Kevin Hart-Produced Comedy Series With Rapper Lil Dicky Set at FX
FX has picked up a comedy series starring comedian and rapper Lil Dicky, with Kevin Hart as one of its executive producers.
In the untitled show, Lil Dicky, aka Dave Burd, will play a suburban guy in his late 20s who becomes convinced he’s destined to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Now he must convince his closest friends, because with their help, he might actually convince the world.
“Not only has Dave Burd cemented his place in the rap community, but he’s now poised to take over TV with his infectious comedic sensibility in his own series,” said Nick Grad, president original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with an impressive creative team featuring Jeff Schaffer, Saladin Patterson, Kevin Hart, Greg Mottola and Scooter Braun to bring the story of Lil Dicky to TV audiences.”
Added Burd, “I’m so thankful for everyone who made this possible. It really is what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid. I love making people laugh, it’s my favorite thing ever. And even though I’m still fully in love with and committed to my career as a rapper, I’m excited to write jokes that don’t need to rhyme every time. Ugh, that rhymed.”
Burd’s first video as Lil Dicky, “Ex-Boyfriend,” went viral after its release in 2013, and he’s built on that fame ever since. His most recent single, “Freaky Friday,” has racked up more than a billion streams and has gone multiplatinum. His 2015 album Professional Rapper debuted at No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the comedy and rap charts.
The Lil Dicky series is the first TV project for Hart since the controversy over his aborted gig as host of the Oscars. He stepped down two days after being named host in December after old tweets in which he used homophobic slurs surfaced.
The controversy does not appear to have affected the comedian’s workload. He signed a deal for two comedy movies with STXfilms and has also booked starring and producing roles in Lionsgate’s Monopoly movie and Sony’s Fatherhood.
The Lil Dicky series is co-created by Burd and Schaffer (The League). They executive produce with Patterson (The Big Bang Theory, The Last O.G.), Hart (via his HartBeat Productions), Mottola, Marty Bowen, Mike Hertz and Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson of SB Projects. The series comes from FX Productions.
It joins recent FX additions What We Do in the Shadows, which premieres March 27; limited series Fosse/Verdon, coming in April; and Y: The Last Man, which is set to debut in 2020. The cable network is also facing a year without several of its high-profile shows: New seasons of Atlanta, Fargo and American Crime Story aren’t expected until 2020.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
DL Hughley Wants Terry Crews As A First Guest On The DL Hughely Show
Hughley came to TCA on a couple of weeks ago to talk about The D.L. Hughley Show, launching this month.
Asked who he would like to be his first guest, he did not hesitate: “First person I’d like to talk to: Terry Crews.”
Courtesy of NBC
Hughley has made headlines for his remarks about Crews’ #MeToo experience. A couple weeks ago, Crews hit back at the comedian during an exchange on Twitter about sexual assault, specifically how men “with all those muscles” should react if touched inappropriately.
Crews is one of the few men to share a personal #MeToo story, saying he was assaulted by now former WME agent Adam Venit during an industry party in 2016. Crews sued Venit and WME. As Deadline previously reported, the case was settled and Venit retired in September.
Hughley responded to Crews’ remarks at the TCA:
“He’s very big guy and I grew up a small guy. If you let someone do things to you, they keep doing it,” he said.
“I felt it was disingenuous of all those people from the #MeToo movement. Would they do that if he was beaten by police?”
Hughley said it bothers him that the movement got upset when Crews was “groped” but he did not see the same public outrage “when I see a young…girl get slammed down by police.”
He thought a conversation with Crews would be an interesting one to kick off his new series, which will be an extension of his radio show and air nightly in late-night.
Hughley also blasted Floyd Mayweather for going on a Gucci shopping spree the previous day.
Mayweather went shopping at Gucci in Beverly Hills, with TMZ in tow, saying he does not “give a damn” about the boycott called against the retailer for a black sweater with a high neck featuring a mouth opening lined with thick red lips, resembling blackface.
“Every person has the right to express themselves the best way they can,” Hughley told TV critics at TCA.
But, he cautioned, “If you’re a black man and you think, because you are wealthy, you are an island unto yourself, you are a fool.”
“If you are born of color on this planet you ow a debt,” Hughley said, adding, “Floyd is a guy who believes that his money and prestige will insulate him.”
Source: Deadline
Jussie Smollett Removed From Final ‘Empire’ Season 5 Episodes Following Arrest
Jussie Smollett has been removed from the final Season 5 episodes of the Fox series “Empire” in the wake of his arrest Thursday morning.
“The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an important member of our EMPIRE family for the past five years and we care about him deeply. While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out. We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season,” said series executives Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer.
Fox had previously issued multiple statements in support of Smollett, referring to him as a “consummate professional” during his time on “Empire.” The tone shifted, however, following his arrest, with the network saying they were “evaluating the situation” and “considering [their] options.”
Smollett surrendered to authorities and was arrested early Thursday morning in Chicago. He is charged with filing a false police report and disorderly conduct. The actor and musician claimed that he was the victim of an assault in the early morning hours of Jan. 29 in Chicago, stating two men hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, beat him, poured bleach on him, and placed a rope around his neck. Smollett also said that the two men used the phrase “MAGA country” during the assault, a reference to President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
However, investigators now believe Smollett paid two acquaintances — brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo — to help him stage the attack. Police previously arrested the brothers, but they were later released without being charged. They are now cooperating with the investigation.
During a press conference Thursday morning, the Chicago PD stated they believed Smollett staged the attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” on “Empire.” They also said they believe Smollett had sent a threatening letter to himself that was received at “Empire’s” Chicago production office days before the attack.
Smollett and his representatives have repeatedly denied that he staged the attack. He was released on bail on Thursday afternoon and returned to the set of “Empire.”
As Variety reported on Tuesday, Smollett could face jail time for the charges against him, with falsifying a police report being a Class 4 felony in Illinois.
Smollett has been a key cast member on “Empire” from the show’s beginning. He won significant praise when the show premiered for portraying Jamal Lyon, the gay son of music mogul Luscious Lyon.
Source: Variety
Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Producing New Movie ‘Jesus Was My Homeboy’!
Here’s a hot one. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King’s MACRO (Mudbound) are producing movie Jesus Was My Homeboy, about iconic Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton, for Warner Bros.
Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya is in talks to star as activist Hampton with Atlanta and Sorry To Bother You star Lakeith Stanfield in talks to play William O’Neal, the man who betrayed Hampton to the FBI. Shaka King (Newlyweeds) will direct and produce from a script he wrote with Will Berson (Sea Oak).
The film will follow the rise and untimely demise of Hampton as seen through O’Neal’s eyes. It will explore how the FBI infiltrated the Black Panthers, the psychology of their informant and the notorious assassination of the young political leader who died aged only 21.
Executive producers are Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler and MACRO’s Kim Roth and Poppy Hanks.
Hampton was a respected and talented grass-roots civil rights activist who rose to become chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Panthers organization and deputy chairman of the national BPP. But his charisma, oratorial skills and swift ascent marked him out as a threat in the eyes of the FBI and in 1969 he and fellow Panther Mark Clark were killed during a controversial raid by a tactical unit carrying out orders from the Chicago Police Department and the FBI. O’Neill had provided the FBI with detailed plans of Hampton’s apartment.
The deaths were initially ruled justifiable homicide and the police claimed the Panthers had initiated hostilities, but a number of investigations pointed to state-sponsored assassination and subsequent civil lawsuits led to settlements by law enforcement and Illinois’ Cook County. Thousands attended Hampton’s funeral and he was eulogized by African American leaders including Jesse Jackson and Ralph Abernathy. O’Neal remained haunted by his part in Hampton’s death until his mysterious suicide in 1990.
Widows and Black Panther star Kaluuya is currently filming Universal’s Queen And Slim. Atlanta and Sorry To Bother You star Stanfield recently shot Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.
Coogler is producing upcoming Warner Bros pic Space Jam 2 and is also lining up the sequel to global smash Black Panther, while MACRO’s upcoming slate includes Netflix series Raising Dion and Netflix film Tigertail.
Director King made his feature debut with 2013 comedy-drama Newlyweeds and more recently was a director on HBO series High Maintenance and writer on HBO’s Random Acts Of Flyness.
Source: Deadline
Jussie Smollett Cut From ‘Empire’ Episodes As Attack Probe Continues
As the Chicago police investigation into what really happened to Jussie Smollett in the alleged assault last month intensifies its focus on the Empire actor, the Fox drama is cutting the performer out of the action.
Deadline has confirmed with well-placed sources that Smollett’s scenes in episodes of the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong co-created series are being slashed for production on Empire this week.
While the show is back at work today in the Windy City after the long weekend, Smollett will be a rare presence on the set of the Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard led show.
The actor has also been absent as Chicago PD request another interview with him. As Smollett himself has become the subject of deeper inquiry into the supposed assault that occurred in the early hours of January 29, detectives want to know more about the actor’s version of what happened that day on the streets of Chicago and any possible knowledge he may have to indicate the incident could have been preplanned.
The widely condemned attack was previously described as a racist and homophobic barrage that left Smollett beaten, drenched in bleach and with a rope slung around his neck. Openly gay, Smollett portrays the openly gay Jamal Lyon on Empire.
Now the reality appears to be more complex or at least convoluted.
There are no plans right now to make any changes to the remaining episodes of the fifth season of Empire that are already in the can, I hear.
Yet, despite the strongly expressed renewed support by Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney on February 17, upcoming episodes have seen serious rewrites in recent days to reduce the increasingly besieged Smollett’s role both in dramatic stints and musical performances.
Empire returns for the remainder of its fifth season on March 13.
Fox had no comment on Smollett’s scenes being cut, nor would the network confirm any such reports, as first noted by TMZ earlier Tuesday. Reps for the lawyered-up Smollett did not return request for comment by Deadline.
While Smollett is not considered a formal suspect at present, prosecutors and law enforcement authorities are seeking to be enlightened by him about his private relationship with Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo.
The brothers were previously described by Chicago police as “potential suspects” in the attack and arrested last week. Identified as the individuals in the photos of “persons of interest” in the Smollett case, the two were held without charge for 48 hours and then let go on the night of February 15.
Formerly Empire extras, the Osundario siblings, at least one of whom had been Smollett’s personal trainer, are now “fully” cooperating with authorities. They have sat for a number of interviews with police in recent days.
Source: Deadline
The Upcoming ‘Coming To America’ Sequel Now Has A Release Date
The sequel to Coming to America has gotten a release date!
The sequel starring Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem will come to theaters Aug. 7, 2020. As previously reported, Craig Brewer has been tapped to direct from a script written by Kenya Barris and the original Coming to America writers, David Sheffield and Barry Blaustein.
The plot of the sequel involves Akeem learning he has a long-lost son in America. He must go back to America to find his son and take him back home to become the next heir to the throne.
Barris will executive produce. Murphy will also produce as well as Kevin Misher. Many of the original cast members are expected to return including Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos.
Source: Shadow & Act
A Prequel Of ‘Black-Ish’ In Early Development
It’s very early in the game, but a possible third black-ish spinoff is in early development at ABC.
As a prequel, it would revolve around a young version of Tracee Ellis Ross’ character, Rainbow Johnson. Right now, a young version of Bow will be the subject of an episode that will be filmed in March. It could potentially work as a backdoor pilot.
No casting has been done yet and ABC is still working to tap writers for it. This would be the second spinoff of the series after the Yara Shahidi-fronted grown-ish at Freeform (originally developed for ABC).
Deadline notes that if the series does end up going to series, black-ish creator Kenya Barris would be an exec producer, but not have much day-to-day involvement with the show creatively as he is now under an overall deal at Netflix.
blackish airs Tuesdays on ABC.
Source: Shadow & Act
Chris Tucker Almost Fought LeBron For Sitting In Front Of Him At Church
Comedian Chris Tucker recounted a story for ESPN’s E-60 when LeBron James attended church service at the famed West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. According to Tucker, James entered the service alongside Magic Johnson and was seated in the front pew. The 6’8 James and 6’9 Johnson were, unfortunately, blocking Tucker’s view of the pastor and he decided to say something about it. At one point during the story, Chris Tucker said that he even told LeBron to watch how he’s talking to him because he’s not JR Smith. Chris just wants LeBron to be cognizant of the fact that if he sits in the front next time no one will be able to see.
Source: Vlad
WATCH: Behind The Scenes Of ‘Bad Boys For Life’!
As we all know, the filming has begun for Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s latest film, ‘Bad Boys For Life‘. The video below gives you a little inside peek at the day to day life of filming such a large production- with a little bit of comedy mixed in.
Tichina Arnold To Host The African American Film Critics Association 10th Anniversary Show!
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is pleased to welcome the amazing Tichina Arnold as the host of our milestone 10th Annual Awards Show. A multi-hyphenated performer, Arnold has been a mainstay in Hollywood and currently stars as Tina Butler opposite Cedric the Entertainer on the CBS hit comedy, The Neighborhood, which was recently renewed for its second season.
“We are thrilled to have Tichina Arnold host our milestone show,” shared Gil Robertson, AAFCA President/CEO. “If there is anyone who knows about longevity in Hollywood, it’s this amazingly talented woman. In an industry frequently called out for a past where roles for black actors and women have been rare, Tichina has risen above the limitations to hammer out a magnificent career spanning nearly 40 years on pure talent and persistence. Her brilliance as a comedic actress is why her roles as Pam on “Martin,” Rochelle on “Everybody Hates Chris,” Cassie on “Survivor’s Remorse” and now Tina on “The Neighborhood” are so beloved.
A talented singer and underrated dramatic actress as well, Tichina is just a gem and we couldn’t be more pleased that she has chosen to share all those gifts with us as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our awards show.”
“It’s an honor for me to host this year’s 10th Annual AAFCA Awards,” said Tichina Arnold. “I’ve known Gil Robertson for decades and the AAFCA Organization is a vital and necessary force for changes within our industry. As important as it is for black people to be seen on the screen, it is just as important to have representation throughout all facets of the creative process.
AAFCA’s mission to foster an environment of inclusiveness within Hollywood through acknowledging filmmakers whom resonate within the black community and overall industry is an important one. In the past 10 years, I’ve seen AAFCA grow into a powerhouse with sway at every major network and studio. I’m so proud to help celebrate this incredible milestone with AAFCA and look forward to a thrilling night with old and new friends!”
The 10th Annual AAFCA Awards Show takes place on Wednesday, February 6, at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood. Awards will be presented for such films as the global blockbuster “Black Panther” and to such luminaries as Quincy Jones.
