On Wednesday (Jan. 10) Netflix’s highly anticipated film, The Kitchen, hosted an exclusive screening at The Roxy Cinema in New York. The event featured a post-screening conversation with co-director Daniel Kaluuya and lead star Kane Robinson, expertly moderated by Jasmine Simpkins from Hip Hollywood.
In attendance were notable personalities such as Dave East, Maino, Brian “B Dot” Miller, and Elliott Wilson. The screening provided a sneak peek into the film’s compelling narrative and the talent behind its creation.
The film’s logline reads:
In a dystopian London, the gap between rich and poor has been stretched to its limits. All forms of social housing have been eradicated and only The Kitchen remains. A community that refuses to move out of the place they call home. This is where we meet a solitary Izi, living here by necessity and desperately trying to find a way out, and a 12-year-old Benji, who has lost his mother and is searching for a family. We follow our unlikely pair as they struggle to forge a relationship in a system that is stacked against them.
Fans and film enthusiasts can mark their calendars as “The Kitchen” will be released on Netflix on Friday, Jan. 19, offering a thrilling cinematic experience with a stellar cast and captivating storyline.
Award-winning actress Sanaa Lathan is set to take on the role of the iconic 90s TV psychic Miss Cleo in a new darkly comedic drama series. The project, titled “Miss Cleo,” is currently in development at Legendary Entertainment, with Lathan serving as both the lead actress and executive producer.
Best known for her recent Emmy-nominated performance on “Succession,” Lathan will delve into the intriguing life of Miss Cleo, originally Youree Dell Harris, who gained fame as the spokesperson for a psychic pay-per-call-minute service called Psychic Readers Networks in a series of commercials from 1997 to 2003. The catchphrase “Call me now!” became synonymous with Miss Cleo’s persona during this time.
The drama series, inspired by the true story of Miss Cleo, will explore the rise of the psychic icon and the subsequent legal battles involving the government and a staggering sum of $500 million. Miss Cleo’s journey will be presented in a darkly comedic manner, providing insight into the contentious court case triggered by her fame.
Sharon Hall, former Sony Pictures Television head of drama and executive producer of “The Expanse,” will join Sanaa Lathan in the executive production role through her company Mom de Guerre Productions.
Miss Cleo faced legal challenges in 2002 when the Federal Trade Commission charged the owners of Psychic Readers Networks with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices. Though Harris was not indicted, the company settled by erasing $500 million in debt from victims and paying a $5 million fine.
The upcoming series aims to capture the complexity of Miss Cleo’s life, shedding light on her rise to fame, legal battles, and lasting impact on popular culture. With Lathan at the helm, “Miss Cleo” is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the intriguing story of the 90s psychic sensation. The series is currently in development and being pitched to various streaming platforms and broadcasters.
50 Cent is doubling down on working with Taraji P. Henson. After stating he wanted to work with Henson, 50 spoke about what he paid Mary J. Blige as proof of being serious about helping The Color Purple star.
“Someone called me today thinking I was bullsh!ting about working with @tarajiphenson till I told them what I made STARZ pay @therealmaryjblige to be on GHOST, I ain’t out here fvcking around,” 50 wrote on Instagram.
According to Complex, the rumored pay for Mary J. Blige was $400K an episode for her role as Monet Tejada on Power Book II: Ghost.
Taraji P. Henson revealed a massive shakeup that she made to her team after the conclusion of Empire. According to Henson, a Cookie spinoff was supposed to happen, and when it didn’t, she cleared house. The reveal came after Variety’s Angelique Jackson asked about her best business decision.
“Firing everybody after Cookie,” Henson responded. “Everybody had to fucking go. Where is my deal? Where’s my commercial? Cookie was at the top of the fashion game. Where is my endorsement? What did you have set up for after this? That’s why you all haven’t seen me in so long. They had nothing set up. All they wanted was another Cookie show.”
She added, “I said, ‘I’ll do it, but it has to be right. The people deserve…she’s too beloved for y’all to fuck it up.’ And so, when they didn’t get it right, I was like, ‘Well, that’s it,’ and they had nothing else. ‘You’re all fuckin’ fired.’ It took me years to get there…you are the prize. Don’t you ever forget that. You are the talent. You are there check. Don’t every forget that. They work for you. If they are not…somebody else will do it. I stayed with the same team for years.”
Last week, Taraji P. Henson cried over frustration with Hollywood. She admitted she was considering quitting her job over the pay gap for Black actresses and revealed she hasn’t had a raise in years. The blogs suspected tension between Taraji and Oprah, but it seems Oprah has made things right with the Empire actress.
Taranji posted a photo of she and Oprah with the caption:
It is so important for black women and ALL women of color to support each other.
It is also imperative to have women of color in decision making positions across ALL industries.
Thank you for responding to my message with the compassion, understanding and support that I’ve received.
With that being said…
Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!!
She has provided ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE and UNWAVERING SUPPORT to us all.
She told me personally to reach out to her for ANYTHING I needed, and I did!
It took ONE CALL… ONE CONVERSATION… and ONE DECISION MAKING BLACK WOMAN to make me feel heard.
Pete Davidson revealed that he was extremely high at Aretha Franklin’s funeral and made a bad joke to her family.
Speaking in a trailer for his Netflix special, Davidson recalled the moment he went to the funeral with his then-fiancée, Ariana Grande.
“I’m so high, I thought it’d be a good idea to go up to her family and go, ‘Hey! I’m just here to pay my R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts,’” Davidson said.
“It’s embarrassing when you’re not on ketamine anymore, though,” Davidson said. “I’m embarrassed. I was out and about like that. That’s not cool, you know?”
Ketamine, as classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is a dissociative anesthetic exhibiting hallucinogenic properties.
The trailer for his upcoming special, Turbo Fonzarelli, is below.
On Wednesday, January 10, the anticipation for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® will reach new heights as dynamic duo Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani take the virtual stage to announce this year’s nominees. The nominations will be exclusively revealed via Instagram Live on the @sagawards and @netflix accounts, starting at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT.
Issa Rae
The SAG Awards Nominations event will commence at 9:50 a.m. ET / 6:50 a.m. PT on @sagawards’ Instagram Stories. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher will set the stage with an introduction, followed by the announcements for Outstanding Action Performances by Film and Television ensembles. SAG Awards Committee members Jason George and Woody Schultz will do the honors of unveiling the nominees.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that SAG Awards nominations will be exclusively presented via Instagram Live. By leveraging the reach and engagement of social media platforms, the SAG Awards team aims to create an immersive and authentic connection with both nominees and fans. The virtual experience is designed to seamlessly blend innovation with the shared excitement of the nominations unveiling.
Kumail Nanjiani
The Screen Actors Guild Awards, celebrating its 30th edition, continues to embrace the digital landscape, ensuring that the prestigious event remains an accessible and engaging experience for the global audience. Tune in to witness the unveiling of the outstanding talents recognized for their exceptional contributions to the world of film and television.
Academy Award-winning actress Regina King is set to portray trailblazing politician Shirley Chisholm in the upcoming Netflix film Shirley. The film will release on March 22, 2024.
The star-studded cast includes Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, W. Earl Brown, Brad James, Reina King, André Holland, and Terrence Howard.
The logline reads:
SHIRLEY tells the story of the first black Congresswoman and political icon, Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president of the U.S. It chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.
Directed and written by John Ridley, the film is produced by Regina King and Reina King, Anikah McLaren, and Elizabeth Haggard. Serving as executive producers are Jeff Skoll and Ted Gidlow. The project promises to provide a compelling exploration of Chisholm’s groundbreaking political journey.
With a powerhouse ensemble and a team led by accomplished director John Ridley, “Shirley” is poised to bring the inspiring and impactful story of Shirley Chisholm to life on the Netflix platform.
Renowned musician and producer Raphael Saadiq continues to make waves in television and film, earning a coveted spot at the Sundance Film Festival 2024 for his latest contribution to the Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden-directed film Freaky Tales. Saadiq’s multifaceted talents promise an unforgettable auditory experience to complement the film’s compelling narrative.
“We are thrilled that ‘Freaky Tales’ is premiering at Sundance 2024, and the addition of Yancey Richardson to our team further solidifies MKOM’s commitment to delivering exceptional musical experiences in the world of television and film,” said MKOM CEO Raphael Saadiq.
In a strategic move to enhance its musical pursuits, Saadiq’s production company, My Kind of Music/My Kind of Movies (MKOM), welcomes industry veteran Yancey Richardson as the Music Supervisor for film and television projects, starting with “Freaky Tales.” Richardson’s wealth of experience will contribute to MKOM’s continued success.
Saadiq’s fans can also anticipate the return of the Emmy-nominated animated Marvel series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, with the second season set to debut on February 2, 2024, on Disney Channel. The show’s success underscores Saadiq’s seamless integration of musical mastery with visual storytelling.
21 Savage makes a powerful return, officially announcing the release of the trailer for his upcoming movie, American Dream: The 21 Savage Story. The trailer, featuring brand new music from 21 Savage, offers a glimpse into the film and introduces an ensemble cast including five-time GRAMMY winner Donald Glover, Caleb McLaughlin of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” Natasha Lyonne, Jabari Banks, Victoria Pedretti, Young Mazino, Chad Lindberg, Gail Bean, and Atlanta comedian Druski.
Directed by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori, and Fam Udeorji, the trailer portrays three generations of 21 Savage amid a personal crisis. Produced by Tara Razavi and Udeorji, the film promises to explore the Atlanta superstar’s journey.
Despite more than five years since his last solo LP, 21 Savage has continued his prolific career, achieving multiple Billboard 200 chart-topping albums and GRAMMY wins. Notably, joint albums with Metro Boomin (Savage Mode 2) and Drake (Her Loss) both debuted at #1, solidifying 21 Savage’s status in the music industry. Stay tuned for the much-anticipated release of American Dream: The 21 Savage Story.
Storm Reid won her first major award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Saturday. This phase of the awards precedes the main Emmy Awards ceremony that will be held on Jan. 15. ICYMI, Reid took home Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her compelling role, playing Riley Abel in the hit post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us.
The 28-year-old actress won in a competitive category with fellow cast members from The Last of Us, Melanie Lynskey and Anna Torv. Other nominees were actresses from Succession: Hiam Abbass, Cherry Jones, and Harriet Walter.
For history’s sake, she is the youngest winner in a guest acting category, after 28-year-old Lee You-mi took down the award for Squid Game in 2022.
“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I signed on to be Riley in The Last of Us. I knew it was going to be special, but I didn’t know it was gonna be quite this special,” Reid spoke backstage, as reported by Deadline. “I’m just so grateful to the show for allowing me to really, re-fall in love with storytelling.
“It’s not that I fell out of love with storytelling, but I think my role in The Last of Us really reinforced my love and passion to be able to tell meaningful stories and to be a representation for young women, young Black women, young, queer Black women. I’m grateful to Bella, Craig [Mazin] and the entire team for making the show. It was absolutely special to watch and I always say that I feel like I would be a big fan of the show, even if I wasn’t a part of the show.”
Jasmine Guy, celebrated for her iconic portrayal of southern belle Whitley Gilbert in the classic sitcom “A Different World,” has finally received the recognition she deserves. The accomplished actress was honored at the 75th Creative Arts Emmys, where she clinched her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Her award-winning role was in Prime Video’s “Chronicles of Jessica Wu.” She’s the third Black woman in the ceremony’s history to capture the trophy following previous winners KeKePalmerand JasmineCephasJones.
Taking to TikTok to share her joy, Jasmine Guy exclaimed, “This is Jasmine Guy, and I just won an Emmy. Yay, yay!” The elated actress proudly displayed her well-deserved trophy.
Despite her remarkable career spanning 42 years, it’s surprising that this marks Jasmine Guy’s first Emmy win, considering the widespread acclaim she garnered for her portrayal of Whitley Gilbert. While “A Different World” earned her four NAACP Image Awards, an Emmy nod had eluded her until now.
Jasmine Guy’s television journey began in 1982 as a dancer on the series “Fame.” Throughout her illustrious career, she has graced various TV series with her talent, including recurring roles in “Touched by an Angel” (CBS, 1995-1997) and the current Prime Video hit, “Harlem.”
This long-overdue recognition at the Creative Arts Emmys is a testament to Jasmine Guy’s enduring impact on the world of television, and fans are thrilled to see her finally getting the flowers she rightfully deserves.
The #Emmy goes to Jasmine Guy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for Chronicles Of Jessica Wu (@Prime Video)! Bravo! #Emmys#75thEmmys
