Eddie Murphy will receive the Career Achievement Award at the 20th annual Hollywood Film Awards, dick clark productions announced this morning. The ceremony, hosted by James Corden, will happen November 6 at the Beverly Hilton.
“Eddie Murphy has had a spectacular career as a comedian, actor, writer, producer and director, spanning more than 35 years,” said dcp CEO Allen Shapiro. “We look forward to honoring his extraordinary body of work.”
Celebrating its 20th year, the Hollywood Film Awards recognizes artists in a variety of roles within the entertainment industry, including acting, directing, cinematography, visual effects, costume design, editing, sound and makeup and hairstyling. Past recipients of the Hollywood Career Achievement Award include Robert De Niro, Glenn Close, Harrison Ford, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Keaton and Robin Williams, among others.
Murphy stars in the drama Mr. Church, directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Susan McMartin, which opened September 22.
Source: Deadline
Bradley Cooper, Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Hart and Michael Keaton are among the inductees that will receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2016 also includes Steve Carell and Kurt Russell in the motion pictures category, while Kathy Bates, Tracy Morgan and Rob Lowe will be honored for their accomplishments in TV.
Although mostly seen on TV these days, LL Cool J and Adam Levine will be feted in the recording category along with fellow musicians Cyndi Lauper and Bruno Mars. Comic-turned-movie star Hart will also be lauded in the live performance group.
Musician and Walk of Famer Dave Koz announced the new honorees alongside Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and Maureen Schultz, chair of the Walk of Fame selection committee for 2014-2015, at a press conference on Monday.
Here’s the full list of upcoming honorees:
Motion pictures: Bradley Cooper, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Keaton, Steve Carell, Kurt Russell, Ashley Judd and Toshiro Mifune (posthumous)
Television: Kathy Bates, Tracy Morgan, Allison Janney, David Duchovny, Rob Lowe, Debra Messing, Roma Downey, Barbara Bain, Gary Sinise and William S. Paley (posthumous)
Recording: Adam Levine, Bruno Mars, LL Cool J, Cyndi Lauper, Shirley Caesar, Joseph B. “Joe” Smith, Itzhak Perlman and “Mama” Cass Elliot (posthumous)
Radio: Ralph Lawler
Live Theatre/Live Performance: Kevin Hart, Angélica María and Harvey Fierstein
Source: Variety
“Person of Interest” actor Winston Duke has landed the key role of the villain M’Baku — aka Man-Ape — in Marvel’s upcoming “Black Panther” film starring Chadwick Boseman.
Marvel declined to comment.
The film, directed by “Creed” helmer Ryan Coogler, also stars Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong’o. Boseman will play T’Challa, the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, who must take over the mantel after his father’s murder. Marvel unveiled the character in “Captain America: Civil War” before the standalone film bows on Feb. 16, 2018.
In the comics, M’Baku was one of Wakanda’s most powerful warriors and one of T’Challa’s biggest rivals.
Joe Robert Cole is co-penning the script with Coogler. Kevin Feige is producing the movie.
Marvel had been testing several actors for the role over the past week, including “The Get Down” actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, before casting Duke. Duke is relatively new to the industry, having recently graduated from the Yale School of Drama. He had recurring roles on several TV shows, including “Major Crimes,” “The Messengers,” and “Person of Interest.”
He is repped by Abrams Artists Agency, Wenzel Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richard, Rush & Kaller.
Source: Variety
On this day in comedy on August 26, 2015 The Carmichael Show premiered on NBC!
In this sitcom, comedian, Jerrod Carmichael stars in a fictional version of his own family and life. Co-created by Ari Katcher, Willie Hunter and Nicholas Stoller, the series is set in Charlotte, North Carolina. Carmichael’s TV clan consist of his mother (Loretta Devine), father (David Alan Grier), brother (Lil Rel Howery) and his brother’s estranged wife (Tiffany Haddish). Carmichael and his girlfriend (Amber Stevens West) now live together and that dynamic as well as the familial ones drive the engine of the show.
The critically acclaimed comedy has been recognized for tackling contemporary issues in an honest, fresh and creative fashion. The Carmichael Show airs 13 episodes per season and in its second season received award nominations from the NAACP and GLAAD (even though it has no regular LGBT character in the cast).
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
http://www.nbc.com/the-carmichael-show/video/porn-addiction/3038958
On this day in comedy on August 26, 1996 Malcolm & Eddie premiered on UPN.
Eddie Griffin and Malcolm-Jamal Warner star in this sitcom as a tow trucker owner and a buppie sharing an apartment and a business. Griffin always gets them into trouble. He’s a hustler; a one man towing operation trying desperately to expand. But like most good friendships they always have each other’s back to get them out of every mishap.
The show is set in Kansas City, Missouri. During its run the two partners come into some money and buy their building. This investment includes Eddie’s garage and a bar. They convert the bar into a sport bar and most of the show’s action takes place there, but of course trouble is always right around the corner.
Produced by Jeff Franklin Productions and TriStar Television, Malcolm & Eddie featured comedians Tommy Davidson and Freez Luv as supporting cast members. The sitcom received a pair of nominations for acting and excellence in production design. It aired its final episode on May 22, 2000.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day on comedy on August 25, 1996 The Steve Harvey Show premiered on the WB
Created by Winifred Hervey, produced by Brillstein-Grey and with music by Patrice Rushen, The Steve Harvey Show was a flagship program for the new WB network. It consistently led the station in ratings and established Harvey and co-star, Cedric the Entertainer as viable television personalities. Taking place in a high school setting, the sitcom dealt with many issues affecting the youth of the era.
Harvey played a former middling funk musician who once fronted a middling funk singing group that consisted of Ron Isley, Don DC Curry and Jonathan Slocomb. They were a 2 hit wonder and now Harvey’s a music teacher at his old high school, but is forced to also instruct the drama and art departments because of school budget cutbacks. This puts him in direct contact with a variety of offbeat kids with even more wacky antics and also gives Harvey the opportunity to lend his life expertise to help them on their own life journeys.
The Steve Harvey Show also featured the talents of Wendy Raquel Robinson, Terri J. Vaughn, Merlin Santana, William Lee Scott, Tracy Vilar, Netfa Perry, Lori Beth Denberg and Ariyan A. Johnson. Recurring characters included The Lady of Rage, Dorien Wilson, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell.
The majority of the episodes were directed by the legendary Stan Lathan. It aired its series finale on February 17, 2002 having garnered multiple NAACP Image Award nominations culminating in 4 wins for Cedric the Entertainer for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 4 wins for Steve Harvey for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, 3 wins for the show and 3 wins for Terri J. Vaughn for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
http://dai.ly/xmwgfc
On this day in comedy on August 25, 1991 Roc premiered on Fox!
The sitcom about a garbage man starred Charles S. Dutton as the title character and Ella Joyce as his wife Eleanor. A confirmed cheap skate, Roc people on his garbage route to adorn his surroundings. His retired father Andrew, (Carl Gordon) stays with them and so does his musician brother, Joey (Rocky Carroll), who owes Roc money.
Roc was innovative. After its first season it broadcast all the second season shows live. They would deal with current events including the 1992 Presidential election and came just short of announcing the election results. No show had been broadcast live since the 1950s. This was mainly possible because all the principals were trained stage actors who’d worked together many times before in August Wilson productions.
A sitcom, Roc mixed comedy with heavy, dramatic social commentary. Gang influence, drug use and vigilantism were recurring topics. Another thing recurring on Roc were a slew of top notch talent. Over its three seasons appearances were made by Jamie Foxx, Heavy D, Tone Loc,
Not surprisingly, Roc was a hit in Black households, but ranked low in the Nielsen ratings. Its top ranking was #71 in season 2 and dipped as low as # 102 with a 5.10 rating in Season 3. However, it was critically acclaimed and received an Emmy nomination and an NAACP image Award win for Charles S. Dutton for Outstanding Actor.
Roc was cancelled May 10, 1994.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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On this day in comedy on August 24, 1973 Comedian, Actor, Screenwriter, Producer, David Khari Webber “Dave” Chappelle was born in Washington, DC!
Known as the “King of the Pilots”, Chappelle began his career in New York. After getting booed at the Apollo Theater, (known for booing comedians), he decided he had the courage to stay in comedy. He honed his craft in New York and made his film debut at age 19 in Mel Brook’s Men in Tights, a parody of the Robin Hood legend. Other notable films roles included The Nutty Professor, Con-Air, Blue Streak, Undercover Brother and You’ve Got Mail.
In 1998 Chappelle co-wrote the cult classic film, Half Baked along with collaborator, Neal Brennan. The hit stoner flick helped establish the professional relationship of the two. They went on to create and pen, Chappelle’s Show, the first iconic sketch comedy show of the 21st Century. Up until that eventual success Chappelle had presented many pilots to the networks. They were either rejected or tampered with after initial shooting. One, Buddies, made it to air on ABC, but instead of his original co-star and friend, Jim Breuer being on the show, Breuer was fired and replaced by an actor who Chappelle shared no chemistry. That show was canceled after 5 episodes. They had shot 13. After this experience he shot another pilot and ended up accusing a network of racism after they insisted on adding white characters that rang untrue for the project. At this point Chappelle considered leaving show business. Then came a chance to do a show for struggling cable network, Comedy Central.
Chappelle’s Show got everybody’s attention. It dealt with social and racial issues to hilariously that controversial actor, Charlie Sheen ruptured a hernia laughing at an episode and had to be taken to the hospital. His employers at CBS thought his absence from his own show, Two and a Half Men was drug related and fired Sheen. Maybe drugs were involved, but it was mainly Chappelle.
Chappelle’s Show produced skits such as the “Niggar Family”, about a white family with a non-white sounding name, “The Blind Racist”, where a blind black man lives as a white supremacy leader; “The Racial Lottery”, where races claim who they want, most notably Wu Tang Clan being newly identified as Asian. He poked fun at Oprah, Prince, Rick James and Wayne Brady (who made a guest appearance) and anything else that could be clowned. Besides, sketches (not Chappelle’s favorite form of comedy) the show also featured musical acts and the work of fellow comedians, Charlie Murphy, Dominique, Paul Mooney and Donnell Rawlings.
In 2005 Chappelle abruptly left the show. Though DVD had reached record proportions and Chappelle was offered 55 million dollars by Comedy Central, he didn’t like the direction and felt he was being laughed at instead of with by a white crew member. This uncomfortable feeling made him flee to South Africa to get his priorities in order. Upon his return he was compelled to explain his position on shows like Oprah and Inside the Actor’s Studio. Meanwhile Comedy Central aired the sketches (Titled “The Lost Episodes”) Chappelle had shot for the aborted 3rd season against his creative wishes and that relationship was formerly severed.
Dave Chappelle produced Dave Chappelle’s Block Party featuring musical artists (Kanye West, The Roots, Erykuh Badu, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Dead Prez), highlighted by a surprise reunion of the Fugees. In 2006 he turned 3 million into 11.7 million when he released, Block Party All-Stars featuring Dave Chappelle through Universal’s Rogue Pictures.
Chappelle’s professed first love is stand-up and he’s done hour-long comedy specials for HBO (Killing Them Softly) as well as Showtime (For What It’s Worth). Other comedians praise him as one of the best ever and Chappelle made many unannounced appearances in comedy venues before going back on the road in 2013.
He is ranked #43 on Comedy Central’s list of “100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time”.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
Check out this clip:
Mike Epps is joining Bruce Willis in Eli Roth’s remake of Death Wish for MGM/Paramount. Epps will play Dr. Chris Salgado, a playboy doctor and close friend of Willis’ character Paul Kersey. Kersey’s life has been destroyed by a violent crime against his wife and daughter. Frustrated that the bad guys for the crime were never brought to justice, Kersey starts hunting them down. Roger Birnbaum is producing the film.
Epps will star alongside Dean Norris and Vincent D’Onofrio who were recently added to the cast. Production is taking place in Montreal and Chicago. Epps is also starring in the title role of The Weinstein Co.’s Richard Pryor biopic and the upcoming The Trap, opposite T.I., which he is producing. The actor’s long resume includes the Starz series Survivor’s Remorse as well as such features as The Hangover, The Hangover Part III, Fifty Shades of Black, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and HBO’s Emmy-winning movie Bessie. Epps is repped by CAA, Primary Wave, and Todd Rubenstein of Morris Yorn.
Source: Deadline
“The New Edition Story” / BET Networks
New York, NY – September 27, 2016 – BET has just announced that the network will air THE NEW EDITION STORY as a six hour, three night event on January 24, 25, and 26, 2017. The much-anticipated biopic will bring to life the story of the group that laid the foundation for how modern-day boy bands look, feel, and sound. Boyz II Men, N’SYNC, The Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block all took their cues from New Edition, the famed band that included Ronnie Devoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Mike Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill who, for over the last three decades, have consistently produced hit music as a band.
The biopic follows the group from their humble beginnings as kids in Boston to global mega stardom – weathering the highs and lows of controversy, personnel changes, and the ultimate cost of fame.
To celebrate the announcement of the release dates, BET has additionally released a first look clip from the film which can be viewed HERE.
“From our beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between, just like The Temptations and The Jackson Five—we are ready to retrace our footsteps and show everyone how we got here. For the fans all over the world, this one’s for you,” says New Edition.
The biopic includes a star-studded cast:
Additional cast members include Wood Harris (The Wire, The Breaks), Michael Rapaport (Boston Public, Justified), Faizon Love (Real Husbands of Hollywood), Duane Martin (Real Husbands of Hollywood), singer/songwriter Tank, and Bre-Z (Empire) along with La La Anthony (Power), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Monica Calhoun (The Best Man), Lisa Nicole Carson (Ally McBeal) and Sandi McCree (The Wire).
THE NEW EDITION STORY is written by Abdul Williams (Lottery Ticket) and executive produced by Jesse Collins (Real Husbands of Hollywood) for JCE Films, a division of Jesse Collins Entertainment. The film is directed by Chris Robinson (ATL) and co-produced by NEW EDITION’s longtime manager and original choreographer Brooke Payne, as well as all six of the members of NEW EDITION, Ricky Bell,Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown.
For more information on THE NEW EDITION STORY log on to BET.com and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #NewEditionBET.