CLEO TV And AFRO TV Lauded At Reception At The Newseum In Washington, D.C.
Comcast hosted a star-studded reception commemorating the launch of two new networks including CLEO TV at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night. Launched in January 2019, CLEO TV offers multicultural young women a destination for content centered around travel, home design, relationships, finances, cooking, talk shows, movies, docu-series, sitcoms and much more. CLEO TV is broadly distributed on Comcast and Spectrum. The event also recognized the launch of AFRO TV, another independent network with a diverse majority ownership offered on Comcast platforms.
Guests at Thursday’s event enjoyed music, a live performance by The String Queens and refreshments, and were joined by a host of CLEO TV talent, media and communications movers and shakers and tastemakers. Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, National Newspaper Publishers Association President Ben Chavis, National Association of Black Journalists President Sarah Glover, President/CEO of National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications Shuanise Washington, Washington Association of Black Journalists President Donna Walker, March on Washington Film Festival Producer Broderick Johnson, Democratic National Committee African American and Women’s Outreach Director Waikinya Clanton, and U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. President/CEO Ron Busby, were among notable guests at the reception.
CLEO TV executives in attendance included Urban One Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes, Urban One Chairman/CEO Alfred Liggins, III, General Manager Michelle Rice, EVP of Ad Sales and Marketing Rahsan-Rahsan Lindsay, VP of Programming and Production Robyn Greene Arrington, in addition to other key CLEO TV team members.
Celebrity attendees included Sister Circle co-hosts Rashan Ali, Syleena Johnson and Trina Braxton, the cast of TOUGH LOVE (Ebony Obsidian, Natalie Jacobs, Malik Rashad, Jordan Ryan Barton, Verina Banks), Chef Jernard Wells (CLEO TV Co-Host, NEW SOUL KITCHEN), Chef JJ (CLEO TV Host, JUST EATS WITH CHEF JJ), Tai Beauchamp (CLEO TV Co-Host, LENS OF CULTURE) and April Reign (CLEO SPEAKS). AFRO TV executives and talent were also in attendance.
For more information on CLEO TV, visit CLEO TV’s YouTube Channel and check out exclusive, behind-the-scenes content on www.mycleo.tv. Viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on CLEO TV’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@mycleotv) using the hashtag #CLEOTV.
Pictured here is the founder of Radio One Inc, now Urban One Cathy Hughes and her son Alfred Liggins, here with TV One GM Michelle Rice on the red carpet.
Pictured here is the Yves Bollanga, founder and CEO of Afrotainment and Afro TV along with his wife at the event.
Pictured here is television host Kaya Chipungu of the show Point Of View on the red carpet at the event.
Pictured here is television host of Style Check Katrina Lee Jones on the red carpet at the event.
Pictured here is TV One GM Michelle Rice on the red carpet at the event.
Andy Garcia Joins Kenan Thompson In New NBC Comedy!
NBC just landed one of the biggest names this pilot season.
Andy Garcia, who has fielded multiple broadcast offers over the past few pilot seasons, has been tapped to star alongside Kenan Thompson in NBC’s comedy pilot from Lorne Michaels.
Formerly called Saving Kenan and now called The Kenan Show, the single-camera comedy stars the Saturday Night Live favorite as a newly widowed dad determined to be everything for his kids while begrudgingly letting his persistent father-in-law become more involved in their lives.
Garcia (the Ocean’s franchise, The Godfather: Part III) will portray Percy, Kenan’s father-in-law and a retired police officer. Jackie Clarke (NBC’s Superstore) penned the script and will executive produce the comedy alongside SNL mastermind Michaels and his Universal Television-based Broadway Video banner topper Andrew Singer. Thompson will be credited as an executive producer in addition to starring.
Should The Kenan Show be picked up to series — which now, given the star wattage with Garcia attached, seems increasingly likely — Thompson would exit SNL, where he currently ranks as the NBC variety show’s longest-running castmember. The actor, who won his first Emmy last year for SNL, has been with the sketch comedy for 16 seasons.
Repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Garcia next appears in an episode of Amazon’s anthology Modern Love and counts HBO’s My Dinner With Herve and Ballers and features including What About Love, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Passengers and Ghostbusters among his recent credits.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Cardi B, Keke Palmer, Join Lili Reinhart, Julia Stiles For Strip Club Drama Titled ‘Hustlers’
STXfilms has signed Cardi B, Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, Julia Stiles, and Mercedes Ruehl to join strip club drama “Hustlers,” starring Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez.
The film will be directed by Lorene Scafaria (“The Meddler”). Mette Towley and Trace Lysette (“Transparent”) are also in negotiations to join the film.
The project, originally set up at Annapurna as “Hustlers at Scores,” is inspired by a New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler. It’s set in New York City in the wake of the financial crisis and follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. The film begins shooting on March 22 in New York.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this dynamic group of women,” said Scafaria. “We’re grateful to have assembled such a powerhouse cast and can’t wait to start filming at the end of the week.”
STXfilms is producing alongside Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina, who previously collaborated with the studio on the 2018 romantic-comedy “Second Act,” as well as Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and Jessica Elbaum for Gloria Sanchez Productions. Kate Vorhoff and Catherine Hagedorn are overseeing the film’s production for the studio. STXinternational is handling international distribution and distributing directly in the U.K. and Ireland.
Cardi B is represented by CAA; Reinhart is represented by UTA and Anonymous Content; Palmer is represented by 3 Arts, UTA, and Cari Davine at Hertz Lichtenstein & Young; Stiles is represented by Untitled Entertainment, the Gersh Agency, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; and Ruehl is represented by Sue Leibman/Barking Dog Entertainment and Peikoff-Mahan Law Offices. Towley is represented by 3 Arts and WME and Lysette is represented by ICM Partners and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano.
Source: Variety
Issa Rae Lands Dramatic Role With LaKeith Stanfield In Stella Meghie’s ‘The Photograph’
Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield will star in Universal’s “The Photograph,” sources tell Variety.
Stella Meghie will direct and Will Packer will produce for his eponymous production company.
The romantic drama centers on intertwining love stories in the past and present. Universal is very high on the pic after Meghie impressed execs with her original script so much so that they tapped her to direct as well. She is also on board to exec produce.
Will Packer Productions’ James Lopez will produce, while Rae executive produces. Senior vice president of production Sara Scott and creative executive Mika Pryce will oversee production for Universal.
Rae’s film career has taken off following the success of her HBO series “Insecure,” which she also exec produces. During the show’s hiatus, Rae has stayed busy on the movie front with her other Universal comedy, “Little,” bowing next month and Fox 2000’s “The Hate U Give,” which opened last fall. She recently finished production on the Paramount comedy “The Lovebirds,” which she also exec produced. She is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Stanfield has also been active both on the big and small screen with his TV series “Atlanta” finishing its second season on FX last year. On the film side, LaKeith appeared in the critically acclaimed “Sorry to Bother You,” as well as Sony’s “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.” He recently finished production on Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out,” the Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” and Netflix’s “Someone Great.” He is repped by CAA and Stark Management.
Meghie’s helmed “Everything, Everything” as well as “The Weekend.” She is repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves.
Source: Variety
Denzel Washington To Star In Cop Thriller Titled ‘Little Things’!
Denzel Washington is in talks to star in the thriller “Little Things” for Warner Bros., sources tell Variety.
“The Blind Side” and “The Highwaymen” director John Lee Hancock is board to write. He’s also being eyed to direct, though a deal for that has not yet been closed.
The story follows a burned-out Kern County deputy sheriff named Deke, played by Washington, who teams with a crack LASD detective, Baxter, to reel in a wily serial killer. Deke’s nose for the “little things” proves eerily accurate, but his willingness to circumvent the rules embroils Baxter in a soul-shattering dilemma. Meanwhile, Deke must wrestle with a dark secret from his past.
Insiders tell Variety that Washington had been weighing several options as his next project, including directing the Sony pic “Journal of Jordan,” which Michael B. Jordan recently joined. Ultimately, a recent meeting with Hancock led Washington to choosing “Little Things” as his next project.
Washington rarely rushes to a decision, and his commitment to the film will likely lead the studio to look for another A-lister as his co-star, with hopes to begin production by this summer.
Washington was most recently seen in his first sequel, “The Equalizer 2,” which went on to become another hit for the actor, grossing $190 million worldwide, including $102 million at the domestic box office.
Source: Variety
WATCH: ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sketch Of R Kelly And Gayle King Interview
One day after CBS News aired Gayle King’s sit-down with musician and accused sexual predator R. Kelly, “Saturday Night Live” delivered its own take on the interview.
In the Mar. 9 cold open of the late-night NBC sketch show, cast member Leslie Jones portrayed King while cast member Kenan Thompson portrayed Kelly. Thompson as Kelly said that “people think he’s some type of monster” and he wanted to do the interview to “remove all the doubt.”
“My lawyer was telling me no, but my ego — my ego was telling me yes,” he said, before asking Jones as King to call him “victim” instead of his given name.
The sketch traveled through the allegations against Kelly, including that he “likes to go No. 1,” “has a harem of young girls” and “started a cult.”
“Look, I made a lot of mistakes in my life. Maybe I can’t read or write or math,” he said.
When asked about the Lifetime docuseries that features past people in Kelly’s life accusing him of the same things, the lights warmed and an orchestral score floated in. Thompson started to sing, “It’s 10-o’clock in the morning and I’m talking to Oprah’s friend. If I can just get through this, everybody’s going to love me again.”
He also sang about having to “switch directions” and “get some sympathy back” after Jones as King asked why he owed so much back child support. He claimed to be broke and then questioned if they should save some things for the interview. When Jones as King pointed out the interview was underway, he noticed the cameras for the first time, saying, “You just keep your cameras out in the open like that? Y’all some freaks.”
Ultimately, he leaned on the fact that anyone could start a rumor about any celebrity by pushing a button on their phone and saying “R. Kelly did this to me — and then attach a video of me doing that thing, and people will believe you. It’s scary.”
“I really want to laugh right now but I can’t tell if this is a prank on you or a prank on me,” Jones as King said.
Thompson as Kelly implored Jones as King to “think for a minute” about why he would do the things he was accused of. “I gave you ‘Trapped in a Closet,’ ‘Feelin’ on Yo Booty,’ ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number’ and so many other clues, and this is how you repay me!?” he said.
Source: Variety
Luenell Gets Featured On Showtime’s ‘Funny WOmen Of A Certain Age’!
Fran Drescher headlines FUNNY WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE a new comedy special premiering Friday, March 23 at 9/8c. Carole Montgomery, Luenell, Lynne Koplitz, Kerri Louise and Vanessa Hollingshead round out the lineup for the first television comedy special to feature six female comics over the age of 50. The outrageous hour-long special was filmed at The Bell House in Brooklyn.
Straight from the uninhibited mouths of some of the funniest, most daring and most experienced people in comedy, FUNNY WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE presents women who have seen it all through their careers in the comedy world and are sharing it all on stage as they break down the walls of ageism and sexism in each hilarious set.
FUNNY WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE is a monthly comedy showcase in New York and Los Angeles hosted by Montgomery, who is a well-known fixture on the comedy scene, performing for over 40 years. She’s made numerous television appearances including Politically Incorrect and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, starred in two long-running Las Vegas revues and made nearly a dozen tours around the world for Armed Forces Entertainment performing for our troops. Drescher is best known for her titular role on The Nanny and her autobiographical series Happily Divorced. Luenell is not only a touring comedian but a television star with credits including SNOOP DOGG’S BAD GIRLS OF COMEDY, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Middle. In addition to her touring schedule, Louise was a finalist on Last Comic Standing, leading to her own reality show Two Funny. Hollingshead is an accomplished actor, performance artist and writer with a television pilot currently in the works called Take My Life, Please! Koplitz, a self-proclaimed lifelong bachelorette, most recently had her own comedy special in 2017 with Lynne Koplitz: Hormonal Beast.
FUNNY WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE is a Killer Bunny Entertainment production. Carole Montgomery, Dave Goldberg, Robert Cea and Evan Shapiro serve as executive producers.
‘The April Fool’s Comedy Jam’ At The Barclays Center Reveals An All Star Line Up!
April Fools Comedy Jam gets bigger every year as the best stand-up comics from around the country will descend on Barclays Center on Friday, April 12 to provide top-notch comedy. The jam-packed show headlines Sheryl Underwood, best known as co-host of the CBS daytime talk show “The Talk.”
April Fools Comedy Jam has it all, with an exciting mix of award-winning comics to internet sensations, working together to offer a stellar comedy show. The top-caliber comedian line-up features Michael Blackson, Lil Rel, Bill Bellamy, Affion Crockett, Luenell, Tony Roberts, AJ Johnson, HaHa Davis, Majah Hype and more. The show ensures a night of rapid-fire laughs, hosted by MTV’s comedian Rip Micheals, known for jaw-dropping performance and crowd interactions.
The show is loaded up with hilarious non-stop performances to suit everybody’s comedic tastes. More information regarding this high-energy comedy show is available at www.aprilfoolscomedyjam.com. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
DL Hughley Will Be This Week’s Featured Guest On TV One’s Unsung!
One of the Original King’s of Comedy, DL Hughley was raised a Jehovah’s Witness in Los Angeles and no stranger to his neighborhood gangs, which provided a sense of structure, family and community. His sister’s teenage pregnancy led him to leave the church, giving him a crash course in resiliency that later helped him while pursuing his comedy career.
DL dropped out of high school, joined the LAPD Academy, quit and eventually married his wife of over 30 years to start a family. As the star and producer of his namesake television show that ran on ABC and UPN “The Hughleys,” DL is also well known as one of the standout comedians on the hit comedy docu-film “The Original Kings of Comedy.”
He has an unapologetic work ethic and is dedicated to providing for his loved ones. His motivation to leave a legacy led to the transition of his comedy from frivolous jokes to political topics that inspire change.
The popular show UNCENSORED resumes for its second season and explores the private lives of some of today’s most notable personalities including legendary hip-hop producer Jermaine Dupri, actress Tasha Smith, actress/singer Naturi Naughton and the reigning king of urban gospel Kirk Franklin. Viewers will get a glimpse into the lives of celebrities as they personally reveal their own stories, in their own words.
TV One’s award-winning documentary series UNSUNGairs the untold story of 80s family band The Jets this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/8C. UNCENSOREDfollows at 10 p.m. ET/9C and gives unprecedented access to comedian, author, and REACH Media syndicated host DL Hughley.
Bill Bellamy Cast In ABC Comedy Pilot Titled ‘Nana’!
Bill Bellamy (Def Comedy Jam) is set as a series regular in Nana, a multi-cam/hybrid ABC pilot starring and co-executive produced by Sons of Anarchy alum Katey Sagal. The project also hails from writer Lon Zimmet, Ted Melfi and Kimberly Quinn’s Goldenlight Films, Alcon Entertainment, 20th Century Fox TV and ABC Studios.
Written by Zimmet and directed by Andy Ackerman, Nana centers on Alex, an obsessive dad who, after the death of his wife, is forced to invite his brash and bawdy mother-in-law – Nana (Sagal) – into his home to help raise the two granddaughters she barely knows.
ABC
Bellamy will play Burke, Alex’s enthusiastic co-worker. This firefighter isn’t the brightest bulb, but he’s a great pal and sounding board for Alex. He was so eager to rescue a cat in a tree and get a taste of some “real action” that he accidentally crashed into another engine at the scene.
Zimmet executive produces with Ackerman and Melfi and Quinn for Goldenlight Films, and Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson and Laura Lancaster for Alcon Entertainment. Sagal is a co-executive producer. 20th Century Fox co-produces with ABC Studios.
Best known for his stand-up and his appearances on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, Bellamy was most recently seen recurring in Season 3 of HBO’s Insecure. He can next be seen in the horror/thriller film, The Great Illusion, opposite Selma Blair and Graham Greene. Bellamy is repped by Innovative Artists, Main Title Entertainment and Jonathan Shikora at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler and Feldman.
