Charlamagne Tha God Inks New iHeart Deal; Re-Ups With The Breakfast Club For 5 Years
Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God – who this year made a big move into podcasting with the launch of his Black Effect Podcast Network – will remain with iHeartMedia. He has signed a new deal with iHeart that will keep him at the helm of the hip-hop/R&B “Power 105.1” WWPR-FM New York-based “The Breakfast Club” syndicated show that has become radio’s biggest on-demand podcast. Under the new five-year agreement, Charlamagne will develop an interview show that will not only be a podcast but also air quarterly on iHeart stations. That will be in addition to the new TV talk show he is set to launch next year on Comedy Central.
The 42-year old Charlamagne – real name Lenard Larry McKelvey– formed a 50-50 partnership with iHeart to launch the new Black Effect Podcast Network, which will feature a variety of Black voices with content across a variety of genres. The venture will feature a lineup of podcasts curated by the radio host. It will also produce limited series podcasts in conjunction with high-profile creators and talent, musical artists, actors, actresses, sports and literary superstars to support their upcoming films, music releases and related projects. It has had more than ten million downloads so far.
Charlamagne will also take on the new role as Senior Creative Officer of Culture Content and Programming. It will involve discovering and curating new talent and programming for radio and podcasts and developing productions and community initiatives.
“I give my sincerest thanks to iHeart for empowering me over the past decade to be the best talent that I can be, and for honoring me as an owner and executive,” said Charlamagne in a statement. “I love the audio business and iHeart is the biggest and best audio company in the world. As co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Black Effect Podcast Network and now Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming at iHeart, all I want to do for the next five years is to continue to move the culture of radio and podcasting forward by curating a new era of voices, programming, and events.”
Radio’s “The Breakfast Club” which Charlamagne hosts with Angela Yee and DJ Envy is currently heard by more than 4.5 million listeners each week according to iHeart. It has become a go-to interview stop hosting guests including President Barack Obama, President-elect Joe Biden, and VP-elect Kamala Harris to Snoop Dog, Jay-Z, and Dr. Anthony Fauci in recent months. “The Breakfast Club” was inducted this year into the Radio Hall of Fame.
“Charlamagne is a multiplatform talent, creator and innovator and we are excited to extend our existing partnership,” said Thea Mitchem, EVP of Programming for iHeartMedia. “His voice continues to be unique and authentic and a driving force and influence in today’s hip hop and pop culture,” she said in the announcement.
In addition to his iHeart deal, Charlamagne has also partnered with actor Kevin Hart on a joint effort to bring more diverse content to Audible, the audiobook and podcast platform owned by Amazon. The goal is to give rise to Black creatives and the stories born from their unique perspectives.
He has also launched the Black Privilege Publishing imprint with Atria Books at Simon & Schuster. Like what Charlemagne is doing in audio, he seeks to bring more diverse voices to book publishing as well by focusing on emerging and renowned Black voices. The inaugural release on Black Privilege Publishing will be author Tamika D. Mallory’s debut, State of Emergency, due out in May 2021.
Billy Porter To Join Ryan Seacrest In Times Square For Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS and ABC have announced that BILLY PORTER will be joining RYAN SEACREST and LUCY HALE in TIMES SQUARE for DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST 2021. CIARA will once again host from LOS ANGELES. This year marks the 49th anniversary of DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE.
SEACREST commented, “2020 has been a trying year for the world and I’m thrilled to have BILLY and LUCY join me in ushering in a new year with fresh beginnings. We look forward to making sure it’s a night for everyone to remember.”
Country artist JESSIE JAMES DECKER returns as POWERBALL correspondent. DECKER provide live updates throughout the evening, checking in with five randomly selected finalists across the country, before revealing the POWERBALL FIRST MILLIONAIRE OF THE YEAR.
‘Desus & Mero’ To Sit Down With President Barak Obama For Special Episode
SHOWTIME announced today that a special episode of DESUS & MERO in which the pair sit down with former President Barack Obama willair Sunday, December 13 at 11:05 p.m. ET/PT. Starting December 14, the special episode will be available for free on YouTube, Showtime.com and Sho.com, as well as across multiple SHOWTIME partner platforms. DESUS & MERO just wrapped its second season and, as previously announced, will return for season three in 2021. Each episode of DESUS & MERO features the 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.
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.
2 Chainz Lands In New Parking Lot Concert Music Series Titled ‘The Parking Lot Concert’
The Parking Lot Concert, the most anticipated live event of the season premiered its concert series in Phoenix, Arizona featuring live performances by R&B sensation Eric Bellinger & Mario on Saturday, November 28th. It was the first time citizens in Phoenix, Arizona & its surrounding areas were able to participate in a concert setting since COVID-19 began in early March. You could feel the excitement in the atmosphere as attendees were ushered into their parking spaces. Food and beverage vendors were on hand to make sure an array of delicious menu options were showcased.
PLC Series is proud to announce Rap Legend 2 Chainz will be performing at the next Parking Lot Concert on Saturday, December 12th, 2020. Guest will get to experience 2 Chainz performing hits from his latest album, “So Help Me God” & his most popular songs in Phoenix. The concert will take place at The Celebrity Theater (Parking Lot); located at 440 N 32nd St. Phoenix, AZ 85008. PLC gates open at 5pm with the most raved performances during the winter season! The Parking Lot Concert has an outdoor setting created to feature live music, beginning with a special fall show with performances at 7PM! Our gates close at 9PM and guest must wear a mask to gain entry!
The Parking Lot Concert series is pioneering the new wave of performances to entertain music enthusiasts across the country, it embodies the full concert experience while allowing their patrons to enjoy the view of the artists and the stage from their vehicles. The Parking Lot Concert also offers patrons the comfort of having two parking spaces allotted for each vehicle, a new and larger stage and two large I-Mag screens to have an amplified view of the performance no matter where they’re parked! Guest will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of clothing vendors, activations, games and food trucks. In spite of the current pandemic, Street Execs has found an innovative way to deliver an all-star line-up for their national concert series that has included performances by Rick Ross, Young Dolph, MoneyBagg Yo, Boosie, Gucci Mane & Mario to name a few. For live updates and to join the conversation, follow #parkinglotconcert on Instagram and Youtube music.
General admission and VIP tickets are on sale NOW.
Samuel L. Jackson, Leslie Jones, And More Join New Nexflix Comedy Event Special
Netflix has pulled the curtain back on its first project with Black Mirrorcreators Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones since it was revealed in July by several outlets that it had invested in their production outfit Broke And Bones.
After Brooker teased the comedy event special last Friday in a 10-second trailer and one of the stars of the show, Hugh Grant, let slip some of the details, we can reveal that spoof documentary Death To 2020will juxtapose footage of real-life events this year with fictitious “renowned” experts passing comment on what took place.
Grant told New York magazine last week that he will play a “repellent” historian in the special, while it can now bring you news of several other big names joining the cast.
Samuel L. Jackson, Lisa Kudrow, and Leslie Jones will be among those casting an eye over 2020 in character. Stranger Thingsstar Joe Keery, Silicon Valley’s Kumail Nanjiani, Golden Globe-winner Tracey Ullman, How I Met Your Motheractress Cristin Milioti, and Truth Seekersstar Samson Kayo will also feature.
British comedian and actress Diane Morgan has also signed up for the project, although sadly for her fans, she will not be playing Philomena Cunk, a character who remarks inanely on TV moments and topical events in Brooker’s darkly comic Wipe franchise for the BBC.
Having said that, Death To 2020 sounds like a supersizing of this element of the Wipe shows, in which fictional talking heads pass comment on the year to cathartic effect. In fact, Al Campbell — who has long collaborated with Brooker as the talking head character Barry Shitpeas — is directing the Netflix special.
Here’s the logline: “2020: A year so [insert adjective of choice here], even the creators of Black Mirror couldn’t make it up… but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a little something to add. Death To 2020 is a comedy event that tells the story of the dreadful year that was — and perhaps still is? This landmark documentary-style special weaves together some of the world’s most (fictitious) renowned voices with real-life archival footage spanning the past 12 months.”
Brooker and Jones executive produce Death To 2020 for Broke And Bones, while Alison Marlow is the producer. It is Broke And Bones’ first project for Netflix, although it did co-produce Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe for the BBC earlier this year. Netflix invested in the company in a landmark deal that gives the streamer exclusivity over Brooker and Jones’ new shows.
Source: Deadline
George Lopez Lands New Dramatic Series ‘Once Upon a Time in Aztlan’ For Amazon
In a competitive situation, the George Lopez drama series “Once Upon a Time in Aztlan” has been set up at Amazon for development, Variety has learned exclusively.
Lopez will star in and executive produce the one-hour series under his Travieso Productions banner. Javier Rodriguez created the series and will executive produce along with famed photographer and director Estevan Oriol, iconic LA-based artist Mister Cartoon, and Michael Connolly, who put the package together under his Mad Hatter Entertainment banner. Ricardo de Montreuil will direct the pilot and executive produce along with Oriol and Cartoon’s longtime collaborators Mark Suroff and Marco Valadez. Oriol previously collaborated with Cartoon, Suroff, and Valdez on the documentary “LA Originals,” with Oriol directing and the latter three executive producing.
The series will be a production between STXtv and Amazon Studios. STXtv acquired the spec script over the summer and subsequently took it to market, focusing on streaming and cable outlets.
The series is described as reaching into the deep suburbs of Los Angeles to characterize a Chicano family coming to terms with the falsehoods of the American dream, and their ability to defy expectations.
This would mark the first dramatic TV starring role of Lopez’s career. A well-known stand up comedian, he previously starred in a self-titled ABC comedy series for 120 episodes over six seasons from 2002-2007. He has also starred in shows like “Lopez” and “Saint George” as well as hosting his own TBS talk show, “Lopez Tonight.”
de Montreuil previously directed the feature “Lowriders,” on which Cartoon, Suroff, Valdez, and Oriol were executive producers. He is also known for directing and co-writing the story for the feature “Máncora.”
Cartoon is a legendary L.A. tattoo artist and designer. He has previously tattooed celebrities including Kobe Bryant, Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, and many others. He has also created designs for companies like Nike, The LA Clippers, and EA Sports.
Oriol is an internationally celebrated photographer and director. He began his career as a tour manager for Cypress Hill and House of Pain. His work documenting the world of hip hop has been featured in numerous books and galleries, as well as The Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, The Petersen Automotive Museum, and The Museum of Contemporary Art among others.
Connolly is currently an executive producer on the upcoming Amazon anthology horror series “Them” with Lena Waithe. He executive produced “Hemlock Grove” for Netflix and “The Son” for AMC. On the feature side, Connolly co-produces the “How to Train Your Dragon franchise.”
Source: Variety
Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud And Headspace Partner on a Groundbreaking Content Collaboration
Headspace Studios, a multi-platform content studio from Headspace, the global leader in meditation and mindfulness, and LOL Studios, the production arm of Laugh Out Loud, the comedy brand and multi-platform network founded by the world’s top comedian Kevin Hart, announced their content collaboration blending comedy and mindfulness with the goal of inspiring and motivating people around the world to live a life full of compassion and awareness.
“Partnering with Headspace to bring wellness and positivity to everyone through premium comedic content delivers on our mission at LOL to keep the world laughing together,” said Founder and Chairman of Laugh Out Loud, Kevin Hart. “LOL Studios and Headspace are bringing a diverse set of comedians together in Meditate With Me and I am sharing my own journey with Mindful Runs and Energy Shots, seamlessly fusing comedy with wellness.”
The slate of content will roll out in January and include:
“Meditate With Me” YouTube Series – Each episode focuses on the meditation journey of various comedians and the inner monologue or chatter that occurs when they sit down to meditate. Confirmed talent include Kevin Hart, Hasan Minaj, Amanda Seales and Deon Cole. The episodes will live on the LOL Network YouTube channel.
Daily “Energy Shots with Kevin”featured in Headspace’s The Wake Up – Headspace’s daily Wake Up content is designed to help members start their day on a mindful note by prompting users to take healthier actions, focusing on five key elements of living a mindful life: meditation, sleeping, moving, eating and playing. “Energy Shots with Kevin” will feature daily motivational episodes, which will be accessible to Headspace Plus subscribers.
“Mindful Runs” with Kevin Hart – A part of Headspace’s Move mode, created to help members strengthen both their mind and their body while making running fun, Kevin will guide and motivate members in this mind-body fitness experience for Headspace Plus members. Mindful running is about being mentally connected to your physical movement through intention, breathing, form and recovery.
“Headspace and Kevin Hart share a passion for bringing joy to people around the world. So, our partnership with LOL Studios is an organic opportunity to merge the worlds of comedy and mindfulness together to make our planet a healthier and happier place,” stated Sam Rogoway, Chief Content and Product Officer at Headspace. “We are excited to break new ground with Kevin and LOL by introducing mindfulness concepts through inspirational comedy.”
“Our work with Headspace showcases our collaborative approach to production and partnership with world-class brands,” said Candice Wilson Cherry, Head of Development and Production at Laugh Out Loud. “We are bringing new and exciting content, IP and projects to market that ignite conversation and spotlight voices who are representative of Comedy In Color. With Headspace we’ve brought together our brands perfectly, mixing Comedy In Color with wellness and premium content.”
‘Baps’ And ‘How To Be A Player’ Star Natalie Desselle Reid Passes Away Unexpectedly
This morning a family member posted on Natalie Desselle Reid, star of the comedy film Baps (along with Halle Berry), and the hit Def Comedy Jam’s How To Be A Player (with Bill Bellamy), posted on her Instagram account that the star had passed away unexpectedly.
No word yet on how the star of Baps, How to Be A Player, Cinderella, and many other television shows, passed but as soon as we discover we will pass the word along. The family has yet to announce any funeral arrangements.
Reid was 53 years old. Condolences to her family.
UPDATE-Word has reached us that Reid has passed away after a very long battle with colon cancer.
‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’ Reunion Trailer Is Released!
30 years later, the Banks family is back together! Join Will Smith, and Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, for a funny and heartfelt night full of music and dancing in honor of the show that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes.
Rickey Smiley To Host The 2020 ‘Black Music Honors’ On Bounce TV
Chicago-based television production company Central City Productions will present the 2020 Black Music Honors in national broadcast syndication November 21 – December 13, 2020. Television and radio personality Rickey Smiley returns as host of the star-studded two-hour special which will honor artists and musicians who have influenced and made significant contributions to American music.
The honorees for this year’s Black Music Honors include Grammy® Award-nominated R&B legends Rhona Bennett, Terry Ellis, and Cindy Herron of En Vogue, recognized as one of the top 5 highest selling American female music groups in history, who will receive the Urban Music Icon Award for their three decades in the industry. Grammy® Award-winner, actress and Broadway star Deborah Cox will receive the Entertainer Icon Award. Multiple Stellar Awards and Grammy® Award-winner and producer Fred Hammond will receive the Gospel Music Icon Award. The National Museum of African American Music will be honored with the Legacy Award.
Founder and Executive Producer Don Jackson stated, “I am extremely excited about our 5th Annual 2020 Black Music Honors television special and our legendary awardees. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for us to stay committed to producing The Black Music Honors as a means of celebrating music icons who are often overlooked in receiving their much-deserved recognition.”
Performers of the evening include Musiq Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn, Tweet, MAJOR., June’s Diary, Brian Courtney Wilson, D Smoke, Evvie McKinney, Marvin Sapp, RL, and Sheléa.
The show is set to air on Saturday, November 21 at 12PM (EST) on Bounce TV. State Farm returns as the show’s title sponsor. Other sponsors include AT&T, Walmart, Johnson & Johnson and Bounty.
