BET announced that “BET Awards” 2025 keeps getting BIGGER with the first slate of performers set to hit the stage. “We’re setting the tone for a night that celebrates 25 years of impact, creativity, and Black culture,” said Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “With electrifying performances from some of the biggest names in music and an iconic comedic host, ‘BET Awards’ 2025 will be a can’t-miss celebration of everything the culture represents.”
As previously announced, legendary comedian, actor, producer, and global box office sensation Kevin Hart will bring his signature energy and humor as host of “BET Awards” 2025.
Kendrick Lamar leads “BET Awards” 2025 nominations with ten, Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla are tied with six nominations, Metro Boomin earned five nominations, and SZA and The Weeknd are tied with four nominations each.
BET also previously announced that it will celebrate the 25th anniversary of legendary music video countdown show 106 & Park with a must-see tribute, and creative directed by Teyana Taylor and The Aunties Production, Beloved former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, and Terrence J will reunite on stage for a nostalgic celebration. The tribute will feature timeline-shattering performances from previous host and Mr. 106 & Park, Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and more, bringing back the culture-defining energy, music and moments of the history-making franchise.
Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, serves as the Executive Producer for “BET Awards” 2025, with Jamal Noisette, SVP of Tentpoles & Music Community Engagement, for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as Executive Producers.
Expect more exciting announcements, including more performers, honorees, and more. Additionally, Culture’s Biggest Week returns with BET Experience 2025 (BETX)—four days of immersive fan-focused events from Thursday, June 5, through Sunday, June 8, ahead of the “BET Awards” 2025.
Netflix‘s follow-up to “A Different World” has added six cast members to the pilot, Variety has learned from sources.
Chibuikem Uche has been cast as Kojo along with Maleah Joi Moon as Deborah, Cornell Young as Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir, Alijah Kai Haggins as Rashida, and Kennedi McClure as Hazel.
Netflix declined to comment.
The follow-up to “A Different World” was first reported to be in development in August 2024, with the pilot being announced in March. As reported at that time, the new series would return to Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university, and follow the daughter of original series characters Whitley and Dwayne.
Felicia Pride serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the project. Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Bythewood also serve as executive producers. Werner produced the original show via The Carsey-Werner Company, while Allen also produced and directed the bulk of the original’s 144 episodes. Sources say she would also direct the new pilot.
“A Different World” began as a spinoff of “The Cosby Show” and followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) as she attends Hillman. But after Bonet departed the series following its first season, the focus shifted to characters played by Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Cory Tyler, Lou Myers, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, and Charnele Brown.
Netflix has eschewed a traditional pilot process for most of its history, only announcing its first-ever pilot order in 2023. The streamer has instead focused on straight-to-series orders or script-to-series deals for their shows. But Netflix also previously said that it would never have ads on the service, only to begin offering an ad-supported tier in November 2022.
Source: Variety
Comedian Kountry Wayne (aka Wayne Colley) has locked in a deal for a new special at Prime Video, Deadline has learned.
The special will be Wayne’s second on the heels of A Woman’s Prayer, which has reigned in over five million viewing hours on Netflix since 2023. Set to tape at The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on October 4, the hour will be his first for Prime Video.
Known for his faith-based, clean content, Kountry Wayne has seen his career take of in the last few years, making an impact with viral videos and an expanding social imprint of more than 15 million followers. In addition to his stand-up, he can currently be seen in the new Taika Waititi-produced series Time Bandits on Apple TV+. In film, he recently wrapped production on the indie comedy That’s Her, produced by Stephen Love, for which he’s a producer, co-writer, and star. He can also be seen in the Will Packer-produced Peacock pic Praise This, opposite Chloe Bailey.
Wayne’s debut book, Help Is on the Way: Stay Up and Live Your Truth, was published in 2023. To coincide with the new special, he’ll be hitting the road on his nationwide tour, the Workout Tour, kicking off later this month. View his upcoming dates below.
TOUR DATES
May 24-25: ACC, San Diego, CA
May 30-June 1: Comedy Off Broadway, Lexington, KY
June 6-8: Levity Live, West Nyack, NY
June 13-15: Improv, Ontario, CA
June 20-22: Improv, Pittsburgh, PA
June 24-26: Tommy T’s, Pleasanton, CA
July 11-13: Improv, Chicago, IL
July 18-20: Improv, Cleveland, OH
July 24-26: Improv, Miami, FL
August 1-3: Improv, Addison, TX
August 8-10: Funny Bone, Tampa, FL
August 15-17: Comedy Factory, Baltimore, MD
August 22-24: Stand-up Live, Phoenix, AZ
August 29-31: Funny Bone, Richmond, VA
September 4-6: Comedy Zone, Greensboro, SC
September 11-13: Comedy Zone, Jacksonville, FL
September 25-27: Comedy Zone, Charlotte, NC
Source: Deadline
In this episode, we discuss the NY Knicks beating the Boston Celtics to go up 3-1 in the NBA Divisional series, but all of the talk is the injury to Jason Tatum.
We discuss the injury, and we also talk about the NBA Draft lottery, which a lot of folks are talking about being fixed since the Dallas Mavericks landed the #1 pick, and will most certainly pick Cooper Flagg.
This episode features comedians Howie Bell and Maurice Smith.
Watch the full episode above!
#Cooperflagg #NBADraft #NBC #BostonCeltics #NBAPlayoffs #NewYorkKnicks #DenverNuggets #OKC #Denvernuggetts #NFL #NBA #NBATrades #comedy #comedygrind #funny #hilarious #Laugh #BoxSeats #lies #Fall #Sports #Quit #Quitters #LA #LALakers #Lakers #DallasMavericks
#Ironheart, Marvel Television’s all-new series from executive producer Ryan Coogler, launches with a 3-episode premiere June 24 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET, only on @DisneyPlus.
Ironheart is an upcoming American television miniseries created by Chinaka Hodge for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the 14th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, via its Marvel Television label, alongside Proximity Media. The series shares continuity with the films of the franchise. It sees MIT student Riri Williams return home to Chicago, following the events of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), where she discovers secrets that pit technology against magic. Hodge serves as head writer.
Dominique Thorne reprises her role as Riri Williams / Ironheart from Wakanda Forever, starring alongside Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White. The series was announced in December 2020, along with Thorne’s casting. Hodge was hired in April 2021, with additional castings revealed in February 2022. Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes joined to direct in April 2022. Filming began at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, by early June, before moving to Chicago in late October, and concluded by early November.
Ironheart is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on June 24, 2025, with the first three of its six episodes. It will be the last television series and the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU.
Watch the new trailer above!
What will be her last straw? A devastatingly bad day pushes a hardworking single mother to the breaking point – and into a shocking act of desperation.
A single mother (Taraji P. Henson) watches her desperate day spiral into chaos, becoming the prime suspect in a crime she never meant to commit – and suddenly, her survival depends on the one thing she’s never been able to trust: the people around her. Tyler Perry’s STRAW comes to Netflix, June 6th.
Watch the trailer above!
Netflix has extended two of its young adult romance adaptations: “Forever” has been renewed for Season 2, and a third season of “My Life With the Walter Boys” has been greenlit ahead of the series’ Season 2 later this year.
The news came during Netflix’s upfront presentation in New York on Wednesday, and soon after the May 8 debut of “Forever” Season 1, which landed in third place on the Netflix Top 10 with 3.7 million views in its first four days of streaming.
Created by Mara Brock Akil, “Forever” is an adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel of the same name that reimagines the protagonists as Black teens from Los Angeles in 2018. Michael Cooper Jr. and Lovie Simone star as Justin Edwards and Keisha Clark, who are “exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts,” per the official logline. The cast also includes Karen Pittman, Wood Harris, Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Winans III, Niles Fitch, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, Adriyan Rae, Paigion Walker, Xavier Mills, E’myri Crutchfield, and Yusef Thomas.
Akil serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Regina King, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman and Anthony Hemingway.
“This show was never just about first love — it was about being seen. About letting teenagers be soft, complicated, and real,” Akil said in a statement. “And the world showed up for that. Season 2 is our love letter back to the people who said, ‘Yes, this is for me.’ We’re honored, we’re excited, and we’re ready to go even deeper. Thank you to Netflix — Season 2 coming soon!”
“My Life With the Walter Boys” is based on Ali Novak’s 2014 novel of the same name. The official logline reads, “Following the loss of her family in a tragic accident, 15-year-old Manhattanite Jackie Howard has to learn to adapt to a new life in rural Colorado with her guardian — and eight very rowdy boys.”
The cast includes Nikki Rodriguez, Sarah Rafferty, Marc Blucas, Noah LaLonde, Ashby Gentry, Connor Stanhope, Johnny Link, Corey Fogelmanis, Jaylan Evans, Zoë Soul, Isaac Arellanes, Myles Perez, Alex Quijano, Ashley Tavares, Dean Petriw, Alix West Lefler, Lennix James, Alisha Newton, Ellie O’Brien, Kolton Stewart, Mya Lowe, Gabrielle Jacinto, Jesse Lipscombe, Nathaniel Arcand, Natalie Sharp, Carson MacCormac, Janet Kidder, Riele Downs and Jake Manley.
Season 1 of “My Life With the Walter Boys” was among Netflix’s ten most-watched English-language series for eight weeks running after its December 2023 premiere.
The series is executive produced by showrunner Melanie Halsall alongside Ed Glauser and Becky Hartman Edwards. Sony Pictures Television, International Production and iGeneration Studios produce.
Source: Variety
Snoop Dogg has yet another gig. As part of his expansive partnership with NBCUniversal, the rapper will host a two-hour musical variety special from Miami titled Snoop Dogg’s New Year’s Eve. According to Variety, the show will air on NBC on Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m. ET to 12:30 a.m. ET in the latest extension of the rapper’s deal with NBCUniversal, which also includes his spot as a coach on The Voice and his correspondent gig at last year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
“Snoop Dogg’s energy, influence and ability to bring people together promises an unforgettable night,” said Jen Neal, executive VP of Live Events and Specials for NBCUniversal Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to partner with Snoop and bring this epic event to audiences across the country once again live from Miami.”
The New Year’s Eve show will be produced by Den of Thieves (MTV VMAs, People’s Choice Awards) and Snoop’s Death Row Pictures. It is the latest attempt to freshen up the New Year’s space from NBC, which hosted Miley Cyrus variety shows in 2022 and 2023 and a two-hour prime time special called “A Toast to 2024!” with Today Show co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.
Snoop’s overall deal with NBCUniversal will also see him branching out into films, television, sports and streaming projects in conjunction with his Death Row Pictures shingle. The rapper made his coaching debut on The Voice in its 26th season in 2024. He’s also developing a biopic about his acquisition of Death Row Records with Universal.
The indefatigable MC recently released a gospel record for Death Row called Altar Call in April and Tuesday (May 13) he announced his next studio album, Iz It a Crime?, which is due out on Friday (May 16) and features collabs with Wiz Khalifa, Sexxy Red, Charlie Bereal, Akeem Ali, Jane Handcock and LaRussell, among others; Snoop’s 21st studio album is also the soundtrack to a short film of the same name.
Source: Billboard
“Survival of the Thickest” has been renewed for a third season at Netflix, which will be its last.
Michelle Buteau created the series based on her 2020 essay collection of the same name, and stars as Mavis Beaumont. The official logline reads, “Black, plus-size, and looking for love, while loving herself, Mavis works hard to grow her brand and establish herself as a stylist of note. She’s determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body-positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss.”
Tone Bell and Tasha Smith are series regulars along with Buteau, while guest stars include Marouane Zotti, Peppermint, Liza Treyger, Garcelle Beauvais, Anthony Michael Lopez, Allan K. Washington, Jerrie Johnson, Tika Sumpter, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, Jonathan Higginbotham, Michael Rishawn, Rolonda Watts, Hassan Johnson, Deon Cole, Monét X Change, Dan Amboyer, RonReaco Lee, Honey Balenciaga, Bevy Smith, Yves Mathieu East, Celisse, Anderson .Paak and Sandra Bernhard.
Series co-creator Danielle Sanchez-Witzel serves as co-showrunner with Amy Aniobi, while Buteau and Grace Edwards also write for the series. All four serve as executive producers alongside A24’s Alli
Reich and Ravi Nandan (A24) as well as Mosaic’s Anne Hong.
“Survival of the Thickest” debuted in July 2023. Season 2, which came in March of this year, was directed by all women of color, with 70% of department heads and 50% of crew members also being women.
News of the series’ third and final season came during Netflix’s upfront presentation in New York on Wednesday.
Source: Variety
Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Daisy Edgar-Jones have been recruited for a risky job.
The Training Day, Tenet, and Twisters stars will lead the forthcoming movie Here Comes the Flood. Directed by Academy Award nominee Fernando Meirelles (The Two Popes) and written by Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), the thriller promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Here’s everything you need to know about the movie before it starts streaming.
Here Comes the Flood is an unconventional heist movie about a bank guard, a teller, and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.
Tudum will keep you updated as more cast members are announced.
Meirelles will produce the movie alongside Kinberg and Audrey Chon for Genre Films. Samson Mucke will serve as an executive producer.