Impact Network‘s upcoming first scripted series has set its cast.
We learned that the half-hour workplace comedy “Highly Favored” has cast: Michael Colyar (“Blackish,” “House Party III,” “The Princess & The Frog,” “Martin”), KiKi Shepard (“It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Miss Evers Boys,” “Mind Your Business,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), Anthony S. Goolsby (“Will Trent,” “42”), Chico Benymon (“Half & Half,” “Ali,” “The Haunted Hathaways”), Rodney Perry (“Coming to America 2,” “Johnson Family Vacation”), and Melanie Comarcho (“Phat Tuesdays,” Snoop Dogg’s “F*CN Around”).
Full character descriptions can be found below.
The show was first reported to be set up at Impact Network back in November. As previously announced, it will consist of six episodes. A premiere date has yet to be set.
“With ‘Highly Favored,’ we are ushering in a new era of original storytelling at Impact Network. This series represents our commitment to creating impactful, positive narratives that connect with our audiences in meaningful ways,” commented Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, CEO and founder of Impact Network.
The official logline for the series states, “Rooted in humor, family, community and a touch of the absurd, ‘Highly Favored’ explores the clash between tradition and modernity through the point of view of the charismatic yet old-fashioned Pastor Michael Crawley (Colyar).”
Bentley Kyle Evans serves as executive producer, director, and showrunner on “Highly Favored” via Harvest Studios, with Trenten W. Gumbs also executive producing. Royal W. Jackson, Impact Network executive vice president, will co-executive produce. Colyar and Shepard also serve as producers in addition to starring.
“We are proud to present a series that not only entertains but uplifts, inspiring audiences with stories that feel real, relevant, and true to who we are. The cast of ‘Highly Favored’ has embodied this vision, bringing these characters to life with performances that deeply resonate.” said Jackson.
This will mark a reunion for Colyar and Evans, who previously worked together on the hit comedy series “Martin,” with Evans working on the show as a writer and producer. Colyar appeared in multiple episodes of the series in the role of Mr. Whitaker.
“A great cast is the secret ingredient for any series. Michael, KiKi, Anthony, Chico, Rodney, and Melanie are consummate professionals with excellent comedic timing. I can’t wait for viewers to see this amazing ensemble,” said Evans.
Character Descriptions
First Lady Lavesta Crawley (Shepard) is the real force behind Pastor Crawley and his pulpit. She is his ride-or-die, genuinely supportive of her husband, providing him with unwavering love and encouragement. As a mother, Levesta can be overbearing but behind her glamorous exterior hides a woman fiercely dedicated to her family and her role as the esteemed First Lady.
Son Demarcus Crawley (Goolsby) is the holier-than-thou assistant pastor and the eldest son who has ambitions to succeed his father as Pastor. But not if Crawley has any say in it.
Michael “MJ” Crawley, Jr. (Benymon), is the younger prodigal son. A talented music producer who failed to hit the big time, MJ finds himself back under his parents’ roof, along with his daughter Brianna (Kali Rose Lewis), and at the organ accompanying the church choir.
Deacon Jones (Perry) met Pastor Crawley when they were serving together in Vietnam. That bond solidified their friendship for life. At the church, Deacon is the pastor’s confidante, providing unwavering support and at times, much needed humor.
Sister Sarah (Comarcho) is a faithful church member who often goes toe-to-toe with the First Lady. She is also Lavesta’s best friend, loyalty personified, and loves the Crawley’s as the family she never had.
Source: Variety
The 56th NAACP Image Awards have officially kicked off with Ayo Edebiri, Keke Palmer, Marlon Wayans, and Jamie Foxx among the first set of winners during the pre-awards ceremony.
The two-night virtual event streams on the NAACP Image Awards YouTube channel, with night one hosted By Angel “ThatChickAngel” Laketa Moore and Marcus Tanksley.
A handful of awards were presented including Edebiri for outstanding breakthrough creative for television for FX’s “The Bear”; Palmer as host of NBC’s “Password”; Marlon Wayans for his guest performance on Peacock’s “Bel-Air”; and Foxx’s Netflix comedy special “What Had Happened Was,” as well as film and TV writing and directing honors; numerous short film prizes; and winners in the literary categories.
Taraji P. Henson won two Image Awards: one for outstanding supporting actress in a limited television series, special or movie for Peacock’s “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (her co-star Samuel L. Jackson picked up the supporting actor prize) and as the author of the children’s book “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book.”
MSNBC host Joy Ann Reid also won two awards for her show “The Reidout” (outstanding news/information series or special) and as the author of the biography “Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America.” The hit YouTube series “Gracie’s Corner” picked up two prizes (outstanding children’s program and outstanding animated series).
Leah Sava Jeffries, star of “Percy Jackson and the Olympics” on Disney+, won the award for outstanding performance in the TV categories, while Cree Summer, who was also nominated for outstanding guest performance for “Abbott Elementary,” took home the Image Award for outstanding voiceover performance on television for her work on Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats.”
The 56th Image Awards broadcast will take place on Feb. 22, airing live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
Special honorees include Vice President Kamala Harris, who will receive the Chairman’s Award; trailblazing comedian Dave Chappelle, who will be awarded the President’s Award; and the Wayans family — namely Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. — who will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. Jotaka Eaddy, founder and CEO of #WinWithBlackWomen, and Essence Communications will receive special awards at the Creative Honors ceremony on Feb. 21.
This year, the Image Awards broadcast will be extended by 30 minutes to two and a half hours, with the ceremony also used to drive support for the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the recent wildfires. BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and WME partnered with L.A. County and collaborated with local community organizations, including Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which is aimed at protecting homeowners from displacement and preserving the community’s cultural heritage.
The full list of winners from Night 1 of the virtual Image Awards ceremonies are below:
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympics” (Disney+)
Outstanding Animated Series
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Cree Summer – “Rugrats” (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“One of Us Knows: A Thriller” – Alyssa Cole (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest” – Fawn Weaver (Melcher Media Inc.)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Sarai Johnson – “Grown Women” (Harper – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America” – Joy-Ann Reid (Mariner Books – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair” – Tomesha Faxio (Clarkson Potter – Crown Publishing Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets” – Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown and Company – Hachette Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book” – Taraji P. Henson, Paul Kellam (Zonderkidz – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York” – Samarra St. Hilaire (Self-Published)
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
“Punk Rock Karaoke” – Bianca Xunise
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was” (Netflix)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Marlon Wayans – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Crystal Jenkins – “No Good Deed – Letters of Intent” Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Ben Watkins – Cross “Hero Complex” (Prime Video)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks – “Young. Wild. Free.” (BET+)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)
Taraji P. Henson – “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)
Samuel L. Jackson – “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Tina Mabry – “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Tiffany Johnson – “How to Die Alone – ‘Trust No One’” (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Rapman – “Supacell – ‘Supacell’” (Netflix)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“The Reidout” (MSNBC)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Keke Palmer – “Password” (NBC)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Services/Game Show
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Outstanding ShortForm Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
“The Prince of Death Row Records” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
“How to Sue the Klan”
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
“Superman Doesn’t Steal”
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
“Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” (Exhibit Treal Studios)
Source: Variety
Online personality Tasha K and a former personal assistant to Kevin Hart have reached a settlement with the comedian in his defamation suit against the pair that stemmed from an interview the aide had with Tasha K.
Hart’s attorney filed court papers on Friday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie notifying her of the accord involving Hart, Tasha K, and ex-Hart personal aide Miesha Shakes. No terms were revealed and the court papers only stated that the parties are “working on the language of their settlement agreements.”
On Tuesday, Fujie vacated the scheduled April 7 trial.
Hart’s suit, originally filed in December 2023 and amended a month later, involved a social media conversation between Shakes and Tasha K, whose real name is Latasha Transrina Kebe.
In their court papers, the 45-year-old Hart’s attorneys maintained their client and his company, K. Hart Enterprises Inc., suffered “irreparable harm from the continued publication and broadcasting of the interview and related content, which includes defamatory statements, including false statements regarding Hart’s supposed criminal conduct, which are damaging to his reputation and thereby to his livelihood as a performer.”
Hart’s lawyers maintained the comedian and Shakes had a non-disclosure agreement and that Shakes breached the accord, although Shakes contended the contract took advantage of her mental state at the time. Hart’s attorneys also asserted that Shakes and Kebe sought money in order to keep quiet.
In a sworn declaration, Shakes maintained she was unaware of the NDA’s terms.
“At the time of signing the NDA, I was suffering from significant mental health issues and was under considerable financial distress due to my unemployment,” Shakes said. “Hart was fully aware of my ongoing health issues and critical need for health insurance and funds, as I could not afford health insurance or my prescribed medications.”
Shakes further said that when she signed the NDA she was unaware that it included a confidentiality clause because Hart told her it was a “mutual release” that would benefit the plaintiff and her family.
Hart’s attorneys also contended that Shakes and Kebe sought $250,000 in exchange for keeping quiet.
But Shakes contended she was not involved in an extortion plot against Hart and that her use of the word “charges” during the interview pertained to potential civil, not criminal allegations.
Kebe has a history of publishing and broadcasting defamatory content about public figures and was recently found liable for nearly $4 million in a defamation suit brought by Cardi B, according to Hart’s attorneys’ pleadings.
In a sworn declaration, Hart says Shakes admitted during the interview that she obtained some of the information she discussed by secretly listening through the walls to private conversations at Hart’s offices.
Hart denied Shakes’ assertion that he made a secret video recording of a romantic liaison he had with a woman in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2017, and he additionally says she wrongfully divulged information about his interactions with his wife after the hotel encounter became public.
Hart was part of the halftime entertainment in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
Mindy Kaling’s new comedy show, “Not Suitable for Work,” has officially been greenlit at Hulu.
The half-hour, single-camera comedy series, which was previously titled “Murray Hill,” has received a series order at the streamer, Hulu announced Tuesday. The order came about 10 months after the show landed at Hulu following a competitive bidding process.
“Not Suitable for Work” follows five work-obsessed 20somethings striving for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhood, Murray Hill, according to the official logline.
Kaling created the series, and Charlie Grandy (“The Sex Lives of College Girls,” “The Mindy Project”) is set to serve as showrunner. Kaling and Grandy will executive produce alongside Howard Klein, who executive produces for 3 Arts Entertainment.
“Not Suitable for Work” is produced by Warner Bros. Television, where both Kaling and Grandy are under overall deals.
The news comes as Kaling gears up to launch “Running Point” on Netflix in late February, which she created alongside Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen. Kaling’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls” also recently wrapped up its third season on Max, though it has yet to receive the green light for a fourth installment.
“Not Suitable for Work” reunites Kaling and Hulu after the streamer picked up “The Mindy Project” following its cancellation at Fox for the final three seasons of its six-season run. In “The Mindy Project,” Kaling starred as Dr. Mindy Lahiri alongside Barinholtz, Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Xosha Roquemore, Adam Pally, and Beth Grant. Kaling also worked with Hulu on “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
“Not Suitable for Work” joins Hulu’s slate of comedies alongside “Only Murders in the Building,” the upcoming “Chad Powers” and “King of the Hill.”
Source: The Wrap
Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Piano Lesson) has joined Steve Carell, Charly Clive, and Phil Dunster as a lead in HBO‘s untitled comedy series from Bill Lawrence, Matt Tarses, and Warner Bros. TV.
The single-camera comedy is set on a college campus, centering on an author’s (Carell) complicated relationship with his daughter (Clive).
Deadwyler will play the head of the English Department at the liberal arts college, a professor of poetry
and a published writer who has instant rapport with Carell’s character.
The first of 10 half-hour episodes was written by Lawrence and Tarses. Lawrence, Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer of Doozer Productions executive produce alongside Tarses and Carell. The series is produced by Doozer in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence’s Doozer banner and Tarses are under overall deals.
Source: Deadline
The Jennifer Hudson Show has been renewed for a fourth season. Warner Bros. Television Group announced the news on Wednesday (Feb. 19), revealing that the Emmy-nominated syndicated daytime talker will be back for the 2025-2026 season on Fox Television stations.
“It is an unbelievable privilege to spend your days being able to engage with inspiring people from all walks of life; to hear their stories and connect on shared experiences; and to hopefully leave audiences a little more joyful than when they arrived,” said EGOT-winner Hudson in a statement. “This show is a testament to what happens when you do what you love, and when you do it alongside an unstoppable team who creates magic in new ways every single day. I’m so excited to take this adventure to new heights in season 4!”
To date, the series has earned a number of industry honors, including two NAACP Awards — Outstanding Talk Show Series (2024) and Outstanding Talk Show Host (2023) — as well as the Excellence in Media Award at the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards, where it also took home the Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode prize. Hudson also won the 2024 National Association of Broadcaster’s TV Chairman’s awards in 2024 for the series that has racked up 10 Daytime Emmy nominations since its debut in September 2022.
“Audiences and our great television station partners agreed – JHud is must-have television. We believe in great programming, and Warner Bros. Television Group always delivers for our business and fans,” David Decker, president of content sales at Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement.
Lauren Bincoe, SVP of current programming at Telepictures added, “Jennifer Hudson’s extraordinary talent and ability to connect with people have made The Jennifer Hudson Show a standout in daytime. This season, the show has seen incredible growth, creating moments that resonate beyond the screen – like the viral sensation Spirit Tunnel being a powerful example. Jennifer embodies the show’s Choose Joy message in every episode, and as we head into season 4, we’re grateful for the continued support of our station partners and proud to build on this momentum with Jennifer and our award-winning production team.”
Guests this season have included former First Lady Michelle Obama, Usher, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Gwen Stefani, Cynthia Erivo, Kelly Rowland, Jimmy Kimmel, Smokey Robinson and Keith Urban, among others. Upcoming guests include: Kevin Hart, BLACKPINK’S Jennie, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Tina Knowles, Regina Hall, and Big Sean, among others.
Hudson celebrated the the news by doing one of her show’s signature celebratory spirit tunnel walks with her staff, who sang about the good news and the good vibes they keep spreading.
Watch Hudson announce the renewal below.
In this episode of Box Seats, we discuss all of the things that we witnessed during the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, and all of the complaints that have come up from the execution of the game!
We also are talking about the performances and the rest of the weekend!
Finally we touch on the NFL and some of the news that has leaked out about the moves of some of the players for the upcoming season!
This episode features comedians Thomas Ward, Rodney Perry, Daniel Dugar, and Maurice Smith! Watch the latest episode above!
Rapper A$AP Rocky was found not guilty Tuesday of firing a handgun at a former friend on a Hollywood street in 2021.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” he told jurors as they left the Los Angeles courtroom. They cleared him of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The 36-year-old hip-hop star, fashion mogul, and burgeoning actor — whose legal name is Rakim Mayers — risked more than 24 years in prison if he had been convicted.
On the eve of trial, he turned down a prosecution offer of just six months in jail, along with probation and other conditions, if he would plead guilty to one count.
Insisting on his innocence, and with two young toddler sons at home along with his longtime partner Rihanna, the 36-year-old Rocky decided to gamble that a jury would feel the same. It paid off. The jurors felt at least that there was reasonable doubt of his guilt.
When the verdict was read, Rihanna cried and hugged the defense lawyers. She attended the trial sporadically and brought the couple’s two sons — 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers — for some of the closing arguments.
The verdict came at the height of Rocky’s fame, if not the pinnacle of his music career. The three-time Grammy nominee has a banner year in the works, and can now look to it without the threat of prison hanging over him. He is scheduled to headline the Rolling Loud music festival in March; he is one of the celebrity co-chairs of fashion’s biggest night, the Met Gala, in May; and he stars with Denzel Washington in director Spike Lee’s film “Highest 2 Lowest,” set for release in early summer.
Prosecutors and their witnesses said that he was beefing with a former friend, A$AP Relli, with whom he had been in a crew who called themselves the A$AP Mob since high school. They said the two men met up in Hollywood on Nov. 6, 2021, and after a scuffle Rocky pulled the gun and fired twice at Relli, who said one of the shots grazed his knuckle but was not seriously hurt.
Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina said in his closing argument that Relli is “an angry pathological liar” who “committed perjury again and again and again and again.”
Rocky’s lawyers and witnesses they called said Rocky had shot a prop gun that only fires blanks, which he had been carrying for security since taking it from a music video set months earlier. They said he fired it as a warning because Relli was attacking another member of their crew.
The jurors were told that despite three years passing since the incident, no one mentioned the phony gun to authorities until the day jury selection began at the trial.
They were also instructed that if they found that Rocky reasonably believed that he or one of the two friends with him that night were in imminent danger of injury, and that he used reasonable force, they could find the defendant not guilty.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether they reached the verdict because they believed he was in fact carrying a prop gun or that he acted in self-defense. They did not have to agree on their reasoning or explain it outside of the jury room. They just had to reach the same conclusion.
Rocky opted not to testify in his own defense.
In his closing argument, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin urged the jurors not to be influenced by the celebrity or family aspects of the case, and suggested Rihanna bringing the kids to closing arguments was an attempt to manipulate the jury.
“You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids,” the prosecutor said. “We are all responsible for our own actions in the world.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will be honored with the Chairman’s Award at the NAACP Image Awards.
Harris will accept the prestigious honor, in her first TV appearance since leaving office, during the 56th Image Awards ceremony on Feb. 22, airing live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
The Chairman’s Award honors individuals who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.” The Oakland-born Harris served as California Attorney General and U.S. Senator before making history as the first woman, Black American and South Asian American to serve as U.S. vice president (with President Joe Biden). Then in 2024, Harris ran another historic campaign as the first Black and South Asian woman to be nominated by a major party for president.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is more than a leader – she is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future. It is with great honor that we present her with the Chairman’s Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, celebrating her relentless dedication to justice, equality, and the betterment of our society,” said Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “Her legacy is built on courage, compassion, and a profound commitment to uplifting those who need it most. Her tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable among us has made her a beacon of hope and progress.”
Past Chairman’s Award honorees include Amanda Gorman, Samuel L. Jackson, the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.
Scott Mills, president and CEO of BET Media Group, said Harris is deserving of the award for “both her historic accomplishments and her incredible legacy of service to America and our community” and described it as a “privilege” to honor her alongside the NAACP. “Her unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and progress has inspired millions, and her journey is a powerful testament to that which can be achieved through resilience, strength, and brilliance,” Mills concluded.
Added NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson: “Vice President Harris embodies the power, grace, and unyielding courage that Black women have long brought to the heart of the United States. With bold determination, Vice President Harris fights for justice, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, and stands as a beacon of hope. She embodies the resilience and brilliance of Black women, uplifting their legacy as the driving force behind change in this country. VP Harris reminds us all that when Black women lead, the entire nation rises.”
Other special honorees at this year’s Image Awards include trailblazing comedian Dave Chappelle, who will be awarded NAACP President’s Award, while the Wayans family — namely Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, and Damon Wayans Jr. — will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
This year, the broadcast will be extended by 30 minutes to two and a half hours, with the ceremony also used to drive support for the Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena communities affected by the recent wildfires. BET Media Group, NAACP, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, and WME partnered with L.A. County and collaborated with local community organizations, including Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood LA, to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which is aimed at protecting homeowners from displacement and preserving the community’s cultural heritage.
Source: Variety
“SNL” revived its beloved “Black Jeopardy” sketch for its 50th anniversary, except this time with Eddie Murphy playing Tracy Morgan.
In the sketch, Kenan Thompson returned as the host of “Black Jeopardy,” introducing the sketch by saying “Welcome to ‘Black Jeopardy,’ the only ‘Jeopardy’ where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance,” referencing Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at last week’s Super Bowl.
Leslie Jones also returned as Shanice alongside Morgan, who played a man named Darius, and Murphy, who played “Tracy Morgan.”
“Darius, Tracy, y’all seem like you might be related,” Thompson said, though Murphy’s Morgan immediately rejected the idea, saying “Well, James Earl Jones is my biological father. James Earl Jones impregnated my mother on the set of ‘Claudine.’ You know what? We might be related.”
Still, Morgan, said, “I don’t see it.”
The fan-favorite sketch also brought back Tom Hanks, who reprised his role as Doug from the 2016 episode he hosted.
Hanks returned to “Black Jeopardy” wearing the same red “Make America Great Again” hat, which is equally as relevant now as when the sketch aired in 2016. Chris Rock also made an appearance.
The game’s categories included “Look Here,” “This Joker Talkin’ Bout,” “Leave Bronny Alone,” “Mannnn…” “White People” and “Live From New York.” After starting easy with the correct reaction for what to when an 11-year-old is asking for something while you’re on the phone, Thompson stumped the contestants when he a question from the “Live From New York” category, which read, “this legendary late night show created some of comedy biggest stars.”
Despite Thompson giving some hints to the right answer — including “as kids, you probably stayed up late on Saturday to watch” — the contestants couldn’t crack the code, with Jones guessing “Soul Train” while the others threw out “Showtime at the Apollo” featuring Sandman Sims.
Source: The Wrap