BET Cancels Late-Night Comedy ‘The Rundown With Robin Thede’
BET has pulled the plug on “The Rundown with Robin Thede,” the weekly late-night comedy series that debuted last October.
“Rundown” gave Thede a platform as the only African-American female host in late-night TV. The half-hour series served up a mix of headlines, sketches, field pieces and short documentary segments.
“At this time BET Networks has decided not to renew ‘The Rundown with Robin Thede.’ We have so much love and respect for our Unicorn and look forward to finding ways to continue in partnership with Robin,” BET said in a statement.
“Rundown” drew strong reviews from the start. But the lack of renewal news after the show wrapped its initial 24-episode run in April was a sign that BET was wavering on a second season.
Thede financed the pilot for the show in partnership with Jax Media before it was set up at BET. “Rundown” was also notable for the diversity among its largely female production staff.
“I’m thankful that BET took a chance on me and the show,” Thede told Variety. “I’m already in development on several other projects and I’m looking forward to hosting the TCA Awards on August 4.”
A seasoned comedy writer, Thede was previously head writer and a panelist on Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.” She developed the concept for “Rundown” shortly after “Nightly Show” was canceled in August 2016.
Source: Variety
Cedric The Entertainer, Jermaine Fowler, Ken Jeong, Felipe Esparza And More Added To ‘The Opening Act’
Cedric The Entertainer (star of the new CBS comedy The Neighborhood), comedian and actress Whitney Cummings, Ken Jeong (upcoming Crazy Rich Asians and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween), and Jermaine Fowler (currently seen in Sorry To Bother You) have been added to the setlist for The Opening Act. Saturday Night Live series regular Alex Moffat, Iliza Shlesinger and Felipe Esparza have also been cast.
Silicon Valley‘s Jimmy O. Yang stars as Will O’Brien, who has the job, the girl but all that’s missing is his true passion in life, to become a stand-up comedian. When he gets the opportunity he’s been waiting for, the emcee slot on the road, opening for his hero Billy G (Cedric The Entertainer), he’ll spend the weekend contemplating the life he’s set up and the one he truly wants to pursue, the life of a comedian.
The coming-of-age comedy hails from writer-director Steve Byrne with Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsley producing through their Wild West Picture Show Productions as well as Sefton Fincham of Look to the Sky Films. Shafin Diamond, Dwight Manley, and Michael Shader serve as executive producers. Endeavor Content is representing the film’s worldwide sales
Cedric The Entertainer is repped by CAA and Bird and A Bear Entertainment; Cummings by CAA and Mosaic; Jeong by Aligned Entertainment, ICM Partners, and Stone, Genow, Smelkinson; Fowler by 3 Arts, WME, Morris Yorn; Moffat is repped by WME and, Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman; Shlesinger by Avalon and WME; Esparza by Felipe’s World, Inc, ICM Partners and Felker, Toczek, Gelman.
Source: Deadline
‘The Real’s Loni Love To Develop Autobiographical Comedy Series For Warner Bros. TV
The Real co-host Loni Love has signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, whose subsidiary Telepictures produces the syndicated daytime talk show.
Under the pact, Love will develop a scripted comedy series for the studio, based on the comedian’s larger-than-life persona as a thriving single woman.
“I am thrilled to be developing a comedy with Warner Bros. as I continue to co-host The Real,” said Love. “My life’s work is all about entertaining, inspiring and helping people become the best they can be.”
Love serves as co-host of popular daytime talker The Real, recently picked up for an additional two seasons, alongside Adrienne Houghton, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Love is a self-made woman who grew up in Detroit’s Brewster-Douglas Housing Project. She received her Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M and worked as an engineer before kicking off her standup comedy career.
Her recent film credits include Mother’s Day and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.
Love’s deal was brokered by UTA, Levity Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman.
Source: Deadline
‘Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level’ Sets New Premiere Date And New Comedians
Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level is back with an all-new roster of Kevin Hart-approved stand-up comedians taking the next step in their careers: a televised half-hour special. Season 2 kicks off on Friday, August 3 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. Each episode spotlights a single performer, opening on an interview with Hart that leads into a special from the featured comedian.
“I can’t wait to show the world what they’ve been missing in these six amazing talents,” said Hart. “The Next Level is the country’s opportunity to get in on the ground floor with the next generation of stand-up headliners.”
Season 2 comedians are:
T. Murph, August 3
T Murph is a comedian that broke out of the Chicago comedy scene and has been rising quickly ever since. In addition to The Next Level, he can be seen in the next season of the Epix crime dramedy Get Shorty and in TruTV’s standup/storytelling showcase Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks. T Murph’s recent TV credits include Wild N’ Out (MTV), Key & Peele (Comedy Central), Comic View (BET), and Chicago Fire (NBC). T Murph has performed at the NBC Diversity Showcase, American Black Film Festival (ABFF), New York Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs, and the Second City Breakout Festival. Murph will also be seen Kevin Hart’s Just For Laughs show on Hart’s Laugh Out Loud streaming service and appears regularly on All Def Digital’s Roast Me.
Tacarra Williams, August 10
Tacarra Williams got her start in The Bronx, NY, and is known to many in comedy circles as The Beautiful Beast. Williams brings the laughs by drawing on her rough life as a twin and sibling to six others and by daring to be a voice for every woman too afraid to think aloud. She has hit major stand-up stages in New York and Hollywood including Carolines on Broadway, Broadway Comedy Club, The Apollo Theatre, Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory.
Malik S., August 17
Born and raised in Miami, Florida Malik S. is a triple threat talent and the last of seven children. His stand-up career has given him the opportunity to work as an actor and a network TV writer. Malik currently writes for the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood, on which he also plays the recurring role of Trey. Malik has also written for The Soul Man (TV Land), Legends of Chamberlin Heights (Comedy Central) and The Comedy Get Down (BET). His acting credits include The Soul Man (TV Land, recurring), Blackish (ABC), White Famous(Showtime), Zoe Ever After (BET), Born Again Virgin (TV One), and The Comedy Get Down(BET).
Jeff Horste, August 24
Jeff Horste previously appeared in the Detroit episode of Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the Cityon Comedy Central, and is now stepping into the spotlight with his own episode of Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level. He is a versatile performer who can adapt a variety of subjects for diverse audiences and has worked in some of the top clubs and festivals throughout the country. He has appeared on the Fox TV show Laughs, and has performed in Atlanta’s Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, the Boston Comedy Festival, and the Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival.
Ron G., August 31
Ron G. is an actor, comedian and producer who currently stars in the lead role, ‘Lewis,’ on the Nickelodeon television series Cousins for Life. Ron also served as a consulting producer on the Emmy® Award-winning CNN series United Shades of America. Originally from Columbia, SC, Ron relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to begin his stand-up comedy career. In addition to winning APCA College Comic of the Year, Ron was a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Ron has also recurred on HBO’s hit television series Insecure and has guest starred on numerous television shows, including Stuck in the Middle (Disney Channel) and Shut Eye (Hulu). Ron most recently appeared in the Lionsgate feature film #Twominutesoffame, starring Jay Pharoah and Katt Williams.
Marvin Hunter, September 7
Marvin Hunter discovered his passion for writing and performing comedy while serving in the U.S. Navy. His unique sense of humor and unabashed point of view developed from his countless overseas deployments during a military service that spanned more than 20 years, his upbringing in the Deep South by a no-nonsense Civil Rights activist of the 1960s, and all of the absurdities of life along the way. For these reasons, Marvin is known as the Grumpy Uncle (#grumpyuncle) on the comedy scene worldwide. In addition to Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level, Marvin has previously appeared on the “Mississippi” episode of Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City (Comedy Central), Off the Chain (Bounce TV), Comedy Dynamics: Uncontrolled Comedy (BET), The Haves and Have Nots (OWN), Jamie Foxx’s The Foxxhole (SiriusXM Radio), and the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Currently, Marvin graces stages from coast-to-coast and can be seen on the Ricky Smiley & Friends Comedy Tour. He can also be heard on Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud SiriusXM Radio.
Leading up to the on-air premiere, cc.com/TheNextLevel and the CC App will feature clips from the series, and full episodes of Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level will be available the day of premiere on the Comedy Central App and cc.com. Fans can follow Hart on Twitter at @KevinHart4Real and Comedy Central Stand-Up at @standup, and can tweet about the series using the hashtag #TheNextLevel.
Hart is one of the foremost comedians, entertainers, authors and businessmen in the industry today. Hart is currently on the road with his new one hour material titled the Kevin Hart: The Irresponsible Tour. Produced by Live Nation, this new hour of comedy will bring Hart to over 115 cities globally, and tickets are available at LiveNation.com. On September 28, 2018 Kevin will be seen in the comedy Night School for Universal Studios. Hart co-wrote and produced the movie under his HartBeat Productions banner and will co-star opposite Tiffany Haddish.
In 2017, his memoir “I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons” debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestseller list and has remained on the list for nine consecutive weeks. Additionally, Hart appeared in the Sony reboot of the classic film Jumanji alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black. Jumanji grossed over $900 Million at the Global Box office and was Sony’s second highest grossing film of all time. Hart’s multi-city domestic and international WHAT NOW comedy tour sold out arenas all over the world, grossing over $100 million worldwide, and was released as a feature film by Universal Pictures.
Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level is produced by HartBeat Productions and executive produced by Hart, Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment, Leland “Pookey” Wigington and Neal Marshall. Anne Harris and Jackie Sosa are Executives in Charge for Comedy Central.
Comedy Central’s ‘Roast Battle’ Announces New Judges And New Format!
Love a little summer slander this time of year! Comedy Central, the #1 brand in comedy, announced today that Nikki Glaser, Anthony Jeselnik and Roastmaster General Jeff Ross will serve as judges for the third season of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle, premiering on Tuesday, July 31 at 10:00 P.M. A sneak peek of the third season premiere of #RoastBattle will debut immediately following the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis on Sunday, July 29 at midnight. The series will also launch its official Roast Battle podcast — produced in partnership with Starburns Audio — on Comedy Central’s Global Podcast Network beginning on Monday, July 30.
This season of Roast Battle will introduce a new format – tossing out the bracket-style tournament to focus more on the head to head insult battles between some of today’s top comedians. Each episode will feature two battles per show. Additionally, this season the Roastmaster General is stepping on stage to go to battle with a giant among men, NBA All-Star Blake Griffin.
Comedians doing battle include Todd Barry, Pat Barker, Nicole Becannon, Matthew Broussard, Keith Carey, Kim Congdon, Alex Duong, Joe Eurell, Olivia Grace, Tony Hinchcliffe, Jerron Horton, Mike Lawrence, Joe List, Joe Machi, Connor McSpadden, Kurt Metzger, Sam Morril, Jamar Neighbors, Mark Normand, Eli Sairs, Yamaneika Saunders, Jason Sklar, Randy Sklar, Sarah Tiana, Sarah Tollemache, Robin Tran, Brendon Walsh, and WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler.
Beginning on Monday, July 30, fans of Roast Battle will also be able to listen as comedians battle it out with the most brutal jokes imaginable with the launch of the official Roast Battle podcast on Comedy Central’s Global Podcast Network. Hosted by Roast Battlereferee/comedian Brian Moses and DJ Coach T, the Roast Battle podcast will give an in-depth look at the hit international TV series as well as weekly live shows from the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, CA.
Inspired by the gritty, competitive proving grounds of the comedy-club circuit, this stand-up series pits professional comedians against each other in one-on-one standoffs with a panel of celebrity judges deciding their competitive fate. Original material only, no physical contact, and every battle ends with a hug. Led by Ross and referee/comedian Brian Moses, Roast Battle first premiered on Comedy Central in July 2016.
Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle is executive produced by Ross, Joel Gallen, Amy Zvi, Willie Mercer, Moses, Rell Battle, and Rick Austin. Jonas Larsen, Christian McLaughlin, Jordan Ellner and Ryan Moran are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.
Rickey Smiley And LeToya Luckett Return As Co-hosts For The 2018 Black Music Honors
Chicago-based television production companyCentral City Productions (CCP) announced today the 2018 Black Music Honors – the annual two-hour television special that honors artists and musicians who have influenced and made significant contributions to American music. The television special is set to take place on Thursday, August 16th in Nashville, TN.
This year’s honorees for the 2018 Black Music Honors include Bobby Brown, who will receive the R&B Soul Music Icon Award for his 40 years in entertainment and 32 years as a solo artist, Bebe and Cece Winans, who will be co-honorees of the Gospel Music Icon Award, and chart-topping music producer and label executive Dallas Austin, who will be presented with the Music Innovator Icon Award, and multi-platinum, Grammy® Award-winning recording artist, songwriter and producer Faith Evans, who is set to receive the Urban Music Icon Award.
“The vision of the Black Music Honors is to recognize the trailblazers in African American music who have paved the way for the artists of today. Many of these artists have never received their much-deserved recognition,” said Don Jackson, founder and CEO of Central City Productions.
Television and radio personality Rickey Smiley and Grammy® Award-winner and actress LeToya Luckett return as co-hosts of the show, which is set to air on broadcast syndication on Sept. 8-30, 2018. This year’s sponsors include AT&T, McDonald’s, Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, and Chevrolet with State Farm tapped as the title sponsor.
Ticket proceeds will benefit the 2019 opening of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville. NMAAM’s mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.
“I am pleased that our Black Music Honors special has the opportunity to promote the National Museum of African American Music and that proceeds from ticket sales are donated to the museum,” said Jackson.
This epic event will be held at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC)located at 505 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show taping at 7 p.m.
For more information on Black Music Honors, head to www.blackmusichonors.com and connect with us on social media for more updates @blackmusichonors.
HBO’s ‘Insecure’ Sets Its Premiere Date For Season 3
After her break-up with Lawrence, Issa tries to get her life back together, working hard to save and earn extra cash while crashing on Daniel’s couch – an arrangement that proves challenging, given their history. Meanwhile, Molly starts a new job at a black-owned law firm, but finds her confidence put to the test when she’s not automatically recognized as “the star.”
The Peabody Award-winning comedy series INSECURE returns for its eight-episode third season SUNDAY, AUG. 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Starring Emmy® and Golden Globe nominee Issa Rae as Issa, Yvonne Orji as Molly, Lisa Joyce as Frieda, Natasha Rothwell as Kelli, Amanda Seales as Tiffany and Y’lan Noel as Daniel, the series follows the friendship of two black women as they deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.
In the third season, Issa attempts to navigate her complicated relationship with Daniel, a childhood friend and on-and-off-again fling who’s looking to take his music career to the next level. On the work front, she begins to question her role at the nonprofit “We Got Y’all” and Molly sets boundaries in order to concentrate on her dream job at a black-owned law firm, which she risks sabotaging via her insecurities and hang-ups.
Cedric The Entertainer Inducted In The Hollywood walk Of Fame
St. Louis’ own Cedric the Entertainer was honored with the 2,640th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Thursday.
“Much Love to all of you, for your acknowledgment of me receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Today,” Cedric said via Twitter. “Your support of my work throughout the years is a big reason why this day has come. Thank you! And I’m only getting started!”
A graduate of Berkley High School and Southeast Missouri State University, Cedric made a name for himself on the St. Louis comedy scene. By the early 1990s, he was primed for the big time.
He became a household name when he was tapped to host the second season of BET’S Comic View – following in the footsteps of fellow future “King of Comedy” D.L. Hughley, who served as the hit urban comedy series’ inaugural host.
Soon after, he co-starred with fellow comic Steve Harvey on the hit WB sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show.” In 2000, Cedric starred alongside Harvey, Hughley and the late Bernie Mac in the record-breaking “Kings of Comedy” Tour, which also spawned a blockbuster film of the same name.
Cedric went on to film and television success in films such as “The Honeymooners,” the “Barbershop” franchise, “Johnson Family Vacation,” “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” and “Be Cool” to name a few.
He and fellow St. Louis native Niecy Nash (who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week) starred in the TV Land sitcom “Soul Man” for five seasons.
Cedric currently stars alongside Tracy Morgan in the TBS sitcom “The Last O.G” and is slated to star in the upcoming CBS comedy “The Neighborhood” this fall.
Basketball legend and business mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson was one of the speakers to address the crowd during Cedric’s ceremony.
Johnson said that Cedric not only entertains – but uplifts the community.
He was still early in his career when he started his scholarship fund. Since its inception in 1996, the fund has provided nearly $200,000 to St. Louis area students who have attended colleges and universities across the nation. Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation has partnered with the United Negro College Fund since 2002.
Cedric also helped raise money for the Rosetta Boyce Kyles Women’s Pavilion at SSM Health in honor of his late mother – who was treated at SSM during her battle with cancer.
“People who don’t have a voice, you give them a voice,” Johnson said. “And you always support people no matter what their status is, no matter how much money they make, you use your platform to always uplift people.”
Source: Stlamerican.com
‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Reboot In The Works With African American Actress As The Lead
Following the upcoming, diverse reboots Charmed and Roswell, the next The WB series to get a new incarnation could be Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
A reboot is in development at Fox 21 Studios, the cable and streaming arm of 20th Century Fox (Buffy’s original home).
No network is attached as of yet. The previous two will air on The CW.
The producers are looking for a black actress to star in the titular role.
Original Buffy creator Joss Whedon would be on board as an executive producer and Monica Owusu-Breen would be the showrunner. The two worked together on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Owusu-Breen also created NBC’s Midnight Texas.
The Buffy reboot, which will be pitched to streamers and cable networks “will be contemporary, building on the mythology of the original. The producers say: “like our world, it will be richly diverse, and like the original, some aspects of the series could be seen as metaphors for issues facing us all today.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a cult classic hit starring Sarah Michelle Gellar that ran from 1996-2003, starring her as the latest in a line of vampire slayers, batting vampires, demons and other forms of darkness.
Source: Shadow&Act
WATCH: New ‘Shazam!’ Trailer Debuts At Comic-Con
With his work as Fandral the Dashing in the latter two “Thor” movies, Zachary Levi is no stranger to superhero movies. But with “Shazam!,” it’s Levi’s chance to feel what it’s like to be the caped hero at the heart of the story.
Levi took the stage in Hall H with a Guinness in hand, which he said was given to him by “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa.
“Jason Momoa gave me this, I’m having a great time,” Levi beamed.
“Shazam!” follows Asher Angel’s character, Billy Batson, a regular teenager who is bestowed with a superpower when a powerful wizard gives him the ability to transform into a Superman-esque adult superhero with a bolt of lightning emblazoned across his chest when he shouts the word “Shazam.”
The DC superhero is trying to drum up the same excitement as Marvel’s playful “Deadpool,” which took Hall H by storm in 2015.
“Shazam!” also stars Mark Strong as the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, one of Shazam’s major archenemies, a brilliant-yet-selfish scientist who seeks to use his newfound telekinetic powers to enrich and empower himself as well as Djimon Hounsou, who plays the ancient wizard also named Shazam who gives Batson his powers.
The film is directed by “Annabelle: Creation” helmer David F. Sandberg, and is set to strike theaters on April 5, 2019.
