Meagan Good Lands In New Amazon Comedy From ‘Girl’s Trip’ Writer
Star’s Meagan Good, Empire’s Grace Byers, Mother’s Milk’s Jerrie Johnson and I Am The Night’s Shoniqua Shandai are to star in Amazon’s half-hour comedy from Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver.
Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee is set to direct the first two episodes of the ten-part series, which comes from Universal Television, and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions.
In July, Amazon Studios has ordered the female-focused comedy, which was created, written and executive produced by Oliver. The show, formerly known as Harlem, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four black women – friends from their college days at NYU – as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams.
Meagan Good plays Camille, a stylish, sunny professor of anthropology course “Sex and Love” at Columbia University. While Camille has extensive knowledge about the dating and mating norms of many cultures, she has a hard time navigating the dating choices within her own life. Grace Byers plays Quinn, an optimistic, creative, and romantic talented fashion designer, Quinn is a trust fund kid who lives a life paid primarily by her parents. Shoniqua Shandai plays Angie, a smart, filter-free party, aspiring singer, who never met an impulse she did not follow and is living with Quinn rent-free. Jerrie Johnson plays Tye, an alpha, fierce, queer successful app developer who prefers keeping vulnerability and feelings at arm’s length, causing her to date women who are not always her intellectual equal.
Oliver executive produces with Paper Kite’s Poehler and Kim Lessing and 3 Arts’ Dave Becky.
Oliver is the creator, executive producer/showrunner and a director on BET’s television adaptation of The First Wives Club, starring Michelle Buteau (Enlisted), Jill Scott (Why Did I Get Married?) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (This Is Us). Oliver co-wrote the screenplay for Girls Trip, which grossed more than $100 million at the global box office.
Source: Deadline
Here’s A ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ 3- Movie Collection Giveaway!
3-Movie Collection Arrives on Blu-ray™ January 14, 2020 with Brand New Bonus Features on Beverly Hills Cop, Including Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes!
The heat is on in the action-packed comedies BEVERLY HILLS COP, BEVERLY HILLS COP II, and BEVERLY HILLS COP III, newly remastered and arriving on Digital in 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range in a 3-Movie Blu-ray Collection January 14, 2020.
Starring the incomparable Eddie Murphy, the three wildly entertaining BEVERLY HILLS COP films earned a combined $735M+ worldwide, as well as two Academy Award nominations* and a Grammy Award for the first film’s Original Score.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the action-comedy classic BEVERLY HILLS COP follows the one-and-only Axel Foley, a street-smart cop from Detroit. Tracking down his best friend’s killer in Beverly Hills, Axel smashes through the local barriers in a hilarious, high-speed pursuit of justice.
In BEVERLY HILLS COP II Eddie Murphy returns as Axel goes deep undercover to investigate a gang of international munitions smugglers and in BEVERLY HILLS COP III Axel investigates a counterfeit money ring, run out of a theme park in Los Angeles.
The first 3 people to email us a screenshot of a downloaded pic of The Humor Mill app on your mobile phone will get the Beverly Hills Cop set! With that, email us your home address too and the film will be headed your way! Its that simple! Please email us at Frank@humormillmag.com!
The giveaway is bought to you by Paramount Pictures.
Eddie Murphy’s ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ Wins Critics’ Choice Award For Best Comedy Film
The resurgence of Eddie Murphy continued on Sunday night at the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award as well as two wins for Dolemite Is My Name including the award for best comedy film.
The 58-year-old comedy icon has been enjoying a brighter spotlight in recent months thanks to his portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore, the struggling comedian who fashioned an alter ego for himself as the cartoonishly obscene pimp king known as Dolemite. Murphy also made a triumphant return to Saturday Night Live in December and is setting his sights on a return to the stage with a stand-up comedy tour.
On Sunday, Murphy was feted by the Broadcast Film Critics Association during their Critics’ Choice Awards gala at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. A montage of his screen career (with scenes from SNL, 48 Hours, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nitty Professor, Dreamgirls, and Bowfinger, to name just a few) put the star in a reflective mood as he accepted the lifetime achievement trophy.
“To make your living making people laugh is the highest blessing on Earth,” Murphy said. He added:“I’ve played everything: a cop, a robber, a doctor, different ethnicities, animals. I’ve been a donkey. I’ve even played a spaceship once. When young actors come up to me on the street and say, ‘Do you have any advice?’, I say, ‘Never play a spaceship.’”
The donkey gig, of course, was for the Shrek franchise, a pivotal success for Dreamworks Animation. The spaceship role, on the other hand, was for the widely forgotten 2008 film Meet Dave. A few minutes after the standing ovation for Murphy’s lifetime achievement honor the comedy star was back on stage and wearing a satisfied smile after hearing Dolemite’s name called out in a key competitive category.
Dolemite claimed the prize for best comedy, topping a strong and eclectic field that also included Jojo Rabbit, Booksmart, The Farewell, and Knives Out. Ruth E. Carter took home the Netflix film’s second trophy of the night when her blaxploitation era recreations won in the best costume design category.
Source: Deadline
Dwayne Johnson To Star In New NBC Comedy ‘Young Rock’
Capping off his first time before press as NBC Entertainment chairman, Paul Telegdy delivered yet another surprise on Saturday.
The network has handed out a straight-to-series, 11-episode order for the Dwayne Johnson comedy Young Rock, inspired by his life and featuring the mega-star.
Johnson will appear in every episode, as the focus and inspiration of the series will be on his formative years. The single-camera comedy will be co-written by former Fresh Off the Boat showrunner Nahnatchka Khan and her longtime collaborator Jeff Chiang. Both will executive produce alongside Johnson and his Seven Bucks Productions’ Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Jennifer Carreras.
The project hails from Universal Television, which inked Khan — who created ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat — to a rich eight-figure overall deal last year that saw her move her Fierce Baby Productions shingle from her longtime home at 20th Century Fox TV. The company’s credits include ABC’s Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, on which Khan worked with Chiang.
A premiere date for the Johnson series has not been determined, but given that NBC’s midseason schedule is set, Young Rock will likely be for the 2020-21 broadcast season. This is the second straight-to-series pickup that will likely be earmarked for NBC next season and joins Ted Danson’s L.A. mayoral comedy from 30 Rock duo Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
Johnson most recently hosted and produced NBC’s unscripted series The Titan Games, which has already been renewed for a second season. He can currently be seen in Jumanji: The Next Level, which has grossed more than $600 million at the worldwide box office, and will next star in Disney’s Jungle Cruise feature.
Broadcast networks continue to look to recognizable stars as well as reboots and revivals as a way to cut through an increasingly crowded scripted landscape that, in 2019, featured a record 532 scripted originals.
Young Rock capped a busy morning at TCA for Telegdy, who also announced a three-season renewal for the medical drama New Amsterdam, the return of Fey and Amy Poehler as hosts for the 2021 Golden Globes, a pickup for the unscripted series Making It and a nature docuseries from BBC Studios.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Kevin Hart’s Night School Lands NBC Order For New Show
Kevin Hart is going back to Night School.The comedian is executive producing an NBC comedy based on the 2018 movie he co-wrote, produced and starred in opposite Tiffany Haddish. The network has given a pilot order to the project, which hails from Universal TV.
Similar to the film, the potential series will follow a mix of adults at a night school GED prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and out of the classroom.
Chris Moynihan (NBC’s Marlon) is writing the multicamera comedy and will executive produce with Hart, Will Packer, Sheila Ducksworth and Malcolm D. Lee. Packer produced and Lee directed the film.
Universal TV is producing the pilot along with Hart’s Hartbeat Productions, Will Packer Media and Moynihan’s Bicycle Path Productions. Bryan Smiley and Tiffany Brown will oversee for Hartbeat.
Universal Pictures’ Night School opened in September 2018 and made better than $27 million on its opening weekend on its way to a $103 million worldwide gross against a $29 million budget.
Hart’s recent credits as a producer include the Netflix docuseries Don’t F**k This Up, FXX’s upcoming comedy Dave and CBS’ game show TKO: Total Knock Out (which he also hosted). Packer also has a long-standing relationship with Universal, which in addition to Night School released Girls Trip and Little.
Lee is repped by Paradigm and Del Shaw.
Night School joins an NBC development slate that includes Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s straight-to-series comedy starring Ted Danson and Holly Hunter; a multicam comedy from The Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady and former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino; the esports comedy The Squad from Johnny Galecki; a rom-com from Larry Wilmore and comedian London Hughes; dramas based on the movies St. Elmo’s Fire and Serendipity; and dramas from Amy Poehler, Julie Plec and Supergirl showrunners Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Lil Rel Howery To Host 11th AAFCA Awards
S&A RISING Award winner Lil Rel Howery has been tapped as the host of the 11th African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards.
Howery, coming off of his recent HBO special, has several films coming out this year, including The Photograph with Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds, and Bad Trip with Eric Andre and Tiffany Haddish.
“We are very excited to have Lil Rel as the host of the 11th Annual AAFCA Awards,” said Gil Robertson, AAFCA CEO/President. “He is an exceptional talent across the board, and we can’t wait. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
“I am really excited to host this very special and important award show that truly does a great job of honoring the best in tv and film,” said Howery.
The ceremony will be held at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood on Jan. 22.
Chris Rock To Play A Crime Boss In Season 4 Of ‘Fargo’
FX has dropped the trailer for the highly-anticipated fourth season of its acclaimed anthology series, Fargo.
Season 4 is led by Chris Rock and also stars Ben Wishaw, Jessie Buckley, Jeremie Harris, Glynn Turman, Corey Hendrix, Matthew Elam, Anji White, E’myri Crutchfield, Amber Midthunder, Jack Huston, Jason Schwartzman, Salvatore Esposito, Andrew Bird, Gaetano Bruno and Francesco Acquaroli. Uzo Aduba will appear in a recurring capacity.
Here’s the description: In 1950, at the end of two great American migrations — that of Southern Europeans from countries like Italy, who came to the U.S. at the turn of the last century and settled in northern cities like New York and Chicago — and African Americans who left the south in great numbers to escape Jim Crow and moved to those same cities — you saw a collision of outsiders, all fighting for a piece of the American dream. In Kansas City, Missouri, two criminal syndicates have struck an uneasy peace. One Italian, one African American. Together they control an alternate economy — that of exploitation, graft and drugs. This too is the history of America. To cement their peace, the heads of both families have traded their eldest sons.
Rock plays the head of one family, a man “who — in order to prosper — has surrendered his oldest boy to his enemy, and who must, in turn, raise his enemy’s son as his own. It’s an uneasy peace, but profitable. And then the head of the Kansas City mafia goes into the hospital for routine surgery and dies. And everything changes. It’s a story of immigration. assimilation and the things we do for money. And as always, a story of basically decent people who are probably in over their heads. You know, Fargo.”
Fargo’s first season won three Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries, two Golden Globe Awards, including Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, and a Peabody Award. The second season won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special. The third installment won an additional Emmy and Golden Globe Award.
Source: Shadow & Act
Prince To Receive All-Star Grammy Tribute
Prince will receive an all-star tribute after the 2020 Grammy Awards featuring Alicia Keys, John Legend, Beck, Usher, Chris Martin, H.E.R., St. Vincent, and others, according to an official announcement published by Rolling Stone. “Let’s Go Crazy: The show will be held January 28th, two days after the Grammys, at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be broadcast in April.
Perhaps most interesting to fans, Prince’s longtime friends and collaborators Sheila E. and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of The Time will be co-musical directors, while his former band the Revolution and longtime associates The Time, Mavis Staples and Susannah Hoffs will also perform. The night’s lineup is currently rounded out by Common, Gary Clark, Jr., Juanes and Earth, Wind & Fire.
The Prince tribute will follow past “Grammy Salute” concerts, which have honored the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Motown and Aretha Franklin. Like those shows, according to the announcement this one will cover several different eras of Prince’s musical career, with biographical segments interspersed between the musical performances.
Sheila E. confirmed that her band will also get its own set — performing her Prince-penned breakthrough hit “The Glamourous Life” and his 1985 song “America.” Sheila E. also helmed tribute to Prince at the 2016 Vibe Awards
“I was very honored to be able to do this for so many reasons, but to be able to help celebrate the life of a dear friend and be a part of this and be musical director is awesome,” she said.
In a statement, Recording Academy President/CEO Deborah Dugan said, “Prince. The Purple One. His Royal Badness — regardless of how you identify him, he is indisputably one of the greatest musical virtuosos of all time. With his subversive attitude and commanding nature, he straddled musical genres and created electrifying music that was bursting with character. He continues to serve as an inspirational icon for artists and fans worldwide, and we are so honored to pay tribute to his legacy.”
Source: Variety
Leslie Jones To Host New ABC Game Show ‘Supermarket Sweep’
ABC is bringing back the classic TV game show “Supermarket Sweep,” hosted and executive produced by Emmy® Award-nominated comedienne and actress Leslie Jones. Produced by Fremantle, the fast-paced and energetic series follows three teams of two as they battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes. The original format aired on ABC from 1965-1967 and went on to become a global sensation. It was adapted in 13 international territories and, most recently, relaunched in the UK. Production on the 10-episode order is set to begin this spring. An airdate will be announced at a later date.
“I’ve always dreamed of being on ‘Supermarket Sweep,’” said Leslie Jones. “Seriously, I tried out for the show years ago; and after getting turned away, I knew I’d have to take matters into my own hands. Being able to bring the iconic game show back to life on ABC is my ultimate redemption story!”
“’Supermarket Sweep’ is the perfect addition to ABC’s strong lineup of classic game show revivals, and we struck gold having Leslie Jones as the host and executive producer,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “The original version was one of my all-time favorites. I can’t wait for it to be reintroduced with Leslie’s fresh and unique take on the classic supermarket race, which will undoubtedly appeal to an entirely new generation of viewers.”
“We are beyond excited to bring back one of TV’s most beloved game shows,” said Jayson Dinsmore, president, Alternative Development and Programming, Fremantle. “‘Supermarket Sweep’ is a fan favorite; and with the addition of genius Leslie Jones, a new generation will be introduced to this truly special series.”
Leslie Jones is a three-time EmmyAward nominee and former SNL cast member. Her Netflix one-hour standup special, “Leslie Jones: Time Machine,” launches on Jan. 14, 2020. She can be seen next on “Coming to America 2” for Paramount Pictures, set for a 2020 Christmas release. Jones is also set to shoot the film “Queenpins” later this year, opposite Kristen Bell, after having recently completed voicing the lead villain role in “Angry Birds 2” for Sony Pictures Animation.
“Supermarket Sweep” is produced by Fremantle. Executive producers include Leslie Jones, Hunter Seidman and Jennifer Mullin, Alycia Rossiter and Wes Kauble.
Is Jamie Foxx Going On Tour With Eddie Murphy?
Are two legends preparing to share the stage? Comedian/actor/singer Jamie Foxx sat down with Ellen Degeneres to share some super funny impressions of his celebrity friends, like Jay-Z and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and revealed that he’s returning to his roots: stand-up comedy.
His previous stand-up tours, which infused comedy and his love for music, are still relevant today.
