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Exclusive: Season 7 of The Chi is putting up a strong performance on Showtime.

Sunday night’s mid-season episode managed 1.78M cross-platform viewers in just three days, making it one of the top episodes of the season, per Showtime. The episode was up 23% versus the season-to-date average of 1.45M viewers after three days.

Additionally, the episodes is the most-streamed in series history, Showtime says. The network didn’t share specific streaming numbers.

The Chi has been on a growth trajectory the entire season, scoring series’ best audience numbers since Season 7 premiered. The Season 7 debut had 2M cross-platform viewers in seven days and, at the time, was the most-streamed episode to-date. So, it’s quite a feat for the mid-season episode to garner nearly that entire audience in less than half the time.

The series was already renewed for Season 8, which is a strong indicator that parent company Paramount Global is happy with this performance.

Following its record-setting premiere, Paramount+ with Showtime today announced it has given the green light to The Chi season eight.

The season seven premiere scored two million cross-platform viewers and became the most-streamed premiere in series history, shattering the streaming viewership record.

The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. Created entirely in its namesake city, The Chi is produced by 20th Television.

This season, with Alicia at the helm, the pivotal women of The Chi rise to reclaim their power. Yet, as loyalties are tested and new rivalries are stoked, it becomes clear that there’s only one crown, and it will come at a heavy cost.

The Chi is created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner.

Showtime has ordered an eighth season of its drama The Chi, putting the show into rare company at the outlet.

The renewal comes on the heels of the season seven premiere scoring the show’s best streaming debut to date, as it drew 2 million views on Paramount+ With Showtime in the week after its May 16 debut. With the pickup, The Chi will join Dexter, Homeland and Weeds in a tie for the second longest-running scripted series in Showtime’s history. (Shameless, which ran for 11 seasons, is first.)

“With the seventh season of The Chi, Lena Waithe raised the bar creatively and it shattered viewership records, becoming the most-watched season premiere in the show’s history,” Paramount Global co-ceo and president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Chris McCarthy said in a statement praising the show’s strong season seven debut. “Lena’s storytelling defies convention and cuts through cliché, revealing the depth,...

“The Chi” has scored an early Season 8 renewal at Parmaount+ with Showtime.

The news comes just under two weeks after the Season 7 premiere, which was the most-streamed premiere in series history according to Paramount.

The official description of Season 7 states, “With Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) at the helm, the pivotal women of ‘The Chi’ rise to reclaim their power. Yet, as loyalties are tested and new rivalries are stoked, it becomes clear that there’s only one crown and it will come at a heavy cost.”

Along with Whitfield, the cast of the series includes Jacob Latimore, Yolonda Ross, Michael V. Epps, Shamon Brown Jr., Birgundi Baker, Luke James, and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

With the Season 8 renewal, “The Chi” is now one of the longest-running Showtime shows in the network’s history. It now ranks alongside shows like “Dexter,” “Homeland,” and “Weeds,” which all ran eight seasons at the premium cabler.

Exclusive: The Chi has been renewed for an eighth season by Paramount+ with Showtime. The news comes on the heels of the Season 7 premiere drawing 2 million cross-platform viewers in the first seven days to become the series’ most-streamed opener, up 2% from last season.

With the Season 8 pickup, The Chi has tied Dexter, Homeland and Weeds for the second-longest run in Showtime’s history, only behind Shameless‘ 11 seasons.

The Chi, created by Lena Waithe, has been on a renewal track since the start of the year. As Deadline reported exclusively, Showtime by early February had commissioned a Season 8 writers room. At the time, there were no deals with the cast; their options subsequently were picked up.

From 20th Television, The Chi revolves around a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

This season, with Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) at the helm,...

The Chi has broken a series record with its Season 7 premiere. The episode drew two million cross-platform viewers, making it the most-streamed in series history, up 2% on streaming versus last season, according to Showtime.

“With the seventh season of The Chi, Lena Waithe raised the bar creatively and it shattered viewership records, becoming the most-watched season premiere in the show’s history, ” said Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “Lena’s storytelling defies convention and cuts through cliché, revealing the depth, power and complexity of life on the South Side of Chicago with fearless honesty.”

The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

Directed by Nancy C. Mejia, the premiere episode focuses on Alicia, on a mission to find her son’s killer,...

More people than ever are finding their way to The Chi via streaming.

The Showtime drama’s recent Season 7 opener drew two million cross-platform viewers, making it the most-streamed season premiere in the series’ history — up +2% versus last season.

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TVLine readers gave the episode an average grade of “B+”; read Kim Roots’ recap.

“With the seventh season of The Chi, [series creator] Lena Waithe raised the bar creatively and it shattered viewership records,...

AMC Networks unveiled first-look photos of the new Anne Rice series “Talamasca” at an Atx TV Festival panel on Friday.

The supernatural thriller is set to debut in October on AMC+ and AMC, making it the latest addition to the Anne Rice Immortal Universe. Produced by AMC Studios, “Anne Rice’s Talamasca” centers on a secret society called Talamasca that’s responsible for tracking and containing witches, vampires and other mythical creatures.

During the discussion, co-showrunners and executive producers John Lee Hancock and Mark Lafferty announced two new additions to the cast lineup. Celine Buckens will join as a series regular and Jason Schwartzman is set to guest star. Other cast members include Nicholas Denton, Elizabeth McGovern, William Fichtner and Maisie Richardson-Sellers.

Rolin Jones, showrunner and executive producer of “Interview with the Vampire,” also sat on the panel and shared updates for the show’s third season. He announced that...

Exclusive: The Chi is eyeing another potential early renewal ahead of the launch of its most recent installment. Paramount+ with Showtime has commissioned a Season 8 writers room for the drama created by Lena Waithe, sources tell Deadline. There are no deals yet with the cast who still have time on their options, I hear, but the intention is to go to another season.

If that happens The Chi would tie Dexter, Homeland and Weeds for the second longest run in Showtime’s history, 8 seasons, only behind Shameless, 11 seasons.

Season 7 of The Chi is now in the can (It wrapped production in October). Its 2025 premiere date is Tbd. Season 6 had a strong showing, logging the series’ most watched premiere and most-watched season on streaming to date.

The Chi, from 20th Television, centers on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by...

Morris Chestnut, the latest star to join Hulu-Onyx Collective’s hit legal drama “Reasonable Doubt,” says he’d love to be a permanent addition to Jax Stewart’s (Emayatzy Corinealdi) bench.

“I would love to be,” the actor told TheWrap. “Without a doubt. Working with Raamla [Mohamed] and Emayatzy, the whole cast is incredible. Raamla writes a great script. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to be in the next script after I read the previous one. I would come back in a heartbeat.”

Chestnut steps into the courtroom as Corey Cash, the suave, media-savvy and extremely calculated defense attorney that Stewart needs to help her win her best friend’s murder case. However, his unique tactics could prove to be more dramatic than helpful.

And speaking of heartbeats, it looks like Corey might be making Jax’s (and fans’) beat a little harder. After the two characters...

“Reasonable Doubt” stars Angela Grovey and Tim Jo said executive producer and showrunner Raamla Mohamed encourages the cast to lean into their own creativity when it comes to delivering comedic lines.

“I’d say it’s a real testament to Raamla Mohamed, who is an expert craftsman,” Jo, who plays Jax Stewart’s private investigator Daniel Kim, told TheWrap. “I can’t imagine the amount of effort and thought that goes into every word, and into the entire show that is her baby. But when she herself comes to me and says, ‘Tim, you can say whatever,’ I know that’s not glib, I know that’s her placing a lot of faith in me. So I really appreciate that, especially this season. I ran with it and said, ‘I’m going to say whatever I feel like.’ And so I did do that.”

Grovey chimed in, saying Mohamed’s...

Larry Wilmore, who executive produces Hulu-Onyx Collective’s hit legal drama “Reasonable Doubt,” said Season 2’s new cast addition Morris Chestnut was a fan prior to joining the series and wanted to be part of it.

“He actually expressed how much he loved the show, and when we approached him, wanted to be a part of it, and he just made it work,” Wilmore shared as he opened up about how much fans and some celebs enjoy the series. “So it’s fun to have that, that people feel about that, because you don’t know when you’re doing it. People might hate it, you have no idea, so it’s nice to have that.”

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Chestnut steps into the courtroom as Corey Cash, the suave, media-savvy and extremely calculated defense attorney that Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) needs to...

“Reasonable Doubt” Season 2 is headed back into the courtroom, and the cast, as well as the slew of new additions are ready to put it in session.

It’s been a minute since Season 1 of “Reasonable Doubt,” and between Jax getting kidnapped by a deranged client-turned-lover and her bestie Shanelle (Shannon Kane) seemingly murdering her husband, there’s no telling what’s about to go down in Season 2. But the series brought in veteran actor Morris Chestnut, who will star as defense attorney Corey Cash, to help lift the load.

Other newcomers to the series include Essence Atkins, who will star as a domestic violence expert named Dr. Brandy Michaels; Melissa Ponzio, who plays a new District Attorney named Lucy Wargo; Vaughn W. Hebron, who will star as an ex-NFL player and Jt’s (Shannon’s now-dead husband) mentee named Adrian Hunter; and Kandi Burris, who will play Eboni Phillips,...

“Reasonable Doubt” has finally returned for Season 2, and Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) is back on the case. This time around the confident and laser-sharp attorney is bringing suave and media-savvy defense attorney Corey Cash (Morris Chestnut) along with her.

In the Season 1 finale, fans were hit with a huge cliffhanger when Jax’s friend Shanelle (Shannon Kane) appeared to have murdered her former sports giant husband Jamarian “Jt” Tucker (Christopher Mychael Watson). Season 2 picks up right where last season left off, and the whole town has suspicions that his death wasn’t the result of self-defense but rather a ploy to take ownership of his financial assets.

“Reasonable Doubt” was created, written and executive produced by Raamla Mohamed. Kerry Washington executive produces alongside Pilar Savone for Simpson Street, Larry Wilmore via Wilmore Films and Anton Cropper. Shawn Holley, Jon Leshay, Tamara Gregory, Lena Cordina, Tash Gray and Resheida Brady serve as co-executive producers.

Exclusive: Lynn Whitfield will have an expanded role in The Chi moving forward, as the actress has been upped from guest star to series regular for Season 7.

Whitfield stars as Alicia, an intimidating, fearless and powerful matriarch who is laser-focused on avenging her brother’s murder. Last season, she squared off with rival villain Douda (Curtiss Cook), ultimately losing her son (guest star Iman Shumpert) to gun violence in the process.

Season 6 wrapped in June and set a new record for the series as the most-streamed season The Chi has ever seen, Deadline can also reveal exclusively, meaning that the season held onto momentum that began when the second half premiered in May.

The May 12 episode scored nearly 2M viewers across platforms in its first seven days, up 4% versus the last premiere episode (for the first half of Season 6).

The Chi is created and executive produced by Lena Waithe under...

Exclusive: Power alum Rotimi is set for a heavily recurring role in the upcoming seventh season of The Chi.

Rotimi plays Charles, Pastor Ezekiel’s (Daniel J. Watts) former assistant who returns to the church for a second chance. The character was introduced in the Season 6 finale and the storyline will continue with Rotimi returning for a multi-episode arc in Season 7.

Created and executive produced by Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner and executive produced by Common (Selma), The Chi centers on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The Paramount+ with Showtime series is produced by 20th Television.

Season 6 cast included Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook.

Along with Waithe and Common, the series...

Hulu has revealed the official trailer for the second season of Reasonable Doubt, which will premiere on August 2, 2024.

After trying to heal from her wounds from last season’s arduous trial and deadly affair, Jax Stewart is attempting to get her life back on track. That is until one of her closest friends reveals that she has killed her husband. Her friend is claiming self-defense, but an uncompromising prosecutor thinks otherwise.

Needing all the help she can get, Jax brings in an ambitious defense attorney to lead the case, but things get tense very quickly. Can Jax defend her friend, save her marriage, and protect her energy while being catapulted into the biggest case of her career? Or will she lose it all?

Reasonable Doubt Season 2 was created, written, and executive produced by Raamla Mohamed.

Kerry Washington executive-produces alongside Pilar Savone for Simpson Street, Larry Wilmore via Wilmore Films, and Anton Cropper.

Exclusive: Essence Atkins (First Wives Club), Melissa Ponzio (Chicago Fire) and Vaughn W. Hebron (The Oval) have signed on to recurring roles in Season 2 of Onyx Collective’s Reasonable Doubt.

From executive producers Raamla Mohamed, Kerry Washington and Larry Wilmore, Reasonable Doubt centers on Los Angeles-based high-powered criminal defense attorney Jacqueline “Jax” Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) as she deals with past traumas, a failing marriage, motherhood and a murder case, all while trying to keep her life together.

In Season 2: After trying to heal from her wounds from last season’s arduous trial and deadly affair, Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) is attempting to get her life back on track. That is until one of her closest friends reveals that she has killed her husband. Her friend is claiming self-defense, but an uncompromising prosecutor thinks otherwise. Needing all the help she can get, Jax brings in an ambitious defense attorney to lead the case,...

Kandi Burruss has joined the second season of Hulu’s legal drama “Reasonable Doubt,” starring alongside series regulars Emayatzy Corinealdi, Morris Chestnut, McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey, Aderinsola Olabode and Thaddeus J. Mixson.

Burruss will take on the role of Eboni Phillips, a party girl in her youth who has since cleaned herself up.

According to an official logline, the new season follows Jax Stewart, who “after trying to heal from her wounds from last season’s arduous trial and deadly affair, is attempting to get her life back on track. That is until one of her closest friends reveals that she has killed her husband.”

“Reasonable Doubt” is created, written and executive produced by Raamla Mohamed. Kerry Washington executive-produces with Pilar Savone for Simpson Street, Larry Wilmore for Wilmore Films and Anton Cropper. Shawn Holley, Jon Leshay, Tamara Gregory, Lena Cordina, Tash Gray and Resheida Brady are co-executive producers.

Hulu has revealed a first look at the upcoming second season of Reasonable Doubt. Jax Stewart’s highly anticipated return is on August 22 with two episodes. New episodes will stream on Thursdays on Hulu.

After trying to heal from her wounds from last season’s arduous trial and deadly affair, Jax Stewart is attempting to get her life back on track. That is until one of her closest friends reveals that she has killed her husband.

Her friend is claiming self-defense, but an uncompromising prosecutor thinks otherwise. Needing all the help she can get, Jax brings in an ambitious defense attorney to lead the case, but things get tense very quickly.

Can Jax defend her friend, save her marriage, and protect her energy while being catapulted into the biggest case of her career? Or will she lose it all?

Reasonable Doubt was created, written, and executive produced by Raamla Mohamed.

Ahead of the highly anticipated season six premiere, Paramount+ with Showtime today announced that it has already given the green light to The Chi Season 7. The first half of season six was record-breaking for The Chi, with the drama series delivering its most-watched season yet on streaming, surging nearly 25 percent over season five.

The second half of season six of The Chi returns on Friday, May 10, on-demand and on streaming for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan before making its on-air debut on Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m. Et/Pt. The seventh season will start production later this month in Chicago.

“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer,...

“The Chi” has been renewed for Season 7 at Paramount+ with Showtime.

The news comes ahead of the series’ return for the second half of its sixth season, which will debut on Paramount+ with Showtime on May 10 before its linear debut on Showtime on May 12 at 9 p.m.Et/Pt. Like the first half, the second will consist of eight episodes. The seventh season will begin production in Chicago later this month.

“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in ‘The Chi’ resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and chief creative officer for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise...

Showtime is keeping its presence in the Windy City.

The premium outlet, now known as Paramount+ With Showtime, has ordered a seventh season of its drama series The Chi. The renewal for the series, created by Lena Waithe, comes two days ahead of its return to Paramount+ With Showtime for the second half of season six.

Production on the seventh season is slated to begin later this month in Chicago.

“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, president of content and chief creative officer for Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise of...

Paramount+ with Showtime today released the official trailer and key art for the upcoming second half of season six of The Chi series. The series will return on Friday, May 10, on streaming and on-demand for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan before making its on-air debut on Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m. Et/Pt.

The Chi series recently wrapped production in Chicago on the remaining eight episodes of the supersized 16-episode season. Produced entirely in its namesake city, the show is produced by 20th Television.

Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner and executive produced by Academy Award and Emmy winner Common (Selma), The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

The record-breaking season-six premiere, which...

Paramount+ with Showtime has released the trailer and key art for the upcoming second half of season six of The Chi, which will return May 10.

The series recently wrapped production in Chicago on the remaining eight episodes of the supersized 16-episode season.

The season-six premiere, which ranks among the top Showtime premieres ever in streaming viewership, picked up with Emmett (Jacob Latimore) and Kiesha’s (Birgundi Baker) blended union tested by his perilous partnership with Douda, (Curtiss Cook), who is dealing with the fallout of Q’s murder and its effect on the shifting loyalty of his inner circle. Victor’s (Luke James) tangled past impacts his new role as city councilman. Newlyweds Jada (Yolonda Ross) and Darnell (Rolando Boyce) fear for son Emmett after he makes a desperate, life-threatening move. Rob (Iman Shumpert) and Tiff’s (Hannaha Hall) cannabis business and Jake’s (Michael V. Epps) apparel line take off,...

Exclusive: Showtime’s The Chi will feature four additional new actors in recurring guest star roles when Part 2 of Season 6 premieres on May 10. They are Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Leon (Swarm), Brett Gray (I’m A Virgo) and Daniel J. Watts (Werewolf By Night).

Hardison plays Professor Gardner, a college literature professor; Leon plays Alonzo, a charming, street-savvy attorney with old ties to Alicia (guest star Lynn Whitfield); Gray plays Damien, a whip-smart young man who will impact Emmett’s (Jacob Latimore) life in more ways than one; Watts plays Pastor Ezekiel, a charismatic pastor of a megachurch.

Created and executive produced by Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner and executive produced by Common, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

In Season...

“The Chi” dropped its first trailer for Season 6 Tuesday, teasing how the Showtime series will put Emmett and Keisha’s blissful union to the test while spotlighting Douda’s shifting loyalties in the fallout of Q’s murder, Kiesha’s burgeoning career aspirations, the high schoolers’ graduation and more.

“I’m forever grateful to Chicago. It made me who I am,” Kevin (Alex R. Hibbert) says in the trailer, which shows him and his friends enjoying their senior prom.

“The city is all we got. We’re going to stumble sometimes, but we’ve got to help each other get back up again,” Emmett (Jacob Latimore) adds.

But on the flip side, a new character Darnell (Rolando Boyce) indicates that “The Chi” won’t be all fun and laughs: “And we all need to be mindful of the company we keep,” he says.

While there’s new beginnings and new friendships,...

It’s finally here, the season finale of Hulu and Onyx Collective’s “Reasonable Doubt” – and TheWrap has an exclusive clip.

Throughout the eight episodes of “Reasonable Doubt,” viewers have watched Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi), a brilliant and courageous civil and criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles who’s taken on the case for wealthy Black businessman Brayden Miller (Sean Patrick Thomas) after he’s accused of murdering his coworker Kaleesha Moore (Perri Camper).

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In the midst of trying to find Kaleesha’s real killer, Jax tries to repair her near-severed marriage with Lewis (McKinley Freeman), process her past of being sexually assaulted by her stepfather and manage her affair with former client Damon Cooke (Michael Ealy).

In this exclusive clip titled “Closing Arguments,” Jax explains to the jury the importance of...