The Black Women In Comedy Festival Launching In Brooklyn, NY!
The Black Women in Comedy Festival is a new festival celebrating its inaugural year in historic Bed-Stuy over the weekend connecting Black History Month and Women’s History Month, February 28 to March 3.
The Black Women In Comedy Festival was born out of rage. For decades of being left out, unseen and overlooked in the industry, we decided it was time to have something of our own. Taking place during Black Herstory Month & Women’s Herstory Month in Brooklyn, NY, this festival will showcase some of the best, brightest and funniest black women, those who identify as women, and those from the LGBTQ community. The festival will feature multiple facets of comedy including stand up, solo works, and improv. Our goal is to create the opportunities to be seen and expose bigger audiences to our talents while also creating a community and safe space for black women to shine.
The festival will be headlined by Calise Hawkins (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and @midnight), Pat Brown (Late Show with Stephen Colbert and BET Comic View), and now on tour with Tracy Morgan, as well as Meshelle “The Indie-Mom of Comedy” (Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America 3 and Martin Lawrence Presents: THE FIRST AMENDMENT STAND UP.) The festival will also include guest headliners Jenelle Kporha Jackson, Ashima Franklin, Stephanie McCrae, Franqi French, MeMe Simpson, Leighann Lord, and Nikki Carr.
The festival will feature industry showcases, a tribute showcase that pays homage to the Icons of Comedy, where performers share how they have been influenced by a comedy idol past or present; Cheap Date, a fun and interactive show and we even have a Sunday Comedy Brunch Show. We would be honored for coverage about any of the several shows happening nightly across four (4) venues: Brooklyn House of Comedy, Joloff Restuarant, The Corners BK, & Tilly’s along with over 30 other performers from all over the USA.
The founder of the Black Women in Comedy Festival, Joanna M. Briley says, “creating a platform for women of color, specifically Black Women, empowers the next generation of young people who aspire to become stand up comedians.” “Moms Mabley opened the door while Whoopi Goldberg took the hinges off so Mo’Nique, Leslie Jones, Tiffany Haddish and Issa Rae can walk on stage without anything in their way.”
Tickets for each individual show are $15, but an inclusive festival pass or daily passes can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Black Women In Comedy Headliners
Calise Hawkins is a stand-up comedian and writer. She has performed her standup on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Russel Simmons Presents Live At The El Rey (Comedy Central), among others. She has written for Comedy Central’s @midnight and Hood Adjacent, MTV’s Totally Clueless, Girl Code, and Charlemagne’s Uncommon Sense. And she was a cast member of Oxygen’s Funny Girls.
Pat Brown is a New York-based comedian that can be seen on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fuse’s Uproarious, Axis”s Gotham Live, NBC’s Comic’s Unleashed and BET ‘s ComicView for multiple appearances. Pat’s animated conversational style is smart silliness that blends societal commentary with first-person storytelling.
MESHELLE “The Indie-Mom of Comedy” is a wife, mother of 3, and sought after comedienne whose appearances include: Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America 3 (Hosted by Roseanne Barr), Martin Lawrence Presents: THE FIRST AMENDMENT STAND UP (STARz), THE BLACKLIST: 20 Most Notable and Notorious Moments of 2009 & 2010 (TV-ONE); BET News Presents; Obama: Journey to the White House, as well as BET’s ComicView (2014)
Brooklyn born, Connecticut raised Joanna Briley is a New York City-based actor, stand-up comedian and writer. Joanna manages the Brooklyn House of Comedy & has appeared on Lifetime TV’s “Fempire” ad campaign, “Watch What Happens Live” on Bravo TV with Andy Cohen, and several appearances on Wendy Williams “Street Talk” segment.
The Disney-owned cable network has renewed the comedy for a third season. A spinoff of ABC’s Black-ish, the series follows Zoe Johnson (Yara Shahidi) as she makes her way through college.
The renewal for Grown-ish comes six episodes into its 20-episode second season. The series is averaging 556,000 viewers and a 0.2 rating among adults 18-49 for initial airings and typically doubles both those numbers with a week of delayed viewing.
The pickup also comes on the heels of Freeform ordering a Party of Five reboot to series.
Like Black-ish, Grown-ish was created by Kenya Barris, who remains an executive producer of the ABC Signature Studios show despite having signed a rich overall deal at Netflix.
Another Barris-produced series at Freeform, Besties has cast three of its lead roles. The show revolves around Becca, an ambitious overachiever from an African-American family who discovers her birth mother is white, which leads to her meeting her previously unknown half-sister, Jesi, and the two figure out how to go from strangers to sisters.
Former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will play Becca. She’s joined in the cast by Brooks Brantly as her brother Todd, who still lives with their parents, and Matt Shively (The Real O’Neals) as Matt, a former athlete turned bartender who has trouble letting go of his glory days.
Ranada Shepard, Casey Johnson and David Windsor created Besties and executive produce with Barris.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Bewitched’ Reboot From Kenya Barris Picked Up At ABC
Kenya Barris’ adventures at ABC continue.
The Black-ish creator, who successfully negotiated an early exit from his longtime home at ABC Studios, has seen his interracial take on Bewitched rolled for next season at the Disney-owned broadcaster.
The reboot of the 1964-1972 ABC comedy was the last project Barris sold to ABC. The single-camera comedy about a blended family — a hardworking black single mother who happens to be a witch and winds up marrying a white mortal slacker — had a sizable pilot-production commitment. The project will now be rolled into ABC’s development for consideration for the 2020-21 broadcast season. Sources say the network is high on the project and wants to take its time and get the script right.
Barris co-wrote the script alongside Black-ish writer-producer Yamara Taylor. The comedy is a co-production between ABC Studios — Barris’ former home — and Sony Pictures TV, the latter of which owns the rights to Bewitched. The project falls under Barris’ now Netflix-based Khalabo Ink Society banner, which is overseen by former ABC head of comedy Jamila Hunter. Sony-based Davis Entertainment’s John Davis and John Fox (Blacklist) also exec produce alongside Taylor.
This is the latest hiccup for Sony’s attempts to revive Bewitched. The studio previously tried three times (at ABC, NBC and CBS) in the past decade to bring new life into the former Elizabeth Montgomery comedy. The title was rebooted as a feature in 2005 with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, which bombed at the box office.
For Barris, Bewitched is his latest (mis)adventure at ABC, for which he developed numerous pilots after breaking out with Peabody winner Black-ish. Of the scores of pilots he had picked up, only one — Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish — went forward and that was at ABC’s younger-skewing corporate sibling, Freeform. Bewitched is Barris’ first pass from new ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke, who under Freeform president Tom Ascheim picked up Grown-ish and Barris’ Besties before being promoted to replace Channing Dungey at the broadcast network.
This season, ABC has already ordered five comedy pilots — half as many as last year — as sources note the network is expected to reduce its overall orders.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Atlanta’s Third Season Delayed
While the writers are backbreaking story for the third season of Atlanta, don’t expect it to air this year in time for Emmys.
“We have so many programs that don’t cycle back on an annual basis,” said FX boss John Landgraf citing series such as Fargo and Taboo, “You have to make a decision about quality over quantity and we’re erring on the side of quality.”
Essentially, it boils down to creator/star Donald Glover’s busy schedule, as well as the cast’s overall schedules not being in sync. Glover is still finishing his This Is America tour.
“Donald Glover is sort of the king of all media, and he just has had an incredibly complicated life. He’s had personal things he’s had to deal with, from injuries to other things I’d rather not say publicly that just have to do with not with his personal life but his extended family,” said Landgraf about the comedy series’ delay today at TCA.
Atlanta has won five Primetime Emmys: two during its first season for Glover as comedy director and lead actor comedy series, and in its second season it notched comedy sound-editing, single camera (half-hour) series cinematography and guest comedy actor for Katt Williams.
Source: Deadline
‘Jumanji-Welcome To The Jungle’ Teens Set To Return For Sequel
The four teens who had an out-of-body experience in Sony’s $962M-grossing hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Alex Wolff, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Morgan Turner – are coming back for the sequel which opens on Dec. 13th.
Wolff played Spencer whose older version morphs into Dwayne Johnson, Blain’s Fridge shrinks into Kevin Hart, Iseman’s Bethany turns into Jack Black, while Turner’s Martha becomes Karen Gillan.
Awkwafina is in final talks to join the cast which includes newcomers Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. Jake Kasdan is back as director with script co-penned by him, Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner. Matt Tolmach returns as producer. Kasdan and Seven Bucks’ Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, are also producing.
Wolff is represented by CAA, Untitled and Definition Entertainment. He most recently starred in A24’s critically acclaimed Hereditary as well as such pics as Patriots Day, My Friend Dahmer and The House of Tomorrow. He also recently made his feature film directorial debut with The Cat and the Moon, also writing and starring.
Blain can currently be seen in CW’s Charmed as Galvin. He will also bring his talent to the upcoming films The Last Full Measure alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, and Bradley Whitford as well as Against All Enemies with Kristen Stewart, Anthony Mackie, and Vince Vaughn. He is repped by Paradigm, Grandview, and Hansen Jacobson Teller.
Iseman is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency, Zero Gravity Management, & Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.
Turner’s credits, in addition to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, include Wonderstruck and Mildred Pierce. Her reps are CESD, Station3 Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer.
Source: Deadline
NBC Orders New Comedy Competition Series Titled ‘Bring The Funny’!
NBC has ordered the comedy competition series “Bring the Funny” to series with a 10-episode commitment.
“Saturday Night Live’s” longest-running cast member Kenan Thompson will serve as a judge on the series along with Chrissy Teigen and comedy icon Jeff Foxworthy. Comedian Amanda Seales will serve as host.
In partnership with the international organization Just for Laughs, “Bring the Funny” will feature stand-ups, sketch troupes, and comedic variety acts. From solo comics to sketch troupes to musicians, magicians, podcasters, puppeteers, YouTubers and more, anyone who can make audiences laugh will have the chance to receive the $250,000 prize package and be part of the Bring the Funny showcase.
“Great comedians know how to make us laugh while serving as a reflection of the times, and we are excited to embrace and support the myriad of ways funny people bring us levity and humor today,” said Meredith Ahr, president of the alternative and reality group for NBC Entertainment. “Kenan, Chrissy, Jeff and Amanda are not only hilarious, but are pioneers in their respective arenas and understand what it takes to have longevity and breadth in this industry. They, along with our partners at Just for Laughs, will be an insightful resource for the talent that takes our stage.”
David Friedman and Matilda Zoltowski will executive produce. Just for Laughs President Bruce Hills serves as consulting producer. The series will be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio.
The series is currently casting. Those interested in applying can find more information at www.bringthefunnycasting.com.
This is the latest addition to NBC’s growing unscripted lineup. The network recently debuted the Dwayne Johnson-hosted “Titan Games” and currently airs shows such as “Ellen’s Game of Games,” “America’s Got Talent,” and “The Voice.”
Source: Variety
New Comedy Series Titled ‘Diary of a Female President’ From Gina Rodriguez Ordered At Disney+
Disney+, the forthcoming SVOD platform, is adding to its scripted offerings, handing out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for half-hour comedy Diary of a Female President.
Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez will executive produce. Told from the narration of her diary, the series follows a Cuban-American 12-year-old girl as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and her journey to becoming the future president of the United States.
Ilana Pea (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) created the original concept and will serve as writer and executive producer. Robin Shorr (The Carmichael Show) will serve as showrunner and exec produce alongside Rodriguez and her CBS TV Studios-based I Can and I Will banner topper Emily Gipson.
Diary of a Female President marks the first Disney+ series to stem from an outside studio. The pickup illustrates the SVOD platform’s interest in buying scripted programming from companies beyond the Mouse House’s ABC Studios.
Disney+ is expected to launch in late 2019. The Netflix rival will carry a roster of library titles from Disney’s features and TV studio as well as scripted originals that include Star Wars: The Mandalorian,a Star Wars: Rogue One prequel, the dramedy High Fidelity,a new take on High School Musical, an animated Monsters Inc. series and a slate of Marvel shows featuring stars from its film universe reprising their characters, such as Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, Paul Bettany’s Vison, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and more.
Since breaking out as the lead character on The CW’s Jane the Virgin — which is ending this season — Rodriguez has made the most of her platform by launching a production company. She voices and stars on Netflix’s animated Carmen Sandiego series and exec produces (and narrates) a Jane spinoff set up at The CW, among other TV and film projects. Rodriguez is repped by CAA.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Don Cheadle Set To Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ For First Time
Don Cheadle will make his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on Feb. 16, SNL announcedd today. His musical guest will be Grammy Award winner Gary Clark Jr., also making his bow on the NBC show.
The Cheadle episode follows SNL’s Halsey-hosted Feb. 9 episode (which itself follows this Saturday’s rerun with Jason Momoa and Mumford & Sons). Halsey was an SNL musical guest last year, and also performed alongside Lil’ Wayne on the show in November.
Cheadle’s appearance coincides with his current Showtime gig Black Monday, and he’ll once again play Col. James Rhodes in Avengers: Endgame, hitting theaters April 26.
Clark will be plugging his upcoming new album The Land, to be released Feb. 22.
Source: Deadline
First ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Trailer Shows Off Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Fast and Furious’ Spinoff
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham are at the starting line.
The duo’s first trailer for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw has hit, showing off the first footage from the Fast and Furious spinoff.
Johnson and Statham established strong chemistry through the last few Fast and Furious films and will reprise their roles as law enforcement Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) and assassin Deckard Shaw (Statham).
Idris Elba stars as the film’s villain, while The Crown star Vanessa Kirby is also among the cast of Hobbs & Shaw. David Leitch, the former stuntman and director behind action-heavy movies such as Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde and John Wick, is helming this feature.
The Fast and Furious franchise dates back to 2001, and has seen eight installments hit the big screen. It has two more installments of the main series planned, and Fast star Vin Diesel has also teased a female-centric spinoff movie as being in the works. Hobbs & Shaw is the first spinoff for the Fast and Furious franchise to hit theaters.
The Universal film opens Aug. 2, 2019. Watch the full trailer below.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith Shares Official First Look Image Of ‘Bad Boys For Life’
Will Smith has shared the first official look at Bad Boys 3 – officially titled Bad Boys for Life. Smith and Martin Lawrence team up once again as narcotics officers in Miami for the first time since 2003’s Bad Boys II.
In the Bad Boys franchise, Smith and Lawrence star as Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, respectively. In the first film, the two are forced to singlehandedly investigate a heist they believe is an inside job; in the sequel, they’re tasked with stopping a Cuban drug lord who is fueling an MDMA epidemic, while Mike conceals the fact that he’s dating Marcus’ sister – an undercover DEA agent named Syd (Gabrielle Union). Both films were directed by Michael Bay, and with Bad Boys for Life, Bay is passing the torch to the directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who are also attached to Beverly Hills Cop 4.Bad Boys for Life will follow the two leads as they reconnect after a falling out in the midst of a hit put out on Mike and Marcus’ heads. Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, DJ Khaled, and Joe Pantoliano also star.
In anticipation of Bad Boys for Life, Smith posted a Boomerang photo on his Instagram featuring Lawrence and himself standing side-by-side with badges draped around their necks in a rundown apartment. Smith is holding a handgun, and he captioned the photo with the text: “FIRST LOOK! Theeeeey’re BAAAAaaaack! 🙂 @badboys.” The song playing over the post is P. Diddy’s aptly titled “Bad Boy for Life.” Though the photo doesn’t give away any specifics regarding the plot, it’s the first official shot of Mike and Marcus back on the job on screen for the first time in sixteen years.
Aside from their own personal struggles, Mike and Marcus will also be contending with a rival police unit who reportedly attempts to one-up the Bad Boys duo. The team is made up of Hudgens, Ludwig, and Melton’s characters, though it’s unclear how big of a role they’ll play in the overall story, considering Mike and Marcus already have plenty on their plate given the personal vendetta they’re dealing with.
While it’s no doubt exciting for fans of the Bad Boys franchise to revisit these characters again, it’ll be interesting to see how audiences will respond to Mike and Marcus’ relationship so long after the first film was released back in 1995. That said, as far as success goes, Bumblebee recently proved that trading in Bay as director for someone new isn’t necessarily bad luck for a franchise. Bumblebee became the most critically-lauded film in the Transformers franchise and considering neither Bad Boys nor Bad Boys II were exactly a hit with critics, changing the formula a bit for Bad Boys for Life could prove to be successful.
