‘Netflix Is A Joke’ Comedy Channel Sets SiriusXM Launch
SiriusXM and Netflix announced the launch of Netflix Is a Joke Radio, a full-time comedy channel piggybacking on the streamer’s stand-up comedy lineup. The channel, debuting April 15, marks the first time Netflix has teamed with another subscription-media company to distribute content.
Netflix Is a Joke Radio is available on satellite radio channel 93 to subscribers of SiriusXM’s XM Select ($15.99 per month) and XM All Access ($20.99 per month). All Access customers also can listen to the linear feed as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM app, online and in vehicles equipped with the SiriusXM 360L radio.
The channel will feature highlights from comedians in Netflix’s comedy specials, including Adam Sandler, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, Gabriel Iglesias, Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, Ken Jeong, Ricky Gervais, Sarah Silverman, Sebastian Maniscalco, Trevor Noah and Wanda Sykes.
In addition, segments from Netflix’s future stand-up specials will debut on Netflix Is a Joke Radio. The channel also will broadcast clips of Netflix’s comedy talk shows and other comedic content from the service, and is slated to introduce an original daily talk show featuring celebrity guests and comedians discussing pop culture and current events.
The companies previously announced a pact for the channel last summer. Originally, Netflix’s comedy channel on SiriusXM was slated to debut in January.
“Netflix Is A Joke Radio on SiriusXM will be an audio extension of our award-winning stand-up comedy on Netflix,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in announcing the launch. “We are thrilled to feature some of the greatest and funniest performers in the world with highlights from Netflix shows as well as original programming that further celebrates the art of comedy, and we are excited to do this in partnership with SiriusXM.”
The new channel with Netflix launches as SiriusXM continues to grow its comedy programming. That includes Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio Channel, for which Hart hosts a regular show, as well as a regular series with Ricky Gervais. Other original comedy programs on SiriusXM include those hosted by Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy, Jim Norton & Sam Roberts, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Nikki Glaser. The satellite and streaming radio company also has produced audio documentaries on comedians such as Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Garry Shandling.
Watch the sizzle reel for “Netflix Is a Joke Radio”:
WATCH: New Trailer For Live Version Of ‘The Lion King’ Released!
Disney’s “The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau (“The Jungle Book”), journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Staying true to the classic story, director Jon Favreau utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way. Featuring the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, Disney’s “The Lion King” opens in U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019.
‘Hart Of The City’ To Debut 3rd Season This June!
We just discovered the news that the third season on Comedy Central‘s hit comedy/ documentary show Hart Of The City, Executive Produced by Kevin Hart, is set to debut June 14th!
This new season the show hit San Diego, Oakland, Dallas, New Orleans, Cleveland, St Louis, Rochester NY., and Baltimore and showcased some talent from each.
Stay tuned for more details soon!
‘Black Panther’ Costumer Ruth E. Carter On Board For ‘Coming To America 2’
The first black Academy Award recipient for costume design is now working on ‘Coming to America 2.’
Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter has signed with WME, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned. The agency will work with the Oscar winner in all areas, including lectures (she is an in-demand speaker).
Carter’s deeply researched work on real-life African dress for the Marvel blockbuster made her the first black costume designer to win an Academy Award. She earlier was the first black costume design Oscar nominee, for 1992’s Malcolm X, and received her second nomination for 1997’s Amistad.
During New York Fashion Week in February, WME sister company IMG and Harlem’s Fashion Row saluted Carter’s 35-year, 40-film career with a curated installation of some of her most iconic looks (including 1989’s Do the Right Thing, 2000’s Shaft and 2014’s Selma), alongside reinterpretations by British stylist Ibrahim Kamara.
Earlier on Monday, Carter revealed on social media that she is now at work on the Coming to America sequel, posing alongside returning stars Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall.
🗣🗣GOOD MORNING MY NEIGHBORS! It’s official! Preliminary fitting for Coming to America 2 with Prince Akeem, Semmi and Oscar. pic.twitter.com/KcGbwcRXW1
Stephen Curry Teaming Up With ABC On Mini-Golf Competition Series
Stephen Curry is set to swap out his preferred basketball for an altogether smaller one.
The NBA star is teaming up with ABC to produce and star in “Holey Moley,” a mini-golf competition series which will showcase self-proclaimed mini-golf lovers from around the country as they compete head-to-head on the course.
Curry will serve as executive producer and resident golf pro on the “Holey Moley” course. The on-camera talent will also include “Hangover” star Rob Riggle, who will bring color commentary, ABC and ESPN sportscaster Joe Tessitore, who will act as a play-by-play commentator, and fashion expert and “The Real” co-host Jeannie Mai, who will be a sideline correspondent.
“Everyone has a favorite memory of playing miniature golf, whether it was as a child with your family, with a group of friends as a teenager, or on an awkward first date. Take that feeling, add high stakes competition and out-of-this-world challenges, and we have no doubt ‘Holey Moley’ will stand alongside other golf classics like ‘Caddyshack,’ ‘Happy Gilmore’ and ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance,’” said Rob Mills, SVP of Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night at ABC.
In each of the first season’s 10 episodes, 12 contestants will put their miniature golf skills to the test and try their luck on the “Holey Moley” course’s supersized holes. Every episode will consist of three rounds of golf, culminating with three finalists taking on the daunting “Mt. Holey Moley” finale in a three-way contest. Ultimately, one winner per episode will take home the $25,000 prize, along with “The Golden Putter” trophy and coveted “Holey Moley” plaid jacket. Uniquely themed holes will be featured every week, along with special celebrity guest appearances.
The show hails from Eureka Productions and Curry’s Unanimous Media outfit.
“Unanimous is incredibly excited to partner with ABC on ‘Holey Moley,’” said Jeron Smith, co-founder and CEO of Unanimous Media. “We aim to use entertainment as a vehicle to bring families together, and this show will surely bring laughter and enjoyment to households around the country. Miniature golf is a staple pastime and the show will be fun, intense and unpredictable. Our collective love of sports and family-centric entertainment made this a perfect project for our first television series.”
Curry co-founded Unanimous in 2018, with the aim of developing and producing TV, film and digital content with an emphasis on family, faith and sports.
Source: Variety
Sterling K. Brown To Star In True-Life Sports Drama ‘Rise’!
Kevin Rodney Sullivan will direct the pic, which has been dated for an Easter 2020 release.
Sterling K. Brown will star in the inspirational sports drama Rise.
The Emmy winner will play Willie Davis, a janitor at a Louisiana middle school who took over the boys’ basketball program — which was in danger of being canceled due to lack of funds — and led the team to the state championship. Davis’ real-life story has been covered in HBO’s Real Sports feature segments.
AFFIRM Films, Sony’s faith-based label that was behind the titles Miracles From Heaven and Heaven Is for Real, will produce in partnership with Crystal City Entertainment and Gulfstream Pictures.
Rise, which is set to begin filming in May in Louisiana, has been set for an April 10, 2020, release.
Kevin Rodney Sullivan (Guess Who) will direct the project for AFFIRM from a script by Randy Brown (Trouble With the Curve) and Gregory Allen Howard (Remember the Titans). Ari Pinchot, Stuart Avi Savitsky, Mike Karz and Bill Bindley will produce.
“Sports films typically teach us something more than just ‘sports.’ They leave us with a better understanding and knowledge of ourselves and what it takes to live our best life and lift up those around us, no matter the circumstances,” said Rich Peluso, head of AFFIRM.
“We have always been fascinated by stories that illustrate how one person can change the trajectory of a life or a community, and Willie had that impact on the people he coached,” said Crystal City’s Pinchot, with Gulfstream’s Karz and Bindley adding, “Willie’s story inspired and moved us the very first time we heard it. We are thrilled to be working with AFFIRM Films and Crystal City Entertainment. We all believe Kevin Rodney Sullivan is the perfect director to be bringing this story to life for a wide audience.”
“Willie Davis is a true American hero. I’m honored to tell his story on film, and there’s nothing better than having Sterling K. Brown play the role,” said Sullivan, who is a veteran television director, having recently helmed episodes of You, All American and the DC series Titans.
Brown, repped by Innovative, JWS Entertainment and Bloom Hergott, was most recently seen in the third season of NBC’s This Is Us, which just aired its season finale. His recent films credits include The Predator and Black Panther. Brown is set for Paramount’s The Rhythm Section and will voice-star in Sony’s Angry Birds II and Disney’s Frozen II.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Seven Bill Cosby Accusers Settle Defamation Suit Against Entertainer
In Massachusetts, an attorney for seven women told a federal judge on Friday that his clients are now satisfied by a settlement in a defamation suit against Bill Cosby for denying their stories of being sexually assaulted.
According to Cosby’s spokesperson, the settlement was made by Cosby’s insurer and that the comedian himself didn’t know about the deal. “He is not paying anything to anyone,” says Andrew Wyatt. “AIG decided to settle these cases, without the knowledge, permission and/or consent of Mr. Cosby.”
Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis, Louisa Moritz and Angela Leslie were part of the lawsuit originally filed in 2014. They alleged having their reputations tarnished when Cosby’s reps told news outlets that their rape claims were “fabricated,” “ridiculous” and “absurd,” among other comments.
In a big decision, the women in 2015 beat Cosby’s motion to dismiss. The judge ruled that the comments weren’t privileged as self-defense, were more than non-actionable opinion and that the women could plausibly show actual malice. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni decided that the comments by Cosby’s reps could be proved true or false despite other judges around the nation looking at the very same comments and concluding otherwise.
The case was then largely paused as Cosby faced criminal proceedings in Pennsylvania. The judge allowed limited discovery but otherwise decided that Cosby’s Fifth Amendment rights required that the criminal case proceed first. Last year, Cosby was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting Andrea Constand.
Cosby is appealing his criminal conviction, but in recent weeks, Judge Mastroianni indicated that he would lift the stay on the defamation case.
On Friday, Joseph Cammarata, an attorney for the women, reported a settlement but it doesn’t fully resolve the case.
That’s because Cosby has filed counterclaims against the women for defamation and interference in his NBC and Netflix deals.
Wyatt confirms that aspect.
“He is still pursuing his counterclaims,” says the spokesperson. “He maintains his innocence.”
Cammarata tells the judge if the stay of the case is lifted, he’ll be bringing a summary judgment motion arguing that Cosby can’t demonstrate actual malice, that Cosby’s request for punitive damages fail, and that the tortious interference claims are duplicative of defamation. Additionally, the attorney reports that of the dozens of women who came forward to accuse Cosby of drugging and raping them, one of those accusers is no longer living. According to court papers, Moritz is now deceased. Cammarata says a claim against her must accordingly fail. Cammarata also says he still intends to take Cosby’s deposition.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Comedy Central Inks First-Look Deal With Roy Wood Jr. For TV & New Media, Orders His Pilot ‘Jefferson County: Probation’
Veteran Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. has signed a first-look development deal with Comedy Central that covers content for television and new media. Under the pact, Woods will headline his third one-hour stand-up special for the network and will also write and star in an original digital series titled The Night Pigeon.
Separate from the new pact, Comedy Central has given a pilot green light to Wood’s Jefferson County: Probation, from Trevor Noah & Aaron McGruder. The project, which had been in the works at Comedy Central for a year, will film in Wood’shometown of Birmingham, AL, in May.
Written by Wood and Aaron McGruder (Boondocks), Jefferson County: Probation is based on Wood’s early life. It stars him as a probation officer willing to bend the rules to help the clients he monitors, much to the chagrin of his partner and everyone else in his life.
The pilot is executive produced by Wood, McGruder, Noah and Mainstay Entertainment’s Norman Aladjem and Derek Van Pelt. Millicent Shelton (Black-ish, Insecure, The Walking Dead) will direct.
The pickup of Woods’s third Comedy Central special follows the success of his first two. The second, Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You, premiered as part of Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Month in January and notched a .27 P18-49 L3 rating, making it the network’s highest-rated original stand-up premiere since his February 2017 one-hour, Roy Wood Jr.: Father Figure (.31).
Wood will write and star in the digital series The Night Pigeon. It tells the story of a black superhero with minimal powers fighting the biggest villains in his community, The Gentrifiers.
“Roy is the ultimate multi-hyphenate,” Sarah Babineau and Jonas Larsen, Comedy Central’s EVPs and co-heads of Talent and Development,.said a statement. “His top-notch skills as a stand-up comic, performer, writer and producer continue to amaze us – and he does it all while being one of the kindest humans in the business. His wry, observational humor speaks to social and political change and we’re so excited to have Roy join an incredible roster of talent who have chosen to make Comedy Central their home.”
Wood’s pact joins Comedy Central talent deals with Trevor Noah, Abbi Jacobson and Illana Glazer, Jim Jefferies, Chris Distefano, Bill Burr and Al Madrigal, and Anthony Jeselnik.
“It’s my pleasure to partner with a network that understands an artist’s need to take the creative road less traveled to mine humor from complicated social prisms such as jail reform and gentrification,” Wood said. “Excited to tell these stories in a new place (Birmingham) and even more excited to go on this journey with an African-American woman director at the helm. Comedy Central has proven to me to be the right place to take on this challenge. Also, my mom has a long list of chores for me to do. So it’ll be kinda cool to shoot at home.”
Wood joined Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as a correspondent in 2015. In 2017, he was named the new host of Comedy Central’s storytelling series This Is Not Happening, which returned with new episodes this past February. His first full comedy album, Things I Think, I Think: A Live Album, was released in 2013.
Source: Deadline
Sketch: Kit Harington Of ‘Game Of Thrones’ Fame Endures Walk Of Shame With Leslie Jones
Saturday Night Live‘s Leslie Jones has no shame when it comes to her Game of Thrones obsession, even to the point of forcing this week’s guest host Kit Harington to reenact Cersei’s famous walk. Apparently even Jones couldn’t convince Harington or NBC’s censors to go full-Cersei, though: Jon Snow is clothed in some sort of sackcloth long johns get-up for his Walk of Shame.
This week’s promo begins with Jones doing some makeshift, DIY Thrones re-creations with dolls, action figures and a dragon puppet. A none-too-pleased Harington, in oven mitts and a bad cape, storms out, only to suffer the consequences: The walk of shame, with Jones, in evil nun garb, tolling the bell and chanting the chant.
Harington’s April 6 hosting gig marks his first SNL appearance. The episode arrives a week before the April 14 return of Game of Thrones on HBO. SNL‘s musical guest is Broadway’s Waitress creator Sara Bareilles, also making her SNL debut.
Source: Deadline
‘Boomerang’ And ‘American Soul’ Renewed At BET
BET is committed to its new scripted originals.
The Viacom-owned cable network has handed out second-season renewal orders to the comedy Boomerang and the drama American Soul.
“BET Networks is so proud to be the television home for the compelling scripted series Boomerang and American Soul,” BET president Scott Mills said Tuesday in a statement. “Our continued partnership demonstrates BET’s commitment to the elevation of creative and authentic storytelling that viewers expect from the brand.”
The news comes the same day that American Soul — inspired by the life of Soul Train mastermind Don Cornelius — wraps its freshman season. The series ranks as the top cable scripted drama among BET’s core audience of African-Americans 18-49 and total viewers. It stars Sinqua Walls and hails from Jesse Collins Entertainment.
“The partnership and creative trust of Tony Cornelius and everyone at Jesse Collins Entertainment resonated with audiences in a significant way and ensured American Soul‘s success. BET Networks is invested in showcasing black excellence in our programming and we look forward to digging even deeper into the incredible legacy of Don Cornelius and Soul Train in season two,” said Connie Orlando, head of programming at BET.
Boomerang, meanwhile, is a sequel to the film of the same name that takes place 25 years after the events of the original. The penultimate episode of the comedy airs Tuesday. The series counts Lena Waithe and original star Halle Berry among its exec producers. Boomerang is a co-production between BET and Paramount Television. The series is cable’s No. 1 new scripted comedy among African-Americans in the key adults 18-49 demo and total viewers.
“Making Boomerang has been one of the highlights of my career and the positive feedback we’ve gotten from fans and critics has been so validating. I’m beyond excited to dive even deeper into these characters’ lives in season two,” said Waithe, who penned Tuesday’s episode.
Boomerang and American Soul were the first two new series to be ordered by Mills, who was tapped to take over for Debra Lee in December 2017. His goal has been to increase originals by 21 percent with new scripted series and movies, while also leveraging relationships with prominent African-American writers and producers as well as Viacom’s corporate siblings. BET’s scripted roster also includes the upcoming series-finale movie of Being Mary Jane, TV Land and Paramount Network transplant First Wives Club, In Contempt and Peachtree Place, among others.
BET is one of Viacom’s core networks and top priorities to rejuvenate under CEO Bob Bakish.
