On this day in comedy on May 26, 1970, Cotton Comes to Harlem was released by United Artist
Based on the Chester Himes novel this Ossie Davis directed hit starred Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques. It was co-written by Davis and Arnold Perl and the theme song (which was sung by Melba Moore) was also written by . . . Ossie Davis. Oh and by the way Cotton Comes to Harlem marks the screen debut of Calvin Lockhart, Judy Pace, Cleavon Little and Redd Foxx as a junk dealer.
The story revolves around a back-to-Africa movement and $87,000 in stolen cash. Seems the crooks stuffed their loot into a bale of cotton and dumped it on the streets during their high-speed getaway. Two Harlem detectives are assigned to find the cash, but everybody else who heard about it feels it’s their obligation and duty as well and the citywide hunt is on. There’s shoot outs, more car chases, sexy women, gangsters and a whole lot of jive talking. It was considered a Blaxploitation film. What would you expect?
Cotton Comes to Harlem boasts an impressive cast of 1970s character actors: Theodore Wilson, Don “Bubba” Bexley, John Anderson, Eugene Roche, J. D. Cannon, Lou Jacobi, Emily Yancy, Dick Sabol and Mabel Robinson. Produced on a budget of $1.2 million the film grossed $5.2 million making it one of the most commercially successful films starring blacks in Hollywood history and it spawned the sequel, Come Back Charleston Blue (which was not written, directed or theme song composed by Ossie Davis).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
The upcoming Paramount Network drama “Yellowstone” has cast Golden Brooks in a recurring role.
“Yellowstone” tells the story of the fictional Dutton family, which owns the largest contiguous ranch in the United States — a piece of property that borders Yellowstone National Park and puts the family in constant conflict with a wide range of rivals. Brooks will play Geraldine Rainwater, wife of Native American leader Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). She’s very ambitious for her husband, and pushes him to run for political office.
Brooks is best known for her role in the CW series “Girlfriends.” She has also appeared on shows like the Starz comedy “Blunt Talk” and The CW’s “Hart of Dixie.” On the film side, she recently completed work on “The Darkest Minds” alongside Gwendoline Christie and Mandy Moore, and has appeared in other films like “Almost Amazing,” “My B.F.F.,” and “Beauty Shop.” She is repped by Global Artists Agency and Primary Wave Entertainment.
She joins previously announced “Yellowstone” cast members Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Birmingham, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, and Luke Grimes among others. The series is the first scripted project greenlit for the Paramount Network, which will be the name of the network when Spike rebrands in January 2018 as part of restructuring at parent company Viacom. Taylor Sheridan, who was nominated for an Oscar for writing the screenplay for “Hell or High Water,” will write and direct the series. The Weinstein Company will produce with John and Art Linson, Costner, Sheridan, Harvey Weinstein, and David Glasser executive producing. The 10-episode first season is slated to go into production this fall and premiere in summer 2018.
Source: Variety
Marvin “Krondon” Jones III has been cast as Tobias Whale for the first season of “Black Lightning.”
As Tobias Whale, Jones will serve as the big bad facing off against Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning (Cress Williams). Whale — an African-American man with albinism — is the leader of a gang called The 100, but before that he was a corrupt politician who was brought down by Alvin Pierce, Black Lightning’s father. Enraged, Whale murders Alvin Pierce and goes to ground, but when Black Lightning comes out of retirement Whale also returns to face his biggest adversary.
“I was excited about Krondon when I saw his audition. He’s going to make a great Tobias,” executive producer Salim Akil said. “His authentic street sensibility along with an insightful intelligence is perfect for the Tobias character arc. Not to mention his regal physical bearing will be additive to making our show exciting and different.”
During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Akil detailed what the show would be all about.
“It’s time [for Black Lightning.] Jefferson Pierce is the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community,” he said. “This family is the Obamas of the superhero world. This show will have an authentic black voice. This character will add something to the conversation. We’ve always been character-based and we’ll continue to be character-based. It’s about when and how he uses his powers and why. We want people to get to know this family. Their powers, like their race, is only part of who they are. There’s definitely a problem with police brutality and we will get into that. There’s also a problem with us killing each other and we’ll talk about that too.”
“Black Lightning” will premiere in 2018 on the CW.
Source: Variety
FX is going back for another hit: The network has renewed the ’80s L.A. drug saga Snowfall for a second season, TVLine has learned.
Set at the dawn of the crack-cocaine epidemic, Snowfall follows a myriad of characters, including young dealer Franklin (Damson Idris), Mexican wrestler Gustavo (Sergio Peris-Manchata) and CIA operative Teddy (Carter Hudson) as they navigate a world in search of the latest high. Film director John Singleton is a co-creator and executive producer, with The West Wing alum Thomas Schlamme serving as an EP as well.
Debuting back in July, Snowfall premiered to 1.36 million total viewers, ranking as one of the top cable premieres of the year in key ratings demos, counting seven days of DVR playback. FX now says the show averages 5 million total viewers across all platforms, including streaming and on-demand.
Snowfall airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX, and wraps up its ten-episode freshman season on Sept. 6; Season 2 is slated to debut next year.
HBO has put in development an untitled half-hour single-camera comedy about the sneaker culture phenomenon, from NBA star LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s Springhill Entertainment. It hails from Warner Bros. TV and stems from SpringHill’s multi-year movie, TV and digital deal with Warner Bros.
Written by Shawn Wines (High Maintenance) and Lemon Andersen (She’s Gotta Have It), the untitled Sneaker Store Project centers on two best friends and their wild employees at an up-and-coming sneaker shop outside L.A., where they take on the insane and obsessive world of sneaker culture. Wines also executive produces with James and Carter. Andersen is co-executive producer.
James and Carter are no strangers to the sneaker world. James was the target of a fierce bidding war amongst shoe brands when he entered the NBA in 2003, eventually choosing Nike. With Carter negotiating, James inked a lifetime partnership with Nike at the end of 2015. The duo also invested in a Miami sneaker store when James played for the Heat and Carter serves on the advisory board of the KITH brand.
The HBO project is looking to expand SpringHill Entertainment’s series portfolio, which includes Starz’s half-hour comedy Survivor’s Remorse, which premieres its fourth season on August 20, and game show The Wall on NBC.
Wines, who just landed a pilot order at Freeform for comedy Now & Then, produced by Kapital Entertainment, is repped by WME, The Radmin Company and Morris, Yorn. Andersen is repped by UTA and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer.
Source: Deadline
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2017 – The hit comedy podcast 2 DOPE QUEENS, featuring Jessica Williams (“The Incredible Jessica James”) and Phoebe Robinson (“Broad City”), will come to HBO next year for a series of four hour-long specials, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming.
“Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson prove you can be hilarious and socially conscious at the same time,” said Bloys. “We’re looking forward to bringing these very funny, talented women and their unique points of view to the HBO audience.”
Phoebe Robinson says, “2 Dope Queens and HBO going half on a TV baby? A dream come true! The work wife and I are beyond thrilled that the formula we’ve perfected over the past four seasons of doing the podcast (Ignorance x Cocoa Butter + Comedic Honesty) is being brought to this network.”
Jessica Williams adds, “We are so stoked to be partnering with HBO for these specials. Excited to add a couple more Khaleesis to the network!”
Launched in 2016, 2 Dope Queens is a weekly standup and storytelling podcast that features Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson, along with their friends and favorite comedians, talking about sex, romance, race, hair journeys, living in New York and Billy Joel.
Jessica Williams’ credits include such films as the critically acclaimed “The Incredible Jessica James” and “People Places Things,” the TV series “The Daily Show” and HBO’s “Girls,” and the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe.
Phoebe Robinson has appeared on such TV shows as “I Love Dick,” “Broad City” and “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore,” and is the author of the New York Times bestselling book “You Can’t Touch My Hair (And Other Things I Still Have to Explain).”
Here is another LOL moment featuring comedian Tahir Moore! This new video is titled Growing Up With A Single Mom, and many of us know EXACTLY what this is all about, as we can relate!
Watch the video below:
Chris Brown’s ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran has been cast in Zoe Saldana’s new comedy movie titled “Honored”.
Honored, which centers on a group of childhood best friends, will be executive produced by the Guardians of the Galaxy star Saldana and her sisters Cisely and Mariel.
Tran will appear alongside social media stars Meghan Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, and Arden Cho.
“It’s gratifying to be in the company of so many talented women on this project – another sign of female empowerment rising in Hollywood,” a statement from Saldana reads.
The film will be directed by Australian filmmaker Elissa Down. It will start shooting in Los Angeles later this week (ends11Aug17).
Building off of its robust slate of original comedy series for its summer programming lineup, UMC – Urban Movie Channel is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with Insecure star Jay Ellis on the premiere of his latest project, HARD MEDICINE. Produced by Ellis alongside producing partner Paula Bryant-Ellis, the series is a workplace comedy created by Melissa Eno Effa in the vein of “Scrubs” and “The Office.” Comprised of eight 10-12-minute episodes, the show centers around a quirky medical doctor of a low-income health clinic who must maneuver between demanding corporate heads, outlandish patients, and her wacky but loyal staff, all in an effort to keep the community’s haven of health care afloat.
Nicole Slaughter stars as Dr. Moore, the sometimes awkward but beloved lead physician who constantly faces opposition from corporate heads who want the clinic gone for good. Celest Turner plays Rose, the manager of the clinic. Creator Melissa Eno Effa is Clarice, the rough-around-the-edges but loyal receptionist. Jeff Hunt portrays Jason, the extremely emotional nurse, and Ashley Narvaez plays the often-mindless nurse assistant.
“I’m thrilled to be working on another project with Angela [Northington] and her team at UMC after the release of Like Cotton Twines earlier this year,” says Jay Ellis. “The world and characters Melissa Eno Effa has created with Hard Medicine are unique, authentic, lovable and relateable. Sharing this journey with her has made this one of my favorite projects I’ve had the opportunity to produce. We are so thankful to have UMC as the home for this new project and to share it with a larger audience.”
The first episode of Hard Medicine premiered last Wednesday August 2nd on Ellis’ Facebook page and has amassed over 1 million views to date. The second episode will air today, August 9th. The remaining six episodes will premiere weekly on UMCevery Wednesday beginning August 16th, 2017. The first two episodes of Hard Medicine will also be available to stream on UMC. Available at www.umc.tv, UMC is the first premium subscription streaming service that showcases quality African American and urban entertainment across all genres from RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE).