Paramount+ has announced that The French Montana Story, an exclusive documentary following the rise of Moroccan-born hip-hop star French Montana, will premiere on November 19 in the U.S. and Canada and on November 20 in the U.K. and Australia. The film, produced by Live Nation Productions for MTV Entertainment Studios and directed by Mandon Lovett, provides an intimate look at Montana’s journey from hardship to stardom.
The documentary delves into Montana’s life as he navigates the challenges of growing up in the Bronx. After being abandoned by his father, Montana’s single mother was left to support him and his two younger brothers. The film captures the family’s immigrant story, highlighting a mother’s strength and a son’s determination to overcome life’s obstacles to pursue his American dream. In the words of Montana, “It’s the first blueprint of an immigrant’s music dream, proving that anything is possible and it’s not about the awards, it’s about what we learn from the losses and sacrifices.”
In addition to directing by Lovett, The French Montana Story is executive produced by Michael Rapino and Ryan Kroft for Live Nation Productions, alongside French Montana himself under his Montana Entertainment banner.
“ATTENTION HOTTIES,” Megan Thee Stallion captioned an Instagram post on Thursday morning, September 5. “WE ARE OFFICIALLY FAMOUS WE GOT A PEPSI COMMERCIAL.”
Yes, Pepsi and Paramount Global partnered for a brand new commercial blending Paramount’s forthcoming Gladiator II and the 2024 NFL season.
The three-minute spot begins with actors Jake Lacy and Lamorne Morris bragging about their respective fantasy teams. Then, we’re taken inside of their freshly served Pepsi can, which transforms into a Roman Coliseum. Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson stalk out dressed as gladiators. Kelce, always hogging the spotlight, screams, “Are you ready?!” Megan Thee Stallion interrupts him to unleash tigers into the Coliseum and starts singing her unique spin on Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
“Megan Thee Stallion is going to get people to pay attention; Travis Kelce and Josh Allen are going to get people to pay attention,” Paramount President Of Advertising John Halley told the publication. “It’s a first-class branding moment for Pepsi and one that is going to last.”
The new NFL season begins on Thursday night with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. The game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Earlier this week, music fans across the internet were devastated to learn that Paramount Global was shutting down the MTV News website, “as part of broader website changes across Paramount.” That meant that an archive of music history, from the rise of blog rap to the breakouts of international superstar artists like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and more was just gone in an instant, all because someone flipped a switch.
However, it’s not all bad news: Today, the Internet Archive announced it had created a directory of MTV News posts via the Wayback Machine. The index contains 460,575 articles previously published at MTV.com/news — here’s how you can access it.
In addition to MTV News, Paramount also shut down the sites for CMT, Comedy Central, TV Land and Paramount Network. This was an attempt to direct users to Paramount+ but… I don’t know how effective that’ll be, considering there’s no included promise that the desired content will be found there. At least they still have the best Super Bowl ad of 2024.
This loss of news and entertainment history is a bummer, but it’s not surprising. There’s actually already a name for what’s going on here: We’re in the Digital Dark Age.
To be clear, Paramount isn’t the only offender, and this is far from a new problem: The term “digital dark age” was used as far back as 1999, and it refers to the loss of information and resources due to outdated digital file formats, lack of preservation, and other reasons.
Pew Research Center shared some startling data last month. Their analysis found that 38 percent of webpages that existed in 2013 are gone today. Furthermore, 23 percent of online news articles contain at least one broken link.
The MTV News archives were full of original journalistic work that’s an important part of its era. This 2005 interview with Gerard Way as My Chemical Romance was achieving mainstream success? Gone! (“But you put a link!” Yes, more on that in a second.) This 2014 Jay-Z interview about tensions with Nas and Cam’ron? Zapped! This 2003 feature written shortly after the death of Elliott Smith, providing fascinating historical context about how the world reacted to the loss? Bye-bye!
Then there’s the TV side of things. As Consequence notes, the Comedy Central website hosted the entire Colbert Report series and clips from every Daily Show episode since 1999. Welp, not anymore. That content isn’t otherwise available to stream, either: The Colbert Report isn’t streaming anywhere, and only Seasons 28 and 29 of The Daily Show are on Paramount+.
Not directly related to the issue that sparked this conversation, but preservation is a major issue in the video game space, too. If, for example, you want to play Pokémon Platinum today, a used copy of the game will cost over $100 (per PriceCharting data), and then there’s the matter of getting a working Nintendo DS. So, many have turned to piracy for playing retro games. Valve president Gabe Newell has a relevant, oft-cited quote: “Piracy is not a pricing issue. It’s a service issue. The easiest way to stop piracy is not by putting anti-piracy technology to work. It’s by giving those people a service that’s better than what they’re receiving from the pirates.”
I don’t want to bring potentially unwanted attention to certain preservation efforts, but there are active online communities dedicated to the preservation of large amounts of data. Again, I’m not going to point you in the right direction, but (illegal copies of) retro video games can be easily found online. If you look hard enough, you can find a ton of Colbert Report episodes for free. Less secretively, The Internet Archive has long championed preservation of online resources, and that’s how I was able to link to (archived versions of) those MTV News stories above.
These solutions, though, are imperfect and relatively niche. Most people aren’t going past the second page of Google results in a deep-dive search, or check the Internet Archive when they find a dead link. To the average consumer, this information is just gone. It’s ultimately on those with resources to do their part for cultural preservation, even if it costs them a redirect to PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
I won’t pretend to know what it takes to maintain a website network as sizeable as Paramount’s, but surely, it can’t be significantly resource heavy for a company of its scale. (I don’t know if it can, but don’t call me Shirley.) It’s OK, they have an excuse: In a statement, Paramount explained (as The Hollywood Reporter notes), “As part of broader website changes across Paramount, we have introduced more streamlined versions of our sites, driving fans to Paramount+ to watch their favorite shows.”
What they’ve also introduced (or, in acknowledgement of the fact that they’re far from the sole perpetrator here, helped propagate) is a more streamlined version of cultural history, one in which important details have been sanded away, and less glorified but still-valuable information is lost to time.
Complaining is fun, but often pointless. Is there anything we can actually do? On a small scale, yes. The main thing you can start doing today is to use the Internet Archive to back up news stories or any other valuable webpages you can think to preserve. It’s a quick process and an easy way to help yourself and others maintain access to the world’s knowledge.
This is also an opportunity to consider your own personal data. If your phone or laptop died today, how screwed would you be? Would you lose irreplaceable childhood photos, old creative projects, or vital personal information? I personally subscribe to the “3-2-1 Rule“: Maintain three copies of your data (the original and two backups), use at least two different media types for storage (like a hard drive and cloud storage), and keep one copy of the data offsite (again, cloud storage).
Given the variety of forces and interests involved, the Digital Dark Age is probably not a problem that can be fixed. But, there are things we can do to shine a light during these dark times and stop losing recipes.
THE CHI scored its best premiere ever on Paramount+ with Showtime, attracting nearly 2 million total viewers across platforms. This marks a 4% increase since the last season’s first-half premiere, setting a new record in streaming viewership.
Viewership rose by a strong 11% in the first week within the initial three days. Social media engagement surged dramatically, with an impressive 421% increase in social viewership (8 million) and a 380% boost in engagement (368,000) over the first seven days. The show also garnered over 500,000 new followers since the last season, highlighting its growing popularity and fan base.
These numbers underscore the series’ continued success and expanding audience, solidifying THE CHI as a major hit on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Paramount+ has renewed The Chi for Season 7, ahead of the forthcoming premiere of the second half of the sixth season.
Get this: the first half of Season 6 was the series’ most-streamed season to date. Regarding numbers, it was streamed 25 percent more than the fifth season. Season 7 kicks off production this month in the Chi, pun intended.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise of more – ensuring that they can continue to enjoy the raw, emotional stories and unforgettable characters that have made this seminal series a resounding success for Showtime.”
Lena Waithe created and executive produced The Chi, which is also executive produced by Common, “is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.” The cast includes Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook.
The wide range of stars in recurring and guest star roles include Lynn Whitfield, Jill Marie Jones, Kadeem Hardison, Leon, Brett Gray, Daniel J. Watts, Kandi Burruss, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Jason Weaver, Iman Shumpert, Nia Jervier, L’lerrét Jazelle, Hannaha Hall, Ahmad Ferguson, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Miriam A. Hyman, Tyla Abercrumbie, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce and Tory O. Davis.
Additional executive producers are Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, and Rishi Rajani. Executive producers Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel are the Season 6 co-showrunners. Co-executive producers are Naomi Funabashi and Resheida Brady. Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield, who are producers, directed multiple Season 6 episodes.
The Chi has been renewed for Season 7 by Paramount+, which is coming ahead of the forthcoming premiere of the second half of the sixth season.
Get this: the first half of Season 6 was the series’ most-streamed season to date. Regarding numbers, it was streamed 25 percent more than the fifth season. Season 7 kicks off production this month in the Chi, pun intended.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “On the heels of a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to provide fans with the promise of more – ensuring that they can continue to enjoy the raw, emotional stories and unforgettable characters that have made this seminal series a resounding success for Showtime.”
Lena Waithe created and executive produced The Chi, which is also executive produced by Common, “is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.” The cast includes Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook.
The wide range of stars in recurring and guest star roles include Lynn Whitfield, Jill Marie Jones, Kadeem Hardison, Leon, Brett Gray, Daniel J. Watts, Kandi Burruss, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Jason Weaver, Iman Shumpert, Nia Jervier, L’lerrét Jazelle, Hannaha Hall, Ahmad Ferguson, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Miriam A. Hyman, Tyla Abercrumbie, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce and Tory O. Davis.
Additional executive producers are Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, and Rishi Rajani. Executive producers Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel are the Season 6 co-showrunners. Co-executive producers are Naomi Funabashi and Resheida Brady. Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield, who are producers, directed multiple Season 6 episodes.
Following the renewal of The Neighborhood for its seventh season on CBS, a spinoff led by Tracy Morgan is officially in the works for Paramount+. Morgan will star as Francois “Frank” Crutchfield, affectionately known as ‘Crutch,’ in this half-hour comedy in The Neighborhood universe. Here’s how the storyline goes… The show follows Frank, a Harlem widower whose plans for an empty nest are derailed when his millennial son and free-spirited daughter return home. The series, produced by CBS Studios, is slated to commence production later this year. Cedric, the Entertainer from A Bird and a Bear Entertainment, serves as an executive producer on the project, expressing his enthusiasm: “We’re excited to expand The Neighborhood universe with Tracy at the helm of this hilarious spinoff.”
Eric C. Rhone, an executive producer, excitedly shared his enthusiasm on the upcoming production: “It’s a joy to bring Frank’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to join us on this comedic journey.” Owen Smith, the showrunner and writer of the premiere script, adds, “Working on this project has been a delight, and I’m thrilled to be a part of such a talented team.” Joining the executive producing lineup are Aaron Kaplan for Kapital Entertainment and Wendi Trilling for TrillTV, with Tracy Morgan rounding out the team.
“I’m excited to be expanding our The Neighborhood universe, by producing a show with the legendary comedian Tracy Morgan,” from Cedric The Entertainer. “This new character is the close cousin to my character Calvin Butler and you will enjoy some of their many similarities. Morgan plays Crutch a ‘say-it-like-it-is’ widowed father who is challenged when his two adult children and a couple of grandchildren need to move back home, and let’s say there will be several comedic complications.”
“Crutch will be navigating the ups and downs of having his kids and grandkids back under one roof, and you know if I am doing this, there will be plenty of laughs along the way,” says Tracy Morgan. “I am so happy to be able to do this with my brother Cedric The Entertainer, Owen Smith and the rest of the amazing crew we have put together. Get ready for your new favorite show!” Jeff Grossman, EVP of Programming, Paramount Streaming said “Our subscribers love CBS’ The Neighborhood, so it’s a natural fit to bring CRUTCH to Paramount+.” Grossman added “We can’t wait to see what the immense talents behind CRUTCH – Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer and Owen Smith – bring to this new series.”
Pop superstar Rihanna hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti and hasn’t appeared in a film since 2019’s Guava Island. Recent reports indicate a change, with Rihanna confirmed for the leading role in the upcoming Paramount film The Smurfs Movie. During a recent Paramount showcase at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paramount executives revealed who else will be joining Rihanna in the upcoming 2025 release. During the Smurfs Movie showcase in 2023, Rihanna appeared on stage and confirmed that she would be serving as a producer and contributing music to the soundtrack. Let’s examine everything we know about The Smurfs Movie, as well as Rihanna’s role in the project.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 27: (L-R) Jay Brown, Rihanna and Brian Robbins, President & CEO, Paramount Pictures, pose for photos at the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon 2023, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at Caesars Palace on April 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
During the panel for The Smurfs Movie, Rihanna confirmed that she would be portraying the legendary character Smurfette. Like the rest of the little blue mushroom-dwellers, Smurfette was created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, better known by his pen name “Peyo” in 1958. Audiences will certainly welcome her performance in The Smurfs Movie. Paramount chief Brian Robbins explained that Rihanna is, in his opinion, “the most legendary Smurfette ever.”
Additional actors rounding out the cast of The Smurfs Movie alongside Rihanna include Nick Offerman, John Goodman, Kurt Russell, Nick Kroll, Sandra Oh, Amy Sedaris, Dan Levy, Natasha Lyonne, and many more. The studio has invested heavily in voice talent for the animated venture, although details about the roles of the aforementioned characters remain scarce.
A Potential Re-Launch Of The Franchise
The full voice cast of “Smurfs,” starring Rihanna, has been revealed: – Nick Offerman – Natasha Lyonne – JP Karliak – Daniel Levy – Amy Sedaris – Nick Kroll – James Corden – Octavia Spencer – Hannah Waddingham – Sandra Oh – Alex Winter – Billie Lourd – Xolo Maridueña – Kurt… pic.twitter.com/MVAOpgXKrk
Before the announcement of the Rihanna-led venture, The Smurfs had been the subject of several animated movies, including 2011’s The Smurfs, 2013’s The Smurfs 2, and 2017’s Smurfs: The Lost Village. While concrete details about The Smurfs Movie remain scarce, it appears that the film won’t follow the same continuity as the previous three outings. This conclusion is drawn from the fact that Smurfette was portrayed by Katy Perry and Demi Lovato in those films, respectively. Furthermore, this film is supposed to be a musical and Rih is expected to contribute to the soundtrack.
Barbadian singer/actress Rihanna speaks on stage promoting “The Smurfs” during Paramount Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon 2023, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 27, 2023. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
While details about the overall plot of The Smurfs Movie remain scarce, Robbins assured audiences at CinemaCon that the Rihanna-led film would hit theaters on Valentine’s Day, 2025. The only current synopsis for the film explains that the adaptation will be a musical adventure with comedic elements. The presenters posed the question: “What is a Smurf?”
Chris Miller and Matt Landon will direct The Smurfs Movie. Miller has a wide array of existing directing credits. These include 2011’s Puss In Boots and 2007’s Shrek The Third. Miller has also lent his voice to several animated roles. Most notably, he provided the voice of the penguin Kowalski in the Madagascar film franchise. The Smurfs Movie will be Matt Landon’s directorial debut, though the filmmaker has existing credits in editorial and production management. He previously worked on Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, Scream 4, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.
In today’s digital age, streaming platforms have become the go-to for entertainment. Among them, Paramount Plus (+) stands tall with a plethora of movies, series, and live TV channels. If you own an Amazon Fire TV, you’re in luck because Paramount Plus is readily available on this device. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to watch Paramount Plus on Fire TV, explore the streaming features, and more.
Setting Up Paramount + On Fire TV
UKRAINE – 2021/06/29: In this photo illustration, Paramount+ (Paramount Plus) logo is seen on a smartphone. Against its website in the background. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Getting Paramount+ on your Fire TV is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it:
Power Up: Ensure your Fire TV is on and connected to the internet.
Go to the App Store: Navigate to the ‘Apps’ section on the home screen.
Search for Paramount Plus: Type “Paramount Plus” in the search bar and select the app from the search results.
Download and Install: Click on ‘Download’ to install the Paramount Plus app.
Sign In or Sign Up: If you already have a Paramount Plus account, sign in. If not, follow the on-screen instructions to sign up.
Navigating The Paramount Plus Interface
An Amazon Fire 4K TV box and remote control, taken on July 13, 2017. (Photo by Neil Godwin/T3 Magazine/Future via Getty Images)
Paramount + boasts a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Home: The home screen displays featured content and recently added titles.
Browse: Explore different categories and genres.
Search: Look for specific titles using keywords.
My List: Save your favorite shows and movies to watch later.
Streaming Quality & Performance
With Paramount Plus on Fire TV, you’re guaranteed high-quality streaming. Paramount Plus offers content in HD and even 4K for some titles. The streaming quality will largely depend on your internet connection, so ensure you have a stable and fast connection for the best experience.
Parental Controls
Safety is paramount, especially when kids are involved. Paramount Plus provides robust parental controls allowing you to:
Set up kid-friendly profiles.
Filter content based on age and ratings.
Ensure a safe viewing environment for the entire family.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 02: The Amazon Fire TV – a new device that allows users to stream video, music, photos, games and more through a television – is displayed at a media event on April 2, 2014 in New York City. The unit goes on sale today and costs $99. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
There may be times when you face issues with the app. Common problems include:
App not working: Try restarting your Fire TV or reinstalling the Paramount Plus app.
Streaming issues: Check your internet connection or contact Paramount Plus support for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 02: Amazon’s vice president of Kindle, Peter Larsen, displays the Amazon Fire TV, a new device that allows users to stream video, music, photos, games and more through their television, on April 2, 2014 in New York City. The unit goes on sale today and costs $99. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Can I watch live TV on Paramount +?
Yes, Paramount Plus offers live TV channels, including news, sports, and entertainment channels.
Is there a free trial available?
As of the last update, Paramount + offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.
Can I download content for offline viewing?
Yes, with a premium subscription, you can download content for offline viewing.
What is the cost of a Paramount + subscription?
Subscription prices vary, but as of the last update, it ranges from $5.99 to $11.99 per month depending on your chosen plan.
With Paramount Plus on your Fire TV, a vast entertainment world is just a few clicks away. From blockbuster movies to binge-worthy series and live TV channels, there’s something for everyone on Paramount Plus. The ease of setup and user-friendly interface make it popular among Fire TV users. Happy streaming!
Tyler Perry offered some blunt views of the scrapped sale of BET Network offered by Paramount earlier this year. “I was disappointed about it for a number of reasons. The way it happened was disrespectful in a lot of ways. Don’t try to get me to pay for something that’s not worth anywhere near the value,” Perry said at a recent equality summit in Atlanta. Furthermore, he confirmed he would not be interested if Paramount tried to sell the network in the future. “No. God bless them. I’m still working with them. I wish them the best,” he replied.
Perry had been a major player for the network earlier this year. “I am very interested in taking as much of it as I can,” Perry said in April. Other interested parties included Byron Allen and Diddy. However, Paramount abruptly pulled the sale over the summer, leading to a wave of speculation as to whether the network was ever truly for sale. However, as Perry noted, he still fully intends to work with their parent network, Paramount, for the time being.
However, elsewhere in the media world, LeBron James is potentially collaborating with the Obamas. LeBron, along with Peyton Manning, is reportedly in talks with the Obamas to produce a new sports docuseries. According to reports, the show will be an NBA version of Netflix’s Quarterback, which followed three quarterbacks in a standard “fly on the wall” format. Manning’s production company helped produce the show for Netflix and now the Hall of Famer is interested in doing the same for the NBA. According to Front Office Sports, the show is reportedly being produced for Netflix.
The show is still in the very early stages of development and likely won’t start production until the 2024 NBA offseason. However, it’s an exciting prospect to hear about at the very least. It will also be interesting to see how the series format is adapted for the NBA as opposed to the NFL.
