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Netflix is set to bring comedy fans a highly anticipated sequel to the 1996 cult classic “Happy Gilmore,” with Kym Whitley joining Adam Sandler in the upcoming film. The movie, which completed filming in December, promises to reunite fans with the beloved golf comedy while introducing new talent to the franchise.

Whitley will play Bessie, a member of Happy Gilmore’s support group, marking another collaboration between her and Sandler following their work in “Hubie Halloween.” Her addition to the cast continues her impressive comedy career, which includes roles in popular TV series like “The Parkers” and “The Neighborhood.”

The sequel boasts an impressive ensemble cast, bringing back original stars Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Ben Stiller. Joining them are exciting newcomers including Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, and NFL star Travis Kelce, adding fresh energy to the beloved comedy.

Behind the camera, Kyle Newacheck will direct the film, with original director...

The titular golfer played by Adam Sandler in the Netflix sequel Happy Gilmore 2 has a new support system.

Actress Kym Whitley has joined the cast of director Kyle Newacheck’s comedy feature that is set to premiere later this year on the streamer. Filming wrapped in December on the movie that sees Sandler reprising his role as the long-driving phenom that he originated in Universal’s 1996 film Happy Gilmore.

Whitley will play a friend to Happy Gilmore. Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen and Ben Stiller are among the performers returning from the original film, while new cast additions include Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie and Travis Kelce. Also reprising his role from the first movie is Dennis Dugan, who directed the original Happy Gilmore and executive produces the sequel.

Returning to produce Happy Gilmore 2 are Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Robert Simonds and Jack Giarraputo. Sandler and Herlihy wrote the...

Trisha Mann-Grant plays one of the most intriguing characters on the upcoming CBS soap Beyond the Gates. The description for Dana “Leslie” Thomas includes words and phrases like “not wrapped all that tight,” “charming,” and “unsettling.” The actress will undoubtedly have fun with the role.

The Early Days

Trisha Mann-Grant is a Chicago native who is a former beauty queen and print model. In fact, she was once crowned Miss Black Chicago. She told the “I Love Me Project” that she basically always wanted to act.

As a little girl, she appeared in church plays and performed skits with her sister. But there was a teacher who inspired her to achieve more.

“When I was a freshman in high school, there was a teacher named Sister Dorothy who helped bring me out of my shell. She took the time to talk to me about myself and how amazing I was.

Paramount’s free streaming service, Pluto TV, has revealed its December highlights. The Pluto TV December 2024 lineup includes the “Season’s Greetings” category, which features festive TV and movies all month long on channels like Pluto TV Christmas, Hallmark Movies and More Holiday Favorites.

Special programming, like a Hanukah Menorah and Kwanzaa Kinara on the service’s Crackling Fireplace channel, will also be available. Be sure to check out new channels such as Dinos 24/7 and The Twilight Zone as well.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies.

The Most Streamable Time Of The Year

This December, Pluto TV is serving up a sleigh-load of Christmas classics, holiday episodes, movies and more. Don’t miss their “Season’s Greetings” category,...

Anna Kendrick praised her Up in the Air co-star George Clooney for the “complete fiction” he told her to calm her nerves ahead of filming the six-time Oscar-nominated dramedy film.

In a recent appearance on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, the Woman of the Hour helmer and star admitted it was “absolutely terrifying” to act alongside the Ocean’s Eleven vet. While Kendrick had already been awarded a Tony nomination a decade prior to the filming of the 2009 Jason Reitman movie, she was in her early 20s starring alongside heavyhitters like Clooney and Vera Farmiga.

“He is kind of capital G, George, and he works really hard to make you forget that and feel comfortable,” the Pitch Perfect star said. “The very, very first shot that he and I did together was my first shot in the movie. We were standing on this people mover, and we’re kind...

Paramount’s free streaming service Pluto TV has revealed its November highlights. The Pluto TV November 2024 lineup serves up a delicious selection of TV shows, movies, and new channels, including the return of their Season’s Greetings category and a cornucopia of fresh options.

For those inspired to trace their roots, check out PBS Genealogy to explore the fascinating and emotional histories of the famous and not-so-famous. And if the dinner conversation turns competitive (as it often does), settle it with the new Family Feud channel, hosted by Steve Harvey.

As a special holiday gift to you, Pluto TV is bringing back Pluto TV 007! Dive into 20 official James Bond films, including Daniel Craig in No Time to Die, now streaming for free. Whether you’re a longtime James Bond fan or just discovering the legend, enjoy the 007 experience on Pluto TV.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service,...

The new Ultimate Universe just killed off two god-tier heroes in Marvel Comics canon: Black Bolt and Sentry. The Ultimates discover this upon investigating the Maker's Damage Control facility, where they find the corpses of these heroes on display. Killing Black Bolt and Sentry is a bold statement by Marvel, as it tells fans that there will be no easy solutions or god-level allies in the Ultimates' fight against the Maker.

Warning: Contain Spoilers for Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe! Marvel Comics has expanded its continuity beyond just Earth-616, as a new Ultimate Universe takes center-stage as its own separate, ongoing canon. While a future crossover between Earth-616 and the newly established Earth-6160 seems inevitable (especially given the circumstances of Earth-6160s origin), the new Ultimate Universe is currently totally separate, with a storyline thats in the beginning stages of shaping its entire continuity. And as that storyline unfolds,...

The skinny bundle streamer is adding channels from AMC Networks, We tv, TV One, and Weigel Broadcasting.

Whether you are in search of sports, scares, or something in between, customers of the live TV streaming skinny bundle Philo have even more options. The streamer has added five new free channels to its lineup that include programming from Msg, Shudder, TV One, and more. Philo has also added Dabl to its base package lineup. The channel highlights African American comedies and characters with some of the most iconic Black sitcoms of all time.

Philo is adding five free channels and one channel to its base package. The additions focus on sports, horror, Black-focused sitcoms, true crime, and hip-hop royalty. The new channels join a collection of more than 70 free channels and another 70 channels on Philo’s base plan. 7-Day Free Trial $25+ / month philo.com

Philo has added five new channels to its lineup of free offerings,...

Actress Mo’Nique claimed she has been “blackballed” from the entertainment industry by Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey – and she said she has an audio tape of Perry stating she is “difficult to work with.”

In an interview with football legend Shannon Sharpe on his podcast Club Shay Shay, Mo’Nique reveals she recorded a conversation over the phone between herself and Perry.

After the recorded phone call, Mo’Nique stated that Perry told singer Stephanie Mills he would only meet with Mo’Nique if her husband, Sidney Hicks, was not present. Perry requested a public apology from Mo’Nique and said that he and Oprah had nothing to do with the downfall of her career.

The drama between Mo’Nique, Perry and Winfrey dates back to 2009.

The three collectively worked on the hit film Precious, but Mo’Nique refused to promote the movie for “free.” Celebrities typically do press for...

Mo’Nique delivered a viral interview on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast that garnered nearly five million views in 24 hours due to the Oscar-winning comedian’s blunt comments while talking about previous public spats with the likes of Tyler Perry, Netflix, Oprah Winfrey and more. In one of the podcast’s most quoted moments, Mo’Nique declared that her career might’ve been as successful as that of fellow comic Melissa McCarthy had she been given equal opportunities as her white contemporaries.

“If I was a white woman, do you know what my name would be? Melissa McCarthy,” Mo’Nique told host Shannon Sharpe. “If I was a white woman, my name would be Melissa McCarthy. Same track record! Five-year sitcom in syndication. The opportunities are not the same.”

McCarthy starred on the CBS sitcom “Mike and Molly” for six seasons and won an Emmy for outstanding actress in a comedy series.

Marvel Comics has revitalized the Ultimate Universe with Earth-6160, a new and largely unexplored corner of the Marvel Universe. The new Ultimates, consisting of Iron Lad, Doctor Doom, Thor, Lady Sif, and Captain America, are uniting to put this twisted universe shaped by the Maker back on track towards a hopeful future. The upcoming Free Comic Book Day issue will continue the storyline from 2023's Ultimate Universe, answering questions about the fate of the heroes, Captain America's status, and the involvement of other characters/storylines including Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, and Ultimate X-Men.

Marvel Comics has officially revitalized the Ultimate Universe, and while it has a clever link to the original Earth-1610 with the multiversal villain, the Maker, this new universe of Earth-6160 is an entirely new and barely explored corner of the Marvel Universe. And now, the heroes of this world are uniting into the ‘new Ultimates...

Content removals are a sad truth in the streaming industry. People love seeing their favorite title added to a streaming service, but they must always be aware that if the series doesn’t attain the proper levels of viewership for the platform it resides on, it might eventually get pulled so the streamer isn’t paying maintenance costs on a series that doesn’t earn that money back.

Most streaming platforms in the industry are cutting titles these days, and now Netflix is preparing to shed some content. Starting in August, and continuing through October, Netflix will pull seven series from its service, all of which feature a Black lead performer. Unlike recent cuts from Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney, these aren’t Netflix Originals, but are instead shows from the long-extinct Upn broadcast channel, which the world’s largest streamer licensed in 2020. Those agreements are ending over the next few months,...

Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique sued CBS and Paramount for reportedly retaining millions of dollars worth of royalties from the TV sitcom The Parkers.

Mo’Nique’s production company, Hicks Media, filed the breach-of-contract lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges that CBS and Paramount “artificially depressed” the show’s profitability in an attempt to “retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due” to Hicks Media.

“While [The Parkers] has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series’ talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success,” the lawsuit alleges.

Mo’Nique took to Instagram on Thursday to confirm the lawsuit, writing that “Today we filed a lawsuit to make sure that we are fairly paid money that we are owed for “The Parkers”. Actors rely on the good faith of Hollywood companies to honor their profit participation agreements.

Mo’Nique Hicks is taking Paramount to court over alleged unpaid royalties for The Parkers.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the comedian alleges that an audit of the show concluded that the network “inequitably structured the Series’ finances to artificially depress its profitability” so it can “retain tens of millions that would otherwise be contractually due and owed.” She also claims that Paramount likely deprived the show’s writers and creators of their rights to profit participation.

The Parkers, a spinoff series of hit ‘90s sitcom Moesha that aired for six seasons, continues to run on various networks and is carried by Netflix. It was produced by Big Ticket Productions, which is owned by CBS Studios.

Hicks Media operates as the loan-out entity for Mo’Nique and is entitled to contingent compensation of 2.5 percent of the series’ gross adjusted receipts. CBS accounts for profit participation to Hicks Media.

Mo’Nique has filed a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount seeking what she claims is millions in unpaid royalties stemming from her early 2000s sitcom The Parkers.

The lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that the Oscar-winning actress — as one of the central stars on the show — hasn’t received any compensation from The Parkers’ syndication and now-streaming rights over the past two decades.

“I just want the contractual compensation that I’ve earned,” Mo’Nique said in a statement to Rolling Stone. According to the lawsuit,...

Mo’Nique has filed a lawsuit alleging that Paramount and CBS owe her millions in profit participation from her show “The Parkers.”

The show ran for five seasons on Upn, from 1999 through 2004. The show’s creators — Ralph Farquhar, Sara Finney-Johnson and Vida Spears — filed a similar lawsuit last June, alleging that CBS had engaged in various forms of “financial malfeasance” to artificially inflate expenses and suppress profit payments. The network settled that case out of court in November.

Mo’Nique, whose legal name is Monique Hicks, filed her own suit on Wednesday, repeating many of the claims in the show creators’ lawsuit.

The suit notes that the production company, Big Ticket Productions, and Upn were both owned by Viacom, and alleges that Upn was allowed to pay a below-market fee to distribute the show. The suit also suggests that the show was packaged for cable distribution at below-market rates, further depressing its profitability.

Actress and comedian Mo’Nique filed a lawsuit against Paramount and CBS on Wednesday seeking unpaid royalties from her sitcom “The Parkers.”

The breach of contract lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges CBS and Paramount artificially depressed “The Parkers” profitability to “retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due” to Mo’Nique’s production company.

The suit states, “While the series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series’ talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success.”

Mo’Nique and her husband and business partner, Sidney Hicks, filed the lawsuit under their production company, Hicks Media. The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages which will be determined at a trial. They are suing both CBS and Paramount and the show’s production company Big Ticket Productions.

“Plaintiff only recently discovered the breaches and/or concealment of material...

In Mo’Nique’s new Netflix stand-up special, the Academy Award winner spends some time talking and joking about her stint on The Parkers. However, a profit participation suit filed today against Paramount Pictures, CBS TV Studios and others is no laughing matter.

“While the Series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series’ talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success,” declares the breach of contract action over the sitcom that ran on the now defunct Upn from 1999 to 2004 (read it here).

“Plaintiff is further informed and believes and thereupon alleges that the Series’ writers and creators performed a forensic audit that this forensic audit of the Series’ books and records strongly suggested that Defendants have inequitably structured the Series’ finances to artificially depress its profitability and retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due and owing to Plaintiff,...

My Name Is Mo’Nique is a stand-up comedy special starring the only, the queen, the one… Mo’Nique.

Mo’Nique introduces herself with the full force of her irresistible personality, her expletive-filled vocabulary and her brutal sincerity on a stage (Atlanta) that totally surrenders to this fury of a woman, someone who is full of energy and knows exactly who she is addressing and how to win her audience’s affection.

In this show, Mo’Nique tells us – in a comedy key – the vicissitudes of her life, each one adorned by a F…k, very likeable, and, above all, great style on stage.

Another thing is that it is the kind of style you are looking for: maybe it’s not for everyone, maybe it’s not for all tastes, but of course, if you come to this show, she knows how to transmit “her” very own style of comedy.

Enjoy it,...

Mo’Nique, born Monique Angela Hicks, is an American comedian, actress, and television host, known for her incredible talent and versatility in the world of entertainment. With a career spanning over two decades, Mo’Nique has broken barriers and paved the way for many comedians and actresses alike. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at her rise to fame, her most significant accomplishments, and the impact she has had on the industry.

Don’t miss her last stand-up show on Netflix: My Name Is Mo’Nique.

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Mo’Nique was born on December 11, 1967, in Baltimore, Maryland. She began her career in the early 1990s as a stand-up comedian, performing at local clubs and gaining a reputation for her unique style and hilarious outlook on life. Her big break came in 1999 when she landed a role on the popular Upn sitcom “The Parkers,...

Oprah is visiting historic sites during her vacation.

The star shared photos from her recent trip to Jordan on Instagram which included a visit to famous sites like Petra.

She captioned the post, “Visited Jordan this week and there was so much to see and experience!”

Read More: Mo’Nique Reveals Why She Still Wants A Public Apology From Oprah Winfrey

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“We visited the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Petra and all its fascinations, camels, and the spot where the big boulder comes rolling out of Indiana Jones,” she continued. “So much history there in the “Rose City,” voted one of the 7 new wonders of the world. It takes 3 days to really see it all we only spent 3 hours. Put it on your must see list if you haven’t already! ”

Read More: Oprah Winfrey Says Meghan Markle...

Mike Colter will always be Luke Cage to some of his fans. However, he is a multifaceted actor who has slowly built up his career, and his recent role in Plane proves as much. Colter has been in the acting business for years, but he was shocked to learn his cousin is this Oscar winner.

Mike Colter’s career Mike Colter attends a “Plane” Screening I Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Colter made his big screen debut in 2004 when he starred in the Clint Eastwood movie Million Dollar Baby playing boxer Big Willie Little. After his appearance in the movie, the star landed more guest roles in TV shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, ER, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and The Parkers.

In 2012, Colter played Will Smith’s character’s father in Men in Black 3, and in 2014 he began playing Agent Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise. He...

Paramount Global, flexing its corporate synergy muscles, is pulling a massive batch of TV shows out of the CBS vault and putting them on its free, ad-supported Pluto TV service.

Popular CBS classic series coming to Pluto’s linear streaming service through the end of 2022 include “Frasier” and “Cheers” (in the Sitcom Legends channel); “Star Trek: The Original Series” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (Star Trek channel); “Have Gun – Will Travel” and “The Wild Wild West” (Westerns TV channel) and “Petticoat Junction” (Classic TV Comedy channel).

On the on-demand side, Pluto is adding more than 6,300 episodes — tripling the amount of CBS series currently available on-demand on the streamer — including crime dramas “Criminal Minds” and “Hawaii Five-o.”

Other titles on tap for Pluto TV’s on-demand include “Beverly Hills 90210,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Family Ties,” “Gunsmoke,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Love Boat,...

Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor and comedian Mo’Nique is planning a fresh new comedy special for Netflix.

Mo’Nique made the announcement in a video message posted to the streamer’s Twitter account on Tuesday, saying, “I’m excited to say that I’ll be shooting my first Netflix special, in addition to reuniting with my friend, director Lee Daniels on the Netflix film ‘The Deliverance.'”

“You won’t want to miss either of them, so stay tuned,” the Grammy-nominee continued. “Thank you all and I love y’all to life!”

The yet-to-be-titled special is set to film later this year in Atlanta, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.

News that Mo’Nique is bringing her comedy stylings to Netflix marks a happy (albeit surprising) resolution to a years-long standoff between the star and the streamer. Last month, Mo’Nique, whose legal name is Monique Hicks,...

If you find yourself feeling nostalgic about the bygone era of television, the comedy series “In The Cut” is unmissable. It’s a feel-good sitcom that ends up hurting your cheeks with all the smiling.

“In The Cut” centers around a barbershop owner, Jay “The Dream” Weaver (played by Dorien Wilson), who accidentally fathered a child around 30 years ago in a brief fling. When the son, Kenny (played by Ken Lawson) grows up, he seeks his father. We see a beautifully budding relationship of the father-son duo and how they learn to navigate life and work together.

The cast also includes Dorion Renaud, John Marshall Jones, Laura Hayes, Chastity Dotson, and Kalita Smith playing great characters that never fail to tickle your funny bones. Created by Bentley Kyle Evans, “In The Cut” has 72 episodes spanning across seven seasons. Season seven of “In the Cut” premiered on Bounce TV on August 26th,...

Starz is currently developing an untitled romantic drama from executive producers Ava DuVernay, Lauren Ridloff and Joshua Jackson. Ridloff and Jackson would also star.

If the project is greenlit, it gets a straight-to-series order spanning three seasons and 18 episodes.

Kat Candler (“Queen Sugar”) will write the pilot and serve as executive producer and showrunner. Paul Garnes (“Queen Sugar”) is an executive producer.

Jeffrey Hirsch, the network president and CEO, made the announcement at the company’s first #TakeTheLead Summit.

Also Read:

Ava DuVernay’s ‘One Perfect Shot’ Documentary Series Gets March Release on HBO Max, Debut Trailer (Video)

The show would follow two polar opposites who become intertwined in a love affair that turns their worlds – and those of everyone around them – upside down.

Here is the logline for the half-hour drama: The show will “chronicle what it takes to fall and stay in a radical, rebellious love. One person is ambitious,...

Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique (Precious) has joined the Starz crime drama Bmf for Season 2.

The first season of Bmf introduced the story of two brothers — Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (played by Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi) — who created Black Mafia Family, the most prominent drug distribution network in American history.

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Mo’Nique is set to recur during Season 2 as Goldie, a sophisticated Atlanta...

Exclusive: Precious and Bessie star Mo’Nique is to develop a range of unscripted projects after striking a deal Endemol Shine North America.

The deal reunites the actress and comedian with Cris Abrego, now Chairman of the Americas, Banijay, and President and CEO, Endemol Shine Holdings, and who cast Mo’Nique in VH1’s Charm School 15 years ago when he was running 51 Minds.

Mo’Nique will produce shows through Hicks Media, the production company that she set up with her husband and manager. The plan is to create and produce series for her to host and star in as well as to produce for other performers.

The deal came about after Abrego called the duo during the pandemic to inquire about potential unscripted collaborations and he was reminded of a conversation that they had on Charm School.

“I’ll never forget my first time working with her on Charm School, where...

Suzzanne Douglas, who starred in Robert Townsend’s WB ’90s sitcom The Parent ‘Hood and most recently appeared in Ava DuVernay’s 2019 Netflix miniseries When They See Us, died yesterday at the age of 64. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Douglas’ death was announced on Facebook by her cousin Angie Tee.

“Suzzanne Douglas a beautiful and talented actress made her transition today,” Tee wrote. “She warmed our hearts on movie screens and television sets all over the world…The world will miss your talent but your soul will live on forever.”

DuVernay remembered Douglas as “a quiet, elegant force.”

“A gentlewoman,” DuVernay wrote on Twitter early this morning. “A gem of a lady. A confident, caring actor who breathed life into the words and made them shimmer. I’m grateful that our paths in this life crossed. May she journey on in peace and love.”

A Chicago native...

Traci Blackwell has stepped down as the head of BET scripted programming, a position she held since shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic came stateside, a spokesperson for the cable channel confirmed to TheWrap.

BET does not yet have a replacement named.

Blackwell led the development, casting and ongoing production elements for current scripted series on both the ViacomCBS cable channel and its streaming service, BET+. She was based in Los Angeles and reported to BET President Scott Mills.

In the newly created role, the CW alum also oversaw BET’s partnerships with Tyler Perry, Will Packer and Lena Waithe. Blackwell had been the senior vice president of current programming when she left The CW.

“I am proud of the impact we’ve made on our talent partners and thankful to have worked with some of the most inspiring creators and executives in our business,” Blackwell said in a statement to BET staff.

Exclusive: Traci Blackwell has stepped down as EVP, Scripted Programming for BET Networks after a year and a half, a network spokesperson confirmed to Deadline. A replacement will be announced shortly.

Based in Los Angeles and reporting to BET Networks President Scott Mills, Blackwell led development, casting and current of original scripted programming for the BET linear network and the company’s SVOD service, BET+. The position was created in late 2019 amid a scripted expansion — both on the linear network and the SVOD service — fueled by several creative partnerships, most notably with Tyler Perry who has generated a slew of new series for BET and BET+.

Mills announced Blackwell’s departure in a company email Tuesday afternoon, which also included a message from her. In the memo, Mills noted that “BET leads the industry in the creation of Black scripted content by volume.” The network’s 14 scripted series in 2021, including series from Tyler Perry,...

Exclusive: Moesha alumna Shar Jackson is set for a recurring role on the 11th and final season of Showtime’s hit dramedy Shameless.

Jackson will play Constance, a woman in her early 40s who lives in Louisville and is the cousin of Veronica (Shanola Hampton).

Starring William H. Macy, the final season of Shameless finds the Gallagher family and the South Side at a crossroads, with changes caused by the Covid pandemic, gentrification and aging to reconcile.

Jeremy Allen, Ethan Cutkosky, Cameron Monaghan, Noel Fisher, Steve Howey, Shanola Hampton, Christian Isaiah and Kate Miner also star.

Created by Paul Abbott, the series is produced by Bonanza Productions in association with John Wells Productions and Warner Bros Television.

Jackson is best known for playing Niecy on 90’s hit sitcom Moesha, as well as her roles in Love and Basketball, Good Burger and The Parkers. Jackson is repped by Ryan Glasgow at Mills Kaplan Entertainment.

Hollywood studios have shown an affinity for pulling red hot indie filmmakers out of the low-budget space and into the director’s chair for big-budget tentpoles. Such a career trajectory could have been in the cards for Lee Daniels, who revealed to Collider that he pitched a Wolverine movie to 20th Century Fox at the request of Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman. It turns out Jackman was a huge fan of “Precious,” Daniels’ 2009 indie sensation that won Mo’Nique the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

“A lot of actors call me. I remember after I did ‘Precious,’ Hugh Jackman called and wanted me to do a Wolverine,” Daniels said. “And he sent me into the studio to Fox, I guess that’s where they do them at. And I had never done a studio film before and it was a disaster.”

Daniels continued, “I literally pulled over…Yeah, it was at Fox...

The Proud Family EPs Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar are expanding their relationship with Disney, signing a wide-ranging, multiyear overall deal to produce animated and live-action series and movies for Disney Branded Television. It is the first deal to be officially announced under the new division established as part of the recent restructuring, headed by Gary Marsh.

Under the deal, Smith and Farquhar will work closely with Meredith Roberts, senior vice president/general manager, Television Animation, Disney Channels, and Ayo Davis, executive vice president, Creative Development and Strategy, Disney Branded Television. The agreement provides separate funding for Farquhar and Smith to find and develop emerging talent and bring unique projects and voices to Disney.

Created by Smith and executive produced by Smith and Farquhar, The Proud Family aired on Disney Channel from 2001-2005 and was one of very few animated series at the time to center around an African American family.

Soon after Netflix’s Strong Black Lead launched in 2018, fans began pitching the marketing team’s social channels on the kind of acquisitions they’d like to see on the service. As viewers gravitated to films like the “Friday” trilogy, “Love and Basketball” and “Love Jones,” the Strong Black Team also noticed a specific recurring hunger for the Black-led sitcoms that ran on broadcast TV — mostly The WB and Upn — in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Every time we would post about a new show or anything else that we were talking about in the zeitgeist, we would get people asking about ‘Girlfriends,’ wanting to watch ‘Sister, Sister,’ wanting to watch ‘Moesha,'” says Jasmyn Lawson, who until recently was manager of Strong Black Lead, overseeing its editorial output. (She’s now a part of Netflix’s comedy programming team.)

Some episodes of those shows were already available on...

Netflix’s Cobra Kai has again topped the Nielsen U.S. streaming chart, racking up 1.655 billion streaming minutes from September 7-13.

The Karate Kid update, which premiered on YouTube Premium before shifting to Netflix, has 20 episodes available spanning its first two seasons. In the previous week, Cobra Kai approached 2.2 billion streaming minutes. The streaming giant last week set January 8, 2021, as the premiere date for Season 3 and said Cobra Kai has been renewed for a fourth season.

Netflix once again dominated the rankings, which cover only streaming views through a TV set and only in the U.S., a minority of the global picture for Netflix and several others. There is also a lengthy delay in compiling the viewership numbers, in contrast with the quicker turnaround of linear and time-shifted viewing through pay-tv set-top boxes.

Amazon’s The Boys, the only non-Netflix entry for the week, racked up 1.06 billion streaming minutes,...

It’s been more than 20 years since “Sister, Sister” ended its run. But now, the 1990s sitcom has found new life on Netflix — and according to the latest Nielsen streaming ranker, audiences are responding.

All six seasons of “Sister, Sister” (which amounts to 119 episodes) is now available on Netflix, and the show managed to make it into the Nielsen top 10, for the week of Sept. 7 to Sept. 13.

“Sister, Sister” starred identical twins Tia and Tamera Mowry as Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell — twins separated at birth and raised in different households, and reunited as teens when they accidentally find each other. The show, which premiered in 1994, ran for two seasons on ABC before being canceled — and immediately picked up by The WB, which aired it for another four years. “Sister, Sister” ended its run in 1999. Jackée Harry, Tim Reid, Marques Houston, RonReaco Lee and Deon Richmond also starred.

“Sister, Sister...

When it comes to adding new content, the biggest haul for any given streaming service is typically found on the first of the month, and that’s no different with Netflix.

Indeed, thanks to a huge day for new movies/TV shows on October 1st, the past week has seen the current leader in the industry add a whopping 74 films and 31 television series, ensuring that subscribers have plenty to entertain themselves with. From hidden gems to all-time classics and a few underrated titles that definitely deserve another look, there’s much to get excited about here and the full list of every new release that arrived this week can be found below.

74 New Movies

28 Days (2000) A Chaster Marriage (2016) A Toot-Toot Cory Carson Halloween (2020) Netflix Original A.M.I. (2019) Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) All Because of You (Pasal Kau) (2020) Netflix Original Along Came a Spider (2001) Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part...

It’s a brand new month, and that means that the cycle of Netflix content drops begin anew, with a wide selection of original programming and classics headed our way. And with the first day always bringing the biggest new collection of movies and shows to enjoy, there’s some great stuff that can be checked out right away.

For instance, comedy fans are sure to appreciate that they can now watch the beloved Jim Carrey sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Dane Cook’s underrated Employee of the Month. Meanwhile, the 1996 classic black comedy Fargo is available, too, and though it has loose connections to the popular FX show of the same name, it’s a great standalone film that’s very much worth a watch.

If you’re looking for solid dramas to get wrapped up in, you can now catch the emotional Clint Eastwood pic Gran Torino...

Netflix has a whole lot of spooks up its sleeve for the month of October.

From Adam Sandler’s “Hubie Halloween” (Oct. 7) to the “Hill House” follow-up “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (Oct. 9), the Halloween-themed goodness is in high supply next month. Watch Netflix’s little teaser reel above.

If you want a gory horror film, try “Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight” (Oct. 28). Other new creepy flicks include “His House” (Oct. 30) “Cadaver” (Oct. 22) and Spanish-language film “The Day of the Lord” (Oct. 30).

For a younger audience, there’s “Vampires vs. the Bronx” (Oct. 2) and “The Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” (Oct. 15).

In terms of TV, get ready for Volume 2 of Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” reboot series (Oct. 19), and also check out Season 1 of CBS’ “Evil” (Oct. 1) about a forensic psychologist who comes face to face with evidence that challenges her disbelief in supernatural phenomena.

For some non-Halloween-themed content,...

It’s almost spooky season, and the various streaming services are making sure that subscribers have got plenty of great horror content for all ages available to watch this Halloween. Given the current state of the world, this All Hallow’s Eve will see more folks staying in than ever before, so we’ll need as much choice when it comes to finding a perfect movie or TV show to dive into as possible. Thankfully, Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video have got us covered.

Of course, there’s much more beyond just horror content arriving across the streaming world this October, with the first day of the month launching hundreds of new titles on all the various sites. There are also a few key highlights scattered throughout the month. Arguably the biggest is Aaron Sorkin’s much-anticipated all-star drama based on real events, The Trial of the Chicago 7,...

The theatrical industry is still struggling to return to normal, and matters aren’t helped as the studios continue to pull major releases from the calendar and send them to next year. There might not be a lot of content available on the big screen, but luckily the streaming wars remain in full swing, and as the market leaders, Netflix are constantly updating their library to retain their position at the front of the pack.

Enola Holmes has become the latest of the platform’s originals to dominate the conversation, but the usual array of forgotten titles have also been posting a strong showing as subscribers occupy their downtime with a variety of movies and TV shows, not all of which need to be the subject of critical acclaim or even good reviews.

Next week takes us into October, meaning that the first day of the month brings a huge...

Netflix was ahead of the game for October, releasing its “Netflix and Chills” horror lineup in anticipation of the Halloween season. Now the streaming giant has unveiled its full lineup for October, and believe it or not: horror remains at the forefront of its strategy.

The biggest release this month is undoubtedly The Haunting of Bly Manor, Mike Flanagan’s long-awaited followup to terrifying Haunting of Hill House. That arrives on Oct. 9. The film side of things is where most of Netflix’s other horror originals reside, with Hubie Halloween (Oct. 7), A Babysitters’ Guide to Monster Hunting (Oct. 15), and Rebecca (Oct. 22) all making their debut.

Some non-horror originals of note this month include high school drama Grand Army (Oct. 16) and the Anya-Taylor Joy-starring chess story The Queen’s Gambit (Oct. 26). Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, arrives on Oct. 16.

Netflix is adding new library movies like Fargo,...

The full list of everything that’s coming to Netflix in October has been released today and as we’re facing the prospect of a Halloween spent at home, the streaming site is making sure that we’ve got more than enough spooky content to keep us occupied. In fact, there’s a huge amount of new movies and TV shows arriving on the service next month as part of the “Netflix and Chills” season.

October 1st also delivers a lot of great newly licensed content, too, which you won’t want to miss. Sticking with the Halloween theme, though, the haul features a few horrors/thrillers including Cape Fear, House of 1000 Corpses and You Have Always Lived in the Castle. Then, on the 2nd, new original movie Vampires vs. the Bronx lands. And skipping ahead to the 7th, be sure to catch Adam Sandler’s latest comedy, Hubie Halloween.

Legendary casting director Chemin Bernard has been honored by the Casting Society of America, which has awarded her with Emeritus Member Status in recognition of her “remarkable contributions to the organization, the profession, and the art of casting.” Bernard, who served as Csa president from 2006-08, was chosen for the honor by the Csa’s board of directors and by the Csa Black, Indigenous and People of Color Alliance.

“Chemin Bernard is an exemplary casting director who has built an esteemed career by championing actors and helping tell stories that make an impact on culture,” said Csa president Russell Boast. “She has been a cornerstone to our craft who continues to inspire the next generation of artists.”

“I am humbled by this honor and share it with the African American casting directors on whose shoulders I stand,” said Bernard, who is now retired. “My mission as a casting director was...

It’s time to take our first look at what’s coming to Netflix in October. As it’s only early September, the full line-up hasn’t been revealed as yet, but numerous titles have already been scheduled for release throughout the month. We’re expecting the complete list to be announced by the streaming giant in either the third or final week of September, but for now, here’s what we know is going up on the site next month. And it already promises much to enjoy.

First of all, a few titles have yet to be dated, but they’re due in October all the same. The most notable of these is David Fincher’s Mank, his much-anticipated biopic about the creation of Citizen Kane, focusing on the battles between director Orson Welles and writer Herman J. Mankiewicz that plagued the classic’s production.

October 1st kicks off...

Mo to the, E to the... It's been nearly 25 years since we first met headstrong teenager Moesha Mitchell and her Leimert Park crew with the 1996 debut of Moesha. The family sitcom, originally ordered to pilot by CBS before making its way to the now-defunct Upn, proved to be one of the fledgling network's greatest successes and helped turn rising star Brandy into a household name. Telling the story of an upper-middle class Black family through the eyes of a typical teenage girl wondering if she's, as the iconic theme song asks, realizing her responsibility, the show ran for six seasons through May 2001. At the height of its popularity, it even birthed a spinoff series, The Parkers, that lasted for...

In a 2008 interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Mo'Nique Hicks reveals her costar on The Parkers Martin Lawrence gave her advice that would go on to shape her acting career: "He pulled me to the side, and he said, 'Listen, don't ever let them tell you what you can't have.' Since that day, I've made some of the best deals I've ever made in my career because it keeps ringing in my head. It will stay with me forever." Martin Lawrence encouraged Mo'Nique not to settle for less than her genius was worth. He saw her pure raw talent, not that it was hard to see then, and especially now.

If you’ve been in the mood for Black sitcoms, Netflix has the fix for you: The streaming service has acquired the rights to seven classic Black sitcoms, the first of which will hit Netflix August 1.

“Moesha” will become available on Netflix on August 1, following by the first three seasons of “The Game,” August 15; “Sister Sister,” September 1; “Girlfriends,” September 11; “The Parkers,” October 1; “Half & Half,” October 15; and “One on One,” October 15.

Netflix announced the news via a video on its @strongblacklead Twitter account, where stars from the aforementioned shows celebrated the sitcoms’ impending arrival on the streaming service. The news should help scratch the itch for nostalgia, given that all of the aforementioned shows were major hits in the last decade or two.

While its standard for streaming services to announce high-profile licensing deals for specific shows, it’s rare to see such a large number of well-known shows hit...

Netflix announced Wednesday that it has acquired the streaming right to seven sitcoms — including Sister, Sister and Moesha — as part of their growing Strong Black Lead slate.

“The goal of Strong Black Lead is to celebrate and lift up Black Hollywood. These trailblazing shows are a huge part of that story,” Netflix’s Bradley Edwards and Jasmyn Lawson said in a statement (via Deadline). “We admit it, we grew up watching a lot of TV. And some of the beloved black sitcoms of the Nineties and early aughts had a huge impact on us.