It’s the day before her big day, and I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with stand-up comedian/actress Michelle Buteau of the new Netflix Series ‘Survival of the Thickest’ airing Thursday, July 13. Not only is Buteau the lead in the series, but she’s also the Co-Producer and Executive Producer. The show is inspired by her book of essays, which is quite an amazing memoir also titled ‘Survival of the Thickest’ published in 2020 by Simon & Schuster.
I was curious to know how Michelle was feeling, with it being so close to the release date and she began to share “I’m overwhelmed, you know there’s not even a word to describe how I’m feeling because I’ve never had my own show come out. So, I can’t even describe what I’ve never been through!” She went on to share her excitement of getting to this point! After all, it’s not every day a girl has a chance to live out her dream and passion in such an incredible way!
Michelle went on to tell me her book was taken from real interactions and occurrences in her life. She said “when I wrote the book it was just meant to be short stories and essays of some of my most wild, most favorite, and my most painful moments in my life that didn’t necessarily fit into stand-up. But I really wanted to share it.” She said “you know, I’m not a TV executive and I didn’t write this book to get it on TV. My aim wasn’t to try and get it renewed for another season. I just wrote the book to take something I always wanted to do off my bucket list!” While Buteau had no intention or expectations of her stories being turned into a show, she knocked it out of the park!
She spoke highly of Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, co-producer and showrunner who saw something in her book and thought that it should be made into a show for TV. She was flattered and blown away by the mere suggestion of it.
I told Michelle I was so incredibly impressed with the show, that I had already watched the series twice. While it may not have been her intent to create a show, she had done so in an amazing fashion. It was so moving to see how humbled she was receiving accolades for her work. Her energy was infectious! ‘Survival of the Thickest‘ is done well – it’s thought out and the true stories resonate because they’re relevant.
I asked her what it means to have a series that addresses diversity and being inclusive, but in a way that is very intentional and genuine? She said it was so important that she had people that were represented from other communities because she wanted it to be authentic. It needed to look like you would expect New York to look, having the representation of the different ethnicities and different backgrounds. It was essential to have the LGBTQ+ community in the storyline. She mentioned, “every family has someone who is gay; whether it be that uncle who comes to Thanksgiving dinner every Thanksgiving and he’s single, but they don’t talk about why.” Michelle wanted to address issues that we might not talk about, she wanted to make certain everyone was represented in the storyline. I believe she did that very well.
I asked her what it was like working with fellow comedian Tone Bell and Tasha Smith, who is a comedian and actress? She said she loves to work with comedians; just being able to have that creative energy and feeding off the back-and-forth dialogue is everything! She spoke of comedians Liza Treyger (who plays Jade, her quirky roommate) and Usama Siddiquee (who plays the guy with the family-owned store). She was happy creating a space for them to get an opportunity to be seen. Her concern was that many who work as stand-up comedians in the underground scene in New York, may get just $100 a night/per gig. But they’re really doing their thing, so they deserve for people to see who they were.
I wanted to know what she was hoping the audience would take away from the series and she said “LOVE!” She emphasized the importance of people identifying with love and whatever that love is to them. It could be love of relationships, friendships, self-love and self-realization. She wanted people to identify with what is true to them. Michelle wanted to convey that loving one’s self is essential. Her hope is that someone watching, who is not sure of themselves; whether it be binary, non-binary, transgender, black and brown, white; will have that self-love. They will feel empowered. Michelle went on to share whatever clothes you want to wear to make you feel good about yourself, wear it and be passionate about who you are. We are better when we love ourselves, whatever size we are, whatever background we come from. LOVE is the takeaway!
I can honestly say, I could feel the love in this series. I could tell that the love for these relationships and these characters were fully supported and intentional.
By Bernadette Holder
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James will play another season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 38-year-old superstar announced his intentions on stage at The ESPYS on Wednesday night after accepting the record-breaking performance award for becoming the NBA’s career scoring leader.
At the end of last season, in which he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mark, James had said he wasn’t sure if he would be back.
“In that moment I’m asking myself if I can still play without cheating the game. Can I give everything to the game still? The truth is I’ve been asking myself this question at the end of the season for a couple years now. I just never openly talked about it,” James said.
“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can and cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys that day is not today.”
The crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood let out a huge cheer.
“So yeah, I still got something left,” James said. “A lot left.”
He was presented his trophy by wife Savannah, sons Bronny and Bryce and daughter Zhuri. In her introductory remarks, Savannah said, “I think LeBron James is the baddest …”
She began to say an expletive but cut herself off as Zhuri exclaimed, “Mom!”
James later returned and was joined by Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade to honor Carmelo Anthony, who recently retired after a 19-year career.
Earlier, Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks told the audience that he pitched much of the 2022 season with non-Hodgkin lymphoma before being diagnosed with an advanced stage of the disease.
He accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. The 34-year-old Australian was declared cancer-free in late April and returned to the mound a month later.
“That was an eye-opener. I didn’t feel too many symptoms but I had some lumps around. It just shows you the power of the mind. When you don’t think anything’s wrong and you believe that you can do anything, you can do anything,” Hendriks said.
“I was throwing 100 miles per hour while going through Stage 4 lymphoma and then coming back after doing eight rounds of chemotherapy and four rounds of immunotherapy and was able to get out there and throw 96 miles per hour. That isn’t physically who I am. That’s all this, that’s all mental.”
The U.S. women’s soccer team was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for its fight to receive equal pay. The players sued U.S. Soccer in 2019 and last year reached agreement on a deal that splits men’s and women’s pay equally.
Briana Scurry, goalkeeper for the national team from 1994-2008, saluted the 1985 team.
“They are the foundation of this entire community of giants,” she said.
The Buffalo Bills training staff received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, honored for saving the life of safety Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest at a game in Cincinnati in January.
The staff was greeted by a standing ovation. They huddled around Hamlin on stage, hugging him and patting his back. With his back to the audience, Hamlin bent his head and appeared to break down. He has since recovered and plans to play this fall.
“Damar, first and foremost, thank you for staying alive, brother,” said Nate Breske, head trainer for the Bills.
“We’re not used to having the spotlight on us. We were just doing our job, but the idea of service is definitely something that is engrained in our profession and that we take great pride in,” he told the audience.
Breske urged support for funding for automated external defibrillators and CPR training, especially in underserved communities, as well as for athletic trainers in youth sports.
“Learn CPR and how to use an AED because they save lives,” he said.
Patrick Mahomes was honored as best men’s sports athlete, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin received the women’s sports honor.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has won two Super Bowls in his five seasons and was named MVP of the game each time, including this past February. He turns 28 in September.
“It was an incredible season. There was many ups, many downs,” Mahomes said. “I appreciate my teammates, my coaches, the guys that are here. I go back to camp next Tuesday, so this is a great award. But we’re going to do this thing again, we’re going to keep this thing rolling.”
Shiffrin won her 87th World Cup race in March, breaking the mark set by Ingemar Stenmark for the most such wins by any skier. She went on to win an 88th Cup race, as well as the overall season title.
“This season was absolutely incredible and there was a lot of talk about records and it got me thinking, why is a record actually important?” Shiffrin said. “I just feel like it’s not important to break records or re-set records. It’s important to set the tone for the next generation, to inspire them.”
Sports talk host Pat McAfee handled the opening monologue in his first major public appearance since joining ESPN in May.
The show didn’t have its usual celebrity host as a result of the Hollywood writers strike. McAfee offered a series of hints that comedian Kevin Hart had been set for the gig but that Hart instead chose to support the Writers Guild of America.
An ESPN spokeswoman said a production team worked with presenters on their introductory remarks. The usual pre-taped comedy sketches were absent.
Source: BY BETH HARRIS, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — HBO dominated Wednesday morning’s Emmy nominations, with the elite trio of ” Succession,” “The White Lotus” and “The Last of Us” combining for a whopping 74, but the dominant theme darkening the scene is the ongoing writers strike and the looming possibility that actors may join them in as little as a day.
“Succession” and its deeply dysfunctional dynasty of one-percenters led all Emmy nominees in its fourth and final season with 27, including best drama, which it has won two of the past three years. It got three nominations for best actor in a drama, with Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin all getting nods for playing men of the Roy clan, and Sarah Snook getting a best actress nomination. It also got four nominations for best-supporting actor in a drama.
The cursed vacationers at a Sicilian resort from the second season of “The White Lotus” truly dominated the supporting categories, however, landing five nominations for best supporting actress in a drama — including nods for Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza — and four more for best-supporting actor.
Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, the duo on a fungus-filled quest in ” The Last of Us,” each got lead acting nominations. The show, based on a popular Playstation video game, was second behind “Succession” with 24 nominations. “The White Lotus” had 23.
” Ted Lasso ” was tops among comedies with 21 nominations, including best comedy series and best actor for Jason Sudeikis. The Apple TV+ series won both awards for each of its first two seasons, but its threepeat prospects depend on whether Emmy voters favor other contenders like “The Bear” or “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
The nominations suggested that HBO — which got the most overall nominations by far with 127 — can still dominate even as streaming-only outlets have taken over so much of elite TV. The distinction is increasingly blurred, however, with a huge segment of viewers watching “Succession” and the cable channel’s other offerings on the streaming service now known as Max.
Cox, 77, got his best actor in a drama nod despite appearing in fewer than half of this season’s “Succession” episodes, though as the Roy family patriarch he loomed just as large over the episodes he didn’t appear in. A win would be his first for the role, though he won an Emmy for best-supporting actor in a TV movie in 2001.
Strong won in 2020 for playing “eldest boy” Kendall Roy. Culkin got his first nomination for best actor after two previous nominations in the supporting category.
Actors joining movie and television writers on strike would further shut down the industry and be the first time since 1960 that two Hollywood unions were simultaneously striking. While show and film releases will continue, work on upcoming projects will cease — as would actors’ interviews and appearances to promote the projects.
The possibility of an industry debilitated by strikes could dampen any joy for the new nominees, and could put the damper on the ceremony scheduled for Sept. 18 on the Fox network.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, who provided the emotional high point of last year’s ceremony with her half-sung victory speech for her best-supporting actor Emmy in “Abbott Elementary,” said she is a “puddle of emotions” after getting nominated again amid the strife.
“Change is hard. Change is difficult. And in the midst of once again of a great moment in my life, I am surrounded by a difficult moment,” Ralph told The Associated Press. “This is a fight for artistry, this is not a fight to make people rich.”
The nominations were announced by “Community” star Yvette Nicole Brown and Television Academy CEO Frank Scherma, who referenced the labor disputes before at the top of Wednesday’s livestream.
“We hope the ongoing guild negotiations can come to an equitable and swift resolution,” Scherma said.
But the announcements, while low-key, proceeded as though a show will go on in the fall.
It was not a strong year for Emmy diversity, with the lead categories dominated by shows with largely white ensembles. Pascal, the first Latino nominated as lead actor in a drama in more than two decades, was the only minority nominee in any of the drama series categories.
Representation was stronger in the comedy categories, where Jenna Ortega of Netflix’s “Wednesday” was nominated for best actress. The Black actors of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” were again a high point for Emmy diversity, and for the otherwise largely absent broadcast networks. Creator Quinta Brunson was nominated for best actress, while Ralph and Janelle James were nominated for best supporting actress, as was Ayo Edebiri for “The Bear.”
That FX series showed some of the Emmys’ quirks with its 13 nominations. It appeared in the comedy categories despite its half-hour episodes having more drama than some of the drama nominees. And the awards’ eligibility calendar means it got the nominations for its first season, even after many viewers have seen – and largely loved – its second, bringing buzz that probably helped it.
Speaking of quirks, the genre-defying “Jury Duty” rode its cult status to four nominations for streamer Amazon Freevee. A faux reality show for most of its cast and a reality show for one man, it was nominated for best comedy series and best supporting actor in a comedy for James Marsden.
Netflix led streamers with 103 nominations, but its showing was meager in many of the top categories. “The Crown” received its nearly annual deference for best drama and, along with Ortega, Christina Applegate was nominated for best supporting actress in a comedy for the third and final season of Netflix’s “Dead to Me.” Applegate, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, has said the role may be her last.
Netflix fared better in the limited series category, where “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” and “Beef” managed 13 nominations apiece.
More than a year after his death, Ray Liotta, was nominated for best supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie for “Black Bird” on Apple TV+.
The “Star Wars” galaxy made a surprisingly forceful showing for Disney+, with three television adaptations — “Andor,” “The Mandalorian” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” — earning a combined 22 nominations. “The Mandalorian” received the most recognition with nine nominations in craft categories like stunt performance and costumes, but the series based on Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi’s exile years will compete for best limited series and “Andor” is among the drama series nominees.
The most famous “Star Wars” alum was among those snubbed, however, as Harrison Ford failed to get his first Emmy nomination. Some had expected his name to be called for his acting on the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923″ or the Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking.”
Source: Andrew Dalton, Associated Press
Don’t be the last one to the party! Trust and believe, you’ll want to check out this new Netflix series called ‘Survival of the Thickest’ dropping Thursday, July 13!
This series stars Michelle Buteau, Tasha Smith, and Tone Bell. First of all, this show is dope, as soon as the theme music starts! You know it’s going to be good, when the soundtrack is on point out the gate!
This comedy is so raw and offers such a fresh perspective on friendships, relationships, and self-love. You are getting a lesson on how to make yourself a priority and feel good about it at the same time! The storyline takes you from great laughs to touching on real-life situations at a moment’s notice. It’s the joy ride you didn’t realize you wanted to take.
Michelle Buteau is Mavis, a 38-year-old black, plus-size, newly single woman who is struggling to establish a career as a stylist. She finds herself having to start over, after discovering her world has been turned upside down by her cheating boyfriend, Jacque (played by Taylor Sele.) Buteau is a natural at adding a comedic spin to the real-life issues being addressed. Her witty, quick one-liners, hit EVERY TIME!
Mavis’ best friend Marley is played by Tasha Smith. While Smith has always held her own in strong female roles – this is her in a way you’ve never fully seen her before. Her character Marley is a very well-rounded, well-established, executive who is supportive of her sister-friend who’s coming to grips with a heartbreaking ordeal. She’s not here for the games! She’s a boss and is that sister you want in your corner!
Comedian/actor, Tone Bell, who plays Khalil is bringing the funny, as only he can. He’s a very chill artist, and creative, who is not afraid of showing his sensitive side. Khalil is not allowing his best friend, Mavis, to host her own pity party! He is one of her biggest fans and is pushing her into being the best version of herself, and the iconic stylist he knows she’s capable of! He is also learning a lot about himself at the same time, when he meets fellow artist, India (Anissa Felix, who is making her TV debut).
While Mavis is putting the pieces to her new life together, she is taking us on the most fantastic journey of self-realization, and that aha moment, when she realizes she’s got this! The show has all the feels, and the supporting cast is bringing it! Garcelle Beauvais plays Natasha, a saucy diva, and is instrumental in thrusting Mavis into greatness! She is unapologetically fabulous, and I am here for all of it!
This is one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in a LONG time! Waiting for each episode to cue up was reminiscent of waiting for D-Nice to go LIVE on IG for another Club Quarantine set during the pandemic! ‘Survival of the Thickest’ is well written… the storytelling is thoughtful while being authentic, and the soundtrack is fire! I love when the two align.
By Bernadette Holder
Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) Premium Content Division, Sony Music Publishing, Foxxhole Productions, and Raindog Films are teaming to produce the first-ever feature-length documentary on legendary singer Luther Vandross’s life and illustrious career. Production is already underway. From award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, the documentary will follow the iconic artist as he charted his own course becoming one of the most decorated and influential pop artists of all time. In partnership with Trilogy Films and the Estate of Luther Vandross and Estate partner Primary Wave Music, with full support and participation of his closest friends and family and access to his never-before-seen personal archive, the film will capture the intensely private Grammy®-winning artists’ passion for music, global rise, and personal struggles.
Through the directorial lens of Porter, the documentary will show how Vandross’ distinct talent allowed him to mold his own career and interpretation of R&B music. Most recently, Porter directed The Ladybird Diaries, which premiered at SXSW and was awarded the Lone Star Award for documentary film, John Lewis: Good Trouble, which was nominated for an Emmy and won Best Historical/Biographical Documentary at the 2020 Critic’s Choice Awards, and The Way I See It about President Obama’s White House photographer Pete Souza which was nominated for an Emmy. Porter also directed Bobby Kennedy for President for Netflix, and Trapped, which won the Special Jury Social-Impact Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Luther is one of our GOAT’s” said Foxx. “He’s one of the greatest singers in the history of music. It is truly an honor to be a part of the team to help bring this incredible story to the masses.”
“Like so many, I have always loved Luther’s music, but I had no idea of the breadth and scope of his artistry,” said Porter. “I think people will be surprised at how much he accomplished in his tragically short life. It is a joy to be able to share his true story.”
After beginning his career singing background vocals with legendary artists such as Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, and David Bowie, and being a go-to voice of commercial jingles in the 1970’s, Vandross began his solo career on Epic Records in 1981 with the debut album, Never Too Much, which sold more than one-million copies. Throughout his career, having sold more than 40-million records worldwide, Luther went on to receive 33 Grammy® nominations, winning eight, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four different times and Song Of The Year in 2004 for “Dance With My Father”. Having released 11 consecutive Platinum albums, 13 platinum overall, eight of which went on to reach #1 on the Billboard R&B charts, Vandross was a force in the industry and set musical standards for a generation. He was born in New York City and began singing in groups in high school, performing at the world-famous Apollo Theater and appearing on early episodes of Sesame Street. A musical perfectionist, Vandross was admired by vocalists around the world including many of today’s great artists, some consider him the gold standard in love songs. He died on July 1, 2005 from complications due to a stroke two years prior, but his legacy lives on.
Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content group is distributing the film. The idea for the film was originated by Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty and alongside Colin Firth they serve as producers for Raindog Films. Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner serve as producers for Foxxhole Productions. Leah Smith serves as producer for Trilogy Films. Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman are executive producers for Sony Non-Fiction television. Tom Mackay and Richard Story join as executive producers for Sony Music Entertainment. Jon Platt and Brian Monaco serve as executive producers for Sony Music Publishing. Phil Thornton serves as an executive producer. Larry Mestel and Natalia Nastaskin serve as executive producers on behalf of Estate Partner, Primary Wave Music
Krista Wegener of Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content team will lead global sales for the film.
Apple TV+ today unveiled a first look at “The Changeling,” an upcoming eight-part drama series starring and executive produced by Academy Award-nominee LaKeith Stanfield (“Atlanta,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Sorry To Bother You,” “The Book Of Clarence”), and announced that the series will make its global debut with the first three episodes on Friday, September 8, 2023 on Apple TV+, followed by one episode weekly through October 13.
Based on the acclaimed best-selling book of the same name by Victor LaValle, “The Changeling” is a fairytale for grown-ups. A horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed. In addition to Stanfield, the series stars Clark Backo, Adina Porter, Samuel T. Herring, Alexis Louder, Jared Abrahamson, and special guest star Malcolm Barrett.
“The Changeling” is written and adapted by showrunner and executive producer Kelly Marcel (“Cruella,” “Venom,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”). The pilot episode was directed by Melina Matsoukas (“Queen & Slim,” “Insecure”).
The series is produced by Apple Studios and Annapurna. Megan Ellison, Patrick Chu and Ali Krug are executive producers on behalf of Annapurna. Showrunner Kelly Marcel, the book’s author Victor LaValle, David Knoller, and director Jonathan van Tulleken executive produce alongside star LaKeith Stanfield. Director Matsoukas serves as executive producer through her De La Revolución Films. Sue Naegle and David Wolkis also serve as executive producer, Khaliah Neal as co-executive producer.
A brand new Ahsoka video for Lucasfilm‘s next Disney+ series has been revealed. It provides fans with a recap of Rosario Dawson’s Star Wars journey. Dawson recalls going from popular fan-cast choice to her debut as the titular Jedi in The Mandalorian Season 2.
The video also highlights the beloved character’s legacy since her debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Ahsoka is scheduled to premiere on August 23 — exclusively on Disney.
“Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy,” reads the official description.
Ahsoka is written by Dave Filoni, who is executive producing along with Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy. Joining Dawson are Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll and Wes Chatham, with Obi-Wan Kenobi star Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker and Andor actress Genevieve O’Reilly.
It has also been confirmed that Lars Mikkelsen — voice of Thrawn in Star Wars Rebel — has joined the series to portray the fan-favorite villain in live-action. In addition, Temuera Morrison has reportedly joined Ahsoka to portray the live-action version of Captain Rex.
Check out the exclusive trailer for End Times, the new post-apocalyptic zombie movie from The Asylum.
“In the face of a post-apocalyptic world filled with both the living and undead, an aging mercenary must team up with a young, desperate, but determined woman to survive the horrors of their new reality,” reads the official synopsis.
The movie releases in select theaters and on VOD on July 14, 2023.
The cast includes Dominique Swain, Jessica Morris, Jamie Bernadette, and Craig Stark. It is written and directed by Jim Towns.
Watch the trailer below;
Paramount+ today debuted the official trailer for the highly anticipated original series SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS, which will premiere with two episodes on Sunday, July 23 in the U.S. and all Paramount+ international markets exclusively on the service. From Academy Award nominee Taylor Sheridan, the espionage thriller features a star-studded cast, including series lead and executive producer Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Emmy Award nominee Michael Kelly, with Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, and Academy Award winner and executive producer Nicole Kidman. SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios for Paramount+. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Paramount+ markets.
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS, inspired by an actual U.S. Military program, follows the life of Joe (Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS will also star series regulars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur, and Hannah Love Lanier. The series is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Malone, and John Hillcoat.
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS is the latest addition to Sheridan’s growing slate on Paramount+, which includes 1923, 1883, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, and TULSA KING as well as the upcoming series LAWMEN: BASS REEVES and LAND MAN.
There’s news that a new comedy series, titled TWISTED METAL, is set to debut, and has some star wattage on board to host.
Twisted Metal is a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game and is a high-octane action comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, and written by Michael Jonathan Smith, about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.
The showrunner and Executive Producer / Writer of the series is Michael Jonathan Smith (of Cobra Kai), with other Executive Producers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland), Will Arnett, and Marc Forman (Electric Avenue), Jason Spire (Inspire Entertainment), Peter Principato (Artists First), and Asad Qizilbash. Carter Swan reigns from PlayStation Productions and Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios and Executive Producer / Star: Anthony Mackie (Make It With Gravy Productions) is set to host.
The Director is Kitao Sakurai and is Produced by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Along with Mackie as the series lead, Stephanie Beatriz, Thomas Haden Church, with Will Arnett and Joe Seanoa also star. The guests include Neve Campbell, Richard Cabral, Mike Mitchell, Tahj Vaughans, and Lou Beatty Jr.