Kevin Hart, ‘Black-ish’ Producer Team For Comedy In Development At ABC
Kevin Hart has lined up another comedy project at a broadcast network.
Variety has learned exclusively that Hart is executive producing the project “Don’t Call It a Comeback” that is currently in development at ABC and hails from writer and executive producer Courtney Lilly.
The series is a single-camera family comedy about a 40-year old divorced dad who had one hit with a PM Dawn-type hip-hop group back in the ’90s and how he uses his attempt at a comeback to get his swagger back in parenting, relationships and life and prove that no matter where you are, your best days are ahead of you.
Hart will executive produce through HartBeat Productions alongside HartBeat’s John Cheng. Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also executive produce. Tiffany Brown and Cheng will oversee for HartBeat Productions. ABC Studios, where Lilly is under an overall deal, will produce.
“Courtney’s idea is funny, relatable and most importantly has so much heart—all the elements that belong in a HartBeat production,” Hart said. “I’m so excited to work with him and everybody at ABC.”
Lilly is currently an executive producer on the critically-acclaimed ABC comedy “Black-ish.” His past credits include “Undateable” at NBC and “The Cleveland Show” for Fox. He was also a writer on “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Arrested Development.” He is repped by UTA.
With this, Hart now has three projects in the works at three different broadcast networks. In addition to “Don’t Call It a Comeback,” Hart and America Ferrera are executive producing the comedy “All Fancy” starring Anjelah Johnson in development at NBC. Fox, meanwhile, has ordered a pilot presentation for an animated comedy executive produced by and starring Hart titled “Lil Kev.” All of this is on top of Hart’s very successful career as a stand up comedian and the various film and television projects he has in development across multiple platforms.
Hart is repped by UTA, 3 Arts, and Schreck Rose.
Source: Variety
Niecy Nash Leaves Comedy For Dramatic Role With Courtney B. Vance, Mamoudou Athie In Netflix’s ‘Uncorked
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash, and Mamoudou Athie will star in the father-son drama “Uncorked” for Netflix.
“Uncorked” is loosely based on the family history of “Insecure” showrunner Prentice Penny, who is directing from his own script in his feature directorial debut. Principal photography will begin Saturday in Memphis, Tenn. Filming will also take place in Paris, France.
The story centers on a young man who’s fueled by his love of wine and strives to become a master sommelier while dealing with his father’s expectations that he’ll take over the family barbecue business.
“It’s rare that black people get to tell a father-son story without the father’s absence serving as the catalyst for the story,” Penny said. “That was never my experience and I think it’s more important than ever that art reflects our humanity and who we are as regular people, rather than just being defined by the color of our skin or the trauma that has happened to us. I’m incredibly grateful to Netflix and our entire producing team for not only understanding that vision, but for wholeheartedly supporting it, too.”
To be able to tell this story, inspired by the relationship I have with my own father, is exciting for so many reasons; and to have actors like Mamoudou, Courtney, and Niecy, each talented beyond measure, on board to bring this story to life with me is beyond my wildest dreams for this project,” he added.
Penny is also producing along with Datari Turner, Forge Media’s Chris Pollack, Mandalay Pictures’ Jason Michael Berman, Argent Pictures’ Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens, and Ben Renzo. The executive producers are Mandalay Pictures’ Patrick Raymond and Veronica Nickel. The co-executive producers are pro athletes Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, and Derrick Brooks. Jamie Moore and Will Raynor are co-producing.
Athie’s starring opposite Hugh Jackman in “The Front Runner.” Nash toplines “Claws” and Vance will next be seen opposite Julia Roberts in “Ben Is Back.” Athie is repped by WME and Anonymous.
Penny currently serves as showrunner and executive producer of HBO’s “Insecure,” which recently wrapped its third season. He’s repped by WME and attorney John Meigs at Hansen Jacobson.
Source: Variety
Celebrating 10 Years of Comedy, The Women in Comedy Festival Now Accepting Live Show Submissions
The Women in Comedy Festival (WICF) will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in 2019 beginning Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 5 throughout the Greater Boston area.
Sponsored by HBO, the Festival brings together approximately 150 to 200 performers, artists, and storytellers to celebrate and showcase women in comedy. “HBO is excited to be a part of this wonderful festival which showcases great comedy talent. This will be our third year attending, and our second year as a sponsor. We’re looking forward to getting to know a new group of WICF comics,” said Kelly Edwards, Vice President of Talent Development at HBO.
Live show submissions are open to comedians of all genders in the categories of improv, musical comedy, sketch, and stand-up. Live show applicants may also submit their podcasts as part of their applications at www.wicf.com/apply/ through January 21, 2019.
For the past nine years, WICF has represented a diverse and inclusive slate of emerging and veteran performers, including: Lily Tomlin, Wanda Sykes, Maria Bamford, Tig Notaro, Aparna Nancherla, Phoebe Robinson, Emmy Blotnick, Xazmin Garza, and Emma Willmann.
The largest and fastest-growing female-focused festival in the country, WICF will also feature panel discussions, interviews and workshops by industry professionals.
In addition, the WICF Film Festival returns as part of the 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Film submissions will open in December 2018 and all submitted films must be either produced, directed, or written by a female-identifying filmmaker, and must have a female-identifying protagonist. More details to come!
For additional information on the Women in Comedy Festival, visit www.wicf.com.
Comedian And Actress Amanda Seales Of ‘Insecure’ Fame To Tape 1st Special For HBO!
Comedian Amanda Seales (HBO’s “Insecure”) will debut her first hour-long comedy special on HBO early next year, it was announced today by Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president, HBO Programming. Taping Sunday, Nov. 25 at the Edison Ballroom in New York, AMANDA SEALES: I BE KNOWIN’ will be directed by Stan Lathan and produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment.
“Being a stand-up comic is an honor I don’t take lightly, because I consider humor to be a superpower that allows us to bear the weight of issues and concepts that otherwise seem so much bigger than us,” says Seales. “‘I BE KNOWIN’ is 37 years of finding the funny, culminating in an hour, and my HBO family being the place where I get to share it, makes this, my first special, even that much more special.”
A series regular as Tiffany on “Insecure,” Amanda Seales is currently touring with “Smart Funny & Black,” the live comedic competition show she created. A former MTV VJ with a master’s in African-American studies from Columbia University, she has guest-starred on “Black-ish,” written, produced and starred in two seasons of her scripted web comedy series, “Get Your Life,” and hosts her weekly podcast, “Small Doses.”
AMANDA SEALES: I BE KNOWIN’ will be produced for HBO by Jesse Collins Entertainment; executive producers, Jesse Collins, Amanda Seales; directed by Stan Lathan; written by Amanda Seales.
Review: Tiffany Haddish And Tika Sumpter In ‘Nobody’s Fool’
Though written and directed by Tyler Perry, Nobody’s Fool starts out bearing little resemblance to a Tyler Perry film. For one thing, it’s just called Nobody’s Fool, not Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool. And instead of a clumsy melodrama, it’s a clumsy raunchy comedy about a sophisticated New York ad agent, Danica (Tika Sumpter), having to take in her trashy, mouthy, sexually voracious sister, Tanya (Tiffany Haddish), newly released from prison. Their odd-couple dynamic is further complicated when Tanya comes to believe that Danica, long-distance dating a man she’s never met in person, is being catfished.
Why, that all sounds like the setup for a normal R-rated comedy! But signs of Tyler Perryism start to creep in. Right in front of Danica is Frank (Omari Hardwick), the sensitive hunk who runs her favorite coffee shop, gives her free coffee and a rose every morning, and is clearly in love with her. Danica’s set on this “Charlie” fellow, though (if he exists) — and besides, Frank has been to jail, which goes against Danica’s list of requirements for her perfect man (which is an actual printed list).
The plot is full of inane contrivances. Frank immediately gives Tanya a job at his coffee shop. She’s required by her parole to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings — and guess what, Frank’s cafe is where they are held! (It’s like Perry wanted to save money on sets by having everything take place in one spot.) Despite being New Yorkers, everyone owns a car and drives everywhere, because Perry forgot that he was finally making a movie not set in Atlanta (or, alternatively, does not know that New York is different from Atlanta). The catfishing thread is resolved with help from the actual guys from MTV’s Catfish show (Nev Schulman and Max Joseph), in a bizarre sequence that involves Chris Rock in a Jheri curl wig and a wheelchair. Whoopi Goldberg plays Tanya and Danica’s pot-growing and -smoking mother, but her only function in the story is to help the girls get along so that Tanya won’t come live with her.
But Haddish, who has already been in three movies this year and was tamped down or underused in all of them, is finally permitted to cut loose and be the vulgar sexpot she was in Girls Trip. She’s very much in her element, making the most of the weak dialogue that has her throwing herself shamelessly — indeed, proudly — at every man she meets. Unfortunately, Tanya is not the lead character (despite Haddish’s top billing) and doesn’t actually have much to do. The focus is Danica, who turns out to be the type of wishy-washy, clueless woman Perry excels at mis-writing.
At around the hour mark, the story reaches the point where it should be wrapping up. The catfishing thing was settled, and Danica is starting to come around on Frank (who continues to be perfect). That’s when the Tyler Perry we know shows up to turn the remaining 50 minutes (UGH) into an exasperating soap opera for dum-dums. The sisters have a petty falling out; Danica dithers tediously about Frank; the catfishing thing comes back AGAIN, only to be settled again, accomplishing nothing other than padding out the runtime another five minutes. There’s potential for discussion about how Danica succeeds in white society by stifling her blackness, referenced subtly (and then overtly) by Tanya being the only one to call her “Da-NEE-ca” while everyone else says “DAN-ica.” But like so many Perry ideas, that one is casually introduced and then forgotten.
It eventually dissolves into the usual Perry morass, where nobody onscreen is behaving like a real person and you spend the last half-hour tapping your foot impatiently while making the “move it along” motion with your hand. Or maybe that’s just me. At any rate, Nobody’s Fool is another demonstration of what often happens when a single person writes, directs, and produces a movie without input from anyone else: You get a rough draft. The theaters charge full price, though.
Grade: C-
1 hr., 50 min.; rated R for sexual content and language throughout, and for drug material
By Eric Snyder
DL Hughley Talks On The Ending Of The Original Kings Of Comedy Tour On The Breakfast Club
This morning DL Hughley appeared on The Breakfast Club, and as expected, he spoke about several issues from politics, to Kayne West, to even the infamous tour he appeared on, The Original Kings Of Comedy. Check out the video below
ABC Developing Comedy Series Created By And Starring Robin Thede
Robin Thede is getting into business at ABC.
Thede, who recently hosted the late-night BET show, The Rundown with Robin Thede, is creating a comedy series set at ABC which she’d star in.
She wrote the script for the show which “is inspired in part by her childhood growing up dirt poor in a trailer park.” The potential series will “explore how a difficult upbringing shaped Robin Sanders (Thede), a famous and successful financial advisor, and will vacillate between the character’s adulthood and childhood as it examines how your past always pops up in the present.”
Sony Pictures TV is the studio.
Kay Cannon, Doug Robinson and Alison Greenspan are exec producers alongside Thede and her producing partner, Lavern McKinnon.
Source: Shadow & Act/Deadline
Leslie Odom Jr. To Star In ABC Comedy Pilot With Kerry Washington Producing
Leslie Odom Jr. is set to star in a comedy with a put pilot commitment at ABC that boasts Kerry Washington among its executive producers.
The untitled multi-camera series focuses on Leslie (Odom Jr.) and Hope, joint pastors at a young, hip, diverse church in Los Angeles. Through their services, online streams and books, they are experts at uniting people across different races, genders, orientations and opinions. But when it comes to uniting the people in their blended family, they are way out of their comfort zone and as a result, the teachers often find themselves the pupils. The series is inspired by the experiences of real-life pastors Touré Roberts and Sarah Jakes-Roberts.
“I am grateful to be working with such an all-star team of fearless and creative people,” Washington said. “And, I am excited that we have gathered together to tell a story that is inspiring, relatable, provocative and hilarious.”
Saladin Patterson will write and executive produce the project, with Odom Jr. and Pilar Savone also executive producing along with Washington. Roberts and Jakes-Roberts will co-executive produce. Washington and Savone will produce via Washington’s Simpson Street production banner. ABC Studios will produce, with Simpson Street currently under an overall deal at the studio.
“Kerry Washington is one of the most formidable artists of my generation,” Odom Jr. said. “We’ve been searching for the better part of two years to find an idea about which we both felt passionate enough to dedicate ourselves. I’ve gone to Touré’s church for over fifteen years. He is a unique, contemporary, and very necessary voice. We are thrilled that ABC is allowing us the opportunity to bring Touré and Sarah’s modern views to an even wider audience in what will be a joyful and hopeful 30-minutes every week.”
Odom Jr. received widespread acclaim for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit “Hamilton,” which earned him a Tony Award. Since then, he has appeared in films like Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and recently completed production on two other features: the first being “Only” starring opposite Freida Pinto from writer-director Takashi Doscher; the second being the as-yet untitled feature film directorial debut from recording artist Sia. Odom Jr. will also star in the film “Needle in a Timestack” written and directed by John Ridley.
In addition to her acting work on hit shows like “Scandal,” Washington has considerably built up her producing slate in recent years. Via Simpson Street, she is currently in development on “Goldie Vance,” a family film franchise for Fox, directed by Rashida Jones, as well as the films “City of Saints & Thieves” with Will Packer Productions, “The Mothers” with Warner Bros, “The Perfect Mother” with Pascal Pictures, and “24-7” with UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Universal Pictures. On the TV side, Simpson Street and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine are developing a limited series adaption of “Little Fires Everywhere” for Hulu, as well as several other projects. The Simpson Street-produced series “Five Points” debuted on Facebook Watch this summer.
Patterson is currently the showrunner on the TBS series “The Last O.G.,” starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish. He also worked as a co-executive producer on “The Big Bang Theory” and as a consulting producer on “Two and a Half Men.” His other credits include “Psych,” “The Bernie Mac Show,” “Frasier,” and “The PJs.”
Washington is repped by CAA, Washington Square Arts, and Hansen Jacobon. Odom Jr. is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, and Jackoway Tyerman. Patterson is repped by CAA and Jackoway Tyerman. Roberts and Jakes-Roberts are repped by Fox Rothschild.
Source: Variety
Will Smith Announces ‘Bad Boys For Life’ Is Official With Martin Lawrence!
As we have been reporting for several years, it looks like Bad Boys For Lifeis official, and check out the announcement made by Will Smith on social media a little over an hour ago (above).
Forest Whitaker To Star In David E. Talbert’s Netflix Holiday Family Musical ‘Jingle Jangle’
Forest Whitaker has been set by Netflix to star in Jingle Jangle, the David E. Talbert-directed holiday musical about a cobblestone world that comes to life. Whitaker will play Jeronicus Jangle, a once-great inventor and toy maker who has lost his belief in himself and his inventions, but stumbles upon a second chance and a magical invention, when his granddaughter comes to town for the holidays. If he can get the thing to work in time for the holidays, it will change their lives forever.
The Oscar-winning actor is coming off Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyand Arrival. He previously starred opposite Theo James in Netflix’s How It Ends, and this fall he plays crime boss Bumpy Johnson in the EPIX series Godfather Of Harlem. He also recently made his Broadway debut in the Michael Grandage-directed Hughie.
Talbert set Jingle Jangle at Netflix late last year in a pitch deal and he’s written a script that Netflix scheduled to start shooting in 2019. The film will be released by Netflix in 2020. The filmmaker is coming off Almost Christmas and El Camino Christmas, latter for Netflix. Talbert is currently in development on an original half-hour comedy for ABC, produced by LeBron James and Gabrielle Union. He previously directed First Sunday and Baggage Claim.
The film is produced by Mike Jackson, John Legend, David E. Talbert, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, and David McIlvain. Ty Stiklorius is exec producer.
Whitaker is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Group.
