In this episode, we discuss what was the best playoffs you ever saw in any sport, plus we discuss who was the most impactful player in the playoffs.
This episode features comedians Thomas Ward, Howie Bell, and Maurice Smith.
Watch the episode above!
In this episode of Box Seats, we talk about our favorite women’s athletes as freshmen and as professional athletes.
We also return to men’s sports and talk about our favorite freshman in any sport. This episode features comedian Maurice Smith!
Watch it above!
Snoop Dogg is heading back to his church roots for his next album, Altar Call, which will be arriving on April 27. The project will serve as a tribute to Snoop’s late mother.
“April 27, I’m dropping a gospel album on Death Row Records. It’s called Altar Call,” he said in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday (April 15). “You heard it first. A gospel album, April 27. God is good. Won’t he do it?”
The project is set to feature Jamie Foxx, Robert Glasper, Denaun Porter, Jazze Pha, Charlie Bereal, Jane Handcock, October London and more throughout the 21 tracks.
Snoop’s late mother is featured on the project’s cover art. Beverly Tate passed away in 2021. “U taught me how to read and write how to struggle and fight and all the facts of life,” Snoop said at the time of her death. “Now you finally got ya wings, mama.”
Snoop Dogg recently sat down with Okayplayer to detail his mother’s impact on him and how her spirit is channeled through Altar Call.
“The spirit of my mother will forever live within me. This album is a reflection of what she has taught me — to use my voice and my platform to spread love and heal the world. Just another chapter out of the Bible of Love.”
Snoop’s first gospel album arrived in 2018, with Bible of Love featuring assists from Faith Evans, Charlie Wilson, and more.
The West Coast legend closed out 2024 alongside his longtime partner Dr. Dre with their Missionary album in December. The LP debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200.
Watch Snoop Dogg’s Altar Call announcement below.
Dave Chappelle is set to take center stage at Toronto’s Departure Festival + Conference, with an exclusive stand-up performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The six-time Grammy winner, five-time Emmy winner, and recent recipient of the NAACP President’s Award, anchors the comedy-focused expansion of the festival, organized by Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group.
The comedy programming also features rising Canadian talent, with homegrown comedians Jasmeet Raina, Ivan Decker, Sophie Buddle, Hassan Phills, and Ali Hassan joining the lineup, alongside the founder of viral comedy platform Don’t Tell Comedy, Kyle Kazanjian-Amory.
Chappelle, whose recent “Saturday Night Live” monologue stands as the longest in the program’s 50-year history, tops a bill that includes previously announced comedy podcast “How Did This Get Made? Live,” comedian Trevor Wallace, Pete Holmes, Harland Williams, Caroline Rhea, and Elvira Kurt.
The festival’s film and television component will include an advanced screening of Harland Williams’ new comedy “Wingman,” featuring Jamie Kennedy and Russell Peters, along with the world premiere of Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty” Season 8, presented by StackTV, ahead of its May 25 airdate.
Comedy showcases focusing on emerging talent will take place at Comedy Bar locations throughout Toronto, featuring “Breakout” and “Next Gen” comedians in dedicated showcase events.
“Having Dave Chappelle take part in Departure is a real honor – for me, for the festival, and an amazing treat for our audiences. Starting off the inaugural Departure Comedy Festival with someone of Dave’s caliber and influence is incredibly exciting,” said Bruce Hills, executive producer of Departure Comedy.
“In November we promised that comedy would be a big part in the expansion of Departure, and we are immensely proud to fulfill that commitment with the announcement of global superstar Dave Chappelle,” added Kevin Barton, executive producer at Loft Entertainment. “To be able to watch Dave live is one of the most coveted shows on the planet, and it’s going to be a truly magical experience for that lucky audience.”
The Departure Festival + Conference runs May 6-11 in Toronto, while Chappelle’s set is on May 7. It takes place with the support of Ontario Creates.
Source: MSN
The Urban One Podcast Network is thrilled to welcome comedian, actress, and entrepreneur Torrei Hart with the launch of her new show, Brutally Honest with Torrei Hart. This bold and unfiltered podcast brings Hart’s signature humor and candidness to the forefront, offering listeners engaging conversations that resonate across cultural lines.
Brutally Honest with Torrei Hart is a comedy interview podcast that breaks through the noise with fearless and refreshingly authentic discussions. Each episode features studio interviews with a diverse lineup of guests, including entertainers, comedians, authors, community and religious leaders, and other newsmakers. The show is more than a podcast—it’s a cultural force, where raw truth, bold humor, and powerful conversations come together to leave a lasting impact.
Torrei Hart is a multi-talented comedian, actress, TV personality, and influencer with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. A Philadelphia/Jersey native and mother of two, Torrei has performed alongside comedy heavyweights like Martin Lawrence, Katt Williams, Alex Thomas, and Chris Spencer. She has also hosted the Wendy Williams Foundation 10-Year Anniversary Gala.
Beyond the stage, Hart is a successful entrepreneur. In 2017, she founded Heavenly Hart Haircare, a natural haircare line catering to all ethnicities. She also launched the YouTube comedy channel Pretty Funny Fish, which gained significant popularity. With a production company under her name and a signed partnership with Russell Simmons, Torrei has contributed creative content to All Def Digital and has starred, co-written, and executive produced her own short films. Additionally, she developed an unscripted talk show titled Talkin Shit with ZEUS Network and holds a recurring chair on DISH NATION. In 2020, she introduced Skinny Bish Keto, a health and fitness brand encouraging women to become their “Best Self.”
Listeners can anticipate real, raw, funny, and honest interviews from Torrei’s unique perspective. Her excitement about partnering with the Urban One Podcast Network is palpable:
“You can expect to hear real, raw, funny, and honest interviews from my perspective. My excitement is through the roof to partner with such an established iconic brand that is aligned with my vision.”
Brutally Honest with Torrei Hart is produced by Matt Ables, Jeremiah Stewart, and Rashid Terry, bringing together a team dedicated to delivering compelling and impactful content.
Source: Black America Web
Did ya miss me?
For those of us old enough to remember Martin (or caught up through reruns), that phrase is etched into our pop culture vocabulary. During a memorable two-episode run called “Hollywood Swingin’,” in the popular Fox show’s second season, In Living Color alum Tommy Davidson starred as talk-show host Varnell Hill who was in town as a guest on Martin’s local Detroit-area radio show on WZUP and would use “Did ya miss me?” as his famous catchphrase.
Feeling one-upped on his own show and sarcastically promised a guest appearance of his own, Martin would then fly out to L.A. to check out The Varnell Hill Show live and ultimately finessed his way on the show by hilariously crashing a Jodeci performance.
Well, Deadline is reporting that BET+ is ordering a series around the character 32 years later, centered around Davidson and his film crew as they go about making a late-night talk show. Varnell Hill will be a direct spin-off of that very character and it was created and executive produced by Martin Lawrence and Bentley Evans, who himself had a memorable character on Martin, which he recently talked about on the Holdin’ Court Podcast. Evans will also serve as the showrunner as he once did on Martin and The Jamie Foxx Show. He also wrote the pilot and will direct episodes.
In a statement, Davidson seemed excited to bring this character to life once again saying: “Did you miss me? Well, now you don’t have to! I’m excited and honored to be a part of such a creative project with the brilliant mind of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years in the making. Fans have requested it and now it’s coming to BET+!”
Martin premiered in 1992 and aired for five seasons, helping launch Lawrence’s movie career as a certified box-office draw.
We wonder if the catfish in Lake Varnell are still as delicious as they were back in ’93.
Source: Billboard
The forthcoming untitled comedy feature from director Nicholas Stoller is continuing to expand its cast alongside leads Will Ferrell and Zac Efron.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Michael Peña have joined the Amazon MGM Studios movie that includes previously announced castmembers Regina Hall, Jimmy Tatro and Billy Eichner. Helming the film from his own script, Stoller reunites with the studio behind his recent feature You’re Cordially Invited that starred Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.
Previously known as Judgment Day, Stoller’s new movie focuses on a young convict (Efron) who gets out of prison and takes an unscripted TV courtroom hostage, as he is convinced that the judge (Ferrell) delivered a ruling that destroyed his life. Details regarding the roles for Chopra Jonas and Peña are being kept under wraps.
Producers include Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, and Alex Brown for Gloria Sanchez Productions and Stoller for Stoller Global Solutions.
Chopra Jonas’ forthcoming films include such Amazon MGM titles The Bluff from director Frank E. Flowers and Heads of State starring John Cena and Idris Elba. She previously starred with Richard Madden in the studio’s action series Citadel. Chopra Jonas’ banner Purple Pebble Pictures has a first-look film and television deal with Amazon MGM.
Peña stars opposite Jason Statham in A Working Man, which is currently in theaters, and has recent credits in Amazon MGM’s A Million Miles Away and the Paramount+ series Landman. His next projects include Peacock’s All Her Fault and the Gore Verbanski-helmed Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.
Chopra Jonas is represented by UTA, Anjula Acharia, Dana Supnick-Guidoni, and Grubman Shire. Peña is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360 and SGSBC.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Bounce TV has renewed its hit comedy “Mind Your Business,” and the NAACP Image Award nominated series will return for a second season on June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
“Mind Your Business” is the story of the Williams family, which is in the business of celebrating some of life’s most significant occasions with its event and party space in Chicago. However, when it comes to their own family affairs, there seems to be a bigger need for referees than DJs. Columbus Short (“Scandal,” “Stomp the Yard”), Drew Sidora (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” “That’s So Raven”) and Emmy-Award winner Rolonda Watts (“Rolonda”) lead the ensemble cast.
In the second season, the Williams family is back with more twists, surprises and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Jordan takes matters into her own hands to protect her parents’ relationship, while Aaliyah moving in with Mia leads to unexpected chaos. Alfonso and Kim navigate a series of bizarre situations, while the family deals with surprising revelations that shake up their dynamics. With old secrets resurfacing, budding romances and new family tensions, the Williams crew must find a way to stick together through all the chaos – proving that no matter how wild things get, they always have each other’s backs.
“Mind Your Business” also features Caryn Ward Ross (“Fame,” “Monogamy,” “Patterns of Attraction”), Brely Evans (“Ambitions,” “Being Mary Jane,” “The Man in 3B”), Bryce Xavier (“A Bennett Song Holiday,” “Stay Tuned: The Movie,” “Total Eclipse”) and Chloe Elise Ellis (“Borrasca,” “Footprints,” “Three Stories Up”). The series is produced by Harvest Studios and executive produced by Bentley Kyle Evans (“Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show.”)
“The Williams family entertained millions in its debut season, and now the family is back for more,” said Adam Harman, senior vice president of programming, Scripps Networks. “Viewers will be in store for another hilarious topsy-turvy journey in season two.”
The first two episodes of “Mind Your Business” last summer reached more than 2 million households over the course of premiere weekend telecasts – an all-time high for a Bounce original series.
Ice Cube has reached a deal to write and star in a new “Friday” movie for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. The new feature, which is titled “Last Friday,” will mark the fourth entry in the comedy series — and the first in over 20 years, following up “Friday After Next” in 2002.
New Line president and CCO Richard Brener shared that a deal had been reached with Ice Cube to develop “Last Friday” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Variety has confirmed the news.
Ice Cube has been open about his plans to make another “Friday” movie, though his agreement with Warner to star and direct marks a significant development in the project. In June 2024, the rapper and actor shared that there was “traction” for “Last Friday” at the studio among its co-chief Michael De Luca, speaking with Flavor Flav on his SiriusXM show “Flavor of the Week.” De Luca and Pamela Abdy took over the studio’s film division in 2022.
“They have new leadership: my man Mike De Luca, who used to be at New Line when I first started, when I first did the first ‘Friday’ and ‘Players Club’ and ‘All About the Benjamins.’ Mike De Luca was there,” Ice Cube said at the time.
Ice Cube starred in all three “Friday” entries, “Friday” (1995), “Next Friday” (2000) and “Friday After Next” (2002). He also co-wrote the first entry with DJ Pooh and has solo screenplay credits on the two sequels. All three “Friday” movies were developed by New Line, which was run by De Luca at the time of the original trilogy’s production. Warner Bros. later went on to purchase New Line, giving Warner Bros. control of “Friday” franchise rights.
Source: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Chocolate Droppa walked into the office with a laser focus and a clear mission. He didn’t ask for much during soundcheck, just a preview of beats from The Band of Brothas and a shot of espresso. He was about to do something that had never been done at Tiny Desk before — freestyle an entire set “off the dome.”
It’s been over nine years since Droppa dropped his debut mixtape, which featured heavy hitters like Migos, Big Sean, Nick Jonas, and more. “Every time I see people,” the rapper shares during his set, “the first thing they say is ‘Droppa where you been? When you gonna give us more?’ ” Well, the answer is now. Those who aren’t hip may recognize the emcee as his alter-ego, Kevin Hart, who’s become a household name in comedy and acting. But this unscripted set proves that Chocolate Droppa’s rap game is equally entertaining. There’s really no need to compare him to any other performer you’ve seen, because as Droppa puts it himself, he’s “not them.”
SET LIST
MUSICIANS
TINY DESK TEAM
