Mindy Kaling’s ‘Mindy Project’ Renewed For 5th Season At Hulu!
The Mindy Project isn’t going anywhere.
Hulu used its upfront platform Wednesday to announce that the Mindy Kaling comedy has been renewed for a fifth season.
The renewal for the single-camera comedy from producers Universal Television will bring the series into its fifth season and its second on the streaming platform after Fox canceled the critical darling. An episode count has not yet been determined.
While far from a ratings breakout during its first three seasons on Fox, Mindy has managed to build a small but loyal viewership — many of whom watched originals on Hulu before the streamer inked a deal to revive the series shortly after it was canceled. Those viewers continue to stick with the series, which was created by and stars Kaling as an OB/GYN navigating her personal and professional life. Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Ike Barinholtz, Beth Grant, Xosha Roquemore and Fortune Feimster co-star. Kaling, Howard Klein, Matt Warburton, Charlie Grandy and Michael Spiller exec produce the Universal TV and 3 Arts comedy.
READ MORE ‘Mindy Project’ Boss on Danny Hate, Mindy’s Bold Move and “Lighter” Tone for Season 4 Return
“We definitely feel we have a lot more story to tell with these characters” Mindy showrunner Warburton told THR in April following its midseason break. “You want to see [Mindy and Danny’s son] Leo grow up. You want to see where things go with Mindy and Danny and all the problems that people are going to learn about coming up. I think there’s plenty of gas left in the tank at this point.”
The Mindy renewal caps a strong morning for Universal TV, which also scored a renewal at Hulu for Jason Katims/Jessica Goldberg drama The Path.
Mindy’s scripted comedy roster also includes Universal Cable Productions’ Difficult People and Lionsgate’s Casual.
Meanwhile, Hulu has also added a second election special featuring Triumph the Insult Comic Dog that will debut later this year. Creator and voice star Robert Smigel will return for the special, which comes after the first one debuted to rave reviews with THR chief TV critic Tim Goodman calling the special “painfully funny.” A specific date for the special has not been determined, though Hulu noted it will bow just in time for the election.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Tracy Morgan Set To Participate In Red Nose Day TV Special!
The campaign to help kids living in poverty is returning to the U.S. for the second time with a star-studded NBC event on May 26.
As Red Nose Day gets ready to return to the U.S. for a second year, the charitable campaign is revealing some of the stars set to participate in its May 26 NBC special.
Tracy Morgan, Emma Watson, Danny Trejo and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Ellie Kemper will all take part in the two-hour event, broadcast live from Los Angeles from 9-11 p.m. ET.
Craig Ferguson will host the special with the following stars also set to join him: Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Kristen Bell, Ludacris, Rose Byrne, Blake Griffin, Emma Thompson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Adam Devine and Ron Funches.
Created by Oscar nominated writer-director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign dedicated to lifting kids out of poverty. Run by Comic Relief, Red Nose Day became a cultural phenomenon in the U.K. and has raised more than $1 billion globally in the last 25 years.
The campaign came to the U.S. for the first time in 2015, and raised more than $23 million, with the money at work in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally in programs to keep children and young people safe, healthy and educated.
READ MORE ‘Red Nose Day’ Music Moments: Ed Sheeran’s Kermit Duet, Coldplay’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Musical
The star-studded NBC special will feature stand-up performances, sketch comedy, short films and music performances. In 2015, more than 100 celebrities lent their support to Red Nose Day’s first U.S. campaign, with Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, Jack Black, Pharrell, Blake Shelton and Ed Sheeran among the stars who participated in last year’s NBC special.
The money raised by Red Nose Day in 2016 will help support projects in some of the neediest parts of the U.S. and the world. This year’s partner charities include Boys & Girls Club of America; charity:water; Children’s Health Fund; Covenant House; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; National Urban League; Oxfam America; Save the Children; and The Global Fund.
Speaking about last year’s first iteration of Red Nose Day in the U.S., Curtis previously told The Hollywood Reporter, “I was kind of startled and thrilled at how many famous people, if you give them something fun or funny to do, are really happy to do that. I’m always really startled by the willingness of people who are famous to go the extra mile. We always want to give them something they want to do, rather than something they feel they ought to do.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Watch: Nas Joins The Weeknd For “Tell Your Friends” Performance At The Met Gala!
A couple of nights ago at the Met Gala in New York City was a star-studded event as some of our favorite celebrities, including Beyoncé, Kanye West, Blake Lively, and more dressed in their Sunday best to enjoy the annual fundraising ball.
Obviously, the venue was filled from wall to wall with talent, but it was The Weeknd who hopped on stage and took our breath away with his performance of “Tell Your Friends,” alongside hip-hop legend Nas.
Dressed in all black, the Canadian singer captivated the crowd with his sultry vocals and sensual lyrics. Watch the pair do what they do best in the video above, courtesy of Apple Music.
Source: The Urban Daily
Stacey Dash Cast As Chicago Mayor In ‘Sharknado: The 4th Awakens’!
Stacey Dash, Clueless actor-turned-Fox News commentator who dismissed as “ludicrous” the outrage over the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations, who has called for an end to Black History Month (because there isn’t a White History Month) and who has called for the shuttering of BET network, has been cast as the mayor of Chicago in Syfy’s Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.
Yet, in a world in which Donald Trump is now within spitting distance of the White House, Dash makes perfect sense as mayor of a city struggling with racial strife. Syfy says it’s a cameo – but so was her appearance at the Academy Awards, when host Chris Rock introduced her as the director of the Academy’s minority outreach program, and people talked about that one for days.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Bailey (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Robert Herjavec (Shark Tank), Kym Johnson (Dancing with the Stars), TV host Carrie Keagan, T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (In Living Color) and Baywatch stars Gena Lee Nolin and Alexandra Paul have been cast for cameos – as Astro-X rocket scientists and astrophysicists.
Benjy Bronk (The Howard Stern Show) will show up as a morning show host, and Duane Chapman (Dog the Bounty Hunter) plays a chainsaw dealer in the next iteration of the Sharknado franchise, premiering Sunday, July 31.
Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts is manager of the Shark World hotel, MMA fighter Frank Mir is its head of security, and Corey Taylor of Slipknot is one of the security guards.
David Faustino (Married … with Children) is a Las Vegas gambler, Lori Greiner (Shark Tank) pretends to be a home-shopping guru, Dr. Drew Pinsky (Loveline) is a pastor, and Patti Stanger (Millionaire Matchmaker) a reporter.
Meanwhile, Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Wayne Newton (aka Mr. Las Vegas) and Todd, Savannah and Grayson Chrisley of Chrisley Knows Best? They get to play themselves.
Sharknado: The 4th Awakens takes place five years after the East Coast was ravaged in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Fin (Ziering) and his family have been blissfully sharknado-free since. But now the shark-infested tornadoes are back. Tara Reid is set to return as April Wexler to reveal the outcome of the fan-voted campaign to determine whether April lives or dies. David Hasselhoff (as Gil Shepard) and Ryan Newman (as Claudia Shepard) will also reprise their Sharknado 3 roles. New additions to the cast are Gary Busey, Tommy Davidson, Imani Hakim, Cody Linley, Masiela Lusha and Cheryl Tiegs.
Sharknado: The 4th Awakens is a production of The Asylum. Anthony C. Ferrante returns to direct an original screenplay written by Thunder Levin. Here is the new poster:
Source: Deadline
Sean Penn Wins Apology From Lee Daniels In Defamation Settlement
Daniels will also be making a “generous” contribution to charity.
Sean Penn will be pulling a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Empire creator Lee Daniels thanks to a settlement that includes a profuse apology and a charitable donation.
The actor filed his lawsuit in Sept. 2015 after Daniels spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about domestic abuse troubles for Empire star Terrence Howard. “[Terrence Howard] ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some f—in’ demon,” said Daniels at the time. “That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America.”
Penn saw the comment as a slur on him. He blanched at being likened to someone who admitted to physically abusing women. The actor said he was never arrested for domestic violence, and in his complaint, asserted he would “no longer tolerate the reckless and malicious behavior of others, who seek to aggrandize themselves or their projects at his expense.”
When he amended the lawsuit in December, Penn even provided a declaration from his former wife Madonna that there was never any assault.
“I am so sorry that I have hurt you, Sean, and I apologize and retract my reckless statements about you,” says Daniels now in a statement that ends the lawsuit. “How thoughtless of me. You are someone I consider a friend, a brilliant actor and true Hollywood legend and humanitarian.”
Daniels adds, “I too have been the subject of false attacks by others, like those made here. My most important role is as a father, and it is important to me that my children learn that it is wrong to reference gossip as fact, as I did here. That can be very damaging and hurtful. Domestic violence is a very serious issue. My comments were cavalier; it was not my intention to diminish the severity of the issue, but rather to express a view regarding the disparate treatment of men of color in our national conversation. I apologize again for the distress that this has caused you and your family.”
“I accept Lee’s heartfelt apology and appreciate the sincerity with which it was delivered,” responds Penn. “I also accept and appreciate his generous donation to J/P HRO, which will have a transformative effect on the lives of those we serve in Haiti.”
These words bring an end to the defamation handled on behalf of Penn by attorney Mathew Rosengart and defended on behalf of Daniels by James Sammataro. Before it ended, the legal action spurred a First Amendment defense premised on whether Daniels’ comments amounted to a non-actionable opinion. There was also the issue of whether Penn, as a public figure who had tolerated years of gossip stories, could show actual malice. But the answer may have to await a future court action as Penn and Daniels are moving forward.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Vanessa Williams Lands In Upcoming Season Of TNT’s ‘The Librarians’!
According to reports, Vanessa Williams is joining the third season of TNT’s “The Librarians”.
Williams joins in a recurring role, playing General Rockwell, the tough, brilliant head of the top secret, black ops secret government agency, known as D.O.S.A. Investigating “Statistical Anomalies,” Williams’ character sets her sights on apprehending the Librarians and obtaining the magical artifacts contained in the Library.
The third season of TNT’s fan-favorite series will see the Librarians confronting a new antagonist, which has shown up in the form of D.O.S.A. — The Department of Statistical Anomalies — whose mission is to apprehend the Librarians and take control of the Library and all the magical artifacts hidden inside.
Williams’ role in “The Librarians” is not the first time she’s played a villainous boss, as she starred as Wilhelmina Slater in “Ugly Betty.” Her latest television roles have been an arc on “The Good Wife” and a guest episode of “Broad City.” She also starred on “Desperate Housewives” and “666 Park Avenue.” Up next, she will topline VH1’s scripted drama “Satan’s Sisters,” which is inspired by a dramatic daytime talk show like “The View.”
“The Librarians” Season 3 premieres this fall on TNT, though no premiere date has been set.
Source: Variety
Cedric The Entertainer To Guest Host On ‘LIVE With Kelly And Michael’!
The guest co-hosts keep coming.
“LIVE with Kelly and Michael” announced via Facebook and Twitter Wednesday the following guest co-hosts for the week of May 16, the week after Michael Strahan’s exit:
Jussie Smollett of “Empire” (Tuesday, the 17th); Cedric the Entertainer (18th); “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir (19th); and Daniel Dae Kim (20th).
Jimmy Kimmel had previously been named co-host on Monday, May 16.
Strahan’s last day is Friday, May 13.
Stand Up Spotlight: Bernie Mac’s Classic Performance On HBO’s Def Comedy Jam
Stand-up comedy isn’t about just having funny jokes; it’s about controlling the crowd and getting them to do what you want them to do.
Few have done crowd-control better than Bernie Mac did here. Why did Bernie do better than almost everyone in this situation?
“I ain’t scared of you motherfuckers!”
That’s why.
This performance came from an episode of the old HBO “Def Comedy Jam” series, and this particular episode featured a crowd that was famously hostile. In one of his first major performances of comedy, Bernie Mac came out and was able to immediately sway the crowd in his favor, largely because of his quick delivery and outspoken fearlessness of the crowd.
In two minutes, Bernie Mac told jokes almost exclusively about his being “blessed” and about “sex in a can”. That was his material, it got over quickly, and it is still a legendary moment in comedy today.
RIP
Vivica A. Fox To Guest Star On Bounce TV’s Comedy, ‘Mann & Wife’!
Things get a little awkward tonight at 9pm ET/PT on an all-new episode ofBounce TV‘s original hit sitcomMann & Wife.
Daniel and partner Michael (Tony Rock) give their Lieutenant Supervisor some advice and tips before his big date, which happens to be with David’s ex-wife Michelle (Vivica A. Fox). Meanwhile, Lorraine becomes extra nice when she thinks that Daniel and Toni are putting her in a retirement home.
Tyler Perry alumni – and real-life husband and wife team – David Mann (Meet The Browns) and Tamela Mann (Madea’s Big Happy Family) star and serve as executive producers of Mann & Wife, the Bounce TV comedy series that’s been called the “Black Brady Bunch.” The popular stars play newlyweds Daniel and Toni Mann who laugh and love their way through the ups and downs of blending two families together.
Anthony Mackie Set To Play A Younger Johnnie Cochran In New Film!
Just as FX Networks basks in the glow of some strong ratings for its first season of “American Crime Story” which fictionalized the O.J. Simpson trial of 1994, starring Cuba Gooding Jr as “The Juice,” a feature film based on another case handled by the man who was instrumental in Simpson’s defense – the late Johnnie Cochran (played wonderfully by Courtney B. Vance in the FX series) – is in development.
Film, TV and talent management company The Firm acquired an untitled script written by David McMillan, which centers on a case that Cochran took earlier in his career, involving Ron Settles, a black Cal. State University, Long Beach football player who was arrested in 1981, after he was pulled over for speeding, and got into a scuffle with the arresting white officers. The morning after his arrest, Settles was found severely beaten and hanging in his jail cell, leading to public outcry afterward over the nature of his death, which the police claimed was a suicide.
Sound familiar at all? #SandraBland
No one was prosecuted for Settles’ death, but the city of Signal Hill where it all transpired, did pay a large settlement to Settles’ family.
The case was an early high-profile case handled by Cochran, who represented the family.
Charles Burnett’s 1995 film “The Glass Shield” was inspired by the Settles case.
The Firm’s Robbie Brenner (“Dallas Buyers Club”) is producing along with Kevin McKeon, while Jeff Kwatinetz is executive producing.
“Kevin and I are so excited to work on David McMillan’s incredibly well-written, timely script,” Brenner said. “The subject matter resonates now just as powerfully as it did in 1981, and we look forward to making an honest, provocative and challenging film.”
It’s been announced today that Anthony Mackie has signed on to star in the film as Johnnie Cochran (he will also co-produce with Jason Spire and Robbie Brenner of The Firm. Jeff Kwatinetz will be exec producer along with The Firm’s David McMillan.
No director or ETA yet. But I should note that the writer of the script, David McMillan, is African American – noteworthy at a time when discussions about diversity in front of, and behind the camera, as well as who gets to tell *our* stories, continue to be central.
Certainly a timely project.
Mackie will next be seen on the big screen this weekend playing Falcon in “Captain America: Civil War.” On the small screen, he also plays Martin Luther King, Jr in the upcoming HBO telepic “All the Way,” which is based on a play by Robert Schenkkan. It stars Bryan Cranston, Melissa Leo, and Frank Langella, and will air on HBO on May 21, 2016. The movie follows Lyndon B. Johnson (Cranston) as he assumes the office of the U.S. Presidency after the John F. Kennedy assassination, and must work on the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
