Will Packer Comedy To Launch On Upcoming BET Streaming Service
BET is joining the streaming wars.
The Viacom-owned cable network will be launching a streaming service of its own in the fall, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.Plans for the platform — which will feature Tracy Oliver’s bounced around First Wives Club series and Will Packer-produced comedy Peachtree Place as well as content from Tyler Perry — have been in the works for more than six months. BET declined comment as formal deals for the service have not yet been completed.
Sources say Viacom is near a deal to bring in an executive to oversee BET+. A price point for the African American-focused service has not yet been determined. Similar to Disney+ and other forthcoming subscription services like WarnerMedia, BET+ will include content from across Viacom’s cable brands including MTV, Comedy Central and VH1.
BET+ is the latest digital effort to come under Viacom CEO Bob Bakish. As linear ratings for the media behemoth’s cable portfolio continue to dwindle, Viacom earlier this year paid $340 million for streaming video upstart Pluto TV. The ad-supported platform already has 16 million monthly users who have access to old episodes of Viacom-owned library content including The Hills and All That.
BET+ becomes the latest streaming platform to bow from a major media titian. Disney will launch its SVOD service later this year. WarnerMedia will bow its streaming platform in beta in the fourth quarter and Comcast has its upstart platform due in 2020. Apple also will join the fray as conglomerates look to compete with billion-dollar content spenders Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, the latter of which is now entirely controlled by Disney.
As for First Wives Club, the series was originally developed for TV Land and moved to BET after being redeveloped with a new writer — Girls Trip‘s Oliver. That series — a reboot of the iconic 1996 feature that starred Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn, has been in the can for months and will launch, sources say, exclusively on BET+. Packer’s Peachtree Place — picked up as one of the first originals from new BET president Scott Mills in April 2018 — is a 10-episode comedy that follows five 30-somethings living in Atlanta as they try to build their personal and professional lives. It was originally slated to air on the linear network. Sources say the comedy will be redeveloped with an edgier take and new title.
In addition to originals from Viacom’s cable brands, the service will feature new content from Perry that stems from a multiple-year partnership the prolific producer inked with Viacom back in July 2017. Perry’s deal with Viacom did not officially start until May of this year, after his pact with OWN expired.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Kevin Hart Sued By Woman Who Claims His Security Fractured Her Face
When it comes to being a “comedic rock star” it’s no surprise that Kevin Hart employs top of the line security, yet based on a new lawsuit it appears that on one occasion his bodyguards may have needed to show more restraint and self-control.
Sure enough, it’s been alleged that Hart’s security left a woman with a broken face after she was pushed on an NYC sidewalk to make room for the actor as he left a film screening, all the while she was apparently minding her own business as she walked across the street.
The woman, identified as Carmen Marrero, alleges that Hart was leaving a screening of “The Upside” when his bodyguards started shoving people out of the way to clear a path, leaving her to be pushed to the ground while being caught in the fray.
From there, the impact is said to have left Marrero with a fractured face, thus she’s now suing Hart, his production company, and SAG-AFTRA for assault and battery while asking for an undisclosed amount of damages.
Source: TMZ, Vlad TV
Kevin Hart Lands In New ‘Scrooged’ Remake
A Christmas Carol is the gift that keeps on giving to Hollywood.
Paramount and Kevin Hart have teamed up to develop a remake of Scrooged, the 1988 Christmas comedy that starred Bill Murray and was directed by Richard Donner.
The update is being eyed as a potential acting vehicle for Hart, who will produce via his Hartbeat Productions. A search for a writer to pen the script is underway.
Scrooged was a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, centering on a selfish television executive, played by Murray, who is visited by various ghosts who help him regain his Christmas spirit. Also in the cast were Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait and Robert Mitchum.
The movie was a moderate box office hit when it was released but has become a cult hit and Christmas fixture. One reason for the long-lasting appeal is the movie’s irreverent but still heartfelt take on the Dickens material, which has been adapted for screens big and small numerous times, with performers ranging from Marcel Marceau to Jim Carrey to even Mickey Mouse taking on the characters.
Hart is currently gearing up to shoot Fatherhood, Sony’s adaptation of the weepy best-seller Two Kisses for Maddie, which Paul Weitz is directing this summer. Hart is also among the project’s producers.
He is one of the voice stars of The Secret Life of Pets 2, which Universal and Illumination open Friday, and next appears on the big screen in the sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which opens December.
Hart is repped by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment and Schreck Rose.
Source; The Hollywood Reporter
John Legend, Joins Tiffany Haddish, Common, Marlon Wayans, NE-YO And More On IFC’S New Variety/Sketch Series Titled ‘ Sherman’s Showcase’
NEW YORK – June 7, 2019 – IFC announced today the star-studded guest star roster for Sherman’s Showcase, the network’s new variety sketch series created by and starring Diallo Riddle (Marlon, Rise) and Bashir Salahuddin (GLOW, Snatched) and executive produced by John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. and RadicalMedia. The series premieres Wednesday, July 31st at 10PM only on IFC.
A who’s who of movies, music, sports and entertainment, the series boasts two EGOT winners, and multiple award-winning artists, actors and entertainers. Guest starring in the series’ first season are (alphabetically): Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor; Emmy®-, GRAMMY®– and Oscar®-winner Common, Morris Day, Emmy®-winner Tiffany Haddish, Lil Rel Howery, Emmy®-, GRAMMY®-, Oscar®– and Tony®-winner Quincy Jones, Emmy®-winner Mike Judge, Kenny and Keith Lucas, Emmy®-, GRAMMY®-, Oscar®– and Tony®-winner John Legend, Nigel Lythgoe, Curt Menefee, Vic Mensa, Tawny Newsome, GRAMMY®-winner Ne-Yo, Ray Parker, Jr., Mario Van Peebles, Damon Wayans, Jr., Marlon Wayans and Bresha Webb.
Drawing inspiration from dance/variety shows Solid Gold, Soul Train and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh–In, each episode of Sherman’s Showcase is hosted by Sherman McDaniels (Salahuddin) as he takes viewers through time via music and comedy drawn from the 40-year library of a legendary (but fictional) musical variety show. Whether it’s a questionably-attired funk super group in the 1970s, an up-and-coming MC in the 1980s or an R&B diva from the 1990s, Sherman’s Showcase has it all: music, comedy, gameshow segments, political roundtables, commercial parodies, breakout hits destined to climb the charts, a dancing robot and a legendary host who’s been there from the beginning.
Known for their popular “Slow Jam the News,” “The History of Rap” and “Milky J” segments with Jimmy Fallon, the Emmy®-nominated Salahuddin and Riddle are writing partners who met at Harvard and have worked together on numerous projects including the Chicago-based series South Side for Comedy Central in which both Salahuddin and Riddle appear and serve as creators and executive producers.
Riddle and Salahuddin serve as executive producers on Sherman’s Showcase along with John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius through their Get Lifted Film Co. (Underground, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Frank Scherma and Jim Bouvet of RadicalMedia (Stan Against Evil, Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes).
The world premiere screening of Sherman’s Showcase will take place at the ATX Television Festival at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin on Sunday, June 9.
Tommy Davidson To Host The Hands And Hearts Of Hope Foundation At The Comedy Store
The World Famous Comedy Store to host Hands and Hearts of Hope Foundation for an evening of fun and fundraising Featuring Tommy Davidsons, Craig Robinson and Paul Rodriguez.
On Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 some of the most influential comics will come together for an unforgettable night of comedy and charity at the world famous Comedy Store. This very special evening will benefit the Hands and Hearts of Hope Foundation, The Comedians Assistance Fund and the Cancer Support Community Los Angeles.
The evening will be hosted by Tommy Davidson and feature appearances and performances by Paul Rodriguez, Craig Robinson, Bobby Lee, Chris Spencer, Kirk Fox (Showtime Special) and Benji Brown.
The Hearts and Hands of Hope Foundation was started by Patti Raynor and Michael Hubbard. Patti’s 35 years of service in the charity space and Michaels experience as an entertainment executive bring heart resources and a committed board and team to help provide immediate responsive outreach to people in critical need regardless or age or circumstance. They will work to create and provide programs to help transform the life’s of others and seek to mentor and support the less fortunate. Red carpet arrivals start at 7pm with the door to the show at 8pm.
For more information on Hands and Hearts of Hope please visit
TV One Announces July Summer Movie Series w/ Bow Wow, Malinda Williams, MC Lyte, Deitrick Haddon & More
TV One brings chills and thrills every Sunday night this July with four original movie premieres themed LOVE, LIES & MURDER. Inspired by actual events, the network that brought viewers “WHEN LOVE KILLS” and the popular true crime series “FATAL ATTRACTION,” delivers a series of stories that explore the dark side of love including deceit, betrayal, obsession and jealousy. TV One’s month of LOVE, LIES & MURDER features: SINS OF THE FATHER debuting Sunday, July 7 at 8 p.m./7C; IN BROAD DAYLIGHT premiering Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m./7C; LOVED TO DEATH airing Sunday, July 21 at 8 p.m./7C; and DEADLY DISPATCH premiering Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m./7C.
Sparked by real events, SINS OF THE FATHER features Deitrick Haddon (The Gospel), A.J. Johnson (Baby Boy), Clifton Powell (Ray), Terayle Hill (Merry Wishmas) and Angela Davis (I Feel Pretty). The movie follows Clarence Burnett (Haddon) a pastor in Atlanta who’s happily married to Karen (Davis). The couple’s world is torn apart when Karen is brutally murdered outside their Atlanta home, sending shock waves through their close-knit community. As police delve deeper into the Burnett’s inner circle, they discover secret lives filled with lust, cruelty and unearth a sinful conspiracy of biblical proportions.
Premiere: Sunday, July 7 at 8 p.m. ET/7C; Encore: Sunday, July 7 at 10 p.m.
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, starring and executive produced by Shad “Bow Wow” Moss (Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta), Chyna Lane (She’s Gotta Have It – Series) and Curtis Hamilton (Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le), tells the story of Jordan Boudreaux (Lane), who gets abducted by her obsessed and estranged boyfriend Steve (Hamilton). Jordan’s family rallies the community while her closest cousin, Malik (Moss), makes it his personal mission to find and bring her home safely. The family, community and police band together to find Jordan before it’s too late.
Premiere: Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET/7C; Encore: Sunday, July 14 at 10 p.m.
Inspired by TV One’s true crime programming, LOVED TO DEATH stars Malinda Williams (Girlfriends’ Getaway), MC Lyte (Girls Trip), McKinley Freeman (Hit the Floor), Tobias Truvillion (Empire) and Chrystee Pharris (Media). The film charts a newly engaged couple whose lives are cut short when they are suddenly gunned down by a crazed ex-lover at a toll booth. Upon meeting and falling in love with Dre (Truvillion), Monica (Williams) leaves a long term abusive relationship with Jackson (Freeman) to be with her new love. Tune in to find out how a once loving relationship turned deadly.
Premiere: Sunday, July 21 at 8 p.m. ET/7C; Encore: Sunday, July 21 at 10 p.m.
DEADLY DISPATCH stars Tamala Jones (Castle), Dominique Perry (Insecure) and Rapper Bone Crusher (ATL). The film chronicles the tragic murder of Shawn (Bone Crusher), a well-liked owner of a struggling taxi company. Tiffany (Jones) is a local salon owner and Shawn’s longtime, high-school best friend who becomes intertwined in the puzzling circumstances surrounding his death. Unsatisfied with the police’s classification of the case being a “robbery gone wrong,” Tiffany becomes suspicious of Shawn’s grieving widow Amber (Perry). Motivated to find out what really happened to her friend that fateful day, Tiffany embarks on a quest that will not only endanger her strained marriage, but her life as well. Will she be able to come to terms with a deep secret shared between her and Shawn while seeking justice?
Premiere: Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ET/7C; Encore: Sunday, July 28 at 10 p.m.
SINS OF THE FATHER is directed by Jamal Hill and written by Katrina O’Gilvie. Produced for TV One by Swirl Films, Eric Tomosunas served as executive producer with Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick, Ron Robinson and Darien Baldwin as producers. Leah Daniels Butler and George Pierre served as Casting Directors. For TV One, Karen Peterkin is Executive Producer in Charge-of-Production; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming.
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT is directed by Kenn Michael and written by Scott Mullen. Produced for TV One by InvenTV, Sergio Alfaro and Michaline Babich served as executive producers with AJ Tesler as a producer. Shad “Bow Wow” Moss also served as Executive Producer. Casting was provided by Leah Daniels-Butler. For TV One, Gold Morgan is Executive Producer in Charge-of-Production; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming.
LOVED TO DEATH is directed by Lee Davis and written by Chad Quinn. Produced for TV One by Asylum Productions, David Rimawi served as executive producer with David Michael as producer. Scotty Mullen served as casting director. For TV One, Karen Peterkin is Executive Producer in Charge-of-Production; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming.
DEADLY DISPATCH is directed by Morenike Joela and written by Sadé Sellers. Produced for TV One by Swirl Films, Eric Tomosunas served as executive producer with James Seppelfrick, Darien Baldwin and Keith Neal as producers. Casting was provided by Leah Daniels Butler with George Pierre serving as Casting Director. For TV One, Jason Ryan is Executive Producer in Charge-of-Production, Donyell McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting, and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming and Production.
ABC Looking To Turn ‘Live In Front Of A Studio Audience’ Into A Franchise
Following the success of Live in Front of a Studio Audience, Jimmy Kimmel’s live staging on Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons last month, ABC is looking to turn it into an event franchise.
The network’s President of Entertainment Karey Burke revealed that 22M had watched the special since its May 25 premiere.
“It is something that we looked at as a franchise if it worked, and we didn’t know if it would work,” she said. “We didn’t know if people would still care and it was nice they did. With something like that we would look to return it, not on a weekly basis, I think these things are tentpoles around which we can build sustaining weekly scripted programming, to use as a big circulation play.
Kimmel’s passion project handed ABC a win on the final night of the 2018-19 season by strong margins. From 8-9:30 PM ET, ABC’s live, star-strewn Lear sitcoms reboot averaged 10.36 million viewers and a 1.7 demo rating in Live+Same Day to outstrip all broadcast primetime competition. It also totalled 15 million combined viewers when including Live+3 and a Saturday repeat. This was above the point six that Kimmel joked to Burke that it might receive.
Speaking at the HRTS The Network Chiefs lunch, Burke added, “We’ve been leaning really hard into live event programming. It introduced a whole new generation of people to those shows and those themes in a way that hadn’t been done before and I don’t know if that’s something that would have been as relevant on streaming.”
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons starred Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes among many others including Jennifer Hudson’s belting out of The Jefferson’s “Movin On Up” theme song and Marla Gibbs’ surprise appearance reprising her role as George and Louise Jefferson’s maid Florence Johnston.
All in the Family originally ran on CBS from 1971 through 1979, starring Carol O’Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker, and tackling then-controversial subjects such as women’s rights, racism and homosexuality. Its ratings success launched a spinoff, The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from ’75 to ’85.
Source: Deadline
Machine Gun Kelly Lands In New Universal’s Untitled Judd Apatow-Pete Davidson Comedy
Colson Baker aka rapper Machine Gun Kelly will be working with Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson again on the big screen in the latter’s Untitled Judd Apatow/Pete Davidson Comedy at Universal.
Earlier this year, Baker and Davidson starred in Jason Orley’s indie comedy Big Time Adolescence which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The Apatow/Davidson movie rounds out a busy summer for Baker. As Machine Gun Kelly, he’ll be releasing his fourth studio album “Hotel Diablo” later this month and will be starting a worldwide tour. Next up, Baker can be seen in Netflix’s Untitled Henry & Rel Sci-Fi Project opposite Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He’ll also soon begin production on Punk with Cara Delevigne, a title that was announced at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Recent credits include Focus Features’ Captive State and the Netflix Motley Crue movie The Dirt as drummer Tommy Lee.
Machine Gun Kelly’s 2012 album “Lace Up” debuted at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart selling north of 180K copies. His second studio album “General Admission” debuted at No. 4 stateside in 2015. Kelly’s single “Bad Things” with Camia Cabello peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest charting single.
In the Apatow/Davidson movie, Baker joins the growing cast of Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow and Pamela Adlon. Baker is repped by Paradigm, Ashleigh Veverka and Byron Kirkland.
Universal Senior Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers is overseeing the Apatow/Davidson project at the studio. Cameras roll this summer for a release date of June 19, 2020. In addition to directing, Apatow is producing under his Apatow Productions alongside Barry Mendel.
Source: Deadline
WATCH: What If Raven-Symoné Was In ‘Get Out’?
Have you ever thought what it would be like if the iconic 2000s character, Raven Baxter (Raven-Symoné), was in Jordan Peele’s game-changing horror film, Get Out.
It’s an unlikely combination, but it is one that is an absolute hoot in this recent viral video on Twitter. The impersonation is spot-on as Raven visits Chelsea’s house and finds out things may not be as they seem.
The mastermind of the video is Jaylin Eaves, an LA-based actress and comedian. She came up with the video while working on an upcoming audition. “I’ve been working on my characters for an upcoming audition and I love Raven. She inspired me to act. I used to keep track of how many times I watched her show as a kid because I just loved it so much,” she told Shadow And Act. “I could recite almost every word from any That’s So Raven episode, so I knew I wanted to do an impression of her, and I just thought her in Get Out would be funny. I wrote the script in about 3 minutes and just went for it on my couch. It didn’t get passed to submit for my audition, so I decided to post it.”
Eaves said she didn’t expect the response on Twitter and wasn’t even going to post it to the social media platform at first. She told us, “Initially, I only posted it on Instagram because I’m not very active on Twitter, so it wasn’t my first thought. But I wanted it on all my social media accounts, so I changed my mind and thankfully so. I posted it and went to work so I wasn’t paying attention. I checked back later and my notifications were blowing up so fast. I had no idea this would happen. Everyone is so supportive of tagging Raven on the post too, so I”m hoping she sees it.”
Eaves hopes to get involved with everything — including sketches, touring, writing and directing, with hopes that she can make all of this a reality for her soon.
Actress And Comedian Erica Ash Lands In New Thriller ‘Skin In The Game’
Earlier today website Shadow and Act debuted the new trailer for the upcoming film, Skin in The Game. Set for a theatrical release soon, it premiered at Urbanworld Film Festival last September.
The description: Abducted off the sidewalk of suburban America, fifteen-year-old Dani finds herself trapped in the horrific underground world of human trafficking. With no initial assistance from the police, Dani’s mother and an ex-prostitute take to the streets in an effort to find her before it is too late.
Directed by Adisa in his feature directorial debut, the film stars Erica Ash, Elisabeth Harnois, Angélica Celaya, Sammi Hanratty.
