IFC has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to an upcoming indie comedy film which stars Tessa Thompson, Melissa Leo and Whoopi Goldberg.
According to Variety, who confirmed the news, “Furlough” centers on a woman (Thompson) who lives with and cares for her aging mother (Goldberg), while working part-time at a jail. At work, she is given a chance to show off her abilities when she is assigned to accompany an unruly prisoner (Leo) on an emergency furlough to visit her dying mother. The trip does not go as planned.”
Anna Paquin, Edgar Ramirez and La La Anthony round out the cast.
“I am thrilled to partner with Bankside and again with IFC Films, a company with such an important and influential track record. I am also excited to bring a new genre to them with Furlough, so we can share lots of laughs in the theater, as well as a few tears,” the film’s director, Laurie Collyer said.
Leo is currently a Emmy contender for Novitiate and Thompson just appeared in the wildly successful, Thor: Ragnarok.
Source: Shadow & Act/Variety
If you could describe Michael B. Jordan in two words, it would probably be “incredibly busy.”
The actor has set his next feature. He will star in the legal drama, Just Mercy. The film is based on the book which chronicles the real-life story of social justice activist Bryan Stevenson, who founded the Equal Justice Initiative.
The description, per The Hollywood Reporter: “Just Mercy was a memoir that told of Stevenson’s first case, that of Walter McMillian, a young black man sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. Despite being at a barbecue surrounded by dozens of witnesses at the time of the murder, McMillian was convicted in a trial that lasted a day and a half and spent six years on death row. Stevenson’s taking on the case eventually led to the discovery that the prosecution suppressed evidence and McMillian’s exoneration. It drew critical raves, with reviewers likening it to To Kill a Mockingbird.
The film was first announced back in 2015, and is now set up at Warner Bros. who just got the rights. It was first set up Broad Green Pictures before it shuttered.
Jordan would shoot the film early next year, right before Creed 2, which is set for release in November 2018.
Also in 2018, he has Black Panther releasing in February, and Fahrenheit 451 later in the year as well.
And his other projects in development include:
Whew! Yes, that’s busy.
Source: Shadow & Act
DALLAS – December 4, 2017 – D.L. Hughley, one of America’s brightest comedians of our time, is elevating his humor and thought-provoking, socially conscious program into ratings success, leading to a new multi-year agreement for his nationally syndicated radio show, Reach Media announced today.
In making the announcement, D.L. stated, “I’m excited that my radio show continues to grow on a national basis, but the honesty and interaction with my audience make it the ‘biggest local and personal show in radio.’ Extending the relationship with Reach Media gives me the opportunity to address what’s important to people I care about in an entertaining, but meaningful way – making a difference in their day!”
Urban One’s CEO of Radio One’s stations and Reach Media, David Kantor added, “As one of the most important voices in radio, D.L. is totally in tune with what the African-American listener wants addressed – and to be said. He’s established himself as the voice, with a humorous edge, but conviction and sensibility to stimulate a dialogue.”
The broadcast and digital company noted that Hughley, who established himself as a leading voice in the community, has dominated the afternoon drive-time slot with double-digit rating shares taking key affiliate radio stations to #1 or dominant positions in the market for his target listener demographic with The D.L. Hughley Show. The show recently added affiliates in the following markets:
The show offers listeners entertainment, information and a unique approach to addressing topics important to the African-American community. Fast, funny and relevant, D.L. aims to “make people laugh a lot…and think too!” The show, which Hughley co-hosts with Jasmine Sanders, broadcasts weekdays from 3p–7p ET and has over 60 affiliates.
Recently, the show began offering a content ONLY version, where affiliates can play their own music to specifically target their audience. Stations can get all the laughs and thought-provoking insights, while customizing the music for any format, giving more listeners the opportunity to get the exclusive compelling experience presented by Hughley and his cast. The Hughley Hustle Home Mix has become one of the most popular elements of the show to further hold the audience – with an extended mix of old school and new school music that represents the essence of the show… “bringin’ it home” during drivetime!
One of the most popular and highly recognized standup comedians on the road today, Hughley has also become a familiar face and voice on television, film and radio. He’s known for being astute and politically savvy in true comedian style.
Source: Radio Facts
All Def Digital presents an all-new series where its comedian versus comedian and the winner gets a point, in this new series produced by Dad Jokes titled You Laugh, You Lose.
For this new episode its comedians Tahir Moore and Chris Sosa.
Watch the video below;
In a new video for Vanity Fair, Jordan Peele is breaking down several Get Out conspiracy theories.
The theories were pulled from Reddit, and many of them are common ones that you’ve heard of or noticed if you’ve seen the film, such as: Why the black folks wore hats, why the grandfather character kept running and why Rose ate her fruit loops outside of the milk.
Some of these were intentional by Peele, but some are just by coincidence.
Check out which ones you may be right or wrong about below:
Source: Shadow & Act
Cedric the Entertainer shared his thoughts on recent sexual misconduct allegations surrounding his longtime friend Russell Simmons.
Cedric, who was a regular on Russell’s Def Comedy Jam, said that it’s hard to watch someone like Russell, who has worked hard to get where he is, lose everything in an instant. However, Cedric pointed out that it’s not right when a woman feels like she can’t say no to sex when she’s in a position with a man of power.
To hear more of what Cedric had to say, hit the above clip.
Source: TMZ
Watch comedian JJ Williamson at UPTOWN COMEDY CLUB in Atlanta, Ga.
On this day in comedy on December 4, 1992 Eddie Murphy’s The Distinguished Gentleman released by Buena Vista Pictures
Eddie Murphy stars in this comedy about a con man who uses the name recognition of a deceased career politician to be elected to the US Congress. After his win, he tries to address real issues along with taking the system for all he can get. It turns out the system in Washington is even more corrupt than Murphy expected. He’s being blocked by a crooked official. So, after an elaborate con, Murphy exposes the troublemaker as an elected criminal and exposes himself as a fraud.
The Distinguished Gentleman was directed by Jonathan Lynn. It also stars Lane Smith as the crooked politician and features Sheryl Lee Ralph, James Garner, Victoria Rowell, Charles S. Dutton, Chi McBride, Joe Don Baker and Noble Willingham.
The film was critically panned, but made $47 million at the box office and was granted the Environmental Media Award for feature film and the Political Film Society Award.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
On this day in comedy on December 3, 1961, Comedian, TV show host, Adalberto Javier Ramones Martínez was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Ramones has not been the most fortunate of entertainers. For years he suffered from heart disease requiring numerous operations. He recovered from that harrowing experience and was then kidnapped. Ramones spent a week locked in a closet, blindfolded with his feet tied and only given water. He lost 15.5 pounds. After that he caught on fire while shooting his show and was rushed to the hospital. In 2004 he needed crutches after breaking his ankle in yet another accident.
Now as far as his comedy, Ramones made his reputation with his material on Mexican social life. He’s best known as the host of Otro Rollo. It was aired by Televisa and seen in 53 countries outside of Mexico. Univision broadcast it in the United States. The show featured a portion called La pesera del amor, where Ramones matches up a couple and they marry on live TV, with the show picking up all expenses. It was supposed to be a onetime thing, but was so popular it was added on as a regular part of the show. Who doesn’t want a free honeymoon with a relative stranger who now has your last name?
Ramones received support from American artists on his program. Britany Spears kicked things off in July of 2003 and from there the Yanks kept going south. Other celebrities Ramones hosted include, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Cameron Diaz, Kevin James, Lucy Liu, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christina Aguilera, John Leguizamo, Chayanne and others. Will Smith appeared three times Paris Hilton stood him up.
Ramones has done dozens of voices for animation and in 2005 he was nominated for the Mexican MTV Movie Award for Favorite Actor.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
On this day in comedy on December 1, 1940, Comedian, Actor, Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was born in Peoria, Illinois
Known universally as the greatest comedian of the 20th Century, Richard Pryor’s road to success was decidedly unconventional. Raised in a brothel and constantly abused both physically and mentally, the young man delved into self-expression as an escape from the realities of his sordid life. However, his violent upbringing followed him. While in the Army Pryor was part of a mob of black soldiers who beat and stabbed a white soldier for laughing too hard at a section of the film, Imitation of Life. That act put him behind bars for most of his military stint.
Once free from the stranglehold of Uncle Sam, Pryor relocated in New York and began his career. It was a shaky start to say the least. He was opening for singer Nina Simone and shook so much from stage fright that the songstress had to hold him and rock him back and forth until he calmed down. She found herself doing this every night he performed.
Initially Richard Pryor was not the firebrand the public came to love. He was a Bill Cosby clone . . . comedy-wise. He dressed like Cos, talked like him, walked like him, and had similar facial expressions and themes in material. They even did the same TV shows until the day Cosby told Pryor (who was a friend) that he had to stop imitating him. Pryor response was something to the effect of “I’m making a lot of money acting like you so I’m going to keep doing it.” That attitude lasted until Pryor played the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, a town known for artistic restriction. Pryor had finally had enough of being like his watered-down colleague and in 1967 he walked off the stage in the middle of his show. But before he made his exit, legend has it that Pryor stripped naked, ran into the gaming room, jumped on the table and yelled, “Blackjack!” At least that’s the legend.
In any case, the new Pryor had to be cultivated and so he went to Northern California. Pryor honed his personalized persona in front of Oakland and Berkeley audiences consisting of hoes, pimps, drug dealers and gangsters. His was talking the language of the people to the people and they loved it. He was cursing and talking about race and social issues. He spoke the lingo of the streets and before long the industry took notice.
Pryor signed with Laff Records and recorded the seminal Craps After Dark. That raw edged comedy classic led to a deal with Stax records for more money and larger distribution. He laid his hit That Nigger’s Crazy. His name was now on everybody’s lips as he jumped over to Reprise/ Warner Bros. At this point Pryor was a comic’s comic and despite breaching his contract with Laff (which they settled to their mutual benefit) Pryor went on to make a succession of popular albums: Is it Something I Said? Bicentennial Nigger, Richard Pryor: Live in Concert, Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip and Richard Pryor: Here and Now.
Pryor was on a roll. He won an Emmy for writing and five Grammys for his albums as well as box office recognition for films such as Lady Sings the Blues, The Mack, Car Wash, Which Way Is Up, Blue Collar, Greased Lightning, Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, Superman III and many more. He was so much in demand that NBC gave him his own sketch show. It lasted for only 4 episodes. Pryor was too raw for TV.
Pryor also had problems. The problem was a he had a drug problem. It seemed to be there weren’t enough drugs to keep him happy. A known cocaine addict, Pryor began a rapid decent when he dabbled with freebasing. Smoking coke in its purest form cost Pryor the lead in 48 Hours and Trading Places. They went to Eddie Murphy, who indirectly owes his career to drugs. Pryor owed the decline of his career to them too.
Then things really hit the skids. Pryor lit himself on fire during a freebase session. This landed him in the hospital and on every news outlet. He recovered after multiple operations, but was never the same. The man who was the first to win the Mark Twain Humor Award was just a shell of his former self. He contracted multiple sclerosis and was restricted to a wheelchair. With close friend and personal writer, Paul Mooney as his support system, Pryor continued to perform, but the audiences were more there to see the last gasp of glory.
That gasp occurred on December 10, 2005 – ten days after the great man’s 65th birthday. He did something most never imagined. Richard Pryor retired at the mandatory retirement age; perhaps the only conventional thing he ever did in his life.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip: