News

Ledisi is performing at the big game!

The Grammy-winning 52-year-old singer-songwriter will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” widely known as the Black national anthem, at the 2025 Super Bowl on Sunday (February 9) in the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Naturally, fans who are watching the performance may want to know more about Ledisi and her personal life, and whether she has someone special in her life.

Keep reading to find out more…

Ledisi is married to Ron T. Young.

Ron was born and raised in Philadelphia, attending Penn State University. In 2018, Ledisi married the director and actor, and they also appeared together in the docu-series Black Love.

Many of her music videos over the years have been directed by Ron, including “Same Love,” “I Need to Know,” “Perfect Stranger,” “Sell Me No Dreams” and “Anything for You.” Ron also offers photography tips on social media.

Every producer in Hollywood has felt the squeeze over the past year. TV and film buying activity has dropped significantly as the industry resets the bar for content volume and profitability while studios slash, burn and reorganize themselves for a different era.

Tommy Oliver, the producer-director who is founder and CEO of the Confluential Company, is working through the downturn with cautious optimism that a saner business landscape will open up more opportunities for independent players.

Oliver raised capital with Goldman Sachs a few years ago to build up the Los Angeles-based Confluential. The firm now runs a busy production services division in addition to nurturing and financing its own projects, as Oliver explains in the latest episode of Variety‘s weekly podcast “Strictly Business.”

“We focus on Bipoc stories, and so we only put money into projects from creators of color. That’s it. And so when things are...

Good news: NBC's The Irrational will return for Season 2 in the fall of 2024. Even better, most of the cast will be returning.

The Jesse L. Martin-led police procedural stands out in a sea of crime dramas because it focuses on a behavioral scientist who moonlights as an FBI consultant. It is fun, entertaining, and easy to follow.

We've got you covered if you're playing catch-up now that the season has ended.

Our The Irrational Season 2 cast and character guide covers everything you need to know about the characters before you begin this unique series.

How The Irrational Is Different From Other Shows

The Irrational is not purely a police procedural.

Since the main character is a behavioral scientist, neuroscientific principles often come into play when solving each case.

It's not quite as gimmicky as Elsbeth, where the lead detective's quirkiness is the backbone of the show, but it...

Filmmaker Justin Simien, best known for his breakout feature and Netflix series Dear White People as well as last year’s Haunted Mansion, has teamed up with writer Christopher Yost and Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films to adapt Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet, a science fiction crime thriller from Vault Comics.

Simien is attached to direct the feature which has Yost, a comics author who segued into screen work with Thor: Ragnarok and The Mandalorian, writing the script.

Oliver will produce along with Wayne Horton, who brought the project to the company, and has a production deal with Confluential.

Damian Wassel and F.J. DeSanto are executive producing for Vault. Simien and Kyle Laursen will executive produce via their banner, Culture Machine.

Created by writer Paul Tobin and artist Arjuna Susini, the comic is set on the planet Heist, home to billions of the worst criminals in the galaxy.

A drama series inspired by the music of Grammy winner Usher about Black love in Atlanta is in development at UCP.

Per the official logline, the Untitled Usher Project is a series about Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home. The series will explore music, style, sex, romance and secrets that threaten to tear relationships apart.

Usher will executive produce the series with Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (Washington Black) and attorney/producer Kenny Meiselas via his KMei Productions. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

“My 30-year catalog has resonated with so many people no matter where they were in their lives,” Usher said in a statement. “I’m happy to be working with UCP to bring the music to life. I hope the series resonates with you the way my music continues to.”

Usher is coming off his halftime performance at Super Bowl Lviii.

To borrow a phrase from Jack London’s 1909 novel Martin Eden, which is a book that Twilight Singers frontman Greg Dulli once found profoundly inspirational, the Black Out the Windows box set represents the band’s “work performed.” Did you appreciate these recordings when they were new? Or are you interested in them based on their reputation? Unlike Eden, a proletarian striver-turned-famous author who chided latecomers for sucking up to him after he achieved fame for work already performed, Dulli is more understanding of latecomer. If you weren’t around...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for AFI Fest, The Holdovers, Quiz Lady and The Killer.

Bcrf Awards Luncheon

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation held its annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon on Oct. 20, hosted by Alina Cho and honoring both Kendra Scott and Olufunmilayo (Funmi) I. Olopade, MD, Faacr.

Kendra Scott, Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade and Alina Cho

Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event

Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine media company hosted its inaugural Shine Away event on Saturday in Los Angeles, with participants including Jennifer Garner, Mindy Kaling, Tracee Ellis Ross, Fortune Feimster, Allyson Felix and The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin.

Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Fortune Feimster Reese Witherspoon and Tracee Ellis Ross

Go Gala

Go Campaign hosted its 17th annual Go Gala at Citizen News in Hollywood on Saturday,...

Eight months after it won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” has been officially picked up by HBO Documentary Films, which is buying U.S. and Canada television and streaming rights. Backed by Confluential Films and Rada Studio and directed and produced by respected veterans Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, producer Tommy Oliver (HBO’s “40 Years A Prisoner”), and executive producers Taraji P. Henson and Codie Elaine Oliver, the film will also screen in the Spotlight section of the upcoming 61st New York Film Festival.

To qualify for the Oscars, the film will play in theaters this fall ahead of its 2024 debut on HBO and Max. Sundance always supplies a number of Oscar nominees in the documentary race and “Going to Mars” is a strong contender.

As innovative and unpredictable as its subject, “Going to Mars” travels through time and space,...

Entergalactic, the animated special from Kid Cudi that served as an accompaniment to his album, is battling for an Emmy.

The one-off program has scored an Emmy nomination Outstanding Animated Program, where it will compete against Bob’s Burgers, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, Rick And Morty and The Simpsons.

It comes after Netflix pulled off a surprise win last year for Arcane, based on the video game, which became the first streaming series to win in the category.

Entergalactic was created by Kid Cudi, who voices Jabari, a charming, streetwear clad artist on the cusp of success. After a chance run-in with his cool new photographer neighbor, Meadow, voiced by Jessica Williams, Jabari has to figure out whether he can make space for love in his life.

It also features the voices of Timothée Chalamet, Vanessa Hudgens, Jaden Smith and Macauley Culkin. The series is produced by Mad Solar, Khalabo Ink Society and Edelgang.

The Twilight Singers have announced a definitive box set titled Black Out the Windows/Ladies and Gentlemen, The Twilight Singers, out in October via One Little Independent Records. In addition to newly remastered versions of the Greg Dulli-led band’s studio releases, it contains an LP of rare and previously unreleased material.

The 13-piece (six 2xLP and one EP) box set was pressed onto 180g crystal clear vinyl housed in reimagined white embossed album sleeves. It contains remasterings of the studio albums Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers, Blackberry Belle, She Loves You, Powder Burns, and Dynamite Steps as well as the 2006 EP A Stitch in Time. The bonus album, Etcetera, features 11 tracks of rare and previously unreleased material.

Accompanying the vinyl is a 56-page book containing essays by Mark Lanegan, Duff McKagan, The Church’s Steve Kilbey, and more. It also includes career-spanning rare and previously unseen photos by Danny Clinch,...

When Gabrielle Union-Wade turned 50 last October, the veteran actor and producer experienced a personal transformation, which has also filtered into her latest work. This era of her career, she says, is about embracing the possibilities.

“Whatever I thought that my dreams were, I was making them small,” Union-Wade told Variety at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). “Turning 50 is about making things bigger by expanding the idea of what the possibilities could even be.”

Union-Wade debuted two projects at ABFF: the Netflix rom-com “The Perfect Find” and the BET+ docuseries “My Journey to 50,” which chronicled her birthday pilgrimage to Africa. She celebrated the BET+ series first, hosting a private bowling and ice-skating bash at the Miami Beach Edition on June 15, the same night the doc began streaming.

In a quick speech, Union-Wade thanked guests for joining her in her “second hometown” of Miami. “Wade County, baby!” she shouted out, referencing...

Exclusive: Adrienne Banfield-Norris has signed with A3 Artists Agency for representation in all areas.

Norris, aka Gammy, is best known for her five seasons as the matriarch of the buzzy talk show Red Table Talk with her daughter, Jada Pinkett Smith, and granddaughter, Willow Smith.

All three women were named among named Time 100’s Most Influential People in 2021 for the show. In 2023, Norris was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) and Outstanding Talk Series.

In 2020, the franchise expanded to produce a spinoff series Red Table Talk: The Estefans, hosted by Gloria Estefan, her daughter, Emily, and niece, Lili.

Red Table Talk was the last remaining Fb Watch original and, when the platform shuttered in April, series producer Westbrook began shopping for a new home for the franchise.

Norris also hosted her own podcast, Positively Gam, for two seasons.

With Married At Fight Sight season 16 halfway through, many are itching to see which of their favorite couples are still together. Based on the Danish series Gift Ved Første Blik ("Married At First Sight"), the American version has held high ratings since the first season in 2014. Paired up with expert matchmakers, individuals who apply for Mafs get married to their chosen partner upon meeting. After spending the night together, cameras follow the seasons' newlyweds as they get to know each other and adjust to being partners. On "Decision Day," each couple decides whether to stay married or divorce.

Mafs may be entertaining, but the show doesn't boast a high success rate. Some teams, like Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz from Mafs season 4, choose to split before Decision Day. Others, like Mafs season 10's Taylor Dunklin and Brandon Reid, have had their union annulled. While most matches don't last, the show's success has spawned several spin-offs,...

Sundance Institute and Hartbeat have selected Mayanna Berrin, Kiana Butler Jabangwe and Danielle Solomon as the recipients of the “Women Write Now” fellowship for Black female comedic screenwriters.

Logan Browning, Tika Sumpter and Nicole Byer have signed on to direct three short films written by the fellows, which will debut at a special exhibition during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

Additionally, the fellows have been awarded a one-year first-look deal with Hartbeat, the multi-platform media company founded by Kevin Hart. Script mentors will include Leigh Davenport (“Run the World”), Kay Oyegun (“This Is Us”), and Yamara Taylor (“Black-ish”). The company’s Head of Film, Candace Cherry Wilson and its VP of TV Development Tiffany Brown will serve as creative advisors at the program’s career development lab.

Also Read:

‘Last Night in Soho’s’ Thomasin McKenzie to Star in Sundance Now Series ‘Totally Completely Fine’

They are joined by Producer Stephanie Allain,...

In its 26th year, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is more star-studded than ever, with a robust lineup of Black film and television stars and creators.

After two years of Covid-related pivots, the festival returns to South Beach in Miami for a five-day engagement full of special screenings, panel discussions and events celebrating the Black film and television community. Among the talent joining ABFF festival ambassador Issa Rae, who will debut her new HBO Max series “Rap Sh!t” at the festival, are Chanté Adams, Yahya Abdul- Mateen II, Kenya Barris, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ben Crump, Michael Ealy, DeVon Franklin, Kasi Lemmons, Judge Greg Mathis, LisaRaye McCoy, Kyla Pratt, Trevante Rhodes, Kendrick Sampson, Robin Thede, Judge Lynn Toler, Susan Kelechi Watson and Salli Richardson Whitfield, among many others.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the industry with so much content targeted towards Black audiences,” said Nicole Friday, ABFF...

“Promising Young Woman” scribe Emerald Fennell and “His Dark Materials” scribe Jack Thorne were among those honored at the 29th Writers’ Guild of Great Britain awards on Monday night.

The ceremony, which was hosted by Wggb president Sandi Toksvig in London, handed out awards in 16 categories including film, television, radio, theatre, comedy, books, and videogames.

Awards covered the past two years of work, after the 2021 ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Which is why Fennell won a prize for first screenplay for “Promising Young Woman” while Thorne picked up the award for outstanding contribution to writing.

Also walking away with gongs were Chinonyerem Odimba for best musical theater bookwriting for “Black Love,” Russell T. Davies for best long form TV drama for “It’s a Sin” and Simon Blackwell and Armando Iannucci for best screenplay for “The Personal History of David Copperfield.”

“I think all writers would say that being...

His Dark Materials and Help writer Jack Thorne has been recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Writing at tonight’s 29th Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards (WGGBAs), with Russell T Davies, Emerald Fennell and Armando Iannucci also taking home gongs.

The prolific Thorne, who delivered this year’s Edinburgh Television Festival MacTaggart lecture, was presented with the prestigious trophy by His Dark Materials exec and Bad Wolf Co-Founder Jane Tranter, following a two-decades-long career in which he has penned some of the UK’s most critically-acclaimed hits including This is England, Shameless and The Virtues.

“I think all writers would say that being given something from other writers is the greatest honor,” said Thorne. “I don’t think I’ve really contributed anything much in this strange career, and writing is a really strange job, but I’m grateful, and slightly anxious, to now have this award to live up to.

Discovery Plus is launching a “Black Voices” hub that will feature programming spotlighting the African American community, including two new originals: docuseries “Profiled: The Black Man,” featuring commentary from celebrities like Billy Porter and Tina Knowles-Lawson, and “Uprooted,” a true-crime doc about the hanging of Black teen Keith Warren in 1986.

Per the Discovery, Inc.-owned streamer, “The hub will live on the platform year-round with curated series, documentaries and specials that will take viewers on an educational, entertaining and exploratory journey through stories of empowerment and entrepreneurship, love and relationships, real estate and design, history and investigation, food and lifestyle and more.”

“Black voices should be celebrated 365 days a year,” Lisa Holme, group SVP of content and commercial strategy for Discovery, told Variety. “We are proud to bring universal and relatable stories to the platform that highlight and represent the Black community across genres that we know will resonate with viewers.

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (Wggb) has unveiled the shortlist for its annual awards, with nominees including “Promising Young Woman” scribe Emerald Fennell and “Succession” writer Lucy Prebble, who’s been nominated for her Billie Piper series “I Hate Suzie.”

The awards, which will be handed out on Feb. 14 in central London, will cover two years of British writing, after last year’s awards were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Wggb President and former “The Great British Bake-Off” host Sandi Toksvig said: “What a fitting day to celebrate the cream of British writers – who have kept us entertained on page, stage, screen and across the airwaves, through such dark times.

“Our creative industries play such an important role, as do all those who work within them and we hope our awards ceremony on Valentine’s Day will send this message – you matter, we care, and thank you for your words,...

Exclusive: Yomi Adegoke, the author and host of the Slay In Your Lane book and podcast series, has signed for CAA in all areas outside of books/publishing.

The London-born commentator has become one of the leading voices on race, feminism and pop culture over the past few years and is pushing into TV, having created last year’s Channel 4 documentary Black Love for UK Black History Month.

She co-authored 2018’s Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible with Elizabeth Uviebinené and the follow up Slay In Your Lane: The Journal, and both host the Slay In Your Lane podcast series.

Based on interviews conducted with 39 successful Black British women, the books received critical acclaim and led Adegoke to be named as one of the Most Influential People in London by the Evening Standard and feature on Forbes’ 30 under 30 Europe list.

In 2019, Adegoke accused the BBC of plagiarism...

Robyn Lattaker-Johnson has joined A3 Artists Agency as an agent in its alternative programming division after serving as head of unscripted programming at OWN.

“Robyn boasts one of the most impressive and extensive resumes in the industry,” A3 Artists Agency president Brian Cho said in a statement announcing Lattaker-Johnson’s hiring.

Lattaker-Johnson has more than 20 years experience as a senior network executive, content creator, producer and team leader across disciplines, spanning film, television, casting, physical production, unscripted development and current programming.

“A look at her career and work offers a tour of some of the most notable networks, entertainment companies, and shows to ever exist,” Cho’s statement continued. “With her expertise, collaborative nature, and countless relationships she’s formed and fostered over the span of her career, we have no doubt Robyn will be an asset to the agency and a fierce advocate for our clients.”

Most recently, Lattaker-Johnson...

Exclusive: Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films has expanded its executive team, tapping Charlotte Koh as its first President and Prince Baggett as Head of Film.

In their new roles, Koh and Baggett will continue the company’s strategic growth and allow it to further expand its creative footprint.

Koh will report to Confluential Founder and CEO Tommy Oliver, working to help drive the organization’s vision, operational strategy, and hiring needs, while co-managing the development team and their projects.

Baggett will lead Confluential’s motion picture group with an emphasis on studio fare from diverse creators with appropriate representation in front of and behind the camera. He will report to Koh, and both will work closely with Oliver’s partner (and wife) Codie Elaine Oliver, and Confluential’s Head of Development, Jonny Paterson.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Charlotte and Prince joining the Confluential squad,” said Tommy Oliver.

When Chaz Ebert decided to have Black Writers Week on RogerEbert.com, she chose mid-June dates to coincide with the same week as Juneteenth. Upon this decision, she had no idea Juneteenth was to become a federally recognized holiday.

“I’m really filled with emotion today because of it being the first federally-recognized Juneteenth Independence Day. The fact it it is happening at the end of our Black Writers Week is even more impactful,” Ebert told Variety. “I didn’t expect that the legislation would pass… It sort of took me by surprise.”

Inspired by the site’s Women Writers Week, which she started in 2013, Ebert planned to roll out a diversity and inclusion week. Then the Black Lives Matter movement had its watershed moment last summer, and she decided to change her approach.

“After the death of George Floyd last year and all of the aftermath of the protests...

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is continuing its reality push and has ordered a new gospel-based non-scripted series in addition to renewing five existing franchises.

This comes after the Discovery-backed network expanded its Saturday unscripted programming block to Fridays last year.

Young & Gospel will follow the lives of four young gospel artists as they pursue their dreams and live life on their own terms while staying true to their faith and their families.

It stars singers Koryn Hawthorne, Bri Babineaux, Jekalyn Carr and Christian rapper Wande.

The show is produced by ITV America’s Thinkfactory Media and is exec produced by Adam Reed, Adam Freeman, Jordana Hochman, Phil Thornton and Jen McClure-Metz.

Elsewhere, Ready to Love, Black Love, Put a Ring On It, Family or Fiancé and Love & Marriage: Huntsville have all been renewed.

Ready to Love, a dating series from Will Packer Media and Lighthearted Entertainment, returns with...

Decades before he carried Batman’s breakfast, grunted “bah-humbug” at the Muppets, and launched a thousand mediocre Cockney impersonations, Michael Caine mostly played transgressors.

Listen: Kasi Lemmons: The Power of Myth, History, And Black Love [Be Reel Podcast]

In films like “Alfie” (1966), “The Italian Job” (1969), “Get Carter” (1971), and “The Man Who Would Be King” (1975), Caine brought a streetwise intelligence to a gallery of anti-social rogues: philanderers, killers and colonialists.

Continue reading The Man Who Would Be Caine [Be Reel Podcast] at The Playlist.

Exclusive: ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith and his Mr. Sas Productions have teamed with Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens’ Propagate (Hulu’s Hillary) and Confluential Films (OWN’s Black Love) for Black Excellence, a documentary series examining the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Confluential Films’ Codie Elaine Oliver will direct Black Excellence, which will explore HBCUs’ impact across American politics, business, culture, sports and entertainment. With a mix of original interviews, archival footage and media, the series will look at prominent figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Stacey Abrams, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Taraji P. Henson, Anthony Anderson and many more who attended HBCUs. Depicting how their experiences at HBCUs shaped their careers, the series will spotlight moments in culture where these colleges set the tone from Beyonce’s Homecoming to Ohio State Football Marching Band presentations,...

Six top film documentary directors will reveal the secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Tuesday, December 15, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Daniel Montgomery and a group chat with Daniel and all of the group together.

RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:

“All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Prime): Liz Garbus

Garbus is a two-time Oscar nominee for “What Happened, Miss Simone?...

Joel Kinnaman will executive produce and star as NFL player Jerry Smith in a Fandomodo Films feature about the close friendship between Smith and his longtime Washington Redskins teammate Brig Owens, Variety has learned exclusively.

The film is set at the height of the civil rights movement between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, during a time of societal upheaval. Smith was secretly gay — a fact he kept hidden until his death from AIDS in 1986 — and Owens faced constant challenges and bigotry as a Black man while attending law school. Through it all, the men formed a close bond to always be there for each other regardless of differences or obstacles.

“Jerry Smith was a star on the field, but was never able to find fulfillment in his personal life,” Kinnaman said. “He had Brig to help him through his struggle, but to this day so many young people don...

For many of us, this Labor Day weekend will be the first in recent memory in which we will not attend a barbecue, crack open a cold one with the boys, or go for one last beach day of the season — unless done so in outdoor settings and in small groups with the proper social-distance measures in place, of course. But allow us at TheWrap to pose an alternative: Stay inside and watch TV instead. Here are 17 options spaced out from Friday to Monday that just might keep you entertained.

“Away” – Netflix

Season 1 of this Hilary Swank-led series about astronauts on a very long mission to Mars premieres Friday.

“The Boys” Season 2 – Amazon

Instead of real live people, crack open a cold one with The Boys when the second season of this series about a vigilante group that keeps superheroes-gone-rogue in check premieres on Friday.

“Mulan” – Disney+

Be one...

With Hollywood production sideswiped by the coronavirus pandemic for five months, TV networks and streamers’ pipeline is starting to dry up. There are promising signs, with a handful of series already back in production and a couple of dozen more on track to start filming in the next couple of weeks.

While the situation remains fluid as we swing into the fall season, here are the fall premiere dates for new series and new seasons of returning shows that have been set so far. It covers nearly 200 broadcast, cable and streaming series bowing from September 1 through December 31 in various dayparts but does not include specials or movies.

The list includes two series whose production was impacted by Covid-19 and have just resumed filming, the CW’s Supernatural and FX’s Fargo. We will continue to update the roster as more new and returning fall series begin filming and set premiere dates.

Exclusive: The NAACP has teamed with Tommy Oliver and Adam Platzner of Confluential Content for #ITakeResponsibilty, a new campaign launched today that encourages White people to call out racism and commit to supporting Black lives.

#ITakeResponsibilty kicked off today with a forward PSA featuring Julianne Moore, Kristen Bell, Sarah Paulson, Aaron Paul, Aly Raisman, Bethany Joy Lenz, Bryce Dallas Howard, Debra Messing, Ilana Glazer, Justin Theroux, Kesha, Mark Duplass, Piper Perabo and Stanley Tucci as they took responsibility for the ways they’ve perpetuated racism through silence or inaction, and their commitment to support organizations that fight for the rights of oppressed communities.

“It’s critical that we understand and accept that racism is a white people problem…a problem that, collectively, we need to look to ourselves to fix,” Platzner, Partner and Vice Chairman, Confluential Content tells Deadline.

Netflix’s “Cheer” and VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” both earned five nominations for the second annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards, while Netflix dominated the tally among all networks.

Administered jointly by the Critics Choice Association and the nonfiction producers organization Npact, the Critics Choice Real TV Awards has also named “Survivor” host and executive producer Jeff Probst as the recipient of its Critics Choice Real TV Impact Award.

“Cheer’s” nominations were for categories including unstructured series, sports show, limited documentary series, male star of the year (Jerry Harris), and female star of the year (Monica Aldama). “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will compete in competition series, ensemble cast in an unscripted series, female star of the year (Michelle Visage), male star of the year (RuPaul Charles), and show host (also RuPaul Charles).

Netflix landed 31 nominations, far ahead of second-place networks ABC, Bravo and VH1 (tied at six each). Disney...

While Hollywood is bracing for more changes due to the coronavirus outbreak, some independent film producers say the pandemic is actually leading to more communication and creativity among Hollywood execs and creatives.

Producers Jane Rosenthal (“The Irishman”), John Sloss (“Green Book”) and Tommy Oliver (“Black Love”) joined TheWrap founder and Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman Tuesday on a Zoom virtual meet-up to discuss how the industry has changed during the pandemic, and what people can do to make sure their work is still seen.

“We’re actually talking to each other more than we ever have before,” Sloss said about his New York-based company, Cinetic Media. “It’s kind of remarkable. It feels like we’re working together more effectively than usual. I’m spending a lot of time on video conferences — if this happened, I guess it’s good it happened in such advanced technology… we have 40 films we are currently selling,...

In today’s TV news roundup, VH1 revealed the contestants for the upcoming season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the Oprah Winfrey Network renewed several of its unscripted series.

Casting

VH1 revealed the 13 queens that will be competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” are Aidenn Zhane, Bria, Crystal Methyd, Dahlia Sin, Gigi Goode, Heidi N Closet, Jackie Cox, Jaida Essence Hall, Jan, Nicky Doll, Rock M. Sakura, Sherry Pie and Widow Von’Du. The season will premiere Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. on the cabler.

David Arquette will guest star on an upcoming episode of “Deputy,“ Variety has learned exclusively. Arquette will appear in the seventh episode of the first season, which is currently airing on Fox, playing a man named Roger Durbin who is described as “the kind of guy who has blended in his whole life. But behind the affable façade, lies his secret world — one...

Updated with Own statement: Ambitions will not return for a second season on Own. Robin Givens, who stars as Stephanie Carlisle Lancaster on the series, revealed the news on Instagram.

“Found out last week #Ambitions wouldn’t be returning for a second season ….,” Givens wrote in a post preceded by a sad emoji.

Own confirmed the cancellation.

“We’re thankful to Will Packer, Jamey Giddens and the entire cast and crew of Ambitions for their creativity and hard work on the show. Every week they delivered great drama, intrigue and a lot of fun storytelling,” said Tina Perry, Own president. “We look forward to continue working with Will Packer and his talented team of collaborators in the future.”

The soapy family drama hailed from producer Packer, Lionsgate and Debmar-Mercury.

Created by executive producer/writer Jamey Giddens (The Rich and The Ruthless) from an original idea by Packer, Ambitions was a...

Stephanie Carlisle Lancaster’s days of scheming have been cut short. Own has canceled Ambitions after just one season, series star Robin Givens revealed Thursday on Instagram.

”Found out last week that Ambitions wouldn’t be returning for a second season,” the actress wrote, accompanied by the saddest of emojis.

More from TVLineAmbitions Premiere: Has Stephanie Finally Met Her Match? (Grade It!)Cable TV Renewal Scorecard: What's Returning? What's Cancelled?TVLine Items: Outpost Gets Season 3, Early Apple TV+ Renewals and More

This news comes on the heels of Own renewing freshman series David Makes Man for a second season. Own...

The Oprah Winfrey Network has renewed four of its unscripted series.

“Love & Marriage: Huntsville,” “Ready to Love,” and “Black Women Own the Conversation” were all renewed for a second seasons, while “Black Love” was picked up for a fourth. All four will air later in 2020.

“We are thrilled to continue building our unscripted slate with the return of these fan favorite series,” Own president Tina Perry said. “These shows collectively tell real stories that deeply resonate with our audience, and we are proud to create authentic content that’s relatable to our viewers. We look forward to keep exploring love in African American relationships.”

Also Read: 'American Gods' Actor Orlando Jones Says He Was Fired, Told That Mr. Nancy Was 'Wrong Message for Black America'

“Love & Marriage: Huntsville” is described as following “the lives of three successful and powerful couples in the thriving city of Huntsville, Alabama who are helping...

Own: Oprah Winfrey Network has renewed four of its hit unscripted series that focus on love and relationships. Love & Marriage: Huntsville, Black Women Own the Conversation and Ready to Love have been picked up for second seasons, and Black Love has been renewed for a fourth season. All will air later in 2020.

“We are thrilled to continue building our unscripted slate with the return of these fan favorite series,” said Tina Perry, president, Own. “These shows collectively tell real stories that deeply resonate with our audience, and we are proud to create authentic content that’s relatable to our viewers. We look forward to keep exploring love in African American relationships.”

The four series have been critical to the success of Own’s Saturday night lineup. The most recent cycles of Love & Marriage: Huntsville and Ready to Love last fall saw double-digit ratings growth in the core demo vs.

In today’s TV news roundup, Urban Movie Channel has commissioned the new docuseries “Behind Her Faith,” and Disney Channel has greenlit family dance competition series, “Disney Fam Jam.”

Greenlights

AMC Networks’ Urban Movie Channel has commissioned “Behind Her Faith,“ a new docuseries from writer/director Paula Bryant-Ellis. Executive produced by “Insecure” star Jay Ellis and “Black Love” producer Codie Elaine Oliver, the show promises to explore how the power of faith has been a driving force in the lives of successful women in various industries. The first four episodes will feature appearances from Niecy Nash (“When They See Us,” “Claws”), Aisha Hinds, Essence Atkins (“Marlon,” “Ambitions”) and The Shade Room founder, Angelica Nwandu.

Disney Channel has greenlit family dance competition series “Disney Fam Jam.” Inspired by choreographer Phil Wright’s “The Parent Jam” online videos, each episode of the competition series will feature two families hitting the floor in...

Exclusive: Claws and When They See Us star Niecy Nash, Underground‘s Aisha Hinds, Essence Atkins and the Shade Room founder Angelica Nwandu will be featured in Behind Her Faith, a new docuseries for Urban Movie Channel. A spring launch is in the works.

The AMC Networks-based streaming service has ordered four episodes of the series, created by writer-director Paula Bryant-Ellis. Each episode will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the power of faith and its driving force for successful women in entertainment, sports, music, business, politics and the ministry. The featured guests from varied walks of life have one thing in common: the conscious decision to put their faith first without fear or regret.

Jay Ellis (HBO’s Insecure) is an executive producer and Black Love co-creator Codie Elaine Oliver is a consulting producer on the series, which is in production.

“As Umc’s viewership continues to grow, we...

AMC Networks is touting the benefits of cross-pollinating content and promos across its TV and streaming properties.

In the latest bit of synergy, the programmer’s We tv announced the continuation of its partnership with sister company Umc (Urban Movie Channel) to produce a second season of “confessional” episodes for We tv reality series “Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition” to be exclusively available to Umc subscribers.

The 10-episode season 2 of “Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition” is slated to appear on We tv in early 2020. According to We tv president Mark Juris, the “confessional” bonus episodes have boosted subscriber growth at Umc, while the collaboration also has raised awareness of We tv among the streaming service’s base. (The company has not disclosed how many subscribers Umc has signed up to date.)

“This is another good example of our company using content in a variety of ways to strengthen...

Google’s YouTube TV now offers two more add-on channels to subscribers, under an expanded pact with AMC Networks: British TV service Acorn TV and Umc (Urban Movie Channel), which features a selection of black TV and film titles.

Acorn TV’s add-on channel is now available via YouTube TV for $6 per month and Umc is $5 monthly, the same pricing as through other platforms. They join a trio of AMC Networks services already available through YouTube TV: AMC Premiere ($5 monthly), Shudder ($6 monthly) and Sundance Now ($7 monthly).

The base YouTube TV package, which costs $49.99 per month, offers more than 70 channels including most local TV stations in all U.S. markets.

Other add-on channels available via YouTube TV — with HBO the notable exception — are Showtime ($7 monthly); Starz ($9 monthly); Epix ($6 monthly); CuriosityStream ($3 monthly); Fox Soccer Plus ($15 monthly); and NBA League Pass ($40 monthly).

Programming current available on Acorn TV’s YouTube TV channel includes: “Manhunt,...

Exclusive: Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, model and activist Winnie Harlow, actresses Tina Lifford and Ryan Michelle Bathe, singer Monica, comedians Nicole Byer and Dulcé Sloan and California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris are among the guests scheduled to appear on Own Spotlight: Black Women Own The Conversation. The four-part series from Own and Ozy Media is set to premiere Saturday, August 24 at 10 Pm Et/Pt.

Hosted by Emmy-winning presenter and Ozy co-founder Carlos Watson, the four one-hour episodes feature what Own and Ozy describe as “intimate conversations about important issues with honest opinions and surprising solutions that put people first.” Across the four episodes, panelists and thought leaders will focus on “love and relationships, motherhood, beauty, and mind, body and soul.”

Own Spotlight: Black Women Own the Conversation is produced by Ozy Media. Executive Producers are Carlos Watson, Fay Schlesinger, Samir Rao, Marion Cunningham, Michael Melamedoff, Rufus Lusk,...

Exclusive: Confluential Films has set Mel Jones as Evp, Production & Development. Jones will oversee the film and TV slates for the Confluential Films and Black Love Productions brands. She will report to Confluential Films founder, Tommy Oliver.

Prior to Confluential Films, Jones was the Head of Production for Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures for five years. Her credits include Gerard McMurray’s Burning Sands, Justin Simien’s Dear White, Netflix’s Juanita starring Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood as well as Stella Meghie’s The Weekend, which premiered at Tiff. She recently produced Really Love starring Kofi Siriboe with Charles King’s MacRo. A graduate of Howard University, she earned her Mfa in Producing from AFI.

Confluential Films forthcoming slate includes The Perfect Find starring Gabrielle Union, Flint starring T.I. and John Ortiz and Season 3 of Black Love on Own. Oliver’s Confluential Films is devoted to championing projects that...

In today’s TV news roundup, Hulu drops the first trailer for Mindy Kaling’s “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and Netflix has released official art from the upcoming “Witcher” series.

First Looks

Netflix has released first look images from its upcoming “The Witcher” series, based on the video game of the same name. Below (from left to right) are three of the main characters, Ciri (Freya Allan), Geralt (Henry Cavill), and Yennefer (Anya Cholatra). Geralt is described as a solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

Hulu has dropped the official trailer for its anthology romantic comedy series “Four Weddings and a Funeral” from Mindy Kaling. Zoe Boyle, Nathalie Emmanuel, Guz Khan, Sophia La Porta, Harish Patel, Nikesh Patel, John Reynolds, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Brandon Mychal Smith all star in the series about a group of...

Own: Oprah Winfrey Network has teamed with producer and content creator Steve Jones to broadcast a special on the Waco (Where Art Can Occur) Foundation annual flagship charitable costume event, The Wearable Art Gala, for the first time in its three-year history. Founded by Tina Knowles Lawson and Richard Lawson, the Waco performing arts space located in North Hollywood is described as a creative center where art can truly occur and provides actors, artists, and youth a place to explore their talents.

Taking place this Saturday, the gala theme this year is A Journey to The Pride Lands, a nod to Disney’s upcoming Jon Favreau-directed The Lion King live-action remake which features the voice of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Knowles-Carter serves as the event’s co-chair along with Solange, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Emmy-winner Tiffany Haddish was master of ceremonies.

The gala also recognized Tyler Perry and other individuals...

There has never been a movie that looks and feels quite like “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Whereas most films about love are designed to make you desire two characters, kept apart by narrative conflict, to come together; director Barry Jenkins invites his audience into the expansive feeling of love. Jenkins attributes the uniqueness of his film to the fact there has never been a feature-film adaptation in English of author James Baldwin before.

“I think one of the really beautiful things about adapting this work from the page to the screen is intellectually, as you read it, Baldwin can describe how that love feels,” said Jenkins. “The way Baldwin writes, you’ll look at a paragraph and there’s no periods in it. It’s just this running collection of moods and thoughts and feelings, that feel like these waves cascading across one another.”

To find and fine-tune the...

Shannon Sylvain, the founder of Brown Sugar Rehab, has died. Shannon, who had been battling Stage 4 Colon Cancer, featured with husband Bechir on last night’s episode of the Own TV show Black Love. The tragic news of her passing was revealed on the Black Love Doc Twitter and Instagram pages last night. Codie and Tommy Oliver, the couple behind Black Love, described Shannon and husband Bechir as an “incredible couple”. They wrote: “We were privileged that they welcomed us into their home on their 3-year anniversary to share their love story as well as the story of Shannon’s colon […]

The post Shannon Sylvain dies: Brown Sugar Rehab founder, who featured on Black Love, passes away after cancer battle appeared first on Monsters and Critics.

Black Love creators Codie Oliver and Tommy Oliver are ready to spread the love. The filmmakers and real-life couple that created the popular Own docuseries have launched a new website today and announced the first-ever Black Love Summit.

BlackLove.com looks to establish itself as the premiere digital destination of its kind with content created specifically for the Black community, with an eye toward fostering healthy dialogue on topics including dating, health and sexuality, marriage, parenting, self-love and men’s lifestyle. BlackLove.com’s digital off-shoots will include in-depth stories, interviews, features, and more than a dozen original digital series set to premiere this year.

The inaugural Black Love Summit will take place in Los Angeles Oct. 6-7 at the Montalban Theater and The W Hollywood. The Summit is a two-day conference for married and single audiences to enjoy live discussions, engage in conversation and build community around happy, healthy relationships.

From Arrested Development and Ozark star Jason Bateman to the cast and showrunner of Queen Sugar to our Contenders Emmys video series, there are tons of Deadline videos and podcasts to catch up on from the past two weeks.

In addition to chatting with This Is Us star Mandy Moore, Pete Hammond talked to Jason Bateman about his duo of Netflix shows Arrested Development and Ozark on The Actor’s Side video series.

On the Next Generation TV video series, Dominic Patten chatted with Jonathan Tucker about the pressures and pleasures of joining this season of Westworld. The series also included a chat with Atlanta‘s Paper Boi, Brian Tyree Henry.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producing team behind NBC’s successful musical event Jesus Christ Superstar! stopped by Behind the Lens this week. Bill Hader also chatted with Pete Hammond about his critically acclaimed HBO series Barry.

This week,...