Oprah Winfrey and Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, the award-winning producers behind such hits as โBeing Mary Jane,โ โThe Gameโ and โGirlfriends,โ have partnered together to create โLove Is ___โ a new original one-hour series for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
The Akils will create and executive produce the series through their Akil Productions banner with Mara Brock Akil also serving as showrunner. Drawing inspiration from their real-life relationship, the humorous drama tells the love story between a modern-day power couple. Produced in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television, the series will premiere on OWN in 2018.
The new series joins OWNโs growing lineup of top-rated scripted dramas including โQueen Sugar,โ โGreenleaf,โ โThe Haves and the Have Notsโ and โIf Loving You is Wrong,โ which year-to-date comprise four of the top six original scripted series on ad-supported cable for women 25-54.
โI’ve dreamed of working with the Akils,โ said Oprah Winfrey. โI’ve been a huge fan of their work since first viewing โGirlfriends.โ They know just how to hit the cultural nerve to make you think and laugh at the same time.โ
โTo have a partner that brings the attention to detail and sheer excellence that Oprah has built an empire on is an absolute dream come true for Salim and me,โ said Mara Brock Akil. โThat, and itโs Oprah! โLove Is ___โ is not only a passion project, but is a personal one for us as well. Weโre grateful to have her wholehearted support and magic touch behind this story.โ
About the Series
The Akils often hear that they โpersonify black loveโ; after all, they balance successful careers and a beautiful family. In the world of Black Hollywood, they navigate a complex set of social codes, and this series will explore it all, from the good to the bad… to the โ90s, because that’s where this definitive love story of a modern-day power couple all began.
Mara Brock Akil won the 2016 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series for โBeing Mary Jane,โ and the 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for โThe Game,โ and received three other NAACP Outstanding Writing nominations for โBeing Mary Janeโ (2015), โThe Gameโ (2014), and โGirlfriendsโ (2007).ย Salim Akil also won the 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for โThe Gameโ (shared with Mara Brock Akil), and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) for โJumping the Broomโ the same year.ย He has received five additional NAACP Image Award nominations for directing, for โBeing Mary Jane,โ โThe Start Up,โ โThe Gameโ and โGirlfriends.โ
Between them, the Akils have written, produced and/or directed more than 350 episodes of primetime television series. Up next for The Akils and their Akil Productions banner is the highly anticipated upcoming Warner Bros. Television/DC drama series โBlack Lightning,โ for The CW, which they are executive producing, with Salim Akil taking the reins as showrunner.