Queen Latifah is using everything in her arsenal to bring the titular Robyn McCall to life on CBS’ The Equalizer (Sundays, 8/7c).
The former rapper and singer relies on her musicality when it comes to fight sequences, and her sense of justice as someone who was bullied as a kid growing up in Newark, New Jersey. But when it comes to being the first Black woman to take the lead in the franchise’s history, on either the big or small screen, Latifah (née Dana Owens) is tapping into her genetic memory.
More from TVLineCBS' Equalizer: Grade Queen Latifah's Debut...
The former rapper and singer relies on her musicality when it comes to fight sequences, and her sense of justice as someone who was bullied as a kid growing up in Newark, New Jersey. But when it comes to being the first Black woman to take the lead in the franchise’s history, on either the big or small screen, Latifah (née Dana Owens) is tapping into her genetic memory.
More from TVLineCBS' Equalizer: Grade Queen Latifah's Debut...
- 2/21/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
NBC has ordered two more drama pilots: At That Age from writer Carla Banks-Waddles (Good Girls), Night School and Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee and his Blackmaled Productions and Debra Martin Chase; and Echo, from writer JJ Bailey and Davis Entertainment. Universal TV is the studio for both.
This marks the second pilot order for Lee at NBC this season; he also is executive producing comedy Night School, based on the Universal movie.
Written by Banks-Waddles, At That Age is an exploration of an African-American family’s legacy. After the Cooper family’s golden child suffers a catastrophic event, seven family members face a foundational shift, make life-altering decisions and deal with deep secrets coming to light.
Banks-Waddles executive produces with Lee via his Blackmaled Productions, and Chase as part of her deal with Universal TV.
Written by Bailey, Echo is a high-concept, genre procedural revolving around a team...
This marks the second pilot order for Lee at NBC this season; he also is executive producing comedy Night School, based on the Universal movie.
Written by Banks-Waddles, At That Age is an exploration of an African-American family’s legacy. After the Cooper family’s golden child suffers a catastrophic event, seven family members face a foundational shift, make life-altering decisions and deal with deep secrets coming to light.
Banks-Waddles executive produces with Lee via his Blackmaled Productions, and Chase as part of her deal with Universal TV.
Written by Bailey, Echo is a high-concept, genre procedural revolving around a team...
- 1/23/2020
- by Denise Petski and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Arte Johnson, who won an Emmy for his memorable work on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and worked in TV and film for nearly half a century, died early Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, his family said announced. He was 90 and had battled bladder and prostate cancer for the past three years.
Johnson earned three consecutive Emmy noms for Laugh-In from 1969-71, winning the first year. He was part of the politically tinged NBC sketch series’ main cast from its launch in January 1968 until 1971, playing myriad characters in the show that launched the careers of such stars as Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley and many others.
Among his most popular characters was Wolfgang, a cigarette-smoking German soldier who believed that World War II was still ongoing, as he scouted the show while hidden behind bushes. He would then invariably comment on the preceding sketch...
Johnson earned three consecutive Emmy noms for Laugh-In from 1969-71, winning the first year. He was part of the politically tinged NBC sketch series’ main cast from its launch in January 1968 until 1971, playing myriad characters in the show that launched the careers of such stars as Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley and many others.
Among his most popular characters was Wolfgang, a cigarette-smoking German soldier who believed that World War II was still ongoing, as he scouted the show while hidden behind bushes. He would then invariably comment on the preceding sketch...
- 7/3/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC has put in development a female police drama from Nurse Jackie co-creator Liz Brixius, prolific film and TV producer Debra Martin Chase and Universal TV, where both are under deals.
Written by Brixius, the Untitled Police Women Project explores the personal and professional lives of four Lapd women officers who have been best friends since the police academy.
Brixius and Chase executive produce. Universal TV produces in association with Brixius’ Delong Lumber and Chase’s Martin Chase Prods.
The broadcast networks have been looking to launch an ensemble drama series about female cops for the last few years. Two such projects went to pilots, ABC’s 2015 Broad Squad and CBS’ Chiefs this past season.
Brixius co-created Nurse Jackie and served as co-showrunner for four seasons of the Emmy-winning drama which ran for seven seasons on Showtime. In features, Brixus co-wrote the Katherine Heigl movie One For The Money, directed by Julie Anne Robinson.
Written by Brixius, the Untitled Police Women Project explores the personal and professional lives of four Lapd women officers who have been best friends since the police academy.
Brixius and Chase executive produce. Universal TV produces in association with Brixius’ Delong Lumber and Chase’s Martin Chase Prods.
The broadcast networks have been looking to launch an ensemble drama series about female cops for the last few years. Two such projects went to pilots, ABC’s 2015 Broad Squad and CBS’ Chiefs this past season.
Brixius co-created Nurse Jackie and served as co-showrunner for four seasons of the Emmy-winning drama which ran for seven seasons on Showtime. In features, Brixus co-wrote the Katherine Heigl movie One For The Money, directed by Julie Anne Robinson.
- 10/22/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The cast of Ava DuVernay’s “Central Park Five” series at Netflix continues to make impressive additions to its cast.
Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Storm Reid have all been cast in the show in supporting roles.
Based on a true story, the series will chronicle the notorious case of five teenagers of color five teenagers from Harlem–Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise–who were convicted of a rape they did not commit.
Nash will play Delores Wise, mother of Korey Wise. Ellis will play Sharone Salaam, mother of Yusef Salaam. Bunbury will play Angie Richardson, sister of Kevin Richardson. Blake will play Linda McCray, mother of Antron McCray. Reid will play Lisa, a friend of Korey Wise.
They join previously announced cast members Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Jharrel Jerome and Jovan Adepo.
Reid...
Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Storm Reid have all been cast in the show in supporting roles.
Based on a true story, the series will chronicle the notorious case of five teenagers of color five teenagers from Harlem–Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise–who were convicted of a rape they did not commit.
Nash will play Delores Wise, mother of Korey Wise. Ellis will play Sharone Salaam, mother of Yusef Salaam. Bunbury will play Angie Richardson, sister of Kevin Richardson. Blake will play Linda McCray, mother of Antron McCray. Reid will play Lisa, a friend of Korey Wise.
They join previously announced cast members Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Jharrel Jerome and Jovan Adepo.
Reid...
- 8/3/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Following the cavalcade of renewals, cancellations, and series orders this week, the building blocks of the 2018-2019 season are falling into place. [related-pmc]
The total number of new shows ordered by the Big Four networks and CW looks to be down again this year, with the networks once again picking up most of their shows from in-house studios. Multi-camera comedy orders surged while reboots and spinoffs remain as popular as ever — thank you “Roseanne.”
Greg Berlanti has scaled new heights in selling three series that takes his tally as a producer to a record 13 shows, with a roster of 10 broadcast dramas, one for cable (Lifetime’s “You”) and two for streaming platforms (Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and DC Universe’s “Titans”).
As the networks prepare to raise the curtain next week during upfront programming presentations in New York, here’s a look at the trends and highlights of this year’s development season.
The total number of new shows ordered by the Big Four networks and CW looks to be down again this year, with the networks once again picking up most of their shows from in-house studios. Multi-camera comedy orders surged while reboots and spinoffs remain as popular as ever — thank you “Roseanne.”
Greg Berlanti has scaled new heights in selling three series that takes his tally as a producer to a record 13 shows, with a roster of 10 broadcast dramas, one for cable (Lifetime’s “You”) and two for streaming platforms (Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and DC Universe’s “Titans”).
As the networks prepare to raise the curtain next week during upfront programming presentations in New York, here’s a look at the trends and highlights of this year’s development season.
- 5/12/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
“Scandal,” which ends its seven-season run on Thursday, April 19, is a benchmark in many ways. At the time of its April 2012 premiere, it was the first network drama series with an African-American female lead, Kerry Washington, since “Get Christie Love!” with Teresa Graves in 1974. It savvily used social media to turn itself into a red-hot hit. It was the last series Shonda Rhimes created before she signed her new deal with Netflix last year. It had some of the craziest twists that defied logic and storytelling. It gave us new vernacular, like “gladiator,” “it’s handled,” “jam,” “bitch baby,” “white hat” and yes, even “I want my bones!” It went to great lengths — with lamps, in particular — to hide a pregnancy. It showed that a woman could sustain herself on a diet of popcorn and red wine. And it ended a long drought at the Emmys.
Washington received two Best Drama Actress nominations,...
Washington received two Best Drama Actress nominations,...
- 4/19/2018
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
It’s April, so Deadline is launching its annual Pilot Panic feature where we track buzz on the broadcast pilots as they go through filming, editing, screenings and testing. As usual, the first story is very sketchy and preliminary as many drama pilots still are filming, several comedy pilots have not shot yet and there are no cuts in. Here is a list of some pilots that are getting strong early buzz based on a combination of auspices, script, table read, taping or dailies. Because of how early it is, please take the information with big grain of salt. For a number of projects, especially high-concept dramas, it’s impossible to predict their chances until the pilot has been cut together.
On the hourlong side, ABC has the Nathan Fillion starrer The Rookie, which has a straight-to-series order and has been well received so far. Of the pilots, Courtney Kemp...
On the hourlong side, ABC has the Nathan Fillion starrer The Rookie, which has a straight-to-series order and has been well received so far. Of the pilots, Courtney Kemp...
- 4/7/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2018 pilot season is shaping up to be a landmark year for women behind the camera.
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
- 3/28/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Amy Rutberg is set to play a recurring role in the ABC reboot pilot “Get Christie Love,” Variety has learned.
Rutberg will play Danielle Moran, a.k.a. “Silver Manicure,” described as beautiful, mysterious and calculating. Targeting Christie Love (Kylie Bunbury), she can anticipate the CIA agent’s actions in a way that suggests a shared past.
Rutberg is perhaps best known for her role as Marci Stahl in the Marvel-Netflix series “Daredevil,” a role she reprised in the crossover event series “The Defenders.” She has also appeared in NBC’s “Taken” series as well as shows like “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Blindspot,” “The Blacklist,” and “Elementary.”
She is repped by Abrams Artists Agency and Vanguard Management Group.
In addition to Bunbury, Rutberg will appear opposite previously announced cast members Khandi Alexander, Julia Kelly, Camille Guaty, Thomas Cocquerel, Shea Buckner, Juan Javier Cardenas, Steven Weber, Lisseth Chavez, and Dennis Oh.
Rutberg will play Danielle Moran, a.k.a. “Silver Manicure,” described as beautiful, mysterious and calculating. Targeting Christie Love (Kylie Bunbury), she can anticipate the CIA agent’s actions in a way that suggests a shared past.
Rutberg is perhaps best known for her role as Marci Stahl in the Marvel-Netflix series “Daredevil,” a role she reprised in the crossover event series “The Defenders.” She has also appeared in NBC’s “Taken” series as well as shows like “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Blindspot,” “The Blacklist,” and “Elementary.”
She is repped by Abrams Artists Agency and Vanguard Management Group.
In addition to Bunbury, Rutberg will appear opposite previously announced cast members Khandi Alexander, Julia Kelly, Camille Guaty, Thomas Cocquerel, Shea Buckner, Juan Javier Cardenas, Steven Weber, Lisseth Chavez, and Dennis Oh.
- 3/28/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Former Wings star Steven Weber is set for a key series regular role opposite Kylie Bunbury, along with Lisseth Chavez (The Fosters) and Dennis Oh (NCIS: New Orleans) in Get Christie Love, ABC’s reboot drama pilot from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Waterman. Get Christie Love, a co-production between Lionsgate Television and Universal Television, is inspired by the cult 1974 blaxploitation-themed TV movie…...
- 3/15/2018
- Deadline TV
Yusuf Gatewood is preparing for life after The Originals.
The actor — who plays Vincent Griffith on the concluding CW series — has landed a lead role in the NBC drama pilot In Between Lives, our sister site Deadline reports.
The project follows a mysterious young woman (No Activity‘s Harriet Dyer) who reluctantly uses her gift of clairvoyance to help a veteran Lapd detective and a damaged ex-FBI outsider (Gatewood) solve unnerving and challenging cases.
In other pilot casting news:
* Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars) has been cast in Fox’s untitled FBI drama as a preppy and privileged co-worker of Katie Holmes’ special agent.
The actor — who plays Vincent Griffith on the concluding CW series — has landed a lead role in the NBC drama pilot In Between Lives, our sister site Deadline reports.
The project follows a mysterious young woman (No Activity‘s Harriet Dyer) who reluctantly uses her gift of clairvoyance to help a veteran Lapd detective and a damaged ex-FBI outsider (Gatewood) solve unnerving and challenging cases.
In other pilot casting news:
* Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars) has been cast in Fox’s untitled FBI drama as a preppy and privileged co-worker of Katie Holmes’ special agent.
- 3/8/2018
- TVLine.com
Khandi Alexander (Scandal) is set to co-star opposite Kylie Bunbury in ABC's Get Christie Love reboot drama pilot, from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Get Christie Love, a co-production between Lionsgate Television and Universal Television, is inspired by the cult 1974 blaxploitation-themed TV movie and subsequent series. The new Get Christie Love, written by Kemp and directed by Stephen Williams, is an…...
- 3/7/2018
- Deadline TV
Thomas Cocquerel (Table 19) is set as a lead opposite Kylie Bunbury in ABC's Get Christie Love reboot drama pilot, from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Waterman. Produced by Lionsgate and Universal TV, the pilot is inspired by Get Christie Love! — the cult 1974 blaxploitation-themed TV movie and subsequent series. Written by Kemp, the new Get Christie Love (no ! in the title) is an action-packed…...
- 2/28/2018
- Deadline TV
Former Daytime Divas star Camille Guaty has been cast as a series regular opposite Kylie Bunbury in ABC's Get Christie Love reboot drama pilot, from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Produced by Lionsgate and Universal TV, the pilot is inspired by Get Christie Love! — the cult 1974 blaxploitation-themed TV movie and subsequent series. Written by Kemp, the new Get Christie Love (no ! in the title) is an…...
- 2/27/2018
- Deadline TV
Julia Kelly (The Vault, Freakish) is set as a series regular opposite Kylie Bunbury in ABC’s Get Christie Love reboot drama pilot, from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Get Christie Love, a co-production between Lionsgate Television and Universal Television, is inspired by the cult 1974 blaxploitation-themed TV movie and subsequent series. The new Get Christie Love (no ! in the title), written by Kemp, is an…...
- 2/20/2018
- Deadline TV
ABC has given a pilot order to the “Get Christie Love!” reboot from “Power” creator Courtney Kemp and executive producer Vin Diesel. Inspired by the short-lived 1970s blaxploitation series, “Get Christie Love” is described as an “action-packed, music-driven drama” centering on the African American female CIA agent in charge of an elite ops unit. “Pitch” star Kylie Bunbury is attached to star in the pilot as Christie Love, stepping in for Teresa Graves — who became the first black woman to star in a TV drama when the show first premiered on ABC in 1974. Also Read: Robert Zemeckis' Very 'Lost'-Like Missing Plane...
- 1/24/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Exactly 44 years after Get Christie Love! premiered as a TV movie on ABC, spawning the first hourlong drama with an African American actress as the lead, its reboot is getting a formal pilot order by the same network. ABC has officially greenlighted Get Christie Love, an hourlong drama pilot from Power creator/showrunner Courtney Kemp and producers Vin Diesel, Debra Martin Chase and Shana C. Waterman, which already had cast former Pitch star Kylie Bunbury as the lead. ABC…...
- 1/24/2018
- Deadline TV
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