Oscar Nuñez will return as Oscar Martinez in Peacock’s follow-up series to “The Office,” Variety has confirmed.
Sources say Nuñez will not be the central character in the upcoming mockumentary sitcom — which takes place in the same universe as “The Office” — as it is an ensemble series. But he is part of the show’s character mix, and has been in the opening script from the beginning.
There are no further details regarding Oscar’s role or storyline in the new show, which Greg Daniels is creating and executive producing with Michael Korman (“Nathan For You”).
As of now, Nuñez is believed to be the only “Office” cast member who will appear in the follow-up series (right now still referred to as the “Untitled Daniels/Korman Project”) — but it has been noted that since it lives in the world of “The Office,” there was always a chance that characters from the original series might appear.
Universal TV and representatives for Nuñez declined to comment. Sources close to the production note that in the past, when asked about rebooting “The Office,” Daniels has said he felt he told a complete story for most of the characters — but if there was one character he’d like to revisit and explore, it would be Oscar. (It’s believed that producers were hoping to keep Nuñez’s involvement a surprise, but the news first leaked Wednesday via newsletter The Insneider.)
The series, rumored to be titled “The Paper,” will follow the staffers of a dying Midwestern newspaper whose publisher is trying to revive it with volunteer reporters. It will be “filmed,” so to speak, by the same documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch in “The Office” — which might explain the connection to how Oscar winds up in the new setting.
The new show hails from Daniels, the mastermind behind the American “Office,” and Koman. Previously announced cast members include Domhnall Gleeson (“Star Wars”), Sabrina Impacciatore (“The White Lotus”), Chelsea Frei (“Poker Face”), Melvin Gregg (“Snowfall”), Gbemisola Ikumelo (“Black Ops”), Alex Edelman (“Just For Us”), Ramona Young (“Never Have I Ever”) and Tim Key (“The Witchfinder”).
Guest stars include Eric Rahill, Duane Shepard Sr., Allan Havey, Nate Jackson, Mo Welch, Nancy Lenehan, Molly Ephraim, and Tracy Letts.
Character details have been kept under wraps. The series is expected to begin production in July.
Co-creators Daniels and Koman serve as executive producers along with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who created the original British version of the series, as well as Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, and Banijay Americas. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
Daniels opened a writers’ room in January 2024 to begin working on the new iteration of “The Office,” which ran for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 and followed the staffers of the Pennsylvania branch of a paper company. It starred Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak, among many others, including Nuñez. The show became even more popular in its afterlife, becoming one of television’s biggest streaming hits.
Nuñez’s other credits include “Lucky Hank,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” “Mr. Iglesias,” “People of Earth,” and films such as “The Proposal,” “Mascots” and “The Lost City.” He has also been regularly seen as a pitchman for State Farm.
Jamie Foxx had Netflix‘s most-viewed comedy special for the back half of 2024 with What Had Happened Was…, the streamer shared on Wednesday.
The revelation came as part of Netflix’s biannual “What We Watched” report. Foxx’s traction with the special is no surprise, given that it gave the first in-depth window into a severe health scare he experienced in April 2023, while filming Netflix’s recently unveiled action comedy Back in Action in Atlanta.
While not globally available, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… notched 13,300,000 hours viewed between its December 10 premiere date and end of year, coming in as the 119th most-viewed TV program during this period.
Matt Rife came in second place with Lucid – A Crowd Work Special, which premiered in August and went on to generate 8,700,000 hours viewed. He placed 171st on the overall TV list, after breaking out as Netflix’s top comic in the second half of 2023 with Matt Rife: Natural Selection.
Joe Rogan and Nate Bargatze were neck and neck, taking third and fourth place, respectively, with their specials Burn the Boats and Your Friend, Nate Bargatze. Rogan’s special drummed up 8,300,000 hours viewed, with Bargatze’s securing 7,900,000.
Other top comics on the report included Ali Wong, whose Single Lady drew 4,900,000 hours viewed, and Ellen DeGeneres, whose For Your Approval got 5,400,000.
Directed by Hamish Hamilton, Foxx’s special recently landed him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.
Source: Deadline
Kumail Nanjiani is returning to the stand-up stage, and bringing Hulu with him.
The Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actor and writer is joining the Disney-owned streamer’s lineup of comedy specials. The special will be the second of his career — and the first in more than a decade. His inaugural special, Beta Male, aired on Comedy Central in 2013.
Since then, Nanjiani has worked regularly as an actor in HBO’s Silicon Valley and Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales and feature films The Big Sick — for which he and Emily V. Gordon earned Oscar nominations for writing — The Lovebirds and Eternals, among others. He also hosted Comedy Central’s stand-up showcase The Meltdown With Jonah and Kumail from 2014-16.
Nanjiani will also be an executive producer of the Hulu special alongside Elan Gale and Bernie Schaeffer. ITV American and TheYearOfElan are producing. A date and title for the special will be announced later.
The green light for Nanjiani’s special continues Hulu’s push into stand-up comedy under its “Hularious” banner, which launched in November with Jim Gaffigan‘s The Skinny. The streamer has since debuted specials from Ilana Glazer and Roy Wood Jr. and has sets in the pipeline from Ralph Barbosa, Bill Burr, Chris Distefano, Zarna Garg, Jessica Kirson, Matteo Lane, Sebastian Maniscalco, Atsuko Okatsuka, Frankie Quiñones and Andrew Santino.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
“The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri is set to write the screenplay for the upcoming live-action “Barney” movie and is also in talks to star in the film.
“Barney” will be co-developed and produced by A24 and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions in partnership with “Barney” IP owner Mattel Films. Kevin McKeon and Andrew Scannell are overseeing the project for Mattel Films. Robbie Brenner will serve as producer for Mattel Films with A24. Daniel Kaluuya and Rowan Riley will produce for 59% Productions.
Though Kaluuya is a lead producer on the film, sources say he will not be starring in the movie alongside Edebiri. Plot details are being kept under wraps.
Premiering in 1988, “Barney & Friends” aired for 14 seasons on PBS before coming to an end in November 2010.
When the project was first announced in November 2019, Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner said that working with Kaluuya would allow the studio “to take a completely new approach to ‘Barney’ that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations.”
After McKeon first said it was an “A24-type” project, then backtracked, Mattel has remained mostly tight-lipped about the “Barney” movie. But in an interview with last October, Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman teased how the film’s plot differs from Max’s new animated reboot of the “Barney” franchise while still noting “our television and films teams work very well together.”
“We’re very much hand in glove and in concert,” Silverman said. “And Robbie Brenner, who leads our film division, who’s just incredible, she and I spent a ton of time together talking about this. We want to have a clear narrative. In the case here, the ‘Barney’ film will be what it’s ultimately going to be, and this show, we felt that, we want to remain consistent to the authenticity. That’s really, really important. If it’s not authentic, we’re not going to do it. We want to remain consistent to the authenticity, the DNA of “Barney,” but we also want to modernize.”
Best known for her Emmy-winning role on FX’s “The Bear,” Edebiri recently voiced Envy in Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and will next be seen in director Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” alongside Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
She is repped by Range Media Partners, CAA, ID PR, and Del Shaw Moonves.
Source: Variety
The Wayans family will forever be remembered as a lineage of entertainment trailblazers who dared to dream beyond the limited depictions of Black people on the small and big screens. And for that reason, they are more than deserving of their induction into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Kim, Damon, Damon Jr., Marlon, Craig, Damien and Chaunte Wayans attended the awards ceremony on Saturday (Feb. 22), where they accepted the honor, cementing their legacy of delivering decades of laughter. Noticeably absent from the lineup were Shawn Wayans and the “In Living Color” mastermind Keenan Ivory Wayans.
From their hit ‘90s sketch comedy to “The Wayans Brothers,” “Marlon,” “Poppa’s House,” “My Wife and Kids” or films like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, White Chicks or the Scary Movie franchise, there is no corner of comedy that the talented bloodline of comics, writers, producers and directors have not impacted.
In their collective acceptance speech spearheaded by Marlon and Damon, they paid homage to their leader, Keenen, who not only had the fearlessness to envision a future for himself in Hollywood, but the grit to pursue his passion. Because of him, a path for his younger siblings to follow suit was paved.
“My family was over the moon when Keenen first got his stand-up appearance on [‘The Tonight Show Starring] Johnny Carson.’ We all watched on a black-and-white TV in our kitchen — and I remember it was a tube television, the antenna was broken, so we had a hanger in there for an antenna and a fork to change the channels — and we watched my brother do stand-up comedy on that television. From that day on, me as a child, I sat there and I was like, ‘Wow, you mean not only can you dream, but you can make your dreams come true,’” recollected Marlon about the impression the A Low Down Dirty Shame star had on him.
The tribute to the uber-talented creator continued with Marlon noting, “My brother Keenen raised us all like Jedis… We would not be here, standing here, if it wasn’t for our big brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans.” The dynasty joined fellow NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame inductees Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Murphy and Aretha Franklin.
The night was capped with a second salute to comedic excellence when Dave Chappelle accepted the prestigious President’s Award. “I won a lot of awards recently, but this one tonight is probably the most special award I’ve ever gotten because it’s from this institution that represents these people. Us, people of color, Black people,” he began. The speech touched on the progress that Black actors have made in Hollywood since the “hideous” depictions in 1915’s Birth of a Nation.
The stand-up juggernaut hoped that the strides made over the past 100 years empowers his peers to “feel strong and inspired and not discouraged, especially because this is a very difficult time right now, and your institution [the NAACP] is sadly more relevant than it’s been in a long time. We got a lot of work to do, but it feels good to know that we’re not in it alone and that we got each other. And remember, community is everything.”
Cheers to the Wayans family and comedy GOAT Chappelle for their indelible impact on entertainment and culture.
Article by Angelina Velasquez, REVOLT
In a post on Instagram, the comedian known as Godfrey posted an official apology for calling the late great actor James Avery (best known as Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) “gay as hell”. Godfrey makes his announcement and talks about how the comment came about and all of the backlash he has been recieving.
Check out his apology below;
In this episode, we discuss the thought of LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers taking game-winning shots, especially since he is 1-29 in game-winning shots since joining the Lakers. We touch on this topic- especially since the Lakers now have Luka Doncic.
Plus we talk about the other news in and around the league.
In other news, we look at a lot of the news coming out of the NFL since the salary cap went up, and more! This episode stars comedians Daniel Dugar and Rodney Perry!
Watch the latest episode above!
Actress and singer Janelle Monáe is set to star in and produce the Universal Pictures adaptation of Tanya Smith’s heist memoir Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System—and Pocketed $40 Million.
Monáe will produce the project about an unsuspecting woman who hatches a clever white-collar scheme that manipulates the U.S. banking system out of millions through Wondaland Pictures’ first-look deal with Universal, with Smith to executive produce.
When the FBI finally cornered Smith, they refused to believe a black woman could be the architect of sophisticated financial crimes, as they smugly asserted “these are not the kind of crimes black people are smart enough to commit,” according to a synopsis from the producers. For her financial wrongdoing as detailed in her memoir, Smith completed a harsh prison sentence, but today has become an advocate for prison reform, racial justice, and economic equality.
Monáe has screen credits that include Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Antebellum, Harriet, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and the Amazon series Homecoming. The Grammy-nominated singer/rapper, songwriter, arranger and producer has album credits like The ArchAndroid (2010), The Electric Lady (2013), Dirty Computer (2018) and The Age of Pleasure (2023).
The deal for Never Saw Me Coming follows earlier Universal Pictures’ acquisition of book adaptation rights for Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me, Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him, Percival Everett’s James, Stacey Abrams’ Rules of Engagement, and Mark A. Bradley’s Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America.
Monáe is represented by Wondaland Management and WME. Smith is represented by Yorn Levine.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Buckle up — there’s more extracting to be done.
The already larger-than-life Extraction universe is expanding with a new series. Omar Sy (Lupin, The Intouchables) has been tapped to lead the mission that will get your blood pumping in eight heart-racing episodes.
The high-octane Extraction films — based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo — explore perilous search-and-rescue missions around the globe. The new action thriller, set in the same world, follows a mercenary (played by Sy), who’s trapped between warring factions and ruthless killers as he navigates a dangerous mission to save hostages in Libya. The series delves into the emotional struggles of conflicted and flawed characters, each facing trauma, betrayal, and life-or-death choices.
Glen Mazzara (The Shield, The Walking Dead) will serve as writer and showrunner. Sam Hargrave, who directed the Chris Hemsworth–led film Extraction and its sequel Extraction 2, will executive produce. Additional executive producers include Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, Scott Nemes, and Chris Castaldi for AGBO.
“I’m a very lucky man,” Mazzara said of joining the project. “Omar is a huge talent. Joe, Anthony, and Angela have welcomed me into the AGBO family. The team at Netflix is truly the best I’ve ever worked with. Very lucky indeed.”
“AGBO is grateful to collaborate once again with our partners at Netflix, this time to expand the Extraction universe into a new medium,” said Russo-Otstot. “We were inspired to tell more stories in this global franchise, further exploring heroic yet flawed mercenaries who illuminate universal themes. Glen Mazzara truly excels at sophisticated and nuanced explorations in the genre series space, and we are thrilled to have the exceptional talents of Omar Sy at the center of our action-packed, multi-narrative mission.”
The new Extraction series continues the Russo brothers and AGBO’s partnership with Netflix, which launched Extraction in 2020, the sequel Extraction 2 in 2023, and The Gray Man starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas. The Electric State, an adaptation of the illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, crackles onto the screen March 14th.
Source: By Kiesha Hackett- Tudum, Netflix
Today, BET and NAACP announced that beloved comedian, actor, and writer Deon Cole will host the “56th NAACP Image Awards” airing live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday, February 22, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
“BET is excited to partner once again with the incomparable Deon Cole, whose effortless charm and humor resonate deeply with our audiences,” said Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “Whether through his standout performances in Average Joe, his films, or his acclaimed stand-up specials, Deon consistently delivers authentic and impactful entertainment. We can’t wait to see him bring his unique perspective and comedic brilliance to the 56th NAACP Image Awards, capturing this powerful cultural moment as only he can.”
“As a comedian, actor, and cultural icon, Deon Cole has consistently used his talent to entertain, uplift, and inspire. His humor, deep appreciation for the culture, and commitment to our community has cemented him as an entertainment legend,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “It is truly an honor to have him as the host of this year’s 56th NAACP Image Awards. His presence will guide us through an evening of unforgettable moments as we celebrate the visionaries and trailblazers who continue to define and revolutionize culture.”
Deon Cole is a comedian, writer, and actor, who can be seen in the title role of the dark comedy AVERAGE JOE, from McG. The BET+ original series has garnered incredible reviews from Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly. Most recently, Deon appeared in THE MADNESS (Netflix), a political drama thriller by Clement Virgo and VJ Boyd, produced by Chernin. Additionally, Cole can be seen in Blitz Bazawule’s critically acclaimed remake of THE COLOR PURPLE; the film scored 16 nominations at the 55th NAACP Image Awards, winning 11, including Outstanding Motion Picture.
Deon was previously seen as Charlie on ABC’s BLACK-ISH and Freeform’s GROWNISH. For his work on BLACK-ISH, Deon won three consecutive Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series awards at the 2020, 2021, and 2022 NAACP Image Awards. In standup, Deon recently released his third one-hour special for Netflix, OK, MISTER, which earned an NAACP Image nomination for Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special). His previous special, CHARLEEN’S BOY (Netflix), was released by Netflix in 2022. On March 6, Deon can be heard as a voice in the BET+ animated series, LIL KEV, opposite Kevin Hart and Wanda Sykes.
BET and the NAACP remain committed to celebrating Black excellence and resilience through the “56th NAACP Image Awards.” Their support extends to the Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Pasadena communities affected by the recent wildfires. As part of these efforts, BET Media Group, NAACP, JSSK, and WME have partnered with LA County and in collaboration with local community organizations such as Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage, and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, aimed at protecting homeowners from displacement and preserving the community’s cultural heritage.
Source: BET