Emmy®– and WGA Award-winning comedian and writer Wyatt Cenac will star in a topical ten-episode series slated to debut on HBO next spring, it was announced today by Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president, HBO Programming. Executive producers on the series will include Cenac, Ezra Edelman (the Oscar®-winning “O.J.: Made in America”), John Oliver (HBO’s Emmy®-winning “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”) and Hallie Haglund (Emmy® winner for “The Daily Show”), who will also be the head writer. Diane Fitzgerald (Emmy® winner for “Last WeekTonight with John Oliver”) will be co-executive producer on the show, which will be produced for HBO by Avalon Television.
“We’re thrilled to give Wyatt this opportunity to showcase his bold take on today’s social issues,” said Rosenstein. “His ability to tackle tough topics with humor and insight makes this show a perfect addition to our late-night lineup.”
The half-hour late-night docu-series will take a satirical look at social and cultural issues from Cenac’s unique perspective. Rather than sit behind a desk, he will undertake a journey to understand some of the big issues of the moment and investigate real-world solutions.
“While my initial ask to play one of Molly’s love interests on ‘Insecure’ was rejected, this is a nice consolation,” says Cenac. “My thanks to Nina, Casey Bloys and everyone at HBO for finally giving me a place where I can comfortably swear on television.”
“Wyatt is one of the smartest, funniest, most curious people I know,” notes Oliver. “I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.”
From 2008 to 2012, Wyatt Cenac was a writer and popular correspondent on the hit late-night series “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” where he earned three Emmy® Awards and one WGA Award. The album of his hour-long standup special, “Brooklyn,” which he also directed, was nominated for a 2015 Grammy for Best Comedy Album. His other TV credits include a starring role in the series “People of Earth,” plus “Archer,” “Maron,” “Bojack Horseman” and “Bob’s Burgers.”
Currently appearing in the feature film “I Do…Until I Don’t,” Cenac’s film credits also include “Sleepwalk with Me” and Barry Jenkins’ “Medicine for Melancholy,” which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards. Armed with an “attentive, inquisitive perspective” (The A.V. Club) and a “hilariously understated style” (Paste), he has become a favorite of audiences and critics alike.
Comedy superstars Mike Epps and Katt Williams are teaming up to star in the urban comedy The House Next Door, a sequel to the 2016 indie horror comedy Meet the Blacks.
Deon Taylor, who directed Blacks, is directing and producing with partners Roxanne Avent and Robert F. Smith. Epps is also producing via his Naptown Productions shingle.
Epps starred in Blacks and is reprising his role as Carl Black, who, in the original film, moved his family from Chicago to Beverly Hills only to find out it was the city’s annual 12-hour purge, a timeframe where all crime is legal.
In the new movie, which begins shooting next week in Atlanta, Black is now an over-stressed but best-selling author who moves his family to his childhood home so he can find peace to write his new book. But when an extravagant pimp (Williams) moves into the neighborhood, Black becomes convinced that the man is actually a vampire bent on stealing his family.
Original castmembers returning for the sequel include Bresha Webb, Zulay Henao, social media star Andrew Bachelor (aka King Bach), and comedians Lil Duval, Michael Blackson and Tyrin Turner.
Epps’ Naptown producing partner Niles Kirchner is executive producing, as is Williams.
The pairing of Epps and Williams marks a reunion for the two comedians who last starred together in New Line’s 2002 Friday After Next.
Epps recently wrapped The Trap, a comedy he wrote and stars in with Queen Latifah and Tip Harris. He is also one of the producers on the recently wrapped film. He is repped by CAA, Primary Wave Entertainment and Morris Yorn.
Williams’ next big-screen appearance will be in Father Figures, an Owen Wilson and Ed Helms comedy that opens in December.
Taylor is a prolific filmmaker who has several movies in post, including the thriller Traffik, which stars Paula Patton and Missi Pyle, and Motivated Seller, starring Dennis Quaid. He also produced the comedy All-Star Weekend, which stars Jamie Foxx. Taylor works on his movies with Smith, his longtime partner who is the founder of Vista Equity Partners.
Williams and Taylor are both repped by ICM Partners, which will handle worldwide sales of the film.
Source: Variety
On a promo tour for Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, Tyler Perry as Madea made a return stop to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, in a skit with Fallon playing Donald Trump.
In the latest skit, Madea appears as Donald Trump’s new communications director.
In an earlier skit, done before the 2016 election (remember when everyone thought it was funny back then?), the character appeared with Fallon as Trump in a phone conversation parody.
You can watch the latest Madea/Trump skit below:
“Patti Cake$” breakout Danielle Macdonald, Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver, Sarah Paulson, “Alita: Battle Angel” star Rosa Salazar and Lil Rel Howery have round out the ensemble cast of Netflix’s “Bird Box” starring Sandra Bullock.
John Malkovich is also on board.
Susanne Bier is directing “Bird Box” from a script by “Arrival” writer Eric Heisserer.
The story follows a woman and a pair of children who are blindfolded, and make their way through a post-apocalyptic setting along a river. Dylan Clark is producing with Chris Morgan and Clayton Townsend. The film was developed by Scott Stuber at Universal, before he moved to Netflix to head its feature film division.
It is unknown which character each actor will be playing.
Following her critically acclaimed performance in Sundance pic “Patti Cake$”, Macdonald landed a supporting role in “Dumplin” opposite Jennifer Aniston. She is repped by CAA.
Best known for his role in “Moonlight,” Rhodes can be seen next in Fox’s reboot of “Predator.” He is repped by CAA and GSA Entertainment.
Paulson can currently be seen in FX’s “American Horror Story: Cult” and just wrapped Fox’s “The Post.” She is repped by CAA.
Salazar can be seen next in “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” and the James Cameron produced “Atila: Battle Angel.”
Source: Variety
The first official trailer has been released for Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It series on Netfilx.
Lee is directing and executive producing, along with his producer-wife Tonya Lewis Lee.
The 10-episode series is a contemporary update of Spike Lee’s revolutionary debut independent film from 1986. She’s Gotta Have It centers on Nola Darling, a Brooklyn-based artist in her late twenties struggling to define herself and divide her time amongst her Friends, her Job and her Three Lovers: The Cultured Model, Greer Childs, The Protective Investment Banker, Jamie Overstreet and Da Original B-Boy Sneakerhead, Mars Blackmon.
In the upcoming series, DeWanda Wise is starring as Nola Darling; Cleo Anthony is Greer Childs; Anthony Ramos is Mars Blackmon; Lyriq Bent is Jamie Overstreet; Margot Bingham is Clorinda Bradford, and Sydney Morton is Sheryl Overstreet.
Chyna Layne and Ilfenesh Hadera also appear in the series.
Source: Shadow & Act
On this day in comedy on October 16, 1961, Comedienne, Actress, Producer, Director, Writer, Kim N. Wayans was born in New York City
Wayans first appeared in film in 1987 (Cathy) and television in 1988 (A Different World), but it wasn’t until her work on the groundbreaking Fox sketch comedy show, In Living Color that she got public notice. Working with a cast that included not only her siblings Keenan Ivory, Damon and Shawn, there was also Kelly Coffer, Kim Cole, Jim Carrey, Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier. Kim brought to life a variety of characters (Bernita Butrell, Cousin Elsee, Mrs. Brooks) and impersonations (Whitney Houston, LaToya Jackson, Tina Turner, Esther Rolle).
Once her tenure with In Living Color ended, Kim Wayans continued to worked in television (In the House, Criminal Minds and as a story editor for My Wife and Kids). As well as literature (she co-wrote a children’s book, Amy Hodgepodge with her husband, Kevin Knotts). And film (among them A Low Best Supporting Actress by the Black Reel Awards).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on October 15, 2008, Chocolate News premiered on Comedy Central
Directed by Rusty Cundieff (Chappelle Show) and starring David Alan Grier, Chocolate News was a satirical news program aimed at the black demographic. Originally the station didn’t want the show due to the negative stereotype associated with pairing the term chocolate along with black people. But once non-black actors, Martin Sheen and William Shatner intervened the show was given the okay to start production.
Chocolate News had a prime spot. It was the lead-in for the popular Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. It featured Tangie Ambrose, Alphonso McAuley, Chris Tallman and Jordan Peele in sketches that were always from a black perspective and always consistently edgy and sometimes downright raw. Apparently too raw for mainstream.
Comedy Central aired the last of Chocolate News on December 17th of that same year after 10 episodes and the cable station made it clear on March 10, 2009 that it would not be renewing the program for a second season.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on October 14, 1952, Comedian, Actor, Rick Aviles was born in Manhattan, New York
The Greenwich Village night club scene was Puerto Rican, Avile’s stomping ground as he worked to improve his stand-up comedy. He came up in the generation of the 1970s. and benefited from the boom of the early 1980s. His first film role was in the Cannonball Run in 1981. His televised claim to fame is when he hosted Showtime at the Apollo. Avile’s other television credits include The Carol Burnett Show in 1991.
Rick Aviles gained notoriety in 1991 in the Patrick Swayze hit film, Ghost. He also appeared in The Secret of My Success, Street Smart, Mystery Train, The Godfather Part III, Green Card, Carlito’s Way and Waterworld. He was the voice for a cockroach in Joe’s Apartment.
Things were rolling along at a steady clip, but Aviles had a drug problem. Like most drug problems they eventually become a major problem. Due to his use of heroin, Aviles contracted HIV and on March 17, 1995, he died from AIDS complications.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on October 13, 1965, Comedian, Actor, Reginald Ballard was born in Galveston, Texas
Known best as “Bruh-Man from the 5th Flo” on the Fox sitcom, Martin, Ballard got started in comedy in reverse. He’d already gotten a lot of attention from women. He’d been an all-district linebacker and received a full football scholarship to Southern Methodist University. He’d already acted. Ballard had taken theater in college and appeared in several prestigious productions. He already knew he was funny since he was on a top-rated show and was a breakout character. As Bruh-Man, Ballard would get laughs every time he’d enter Martin Lawrence’s apartment through the window for whatever reason struck his fancy, hold up four fingers and announce he was from “the fif flo”.
Ballard had made films (Lock Up, Menace II Society) and done television (The Bernie Mac Show, The Parkers, Sister, Sister, Crumbs). The one thing Ballard didn’t know was could he do stand-up comedy. Reynaldo Rey answered that question for him. Rey suggested to Ballard that since he had all that notoriety from being on a comedy why not parlay that into a stand-up career. He mentored Ballard; gave him pointers and directed him to places he could perform to get his feet wet. This assistance opened up a whole new career for the journeyman actor, who now tours the globe as an established stand-up comedian.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on October 12, 1932, Comedian, Author, Activist, Richard Claxton “Dick” Gregory was born in St. Louis, Missouri
A poor student in school, Gregory majored in running. He was a record-setting track star in the mile and half-mile events. He was so good he earned a track scholarship to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Then his career using his feet got interrupted by the government. Uncle Sam drafted Dick Gregory into the Army in 1954. It was there that he got into comedy; winning several talent shows and getting a taste of what a career in joke telling felt like.
Once discharged, Gregory headed back to school to finish his education, but found he lacked the same drive as before. He now noticed his instructors wanted him there to run track and couldn’t care less if he ever learned a thing. So he dropped out and got into comedy full time. At least with jokes he knew where he stood. Or so he thought.
Gregory played the black circuit in the Chicago area and opened his own comedy club in 1958. It failed and Gregory was forced to work a day job at the Post office. In the meanwhile, he became the host at the Roberts Show Club at night. Fate stepped in when white comedian, Professor Irwin Corey fell ill and Gregory was hired to substitute for him at the Playboy Club. Hugh Hefner loved what he saw and extended Gregory’s run. Word caught on about this brilliant political black comedian and the next thing you knew Gregory was invited to appear on “the Tonight Show” starring Jack Paar.
Dick Gregory refused to go on Paar’s program. His good friend, big band singer, Billy Eckstine had told him not to do it because black comics never got to sit on the couch and talk to the host; even though it was a talk show. Paar finally had to call Gregory personally and assure him he could sit on the couch and they’d have a rousing conversation, which they did. The switchboard at NBC lit up that night. It was the first time many Americans had seen and black man and a white man in a human dialogue. Gregory became an overnight star. His salary went from $250 per week to $5,000 per night.
In the early 1960s Dick Gregory was the hottest comedian in the country – black or white. Then Martin Luther King, Jr. called and all that changed. It started with an invitation to speak at one of the marches. That turned into a devotion to the Civil Rights Movement and Gregory putting his comedy career on the back burner. It was unconscionable to him to have fans go through the hassle of going out to his show only to be told he was in jail for civil disobedience. The void he left was filled in by his protégés, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor.
Once the Civil Rights Movement wore down Gregory dabbled in health aids. He created Dick Gregory’s Bahamian Diet. He still did speaking engagements and wrote books; his most famous being his autobiography, Nigger. In 1968 he ran as a write-in candidate for president of the United States. He lost, but his activism extended to women’s rights, a rebuking of the Warren Commission’s findings in the Kennedy Assassination, a co-authored book with conspiracy theorist, Mark Lane on the King Assassination and theories about the facts of 9/11 and other events.
Dick Gregory is #82 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All-Time. He’s recorded over a dozen albums and appeared in a half-dozen films. Gregory has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame and is regarded in comedy circles as the first recognized black stand-up to get big in the mainstream.
On August 19, 2017 Dick Gregory died of heart failure at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC at the age of 84.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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