AS “THE BLACK PACK” FOR
TWO VARIETY SPECIALS ON THE CW NETWORK
The Black Pack: We Three Kings” and “The Black Pack: Excellence” Are Executive Produced By Taye Diggs, Shannon Stoeke and Rikki Hughes
Holiday Themed “The Black Pack: We Three Kings” To
Make Its Debut Monday, November 29
In Commemoration of Juneteenth, “The Black Pack: Excellence” To Premiere In 2022
October 28, 2021 (Burbank, CA) ─ The CW Network announced today two original variety specials, THE BLACK PACK: WE THREE KINGS and THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE, featuring the many talents of acclaimed film, television, and stage star Taye Diggs (“All American”), GRAMMY Award® winning singer/songwriter NE-YO and GRAMMY Award® winning R&B singer/songwriter Eric Bellinger as “The Black Pack.” The multi-talented trio will be joined by a wide array of special guests and well-known personalities including Bre-Z (“All American”) as well as singer/songwriters Tank, Sevyn Streeter and Jordin Sparks. THE BLACK PACK: WE THREE KINGS is set to make its debut on Monday, November 29 (8:00-9:00pm ET). The premiere of THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE will be announced at a later date.
THE BLACK PACK: WE THREE KINGS and THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE are tip of the hat to the enduring talent of the Rat Pack while remaining modern and full of joy. “The Black Pack” celebrates excellence and camaraderie through varied musical performances and lighthearted repartee while inviting audiences to snuggle close to those they love, laugh and sing along with classic music.
THE BLACK PACK: WE THREE KINGS is a holiday extravaganza of music, comedy and dance. “The Black Pack” hosts this celebration and exploration of this special time of year through a colorful and timeless lens. Classic holiday music, both new and old, is brought to life on a stunning stage as the audience is transported to the room where it is all happening to enjoy a new spin on an old fashioned Christmas.
“The Black Pack” returns to host their second special with THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE. Celebrating Black excellence and culture with an irresistible blend of musical and dance performances, THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE will feature a star-studded list of special guests commemorating Juneteenth as “The Black Pack” explores how to celebrate America’s newly acknowledged national holiday while glorifying those that came before. “The Black Pack” also pays tribute to the iconic Sammy Davis Jr. and features a newly penned Juneteenth anthem.
THE BLACK PACK: WE THREE KINGS and THE BLACK PACK: EXCELLENCE are both produced by Magic Lemonade and executive produced by Taye Diggs, Shannon Stoeke and Rikki Hughes, who also serves as the showrunner of both specials.
ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC) ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: (l-r) Celina Smith as Annie, Sandy as Sandy the dog — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
About Annie Live!
“The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow” this holiday season as NBC has found its next live musical event: the beloved seven-time Tony Award-winning hit “Annie Live!”
Robert Greenblatt will executive produce the telecast along with Neil Meron, who has served as executive producer on all of NBC’s live musicals since 2013’s “The Sound of Music Live!,” and most recently the Emmy Award-winning “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”
Robert Greenblatt brought live musicals back to NBC when he was Chairman and is responsible for some of the biggest hits on television over the last two decades. He is also an award-wining television and Broadway producer, the recipient of the Golden Globe and Peabody awards, two Tony awards, and two Olivier awards.
Neil Meron is the most prolific producer of musicals with former partner Craig Zadan, including the Oscar-winning “Chicago”; he received the Emmy for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert” and produced all of NBC’s live musicals. He also produced “Gypsy” starring Bette Midler and a series of musicals for ABC/Wonderful World of Disney including the groundbreaking “Cinderella” starring Whitney Houston and Brandy.
Alex Rudzinski will once again take on the role as Live Television Director and Executive Producer as he did with “Hairspray Live!” and “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert.” His live musical credits also include “Grease Live!” and “Rent: Live,” for which he won 3 Emmys.
“Annie Live!” will be directed by the award-winning Lear deBessonet. Artistic Director for New York’s revival series, Encores, she is the recipient of an Obie Award and she created the popular Public Works program at the Public Theatre which produces community-engaged productions with as many as 200 performers.
Veteran choreographer Sergio Trujillo will choreograph the production. Recipient of the Tony award for “Ain’t Too Proud” and the Olivier award for “Memphis,” his credits also include hits “Jersey Boys” and “The Addams Family.”
Paul Tazewell will design the costumes and Jason Sherwood the scenery. Tazewell is a veteran of two NBC live musicals, “The Wiz Live!” (Emmy award) “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (Emmy nomination). He recently designed costumes for film Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” and is the designer of the iconic “Hamilton.” Jason Sherwood is a two-time Emmy-winning production designer for “Rent: Live” and the 2020 Oscars, having worked extensively in television, in the live music space, and in all facets of theatre.
Stephen Oremus, two-time Grammy- and Tony-winning music supervisor and orchestrator, will head the music department for “Annie Live!” as he did for “The Wiz Live.” His blockbusters credits include “Wicked,” “Frozen,” “The Book of Mormon,” and Kinky Boots.”
The live event is being produced by Chloe Productions.
Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, has just released the official trailer for its upcoming revival of the groundbreaking series THE GAME, debuting with a two-part premiere episode on Thursday, Nov. 11. Subsequent episodes of the 10-episode first season will drop weekly on Thursdays, exclusively on Paramount+.
Relocating from San Diego to Sin City, THE GAME returns with a mix of new players and original cast to offer a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football. The team will tackle racism, sexism, classism and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect and love – all while trying to maintain their souls as they each play THE GAME.
THE GAME stars Wendy Raquel Robinson (“Insecure”) as sports agent Tasha Mack; Hosea Chanchez (“Black Lightning”) as footballer Malik Wright; Adriyan Rae (“Chicago Fire”) as Brittany Pitts, the daughter of Jason and Kelly Pitts; Vaughn Hebron (“Tyler Perry’s The Oval”) as Jamison Fields, an undrafted free agent; Analisa Velez (“Sneaky Pete”) as Raquel Navarro, Brittany’s best friend; and Toby Sandeman (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan”) as Garret Evans, the top football player in the league.
THE GAME is executive produced by original show creator Mara Brock Akil, showrunner and writer Devon Greggory (“American Soul”), Salim Akil (“Black Lightning”), and original executive producer Kelsey Grammer (“Girlfriends”) and Tom Russo (“Black-ish”) of Grammnet NH Productions. Kevin Bray (“Insecure”) will direct the first two episodes of the inaugural season. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Akil Productions and Grammnet NH Productions.
All nine seasons of THE GAME, which originally aired on The CW then BET, are also currently available to binge on Paramount+. The series will be distributed internationally by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.
Click HERE to Watch Official Trailer.
CULVER CITY, California—October 20, 2021—Season One of the comedy series Harlem, from Girl’s Trip creator Tracy Oliver, will premiere Friday, December 3, on Prime Video, with the official first-look images out now. The 10-episode Amazon Original series will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.
Created, written, and executive produced by Oliver, Harlem is a new single-camera comedy following four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem, New York City: a rising star professor struggling to make space for her love life; a savvy tech entrepreneur always dating someone new; a no-filter singer; and a hopeless romantic fashion designer. Together, they level up into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
The series stars Meagan Good as “Camille,” Grace Byers as “Quinn,” Shoniqua Shandai as “Angie,” Jerrie Johnson as “Tye,” and Tyler Lepley as “Ian.” Additional recurring guest stars include Jasmine Guy as “Patricia,” Whoopi Goldberg as “Dr. Elise Pruitt,” Andrea Martin as “Robin,” Robert Ri’chard as “Shawn,” Juani Feliz as “Isabela,” Kate Rockwell as “Ana,” and Sullivan Jones as “Jameson.”
Harlem is produced by Amazon Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal studio Group, in association with Paper Kite Productions. In addition to Oliver, Paper Kite’s Amy Poehler (Russian Doll) and Kim Lessing (Moxie) also serve as executive producers alongside 3 Arts’ Dave Becky (True Story) and 13-time Grammy Award-winner Pharrell Williams (Hidden Figures) and Mimi Valdés (Roxanne Roxanne) from i am OTHER. Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip) directed the first two episodes.
ESSENCE’s hot new digital cover features Emmy-nominated actress Zazie Beetz who stars in the upcoming Netflix original film, The Harder They Fall. The film from Jeymes Samuel centers Black men and women in the west not as subservient beings, but as gender-equal, gun-toting cowboys who take, provide, protect, and, most of all, answer to no one.
The stunning actress, who is as known for her loosely structured textured hairstyles and natural makeup as she is for playing “Domino” in Deadpool 2 and “Van” in the FX series Atlanta, looks resplendent in Versace, Giuseppe Zanotti, Alexander Wang, Lagos KSL and more. In the story, A Reluctant Star, she talks to ESSENCE’s Senior Entertainment Editor Brande Victorian about chasing excellence and not fame, choosing acting and being accepted in the entertainment industry so quickly:
- The Rise of Her Profile: “It was an adjustment in terms of what I felt I deserved and what I earned. I questioned whether I had earned my place yet. ‘Was I just lucky?’ That was very tortuous for me for a long time…”
- On Choosing Acting: “After I graduated, I was like, ‘I’ve spent so much time acting. I can’t not try it.’ I think after high school, I was like, ‘I can’t get trapped in this. What are my other things?’ And then I had an opportunity to see those other things–and I chose acting again…”
- On Fame: “The amount of people that are famous nowadays is so much more than 10 or 20 years ago, and there’s a much larger sort of gray space in terms of mid-fame, mid-level and B-list celebrity versus A-list celebrity. Sometimes I wonder, ‘Am I continuing down the path of no return?’ Like, would I want more? Would I not want more? But I’m speaking about it in terms of fame rather than artistry. What is arrival? I don’t really know, but I think there’s a lot more I want to do…”
Three-Part Series Made Entirely from Never-Before-Seen,
Restored Footage to Premiere on Disney+
November 25, 26, and 27, 2021
Directed by three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “They Shall Not Grow Old”), “The Beatles: Get Back” takes audiences back in time to the band’s January 1969 recording sessions, which became a pivotal moment in music history. The docuseries showcases The Beatles’ creative process as they attempt to write 14 new songs in preparation for their first live concert in over two years. Faced with a nearly impossible deadline, the strong bonds of friendship shared by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are put to the test.
The docuseries is compiled from nearly 60 hours of unseen footage shot over 21 days, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and from more than 150 hours of unheard audio, most of which has been locked in a vault for over half a century. Jackson is the only person in 50 years to have been given access to this Beatles treasure trove, all of which has now been brilliantly restored. What emerges is an unbelievably intimate portrait of The Beatles, showing how, with their backs against the wall, they could still rely on their friendship, good humor, and creative genius. While plans derail and relationships are put to the test, some of the world’s most iconic songs are composed and performed. The docuseries features – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles’ last live performance as a group, the unforgettable rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row, as well as other songs and classic compositions featured on the band’s final two albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.
An exciting new collaboration between The Beatles and Jackson presented by The Walt Disney Studios in association with Apple Corps Ltd. and WingNut Films Productions Ltd., “The Beatles: Get Back” is directed by Peter Jackson, produced by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison, Peter Jackson, Clare Olssen (“They Shall Not Grow Old”) and Jonathan Clyde (“Eight Days a Week”), with Apple Corps’ Jeff Jones (“Eight Days a Week”) and Ken Kamins (“The Hobbit” trilogy) serving as executive producers. Jabez Olssen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) serves as the film’s editor, the music supervisor is Giles Martin (“Rocketman”), Michael Hedges (“The Adventures of Tintin”) and Brent Burge (“The Hobbit” trilogy) serve as the series re-recording mixers, and the music is mixed by Giles Martin and Sam Okell (“Yesterday”).
Click here to view trailer.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Emmy®-nominated producer Will Packer will produce the 94th Oscars®, Academy President David Rubin announced today. It will be his first involvement with the Oscars, which will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 27, 2022.
“Will is a powerhouse producer who has enjoyed success across all movie genres. He’s already bringing a boundless energy and a focus on innovation to this year’s Oscars, to entertain the widest spectrum of fans. Many wonderful surprises ahead!” said Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.
“The power, the beauty, the romance of the imagery in movies has always attracted me. I’m fully embracing the challenge of bringing an ode to one of the most iconic mediums in the world to life. What an honor!” said Packer.
“There is no one better than Will Packer to celebrate our collective love for cinema,” said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “Will is a world-class hitmaker and the ideal producer to capture the prestige of The Oscars and deliver a powerful and moving event.”
Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies, including such films as “The Photograph,” “Little,” “What Men Want,” “Night School,” “Breaking In,” “Girls Trip,” “Ride Along 2,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “No Good Deed,” “Think Like a Man Too,” “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” “Takers,” “Obsessed” and “Stomp the Yard.” His television credits include “That Girl Lay Lay,” “Blackballed,” “Ambitions,” “Bigger,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Uncle Buck” and the remake of “Roots,” for which he received an Emmy nomination. He is the founder and CEO of film production company Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, a television, digital and branded content company.
Shayla Cowan, chief of staff of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, will serve as co-producer alongside Packer. Cowan manages and oversees all the operational activities of both companies, advises on marketing, communications and business strategies, and provides support on the development and production of the company’s films, television and digital programming.
The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
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BLACK WOMEN UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT OF EMPOWERMENT
AT ACTRESS MALINDA WILLIAMS’
RISE AND SHINE:LADIES WHO BRUNCH EVENT
PRESENTED BY CADILLAC AND HALLMARK MAHOGANY
The Rise and Shine: Ladies Who Brunch event created and curated by actress, producer and creator Malinda Williams took place over the weekend at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood. The afternoon brunch gathered dynamic and accomplished women from all genres and influence in entertainment, executives and small business owners to network and celebrate black excellence. VIP guests in attendance included Niecy Nash, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Koshie Mills, Monique Coleman, Alexis Kerr and more!
The 2nd annual event was a hybrid, inclusive of an in-person brunch and a virtual experience hosted by Porsha Monique. Malinda’s co-hosts of the Rise and Shine event were powerhouse celebrity publicist and TV Personality Kita Williams and best-selling author, transformational speaker and Editor-In-Chief of Cheryl Magazine, Cheryl P. Williamson. The women in attendance understood the assignment of celebrating sisterhood and female empowerment. The brunch was lavishly decorated with beautiful white and blush floral centerpieces. A decadent buffet of tasty bites was provided and an atmosphere of transparency was created with an exchange of inspirational energy that was palpable.
The energy I felt was beyond words. Sisterhood was the heartbeat and focus. The bonds that were created in the room will never be broken,” says actress and event creator, Malinda Williams.“The intent of The Rise and Shine brunch was to leave inspired and encouraged.”
The RISE And SHINE: Ladies Who Brunch was hosted by philanthropist and actress Monique Coleman, with a special guest performance of “Sista” by actress Vanessa Estelle Williams who received a standing ovation. The powerhouse panelists included Alexis Kerr VP of (Hallmark Mahogany), Melissa Butler creator of the (Lip Bar), actress Malinda Williams and Koshie Mills (Heirs of Afrika) served as panel moderator. Also, actress Niecy Nash gave an impromptu inspirational message to the women in attendance.
Every woman received curated “Authentically HER” boxes. Inside each box was a gold coin which represented developing and keeping a prosperous mindset, a bracelet to be worn as a daily reminder to affirm yourself with love, 2 affirmation cards and a pen to write affirmations of encouragement. The women were asked to exchange their cards with the woman next to them as an intentional action of being your sister’s keeper.
The Rise and Shine: Ladies Who Brunch event is made possible by the generous support of its sponsors, Cadillac and Hallmark Mahogany.
“Chocolate, does, melt in the summer?”
That line in episode one is quite fitting considering that gorgeous cast in Fox’s juicy new drama, “Our Kind of People.”
Aside from all of the chocolaty goodness and eye candy on screen, the series gives out “Inkwell” (Matty Rich) and Greenleaf (Craig Wright) vibes which explores Black Excellence in all of its ups and downs, blended with deep dark family secrets, revolving around classism, money, legacy, power, generational wealth, historical struggles, all from a vantage point of the Black elite.
What makes “Our Kind of People” work, is that it explores the Black experience not as one-dimensional, as we as Black folks are often portrayed.
Social status groups with exclusive memberships i.e., Jack & Jill, Black Greek Organizations, Black Boule are all highlighted in this new series by writing team Karen Gist (Mixed-ish) and executive producer Lee Daniels (Empire).
The writers do a great job as they set out to allure audiences into a world of social status amongst the bourgeois, in the Martha’s Vineyard town of Oak Bluffs.
Episode one starts out with a family in mourning over the death of Evelyn Vaughn, a single mother and hair entrepreneur who instilled a sense of pride in her daughter, Angela Vaughn (Yaya DaCosta), who’s relocated from Boston to Oak Bluffs with her daughter Nikki (Alana Bright), and aunt, Patricia aka Piggy (Debbi Morgan), with plans to open up a pop-up shop and settle into the house that was left behind in Evelyn’s name and transform it into a natural Black hair mecca.
The edgy new series centers on the Dupont and Franklin legacy driven families, old Black money, the upper class of the community, who’s main goal is to remain in power, no matter what cost.
Business entrepreneurs, Raymond Dupont (Morris Chestnut) is married to Teddy Franklin’s (Joe Morton) daughter Leah, played by (Nadine Ellis), are characters that are all key to the development of the series. Morton as he did as Papa Pope in the hit show Scandal adds so much to the storyline. The series also stars Lance Gross as Tyrique Freeman, Angela’s love interest.
The show is an adaptation of Lawrence Otis Graham’s 1999 novel Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class.
Audiences, Black audiences in particular will see that representation does matters.
“Our Kind of People” will debut on Fox on Tuesday September 21, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT), and the show will then air weekly on the channel until October 19.
Peacock’s highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air, a contemporary reimagining of the beloved and culture defining 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has announced the full main cast.
The series regulars include:
- Newcomer Jabari Banks as “Will”
- Adrian Holmes as “Phillip Banks” (At That Age, V Wars) Cassandra Freeman as “Vivian Banks” (The Enemy Within, Atlanta)
- Olly Sholotan as “Carlton Banks” (Run Hide Fight, Evolution of Nate Gibson)
- Coco Jones as “Hilary Banks” (Let it Shine, Vampires vs. The Bronx)
- Akira Akbar as “Ashley Banks” (We Can Be Heroes, Captain Marvel)
- Jimmy Akingbola as “Geoffrey” (Most Dangerous Game, In The Long Run)
- Jordan L. Jones as “Jazz” (Rel, Snowfall)
- Simone Joy Jones as “Lisa” (The Chair, What If)
Set in modern-day America, Bel-Air is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the 90’s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Co-Showrunners / Executive Producers: T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson
Director / Co-Writer / Executive Producer: Morgan Cooper
Executive Producers: Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, and Andy & Susan Borowitz
Produced By: Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Westbrook Studios, a division of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s media company Westbrook Inc.
Format: Drama series
Filming Location: Los Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA