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The 2022 NAACP Image Awards winners have all been announced! The ceremony - recognized as the "nation's preeminent multicultural awards show from an African-American perspective" - shared this year's nominees for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards on Jan. 18 via Twitter and Instagram Live with Kyla Pratt, Marcus Scribner, and Tinashe.

Ahead of Saturday's televised show, the NAACP Image Awards started announcing winners for individuals in the literary and podcast categories on Feb. 21. Among the honored were the late Cicely Tyson, Will Smith, Tabitha Brown, Stacey Abrams, and Jemele Hill. The second round of winners included the writing and directing categories: Issa Rae, Barry Jenkins, Kenny Leon, Davita Scarlett, Abdul Williams, Bashir Salahuddin, and Shaka King all snagged wins. Night three celebrated winners in talk shows, reality competition shows, and outstanding performances by actors in television and motion pictures. Jada Pinkett Smith, Trevor Noah, Maya Rudolph, Letitia Wright, and more were included...

Jennifer Hudson was the big winner Saturday night at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards. The “Respect” star took home trophies for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and Entertainer of the Year.

Will Smith won for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard.” The Netflix Western “The Harder They Fall” was named Outstanding Motion Picture.

“Black-ish” star — and winner for this year’s Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series — Anthony Anderson hosted Saturday night’s mostly virtual show from Los Angeles.

HBO’s “Insecure” was named Outstanding Comedy Series, with its star Issa Rae winning for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown and “9-1-1” star Angela Bassett won for outstanding actor and actress in a drama, respectively.

Samuel L. Jackson was honored with the Chairman Award, recognizing...

The NAACP Image Awards honored Issa Rae, Barry Jenkins and others in the writing, directing and short-form categories on the second night of the ceremonies.

Rae picked up the Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series prize for the series finale of “Insecure” titled “Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?,” which she also starred in and executive produced.

Jenkins won Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for “The Underground Railroad,” the miniseries adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-winning novel.

Among other winners Tuesday night, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” won Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama for the series “Between the Scenes.”

Oscar-winning drama “Judas and the Black Messiah” picked up twin nods for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing (King) in a Motion Picture.

The non-televised honors known as the NAACP Image Awards Virtual Experience are hosted by actor and comedian Affion Crockett this year, and announced over five nights,...

Six years ago, a grandma in Arizona mistakenly invited a stranger to her Thanksgiving dinner. What started as an accidental text message — a humorous exchange that quickly went viral on social media — has turned into an unlikely friendship and a heartwarming holiday tradition.

Now, Netflix is turning the feel-good story into a feature film.

“The Thanksgiving Text” will recount the true tale that began in 2016, when Wanda Dench thought she was texting her grandson to check if he would be coming over for Turkey Day. Apparently, she had the wrong cell phone number. She actually texted Jamal Hinton, a high school senior at the time, who accepted her invitation anyway — and has attended her feast every year since.

In their initial exchange, Hinton received a text from an unknown number inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner (at 3 p.m. — but that’s neither here nor there). When he asked who it was,...

As screenwriters of the Lifetime original movies “Salt-n-Pepa” and “Wendy Williams: The Movie,” Abdul Williams and Leigh Davenport, respectively, were each proposed an exciting challenge by Lifetime: They had to condense the rich and aspirant lives of cultural trailblazers to fit neatly into the television movie format.

“Salt-n-Pepa” follows a 20-year journey for the titular “first ladies of rap and hip hop,” while “Wendy Williams: The Movie” tells tales about the daytime talk show host from her childhood to the present. Although these women are icons now, their journeys to that star status couldn’t just focus on the pioneering highs. Both Davenport and Abdul Williams were committed to delivering a well-rounded narrative about complex, ambitious Black women in the entertainment industry.

Despite the fact that Salt-n-Pepa had success “before they even really knew what was happening,” says Abdul Williams, “I think there’s certain universal things about the story,...

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has two more projects in the works at Starz, including an anthology series adaptation of his feud with fellow rapper The Game.

Currently in development under the working title “Moment in Time: The Massacre,” the project is a seasonal anthology series that “will explore the true stories in which iconic hip hop moments collided with the sensational and sometimes criminal events behind-the-scenes,” according to the premium cable network.

The project’s first season will explore the 2005 beef between Jackson and The Game, real name Jayceon Terrell Taylor, which led to an all-out street war pitting G-Unit against music impresario Jimmy Henchman, resulting in a murder-for-hire plot and Henchman serving a life sentence in prison.

Abdul Williams, who previously adapted real events for BET’s “The Bobby Brown Story” and “The New Edition Story,” will serve as writer and executive producer on the project alongside Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television banner.

Starz is doubling down on shows with 50 Cent – developing two more scripted series with the rapper. The network has put into development a female sports agent drama inspired by the life of Nicole Lynn, as well as a hip hop anthology series.

The untitled female sports agent drama comes from Raising Kanan and Snowfall writer Tash Gray, who will exec produce alongside Lynn. It follows the rise of a determined young African-American woman as she breaks through and climbs to the top of the competitive and male-dominated world of sports agents. It is inspired by Lynn, who became the first Black woman to represent a top 3 NFL draft pick.

Lynn represents NFL players, softball players and music artists and has now represented back-to-back top-10 picks in the NFL. This year she received her certification for the NBA.

Separately, Moment in Time: The Massacre (w/t) comes from writer and...

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is adding to his already deep roster of shows at Starz, with the premium cabler developing two new shows on which Jackson will serve as executive producer under his rich Starz overall deal. Both shows will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television.

The first series is an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn. The series follows the rise of a determined young, African-American woman as she breaks through and climbs to the top of the highly competitive and male dominated world of sports agents. It is inspired by events that shaped Lynn on her path to becoming the first Black woman to represent a top 3 NFL draft pick, a fierce advocate for her legal clients, and a breath of fresh air in a male-dominated industry.

Tash Grey, who has also worked as a writer and co-executive producer...

Lifetime’s Salt-n-Pepa biopic has found its leads. G.G. Townson and Laila Odom will be playing Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, respectively.

Additionally, the upcoming limited series will also star Cleveland Berto as music producer Hurby Azor, Jermel Howard as rapper Treach and Monique Paul as DJ Spinderella.

This still-untitled authorized biopic follows the acclaimed musicians as they first fall into the world of hip-hop after recording a song for a friend. It will track their impact on the music world, becoming one of the first all-female rap groups, changing the look and sound of the genre as they were unafraid to talk and sing about sex and their thoughts on men, and then going on to reach platinum status as recording artists and win a Grammy. The project also endeavors to uncover the women behind the music, revealing how their very different personalities fueled their creativity...

Lifetime is singing up a storm with two scripted projects based on the lives of rap stars Salt-n-Pepa and The Clark Sisters.

Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott are exec producing a TV movie about the lives of gospel singers The Clark Sisters, while the Salt-n-Pepa story is being turned into a miniseries.

Salt-n-Pepa will tell the story of nursing students Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, who fell into the world of rap and hip hop, after recording for a friend’s school project. One of the first all-female rap groups, the series will look at the pair who were unafraid to talk about sex and share their thoughts on men. The show will feature their greatest hits including “Let’s Talk About Sex”, “What a Man”, “Shoop” and “Push It”. It will be exec produced by Cheryl James, Sandra Denton and Jesse Collins as well...

Lifetime is beefing up its TV film slate for next year, increasing the total to 150 movies and bringing in Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah to help.

The high-profile female trio will executive produce a biopic on the Clark Sisters. The authorized movie will detail their humble beginnings, struggles to find their place, to later becoming the best-selling Gospel group in the music world. The movie will feature re-recordings of some of the Clark Sisters biggest hits like “You Brought The Sunshine” and stars SAG nominee Aunjanue Ellis.

Elsewhere on the scripted front, Lifetime has set a miniseries on the female rap duo Salt-n-Pepa.

Also Read: Julie Andrews to Receive Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

The miniseries follows the story of nursing students Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton as they fall into the world of rap and hip hop, after recording for a friend’s school project.

Exclusive: Amanda Seales, the stand-up comic who also is a series regular on HBO’s Insecure, has signed with ICM Partners.

On Insecure, Seales plays Tiffany, the happily friend of Issa (series lead Issa Rae). She recently guested on ABC’s Black-ish and is the creator, executive producer and host of Smart, Funny & Black, a live comedy, and music stage show that uses games to celebrate black culture. It did a 10-city tour this summer and has its 2018 residency at The Roxy in on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

As a stand-up, Seales was showcased at this year’s Jfl ComedyPRO in Montreal, opened for Chris Rock in Los Angeles and performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She also hosts the weekly podcast Small Doses and her first book — with that same title — is in the works. She continues to work with her lawyer, Lisa Davis, at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.

Exclusive: Screenwriter Abdul Williams, who penned The Bobby Brown Story miniseries that premieres at 9 tonight on Bet, has signed with ICM Partners.

Williams also wrote The New Edition Story, which drew records ratings for Bet in January 2017 and for which he earned an NAACP Image Award. His other credits include Don Cornelius for MGM, Lottery Ticket and Surf’s Up 2 for Sony Pictures Animation.

Again starring Woody McClain as the controversial “My Prerogative” singer, the two-part Bobby Brown Story — which concludes September 5 — picks up where the New Edition mini left off. It will chronicle the talented but troubled singer’s exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo success, his affair with Janet Jackson and tabloid-fodder marriage to pop icon Whitney Houston. Spanning 30 years of Brown’s life, The Bobby Brown Story follows his story from the hard streets of Roxbury, where he turned to a life of drug...

Just as Bobby Brown did in 1985, Woody McClain is going solo in 2018. The actor, who played the R&B/pop singer in Bet’s miniseries The New Edition Story, has signed to reprise his role in the network’s two-part followup, The Bobby Brown Story. Written by Abdul Williams and executive produced by Jesse Collins — both reprising their New Edition Story gigs — The Bobby Brown Story will pick up where the New Edition mini left off. It will chronicle the talented but troubled…...

Fox has given a script commitment plus penalty to hourlong semi-autobiographical hip-hop dance drama Take It From The Top (working title) from top choreographer Fatima Robinson, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Universal Television. Written by NCIS: La co-executive producer Joe Wilson and Abdul Williams, who penned Bet’s highly-rated The New Edition Story, Take It From The Top is inspired byRobinson’s life as a dancer-turned-choreographer and is set in 1990s Los…...

Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios have announced plans to co-finance and produce the animated feature "Surf's Up 2: WaveMania".

In the follow-up to the 2007 feature, adventure-inclined penguin Cody Maverick convinces an infamous big wave riding crew known as The Hang 5 to journey with him to a mysterious surf spot where the crew will supposedly find the biggest waves in the world.

Said Hang 5 will be voiced by WWE superstars John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, WWE Diva Paige and Mr. McMahon. Henry Yu will direct from a script by Abdul Williams. Michelle Wong will produce.

Source: THR...

Chicago – The comedy “Lottery Ticket,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, is so forgettable that it seems almost mean to pile on top of the negative reviews that greeted it in theaters. It’s not a horrible film, mostly because of the charms of its three leads, but there’s just not much nice to say about it either. It’s bearable and mildly-diverting, but with so many other great released on the market this month, don’t you want more than that faint praise?

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

Bow Wow plays Kevin Carson, the straight man in the chaotic world of “Lottery Ticket” and the one who keeps the most dignity as the credits roll. Kevin’s a nice kid who struggles with maniacs around every corner. He’s lucky that one of the loose cannons in his neighborhood, Benny (Brandon T. Jackson), happens to be his best friend. Benny’s a fast-talking,...

Title: Lottery Ticket Directed by: Erik White Starring: Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Mike Epps, Bill Bellamy and Loretta Devine Hoping to cash in on the gold mine of Tyler Perry’s multiple hit movies over the past five years, including ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman,’ ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ and ‘Madea Goes to Jail,’ Alcon Entertainment tried to mimic the actor-writer-director’s successful scripts with its new comedy ‘Lottery Ticket.’ Directed by Erik White and based on a screenplay by Abdul Williams, ‘Lottery Ticket’ features a predominately all-black, all-star cast, featuring a down-on-his-luck main character who fights his way to financial and romantic luck. ‘Lottery Ticket’ was also shot in [...]...

Despite the presence of Ice Cube as both supporting player and executive producer, Lottery Ticket is no Friday. It ain't even Barbershop (or Millions, for that matter). But it's not bad for an urban comedy, generally amusing in its first hour before getting inevitably preachy on us.

One can almost see this as a passing of the torch from Cube to the no-longer-Lil' Bow Wow, from one rapper-turned-actor to another, and while Wow doesn't quite boast the former's innate charm, he's perfectly fine as the clean-cut Kevin, a would-be shoe designer who's ashamed of how everyone in his Atlanta projects is lining up to take a chance on a $370 million lotto jackpot. It's a system "designed to keep poor people poor," he insists, but once he loses his job at Foot Locker after a run-in with a local thug (Gbenga Akinnagbe), he's not above giving it a shot. Sure enough,...

Kevin (rapper Bow Wow: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Roll Bounce) doesn’t play the lottery, because he thinks it’s “designed to keep poor people poor by selling them false dreams.” So why does he buy a lottery ticket anyway? Because he couldn’t win $370 million if he hadn’t, and there would be no movie if he didn’t, silly! This bizarre bit of inexplicable screenwriting does also serve another purpose: it is perhaps the best explanation for the existence of this crass excuse for a comedy: it’s wish fulfillment to keep the American underclass from revolting for another week. Newbie screenwriters Erik White and Abdul Williams (music video director White is also making his feature debut) could have elected to not have Kevin disparage lottery-playing, but I suspect that this reality-based approach to the dollar-and-a-dream lottery philosophy is meant to, er, keep it real.

Check out 32 videos from Warner Bros. Pictures' comedy "Lottery Ticket" including behind-th-scenes looks as well as interviews with the stars and filmmakers. The film is helmed by Erik White from the writing by Abdul Williams and White. The cast includes Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Keith David, Charles Q. Murphy, Loretta Devine and Terry Crews. Produced by Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Matt Alvarez. The film opens on August 20th.

Erik White's comedy "Lottery Ticket" is set for release Aug. 20. 2010, and we've got five exclusive clips for you to check out right after the jump. The film's cast includes Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson.

Written by Abdul Williams, the film follows a young man from the projects who's in for a rough weekend when his neighbors discover he's holding $350 million winning lottery ticket. Hey, this could be funny...

Cast also includes Naturi Naughton, Loretta Devine, Keith David, Terry Crews, Mike Epps, Bill Bellamy and Charles Murphy. If you like what you're seeing, please joing us on our YouTube channel right here.

Bow Wow made an announcement via Twitter that he will be joining Tyler Perry on his next feature film, "Madea’s Big Happy Family." AOL Black Voices reported that Bow Wow and Loretta Devine will team up again and that they will play mother and son. Also, joining the cast is Lauren London. Tyler Perry is directing, writing, and producing "Madea’s Big Happy Family." This is a 34th Street Films and The Tyler Perry Company production, and Lionsgate will distribute and is currently set for an April 22, 2011 theatrical release.

Bow Wow is currently doing his press tour for his new feature film, "Lottery Ticket" which will be released August 20th. Bow Wow plays Kevin Carson a young man living in the projects who has to survive the Fourth of July weekend before he can collect his prize. He has to deal with his opportunistic neighbors who find out he...

Warner Bros. Pictures has released these featurettes, “Brandon T. Jackson Saves The World, ” “Bill Bellamy Du Rag Model,” and “Catfight,” for the upcoming Lottery Ticket. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Synopsis:

Kevin Carson (Bow Wow), a young man living in the projects, wins $370 million in a nationwide lottery. When his opportunistic neighbors discover he has the winning ticket in his possession, Kevin must survive their greedy and sometimes even threatening actions over a three-day holiday weekend before he can claim his prize.

Here’s another look at the trailer:

Directed by Erik White and and written by Abdul Williams, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Lottery Ticket will be in theaters August 20, 2010. Follow Lottery Ticket on Twitter and on Facebook.

Chicago – This 18-image slideshow contains the official press images for Warner Brothers’ Summer 2010 slate including “Sex and the City 2,” “Splice,” “Jonah Hex,” “Inception,” “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” “Lottery Ticket,” and “Going the Distance”. Stars featured include Sarah Jessica Parker, Adrien Brody, Megan Fox, Josh Brolin, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Drew Barrymore.

Official details courtesy of WB:

“Sex And The City 2”

Release Date: May 27th, 2010

Director/Writer: Michael Patrick King

Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Jason Lewis, Mario Cantone, Willie Garson, John Corbett, Chris Noth

“Comedy. The fun, the fashion, the friendship: “Sex and the City 2” brings it all back and more as Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) take another bite out of The Big Apple—and beyond—carrying on with their busy lives and loves in a sequel that truly sparkles.

See the first trailer for Warner Bros. Pictures' "Lottery Ticket" starring Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Keith David, Naturi Naughton, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Bill Bellamy and Chris Williams. The film is produced by Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Matt Alvarez. Kevin Carson (Bow Wow) wins a massive $370 million in a nationwide lottery. After his neighbors discover he has the winning ticket in his possession, Kevin must has to survive their greedy actions during the course of a three-day holiday prior to claiming his prize. Brandon T. Jackson and Naturi Naughton play his friends. Erik White directs as well as writing the screenplay alongside Abdul Williams.

Warner Bros. "Lottery Ticket" poster has surfaced. The film helmed by Erik White stars Brandon T. Jackson, Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Keith David, Naturi Naughton, Bow Wow, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Bill Bellamy and Chris Williams. Jackson and Naughton star as friends of Bow Wow's character who help him get through a weekend in the projects against opportunistic neighbors while holding a winning lottery ticket. Abdul Williams wrote the screenplay alongside White. The film is produced by Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Matt Alvarez. Check out the poster! Visit "Lottery Ticket" on Movie Jungle.

Ice Cube and Bow Wow will star in "Lottery Ticket," an urban comedy from Alcon Entertainment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, music video director Erik White will make his feature directorial debut on the Abdul Williams-written "Ticket," which Alcon picked up in turnaround from Rogue Pictures. The film tells the story of a young man (Bow Wow) living in the projects who has to survive a three-day weekend after his neighbors find out he's holding a winning lottery ticket worth $350 million. Ice Cube plays a reclusive former boxer who lives in the basement of the project where the young man lives. Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove of Alcon will produce, along with Mark Burg and Oren Koules of...

Alcon Entertainment has acquired Abdul Williams' script "Lottery Ticket" in turnaround from Rogue Pictures, and will finance and produce the urban comedy as a starring vehicle for Bow Wow and Ice Cube. Story revolves a young man, portrayed by Bow Wow, living in the projects who has to survive a three-day weekend after his opportunistic neighbors find out he's holding a winning lottery ticket worth $350 million. Music video helmer Erik White will make his feature directorial debut on the project, set to begin lensing in Atlanta in October.

The artist formerly known as Lil' Bow Wow is about to hit the jackpot, if only in a fictional manner, as headliner alongside Ice Cube for Alcon Entertainment's Lottery Ticket. The story from first-time scribe Abdul Williams follows Bow (guess that constitutes his first name) as a young man living in a bad neighborhood who has to survive 3 days of holding on to a winning lottery ticket. Ice plays a former boxer who helps the poor winner out. Things definitely stay in-house with the project...

Ice Cube and Bow Wow (formerly Li'l Bow Wow, but then he grew) have signed on to star in Lottery Ticket, a project that's been in development for a while but has finally been picked up again after being put in turnaround.The story sees a young man (Bow Wow) in the projects who wins $350 million in the lottery, and then has to keep the ticket safe over a long weekend until he can claim his prize, as his neighbours circle him for a piece of it.There's no word yet on what character Cube will be playing, but we're speculating that it'll be tough-but-good-hearted. Music video director Erik White is making his feature debut on the film, which is based on a screenplay by Abdul Williams. Shooting starts in Atlanta in October, so watch out for this late next year, we're guessing.

Ice Cube and Bow Wow are teaming up for Alcon Entertainment's comedy "Lottery Ticket," which will mark the directorial debut of Erik White.

Written by Abdul Williams, the film follows a young man from the projects who's in for a rough weekend when his neighbors discover he's holding $350 million winning lottery ticket.

The Hollywood Reporter says Bow Wow slips into the lead role, with Cube playing a former boxer living in a basement in the projects.

Cube recently played a former football player in "The Longshots." He also recently signed on to star in the comedy "Ride Along." As for Bow Wow, the "Like Mike" star will soon be seen in "Hurricane Season."...

Ice Cube and Bow Wow will star in "Lottery Ticket," an urban comedy from Alcon Entertainment.

Music video director Erik White will make his feature directorial debut on the Abdul Williams-penned "Ticket," which Alcon picked up in turnaround from Rogue Pictures.

The film tells the story of a young man (Bow Wow) living in the projects who has to survive a three-day weekend after his opportunistic neighbors find out he's holding a winning lottery ticket worth $350 million.

Ice Cube plays a reclusive former boxer who lives in the basement of the project where the young man lives.

Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove of Alcon will produce, along with Mark Burg and Oren Koules of Evolution. Matt Alvarez of Ice Cube's production company, Cube Vision, will also produce.

Evolution's Brad Kaplan and Andrew Wilson will co-produce. Evolution is the management company for White and Williams.

The film is scheduled...

Alcon Entertainment has acquired Abdul Williams' script Lottery Ticket in turnaround from Rogue Pictures, and will finance and produce the urban comedy as a starring vehicle for Bow Wow and Ice Cube. Variety says that music video helmer Erik White will make his feature directorial debut on the project, set to begin filming in Atlanta in October. Alcon's Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce, along with Evolution partners Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Matt Alvarez of Ice Cube's production company, Cube Vision, will also produce. The story revolves a young man, portrayed by Bow Wow, living in the projects who has to survive a three-day weekend after his opportunistic neighbors find out he's holding a winning lottery ticket worth $350 million. Warner Bros. Pictures...