Have you ever heard of the "Al Thompson hustle"? It's a specific kind of hustle familiar to web television aficionados. For years, actor-producer Al Thompson made his mark by selling independent web series to major online networks. Most of us came to know him after his 2009 Nytvf winner Johnny B. Homeless was sold to Atom (now Comedy Central Studios). His sci-fi series, Odessa, won development deals with SyFy and Bet last year. What makes Thompson remarkable is not only his race -- black web series, with the exception of Issa Rae's Awkward Black Girl, have historically been a harder sell -- but also his strategy. Most indie creators release shows before getting exclusive distribution. Thomspon typically keeps his series from the public so he could work with bigger distributors who want exclusive content. In other words, he's a web producer who operates like a TV producer. "That’s one...
- 10/11/2012
- by Aymar Jean Christian
- Tubefilter.com
Even today, when I mention I write about web series, I get nonplussed looks and requests for examples. But there is one series I see friends consistently cheer and evangelize: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. "Have you seen it?!" I hear. "You have to see it!" It's quite a feat for the low-budget indie from creator and star Issa Rae. "I love this web space," she said in an interview. "This is fertile land. We can take advantage of it in any way we want to at this point." Rae is already on the leading edge of a rapidly growing wave of black web producers, alongside the likes of Al Thompson (Johnny B. Homeless, Lenox Avenue, Odessa) and Robert Townsend (Diary of a Single Mom). Recently she's been everywhere. Arianna Huffington name-dropped her series when introducing Huffington Post's BlackVoices - Rae wrote an inaugural piece. She's been profiled in Essence,...
- 8/10/2011
- by Aymar Jean Christian
- Tubefilter.com
Online destinations are vying for ad dollars this Upfront season, but they aren’t the only ones courting advertisers with web original programming. Bet today announced its new slate of shows for its 2011 Upfront presentation tonight in New York City. In addition to the Viacom-owned network’s staples - like the Hip Hop Awards and 106 and Park - Bet is adding a handful of web sereis to its roster, many of which were created, written by, and star individuals who Tubefilter readers will find familiar. The shows include: Lenox Avenue - A dramatic web series that tells the story of three male friends in their mid-twenties, who are good dressers and busy navigating the rough terrain of love, relationships and careers. Set in Harlem, this series is produced by Al Thompson’s (Johnny B. Homeless, The Royal Tenenbaums) ValDean Entertainment and features Thompson as Owen and Dorian Missick (Lucky Nember) as Sellars.
- 4/20/2011
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
It was inevitable, Hollywood comes to Anacostia. Al Thompson, star of such films as The Royal Tenenbaums, A Walk to Remember, and Love Don’t Cost a Thing, and appearances on Espn’s A Season On The Brink, Sidney Lumet’s 100 Centre Street and Law & Order will guest star on Season 3 of the award-winning web soap, written and directed by DC native, Anthony Anderson.
Filming for the third season has yet to begin, but sources close to the production say that Al Thompson will portray the role of Ray Shelton, “a severely controlling salesman” who has moved into the neighborhood with his new wife Madison. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats when loud noises start emerging from the Shelton home and Madison is seen with “mysterious bruises.” What secret is lurking behind the door of the Shelton household? Inquiring minds and Anacostia fans will want to know.
Filming for the third season has yet to begin, but sources close to the production say that Al Thompson will portray the role of Ray Shelton, “a severely controlling salesman” who has moved into the neighborhood with his new wife Madison. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats when loud noises start emerging from the Shelton home and Madison is seen with “mysterious bruises.” What secret is lurking behind the door of the Shelton household? Inquiring minds and Anacostia fans will want to know.
- 3/29/2011
- by We Love Soaps TV
- We Love Soaps
Digital Chick TV's Creative Director Daryn Strauss gives you the backstage experience at the Indie Soap Awards in New York City hosted by Gotham's Martha Byrne.
Catch some candid awards moments shot on Daryn's personal camera with Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley of Then We Got Help!, Michael Todd Cohen of Red Carpet Run, Susan Miller of Anyone But Me, Al Thompson of Johnny B. Homeless And Lexox Avenue, and the cast/crew of Anacostia.
Catch some candid awards moments shot on Daryn's personal camera with Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley of Then We Got Help!, Michael Todd Cohen of Red Carpet Run, Susan Miller of Anyone But Me, Al Thompson of Johnny B. Homeless And Lexox Avenue, and the cast/crew of Anacostia.
- 2/22/2011
- by We Love Soaps TV
- We Love Soaps
Courtesy of Picnicface, Crackle
Felicia Day blazed the trail. Here are 15 more creators using Web video to forge their way in Hollywood. [Web exclusive expanded list]
The Bannen Way
The sexy drama about a charismatic crook trying to straighten out his life won four Streamys (Web video’s Oscars) this year, including Best Male Actor in a Drama Series for lead (and creator) Mark Gantt. Season one attracted 13 million views, and as season two develops, execs are exploring options for both Web and TV. * crackle.com/c/the_bannen_way
From Crackle: The Criminal Lifestyle Derrick Comedy
Actor/comedian Donald Glover formed this sketch group with Dominic Dierkes and DC Pierson while a student at Nyu, and it proved more important than his education: Glover’s first job out of school was writing for 30 Rock, and he now stars in NBC’s Community. The group still posts videos online—don’t miss Gink, its...
Felicia Day blazed the trail. Here are 15 more creators using Web video to forge their way in Hollywood. [Web exclusive expanded list]
The Bannen Way
The sexy drama about a charismatic crook trying to straighten out his life won four Streamys (Web video’s Oscars) this year, including Best Male Actor in a Drama Series for lead (and creator) Mark Gantt. Season one attracted 13 million views, and as season two develops, execs are exploring options for both Web and TV. * crackle.com/c/the_bannen_way
From Crackle: The Criminal Lifestyle Derrick Comedy
Actor/comedian Donald Glover formed this sketch group with Dominic Dierkes and DC Pierson while a student at Nyu, and it proved more important than his education: Glover’s first job out of school was writing for 30 Rock, and he now stars in NBC’s Community. The group still posts videos online—don’t miss Gink, its...
- 8/19/2010
- by Stephanie Schomer
- Fast Company
Atom.com’s anticipated comedy series Johnny B. Homeless launched this week from creator Al Thompson. The Nytvf-winning series stars Thompson as well as SNL star Kenan Thompson in a battle to see who is truly the “greatest couch surfer alive.” Three episodes are currently live, with six more coming out in the next three weeks. [Atom.com] Revision3 finally launched its own iPhone app this week. It had been a noticeable absence for the tech-savvy online network, but most people (including us) relied on the fan-made Greenbox app which did the trick. Fans, your next task is an iPad app now that Rev3 supports HTML5—get cranking! [Revision3] Streamy-winning drama Anyone But Me continues to rack up awards this year, picking up The People’s Silver Telly Award—the highest honor—at the 31st Annual Telly Awards this past weekend. [Telly Awards] Break Media is becoming a superpower network. In an announcement today, the...
- 6/23/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
Al Thompson is used to couch-surfing after years of staying with friends while away from New York. The actor-comic has taken a free night's stay one step further with his new web series, Johnny B. Homeless, with longtime friend and Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson (no relation). The Thompsons share their first encounter, their most outrageous couch-surfing experiences and...
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- 6/17/2010
- by Kate Stanhope
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Sure why not, in the midst of all the pomp around TV upfront season with networks announcing their fall lineups, web TV network Atom.com unveiled its shiny new slate of comedy web series today. There’s a lot to digest here, so we’ll start with just the news. As we reported earlier Atom’s flagship comedy The Legend of Neil returns for its 7-episode third season this summer and Nytvf-winning series Johnny B. Homeless has a 9-episode pickup starting June 15. The slate actually begins today, with the premiere of M'Larky from creator Dan Fogler who stars as detective Black in a cop show well past its prime. Josh Warren stars as Detective John M’Larky, who with “his maniacal colleagues who go undercover in their pursuit of booze, broads and Colombian drug runners.” Also set to appear in the series are Gilbert Gottfried, Jeffrey Ross and Tony Hawk.
- 5/19/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
Johnny B. Homeless, the festival-darling comedy web series (trailer above) from creator-star Al Thompson may be heading to Atom.com as according to sources close to the deal. After screening to a full house at ITVFest in La last summer, the series headed to New York where won Nytvf’s People’s Choice Award. [Sources] Crackle and The American Cinematheque are hosting a screening of the full season of The Bannen Way this Friday in Hollywood, followed by a Q&A with Robert Forster, Michael Ironside, Michael Lerner, Jesse Warren and Mark Gantt to follow. Looks like Goldstar is selling 50% off tickets for $5.50 (normally $11), so save a few bucks while you can. [Goldstar] Felicia Day is hosting a signing event to kick off the launch of her hit web series The Guild’s new comic from Dark Horse Comics which hits shelves March 24. The cocktail party and comic book signing will be...
- 2/11/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
The majority of Nytvf was dedicated to screenings including everything from in competition pilots, web series premieres, and even specialty screenings like Channel 101 NY. A good portion of the in competition pilots can be found on Nytvf's MSN Video channel. They will host the pilots for the next few weeks, including the festival winners. To wrap up our coverage of Nytvf, we thought we would share six unreleased web series you may have missed that should be popping up online soon. Johnny B. Homeless, the people's choice winner at the festival, follows creator and star, Al Thompson, playing the titular Johnny B., "The world's Greatest Couchsurfer." In the pilot, Al's friend and SNL star, Kenan Thompson, plays Johnny B.'s arch-rival. The show follows Johnny as he attempts to win back a coveted spot on his friend's couch while being constantly sabotaged by Kenan's character. This series hit home for me as while in NYC,...
- 10/6/2009
- by Adam Wright
- Tubefilter.com
New York -- The People's Choice Award for best pilot at the fifth annual New York Television Festival went to Al Thompson for "Johnny B. Homeless," a Web comedy featuring "Saturday Night Live's" Kenan Thompson that follows a professional couch surfer.
The Nytvf awards ceremony, held Saturday night at New World Stages in midtown Manhattan, also saw Adam Morgan take the award in a comedy script contest sponsored by Fox and Procter & Gamble Prods. for his pilot "Liberal Arts," which follows a freshman's first experiences at a small rustic college. Morgan will receive $25,000 and a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co. that may be turned into a pilot presentation with the support of P&G.
And Fox TV Studios presented the "FtvS 15 Gigs of Fame" award to Jeremy Redleaf, creator of the pilot "Odd Jobs," about two unemployed roommates blazing a trail through a world in economic crisis and...
The Nytvf awards ceremony, held Saturday night at New World Stages in midtown Manhattan, also saw Adam Morgan take the award in a comedy script contest sponsored by Fox and Procter & Gamble Prods. for his pilot "Liberal Arts," which follows a freshman's first experiences at a small rustic college. Morgan will receive $25,000 and a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co. that may be turned into a pilot presentation with the support of P&G.
And Fox TV Studios presented the "FtvS 15 Gigs of Fame" award to Jeremy Redleaf, creator of the pilot "Odd Jobs," about two unemployed roommates blazing a trail through a world in economic crisis and...
- 9/27/2009
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The People's Choice Award for best pilot at the fifth annual New York Television Festival went to Al Thompson for "Johnny B. Homeless," a Web comedy featuring "SNL's" Kenan Thompson.
- 9/27/2009
- by Georg Szalai
- backstage.com
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