for Take Out Girl. The Best Screenplay went to Addison Henderson for G.O.D – Givers of Death and the Khaled Ridgeway-helmed comedy Death of A Telemarketer was chosen as fan-favorite movie.
This year, the fest expanded its programming with “ABFF Pride” a curated film section showcasing LGBTQIA content and introduced its inaugural John Singleton Director Award for Best First Feature which went to Solomon Onita, Jr. for Tazmanian Devil.
In addition, Friday will launch the first Social Justice Now Film Festival (SJNFF) which will take place virtually October 21-25. With SPE as a founding sponsor, the fest bolsters the studio’s long-standing relationship with Friday and it will showcase content to heighten awareness, inspire action, and confront the social and economic issues disproportionately impacting communities of color.
On October 21, the fest will also feature drive-in presentations on opening night at Paramount’s Drive-In Theater which will include the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed Just Mercy and Ryan Coogler’s award-winning Fruitvale Station. Both films star Michael B. Jordan, who was previously announced as Co-Ambassador alongside Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Opal Tometi. All official selections of SJNFF and spotlight screenings will be available to stream for free on abffplay.com, a new digital platform, powered by Endeavor Streaming from October 21-25.
The ABFF’s dynamic program continues to evolve. In 2020, it expanded to include the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film and “ABFF Pride,” a curated film section showcasing LGBTQIA content.
Based in Los Angeles, Jeff Friday Media (JFM) serves as a platform to license and produce a diverse portfolio of feature films, unscripted television and digital content. The studio’s output will focus on Black and Brown audiences and is designed for dissemination across an array of platforms including major studio partnerships, streaming platforms, traditional broadcast and cable television networks.
Source: Deadline
Queen Latifah Joins Adam Sandler In New Netflix Sports Comedy Movie Titled ‘Hustle’
Queen Latifah, Oscar winner Robert Duvall, and Ben Foster will star opposite Adam Sandler in Hustle, the Netflix basketball feature which is being directed by Jeremiah Zagar. Sandler, who earlier this year extended his production deal with the streamer, will produce under Happy Madison banner, with LeBron James’ The SpringHill Company and Roth/Kirschenbaum Films.
NBA player Juancho Hernangomez, Jordan Hull (The L Word: Generation Q), Maria Botto ( Mad Dogs), Ainhoa Pillet, and sports commentator Kenny Smith also made the casting roster.
Sandler stars as a down on his luck basketball scout who discovers a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad and takes it upon himself to bring the phenom to the States without his team’s approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it takes to make it in the NBA.
Taylor Materne and Oscar nominee Will Fetters penned the screenplay.
Latifah, an Oscar-nominated actress for her performance in Chicago, was recently seen portraying Hattie McDaniel in the Ryan Murphy and Netflix series, Hollywood. Duvall’s recent credits include co-starring with Viola Davis in Steve McQueen’s Widows and legal drama The Judge, with Robert Downey Jr. Foster was last seen in the critically acclaimed indie, Leave No Trace as well as the Mélanie Laurent-directed crime drama Galveston.
Latifah, Duvall, and Foster are all clients of UTA; Latifah is also repped by Flavor Unit; Hull by ESI Network, AEFH, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Botto by Authentic Talent Management and Bedelka Talent.
Source: Deadline
Presenting The Highlights Of The Just For laughs Comedy Festival
The 38th Festival Juste pour rire / Just For Laughs Festival, presented by La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services in collaboration with Loto-Québec, has come to an end, and the Just For Laughs Group is proud to highlight the work of the artisans, artists and members of its team who, despite the closure of venues, produced an extraordinary festival. We would also like to mention the unwavering support of our public and private partners, who made this year’s festival possible and allowed the best of comedy to shine throughout the event.
The 38th Festival Juste pour rire / Just For Laughs Festival brought together 352 artists and 48 shows that allowed more than 778,000 people to enjoy the comedy content made available to them. Viewers from across North America, the UK and as far away as Sydney tuned into the Festival, reflecting the essential role of humour in these difficult times.
“The success of our first-ever digital festival proves that Just For Laughs really is a trailblazing organization, able to lead the industry and forge the way in creating something really unique, interactive and above all funny, despite the world’s current circumstances” said Charles Décarie, President and CEO of the Groupe Juste pour rire. “We were thrilled to see just how many people tuned into the digital festival over the weekend and are so pleased that we could curate a lineup with programming that provided so much levity and laughter to such a wide audience.”
According to an audience survey, 90% of the audience enjoyed their experience and 87% would be willing to participate in another online edition. It should also be noted that this digital festival allowed the Just For Laughs Group to increase its customer base by 23%.
THE FESTIVAL MICROSITE: A DIGITAL SUCCESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH
The microsite designed especially for the duration of the Festival was a resounding success with 522,004 visits.
The top three most-watched online shows were Special Screening of Notebooks with Owen Smith on Laugh Out Loud, Le Grand Live Tangerine with Pierre-Yves Roy Desmarais and his guests, and Sainte Marie-Josée part en croisade, featuring Rosalie Vaillancourt. All of the shows presented generated a total of 88,896 hours of viewing, underscoring the comedy giant’s place in the world.
“We are so pleased with the growth of our online presence through our multiple content channels. We have many priorities as a comedy leader and face the same challenges as other companies in these uncertain times. However, one thing has been proven again; we have the best team and our efforts to increase our digital strength and reach has been verified by the success of this virtual event that brought together festival-goers from around the globe,” said Anne Belliveau, Chief Marketing Officer at Groupe Juste pour rire.“
100% DIGITAL JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL
With an exciting two-day digital event, Just For Laughs was able to curate an inimitable comedy experience, including special programming that focused on today’s timely and important topics discussed by leading comedy voices. The festival is so pleased that viewers across North America, the UK and as far as Sydney, Australia joined the festivities online, verifying that laughter can really bring us together during these trying times.
Comedy mega-star, Kevin Hart’s, global comedy brand Laugh Out Loud (LOL), and its experiential division, LOL X served as the exclusive programming partner for this year’s festival, working tirelessly alongside JFL programmers to launch this first-ever festival of its kind. Highlighting a robust lineup dedicated to celebrating Comedy in Color, the first-ever virtual Just For Laughs Festival featured multiple digital comedy rooms with a hybrid of programming in the form of conversations, live discussions, and panels, designed specifically for online audiences.
With so many festival highlights, some of the top moments from the weekend included:
The festival’s kickoff event with comedy juggernauts Kevin Hart and Judd Apatow who reminisced about their start in comedy and how they first met, and provided great advice to those starting out in the business.
LOL’s Special Screening of Notebooks with producer, actor and comedian Owen Smith’s popular series, Notebooks featured top stand-up comedians with surprise festival appearances by Joe Rogan and Neal Brennan, sitting down with Owen to discuss their careers, creative writing process, comedy and more.
One of the most in demand comedians of today, Sarah Cooper, chatted with Tig Notaro, who shared insights on the power of comedy fans on social media by posting a tweet that Tig wrote on Sarah’s page and following the “likes” throughout their conversation, proving it’s the context of the joke that makes the tweet go viral!
Comedy Sessions with Howie Mandel was raw, powerful and real with conversations between artists that were intensely interesting to watch. Chelsea Handler, moderated by Nicole Stamp, saw Handler at her best with the raw honest truth of the world around us—uncensored and unedited as she also discussed what it was like filming her latest stand-up special during COVID times, set to come out on HBO Max on October 22nd.
Canada’s Drag Race presented by Crave was pure chaotic energy from start to finish! This lively conversation with the Top 4 finalists, JIMBO, Rita Baga, Scarlett Bobo and Canada’s First Drag Superstar, Priyanka, spilled the tea on the antics behind the scenes; and what a treat to have judge Stacey McKenzie join in from Jamaica.
Conversations with Funny People – Hannah Gadsby & DeAnne Smith, presented by VIA Rail Canada was a blast as we watched Hannah and DeAnne “speed dating.” This live, unscripted conversation left us all feeling like their BFFs. The newest comedy stars in the business got to shine in front of industry and fans in New Faces: Creators and Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” panel.
“It’s great to see that we’ve been able to reach so many people and bring them together around laughter, which remains the core of Juste pour rire and what we do best,” said Patrick Rozon, Vice President of French-Language Content for the Groupe Juste pour rire. “With regard to the Festival’s English-language programming, we are even more satisfied to see that artists from around the world answered the call and offered innovative, high-quality content. We can proudly say: mission accomplished!” added Bruce Hills, President of Just For Laughs.
THE FESTIVAL IN NUMBERS
352 performers
48 shows
5.3 million minutes of entertainment viewing time
More than half a million visits to the Festival site
778,864 people in attendance
90% of festival-goers enjoyed the Festival
23% are new customers
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The Groupe Juste pour rire would also like to thank its longstanding partners, without whom this unprecedented edition would not have been possible: La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services, Loto-Québec, Tangerine, Bell and Tim Hortons, for their invaluable contribution to enhancing the content and providing festival-goers with enriching experiences. Special thanks to our media partnersNoovo, ÉNERGIE, Rouge, La Presse and ICI Première for their valuable support in disseminating and communicating our messages to the widest possible audience. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the exceptional help and support of our public partners, the Government of Canada – Canada Economic Development and Canadian Heritage, the Government of Quebec – Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine and SODEC, Tourisme Montréal and the Ville de Montréal.
Lebron James’ New Comedy Film ‘Space Jam’ Reveals Plot Details
Similar to Michael Jordan, LeBron James is gearing up for the release of a new Space Jam film after winning his fourth NBA title. On Sunday, writer Ben Mekler tweeted the synopsis to the upcoming Space Jam sequel, which involves LeBron and his son being trapped in a world that features the Warner Bros. characters.
“During a trip to the Warner Bros. studio, NBA Superstar LeBron James and his son accidentally get trapped within a world that contains all of Warner Bros.’ stories and characters, under the control of a malfunctioning, all-powerful force named Al G (played by Don Cheadle),” the synopsis reads. “With the help of Bugs Bunny, LeBron must navigate through a never-before-imagined world filled with iconic movie scenes and characters as they re-assemble the Looney Tunes to rescue his lost son. Now to get back home, LeBron and the Tunes have to unravel Al G’s mysterious plan and win an epic basketball game against digital gamified super-versions of the NBA and WNBA’s biggest stars as the entire world watches.”
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and produced by Ryan Coogler, Duncan Henderson, Maverick Carter, and LeBron James, Space Jam: A New Legacy is tentatively scheduled to be released on July 16, 2021.
Regina Hall To Star In One Hour Comedy Special And Lands First-Look Deal With Showtime
Regina Hall (BLACK MONDAY, Girls Trip) has signed a first-look deal with SHOWTIME, where she will develop and produce television projects under her production company, Rh Negative. Already in development is a one-hour comedy special featuring Hall as star and executive producer. The announcement was made today by Amy Israel, Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.
“Regina is an undeniable and brilliant force in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera,” said Israel. “She is one of the most dynamic and fearless actors of our generation and in her work on BLACK MONDAY, she hilariously destroys every scene she’s in. We are thrilled at SHOWTIME to continue and expand our relationship with Regina as a producer and eager to get to work on what promises to be an ambitious slate.”
Hall has starred in the Scary Movie, The Best Man and Think Like A Man franchises. Other credits include global box office hit Girls Trip, About Last Night, People Places Things and The Hate You Give. Her work in Support the Girls earned her Best Actress honors from the New York Film Critics Circle and the African-American Film Critics Association. She also received Film Independent Spirit, National Society of Film Critics and Gotham Award nominations for her work in the movie.
Hall currently stars in and serves as producer on the SHOWTIME comedy series BLACK MONDAY, which was recently renewed for a third season. She will executive produce and star in the occult drama, Master, and is currently in production on the limited series Nine Perfect Strangers. She can next be seen in Breaking News in Yuba County, set for release January 29.
“I am excited to call SHOWTIME home,” Hall said. “Working with Amy has been such a delightful and organic experience. I am thrilled to expand our partnership to create smart, meaningful and impactful stories.”
Jamie Foxx Set To Star In New Vampire Thriller ‘Day Shift’
Stunt coordinator J.J. Perry will make his directorial debut with the project, the script for which was initially discovered at a screenplay competition.
After flexing his muscle for Netflix with Project Power, Jamie Foxx is now sharpening his stakes with Day Shift, a vampire thriller for the streaming giant.
J.J. Perry, known for his work as a second-unit director and stunt coordinator for The Fate of the Furious, Bloodshot and the John Wick movies, will make his directorial debut with the project, the script for which was initially discovered at a screenplay competition.
According to Netflix, which made the announcement Tuesday, Foxx will topline as a hard-working, blue-collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted 8-year-old daughter. His mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income: hunting and killing vampires.
Tyler Tice wrote the script with current revisions by Shay Hatten. Chad Stahelski, who turned his own résumé of stunt and second-unit work into a successful directing career and who worked with Perry on the Wick movies, is producing with Jason Spitz via their 87Eleven Entertainment banner. Also producing are Shaun Redick (Get Out) and Yvette Yates Redick (Malicious) via Impossible Dream Entertainment.
It was the latter two who discovered the Day Shift screenplay when debut writer Tice won the Slamdance Writing Competition Grand Prize. Impossible Dream attached Perry to direct, and along with Tice, they developed the screenplay further before teaming with Stahelski and 87Eleven Entertainment.
Foxx is exec producing with Datari Turner and Peter Baxter.
On top of working with Netflix on Day Shift and Project Power, Foxx is co-starring in and producing the upcoming thriller They Cloned Tyrone for the streamer and the series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me. He next toplines Soul, Disney/Pixar’s upcoming animated feature that will debut Dec. 25 on Disney+.
Foxx is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham. Perry is repped by WME. Tice is repped by WME.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘LA’s Finest’ Gets Cancelled On Spectrum
“LA’s Finest” has been canceled after two seasons at Spectrum Originals.
The series starred Gabrielle Union as Syd Burnett, a police detective with a complicated past who relocates to Los Angeles from Miami and finds an odd-couple partner in Nancy McKenna, played by Jessica Alba. Union’s role was a revival of the character she played in the 2003 Sony blockbuster “Bad Boys II.”
The series was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and 2.0 Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures TV and Charter Communications. Union and Alba executive produced alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Pam Veasey, Doug Belgrad, Jeff Gaspin, Jeff Morrone and Anton Cropper, who also directed the pilot.
News of the cancellation comes after Fox announced in May that it had acquired the broadcast rights to both seasons of the show. The network is without a number of shows from its fall lineup due to the production shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first season began airing on the network in September, with Season 2 debuting on Spectrum Originals earlier that same month.
The cancellation brings the series’ journey to a close. It started out as a pilot at NBC during the 2018 pilot season that was widely seen as a contender for a series pickup but was ultimately passed over. Spectrum then picked it up as its first original series, debuting the show in 2019.
But despite the star power of Union and Alba and the connection to the “Bad Boys” franchise, the show was largely panned by critics upon its release, holding a 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Spectrum Originals does not release ratings figures, but since the first season began airing on Fox, it is averaging a 0.7 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers per episode in the Nielsen Live+7 ratings.
