BET+ Announces New Comedy, "Ms. Pat"

BET+ Picks up New Scripted Comedy “Ms. Pat” From Award-winning Producers Brian Grazer and Lee Daniels

Based on Comedian Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams’ Stand-up Comedy and Memoir, ‘Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat’

Imagine Television and Lee Daniels Entertainment to Executive Produce

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BET+ announced the pick-up of new original scripted comedy, “Ms. Pat,” from Imagine Television and Lee Daniels Entertainment. Based on Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams’ stand-up comedy and memoir, the ten-episode multi-camera sitcom will tell the story of a former convicted felon turned suburban mom (Ms. Pat), whose hustle and resilient spirit was forged on the streets of Atlanta. To much reserve, she now finds herself in conservative middle America alongside her well-intentioned husband, played by J. Bernard Calloway (“City On A Hill”), a struggle of a sister played by Tami Roman (“The Family Business”), and two distinct sets of kids played by Theodore Barnes (“The Prince of Peoria”), newcomer Briyana Guadalupe, and Vince Swann (“50 Central”), raised under very different circumstances.

Brian Grazer, Lee Daniels, President of Imagine Television Samie Kim Falvey, and Anthony Hill (who serves as the series’ showrunner) will executive produce, alongside Ms. Pat and Jordan E. Cooper (“Star”), who also penned the pilot. “Ms. Pat” marks Grazer’s and Daniels’ first scripted project on the network.

    “We are thrilled that Lee Daniels Entertainment, a division of Disney, and BET are working together for the first time. Historic!”

“We are thrilled to welcome powerhouse creators Lee Daniels, Brian Grazer, and writing phenom Jordan E. Cooper home to the BET family. We look forward to bringing Ms. Pat’s story to life on BET+ and offer viewers more premium content that reflects and celebrates the spectrum of the Black experience and tons of laughs,” said Traci Blackwell, Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming, BET.

“I have always been drawn to stories that celebrate universal human themes of family and love. Ms. Pat is an authentic, truthful voice that reflects what’s going on in our culture and how it relates to family. Because of her fierce authenticity, fans already love her humor and irreverence. She and Jordan E. Cooper have created this family comedy that will reach even more of the world - and we all desperately need to laugh,” said Brian Grazer. “I am excited to be working again with Lee Daniels and BET+ to bring Ms. Pat's story to life - showcasing her powerful tale of survival, as she finds humor and love in all things life.”

“This is the type of show I wish I had growing up - raw, funny, and honest. Ms. Pat and Jordan Cooper are magic together,” said Daniels. "We are thrilled that Lee Daniels Entertainment, a division of Disney, and BET are working together for the first time. Historic!”

Declared by The Washington Post as “unforgiving and darkly hilarious,” and The New York Times as “brutally honest and outrageous,” Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams is a comedian, author, podcaster, and actress who brings a raw, in your face, and hilarious perspective to her work. Ms. Pat was just hailed by Variety Magazine as a Top 10 Comic To Watch. She has appeared on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” Comedy Central’s “This Is Not Happening,” Netflix’s “Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy,” TV Guide Network’s “Standup in Stilettos,” Nickelodeon’s “Mom’s Night Out,” and was just featured in the second season of the Netflix stand-up series “Degenerates.”

Jordan E. Cooper is a playwright and performer who resides in Brooklyn, New York, by way of Hurst, TX. Jordan received an Obie award for his writing and performance of his play AIN'T NO MO', which just completed a sold-out world premiere run at The Public Theater. He was nominated for the same play, The Drama League's Distinguished Performance award alongside Bryan Cranston, Laurie Metcalf, and Andrè De Shields. He also starred in the award-winning independent film “Wolf.” Jordan has also been featured in The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and V Magazine. He received his BFA from The New School For Drama.

“Ms. Pat” is executive produced by Brian Grazer ("Empire," "Wu-Tang: An American Saga," "Genius: Aretha") and Samie Kim Falvey for Imagine Television; Lee Daniels ("Empire," "Star," "Precious"), Marc Velez, and Pam Williams for Lee Daniels Entertainment; Anthony Hill (“Family Reunion,” “Ravens Home”) who will also serve as the series’ showrunner; Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams; and Jordan E. Cooper, who also penned the pilot.


ABOUT BET+:
BET+ is the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience, with exclusive originals and thousands of TV episodes and movies from the best Black creators. A joint venture between BET Networks and Tyler Perry Studios, BET+ allows users to stream Black culture including hit movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, award shows, and specials, all in one place, commercial-free. The new service from BET Networks, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., is the official home of Tyler Perry’s film, TV and stage works. The ad-free subscription video-on-demand service also provides users with access to original content including hit series First Wives Club from Tracey Oliver, Tyler Perry’s Ruthless and Bruh, Will Packer’s Bigger, hit unscripted anthology series American Gangster Trap Queens, exclusive originals from Carl Weber including The Family Business, Sacrifice and Influence to name a few. Visit BET.Plus to learn more and follow @BETPlus on social to join the conversation and get the latest.

ABOUT LEE DANIELS ENTERTAINMENT:
Lee Daniels Entertainment is a full-service production company founded in 2001 by Academy Award-Nominated Director, and Writer and Producer, Lee Daniels. Since its inception, LDE has been responsible for some of Hollywood’s most exhilarating film projects including Monster’s Ball, The Woodsman, Shadowboxer, The Paperboy, The Butler, Precious and more. LDE is gearing up for the release of The United States vs. Billie Holiday for Paramount Pictures, also directed by Lee Daniels. More recently, LDE’s expansion into television has birthed what could be considered some of the most dynamic TV storytelling to date - FOX’s Empire and Star. In 2015, Lee Daniels went on to sign an overall development deal with 20th Century Fox TV, where he continues to create develop, write, direct and supervise new projects under his Lee Daniels Entertainment banner. Additional upcoming projects include Good People, Sammy Davis Jr. Mini-Series, The Spook Who Sat By The Door, Our Kind of People and Mason Dixon.

ABOUT IMAGINE TELEVISION:
Imagine Television Group is comprised of Imagine Television and Imagine Television Studios. Imagine Television was founded in 1986 by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and is run by Imagine Television President Samie Kim Falvey. Over the years, the company’s productions have been honored with 198 Emmy nominations and 30 Golden Globe nominations. In 2018, the company formed Imagine Television Studios to produce and finance a slate of projects that currently includes the series “Genius: Aretha” with showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks and starring Cynthia Erivo; “Why Women Kill” for CBS All Access from Marc Cherry; “Swagger” for Apple with Kevin Durant and Reggie Rock Bythewood; “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” for Hulu with The RZA and Alex Tse; and “Joe Exotic” with Amazon. Imagine Television is also producing “Filthy Rich” from Tate Taylor and staring Kim Cattrall for Fox. Additional productions include Fox’s award-winning series “Empire;; Nat Geo’s Emmy®-winning Genius anthology series; Fox’s Golden Globe- and Emmy®-winning Best Drama Series “24”; NBC’s Peabody Award-winning series “Friday Night Lights”; Fox’s Emmy®-winning Best Comedy “Arrested Development”; Fox’s “Shots Fired” and “Lie To Me”; WB’s “Felicity”; ABC’s “SportsNight”; and HBO’s “From the Earth to the Moon,” which won the Emmy® for Outstanding Mini-Series. Howard and Grazer began their collaboration in the early 80’s on the hit film comedies “Night Shift” and “Splash,” and continue to run Imagine as executive chairmen. www.imagine-entertainment.com

----------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 18th to 24th, 2020 - Update #23

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon and please visit I Reads You:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

JAMES BOND - From Variety:  Apparently, Netflix and Apple were among the streaming services that considered the possibility of acquiring the next Bond film, "No Time to Die," which has seen its release delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

STREAMING - From YahooHuffPost:  Even if you don't have Amazon, you can still see that notorious scene starring President Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, from "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm."

TELEVISION - From THR:  "Seinfeld" creator Larry David reveals his favorite episode of the iconic NBC series, and it's (of course) "The Contest," the 11th episode of the series' fourth season.

TELEVISION - From THR:   What is the Walt Disney Co. going to do with ESPN?

MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Roxanne, Roxanne" star Chante Adams has landed the female lead opposite Michael B. Jordan in Sony’s "Journal For Jordan," directed by Denzel Washington.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   NBC has given a put pilot commitment to drama Sovereign, from Emmy winner Ava DuVernay and Bird Runningwater.

DISNEY+ - From ShadowandAct:   Chosen Jacobs ("It") and Lexi Underwood ("Little Fires Everywhere") will star in the Disney+ pop/hip-hop musical, "Sneakerella."

CELEBRITY - From Variety:   In his new memoir, "Greenlights," Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey reveals that he was sexually abused during his teenage years.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Simon Kinberg will write and produce Universal's "Battlestar Galactica" movie (hopefully with better results than Kinberg's "X-Men" work for Fox).

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   Tim Burton is looking to develop of a live-action TV series based on "The Addams Family" property.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman talk about their decision to shut down short-form streaming service, "Quibi." 

From Deadline:  And this is what they are talking about - Quibi shuts down.

POLITICS - From Deadline:  In his first ever "political video," iconic American filmmaker and comedian Mel Brooks ("Blazing Saddles") endorses the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket for President/Vice-President of the United States.

DISNEY+ - From EW:  Actor Warwick Davis and director Ron Howard are for a Disney+ sequel series to their beloved 1998 fantasy film, "Willow."

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor, Jeff Bridges, has announced that he has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, but that his prognosis is good.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   The winner of the 10/16 to 10/18/2020 weekend box office is "Honest Thief" with an estimated take of 3.7 million dollars.

From Deadline:   The international box office is being dominated by a Japanese anime film, "Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train," which is setting records for an animated film.

From Deadline:  Movie theater owners are happy to be reopening their business in New York state.

POLITICS-AVENGERS - From Deadline:  Directors Joe and Anthony Russo are gathering from some of the actors from their "Avengers" movies for a fundraiser for Joe Biden. 

FILM FESTIVALS - From Deadline:  The Danish comedy, "Another Round," which stars Mads Mikkelsen, won "Best Film" at the 2020 BFI London Film Festival.

MOVIES - From Vulture:   Which "Welcome to the Blumhouse" Horror Movies Should You Watch? -  guide.

OBITS:

From THR: Television writer and producer, Dana Baratta, has died at the age of 59, Sunday, October 18, 2020.  Baratta was a writer and producer on several television series, including "Dawson's Creek" (The WB), "Private Practice" (ABC), and Marvel/Netflix's "Jessica Jones."

From Deadline:   Broadway and television actress, Doreen Montalvo, has died at the age of 56, Saturday, October 17, 2020.  Montalvo was appearing in the Broadway musical, "Mrs. Doubtfire," before it was shutdown due to COVID-19.  Her television appearances included episodes of "Law & Order" and "The Good Wife."  She is still set to appear in two films, director John M. Chu's "In the Heights" and Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story."

From ESPN:  Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Fred Dean, has died at the age of 68, Wednesday, October 14, 2020 of complications of COVID-19.  Dean played defensive end for the San Diego Chargers (who drafted him in 1975) and the San Francisco 49ers.  Dean was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

COVID-19:

From CDC:   The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."

From YahooNews:  Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?

From YahooNews:  Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From YahooNews:  Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?

From YahooLife:  What is "happy hypoxia?"  And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?

From JuanCole:  Remember when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19.  Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.

From TheIntercept:  The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...

From TheAtlantic:  The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying. The pandemic has exposed the bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others.

From ProPublica:  Hospital's Secret COVID-19 Policy Separated Native American Mothers From Their Newborns

From TheGuardian:  More than 20 million Americans could have contracted COVID-19, experts say.

From RSN/WashPost:  The COVID-19 mutation that has taken over the world.

7/13 - From YahooSports:  Maybe a pandemic means that there will not be college football this fall.

7/13- From YahooNews:  The CDC adds four new symptoms (including nausea and purple or blue lesions on feet and toes) to the list of COVID-19 symptoms.

7/19 - From YahooFinance:  Harvard Public Health professor Dr. Howard Koh says the U.S. "needs to regroup" to find COVID-19.

7/22 - From YahooNews:  A public health employee predicted Florida's coronavirus catastrophe — then she was fired.

7/22 - From YahooLifestyle:  Florida mom loses son, 20, to coronavirus, and then days later, her daughter.

7/23 - From TheWrap:  The site has a list of movie and TV stars, entertainment and sports figures who have tested positive for COVID-19

From Bloomberg:  Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn Millennials into socialists?

7/27 - From CNN:   Chief of critical care at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Joseph Costa, passes away due to Covid-19 complications... after treating the hospital's sickest COVID-19 patients.  He was 56 and leaves behind family, including a husband of 28 years.

7/30 - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") reveals that he had a bout with COVID-19.

7/31 - From YahooEntertainment:  Writer and actress, Lena Dunham, creator of HBO's "Girls, reveals that she contracted COVID-19 and the symptoms she experiences and still experience.

7/30 - From YahooGMA:  In their bid to crackdown on illegal gatherings amid COVID-19, New York authorities break up an alleged sex party.

7/31 - From Slate:  COVID-19 is airborne - for reals!

8/2 - From TheDailyBeast:  In Mississippi, COVID-19 has coroners terrified.

8/6 - From YahooNews:  Testing everyone constantly could stop the spread of COVID-19... according to this article.

8/8 - From YahooNYT:  The coronavirus is new, but your immune system might recognize it.

8/8 - From YahooNBC:  They thought COVID-19 was a hoax, and they almost died from it or are watching family and loved ones suffer with it or die from it.

8/9 - From YahooNews:  The rest of the world is incredulous at the pitiful U.S. response to COVID-19.

8/9 - From YahooAFP:  According to the real-time tally kept by John Hopkins University, the United States has hit 5 million cases of COVID-19.

8/16 - From Truthout: COVID Deaths Continue to Surge in Countries Led by Far Right Authoritarians

9/19 - From WashPost:  U.S. coronavirus death toll reaches 200,000

9/23 - From CNBC:  Mark Cuban, who owns the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and star of ABC's "Shark Tank," suggests that every household in American get a $1000 check every two weeks for the next two months.

9/28 - From Deadline:  John Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker reports that over 1 million people have died of COVID-19 worldwide.

10/2 - From YahooNews:  President Donald and the First Lady have tested positive for COVID-19.

BLACK LIVES MATTER:

From RSN:   Judge's Blistering Opinion Says Courts Have Placed Police Beyond Accountability

From TheGuardian:  Yusef Salaam, one of the "Central Park Five," says in an interview, "Trump would have had me hanging from a tree in Central Park."

From NPR:  Prosecutors' plea deal required drug suspect to name Breonna Taylor a "co-defendant."

From ChicagoSunTimes:  Rev. Jesse Jackson: America has millions of people in poverty because Americans choose not to demand the policies that would lift them out of poverty.

From APNews:  No one will be held accountable for the killing of Louisville African-American resident, Breonna Taylor.

From Channel4:  Revealed: Trump campaign strategy to deter millions of Black Americans from voting in 2016

From GuardianUK:  California is going to consider paying reparations to the descendants of African slaves after adopting a landmark law to study and to develop proposals around the issue.

From TheRoot:   What to Do When Your Country Turns Into a Dumpster Fire

From Vox:  It's True: 1 in 1,000 Black Americans Have Died in the Covid-19 Pandemic

From CBS:  Breonna Taylor's boyfriend certain cops didn't identify themselves

Disney and Lucasfilm Announce "Mando Mondays," Staring October 26th

Disney and Lucasfilm Announce “Mando Mondays” – A New Global Product Reveal Program in Celebration of “The Mandalorian”

New Season Starts Streaming October 30 on Disney+

Discover a Bounty of All-New Star Wars Products, Books, Comics and Digital Content Inspired by the Hit Lucasfilm Series

Pre-Orders on Select Items Have Begun

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fans of the Disney+ original series “The Mandalorian” just received a new reason to look forward to Mondays. Disney and Lucasfilm today announced Mando Mondays, an all-new global consumer products, games and publishing program, kicking off on October 26, 2020, that will debut goods inspired by the series.

After premiering last fall and quickly taking the world by storm, “The Mandalorian” – which took home seven awards last week during the 2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – will return for its highly anticipated second season Friday, October 30, 2020, streaming only on Disney+. The Mandalorian and the Child continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through the dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.

After fans experience the latest episode every Friday on Disney+, they can visit MandoMondays.com each Monday to see what new toys, collectibles, apparel, books, comics, digital content and more will be unveiled. Mando Mondays will run for nine weeks, culminating on December 21, 2020.

“When ‘The Mandalorian’ debuted last year on Disney+, the show became an instant phenomenon, with fans of all ages expressing excitement for products related to its iconic characters – particularly the Child,” said Kareem Daniel, president, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “This fall, as the world continues to watch the narrative unfold, we will further bring this unique Star Wars story to life through a must-have selection of toys, books, comics, digital content, and more.”

To celebrate this announcement, select pre-orders for the first wave of Mando Mondays products will kick off today at 1:00 p.m. PDT / 4:00 p.m. EDT across top retailers globally, including shopDisney.com. Products available for pre-order today include the Hasbro Black Series Credit Collection, new Funko Pop! bobbleheads, the LEGO® Star Wars The Child construction set and much more, all viewable now at MandoMondays.com.

The countdown starts now! For more details, visit MandoMondays.com and follow the conversation on social using #MandoMondays.

About Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing:
Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s brands and franchises—including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more—into the daily lives of families and fans around the world through products and experiences across more than 100 retail categories from toys and t-shirts to apps, books, video games, and more. A division of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment, CPGP’s global operations include: the world’s largest licensing business, one of the biggest children’s publishing brands, a leading licensor of interactive games across platforms, Disney store locations globally, and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.:
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment. In addition to its feature film and series production, the company's offerings include cutting-edge visual effects and audio post-production, digital animation, immersive storytelling, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

About Disney+:
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. As part of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, Disney+ is available on most internet-connected devices and offers commercial-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, the service is also the exclusive streaming home for the latest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+. Visit DisneyPlus.com to subscribe and/or learn more about the service.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2020 The LEGO Group. 

-------------------

CBS All Access Canada Now Streaming "Console Wars" Documentary

CBS All Access’ First Feature-Length Documentary “CONSOLE WARS” Now Available in Canada

From Legendary Television and CBS Studios, the Documentary Film Provides a Front Row Seat to the Iconic ‘90s Battle Between Video Game Companies Sega and Nintendo

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, today announced that its feature-length documentary CONSOLE WARS is available to stream on the service in Canada starting, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. CONSOLE WARS is currently available to stream for CBS All Access subscribers in the United States and marks the first feature-length documentary for both the service and Legendary Television.

An Official Selection of the 2020 SXSW Film Festival, CONSOLE WARS takes viewers back to 1990 when Sega, a fledgling arcade company, assembled a team of underdogs to take on the greatest video game company in the world, Nintendo. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, no-holds-barred conflict that pit brother against brother, kids against grownups, Sonic against Mario and American’s unique brand of capitalism against centuries-old Japanese tradition. For the first time ever, the men and women who fought on the front lines for Sega and Nintendo discuss this battle that defined a generation.

CONSOLE WARS is produced and directed by Jonah Tulis and Blake J. Harris, author of the bestselling book of the same name, and also produced by Legendary Television and CBS Studios. Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, James Weaver, Josh Fagen (Point Grey Pictures) and Scott Rudin and Eli Bush (Scott Rudin Productions) are executive producers, and Julian Rosenberg (Circle of Confusion), Doug Blush (MadPix Films) and Katie Mustard produced the film.

About CBS All Access Canada:

CBS All Access is ViacomCBS’ direct-to-consumer digital subscription video-on-demand and live streaming service. For $5.99 CAD, CBS All Access offers Canadian viewers more than 8,500 commercial-free episodes on demand, spanning full current seasons of select CBS series, entire previous seasons and classic shows, as well as the ability to live stream CBSN, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming news service. CBS All Access is available in Canada at cbsallaccess.ca, on iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices, and connected device platforms including Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast and Roku devices. In addition, the service is now available on the newly launched Apple TV Channels.

To sign up for CBS All Access in Canada, visit: cbsallaccess.ca

About Legendary Television:

Legendary Television is a leading global full-service television studio specializing in financing, developing and producing quality genre and character-driven projects for multiple platforms. Championing compelling auteur-driven storytelling featuring renowned talent, Legendary’s Television roster includes: the reboot of the classic family adventure series LOST IN SPACE, for Netflix; CARNIVAL ROW, a fantasy noir drama starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, for Amazon; and PACIFIC RIM, an original anime series expanding the story of the first two live action movies, for Netflix. Upcoming projects include: DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD, based on one of the most popular science fiction franchises of all time, for HBO Max; PAPER GIRLS, based on Brian K. Vaughan’s best-selling graphic novel, for Amazon; and DEBRIS, the sci-fi drama from J.H. Wyman and starring Jonathan Tucker and Riann Steele, for NBC. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com.

 

About CBS Studios:CBS Studios is one of the industry’s leading suppliers of programming with more than 70 series currently in production across broadcast and cable networks, streaming services and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, genre-defining franchises including the ever-growing “Star Trek” universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, and an extensive library of iconic intellectual property.

 

A review of Console Wars the original book is here.

 

---------------------------------

 

 Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

 

 

2020 BET "Hip Hop Awards" Announces Star-Studded Lineup of Participants and Presenters

Snoop Dogg, T.I., Monica, Cordae, G Herbo and Trae Tha Truth Added to the Star-studded Lineup Participants and Presenters at the 2020 BET “HIP HOP AWARDS”

Global Superstar Lil Wayne Joins the Line-up of Must See Performances

The 15th Annual BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” Premieres Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 9PM ET/PT

‘Hip Hop Has Something to Say...#VOTE’

#HipHopAwards

2020 BET Hip Hop Awards "Hip Hop Has Something To Say"

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2020 BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” is heating up with a newly announced lineup of presenters and performers. Hip Hop powerhouses Snoop Dogg and T.I. alongside R&B superstar Monica are set to present.

Five-time Grammy Award-winner and global icon Lil Wayne and Grammy Award-nominated Rapper Cordae joins previously announced performers including 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Burna Boy featuring Chris Martin, City Girls, Gucci Mane, Jhenè Aiko, Lil Baby, Mulatto, Quavo, Tobe Nwigwe and Ty Dolla $ign. Comedians, actors, hosts of the “85 South Show” podcast and stars of “Wild N’ Out” - comedy supergroup 85 South (Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean) will co-host the annual show premiering Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Additionally, the show will simulcast on BET Her, VH1 and MTV2.

During this time of social unrest and a global pandemic, the 2020 BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” launches a new initiative entitled “Hip Hop Cares,” which highlights artists who are doing their part to give back to their communities and the world at large. This year’s spotlight goes to G Herbo, for his dedication to the mental health crisis including his Swervin’ Through The Stress Initiative and Trae Tha Truth, for his work with natural disaster relief and community activism related to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rapper, actor, producer, philanthropist and founder of the iconic hip hop label No Limit Records, Master P will be the recipient of the 2020 “I Am Hip Hop” Award. Previously announced nominees include DaBaby leading the pack with 12 nominations followed by Roddy Ricch with 11. Megan Thee Stallion and Drake are tied for third highest nominations with 8 each. Other top nominees include Future with 6 nods, Lil Baby with 4 followed by Beyoncé, DJ Khaled, Travis Scott and Mustard with 3 nominations each.

Following the 2020 BET Awards, which displayed solitary for black lives, and BET’s recent #ReclaimYourVote efforts, the 2020 BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” with the theme “Hip Hop has something to say” - will be anchored in motivating our community to use their voice at the polls and vote early.

BET is launching its first-ever consumer products line timed to the Hip Hop Awards. Collaborations with New Orleans based artist BMike and outerwear apparel company Chalkline will headline the launch. These items and more will be available exclusively on BET’s new ecommerce site store.BET.com beginning on October 26.

Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET will oversee the annual show, with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, serving as Executive Producer of the 2020 BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.

“Best International Flow” is a category that will recognize artists from around the world, with nominees from France, South Africa, Kenya, UK, and for the first time ever, a nominee from Brazil. Internationally, the show will simulcast on BET Africa at 3:00 am CAT on October 28th, followed by international broadcasts in France on October 30th at 9:55 pm CEST, the UK on October 31st at 9:00 pm BST, and in South Korea on October 31st at 9:00 pm KST.”

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET’s multiple social media platforms:

On BET.com: http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards.html
On Twitter by using hashtag: #HipHopAwards; follow us @HipHopAwards and @BET
On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards


ABOUT BET:
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT:
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service television and film production company and has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE has a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first look on JCE’s film development projects which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players. Jesse Collins, founder & CEO of the company, is the executive producer of award-winning and critically acclaimed television that JCE has produced including miniseries—The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story; scripted series—American Soul and Real Husbands of Hollywood; children’s series—Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices; award shows—BET Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF’s An Evening of Stars, BET Hip Hop Awards, ABFF Honors and Soul Train Awards; specials—John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero, Love & Happiness: An Obama Farewell, Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today, Dear Mama, Amanda Seales I Be Knowin’, Def Comedy Jam 25 and Leslie Jones: Time Machine; as well as competition/game shows—Sunday Best, Hip Hop Squares, Nashville Squares and Rhythm & Flow. Collins is also a producer for the iconic Grammy Awards and will next executive produce The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show. Go to jessecollinsent.com for more information on the company.

ABOUT BET “HIP HOP AWARDS”:
BET “Hip Hop Awards” is an annual celebration that pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. Year after year, BET Networks delivers the best in hip-hop for an unforgettable night of performances, cyphers and tributes honoring hip-hop legends that have and continue to make hip-hop culture a global force.

---------------------

Review: "Murder Party" is a Halloween Party

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 18 (of 2020) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Murder Party (2007)

Running time: 120 minutes (2 hours)

Not rated

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Jeremy Saulnier

PRODUCER:  Skei Saulnier and Chris Sharp

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Jeremy Saulnier (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Marc Beroza

COMPOSERS:  Brooke Blair and Will Blair

COMEDY/HORROR

Starring:  Chris Sharp, Macon Blair, Stacey Rock, Skei Saulnier, Paul Goldblatt, William Lacey, Alex Barnett, and Bill Tangradi

Murder Party is a 2007 American independent, comic-horror film from writer-director Jeremy Saulnier.  The film follows a man who follows the instructions on a random invitation to a gathering where the celebration is murder for the sake of art.

Christopher S. Hawley (Chris Sharp) is a lonely and plain New York City public employee.  On Halloween, he finds an odd-looking piece of paper being blown down the sidewalk by gusts of wind.  He opens it and sees that this is an invite to a “Murder Party,” which Christopher believes is a Halloween party.  He constructs a knight's costume out of cardboard and makes his way to a gritty part of Brooklyn where the “Murder Party” is being held.

What Chris discovers instead of a Halloween party is a trap set by a deranged and pretentious art collective, the members of which are dressed in Halloween costumes.  They intend to kill Christopher to impress a wealthy and sinister patron of the arts.  However, the members of this group are beset by petty feuds, rivalries, envy, incompetence, and lying, which makes them just as likely to murder each other as they are to hurt their captive/subject, Christopher.

Murder Party's production was apparently hamstrung by budget constraints, yet director Jeremy Saulnier produced a horror-comedy film that is more interesting than many of the horror or comedy films produced by major and mid-major Hollywood studios and production companies.  I have to admit that I only sought out this film after reading about Saulnier's most recent film (as of this writing), Green Room, which featured a much talked about performance by Patrick Stewart (of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fame).  I consider finding an article about Green Room a stroke of luck, because it led me to this wonderful little film which is big in entertaining.

At times, I found myself mesmerized by Murder Party.  It is droll and witty, even when it is a bit heavy-handed in bashing artsy types.  I did not enjoy the last act as much as I enjoyed the rest of the film.  Murder Party is like the television series, “Big Brother” to me.  I like “Big Brother” when the cast remains large; as the cast shrinks, so does my interest in a particular season.  The characters in Murder Party are intriguing, although they largely remain unknown, and I started to miss them as they... went away.  Still, the last fight is a delightful bloodbath.

I heartily recommend Murder Party, and I look forward to more of Jeremy Saulnier's films.  Obviously, filmmakers need adequate budgets, but the imaginative and inventive directors find a way to shock, delight, and blow our minds even with a pitiful budget.

7 of 10
B+

Tuesday, September 6, 2016


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

 Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

 

BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for October 21, 2020

BOOM! STUDIOS

AUG200952    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #1 CVR A LEE    $4.99
AUG200953    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #1 CVR B MORA    $4.99
AUG200954    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #1 CVR C DIE CUT VAR    $6.99
AUG200955    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #1 CVR D BLANK SKETCH    $4.99
AUG200978    FAITHLESS II #5 CVR A LLOVET (MR)    $3.99
AUG200979    FAITHLESS II #5 CVR B EROTICA CONNECTING VAR (MR)    $4.99
AUG201001    FIREFLY #21 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
AUG201002    FIREFLY #21 CVR B KAMBADAIS VAR    $3.99
JUN200804    GIANT DAYS TP VOL 14    $14.99
AUG201022    JIM HENSON DARK CRYSTAL AGE RESISTANCE #12 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
AUG201023    JIM HENSON DARK CRYSTAL AGE RESISTANCE #12 CVR B CONNECT VAR    $3.99
JUN208170    JIM HENSON DARK CRYSTAL AGE RESISTANCE #12 CVR C PETERSEN VA    $3.99
AUG201010    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #55 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
AUG201011    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #55 FOIL MONTES VAR    $4.99
JUN200781    SACRIFICE OF DARKNESS ORIGINAL HC    $24.99
AUG208014    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #11 CVR E BLANK SKETCH VAR    $3.99
AUG201008    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #11 FRISON VAR    $3.99
AUG201007    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #11 MAIN    $3.99
AUG208856    WE ONLY FIND THEM WHEN THEYRE DEAD #1 (4TH PTG)    $3.99