News

Bel-Air is a teen drama series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, Tj Brady, and Rasheed Newson. Based on the popular Will Smith comedy series titled The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by Andy and Susan Borowitz, the Peacock series follows the life of Will Smith, a 16-year-old boy as he is sent to gated mansions of Bel-Air to live with his rich aunt and uncle by his mother from the streets of Philadelphia. Bel-Air stars Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Simone Joy Jones, and Jordan L. Jones. So, if you loved the teen drama, tons of glamor, and a heartfelt story in Bel-Air, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Credit – NBC

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a comedy series created by Andy and Susan Borowitz. The NBC series follows a fictional version of...

"Kids are getting killed every day out here in these streets over nothing." Quiver has unveiled the trailer for a film titled The Waterboyz, the newest film by filmmaker Coke Daniels. This first premiered at the 2024 American Black Film Festival and will be out in limited theaters starting next month. In the streets of Atl, two young men cross paths. One is trying to make a legit living, the other trying to create mayhem and rule the streets. The Waterboyz takes place in the heat of Atlanta's streets, where Drew's college dreams clash with the gritty reality of street vending, alongside his best friend Dolo, who's got simpler dreams of cars and girls. When their corner hustle draws dangerous attention from both gangs and cops, Drew is faced with a choice: the quick money of the streets or the long game towards a better life. This stars Akili McDowell as...

Actor Akili McDowell has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old man. On July 20, deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 13503 North Thorntree in East Harris County, Houston, Texas.

Authorities have confirmed that 21-year-old Akili McDowell, known for his roles in shows like Billions, David Makes Man, and The Astronaut Wives Club has been charged with murder.

McDowell’s Acting Career

McDowell’s breakout role came in the 2015 series The Astronaut Wives Club, and he later starred in Criminal Activities and Billions. He is also set to appear in the upcoming movie The Waterboyz.

McDowell is recognized for his role in the series David Makes Man, created by Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney and loosely based on his life.

McDowell portrayed the titular character, a teenage prodigy from the projects,...

A young actor who appeared on the Showtime series Billions and starred in the OWN series David Makes Man while appearing in multiple feature films has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a young man.

Homicide investigators charged 21-year-old Akili McDowell with murder in the shooting death of Cesar Peralta, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on Sunday to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s Facebook page. McDowell was recently taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail, police said in the statement.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a July 20 incident that took place in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 13503 North Thorntree in East Harris County. There, deputies said that they discovered an adult male, whom they initially reported as possibly in his 20s.

The young man, who was later identified as 20-year-old Cesar Peralta,...

Akili McDowell, known for his title role in David Makes Man, has been arrested and charged with murder in Houston, TX, in the shooting death of a man last month in an apartment complex parking lot.

The 21-year-old McDowell was arrested and booked on August 1 on charges of murder and theft, according to Harris County Sheriff’s Office online records. He has a court appearance Tuesday on the theft charge and on October 9 for the murder charge.

“On July 20, 2024, Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an incident that occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 13503 North Thorntree, near Wallisville and Uvalde (East Harris County), according to a statement by Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Gonzalez. ” An adult male (possibly in his 20s) sustained gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Suspect(s) fled the scene.”

The dead man was later identified as 20-year-old Cesar Peralta.

Akili McDowell, best known for his role as David in the OWN drama series David Makes Man, was arrested and charged with murder following a deadly shooting in Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The 21-year-old suspect was taken into custody on murder and theft charges on August 1, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s online database. His bond was set to $400,000 for the murder charge. His first court date is August 6, with an October 9 court date set regarding the murder charge. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex on July 20, according to authorities. An adult male, later identified as Cesar Peralta, “sustained gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Suspect(s) fled the scene.” McDowell’s manager, Jonell Whitt, released a statement regarding the actor’s arrest to Law & Crime: “[T]his is an unfortunate situation, and I...

“David Makes Man” is a drama television series that takes an intriguing look into race, brotherhood, and identity issues. This coming-of-age drama first appeared on screens on August 14, 2019, on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The storyline is about David, a teenage prodigy whose life revolves around two different worlds.

South Florida is the setting for this lyrical story created by Tarell Alvin McCraney (co-writer of “Moonlight”). The executive producers of the Peabody Award-winning show include Oprah Winfrey, Mike Kelley, Michael B. Jordan, Dee Harris-Lawrence (showrunner), and Melissa Loy. Warner Bros. produced it.

This television series got a warm reception from viewers for season 1, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s currently in the second season comprising 10 episodes that premiered June 22, 2021, and ended August 24, 2021.

This quintessential guide covers the show’s synopsis, season two cast, whether season three will come out, what happened in season two,...

HBO Max has inked with deal with corporate sibling Warner Bros Television to stream Season 2 of the current OWN drama David Makes Man along with five ’90s-era Black-themed series: Hangin” with Mr. Cooper, In the House, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin and The Parent ‘Hood.

All six series are available now on the streamer.

Season 2 of of OWN’s David Makes Man finds thirtysomething David (Kwame Patterson) as a rising businessman facing an opportunity that will change him and his community forever. The mounting pressure forces David to choose between the instincts that helped him survive or finding a new way to truly live. Arlen Escarpeta, Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles and Cayden K. Williams also star.

Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, which aired from 1992-97 on ABC, stars Mark Curry as a former college basketball superstar and ultimate prankster, who also happens to be the coolest substitute teacher around.

Warning: The following story contains spoilers from Tuesday’s David Makes Man.

One of the central tenets of David Makes Man is brotherhood, and that’s exactly what fans of the OWN drama got to experience in Tuesday’s episode when Seren made his grand return.

More from TVLineDavid Makes Man's Arlen Escarpeta Breaks Down Why Jg's Death 'Would've Wrecked David's World' in Season 2David Makes Man's Kwame Patterson Talks Leaving Snowfall, Weighs in on The Wire DebateHAHN's Angela Robinson Reveals What Really Went Down Behind the Scenes of Veronica's Fling With 'the Lil' Baby'

The palpable joy that brightened...

The Performer | Titus Welliver

The Show | Bosch

More from TVLineWas Evil Angel Devilishly Good? Was Legends Cameo Too Random? Sports' Roughest Moment? And More TV Qs!The Bold Type EP Talks Series Finale's Romantic Reunions, Editor-in-Chief Twist and [Spoiler]'s Surprise ReturnDavid Makes Man Recap: The Toll of Navigating White Spaces

The Episode | “Por Sonia” (June 24, 2021)

The Performance | “There’s always a quid pro quo.” With those words early in the series finale, Bosch put the infuriating pieces together, realizing how Chief Irving traded justice for young Sonia Hernandez for job security. From there, Welliver was a walking, brewing storm — though...

OWN has produced several original drama series over the years and most of them have performed well enough in the ratings to be renewed for multiple seasons. Will David Makes Man last a long time? Will it be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned.

A coming-of-age drama, David Makes Man revolves around a young man named David from the projects. He's haunted by the death of his friend and is relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. In season two, David (Kwame Patterson) is in his 30s and is a rising businessman with an opportunity that could change his life and community. The show stars Patterson, Arlen Escarpeta, Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles, and Cayden K. Williams. Recurring season two actors include Tony Plana, Brittany S. Hall, Erica Lutrell, Zsane’ Jhe’, Bobbi Baker, Patrice...

When last we saw David (Akili McDowell), the hero of the gorgeous drama series David Makes Man, he was 14 years old, nearing the end of his time in middle school, and still very much an anxious kid hoping to one day feel comfortable in any of the disparate social worlds in which he traveled. As Season Two begins this week on OWN, the show’s title has been literalized. David is now in his thirties (and played by Kwame Patterson) with a flourishing white-collar career, living in a luxury apartment...

The Tribeca Festival is bringing back in-person events for its 2021 lineup, and that includes programming typically seen at home. The Tribeca TV lineup will feature nine shows total, consisting of eight series premieres and a season premiere, as well as panel appearances by featured guests Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Joshua Jackson, Helen Hunt, and more.

Oh, and to kick things off, Kiss will be performing. Yes, Kiss the band. At a film and television festival. Just go with it.

“When we launched Tribeca TV five years ago, we created space within the film festival to recognize the incredible, boundary-pushing work being done by filmmakers in the episodic format as official festival selections,” Cara Cusumano, Festival Director and VP of Programming, said in a statement. “In a year defined by at-home entertainment, we are proud to continue that tradition with an exciting Tribeca TV lineup of new series from today’s...

The story of David and his journey continues this summer. OWN has announced that season two of the David Makes Man TV series will debut on Tuesday, June 22nd. There will be 10 episodes once again.

David Makes Man revolves around a young man named David from the projects. He's haunted by the death of his friend and is relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. In season two, David (Kwame Patterson) is in his 30s and is a rising businessman with an opportunity that could change his life and community. The show stars Patterson, Arlen Escarpeta, Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles, and Cayden K. Williams. Recurring season two actors include Tony Plana, Brittany S. Hall, Erica Lutrell, Zsane’ Jhe’, Bobbi Baker, Patrice Arenas, Trinity Cidel, Brandi Huzzie, Rodney...

OWN has unveiled the premiere date and trailer for the second season of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s David Makes Man.

Set to premiere on OWN on June 22 from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Et/Pt, David Makes Man‘s sophomore season finds David (Kwame Patterson) in his 30s, a rising businessman facing an opportunity that will change him and his community forever; the mounting forces David to choose between the instincts that helped him survive or finding a new way to truly live.

The series also features series regulars Arlen Escarpeta Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles and Cayden K. Williams. McCraney serves as executive producer alongside showrunner Dee Harris-Lawrence who serves as showrunner. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy also executive produce under their production banner Page Fright. Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films are also executive producers.

The trailer gives David Makes Man...

OWN announced that “David Makes Man” is returning for Season 2 on June 22.

The new 10-episode season finds David, played by Kwame Patterson, faced with a decision that will change him and his community forever. The series began filming again in October 2020 in Orlando, Fla.

This announcement comes with a slew of new recurring cast members, including Tony Plana, Brittany S. Hall, Erica Lutrell, Zsané Jhé, Bobbi Baker, Patrice Arenas, Trinity Cidel, Brandi Huzzie, Rodney Gardiner and Janmarco Santiago. Arlen Escarpeta, Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles and Cayden K. Williams also return for Season 2.

Kiel Adrian Scott and Erica Watson will each direct half the season.

Watch the trailer below:

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

Dates

HBO Max announced that “The Big Shot With Bethenny,” a new original series hosted by business tycoon and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel, will premiere on April 29. The seven-episode series will feature the...

Exclusive: Akili McDowell has signed on to star More Than Rivals, a feature based on the New York Times Best Selling book by Ken Abraham.

From the writer of Rudy and Hoosiers, Angelo Pizzo’s screenplay captures another great sports moment in history. The timely story shows how two young kids are able to look past the pressures and rules and do what kids do – have fun. Black and white fade away and they create a lifelong bond that changes a city. Based on a true story, the film is set in 1970 in Gallatin, Tennessee, and follows two boys, Eddie Sherlin and Bill Ligon (McDowell), growing up on opposite sides of the tracks who shared a passion for basketball. After years of playing wherever they could find a hoop, Eddie and Bill entered the rigors of their respective high school teams. And at the end of the 1970 season, all-white Gallatin...

As OWN ramps up for the second season of the Peabody Award-winning drama David Makes Man from Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney and Warner Bros. Television, 10 actors are set to appear in recurring roles.

Tony Plana, Brittany S. Hall, Erica Luttrell, Zsané Jhé, Bobbi Baker, Patrice Arenas, Trinity Cidel, Brandi Huzzie, Rodney Gardiner and Janmarco Santiago have joined David Makes Man which returned to Orlando, Florida and continued production in October. On the directing side, Kiel Adrian Scott (The Bobby Brown Story) is set to return to direct five episodes of the new season while Erica Watson has been tapped to helm the remaining five episodes in the 10-episode sophomore season which is set to debut in the early summer of 2021.

McCraney serves as executive producer alongside showrunner Dee Harris-Lawrence who serves as showrunner. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy also executive produce under their production banner Page Fright.

Exclusive: Kwame Patterson is set to play the title role and Arlen Escarpeta (The Oath) also is set as a series regular in the second season of OWN’s acclaimed Peabody-winning drama series David Makes Man. Patterson has been tapped to portray the title character, the adult version of David, and Escarpeta will play his brother Jg, in the series which hails from Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. They join returning series regulars Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Travis Coles and Cayden K. Williams for season two.

Created by McCraney and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, the first season of David Makes Man centered on David Young (Akili McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy learning to survive the streets that raised him and the higher education that could offer him a way out. Season two finds David in his early 30s (played by Patterson...

Voting for Emmy nominations ended on Monday, July 13, and I’m nothing if not the patron saint of the overlooked; you can still find me lamenting the longtime snubs of shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Gilmore Girls” and “The Wire.” This year there are a number of programs I love that are at risk of falling through the cracks (and in some cases not for the first time). I’m praying that some of them surprise us on July 28 when nominations are finally announced. Here are the top eight dark horse contenders I’m holding out hope for.

SEEAdam Conover (‘Adam Ruins Everything’) on covering ‘ambitious’ topics, including some that have proved eerily relevant [Exclusive Video Interview]

“Adam Ruins Everything” — This series blends sketch comedy, situation comedy, and documentary as Adam Conover busts myths about topics we think we know a lot about. And talk about good timing. In the most recent...

Exclusive: CAA has signed Akili McDowell, the star of OWN’s acclaimed coming-of-age series David Makes Man.

Created by Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, David Makes Man follows 14-year-old David (McDowell) from the projects, haunted by the death of his friend and relying on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty.

The title role in the series, already renewed for a second season, has been a star-making turn for the young actor who is being pursued for other projects, including an arc on Season 5 of Showtime’s Billions.

The first season of David Makes Man, a Peabody Award winner and a Gotham Award and Critics’ Choice Award nominee, will make its streaming debut July 16 on HBO Max.

McDowell is managed by Carissa Stewart at Gsa Entertainment and his attorney is Ashley Silver at Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer, Silver, & Thompson.

The acclaimed OWN drama series “David Makes Man” recently won a Peabody Award, which followed nominations at the Gotham and Critics’ Choice Awards. For the show’s lead actor Akili McDowell, “it’s just been a whirlwind to take in. It’s amazing when us artists put in so much hard work into building these characters and telling these stories … It’s just so fulfilling and rewarding when we’re acknowledged for it.” Watch our exclusive video interview with McDowell above.

“David Makes Man” was created by “Moonlight” Oscar winner and “Choir Boy” Tony nominee Tarell Alvin McCraney. Like “Moonlight,” it tells the story of a teenage boy raised by a single mother (Alana Arenas) in a poor Florida neighborhood. But the series also explores David’s struggle to balance that home life with an elite education at a magnet school where he hopes to escape the cycle of poverty his family is in.

The first season of David Makes Man from Oscar-winning screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) is making its way to streaming. HBO Max has acquired exclusive streaming rights to the Peabody Award-winning drama and will debut on the streamer on July 16.

The series, which is loosely based on McCraney’s experiences, comes from OWN and Warner Horizon Scripted Television and centers on the titular David played by Akili McDowell, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects. Set in South Florida, David is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied upon by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out.

OWN renewed the drama for a second season in December. Dee Harris-Lawrence is set to return as showrunner while she, along with McCraney, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Kelley,...

“David Makes Man” is heading to HBO Max.

The WarnerMedia streamer has acquired the exclusive streaming rights to season 1 of the OWN series, which hails from “Moonlight” originator and producer Tarell Alvin McCraney. The show’s freshman season will be available to stream on HBO Max from July 16.

News of the acquisition comes around seven months after OWN renewed the show for a second season.

The series centers on a 14-year-old prodigy (Akili McDowell) from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother (Alana Arenas) to find a way out of poverty. Set in South Florida, “David Makes Man” is inspired by events in McCraney’s own life and explores childhood trauma and the power of imagination to survive.

“David Makes Man” hails from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and is executive produced by McCraney, Michael B. Jordan, Dee Harris-Lawrence,...

Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) isn’t the only successful jerk who’s lost his groove: his whole damn show has. “Billions” was once as sickening a pleasure as its two despicably compelling main characters, but the Showtime drama keeps missing the mark lately, losing sight of what made it such dirty fun. Season 5 looked promising to start, with the introduction of a new rival for Axe in the very formidable package of Corey Stoll, but even Stoll’s shiny head can’t reflect the sheen missing from the writing. Just four episodes into the fifth season, and “Billions” seems to have run out of ideas, repeating familiar refrains, completely devoid of the spark of danger and unknown possibilities that once kept viewers on their toes.

Though episode four is titled “Opportunity Zone,” “Missed Opportunity Zone” would have been more apt. The episode begins with a well-coiffed Axe tossing a basketball...

Killing Eve vet Kim Bodnia has found a new kind of mentorship role on The Witcher: The actor — who plays Villanelle’s handler Konstantin on the aforementioned BBC America hit — has joined Season 2 of the Netflix drama as Vesemir, the oldest and most experienced Witcher in the series. He is also a father figure to Henry Cavill’s Geralt.

“As one of the survivors of The Massacre at Kaer Morhen, a haunting slaughter that nearly exterminated the Witchers, [Vesemir] is fiercely protective of the remaining few, who he sees as an endangered community who can find glory on ‘the Path’ slaying monsters,...

Exclusive: Akili McDowell, the star of Own’s acclaimed new series David Makes Man, is set for a major recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of Billions, Showtime’s Wall Street drama series starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis.

McDowell will play Savion Williams, a young kid growing up in Axe’s (Lewis) childhood hometown. Season 5 is in production in New York and will premiere May 3.

Created by executive producers/showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien, along with Andrew Ross Sorkin, in season five of Billions, Bobby Axelrod (Lewis) and Chuck Rhoades (Giamatti) see their vicious rivalry reignited, while new enemies rise and take aim. Social impact pioneer Mike Prince (guest star Corey Stoll) poses a true threat to Axe’s dominance, and Chuck feuds with a formidable district attorney. Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) is forced back to Axe Capital, where they must fight to protect their employees and their assets.

Does the first season of the David Makes Man TV show on Own make the grade? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like David Makes Man is cancelled or renewed for season two. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustration when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we'd like to offer you the chance to rate all of the David Makes Man season one episodes here. *Status update below.

An Own coming-of-age drama from creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, David Makes Man stars Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Phylicia Rashad, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, and Jordan Bolger. The series centers on David (McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy growing up in “The Ville” — the Homestead Village housing projects.

Read More…...

Own wants to make more of David Makes Man. The dramatic TV series has been renewed for a second season on the cable channel.

A coming-of-age drama from creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, David Makes Man stars Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Phylicia Rashad, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, and Jordan Bolger. The series centers on David (McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy growing up in “The Ville” — the Homestead Village housing projects.

The first season of David Makes Man on Own averaged a 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 412,000 viewers.

Here's the renewal press release:

Own Announces Second Season Renewal Of Critically Acclaimed Drama Series ‘David Makes Man’

Critics’ Choice Award “Best Drama” Nominee from Tarell Alvin McCraney and Executive Producers Michael...

Own has developed a loyal audience for its drama series. The latest entry in this category is the David Makes Man TV show, from Tarell Alvin McCraney, who won an Academy Award for his Moonlight screenplay, based on his novel, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. How will his work translate from the page and silver screen to the small screen? Will David Makes Man be cancelled or renewed for season two? Stay tuned. *Status update below.

An Own coming-of-age drama, David Makes Man stars Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Phylicia Rashad, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, and Jordan Bolger. The series centers on David (McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy growing up in “The Ville” — the Homestead Village housing projects.

Read More…...

Own has renewed the critically acclaimed drama David Makes Man from Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) for a second season. Dee Harris-Lawrence is set to return as showrunner while she, along with McCraney, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Kelley, Melissa Loy and Oprah Winfrey will serve as executive producers.

The series features newcomer Akili McDowell who stars as the titular 14-year-old prodigy from the projects and is loosely based on McCraney’s own experiences. The drama also includes Emmy nominated actress Phylicia Rashad as well as Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Cayden K. Williams and Travis Coles.

“Tarell McCraney has brought us a gift with this series and masterfully added a beautiful new hue to our palette of dramatic storytelling on Own,” said Own president Tina Perry. “Viewers and television critics alike have embraced David Makes Man and connected to its powerful message. We are...

“David Makes Man,” the critically-acclaimed coming-of-age drama from “Moonlight” creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, has been renewed for a second season at the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The series centers on a 14-year-old prodigy (Akili McDowell) from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother (Alana Arenas) to find a way out of poverty. Set in South Florida, “David Makes Man” is inspired by events in McCraney’s own life and explores childhood trauma and the power of imagination to survive.

“Tarell McCraney has brought us a gift with this series and masterfully added a beautiful new hue to our palette of dramatic storytelling on Own,” said network president Tina Perry, announcing the renewal. “Viewers and television critics alike have embraced ‘David Makes Man’ and connected to its powerful message. We are honored to partner with the incredible producers and cast...

Own has renewed drama “David Makes Man,” from “Moonlight” co-writer Tarell McCraney, for a second season.

The series, which is partly based on McCraney’s own childhood, centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects. It stars Phylicia Rashad and newcomer Akili McDowell who plays the lead role of David. “David Makes Man” is executive produced by McCraney, Michael B. Jordan, Dee Harris-Lawrence, Mike Kelley, Melissa Loy and Oprah Winfrey. Harris-Lawrence is set to return as showrunner for season two.

“Tarell McCraney has brought us a gift with this series and masterfully added a beautiful new hue to our palette of dramatic storytelling on Own,” Own president Tina Perry said. “Viewers and television critics alike have embraced ‘David Makes Man’ and connected to its powerful message. We are honored to partner with the incredible producers and cast as well as our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television on a second season.

Vulture Watch

What does the future hold for David? Has the David Makes Man TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on Own? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of David Makes Man, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?

What's This TV Show About?

An Own coming-of-age drama from creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, David Makes Man stars Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Phylicia Rashad, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, and Jordan Bolger. The series centers on David (McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy growing up in “The Ville” — the Homestead Village housing projects. Read More…...

Network: Own.

Episodes: Ongoing (hour).

Seasons: Ongoing.

TV show dates: August 14, 2019 — present.

Series status: Has not been cancelled.

Performers include: Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, Phylicia Rashad, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Elvis Nolasco, Gillian Williams, Juanita Jennings, Liza Colón-Zayas, Lindsey Blackwell, Lela Rochon, and Nick Creegan.

TV show description:

From creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, the David Makes Man TV show is a coming of age drama that unfolds in South Florida. The series centers on David (McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy growing up in "The Ville" -- the Homestead Village housing projects.

David is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his...

“It’s rare that the interiority of black men is depicted on screen,” said Academy Award-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney. That theme permeated the Oscar-winning “Moonlight” and it’s at the center of McCraney’s new Own series, “David Makes Man.” The hour-long drama centers on a 14-year-old prodigy (Akili McDowell) from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend as his hard-working mother looks to him to find a way out of poverty. In choosing between the streets that raised him, or the higher education that may offer a way out, the interior struggle gives the series its soul.

It’s a series in which David’s interior life is generously examined, and sumptuously illustrated, bringing to life the dreams and disappointments of young black men from poor and working-class backgrounds who live in a constant state of uncertainty and anxiety. “A black man enters any...

The title of the wonderful new Own drama David Makes Man is slightly misleading. Yes, it’s about a 14-year-old boy named David (Akili McDowell) struggling to become a man faster than he should have to, due to the complicated circumstances of his life. But David is just one of several names and identities our anxious and deeply sympathetic hero goes by.

To adults like his recovering addict mother Gloria (Alana Arenas) and his teacher Dr. Woods-Trap (Phylicia Rashad), he is David, a very smart but reserved boy doing his...

Welcome back to Tune In: our weekly newsletter offering a guide to the best of the week’s TV.

Each week, Variety’s TV team combs through the week’s schedule, selecting our picks of what to watch and when/how to watch them. This week, “Mindhunter” returns for season 2 on Netflix, and “The Righteous Gemstones” debuts on HBO.

“The Terror: Infamy,” AMC, Monday, 9 p.m.

The AMC horror anthology series returns for a second season, this time set in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. Season 2 will once again mix the supernatural with real-life horror, and features George Takei, who was himself sent to an internment camp when he was young, in a lead role.

“David Makes Man,” Own, Wednesday, 10 p.m.

Hailing from playwright and “Moonlight” originator Tarell Alvin McCraney, this shows follows a young boy struggling to find his place in the world. David (Akili McDowell...

“The very first time I had her on the ‘Oprah’ show, she said to me, ‘I’ve always known I was gallant.’ I was like, ‘Who the hell knows they’re gallant?'” Oprah Winfrey told reporters of her late friend and creative collaborator Toni Morrison on Tuesday night at the premiere of Own’s original series “David Makes Man” in Los Angeles. “Her sense of confidence and self-assurance and nobility is what impressed me the most.”

A day after the death of the groundbreaking Nobel Prize-winning author, Winfrey reminisced about Morrison’s first appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and the power of her words. “She said, ‘what I realize is that what every child really wants is to know, do your eyes light up when I enter the room?’ ”

Winfrey, who told Variety that she had yet to be informed of memorial plans for Morrison, continued, “Those words,...

What’s on TV in August? How about a women-of-color sketch-comedy showcase; deep-dive retrospectives of hit machine Motown Records and the original Woodstock concert; two HBO comedies about obscenely wealthy and highly dysfunctional families (though only one features slapstick baptism gags); a most peculiar reboot of a his show from the Nineties; and the gorgeously trashy Kirsten Dunst starring vehicle we’ve been waiting for. Here’s what to check out on le tube for the month. (You can check out the best streaming options here.)

BH90210 (Fox, Aug. 7th...

Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney was on hand at the TCA press tour to talk about his new drama David Makes Man. It’s a raw look at the life of David (Akili McDowell), a 14-year-old prodigy from the South Florida projects. Haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother (Alana Arenas), he goes to a magnet school where he is surrounded by people who neither live nor look like him.

Loosely based on his own experience, McCraney said that the show will explore “the dexterity that you learn in one set of circumstances or one socialized environment and the total new morality you learn in another.”

He continued, “I would cross a border into a very white neighborhood and take the bus to a very white school.” There he said, “It was important for people to say that a person is ‘less than.

Own has set a premiere date for its new drama series, David Makes Man, from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney. The series "centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty." It will debut Wednesday, August 14 at 10 Pm.

The show stars Akili McDowell and Phylicia Rashad with Alana Arenas, Isaiah Johnson, Travis Coles, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Cayden K. Williams, Ade Chike Torbert, and Jordan Bolger. The show also features Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Elvis Nolasco, Gillian Williams, Juanita Jennings, Liza Colón-Zayas, Lindsey Blackwell, Lela Rochon, and Nick Creegan in recurring roles.

Here are some additional details, along with a trailer:

Own Announces August 14 Series Premiere And Unveils Official Trailer For Its Highly Touted Drama ‘David Makes...

In today’s TV roundup, “Dear White People” sets an August 2 premiere and Showtime acquires the six-episode comedy series “Back to Life.”

Dates

“Dear White People” will return for its third season on August 2. The news was announced in a comedic sketch posted to Netflix‘s Youtube channel, in which the series’ cast members debate sweet versus salty grits. The new season will continue to follow students of a predominantly white Ivy League university as they confront racial tensions and dramatic personal relationships.

Netflix also announced a slew of summer premiere dates via a promotional video. The streamer’s forthcoming sitcom “Family Reunion” will premiere July 10, “Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster Frankenstein,” the mockumentary comedy special starring David Harbour, will debut July 16, and “Workin’ Moms” will return for season 2 on July 25.

Own has announced an August 14 premiere for its drama series “David Makes Man” from Oscar-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight...

Own: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today that its anticipated new drama series David Makes Man from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television will premiere on Wednesday, August 14 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt following the network's critically acclaimed drama Queen Sugar (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Et/Pt). The series premiere will be presented by Lexus with limited commercial interruption.

David Makes Man centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. Set in South Florida, the series is inspired by events in McCraney's own life and explores childhood trauma and the power of imagination to survive. The drama stars Akili McDowell (The Astronaut Wives Club) as David,...

Own: Oprah Winfrey Network has set a Wednesday, August 14 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt premiere date for its anticipated new drama series “David Makes Man,” from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

An Oscar to his credit, his script for Netflix’s Steven Soderbergh drama “High Flying Bird” drawing high praise, and his Broadway production “Choir Boy” having wrapped up a successful run in March, playwright and screenwriter McCraney continues to impress with his initial foray into television with the deeply personal “David Makes Man.”

Inspired by the writer’s impoverished youth in Florida, the milieu naturally calls to mind “Moonlight,” and even borrows some of the film’s stylistic touchstones, bathing images in evocative colors, accompanied by a melancholic score that sets the lyrical tone.

The hourlong drama centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of...

Phylicia Rashad; upcoming series “David Makes Man,” “The Terror: Infamy” and “Los Espookys”; and some panels dedicated to female storytelling have joined the eighth annual Atx Television Festival.

Rashad will be honored with this year’s “Award in Television eXcellence” and will take part in a Q&A discussion around the event. This award celebrates her iconic roles on “The Cosby Show,” “Empire,” “This is Us” and “David Makes Man.”

Speaking of “David Makes Man,” the upcoming Own drama will host a pilot screening at the festival, followed by a panel discussion with showrunner Dee Harris-Lawrence and cast members Rashad and Akili McDowell. The show centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty.

Atx will also feature a premiere screening and panel for HBO’s upcoming primarily Spanish-language comedy “Los Espookys.

In recent years, the SXSW Film Festival has grown in stature to become a key launchpad for many kinds of movies — anticipated studio comedies, edgy documentaries, and low-budget narrative features have all found taken flight at the Austin gathering. The addition of television series has further complicated SXSW’s profile, to the point where both media receive nearly the same level of attention.

The 2019 edition was an especially fertile example, as Jordan Peele’s horror sensation “Us” kicked off the proceedings with a level of enthusiasm that remained in place in the days ahead, with many other crowdpleasing movies and television shows. Setting aside the obvious, here are some of the biggest highlights.

“The Beach Bum”

Harmony Korine’s unorthodox portrait of jubilant Florida stoner Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) portrays a man whose guiding ambition in life is to find bliss every step of the way. Moondog is a role only...

It’s hard to gauge a new show after a single episode, but when the pilot is as captivating as that of “David Makes Man,” then there’s at least good reason to get excited. Tarell Alvin McCraney, an award-winning playwright turned award-winning screenwriter (“Moonlight”), has chosen a deeply personal story for his first TV project, and it’s brought to vivid life by a strong cast and director Michael Francis Williams’ enthralling visual design. Grand, intimate, and pressing, there’s a lot to admire, which greatly improves the odds Own’s drama could really be something.

David (Akili McDowell) is a smart kid. Living in southern Miami, David walks his younger brother to school every morning, and then sprints to the other side of the fence dividing his home in the projects from the more affluent neighborhood across the way. Despite the hustle, he usually misses his school bus...

Among the new series screening at South by Southwest is “David Makes Man,” presenting its first episode before a bow on Own this August. While the episode represents only a glimpse of the show to come, it’s promising — both for Own and for the South by Southwest confab — that this show is, from its first moments, quite so lived-in and credible. It joins, on Oprah Winfrey’s dedicated network, a suite of accomplished dramas including “Queen Sugar”; at the Austin festival, it’s a welcome step outside pure genre, and into a world in which the concerns of young black boys are paramount.

The first TV project from playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, an Oscar-winner for “Moonlight,” tracks the code-switching life of David (the gifted young actor Akili McDowell), a young man who works hard in school and harder at trying to balance the many requirements of his life, including...

Oprah Winfrey’s Own showed off its latest offering, drama series David Makes Man, at the Sundance Film Festival last night.

The cable network and The Blackhouse Foundation unveiled clips and official key art during a gathering in Park City, Utah, attended by series creator Tarell Alvin McCraney, executive producer Michael B. Jordan, showrunner-executive producer Dee Harris-Lawrence, and castmembers Akili McDowell, Alana Arenas, and Phylicia Rashad.

The drama series from Oscar-winning Moonlight co-writer, McCraney and Warner Horizon Scripted Television centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects, who is haunted by the death of his closest friend. The teen must choose between the streets or the higher education that may offer him a way out of poverty. Set in South Florida, the series is inspired by real events in McCraney’s own life and explores childhood.

The cast includes Akili McDowell (David), Alana Arenas (Gloria) and Phylicia Rashad (Dr. Woods-Trap...