Mo’Nique wants the public to boycott Netflix over what she says is color bias and gender bias. The Oscar Award winning actress and comedian says that she was offered a comedy special for $500,000 by the popular streaming service.
However, she says that her comedian counterparts received way more. In fact, she says that Amy Schumer was offered $11 million and Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle were offered $20 million for their specials.
Source: The Jasmine Brand
The New Freeform Network Sends Zoey Off To Sophomore Year With Season 2 Order Of ‘GROWN-ISH’
At today’s inaugural Freeform Summit, during kickoff panel conversation featuring Kenya Barris and Yara Shahidi, among others, “grown-ish” executive producer alongside executive vice president, programming & development, Karey Burke, surprised series lead, Shahidi, with the news that the network has ordered a second season of the critically-acclaimed breakout comedy. The premiere, which boasted Freeform’s highest debut for a comedy in nearly six years, also earned critical praise from Deadline, which called the series “straight up good, no –ish required,” and BuzzFeed declared, “glows from the inside out.”
Freeform’s “grown-ish,” a half-hour comedy tackling current social issues and complexities facing both students and administrators, follows Zoey (Yara Shahidi), Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter from ABC’s Emmy®-nominated comedy “black-ish,” as she heads into her freshman year of college at Cal U.
The series is produced by ABC Signature Studios and is executive produced by Kenya Barris, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne and Julie Bean. “grown-ish” airs Wednesday nights at 8/7c on Freeform.
WATCH: New Trailer For ‘Tomb Raider’ Released!
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.
Leaving everything she knows behind, Lara goes in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, “Tomb Raider” is the story that will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero. The film stars Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina,” “The Danish Girl”) in the lead role, under the direction of Roar Uthaug (“The Wave”), with Oscar-winner Graham King (“The Departed”) producing under his GK Films banner. The executive producers are Patrick McCormick, Denis O’Sullivan and Noah Hughes.
“Tomb Raider” also stars Dominic West (“Money Monster,” “300”), Walton Goggins (“The Hateful Eight,” “Django Unchained”), Daniel Wu (AMC’s “Into the Badlands”) and Oscar nominee Kristin Scott Thomas (“The English Patient”).
Uthaug directed from a script by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons. The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography George Richmond (“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”); production designer Gary Freeman (“Maleficent”); Oscar-nominated editor Stuart Baird (“Skyfall,” “Gorillas in the Mist”) and editor Michael Tronick (“Suicide Squad”); Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) and costume designer Timothy A. Wonsik (assistant costume designer, “Free State of Jones,” “Iron Man 3”). The music is by Tom Holkenborg (“Mad Max: Fury Road”).
Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures present, a Square Enix production, a GK Films production, “Tomb Raider.” Set for release on March 16, 2018, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by MGM.
‘Empire’s Jussie Smollett Releases First New Single Titled ‘Freedom’!
Rising star Jussie Smollett, of the FOX hit television show Empire has released a new single and music video titled Freedom. The new music video was also directed by Smollett and features his new look behind the camera. Smollett’s new album, “Sum of My Music,” is set to be Released on March 2nd, while Empire returns in March.
‘Black Lightning’ Is Off To The Best Debut For ‘The CW’ In Two Years
Looks like everyone got “lit” last night for Black Lightning!
The show had an impressive debut Tuesday night for The CW, become the biggest debut for the network in two years and the biggest debut for the 9 p.m. timeslot for the network in three years (aside from The Legends of Tomorrow crossover).
It retained complete 100 percent of its lead in from The Flash, scoring a 0.8 in the coveted 18-49 demo, which is extremely good for a CW show.
In Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero in his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Superhero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns – to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community.
Based on the characters from D.C., Black Lightning is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil and Sarah Schechter. The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden.
‘Bad Boys’-Inspired Series Starring Gabrielle Union Scores NBC Pilot Order!
The untitled drama series based on Gabrielle Union’s “Bad Boys” character has been ordered to pilot at NBC.
Union will star as Syd Burnett, her character from “Bad Boys 2.” In the show, she has left the DEA and now has a fresh start in her new job as an LAPD detective. She’s partnered with Nancy McKenna, a working mom who can’t help but look at Syd’s freedom with some grass-is-greener envy. These two have totally different lifestyles and approaches, but they both are at the top of their fields. Union will also executive produce in addition to starring.
The project had received a pilot production commitment at the network in October.
It will be written and executive produced by Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis, who previously worked together on NBC’s “The Blacklist.” Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the “Bad Boys” films, will executive produce along with Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Jeff Gaspin, Jeff Morrone, Doug Belgrad. Sony Pictures Television Studios will produce in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Primary Wave Entertainment, and 2.0 Entertainment.
Union and LeBron James are also set as executive producers on a project in development at ABC called “White Dave,” which is based on the life of series creator David E. Talbert.
Source: Variety
On This Day In Comedy… In 1975 ‘The Jeffersons’ Premiered On CBS!
On this day in comedy on January 18, 1975, The Jeffersons premiered on CBS
Created by Michael Ross and Bernie West and developed by Norman Lear, The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history. A spin-off of Lear’s cultural milestone, All in the Family,The Jeffersons centers around George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford), an upwardly mobile black couple who worked their way out of the working class section of Queens, New York as neighbors to the Archie Bunkers and into a deluxe high rise apartment in Manhattan. This was accomplished through George’s expanding dry cleaning business and the show’s success was built on great writing, acting and appealing to the times.
When The Jeffersons premiered America was in its post-Civil Rights period and all things seemed possible for those who that struggle meant to benefit. The Jeffersons showed that if you give a black man the same financial opportunities as a white man he could end up just as petty, bigoted and greedy as his Caucasian counterpart. George Jefferson was basically a black Archie Bunker. His wife, Louise was no dingbat, but embodied the solid wife of unwavering morals despite how much money came into her life. They had a maid, Florence (Marla Gibbs), who was also black and talked back. Their neighbor, Mr. Bentley (Paul Benedict) worked at the UN as a translator and when the bachelor came home he needed George to walk on his back to keep his spine aligned. The Jeffersons also had a son, Lionel, who had a girlfriend, Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), who had a white father and black mother (Frank Cover and Roxie Roker). Plus, there was a tip happy doorman, Ralph (Ned Wertimer) and George’s mother (Zara Cully) who felt George was too good for everything; especially Louise. Outside of his mother, wife and son, George disapproved of these people and that kept the comedy going for 253 episodes.
The Jeffersons was consistently in the Top 30 of the Nielsen ratings. Even when it was canceled, the news came as a shock to the cast. Many of them heard about getting the axe through a newspaper article or by a friend telling them. This was particularly upsetting because the end was so much different than the beginning when everybody was so accommodating. Lear had written the part of George Jefferson specifically for Sherman Hemsley and eventually waited until Hemsley finished his theatrical obligations before introducing him as the character on All in the Family. That wait took four seasons.
At one point another actor was tried, but the chemistry between Carroll O’Connor (Archie Bunker) and actor Avon Long (the “first” George Jefferson) didn’t work; according to O’Connor and they put the physical George back on the shelf. Undaunted, Lear slid George Jefferson into the conversation by writing in George’s brother, Henry Jefferson (played by Mel Stewart) and when George Jefferson was finally ready for his close-up, the character of Henry disappeared. The show also had to adjust to a new Lionel when actor Mike Evans left the show after the first season and was replaced by Damon Evans, who was in turn replaced by Mike Evans until Lionel and Jenny were written out of the show (stated reason – marital problems).
The show used the frank language of the 1970s including “nigger” and “honky”. George called Tom and Helen Willis “zebras” and everybody called George “short”. This was not a politically correct sitcom (until the latter seasons). It spawned one spin-off; Checking In starring Marla Gibbs, but it checked out after only 4 episodes and Gibbs was right back in her apron on The Jeffersons. The theme song, Movin on Up was composed by Jeff Barry and Ja’net Dubois, who also sang the theme with a gospel choir.
During its 11-season run The Jeffersons received 13 Emmy Award nominations for acting with a 1981 win for Isabel Sanford for Best Actress. She was only the second black actress to win this honor (the first was Gail Fisher for Mannix in 1970).
The Jeffersons aired its last episode July 2, 1985.
On This Day In Comedy… In 2014 Kevin Hart’s ‘Ride Along’ Was Released By Universal!
On this day in comedy on January 17, 2014, Ride Along was released by Universal
This buddy flick stars Ice Cube as a seasoned cop and Kevin Hart as a high school security guard trying to get his approval, so he can marry Cube’s sister (Tika Sumpter). The veteran flatfoot’s not having it. He doesn’t feel Hart is worthy, so he takes him on a ride along to see what Hart’s made of. At the same time Cube is trying to catch a ring of smugglers (of passports, not opium, diamonds, coffee grounds, etc.) and will stop at nothing to get them. This means a lot of action: car chases, shoot outs, face slapping, hysterical screaming, multiple subduings, little folks flying through the air, things being destroyed by grenades, double dealings, back stabbings, leg shootings, people being hit in the head with frying pans and a little Michael Vickery.
Based on a story by Greg Coolidge, Ride Along was directed by Tim Story and produced by Cube, Will Packer, Matt Alvarez and Larry Brezner. The cast also includes John Leguizamo, Jay Pharaoh, Bruce McGill, Gary Owen, Bryan Callen, Jacob Latimore, David Banner, Gary Weeks, Dragos Bucur and Laurence Fishburne.
The critics turned in mainly negative reviews for the film. The public positively loved it. It not only made $153,262,184 from a $25 million budget (breaking all existing box offices opening records for the month of January), but spawned a sequel (Ride Along 2) less than two years from the original’s release.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1957 Comedian, Radio Personality, Author, And TV Host Steve Harvey Was Born!
On this day in comedy on January 17, 1957, Comedian, Radio Personality, Author, TV Host, Broderick Stephen “Steve” Harvey was born in Welch, West Virginia
For Steve Harvey it was comedy or bust. After stints as a boxer, mailman, autoworker, insurance salesman and carpet cleaner, Harvey got into standup in 1985 at Hilarities in Cleveland, Ohio. It wasn’t overnight stardom. He was homeless for years; sleeping in his car when a gig didn’t provide a hotel room for the night and showering at gas stations.
Harvey got a break in 1990 when he became a finalist in the Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search. That got him his job as host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo. That televised showcase got him his deal to do his first sitcom, Me and the Boys in 1994 on ABC. His second sitcom was on the WB, The Steve Harvey Show aired from 1996 to 2002 and was a top show in black households.
Steve Harvey’s popularity translated when he toured as one-fourth of The Original Kings of Comedy. The quartet of Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Harvey and D L Hughley (Guy Torry was the fourth member and host before leaving to do a TV show and was replaced by Hughley) toured; packing in history-making crowds and setting off a trend that hit other subgroups in comedy, such as The Queens of Comedy, The Original Latin Kings of Comedy, The Latin Divas of Comedy, The Kims of Comedy, Blue Collar Comedy Tour, etc. The pinnacle is when the foursome was recorded by Spike Lee for his concert film in 2000.
The former boxer was out for a knockout. Harvey had his own syndicated radio show. He released his comedy DVD, Don’t Trip, He Ain’t Through With Me Yet and a hip hop and R&B CD. He authored books: Steve Harvey’s Big Time (also the name of a variety show Harvey hosted on the WB from 2003-2005), Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man and Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find and Keep a Man. He’s hosted award ceremonies (including Miss Universe), appeared in films, launched a clothing line, launched a dating website, hosted Family Feud, hosted a self-titled daytime talk show and co-founded The Hoodie Awards (a show recognizing deserving businesses in the black community) along with partner, Rushion McDonald.
Steve Harvey is an 11-time NAACP Image Award winner, a 3-time Daytime Emmy Award winner and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1959 Comedian, Producer, And Author Darryl Littleton AKA D’Militant Was Born!
On this day in comedy on January 17, 1959, Comedian, Producer, Author, Historian/ Preservationist, Darryl Littleton aka D’Militant is born in Los Angeles, California
Darryl Littleton began his comedy career writing for The Tom Joyner Morning Show and soon afterwards became a regular at the World-Famous Comedy Store adopting the stage name, “D’Militant” for his slicing wit and incisive social and political commentary. He was D. L. Hughley’s exclusive writer when Hughley hosted BET’s Comic View and as writer/producer penned material for subsequent hosts Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore and Don DC Curry. His writing extended to columns for Comedy the Magazine and The Humor Mill. Littleton was also a commentator for NPR.
As a stand-up, Darryl Littleton’s on camera credits include The Parent Hood, Townsend Television, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, Comedy Central’s Make Me Laugh, Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, Telemundo’s Loco Comedy Jam and Byron Allen’s Comic’s Unleashed. He has toured Europe and Asia performing for the US military and as the host of Katt Williams’ Its Pimpin, Pimpin Tour (the highest grossing national comedy tour that year).
Littleton took his love of comedy and wrote books on the subject. His first, Black Comedians on Black Comedy, chronicles the history of African-American comedy. It’s taught in universities and was made into the documentary, Why We Laugh by director, Robert Townsend. Littleton served as executive producer for the project. He has also published Pimp Down: The Rise & Fall of Katt Williams (2011), on 21st Century fame and media scrutiny, Forefathers (2012), the story of the American Revolution told from a black perspective, Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady (2012), the history of female comedy which he co-wrote with his wife / comedienne, Tuezdae Littleton, How to Be Funny: The Essential Comedy Handbook; a tutorial on the art of laughter and How 2 Play Whitey, a collection of hilarious stories on stereotyping.
Darryl Littleton is the first African- American on the advisory board of the Comedy Hall of Fame. He has toured the nation as a public speaker lecturing on the historical and social significance of comedy. To that end, Littleton produced Black & Blue: The Laff Records Collection, a compilation of classic party records from Redd Foxx to Marsha Warfield. As “D’Militant” he’s released two comedy albums (Am I Lying?!, Too Raw for Mainstream), has won numerous comedy awards including the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition and ABC’s America’s Funniest People and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his Comedy Hal of Fame produced documentary, Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing.
