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Spoilers for Empire season 4 below.

Anika Calhoun (Grace Byers) was a formidable player in Empire for years, but all her scheming and plotting came back to bite her in the end. First appearing in the Empire pilot, Anika was a debutante from New Orleans, Louisiana, and was dating Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) at the beginning of the series. However, when she discovered Lucious in bed with his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), her love for Lucious turned to hate mixed with obsession. Though Lucious did eventually propose to Anika, she instead took up with his son, Hakeem (Bryshere Gray).

For the rest of Empire, or at least the rest of the time she spent on the show, Anika plotted the downfall of Empire Entertainment, failed at it, plotted again, and failed again, in a constant cycle that made her more and more unlikeable throughout the series. Grace Byers' performance of Anika is excellent,...

The Instigators is a heist action comedy film directed by Doug Liman from a screenplay co-written by Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck. The Apple TV+ film follows the story of a former marine and an ex-con as they team up for a heist. When their plan goes awry they have to run and they drag one of their therapist in the process. The Instigators stars Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in the lead roles with Hong Chau, Paul Walter Stuhlbarg, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, and Ron Perlman starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the action, comedic banter, and heist drama in The Instigators here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Logan Lucky (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Bleecker Street

Logan Lucky is a heist comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Rebecca Blunt. The 2017 film follows the story of Jimmy Logan,...

Starz’s P-Valley has set Nicholas G. Sims, De’Adre Aziza, Brandon J. Dirden, Moritz J. Williams, Chaz Hodges, Bella Blaq and Jay Jones as new recurring cast for Season 3. Production kicked off recently in Atlanta.

Sims joins in the recurring role of “Calvin,” a passionate member of the Chief-Fi-Chiefs, Chucalissa’s oldest gang. Aziza will play Red, the first lady of the Hurt Village Hustlas. Dirden will play “Detective Sykes,” a dogged officer investigating the recent uptick in crime in Chucalissa. Williams will play “Chance,” the new Sweeper who’s got the Pynk in a tizzy!

Hodges will play “Sage,” a quirky employee of Roulette (Gail Bean) who marches to the beat of her own drummer. Rapper Bella Blaq will play “Elaine,” a brash and bold employee of Roulette. Jones returns as “Prince,” the hot-headed leader of the Hurt Village Hustlas, the younger and rowdier of Chucalissa’s two preeminent gangs.

The hit Starz drama series P-Valley has upped Gail Bean (Snowfall), Bertram Williams Jr and Thomas Q. Jones to series regulars while also adding Mea Wilkerson to its main cast for Season 3. Production kicked off recently in Atlanta.

Bean will continue to play Roulette, a new dancer at The Pynk; Williams Jr will continue to play Woddy, Lil Murda’s manager; and Jones will continue to play Mane, the leader of Chief-Fi-Chief gang. Also in a series regular role, Wilkerson will portray “Haiku,” an enigmatic new dancer who thrives on chaos, finding solace in the messy choices that ignite her spirit and remind her what it means to truly feel alive.

From creator, showrunner and executive producer Katori Hall, P-Valley is an hourlong drama that tells the story of the little-strip-club-that-could and the big characters who come through its doors – the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful and the damned.

Add another Starz series to the list of shows suspended as a result of the writers strike.

P-Valley has postponed its production in Atlanta.

Deadline understands that the series had recently finished its writers room for season three but production had not started.

Creator and showrunner Katori Hall said, “We will not be filming until a fair deal is reached”. We hear that filming had not started but Hall’s comments refer to the writers room.

“Like many of my fellow showrunners, I feel as though my writing and producing duties are inextricably linked,” she added, “I am also a member of the DGA whose AMPTP contract begins negotiations today. Overlapping issues abound and we shall see how these stories end. As a writer I strike with a sense of radical dignity — that our work must be valued for the magic it is.”

P-Valley joins The Venery of Samantha Bird...

The need and desire to see Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous people on screen has yet to be completely fulfilled by Hollywood, but there has been a recent uptick in Aapi and Bipoc representation on screen. According to a 2021 Nielsen study titled “Being Seen on Screen,” data from the 2021 to 2021 television season showed 78 of the top 1,500 shows had some racial, ethnic or sexual orientation diversity.

And people want more representation, because not only does it increase the self-esteem for people of marginalized groups, reduce stereotypes and support the wants of viewers of color, it helps accurately portray the world and the people in it.

Here are 14 shows (in no particular order) from 2022 that had casts led by people of color that are well worth watching. These series either came out in 2022 or had a season premiere this year.

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC) ABC

Black people make up less than 12 of leads on broadcast shows,...

How will these Chucalissa residents fare in the second season of the P-Valley TV show on Starz? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like P-Valley is cancelled or renewed for season three. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the second season episodes of P-Valley here. *Status Update Below.

A Starz drama series, the P-Valley TV show stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, and Psalms Salazar. The series takes place in a part of...

Vulture Watch

Have viewers forgotten about the resident of this little Mississippi town? Has the P-Valley TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season on Starz? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of P-Valley, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on the Starz cable channel, the P-Valley TV show stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, and Psalms Salazar. The series takes place in a part of the Mississippi Delta where beauty can...

The P-Valley series last aired nearly two years ago and a lot of television shows have come and gone in that time. The Starz show has done pretty well in the ratings in the past but, will viewers remember this series after such a lengthy absence? Will P-Valley be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned. *Status Update Below.

A drama series, the P-Valley TV show stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, and Psalms Salazar. The series takes place in a part of the Mississippi Delta where beauty can be hard to find. The story revolves around a little strip club called The Pynk and the...

Starz wants to take you back to Chucalissa. The cable channel has renewed P-Valley for a third season. The second season of 10 episodes finished being released in August.

A drama series, the P-Valley TV show stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, and Psalms Salazar. The series takes place in a part of the Mississippi Delta where beauty can be hard to find. The story revolves around a little strip club called The Pynk and the array of big characters who come through its doors -- the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful, and the damned. In season two, when darkness descends upon...

Poster for ‘P-Valley’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)

Starz has officially confirmed that P-Valley will be returning for a third season. The renewal announcement was expected given the series’ incredibly popularity and the fact it ranks as Starz’s most popular show in the United States.

Season two, which premiered in June 2022, increased the show’s viewership by 23 over season one. The second season averaged 10.3 million viewers, enough to earn it the title of Starz’s “biggest show.”

Created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall, season two starred Nicco Annan (“Uncle Clifford”), Elarica Johnson (“Autumn Night”), Brandee Evans (“Mercedes”), Shannon Thornton (“Miss Mississippi”), J. Alphonse Nicholson (“Lil’ Murda”), and Parker Sawyers (“Andre”). The cast also includes Harriett D. Foy (“Pastor Woodbine”), Dan J. Johnson (“Corbin”), Morocco Omari (“Big L.”), Dominic DeVore (“Duffy”), and Tyler Lepley (“Diamond”).

Additional season two stars include Jordan M. Cox (“Derrick”), Skyler Joy (“Gidget”), John Clarence Stewart...

Starz is letting the doors of the Pynk swing wide again by ordering a third season of the crime-related drama. P-Valley Season 3 will consist of 10 episodes produced by Lionsgate. The show hails from Katori Hall, who created, showruns, and executive produces the series. P-Valley takes place in the Pynk, a strip club in the Mississippi Delta in the American South. Often described as a neo-noir, P-Valley is a character-driven thriller led by four women: Brandee Evans as seasoned stripper Mercedes, Elarica Johnson as newcomer Autumn Night, Shannon Thornton as Miss Mississippi, and Skylar Joy as Gidget.

In Season 2, P-Valley presented a timely twist by seeing the Pynk struggle to remain in the game during the pandemic. Each episode built on a war for control of the club, with new faces adding plenty of spice to an already hot mix of personalities. Intimate and bold, P-Valley continues to explore the lives of the main cast,...

“P-Valley” has been renewed for a third season consisting of 10 episodes at Starz. The critically acclaimed strip club-set drama is currently the cable network’s biggest show in the U.S.

The sophomore season of “P-Valley” — created and executive produced by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall — averages nearly 10.3 million viewers across linear, VOD and streaming platforms domestically, the network reported.

“‘P-Valley’ continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it captures the nuances of the Mississippi Delta with an unprecedented level of humanity and artistry,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz, in a statement. “This layered drama gets beyond the glitz through authentic and complex characters that have captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. We cannot wait to see what Katori has in store for us in season three.”

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“P-Valley” has been renewed for Season 3 at Starz, Variety has learned.

Like Season 2 of the Lionsgate-produced drama series, the third season will consist of 10 episodes. Season 2 of the show debuted on Starz in June and wrapped up in August.

“‘P-Valley’ continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it captures the nuances of the Mississippi Delta with an unprecedented level of humanity and artistry,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz. “This layered drama gets beyond the glitz through authentic and complex characters that have captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. We cannot wait to see what Katori has in store for us in season three.”

“P-Valley” was created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall, based on her play “Pussy Valley.” The show is set at The Pynk, a strip club in the Mississippi Delta, and follows the employees as they try...

Starz has renewed its drama series P-Valley for a third season, which will consist of 10 episodes. Lionsgate Television produces the series.

From creator, showrunner and executive producer Katori Hall, P-Valley is an hourlong drama that tells the story of the little-strip-club-that-could and the big characters who come through its doors – the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful and the damned.

Related: Cancellations/Renewals Scorecard: TV Shows Ended Or Continuing In 2022

In Season 2, the series revealed a whole new Pynk as it struggled to remain open during a pandemic, saw a battle for the throne and the possibility of some new blood shaking up the locker room. It took audiences deeper into the lives of Pynk’s characters as darkness descended upon the fictional Mississippi town of Chucalissa.

P-Valley Season 2 stars Nicco Annan (as Uncle Clifford), Elarica Johnson (Autumn Night), Brandee Evans (Mercedes), Shannon Thornton (Miss Mississippi), J. Alphonse Nicholson...

Exclusive: John Clarence Stewart (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Shamika Cotton (The Equalizer) and newcomer Miracle Watts are set for recurring roles on the second season of Starz’s P-Valley.

Based on Katori Hall’s play Pussy Valley, P-Valley Season 2 returns to the Mississippi Delta where lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find. This Southern-fried, hour-long drama tells the kaleidoscopic story of a “little strip club that could” and the big characters who come through its doors — the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful and the damned. Trap music meets film noir in this lyrical and atmospheric series that dares to ask what happens when small-town folk dream beyond the boundaries of the Piggly Wiggly and the pawnshop.

Stewart will play Big Teak, a recently paroled member of Lil’ Murda’s gang—the Hurt...

The second season of “The Amber Ruffin Show” will return with new episodes Feb. 25, Peacock announced Tuesday.

The critically acclaimed late-night variety series is hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin, who made history as the first Black woman to write for a late-night network TV show when she joined the writer’s room of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in 2014. Ruffin’s own show premiered in 2020, as one of the first originals for the Peacock streaming platform. Over the course of the first and second seasons for the show, Ruffin has used the show to cover breaking topics in the news cycle, including police brutality, Meghan Markle, violence against Asian Americans and the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

“The Amber Ruffin Show” received a nomination for outstanding variety series writing at the 2021 Emmy awards. The series is produced by Universal Television and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions, and Ruffin executive produces alongside Jenny Hagel, Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker.

All American is getting an injection of musical talent: Singer JoJo has joined the CW drama in the recurring role of Sabine, a famous recording artist who’s been making music since she was 10 years old, our sister site Deadline reports.

Sabine teams up with Layla for her next album, hoping to find a new sound. In the process, she will put her trust in the up and coming music producer.

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We’ll be seeing more of Big L, Duffy and Derrick on the upcoming second season of Katori Hall’s Starz series P-Valley. Morocco Omari (Empire), Dominic DeVore (The Ride) and Jordan M. Cox (The Outsider), who recurred as the characters, respectively, in Season 1, have been promoted to series regulars for Season 2.

Based on Hall’s play Pussy Valley, P-Valley Season 2 returns to the Mississippi Delta, where lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find. The hourlong drama tells the kaleidoscopic story of a “little strip club that could” and the big characters who come through its doors — the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful and the damned. Trap music meets film noir in this lyrical and atmospheric series that dares to ask what happens when small-town folk dream beyond the boundaries of the Piggly Wiggly and the pawnshop.

During Starz‘s Winter TCA 2022 presentation, the network unveiled an update about the forthcoming second season of P-Valley, sharing casting news and a behind-the-scenes tour from the set. Joining showrunner and creator Katori Hall‘s series P-Valley for Season 2 are Psalms Salazar (Girl Lost: A Hollywood Thriller) and Gail Bean (Snowfall), seen above. The announcement was shared alongside the set video where the rest of the cast was seen hard at work prepping for Season 2 at The Pynk. (Credit: Starz) Led by star Nicco Annan, the tour features commentary from fellow returning cast members Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Harriet D. Foy, and Morocco Omari. Plus, Hall gives an overview of what fans can anticipate from the long-awaited season following the show’s 2020 debut. Salazar has been cast as series regular Whisper, an enigmatic free spirit who has a spooky streak and speaks in riddles and eerie truths.

As screenwriters of the Lifetime original movies “Salt-n-Pepa” and “Wendy Williams: The Movie,” Abdul Williams and Leigh Davenport, respectively, were each proposed an exciting challenge by Lifetime: They had to condense the rich and aspirant lives of cultural trailblazers to fit neatly into the television movie format.

“Salt-n-Pepa” follows a 20-year journey for the titular “first ladies of rap and hip hop,” while “Wendy Williams: The Movie” tells tales about the daytime talk show host from her childhood to the present. Although these women are icons now, their journeys to that star status couldn’t just focus on the pioneering highs. Both Davenport and Abdul Williams were committed to delivering a well-rounded narrative about complex, ambitious Black women in the entertainment industry.

Despite the fact that Salt-n-Pepa had success “before they even really knew what was happening,” says Abdul Williams, “I think there’s certain universal things about the story,...

Lifetime has released the trailer for Wendy Williams: The Movie, a biopic documenting the life and career of the controversial talk show host. Ciera Payton (The Oval) portrays Williams in the movie, although the real-life Williams is serving as an executive producer for the project. This week on The Wendy Williams Show, Williams revealed our first look at the TV movie by playing the trailer for the Lifetime Original. You can watch it in the tweet below.

Here's your first-look at "Wendy Williams: The Movie" premiering on Saturday, January 30 on @lifetimetv! pic.twitter.com/bvS4Apl1eK

— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) December 3, 2020

"It's your girl Wendy Williams on the mic," Payton says in character at the start of the trailer. "I am here to stay. Wendy Williams is not going anywhere. I'm going to come in like a hurricane."

An authorized biopic, Wendy Williams: The Movie will delve into both the...

Trailblazer. Shock jock. Media mogul. Icon. Those descriptions of syndicated talk veteran Wendy Williams flash across the screen in the first trailer for Lifetime’s Wendy Williams: The Movie.

Yes, the “Queen of Gossip” is getting the biopic treatment, and she played the footage on her talk show Thursday. Check it out below.

“Wendy Williams is not going anywhere,” Ciera Payton (The Oval) as Williams says from behind a radio mic at the outset. “I’m gonna come in like a hurricane.”

And storm in she does in Wendy Williams: The Movie, which chronicles the highs and lows she has has experienced throughout the years — from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own daytime talker.

“You’re the star,” we hear her ex-husband Kevin Hunter (Morocco Omari) say.

Williams herself is among the executive producers, meaning this is an “authorized biopic” — and it’s...

Lifetime’s Wendy Williams biopic has found its star: Ciera Payton (The Oval) will portray the talk show host in Wendy Williams: The Hot Topic (working title), which is slated to debut in 2021. Additionally, Morocco Omari (P-Valley, Empire) has been cast as Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter.

Executive-produced by Williams, the movie is “a revealing look at Wendy’s journey, from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own syndicated talk show,” per the official description. It will be paired with a feature-length documentary about Williams.

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Exclusive: Ciera Payton and Morocco Omari are set as the leads in Wendy Williams: The Hot Topic (working title), Lifetime’s biopic about the outspoken television host and former radio star executive produced by Will Packer and Sheila Ducksworth. Payton will star in the title role as Williams, and Omari will play Wendy’s ex-husband Kevin Hunter. Additionally, Darren Grant is set to direct. Debuting in 2021, the film will be paired with a feature-length documentary on Williams. Production begins this month.

Executive produced by Williams, the authorized biopic reveals the highs and lows Williams has experienced throughout the years, from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own syndicated talk show.

A feature-length documentary about the self-anointed Queen of all Media will follow the movie. In it, Williams sheds her private persona...

We’ve got another great and intense trailer for you to watch for the Russo Brothers’ upcoming cop thriller 21 Bridges. This is the same trailer that premiered at Comic-Con today.

Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) stars in the film as a New York City police officer who is hunting down a pair of cop killers, and to catch them, he makes sure to lock down Manhattan by shutting every bridge that connects to the city. The new trailer also offers up some interesting new story details regarding the conspiracy behind the events that are happening.

The movie also stars J.K. Simmons (Counterpart), Sienna Miller (American Sniper), Taylor Kitsch (Waco), Morocco Omari (Empire), Keith David (Night School), and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk). Here’s the full synopsis:

21 Bridges follows an embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman), who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers...

The first intense trailer for the Joe and Anthony Russo-produced cop thriller 21 Bridges has been released, and it looks like it’s going to be a great flick!

Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) stars in the film as a New York City police offer who is on the hunt for a pair of cop killers and to find them, he locks down Manhattan by shutting every bridge that connects to the city. The movie also stars J.K. Simmons (Counterpart), Sienna Miller (American Sniper), Taylor Kitsch (Waco), Morocco Omari (Empire), Keith David (Night School), and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk).

Here’s the full synopsis:

21 Bridges follows an embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman), who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the night unfolds, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing, and who is in pursuit of him.

Tasha Lawrence, Morocco Omari, Karen Pittman, Namir Smallwood, Jaime Lincoln Smith, and Heather Velazquez are featured in Lincoln Center Theater's production of Pipeline, a new play by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, which opened just lastnight, July 10, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater 150 West 65 Street.

Tasha Lawrence, Morocco Omari, Karen Pittman, Namir Smallwood, Jaime Lincoln Smith, and Heather Velazquez are featured in Lincoln Center Theater's production of Pipeline, a new play by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, which opens tonight, July 10, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater 150 West 65 Street. Watch highlights from the production below...

Morocco Omari's mug shot looks worlds away from his gig on "Empire" ... where he's usually the one taking in the suspects. Morocco -- who plays FBI agent Tariq Cousins on the show -- was arrested and booked last Wednesday in Chicago for misdemeanor domestic battery after he allegedly pushed a woman to the ground several times. The 24-year-old victim claims she suffered scratches to her neck and chest, which were enough for cops to take him in.

Empire actor Morocco Omari was arrested this week in Chicago and accused of misdemeanor domestic battery after his girlfriend claimed he shoved her to the ground, police tell People.

Omari’s publicist dismissed the allegation as “blatantly false” and said he was “extremely confident” that the actor “will be completely vindicated in this matter.”

Chicago police say they responded to a call about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, where Omari’s 24-year-old girlfriend told officers he had allegedly pushed her down to the ground multiple times during a verbal argument.

The girlfriend said she suffered scratches to her chest and neck,...

“Empire” star Morocco Omari encountered some real-life drama on Wednesday. Omari, who plays Tariq on the Fox series “Empire,” was arrested and charged with domestic battery on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department told TheWrap on Thursday. The Cpd spokeswoman told TheWrap that police responded to a battery call regarding a battery. The 24-year-old female victim told police that she and her boyfriend Morocco had engaged in an argument, during which the actor pushed her to the ground several times, resulting in injuries to her neck and chest. Also Read: 'Empire' Star Terrence Howard Was Almost Fired From the Show,...

Morocco Omari, an actor on "Empire" who plays Lucious' half-brother, has been arrested for allegedly brutalizing a woman ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us, a 24-year-old woman called 911 in Chicago Wednesday, claiming she and Omari were arguing when he pushed her to the ground several times. She said she suffered scratches to her neck and chest. Cops arrived on scene at around 2:30 Pm, apparently observed the injuries and arrested the actor.   Omari,...

Here's something to sing about. Fox has renewed its Empire TV show for a fourth season. According to Deadline, the network announced the news at its TCA executive session. A music business drama, Empire stars Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray, Trai Byers, Grace Byers, Gabourey Sidibe, Ta’Rhonda Jones, Serayah, Bre-z, Xzibit, and Morocco Omari.While the series is currently on mid-season hiatus, Empire season 3B premieres on Fox March 22nd. Creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong executive produce with showrunner Ilene Chaiken, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, and Sanaa Hamri.Read More…...

Previous | Image 1 of 8 | NextMIDDLE Man - Director Ned Crowley and Actor Jim O’Heir.

Chicago – The 52nd Chicago International Film Festival wrapped last week, but the Red Carpet presentations continued right up to that end date. The Chicago connections films, either made in the area or by Chicago filmmakers or actors, had two major Red Carpets, and HollywoodChicago.com was there to capture them. Actors and filmmakers from the new films “Middle Man” and “Imperfections” were there.

Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com. Also answering some Red Carpet questions was the filmmaker and star of “Middle Man.”

Actor Jim O’Heir and Director Ned Crowley of “Middle Man”

HollywoodChicago.com: Ned, how long have you been formulating the story of ‘Middle Man,’ before you had a chance to produce it?...

Are you ready for more Tariq? According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR) Morocco Omari has been promoted to a series regular for the upcoming third season of the Empire TV show on Fox. Fans may remember him as Principal Stephen Chadwick on Joan of Arcadia, which was cancelled in 2005, after two seasons on CBS.Omari guest-starred as FBI Agent Tariq Cousins, in the final three episodes of Empire, season two. He was revealed to be the half-brother of Lucious (Terrence Howard) and had grown up in Philly with Cookie (Taraji P. Henson). Hip-hop artist Xzibit (Shyne Johnson) was also upped to a series regular, back in June. Phylicia Rashad, Taye Diggs, Sierra McClain, and Kid Cudi are all set to recur this season.

Fresh off her buzzy, meme-generating run as Stranger Things’ Poor Barb, Shannon Purser is moving to Riverdale.

RelatedSummer TV Winners & Losers: Stranger Things, Sytycd and More

Per EW.com, Purser will portray the Archie character Ethel Muggs. And while she has a major crush on Jughead in the comics, Ethel will find herself in a romantic relationship with someone very different on The CW’s midseason drama.

Additionally, Robin Givens (Head of the Class) will recur on Riverdale as Mayor Sierra McCoy, the mother of Josie from Josie & The Pussycats, our sister site Deadline reports.

RelatedPerformer of the Week: Stranger Things...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: Any hints on The Flash‘s Season 3 Big Bad? I’m hoping Mirror Master is introduced! —Mike

Ausiello: I’m seeing nothing firm (yet) on Mirror Master being introduced, but here’s a curious new breakdown to wrap your noodle around: For Season 3, the CW hit is casting the major recurring character of Barry’s slightly older, slightly geekier contemporary, a guy who is as smart as he is intuitive. As such, this newcomer doesn’t buy...

Empire will close out Season 2 with the mother of all showdowns.

Co-star Kaitlin Doubleday, whose pregnant alter ego Rhonda was last seen getting pushed down a really long and bumpy flight of stairs by an unknown assailant, told TVLine Friday at PaleyFest that the identity of the perpetrator will be revealed in the season finale.

Related2016 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?

“She realizes who pushed her and… she gets to confront [him/her] in a very dynamic, scary, insane, crazy way,” Doubleday teased. “I think the audience [will be] waiting for that confrontation for all eight episodes.

The return of Arrested Development is still Tbd, but rest assured, Jason Bateman is sticking around at Netflix.

The streaming service has picked up Bateman’s drama Ozark, which he will star in, executive-produce and direct.

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Set in Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, the series focuses on the dark and dangerous world of drug-money laundering, SlashFilm reports Bateman as sharing during a Zootopia junket. Production is slated to begin this spring.

Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…

* Fox announced Thursday that its mystery...

You won’t find it on the show’s IMDb page, but cocaine plays such a major role in HBO’s new ’70s drama Vinyl (premiering Feb. 14 at 9/8c) that its name ought to be wedged into the credits somewhere between Ray Romano and Olivia Wilde.

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From the moment we meet Bobby Cannavale‘s Richie Finestra — the spiraling owner of the spiraling American Century record label — he’s got Peruvian dancing dust on the brain, and soon after, up his nose.

Richie is a man haunted by a horrible secret,...

Hakeem Lyon looks warily over his shoulder in the new poster touting the second half of Empire‘s sophomore season — and we can’t blame him.

RelatedEmpire: Homeland‘s Morocco Omari Nabs Major Season 2 Recurring Role

Last we saw the family’s youngest son, he was voting to oust his father from the top perch of Empire Entertainment — the exact opposite of what his ferocious mother Cookie had instructed him to do.

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Still, while both parents might want to take a broom (or worse) to their disobedient son,...

Lucious Lyons’ stint behind bars at the start of Empire‘s second season may have just been a warmup.

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The Fox drama has cast Morocco Omari (Homeland) in a major recurring role as an FBI hotshot who’ll cause trouble for the ousted head of Empire Entertainment — and he might wind up being a series regular.

Omari will play Tariq Cousins, who started off as one of the finest cops ever to work the streets of Philadelphia, then advanced to a post at the FBI...

It’s good to know that 15 seasons in, American Idol hasn’t lost its ability to send me into a teeth-gnashing, plate-smashing, imaginary mascara-running rage.

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Ok, no fine china was harmed in the writing of my Top 24 Announcement Episode recap — decade-old Crate and Barrel still beats a Dixie paper plate — but still, that’s not to say the “Final Judgment”/”Green Mile” announcement didn’t make me fantasize about the satisfying shatter of ceramic against the living-room wall.

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If Saturday Night Live‘s 90-minute broadcast doesn’t satisfy your need for sketch comedy on the weekends, Fox just came up with the perfect solution.

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Starring Nicole Byer (Girl Code), SNL writer Alison Rich and relative newcomer Jessica McKenna, Party Over Here will cover everything from pop culture to politics via short skits and in-studio segments with a live audience.

You know the old saying, “Two’s company, three’s a crowd”? It seems that phrase was coined specifically for next Tuesday’s episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

TVLine has an exclusive teaser for the installment (Fox, 9/8c), in which the 9-9 teams up with the neighboring 9-8 precinct for a case, reuniting Jake with his old partner Stevie (played by New Girl‘s Damon Wayans, Jr.).

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David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for opening night and you can check out interviews with the whole gang below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer and Raviv Ullman. Previews began on October 21 in advance of an Official Opening Night tonight, November 6. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below...

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Richard Chamberlain, Nadia Gan, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari, Bill Pullman, Ben Schnetzer andRaviv Ullman. Previews began on October 21 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 6. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through December 14 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below...