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Mindy Kaling’s new Netflix comedy series set in the world of pro basketball has added five new cast members, Variety has learned.

The new cast members are: Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, and Roberto Sanchez.

They join previously announced series lead Kate Hudson in the show, along with cast members Brenda Song, Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur. The untitled series received a 10-episode order at Netflix in June 2021.

The official logline for the series states, “When a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed President of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business. Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job, especially in the unpredictable, male-dominated world of sports.”

Guido will play Jackie Moreno,...

Mara Brock Akil, the prolific creator/showrunner behind such series as Girlfriends, The Game and Being Mary Jane, has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix to create new original content.

The deal comes just ahead of the September 11 release date of her popular series Girlfriends on Netflix, marking the series’ 20th anniversary.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mara Brock Akil to Netflix,” said Channing Dungey, VP Original Series, Netflix. “Her signature storytelling, authentic perspective and captivating characters have long entertained audiences and proven to be relevant, timely and endlessly engaging. We look forward to bringing her distinct voice, vision and passion to our global members.”

Over the course of her career, Brock Akil has written and produced over 400 episodes of television. Her first hit, comedy Girlfriends, debuted in 2000 and ran for eight seasons on Upn and the CW. While Girlfriends was still on the air, she created spinoff The Game,...

Exclusive: Thirteen years after it helped launch the CW, The Game is eying a return to the broadcast network. The CW is developing a one-hour followup series to the 2006 half-hour comedy from the original series’ creator Mara Brock Akil and American Soul co-creator Devon Greggory.

Written by Akil and Greggory, the new incarnation of The Game will have a new East Coast setting. The Idea is for some of the original cast members to come back for what would be The Game‘s second revival. Here are details about the sequel’s premise:

The Game family was coasting to retirement but they heard the call of the fans to make a comeback… and like the record-breaking winners they are, they decided to pick up and move from a half-hour sitcom in San Diego to a one-hour dramedy in Baltimore. This time, our out-of-touch old-timers are determined to help a bunch...

The winners of the 50th NAACP Image Awards were announced last night during the live broadcast on TV One from The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The live special was hosted by Anthony Anderson, who also doubled as a nominee.

The big winner of the night was “Black Panther” which took home eight trophies, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, and Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

In the television categories, “black-ish” topped all winners with five awards, including Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series.

Meanwhile, Beyoncé was honored as the NAACP Entertainer of the Year, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters was presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award.

Additional winners included radio host and personality Tom Joyner who was presented with the Vanguard Award, which recognizes an individual whose groundbreaking work increases our understanding and awareness of racial and social issues.

The 50th Annual NAACP Image Awards were handed out on Saturday night, with “Black Panther,” ABC’s “Black-ish,” the Starz drama “Power” and Beyonce going home as the night’s big winners.

Beyonce took home the night’s big prize for Entertainer of the Year, matching her husband, Jay-z, who was the previously announced recipient of this year’s President’s Award.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters received the NAACP Chairman’s Award, bestowed “in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change,” and radio host Tom Joyner took home the NAACP Vanguard Award.

Also Read: Jussie Smollett Already Lost at the NAACP Image Awards

Held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the night also saw appearances by 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, a monologue by host Anthony Anderson and a roast of “Empire” star Jussie Smollett by comedian Chris Rock.

Mustafa Elzein has been cast in the untitled Fox drama pilot from Annie Weisman and Jason Katims, Variety has learned.

Elzein joins previously announced cast members Brittany Snow, Megalyn Echikunwoke, and Timothy Hutton.

The pilot is based on the Australian series “Sisters.” In the Fox project, only child Julia Bechley (Snow) has her life turned upside down when it’s revealed that her father, a pioneering Nobel Prize-winning fertility doctor (Hutton), used his own sperm to conceive dozens of children over the course of his career. Reeling from this explosive revelation, Julia discovers two new sisters — her former best friend (Echikunwoke) and an ex-Olympic athlete. Against all odds, the women attempt to form an untraditional family and lean on each other as they grapple with their own identity crises.

Elzein has been cast as Dr. Isaac Haddad, described as an “annoyingly” good-looking young doctor living the good life as a...

Sarah Wayne Callies has been cast in a lead role of the NBC drama pilot “Council of Dads,” Variety has learned.

In addition, Michele Weaver, Blue Chapman, and J. August Richards have been cast in the pilot in series regular roles.

Based on Bruce Feiler’s memoir of the same name, the show follows Scott Perry and his family, whose lives are thrown into upheaval when he gets a potentially terminal diagnosis. Facing his mortality, he and his wife, Robin, assemble a unique group of carefully chosen friends to support his family and guide them through the ups and downs of life’s many challenges.

Callies will play Robin Perry, an Ob/Gyn and the mother/stepmother to four children ranging in age from 7 to 21 who is also pregnant.

Callies is known for her roles on “The Walking Dead” and “Prison Break.” She also previously starred in the USA Network...

The CW is standing by Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil. This comes after Akil faced a series of accusations of non-consensual assault and battery and breach of contract as part of a lawsuit last year.

Black Lightning producer Warner Bros Television launched an internal investigation last year in the wake of the accusations and found that not a “single person” on the series had issues or complaints to make known on Akil.

Mark Pedowitz, president of the CW, said Thursday he believed Akil’s issue was “personal.”

“When litigation came to us, Warner [Bros] did the appropriate thing and did an investigation on the set… and there is no world where that is not a safe place, there were no wrongdoings found,” he said during his executive session at TCA. “He had a personal issue that is nothing to do with the show. The show, as far as we’re concerned,...

After just one season, Love Is_ has been canceled by Own as executive producer Salim Akil faces allegations of domestic violence and lifting the idea for the series from an ex-lover.

“Own has decided not to move forward with the second season of Love Is _ ,” the Oprah Winfrey founded outlet said Wednesday, almost five months after initially announcing this summer that the Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil produced series was renewed. “The TV memoir was inspired by the real-life love story of married producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil,” Own added in a telling insight into the decision to pull the Love plug.

The show may be over, but cast and producers were all paid for the second season under contractual obligations, I’ve learned.

The cancellation follows the completion of an inquiry by producer Wbtv on both Love Is _ and the CW series Black Lightning. Salim Akil...

Love Is_ is no more at Own. The romantic drama, which received a second season order back in July, has been retroactively canceled in the wake of domestic violence allegations levied against co-creator Salim Akil.

To be clear, the allegations are unrelated to the Warner Bros.-produced drama. And a November and December internal inquiry is said to have revealed no evidence of abuse or assault relating to Love Is_ or Akil's other show at the network, The CW's Black Lightning. But the fact that actress Amber Dixon Brenner has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was Akil's longtime girlfriend, while ...

Warner Bros TV has opened an investigation into an accusation of abuse made against “Black Lightning” showrunner and “Love Is” co-creator Salim Akil in a lawsuit filed last week.

A studio insider tells TheWrap production is currently underway on the second season of The CW superhero series and there is no suspension for Akil — or the production — as the internal investigation occurs, which officially began Friday.

Per the source, it is standard practice for Warner Bros to conduct an internal investigation/inquiry with cast and crew any time there are accusations made. In Akil’s case, the allegations of abuse and assault are not related to a Wbtv production, but an investigation is occurring to ensure the safety and well-being of the cast and crew.

Also Read: 'Black Lightning' Showrunner Salim Akil Accused of Domestic Violence in Lawsuit

According to the insider, Warner Bros believes in due process...

“Love Is __” has been renewed for a second season on the Oprah Winfrey Network, the network announced Tuesday.

“Mara and Salim have brought their heart and soul to this passion project working with our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television and we couldn’t be more thrilled to renew the show for a second season,” said OWN president Erik Logan. “This series is an important part of OWN’s scripted programming lineup and to see the ratings grow as the Akils’ love story unfolds each week is truly exciting.”

Creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil serve as executive producers through their company Akil Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Brock Akil is showrunner and directed the pilot and upcoming Season 1 finale.

The series follows Nuri (Michele Weaver...

Following a year that has made her a household name after her breakout role in “Girls Trip,” Tiffany Haddish has no plans of slowing down.

With current roles in “The Last Og” and “Uncle Drew,” and soon starring in “Night School” and “Nobody’s Fool,” the funnywoman has a full schedule and even bigger dreams on the horizon. At Hollywood Confidential’s An Evening with Tiffany Haddish in Los Angeles on Friday night, the star told Variety that down the line, “I want to get my production company up and running, be able to provide a lot of jobs for people that actually have talent and skill, I want to still open up those streets — get two streets that intersect called Tiffany and Haddish — open up that youth center, that job placement center, that art center, that mental health center. I really want to give everyone a chance to be their selves.