After years of being away from the stand up comedy stage, Jamie Foxx is coming home! The Oscar winner made the big announcement on his Instagram page.
“Hittin the road on a small stand up club tour…Gotta get deez characters and jokes off!!” he wrote.
Foxx began his career in stand up before getting in to TV, music, and movies including “Ray” for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor.
No word yet on when Foxx’s stand up tour will begin or where it will begin.
In a lawsuit, Bill Cosby accuses former Temple University employee Andrea Constand and those around her of breaching a confidential 2006 settlement.
The Hollywood Reporter first detailed that Cosby was suing under the cloak of seal. The judge ordered a redacted version. On Thursday, Cosby’s attorneys lodged this in Pennsylvania federal court, and it makes clear his goal of keeping quiet the woman who is at the center of a pending criminal charge against him. Also being sued is the parent company of National Enquirer as well as Constand’s mother and two of her attorneys, Dolores Troiani and Bebe Kivitz.
“Defendants are blatantly violating their confidentiality obligations under the 2006 Confidential Settlement Agreement, including by intentionally disclosing information they promised to keep confidential as consideration for the settlement,” states the lawsuit. “Defendants should be enjoined from further violations. Defendants and each of them should also be liable for damages caused by their prior breaches.”
According to Cosby’s complaint, after the Montgomery County DA in Pennsylvania reopened a criminal investigation of sexual abuse allegations made by Constand, Troiani “turned her files over” despite allegedly being expressly prohibited to do so by terms of the contract. Troiani is also said to have disclosed the settlement.
Cosby’s lawsuit also discusses the way that The New York Times was able to obtain a full copy of Cosby’s decade-old deposition from Constand’s lawsuit. Cosby’s admission of giving women drugs for the purposes of sex prompted a press firestorm and helped instigate a reopening of the case. The AP and THR first revealed the deposition excerpts from old court documents that had been unsealed. The Times then gained access to a full copy of the deposition. The newspaper reported at the time that it procured the deposition from a court-reporting service.
“On information and belief, the deposition transcript was improperly released because Troiani and Kivitz either instructed the Court Reporter to release it, or knowingly failed to use her best efforts to ensure that her vendors comply with the confidentiality provisions of the 2006 Confidential Settlement Agreement,” states the complaint.
Cosby is also taking issue with Constand’s own defamation lawsuit filed last year against former Montgomery DA Bruce Castor, who originally declined to prosecute Cosby. The entertainer alleges that Constand’s complaint “includes information required to be kept confidential” and further, that Troiani and Kivitz wrote an open letter to Castor, published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, that constituted a separate breach of confidentiality.
The latest lawsuit also discusses how Constand’s mother participated in a profile with the Toronto Sun and how Constand herself did things like tweeting, “I won’t go away, there is a lot more I will say.”
As for American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer and was itself a party to the 2006 settlement agreement thanks to a story it published then about Cosby and allegations swirling around him, Cosby says the publication’s breaches are “too voluminous to comprehensively enumerate,” but gives some examples including reports of Cosby’s depositions in recent articles titled, “World Exclusive: Bill Cosby Will Die in Jail,” “Saved by the Bell Star Accuses Bill Cosby, Martin Lawrence, and John Travolta of Abuse,” and “99 Victims in 43 Years for Bill Cosby!”
Information about what Cosby paid to settle the old Constand civil case appears to be redacted, but Cosby is now seeking restitution plus punitive damages.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
VH1 is teaming up with Star Jones for a soapy new drama. In a rare scripted order for the cable network, VH1 announced Thursday that it is adapting the former View panelist’s 2011 novel Satan’s Sisters.
As the title and Jones’ résumé might lead one to believe, the book and the series follow the antics at a long-running popular ladies’ talk show where “alliances are forged, careers are made and bridges are burned.”
“I’m so excited that Satan’s Sisters, which was such a fun book to write, is finally coming to the small screen,” said Jones, who was infamously let go from The View back in 2006. “I would be lying if I said that Satan’s Sisters wasn’t influenced by the soap opera life of daytime TV, but it is a work of fiction. All the characters are inspired, in parts, by someone I’ve worked with, worked for, interviewed, was interviewed by and/or even prosecuted.”
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VH1 has been slow to move into the scripted arena, though it is currently airing the third season of Hit the Floor. Satan’s Sisterswill be executive produced by Jones, Josh Berman, Suzanne DePasse, Madison Jones and Susan Levison. Amy and Wendy Engelberg, who will also serve as executive producers on the Sony Pictures Television co-production, are writing.
“Daytime TV now comments on and creates pop culture,” said VH1 general manager Chris McCarthy. “Star Jones’ book is the perfect project for VH1 and our partners to bring to life.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Niecy Nash will co-star in Fox’s female buddy cop comedy pilot “The Enforcers.” She will play one half of the central duo, two wildly different single mothers with dreams of being police officers who find themselves partnered as inspectors in the Code Enforcement Department, where instead of fighting crime, they have been relegated to handling petty code breaking like noise complaints, tree trimming and water misuse.
Nash’s character is described as a fun, outspoken, recently divorced single mom of two kids who, after struggling through a variety of odd jobs to provide for her children, is thrilled to land the job of code cop, hoping it will bring her a sense of legitimacy — but it doesn’t.
The casting marks a continuation at Fox for Nash, who also starred as an enforcement type — a security guard — on the network’s “Scream Queens.”
Batman is headed for Hollywood.
Ben Affleck, who will play the iconic superhero in the upcoming Batman v. Superman film, will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live‘s annual After the Oscars special, it was announced Thursday.
Affleck is just one part of a star-studded lineup that also includes Tracy Morgan, J.K. Simmons and Mike Tyson, as well as longtime Broadway co-stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane . (Does this mean there will be a Producers song-and-dance?)
The release for the special, Kimmel’s 11th time following the Academy Awards telecast, might have even more time for Affleck’s BFF and Kimmel’s long-standing rival “Oscar loser Matt Damon, time permitting.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will air live on ABC immediately following the late local news in the ET and CT time zones and at 10 p.m. on the West Coast.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Fox event series “Shots Fired” has added DeWanda Wise to its cast, joining star Sanaa Lathan in a project that examines the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small town in Tennessee.
Debuting later this year from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television, Lathan leads as an expert investigator who digs into the cases, alongside a special prosecutor sent to the town by the Department of Justice. The pair must navigate the media attention, public debate and the social unrest that comes with such volatile cases, as they seek justice before the divided town erupts.
Wise has been cast as Shameeka Campbell, a resident of one of the small town’s worst neighborhoods, whose son was killed by the police, and is initially concerned about sharing her story with the investigators for fear of being harassed by the local cops.
The series is written and executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo also will serve as executive producers. Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct.
“Gina and Reggie have crafted a profoundly moving portrayal of a timely and sensitive issue that pervades our culture at this very moment,” said David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “This is not only an important story to tell, but also an explosive mystery-thriller, and we couldn’t be in better hands both with the creative team behind this, along with the very talented Sanaa Lathan leading the cast.”
Ms. Wise co-stars in Tahir Jetter’s 2016 Sundance selection, “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag,” which continues its film festival travels.
Good to see some fresher faces get these kinds of higher profile TV opportunities for a change.
As an aside… Fox is going to be the *blackest* non-black TV network, next season, with, in addition to this new series, a revamped “24” reboot with Corey Hawkins and Anna Diop starring, as well as likely returning series in “Empire,” and “Rosewood,” as well as a potential new series from Lee Daniels’ set in the cutthroat world of the Atlanta music scene, with 3 women leads; also there’s a new Nicole Byer toplined late-night sketch comedy series; a “Lethal Weapon” TV series starring Damon Wayans, Sr; Jada Pinkett Smith is returning to ‘Gotham’ (reports of her character’s death were greatly exaggerated) likely to help give that show’s ratings a boost; and more. And pilot season is only just getting into full swing…
Source: Shadow & Act
Comedian Angelina Spicer’s newest parody of Flo’, the Progressive girl was a clear, yet risky choice. Using the current social climate of White privilege and racial inequality as her backdrop, Black Flo appears in the Privilege Superstore, eager to offer privileges that allows minorities to buy a home, travel freely through the south or rob thousands of people and not be held responsible. Flo’ is one of the most iconic brand mascots to ever hit the scene and chameleon Angelina knew that this character deserved to be spoofed!
Angelina Spicer has established herself as The Queen of Transformation after playing colorful characters like Snow Black and Mrs. Butterworth on Conan. Her comedy pedigree is solid having built a substantial online presence with her portrayal of Tyra Banks, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj on the Disney’s Web series Electric Spoofaloo. Some of her other work has been featured on Time.com, PerezHilton.com, HuffingtonPost.com and The Wall Street Journal.
“Privilege,” which was written and directed by Spicer teams her with fellow actor Kareem Grimes.
Watch the link below:
The film Definitely Divorcing, a comedy movie following the lives of co-workers who are all questioning their marriages, particularly whether or not to divorce. Faced with a variety of issues, including anger management, a child-like spouse, and manipulative children, Robin Givens (The Perfect Match, Fear Files), Columbus Short (Scandal), Malika Haqq (ATL, Keeping Up With The Kardashians) and Golden Brooks (Hollywood Divas, Girlfriends) are in the titled roles.
In Definitely Divorcing, Shayla (Haqq) and Eric (Short) question whether their marriage can survive after a series of let downs and irreconcilibe differences. The couple’s good friends Monica (Givens) and Aaron (E. Roger Mitchell, The Equalizer, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) seem to have the perfect marriage, however, things are not always as they seem. Monica and Aaron’s clinical psychologist, Dr. Tonisha Stevens (Brooks), is no angel herself. While counseling the couple, she is going through her third divorce due to her own anger management issues. With 60% of marriages ending in divorce, which of these couples will choose to stick it out and which ones are definitely divorcing?
The cast of characters also includes Valerie, a sexy, flirty and inappropriately dressed doctor’s wife played by Lisa Wu (Hollywood Divas, The Real Housewives of Atlanta); Brian (Gary Owen, Ride Along, Think Like A Man), Eric’s best friend who is looking for love while battling his ex-wife; and Eunice, college friend of Dr. Stevens and a depressed dentist portrayed by Luenell (Hotel Transylvania, Californication), who self-medicates to get over her blues.
Definitely Divorcing was written and directed by Russ Parr, co-executive produced by James Seppelfrick and produced by Eric Tomosunas and Keith Neal and of Swirl Films. Definitely Divorcingwill also encore onTV One on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12 p.m. ET.
For more information about Definitely Divorcing and TV One’s upcoming programming, viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv and connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #DefinitelyDivorcing.
Last week it was announced that Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital (ADD) network planned to produce the the first-ever All Def Movie Awards which will take place just days before the Oscars, at the World Famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Reports stated that the event will be held on February 24 and hosted by Tony Rock.
Anyway, our sources stated to us that Will Smith is scheduled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Simmons has plans for several other things during the event that will be a surprise to the general audience.
As reported, awards will be recognized by members of the All Def Academy, who today announced the following films will compete for Best Picture of 2015:
– “Beasts of No Nation”
– “Chi-Raq”
– “Concussion”
– “Creed”
– “Dope”
– “Straight Outta Compton”
Members of the public can vote for two categories in the All Def Movie Awards (Best Picture and Most Quoted Movie) online at http://bit.ly/AllDefMA, through midnight on February 23rd.
Other awards will honor Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director as well as Best Bad Muh F**ka and other often overlooked categories, such as Best Helpful White Person and Best Black Survivor in a Movie.
The All Def Movie Awards, which will be held just yards from the Academy Awards stage, will feature a Black Carpet for celebrity presenters, arrivals and VIP guests. The show will also feature a special live musical performance, and a consistent stream of video content before, during and after the show on all of ADD’s social channels, including Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and Periscope.
The All Def Movie Awards will be programmed as part of All Def Comedy Live, a live weekly comedy showcase. HBO is currently developing a series around the weekly event, which routinely draws celebrities and the best new, emerging and established artists working America’s comedy stages.
Admission is by invitation only, but a select number of seats will be reserved for fans by lottery.
According to sources we discovered the news that actor and comedian Brandon T. Jackson (best known for his role in Big Momma’s House 3 and Lottery Ticket) is about to record his first new comedy album.
We hear that Jackson is recording his album at the DC Improv next week Feb 27th to a sold out show.
No word yet on the title of the album or when it will debut but the news is still developing!
Take a look at Brandon on stage below;