BET+, the leading streamer for Black audiences, announced today the pickup of Tyler Perry’s Divorced Sistas, a new BET+ original series and the first original to launch under Mr. Perry’s recently expanded, multi-year content partnership with BET Media Group – one of the largest deals in the industry with a Black creator. A fresh extension of the Sistas universe, the series will premiere on Monday, June 9, on BET, the day of the 2025 BET Awards, and will be available to stream on BET+ starting Tuesday, June 10.
The ensemble cast features LeToya Luckett (Greenleaf), Khadeen Indréa (Ellis Ever After), Porscha Coleman (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!), Briana Price (Step Up: High Water), Jennifer Sears (Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Funeral), RonReaco Lee (Survivor’s Remorse), DeVon Franklin (Kingdom Business), Donovan Christie Jr. (Tyler Perry’s The Oval), and Robert Christopher Riley (Dynasty).
Tyler Perry’s Divorced Sistas follows five close friends – Rasheda, Geneva, Naomi, Tiffany, and Bridgette – as they navigate life, love, and the challenges that come with divorce, marriage, and dating. As they lean on each other through heartbreak and healing, their biggest test comes from within their own circle, challenging their loyalty, character, and true bond of sisterhood.
“Tyler Perry has been the most incredible partner to BET – delivering record breaking hits and top series year after year,” said Scott Mills, President and CEO of BET Media Group. “And now, we eagerly await the arrival of Tyler’s newest series – Divorced Sistas – a brilliant expansion of the Sistas universe that for years has been the most watched series among Black viewers across television. We’re thrilled to launch this new series with Tyler and further expand the slate of compelling and authentic stories we deliver to our audiences.”
“Divorced Sistas is a story of resilience and the power of female friendship,” said creator, writer, and director Tyler Perry. “It is my hope that audiences will fall in love with these dynamic characters, and that they will be able to explore their own personal truths about healing and love in the process. I’m excited to launch this brand new show, and proud to do it on BET’s biggest night of the year and in their 45th year of programming!”
From Tyler Perry Studios, Tyler Perry’s Divorced Sistas is created, written, and directed by Tyler Perry, who also serves as an executive producer.
In the Season 3 opener of “Hacks,” stand-up legend Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, touches down in Montreal to accept the comedy special of the year award at the venerable Just for Laughs festival. The episode allowed the Emmy-winning Max series to finally pay homage to the world’s biggest comedy fest, which for decades was a talent incubator and industry summer camp where deals were struck and comics like Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer and Quinta Brunson were discovered.
But the episode aired at an awkward time. Two months earlier, in March 2024, Just for Laughs filed for bankruptcy after owing millions in unpaid bills to hotels, venues and production companies. It shuttered its global events and production arm, leaving the future of the 43-year-old gathering, the crown jewel of comedy industry events, uncertain.
Then, later that year, Sylvain Parent-Bédard, the head of the Quebec-based company ComediHa!, swooped in, acquiring Just for Laughs and marrying the two brands. With Parent-Bédard as its new president and CEO, the festival made a gradual return this year with small events in Sydney and Bermuda. With new initiatives and a greater focus on development, Just for Laughs hopes Hollywood and beyond will return in droves to Montreal for the rebooted fest, which runs July 16-27. (The lineup has yet to be announced.)
Parent-Bédard, a primarily French-speaking businessman with a sunny smile and spiky hair, launched his first business at age 17, hopping the Canadian border to buy video games from American ports and then selling them in Quebec. He barged into the comedy world in 1997 when he decided to rent a venue, book the comedian Stéphane Rousseau and “call every businessman in the city,” selling tickets one by one over the phone.
He fell in love with comedy. “I wanted to launch Just for Laughs in Quebec City, but the former owner told me it was impossible. So I launched my own festival,” he says, referring to ComediHa!, which he built into a full-fledged production company. “I know what it means to light the stage, to put the sound on, to roll cables for the camera, because I’ve done it myself.” What separates him from Just for Laughs’ previous ownership, he says, is a true passion for comedy and an ear to the ground.
“With all the respect I have for the old owners, you do not manage a creation company with a finance ideology,” Parent-Bédard says. “When I met the CEO of Just for Laughs in 2018, I had the phone number of every stand-up comedian, their management, their agent. He did not have one, but he had the phone number of the bank. He had the phone number of the sponsor. He knew nothing about comedy.”
Spencer Griffin, Just for Laughs’ longtime head of development and creative strategy, emphasizes that while the fest has historically been focused on discovery of new talent, the new regime aims to play a more active role in career development.
This year, Just for Laughs is partnering with Rob McElhenney and his More Better Productions on an initiative geared to writers, Will Arnett and his Electric Avenue banner on a shorts and pilots platform, and YouTube sketch-comedy stars Smosh on a program for social media creators. Those selected for the programs will receive development deals and prolonged mentorship.
“We want to be additive. We want to introduce artists to the industry at the festival and then actually help them succeed in the industry,” Griffin says. “Whereas the old company just said, ‘Good luck,’ now we want to say, ‘Here’s how we take the next step together.’”
While some in the biz are skeptical about the brand’s health just one year out from bankruptcy, Hollywood is still eager to return to Montreal. Even in an era when comedians are self-distributing specials and self-financing movies and TV shows, their representatives still see Just for Laughs as a key-holder to some of the gates encircling the entertainment industry.
“A lot of pipelines have disappeared in this industry in terms of building your career,” says one comedy manager. “Having a respected institution like Just for Laughs backing you and guiding you is actually exciting.”
Source: Variety
Meagan Good (“Shazam!”), Jabari Banks (“Bel-Air”) and Bailee Madison (“Pretty Little Liars”) will star in “Rocky Top College,” the latest screenplay by former NBA player turned filmmaker Jarnell Stokes.
Directed by Jamal Hill (“Sins of the Father”), “Rocky Top College” follows the harrowing journey of Zion Williams, a young African American basketball prodigy from Memphis. After being suspended during his highly anticipated senior year, the nation’s No. 1 ranked prep phenom shocks the sports world by enrolling in a small-time college to continue his quest for NBA stardom. But once on campus, a series of peculiar and disturbing events has him questioning his decision whilst fighting to hold onto his fleeting sanity.
“This story is deeply personal, inspired by real-life experiences, and I’m grateful to have such a talented team helping bring it to life,” said Stokes. “Like Zion, I once walked this path. Basketball was my anchor in an unforgiving world, and I want this film to show young people that hope, and healing are always within reach.”
Stokes will produce the project under his Stoked Bros banner alongside Emmy-nominated producer Aisha Wynn, Nigel Thomas and Rick Benattar. Good will serve as executive producer with Shondrella Avery, Sean Mik’ael Butler, Patrick Strøm, Isaiah Stokes, and Beth Fryman Poulin of Stoked Sports.
Filming is set to begin this month on location in Louisville, Ky.
“The moment Jarnell shared this story with me, I knew it was something special. ‘Rocky Top College’ is more than a sports film – it’s a gripping journey of resilience, and purpose,” said Hill. “We’re exploring the depths of our young hero’s psyche, blending suspense with a unique twist to create an unforgettable experience. I’m excited to bring another production to Kentucky and share this story with the world.”
Good added, “This marks my third time working with Jamal Hill, and my admiration for him began after seeing ‘Brotherly Love’ at its premiere. Beyond being a fan of his artistry, I deeply respect his unique ability to communicate with actors and his collaborative spirit, which leads with confidence without compromising vision. I’m incredibly excited for what we’re about to create together.”
The announcement comes as Stoked Bros continues to make waves in the film industry with powerful upcoming projects like the Cuba Gooding, Jr.-led “Break the Cycle” and “American Smuggler” starring Dennis Haysbert. It also comes on the heels of the company’s launch of sister company Stoked Sports & Entertainment, a full-service management and production company focused on helping athletes and other crossover talent make the leap into film and TV.
Good is repped by Gersh Agency and Atlas Artists. Banks is with WME and Frontline Management, while Madison is represented by Aaron Brown of UTA. Hill is represented by Cultivate Entertainment Partners and IAG. Stokes is repped by Ryan Saul of Evoke Entertainment.
Source: Variety
Mo’Nique is doubling down on the message she delivered to Shannon Sharpe. While on stage for a show, Mo’Nique reminded the crowd, “Yes, I told that n—a Shannon Sharpe leave the white women alone.”
Spike Lee has released the first trailer for his A24 and Apple-backed crime thriller “Highest 2 Lowest” starring Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, and more. The movie will be released in theaters August 22 and stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept. 5 after world premiering later this month at the Cannes Film Festival.
Written by William Alan Fox, “Highest 2 Lowest” is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which follows a businessman deciding whether or not to use his wealth to further his career or save a child’s life. Both “Highest 2 Lowest” and “High and Low” are reinterpretations of Ed McBain’s mystery novel “The King’s Ransom.”
“One of the best things about film school is that you get introduced to world cinema, not just Hollywood,” Lee said about the film last year at the Red Sea Film Festival. “Seeing Kurosawa’s film ‘Rashomon’ and its structure inspired me to make ‘She’s Gotta Have It.’ In ‘Rashomon,’ you have three people who witness a rape, and each gives their own opinion of what happened. In ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ Nola Darling has three boyfriends who each see her in a different way. From the very beginning of my career, I was influenced by Kurosawa.”
The film marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington. “I’m just glad we got five in,” Lee said of working with Washington. “Highest 2 Lowest” also stars Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and rapper Ice Spice.
The film, produced by A24, Escape Artists, Mandalay Pictures, 40 Acres and a Mule and Filmworks, began production in New York City and wrapped with cinematographer Matthew Libatique in May 2024.
Watch the trailer for “Highest 2 Lowest” below.
Hartbeat, the global entertainment company at the intersection of comedy and culture, along with Color Farm Media, has announced a new podcast series, ReLiving Single, hosted by real-life best friends and Living Single stars Erika Alexander and Kim Coles. ReLiving Single is the official unofficial rewatch series, offering a fresh, in-depth look at the iconic ’90s show that redefined comedy, friendship, dating, and the Black experience for a generation. From “Ride the Maverick” mishaps to classic “woo woo woo” wisdom, each episode delivers behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable moments, and surprise guest appearances, giving both longtime fans and new viewers a front-row seat to the legacy of Living Single.
ReLiving Single is the newest addition to Hartbeat’s expanding portfolio of original audio content, joining hit series like Gold Minds with Kevin Hart, One Song with Diallo Riddle and Luxxury, and Petty Crimes with Ceara Jane O’Sullivan and Griff Stark-Ennis.
WHO:
WHEN: “ReLiving Single” premieres Wednesday, May 7th and new episodes release weekly on Wednesdays.
WHERE: Watch on The “ReLiving Single” YouTube channel [HERE] and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode, we discuss which team we would like to see Giannis Antetokounmpo demand a trade to this off-season if he demands a trade out of Milwaukee.
We also talk about which stars we think SHOULD be traded this season and more!
This episode features comedian Maurice Smith and filmmaker Jason Hayes!
Watch it above!
In this episode, we discuss Tyrese Haliburton’s Dad, John Haliburton, storming the court and confronting Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Indiana Pacers wrapped up the series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo got into a heated confrontation with Haliburton’s Dad, and we discuss what we think the NBA should do moving forward after this disrespectful exchange.
#IndianaPacers #MilwaukeeBucks #TyreseHaliburton #NFL #NBA #MLB #comedy #comedygrind #funny #hilarious #Laugh #BoxSeats #lies #Fall #Sports #Quit #Quitters
In this episode, we discuss some of the craziest things ever done by retired athletes, as we also discuss the NFL draft.
We also have a lot of comedy as we discuss some of the most obscene gestures ever done on camera during a game.
Check out the new episode featuring comedians Thomas Ward and Marc Howard!
2025 Induction Ceremony Set for Saturday, Nov. 8, in Los Angeles and Airing Live on Disney+
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation pulled back the curtain on its 2025 Inductees – a powerhouse lineup of trailblazers, icons and music legends who have shaped the ever-evolving sounds of Rock & Roll. This year’s announcement delivered live by Ryan Seacrest on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode of “American Idol,” setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration of music’s highest honor.
Performer Category:
Bad Company
Chubby Checker
Joe Cocker
Cyndi Lauper
Outkast
Soundgarden
The White Stripes
Musical Influence Award:
Salt-N-Pepa
Warren Zevon
Musical Excellence Award:
Thom Bell
Nicky Hopkins
Carol Kaye
Ahmet Ertegun Award:
Lenny Waronker
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The 2025 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the next day.
“Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
The Inductees were announced live on ABC this evening by Ryan Seacrest during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode of “American Idol,” where the Top 14 American Idol finalists took on songs from legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees as America voted live for the Top 12. The episode will be available next day on Hulu.
To be eligible for induction, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, and Outkast are first-time nominees, whereas Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes have all been nominated before.
The Induction categories include the following:
Performers: artists who have created music whose originality, impact and influence has changed the course of rock & roll
Musical Influence Award: artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting culture
Musical Excellence Award: given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence have had a dramatic impact on music
Ahmet Ertegun Award: non-performing industry professionals who have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted culture.
Ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date. Select Rock & Roll Hall of Fame donors and members receive exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by June 30 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/membership to learn more.