Comedian, actor and KPWR (POWER 106)/LA morning personality Nick Cannon is partnering with Skyview Networks and Meruelo Media to develop two syndicated properties: “NICK CANNON RADIO” for afternoons, Monday-Friday, starting JANUARY 27, 2020, and “NICK CANNON WEEKENDS” debuting in February 2020, for Saturday-Sunday airing on Urban, Top 40/Rhythmic, and Hip-Hop stations. Skyview Networks will handle production, affiliation, and advertising sales.
Skyview Pres./COO Steve Jones said, “Nick Cannon is one of the most accomplished, creative and versatile entertainers in America and we are proud to be working with him and the team atMeruelo Media to launch Nick’s new syndicated shows. Nick is an influencer, whose connection with audiences makes him extremely attractive to advertisers and radio programmers alike.”
Cannon said, “I love connecting with Los Angeles every morning on POWER 106. The response and support has been amazing and very special; the natural thing is to take it to the next level with a new nationally syndicated daily drivetime and weekend show. They will both feature original comedy and conversations with the people driving pop culture. I am looking forward to working with Skyview Networks and myMeruelo Media family to now reach all of the U.S.”
Meruelo Media Pres./COO OTTO PADRON added, “Our partnership with Nick Cannon on POWER 106 is proof positive that we are committed to invest in the very best and most compelling entertainment in the world. This content strategy, coupled with our carefully curated portfolio of heritage audio brands and popular personalities in the key market of Los Angeles, givesMeruelo Media very exciting syndication opportunities. Having a like-minded syndication partner like Skyview Networks is the perfect storm!”
“Insecure” star and co-creator Issa Rae is starring in, writing and producing the comedy “Perfect Strangers,” teaming with Spyglass Media Group and Eagle Pictures.
The project is an English-language adaptation of Paolo Genovese’s Italian feature film “Perfetti Sconosciuti.” The story centers on a dinner party where a group of friends decide to play a risky game where they place their phones face-up on the table and agree to make all texts and phone calls public in an attempt to prove they have nothing to hide.
Rae and Larry Wilmore created HBO’s “Insecure,” which follows the friendship of two women as they deal with their real-life flaws and a seemingly endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. The series has aired for three seasons, and was based partially on Rae’s own web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” She is starring in Universal’s romantic drama “The Photograph” and Paramount’s “Lovebirds.”
“Perfetti Sconosciuti” was released in 2016 and spurred local-language remakes in China, Spain, Greece, Russia, Hungary, France, Korea and Turkey. The Italian film won two David di Donatello Awards for best film and best screenplay as well as the best screenplay for an international narrative feature at the Tribeca Film Festival.
“Perfect Strangers” is slated to commence principal photography in the first quarter and will be produced by Spyglass, Eagle Pictures and 3 Marys Entertainment, alongside Rae. Issa Rae Productions’ Montrel Mckay will executive produce. Chris Stone will oversee production on behalf of Spyglass and Tarak Ben Ammar, chairman and owner of Eagle Pictures, will oversee the film on behalf of Eagle.
Ben Ammar said, “I am proud to be working alongside our partners at Spyglass and the immensely talented Issa Rae on this socially resonant and provocative comedy that not only became a success in Europe, but went on to capture the attention of audiences around the globe.”
Rae said, “I’m really looking forward to bringing this funny and compelling story to a new demographic and could not be happier about partnering with the Spyglass team to make it happen. I loved the original film and think the story will resonate with audiences here as well.”
Spyglass Media Group was launched earlier this year as a partnership between Gary Barber and Lantern Entertainment co-presidents Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic. The company has strategic investment backing from Warner Bros. Pictures, Eagle Pictures and Cineworld Group.
Rae is represented by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment and attorney John Meigs.
Source: Variety
It’s being reported that comedian and actress Ali Wong (“Always Be My Maybe”) will bring her next two standup comedy specials to Netflix with the first one releasing globally in 2020 after a furious bidding war by several channels/networks, which ultimately saw Netflix as the winner.
“Ali is electric. She offers a completely distinct voice in the culture, and audiences all over the world have responded to her raw, unfiltered humor,” director of original stand up comedy programming Robbie Praw said. “We’re so proud to make Netflix the home of her comedy specials for years to come.” Wong’s past two specials, “Baby Cobra” and “Hard Knock Wife,” were both Netflix exclusives.
We hear that Michael Beach (“ER”), Anne-Marie Johnson (“For The People”) and Kellee Stewart (“Guess Who”) have been cast in Ava DuVernay’s new romantic anthology series, titled “Cherish The Day.”
According to our sources, they will join Xosha Roquemore, Alano Miller and Emmy-award winner Cicely Tyson. Also, Blitz Bazawule, Aurora Guerrero (“13 Reasons Why”) and Deborah Kampmeier (“Queen Sugar”) join Tanya Hamilton (“Vampire Diaries”) as directors.
No word yet on further plot details.
Quibi has announced additional cast members for the series “Mapleworth Murders,” which was created by and stars Paula Pell and John Lutz.
Comedian and actor J.B. Smoove and Hayley Magnus have joined the series in regular roles. Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, D’Arcy Carden, Tim Meadows, Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, Pam Murphy, Ben Warheit, Annie Mumolo, Ike Barinholtz, Mary Holland, James Anderson, and Drew Tarver will all recur.
Guest stars will include: Tina Fey, Wanda Sykes, Chris Parnell, Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Nicole Byer, and Jimmy Carlson. Claire Scanlon has been tapped to direct the series.
BET has released the first trailer for Twenties, Lena Waithe’s new single-camera comedy series set to premiere in early 2020.
In a first for the network, the eight-episode series follows the adventures of a queer black girl named Hattie, played by newcomer Jonica “JoJo” T. Gibbs (Good Trouble, The Neighborhood), in her first role as a lead; and her two best friends, Marie, played by Christina Elmore (The Last Ship, Insecure, Fruitvale Station), and Nia, played by Gabrielle Graham (On The Basis of Sex, 21 Thunder); as they chase their dreams and live life in their twenties. Cast also includes Sophina Brown as Ida B, and
Big Sean as Tristan.
Guest stars include Jenifer Lewis (Black-ish), Rick Fox, Vanessa Williams, Seth Green, Iman Shumpert, Kym Whitley, Chuey Martinez, Marsha Thomason, and Nazanin Mandi.
Waithe, who’s coming off a successful weekend at the box office for her latest feature Queen & Slim, executive produces with Susan Fales-Hill who will also serve as co-showrunner, Rishi Rajani and Andrew Coles. Justin Tipping directed the pilot and also executive produces.
Check out the trailer.
Source: Deadline
Will Packer Productions has teamed with Focus Features to develop a female-driven thriller “When I Was You.”
Based on a novel by Amber Garza, “When I Was You” centers on a woman named Kelly Medina who becomes obsessed with another Kelly Medina — a single mother half her age who lives in her same town, has a baby boy, and has her whole life ahead of her. When they become friends, she finds a renewed sense of purpose taking care of the young woman and her baby.
“Amber Garza writes edgy and tense psychological thrillers that keep her readers on the edge of their seats,” Packer said. “We’re excited about collaborating with Focus Features on material this good.”
Garza has also authored “The Girl Frozen in Time,” “The Last Time I Saw Her,” and the “Prowl” trilogy.
Production, casting and further plot details on “When I Was You” have yet to be announced.
Will Packer and James Lopez will produce the movie under Will Packer Productions. The studio’s feature films have earned more than $1 billion from a slate that includes “Girls Trip,” “Night School,” “What Men Want,” “Little,” and “Think Like a Man.”
Focus Features and Will Packer Productions will also develop an ensemble film set in and around the Wattstax music festival in 1972 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Wattstax was a benefit concert that commemorated the deadly 1965 riots in Watts in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Focus Features debuted “Harriet,” “Downton Abbey” and “Dark Waters” in theaters this year. Upcoming releases for the specialty studio include “Emma” starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn, “Let Him Go” with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane and Jon Stewart’s “Irresistible” starring Steve Carell, Rose Byrne, and Chris Cooper.
CAA represented the book on behalf of The Gernert Company. Mira will publish the novel, with an anticipated release in August, 2020.
Source: Variety
HBO Max is bolstering its comedy offering.
The forthcoming streamer, which launches in May 2020, has ordered four new stand-up comedy specials from Tracy Morgan, John Early, Rose Matafeo, and Ahir Shah.
“We are incredibly proud to showcase this expansive range of comedic talent on HBO MAX,” said Suzanna Makkos, executive vice president of original programming, comedy and animation at HBO Max. “From legends to newcomers, this impressive slate of specials will complement the library of premium stand-up specials that HBO has become known for.”
Morgan’s special represents an extension of his relationship with WarnerMedia, given that he currently stars in “The Last O.G.” on TBS, which is moving into its third season in 2020. He recently announced a comedy tour next year titled “No Disrespect,” and will executive produce this special for HBO Max.
Early also has a prior relationship with WarnerMedia, starring as Elliot in the TBS series “Search Party.” This will be his first one-hour television special.
This will be Matafeo’s first-ever comedy special and represents a continuation of her partnership with HBO Max following the recently announced “Starstruck,” a new comedy series written, created by and starring the comedian and actress. Both “Starstruck” and the stand-up special are produced by Avalon Television and executive produced by Matafeo, Rob Aslett, Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner.
Shah is currently on tour with his new stand-up show “Dots.” His first stand-up TV special will also be produced by Avalon Television, and he will will EP alongside Aslett, Jon Thoday, and Allen-Turner.
The four shows join a slate of specials at HBO Max which already includes two hosted by Conan O’Brien. HBO Max announced a partnership with O’Brien and his Team Coco banner which will also see him curated hour-long sets from three comedians.
Source: Variety
Adhir Kalyan is set to star in the CBS comedy pilot “The United States of Al,” Variety has confirmed.
The show was given a pilot production commitment in October. It is a multi-camera comedy about the friendship between Riley, a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir (Kalyan), also known as Al, the interpreter who served with his unit in Afghanistan and has just arrived to start a new life in America.
Kalyan previously starred in the CBS comedy “Rules of Engagement.” His other recent credits include “Arrested Development,” “I Love Dick,” “Nip/Tuck,” and “Aliens in America.” On the feature side, he has appeared in the “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” franchise, “Youth in Revolt,” “No Strings Attached,” and “Up in the Air.”
He is repped by UTA, Thruline Entertainment, and Jackoway Tyerman.
“The United States of Al” hails from “Big Bang Theory” executive producers David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari. Both serve as writers on the series and executive produce along with Lorre. Religious studies scholar Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi will also executive produce. Warner Bros Television, where Lorre is under an overall deal, will produce.
Lorre’s other current shows are “Bob Hearts Abishola,” “Mom,” and “Young Sheldon,” all of which air on CBS. He also created the Golden Globe-winning Netflix series “The Kominsky Method,” the second season of which debuted in October.