Leslie Jones Returns As NBC Contributor For The Winter Olympics!
Leslie Jones will be back at the Games – and, no, not Game of Thrones, that’s her other obsession. The SNL cast member will once again join NBC Olympics as a contributor on its coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
The assignment is a no-brainer, given Jones super-fan status, first made evident with her enthusiastic tweets while watching the 2016 Rio Olympic Games – tweets that caught the attention of NBC higher-ups and got her an assignment to attend the Games, meet and interview athletes.
Now she’ll do the same in PyeongChang.
“Experiencing the Olympics through the lens of Leslie is unlike anything else,” said Jim Bell, President, NBC Olympics Production and Programming. “Her passion for Team USA is contagious, and her adventures in South Korea should be fascinating.”
At the start of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Jones tweeted a video of herself in the American flag and wearing plastic gold medals, cheering for Team USA and displaying her love for the Olympics. Bell saw, and was impressed.
Jones more recently has been nominated for an Emmy for her work on Saturday Night Live, hosted the 2017 BET Awards and was included in the Time’s list of 100 most influential people for 2017.
NBC’s Live Primetime coverage of the Winter Olympics begins February 8.
Source: Deadline
NFL Star Von Miller Jumps Into Comedy, To Host Live Comedy-Variety Show For Facebook Watch
Denver Broncos star Von Miller is heading to Facebook Watch as the host of a live weekly comedy-variety series to originate from his mansion in the Mile-High City.
“Von Miller’s Studio 58” is described as a mix of comedy bits, celebrity guests and conversations between Miller and his brothers — Vins, Tony, and Cyrus — and some of his NFL teammates as well as interaction with fans via Facebook. The series hails from High Noon Entertainment, known for producing TLC’s “Cake Boss” and HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.”
Facebook Watch has ordered eight episodes of the series, which bows Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
“Having my own show is a dream come true,” Miller said. “I look forward to bringing the fans into my home and into my world each week. I know we are going to have some fun.”
Miller’s activity on social media (he boasts 1.2 million Instagram followers) made him an attractive choice to host a Facebook Watch series. Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s global head of creative strategy, has said the social media giant is looking for original programming for the nascent Facebook Watch platform that integrates Facebook communications tools directly into the show.
Miller, High Noon chief Jim Berger, Scott Feeley and Scott Tomlinson are exec producers. Tomlinson (“Tosh.0”) is serving as showrunner.
“Von is smart, curious, funny and incredibly adventurous. He’s as energized and unpredictable off the field as he is on,” said High Noon Entertainment CEO Jim Berger. “With Facebook as our partner, this presents a unique chance for his legion of fans to interact with him and see the fascinating man behind the helmet.”
Miller is repped by UTA, Ziffren Brittenham, Joby Branion of Vanguard Sports, and Rob Wilson of C1MG.
Source: Variety
Is ‘Martin’ Going To Finally Come Back
‘Martin’ sitcom may be making it’s return. Today (January 25th), Martin Lawrence’s fiancee – Roberta Moradfar – shared the news on social media writing,
Got word from my fiancé that my favorite show may be coming back..
Martin responded, leaving an eyeball emoji.
Martin aired for five seasons on Fox from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997. The show was one of the network’s highest-rated shows during the sitcom’s run. The series starred Martin Lawrence, who was also one of the creators of the series, along with Tisha Campbell, Carl Anthony Payne II, Thomas Mikal Ford and Tichina Arnold.
What are your thoughts on the show’s return?
Source: The Jasmine Brand
On This Day In Comedy… In 1942 Comedian And Actor John Witherspoon Was Born!
On this day in comedy on January 27, 1942, Comedian, Actor, John Witherspoon was born in Detroit, MI
Born John “Weatherspoon”, he changed his name because of course “Witherspoon” is an obvious improvement. He had other moniker alterations as well. For instance, he also went by the name of “Mexico” John Witherspoon and Johnny Witherspoon. Then again, he broke into show business as a male model (he was a “Duke Man” in Jet magazine) where aliases’ were a necessity, but in the late 60s he drifted into stand-up comedy.
John Witherspoon’s onstage persona was accessible and animated. In other words, it was a perfect combination for film and television. His first role was as a youth counselor on an episode of the CBS detective show, Barnaby Jones. He went on to guest star in such 70s hits as Good Times, The Incredible Hulk and What’s Happening!! Comedian / Writer, Paul Mooney pegged Witherspoon to be part of the ensemble for The Richard Pryor Show in 1977. The show only lasted 4 episodes, but Witherspoon made an impression. He also made a string of guest starring roles: WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, L. A. Law, You Again? Frank’s Place, 227, What’s happening Now!!, Amen, Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and as a regular on Townsend Television.
Film work has been a constant thread throughout Witherspoon’s career. He started out in 1980’s The Jazz Singer as the M C and 1986s Ratboy, but in 1987 things went into overdrive. Hollywood began making black films again and Witherspoon was in practically all of them beginning with the Robert Townsend / Keenen Ivory Wayans parody, Hollywood Shuffle. After that they just kept coming: I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Bird, House Party, Talkin Dirty After Dark, The Five heartbeats, Boomerang, Meteor Man, Fatal Instinct, Murder Was the Case and Friday.
The Ice Cube / Chris Tucker blockbuster, Friday spawned a franchise and gave Witherspoon his largest role to showcase his talents. In Boomerang he popularized in catchphrase “Bang, bang, bang, bang”, but in the Friday films he was able to utilize all his antics. He played Ice Cube’s father; the kind of dad that would call you into the toilet for a family conference / chastising session while he took a dump. Those same hilarious ticks and verbal assaults got a long-term workout back on television on the WB sitcom, The Wayans Bros. Witherspoon played father to Shawn and Marlon Wayans (Williams on the show). He ran a café by day and the attention to him in every scene he stole.
Witherspoon loved stealing scenes. He did it in 2003 on The Tracy Morgan Show for all 18 episodes. He did on Living Single, Black Jesus and Black-ish. He stole them in even more films: Vampire in Brooklyn, Sprung, Bulworth, I Got the Hook Up, Fakin Da Funk, Little Nicky, Soul Plane, Little Man, and A Thousand Words. He did it when he did voice-overs for animated series, Wayneshead, The Proud Family, Kim Possible and The Boondocks. He’s done it in music videos for Goodie Mob, L L Cool J, Field Mob, Hitman Sammy Sam and Jay-Z and John Witherspoon always steals the show whenever he tours as a stand-up comedian.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1892 Actress Zara Cully Of ‘The Jeffersons’ Was Born!
On this day in comedy on January 26, 1892, Actress, Zara Frances Cully was born in Worchester, MA
Once known as the oldest performer on television, Zara Cully received fame late in her career mainly because she was militant. She was recognized as the world’s greatest elocutionist following a 1940 stage appearance in New York for Cully had put her formal training (the Worchester School of Speech and Music) to good use. She wrote, produced, directed and starred in many plays in Jacksonville, Florida and opened her own studio where she taught for over 15 years. Cully’s irreconcilable obstacle became her intolerance for the ways of the old South and she packed her bags and headed west to Hollywood.
In California Cully found the respect she craved. She was a regular member at the Ebony Showcase Theatre and appeared in numerous films including, The Learning Tree, Sugar Hill, The Liberation of L. B. Jones and The Great White Hope. On the small screen Cully was seen Playhouse 90, Run For Your Life, Cowboy in Africa, Name of the Game, Mod Squad, Night Gallery and All In The Family. It was on that latter program that Cully landed the role of her lifetime.
The Jeffersons was a spin-off of the Norman Lear hit, All in the Family. At the age of 82, Cully was introduced on an episode featuring her son, George (Sherman Hemsley), his wife Louise (Isabel Sanford) , who Cully’s character, “Mother Jefferson”, did not approve of and her grandson, Lionel (Mike Evans). From there the dynamics was set. Mother Jefferson would make visits to her successful son’s high rise apartment in Manhattan, argue with Louise, praise George and Lionel and generally pout about how she’s neglected. Cully pulled it off masterfully until the third season. The venerable performer had contracted pneumonia and had a collapsed lung. Regardless, that didn’t stop her from returning to the show after a 17 episode absence where she was embraced by cast and audience alike. However, that hug tragically ended on November 12, 1977 when Mother Jefferson made her last appearance on The Jeffersons. Three months later the woman who brought the adorable character to life passed away on February 28, 1978 in Los Angeles, California of lung cancer. She was 86 years old.
The NAACP awarded Zara Cully a posthumous special Image Award on June 9, 1978.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1980 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Was Launched
On this day in comedy on January 25, 1980, Black Entertainment Television (BET) was launched
Following the model of urban radio and print media, Bob Johnson, a former DC cable lobbyist, founded BET using his connections in the fledgling cable and satellite television industry. After consulting with an investor looking to target the elderly for a niche station, Johnson (with permission) altered and used that pitch to begin the first black targeted network. He secured funding ($500,000) from entrepreneur friendly media executive, John Malone and that, along with a $15,000 loan got Johnson’s dream off the ground. It was headquartered in Washington, DC.
The initial programming for BET consisted of music videos, direct-to-video movies, reruns of old sitcoms and a smattering of theatrical films. It was only on for two hours per week as part of Nickelodeon and wouldn’t be its own fully operational station until July 1, 1983, but it made inroads right away and built its target audience. By 1988 there was BET News with anchorman, Ed Gordon and BET Tonight, a talk show hosted by Tavis Smiley (and later by Gordon) in 1996. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991 (the first black-owned company to ever do so) and in its heyday BET was known for Comic View (the stand-up comedy showcase hosted alternately by D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore, Don DC Curry, Rickey Smiley, J. Anthony Brown, Sherryl Underwood and others), Video Soul with Donnie Simpson, Video Vibrations, Teen Summit, Screen Scene, Lead Story, Softones, Unreal/Planet Groove/Caribbean Rhythms and Jam Zone/Cita’s World.
In the late ‘90s BET went digital and expanded its brand with BET Jazz (targeting that specific market) and later partnering with John Malone to launch BET / Starz (later known as Black Starz and Starz in Black). The station added hit show 106 & Park in 2000.
In 2001 Johnson sold off his holdings to Viacom for $3 billion. It instantly lost its status as a black-owned company even though Johnson stayed on as president and CEO until 2005 when he stepped down and turned over his duties and titles to his long standing vice-president, Debra Lee. In 2007 the network launched BET Hip Hop, BET Gospel and slated a slew of reality shows. Reginald Hudlin, who had been the president in charge of entertainment left in 2008 and was replaced by Stephen Hill; the executive VP of music programming and talent.
BETs official slogan “We Got You” took on a negative connotation to some. Over its run, BET has experienced its share (if not more) of criticism for its programming. Celebrities and black organizations came out against the way women were portrayed in rap videos and black stereotypes in general. This prompted the station to launch BET Uncut from 2001 to 2006 so they could display this suggestive themes with a warning to the target audience of young adults over the age of 17 (without any way to monitor such a requirement). Most of these videos came from lesser known artists with poor production quality. However, they never did come up with an off-shot to combat the stereotypes.
Despite its bumpy history, BET became more than just a basic cable station for black people. It became an institution and brand for African-Americans (regardless of who owned it at the time). In 1993 it started broadcasting in the United Kingdom. In 1995 the BET Walk of Fame Awards was established. In 1997 BET became available in Canada. The BET Awards began in 2001 to celebrate black accomplishments in the acting, music, sports and other forms of entertainment. In 2004 proceeds were shared between the United Negro College Fund and the BET Foundation and in 2008 The BET Honors was established to pay tribute to the achievements of black luminaries and soon afterwards the station was licensed to be broadcast in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and is an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.
Aretha Franklin Chooses Jennifer Hudson To Star In MGM Queen Of Soul Film Biopic
Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party is always the hottest ticket before the Grammy Awards. Saturday night he dropped an exceptional surprise. Davis tonight introduced Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson to sing a couple songs, and then told the audience that Hudson will be playing Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic about the life of the Queen of Soul. Hudson was in fact hand picked by Franklin to play the role. It was appropriate that Davis introduce all this, since he has such a long professional relationship with Franklin. The party began with performances by Barry Manilow, Luis Fonsi, Ben Platt, Alicia Keys, Khalid and Logic. Hudson was the last singer to perform. Hudson sang Franklin classics Think, and Respect as part of her performance.
Franklin’s musical legacy spans six decades, from your first recording as a young gospel singer, to her most recent release, A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has scored countless hits, including the reinvention of Otis Redding’s Respect as a feminist anthem that transformed her into an icon of the civil rights and women’s movements. She is one of the most honored artists in Grammy Award history, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the NAACP Hall of Fame, the Gospel music Hall of Fame and in 2005 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Producing the film will be Straight Outta Compton‘s Scott Bernstein and music producer Harvey Mason Jr., who has worked with Franklin and also produced music for the film Dreamgirls, on which Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, alongside Beyonce. Hudson has gone on to a strong career that included the premiere of Monster, which premiered in Sundance.
Hudson seems one of the few actresses with the vocal range to do justice to Franklin’s soaring classics. MGM will move quickly to set a filmmaker and a screenwriter.
Source: Deadline
Donald Glover Confirms He’s Definitely Retiring “Childish Gambino”
Despite his five Grammy Award nominations this year, Donald Glover confirms he still plans to retire his stage name, Childish Gambino.
Last June during his performance at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City, Glover announced that his upcoming album will be his last. Backstage at the 2018 Grammys, he elaborated on his decision.
“I stand by that. I’m really appreciative of this. I’m making another project right now,” he said. “But I like endings, I think they’re important to progress.”
He continued, “I think if a lot of things had death clauses in them, we wouldn’t have a lot of problems in the world, to be honest. I think ending are good because they force things to get better.”
Glover scored one win at the Grammys for best traditional R&B performance for “Redbone.” His album, “Awaken, My Love,” was nominated for both album and urban contemporary album of the year, while “Redbone” was nominated for record of the year and best R&B song.
He performed “Terrified,” along with 9-year-old J.D. McCrary during the 60th annual show. The two are starring alongside each other in the live-action remake of “The Lion King,” where Glover is set to portray Simba and McCrary as young Simba.
In September, Glover took home an Emmy for acting and directing for his acclaimed FX show “Atlanta.”
Source: Variety
Dave Chappelle Wins Grammy Award For Best Comedy Album
It was a Dave Chappelle kind of night, and in a good way, as the sometimes mysterious comedian took home the rarely-televised award for Best Comedy Album.
Chappelle appeared briefly during Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying opening number, and later introduced the Best Rap Album winners before winning his own Grammy.
“I am honored to win an award (finally),” said Chappelle. “I want to thank everyone at Netflix, Saturday Nite Live, the Chappelle Show, my wife, kids, sisters, brothers,and their kids and my mother …whew – see you on Monday!”
Chappelle’s opening bit during the Kendrick Lamar performance offered his characteristic thought-provoke, when commented, “I just want to remind the audience that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.”
He later drew a loud ovation during his intro to the Best Rap Album when he name-checked some of the lesser-known but influential rappers who passed away this year.
Chappelle won the category with his The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas, beating Cinco by Jim Gaffigan; Jerry Before Seinfeld byJerry Seinfeld; A Speck Of Dust by Sarah Silverman; and What Now? by Kevin Hart
Bruno Mars Cleans Up At The 60th Annual Grammy Awards
The Grammys are what dreams are made of. Some dreams come true while some need a little more time to manifest. Record-breaking wins and many firsts were made at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards this year, hosted by James Corden, in New York City. Kendrick Lamar, who opened the award show with a riveting performance, won five Grammy awards (Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album and Best Music Video). Bruno Mars also cleaned up nice with seven wins (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), and also performed Finesse with Cardi B; who was nominated for two awards. Both Kendrick and Bruno gave shout-outs to the legends that paved the way for them to be who and where they are today.
SZA, who was nominated for five Grammys performed Broken Clocks, while fellow nominee and winner in the category of Best New Artist, Alessia Cara performed 1-800-273-8255 with Logic and Khalid, for suicide prevention and awareness. Many went to social media to express their outrage of SZA’s loss to Alessia Cara who debuted Here in 2015. According to Grammy.com the requirements for Best New Artist are not as clear as one would expect. Jay-Z did not take home a Grammy tonight, but received the 2018 Salute to Industry Icons Award the previous evening.
As endearing as it is to see music and entertainment’s fellow peers celebrate each other for their accomplishments over the past year, it is even more powerful for Artists to use their star power to stand up for something. Camilla Cabella, the chart-topping, Havana singer summed it up with her speech “Tonight, in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was made by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream.” “I’m a proud, Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City. And all I know is that just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for.” Janelle Monáe stood up for the “Time’s Up” campaign as she introduced Kesha who performed “Praying” with Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels.
DaveChappelle winner of Best Comedy Album forThe Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas, who is known for speaking out against racism and staying true to who he is, as a man in his position, reminded the audience that “the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.” While we thought for a moment former President Barack Obama would grace the stage as James Corden conveniently misread the teleprompter as he introduced the Recording Academy President, Neil Portnow, former Secretary of state and Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton did show up in the form of a cameo, in the spoof for the audio book auditions for the highly discussed book, Fire & Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff. We will wait for the tweets. In the meantime, for the full list of tonight’s winners, tributes, dedications and recaps click here.
Josayne M Anderson-Tejera, Humor Mill Music Correspondent & CEO of The UndergroundSeen
