television

Ambien-fueled racist and conspiracy theorist Roseanne Barr thinks Michelle Obama influenced the cancellation of her sitcom.One of her followers, who brags about being blocked by President Obama, shared an article stating a phone call with Michelle Obama influenced ABC President Channing Dungey’s decision to scrap the show.is this true?— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018 In a remarkably tone-deaf move, Barr responded to the tweet asking “is this true?” Predictably, this sparked another wave of criticism.The fact that you are asking reeks of desperation. You got caught being a racist fuck. Deal with it rather than frantically trying to blame others and things.— Shaun Campbell (@ssnsailor) May 31, 2018Perhaps it's the Ambien that's letting you believe all these weird conspiracy theories, Roseanne. Maybe time to get off drugs?— Shelley Parsons (@Diabolic600) May 30, 2018So it's possibly true because she's African American and so is Michelle?Go away Roseanne, to think at one time I thought you were a comedy god!— Lydia Down (@DownLydia) May 30, 2018If it is true it shows one strong black woman calling another strong black woman for advice on how to handle an employee who posted racist remarks online.....bosses have been conferring with others for years on how to handle an unruly employee why is this a thing now?— Sandy Mitchell (@SanDeE1014) May 30, 2018 Maybe it's time for Barr to actually leave Twitter before she gets herself in more...

ABC Entertainment Group has had some changes in its leadership. Former network entertainment president, Paul Lee resigned after three years amidst a ratings fallout and power struggle involving Ben Sherwood, chairman of the Disney-ABC Television Group. ABC development executive Channing Dungey has been named as Lee's successor. The promotion makes her the first Black president of a traditional broadcast network.“I’m thrilled and humbled that Ben has entrusted me with this tremendous opportunity. And I am truly grateful to Paul for being a valued mentor and friend. I’ve had the great honor of working alongside the talented team at ABC for many years and look forward to starting this exciting new chapter with them,” Dungey said in a statement. Dungey became Senior Vice President of Drama at ABC Primetime Entertainment in 2009. Her extensive background with ABC began in 2004 with her contributing to development and acquisition of drama programming including Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. She co-produced Queen of the Damned starring Aaliyah and The Big Bounce starring Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman. Dungley graduated magna cum laude from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television where she now teaches a graduate level course on "Developing the Drama Pilot". “Channing is a gifted leader and a proven magnet for top creative talent, with an impressive record of developing compelling, breakthrough programming that resonates with viewers,” Sherwood said. “We thank Paul for his many accomplishments at ABC and his devotion to the ABC brand, and we wish him continued success in the future.” ...

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for many kids of Hollywood celebs. While several of her contemporaries were graduating high school and leveraging their connections to launch showbiz careers, Corinne Foxx daughter of Grammy-, Golden Globe- and Academy Award-winning actor and musician Jamie Foxx opted for college, studying Public Relations at The University of Southern California. "I rebelled into normalcy," Foxx said in an interview with Blavity. "People were pressuring me [saying], 'you know Corrine you could be an actor right now. You could be making millions. Why would you want to waste four years of your life?' But, as a young black woman, I was very adamant that my education was something that I valued above all else, and everything else would be put on hold until I got my degree."With a college degree under her belt, the 24-year-old model, writer, and actress is now leaning into the industry. In the past couple of years she has starred in her own MTV’s series, strutted the runway of New York Fashion Week in Yeezy couture, and served as Ms. Golden Globe 2016.On May 29th, Corrine will add another notch to her budding portfolio, joining her dad as the new DJ on Beat Shazam. The game show pits teams of two against the clock and each other as they attempt to identify the biggest hit songs of all time. In the end, the team with the most money banked will outlast the competition and go against Shazam, the popular song identification app, for the chance to win up to $1 million.Blavity recently spoke with the actress about everything from her passion for philanthropy to her favorite Cardi B track, to her new co-hosting gig. Here's what she had to say:What can we expect from this second season of Beat Shazam? I am so excited for people to see the show. You can expect new energy. My dad and I are having so much fun with each other and with the guests. I get to rag on him, and he brings so much energy. It’s a fresh dynamic that people can be excited about. How is it working with your dad? He is so funny. I definitely have to reel him in sometimes. We have worked together in the past on few projects, but this is definitely the biggest project we’ve ever done together. Aside from acting and modeling, you have been a vocal advocate for women's empowerment and eradicating the stigma around mental health. Why are these two causes so important to you? I feel most comfortable being in the philanthropic space. I work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the United Nations Foundation Girl Up! Campaign. I feel most aligned with my purpose when I’m doing advocacy work around gender equality and mental health. It is important to me that everything I chose to do has some form of a positive social impact.An individual can make waves, but together we are a force for change. It's #TimeToRise with @girlupcampaign girl leaders to help create a world where every girl is equal. Donate today. Link in my bio.A post shared by Corinne Foxx (@corinnefoxx) on May 9, 2018 at 11:30am PDT You have approached your career and causes with such pragmatism and generosity. Where does that level of groundedness come from? I’d definitely attribute that to my parents and the way they raised me. I’ve always just felt like a normal girl. I’ve never really identified with the whole child celebrity thing. My mom was in the military, and she was very strict with me. My dad is strict as well. They just never glamorized that Hollywood lifestyle. My dad would take me to events with him, and that was fun, but he was always sure to let me know that wasn't the real world. My parents just instilled in me the value of normalcy. As I get older, I am very grateful to them for that. Alright, as game show co-host and DJ for Beat Shazam, let's get into a little musical lightening round. What is your favorite musical genre?  Ahh, that's tough. I like all types of music. Music is my first love. I can't say I have a favorite genre, but I feel really comfortable in that deejaying space. What’s the last song you listened to on your playlist? "Best Life" by Cardi B. She references my dad in it, which I always get excited about. What’s your favorite song of your dads? It’s a song people don’t really know called "Heaven." It was written about me. That's my favorite.Catch Corinne Foxx on Beat Shazam season 2, premiering on Fox Tuesday, May 29, at 8 p.m. ET.We don't think you're ready! 🎉 Join us for the premiere of #BeatShazam on May 29 at 8/7c.A post shared by Corinne Foxx (@corinnefoxx) on May 21, 2018 at 5:46pm...

Issa Rae is living her best life, but that doesn’t mean she’s not scared of failure. For her GQ cover story, the Insecure creator impersonated a few of our black TV faves, and she absolutely nailed it.@IssaRae as iconic characters from ‘90s sitcoms for @GQMagazine! Photography by Martin Shoeller: https://t.co/RgHO4ImUbZ pic.twitter.com/iRZaOGXtgv— Cocoa Butter (@cocoabutterbf) May 22, 2018During the interview, she discussed her career and when failure came up, she revealed she was still deathly afraid of it despite her successes. The 33-year-old asserted that failure is different for the face of a show than it would be for that of a writer or director.“The failure is yours,” Rae said. “It is yoursss-uh.”When the interviewer asked her if she was still scared of failure since she’s successful, Rae seemed surprised that someone considered Insecure successful.“That could go to s**t,” Rae said. “This could be the worst season we've ever had. And then what? Then people are all of a sudden like, ‘Oh, okay.’ Then the calls stop. It's like stand-up comedy: In order to eventually succeed, you have to bomb. That's what every comedian says—that's when the fear goes away. And I feel like I'm still fearful because I haven't publicly bombed yet, in terms of my career. Yeah, Insecure is successful now, but where's my bomb coming? Where are my Will Smith bombs coming? Where, where is that happening?”The writer tried to comfort her, but Issa responded with a quote that could have been in one of her scripts.“He went through a period when he was depressed, when three or four of his movies in a row weren't number one at the box office. So for him that was terrible,” she countered. “And now he's talking about, ‘You gotta fail, you gotta fail.’ And I don't want to make Instagram speeches about failing. I don't.”We feel you,...

Thanks to the power of the internet, the snitch better known as BBQ Becky has been everywhere and now, she has made her way to SNL.SNL cast member Aidy Bryant portrayed the woman and she looked so much like her, we thought Michael Che was in real trouble when she strolled by at the end of the "Weekend Update" sketch.“They accused me of calling the cops, officer!” pic.twitter.com/rttkuZU3L6— Angelily (@Angelillers) May 21, 2018Bryant appeared again when the whole cast was onstage for their farewell:pic.twitter.com/Ki2aGOzdo1— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) May 21, 2018Bryant also had some fun with her castmate, Leslie Jones:Fav pic of the night!! Aidy Bryant be killing it!! @nbcsnl #seasonfinale pic.twitter.com/0hE4qL9Iar— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) May 20, 2018 Never to be outdone, the internet produced even more BBQ Becky memes inspired by Bryant's performance: How she got her start...#BBQBecky #SNL pic.twitter.com/uNaITR1OYQ— Afro Deesiac (@MyAfro) May 21, 2018I’ve done quite a few. pic.twitter.com/Kn96kGJIn3— Michael Ⓜ️ (@michaelschweitz) May 21, 2018😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/bWhoGR4Jx3— XIAO ZHAO (@XIAOZHAO_THE1) May 20, 2018pic.twitter.com/oAQ7zHXG6b— Jeff Douglass (@JeffDouglass66) May 21, 2018 The world hasn't heard from BBQ Becky since she made that fateful phone call. However, thanks to all the memes, it seems we haven't seen the last of her....

As if people couldn't already get enough of FX's critically acclaimed comedy series Atlanta, Donald Glover, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beets and Brian Tyree Henry continue to prove why they're black excellence as they each take over the summer movie lineup.Glover can be seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story which premieres in the U.S. on May 25. The entertainment industry's triple threat stars as Lando. A new clip introducing him simply solidifies that he will easily be one of the best things about the movie.After his incredible contribution to Academy Award-winning thriller Get Out, Stanfield is taking another shot at sci-fi flicks with "Sorry to Bother You."As described by Consequence of Sound, the film offers a satirical take on race relations within corporate America. Stanfield stars as telemarketer Cassius Green who gets swept up in a union protest, a viral nightmare and a conspiracy to turn the proletariat into horses.It's sure to be a wild ride, but that's what makes it even more exciting. The film opens in the U.S. July 6.Zazie Beets will take her rightful place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Deadpool 2. Beets will join the cast as Domino, a badass woman who can manipulate luck in her favor in the sequel to the 2016 blockbuster film. "I'm Domino," Beets' character says in her introduction to the squad. "And I'm lucky."All we know is, we'll be lucky to watch her kill it when the movie opens May 18.Brian Tyree Henry is sure to kill it in Drew Pearce's futuristic action thriller Hotel Artemis. The movie is set in Los Angeles in 2028 and follows a nurse who runs a members-only underground hospital for Los Angeles’ most sinister criminals and learns one of her patients is there to kill another. According to Deadline, the plot revolves around an armed robbery that goes wrong for Sterling K. Brown’s character, Waikiki, and Bryan Tyree Henry’s character, Honolulu, the latter of whom is injured and needs attention at the hotel where strictly enforced rules even among the criminal set has kept it a going concern for years. Waikiki’s valuable prize from the heist, though, eventually draws the biggest bad guy to the Artemis to get it back.Sterling K. Brown and Bryan Tyree Henry? Yes, please. Hotel Artemis hits theaters June 8. Get your popcorn ready; this is gonna be...

Donald Glover put 'Atlanta' fans through a theoretical wringer on Thursday. Last week, we followed the shenanigans of a frenzied, side-hustling, duplicitous barber in the show's "Barbershop" episode, which was centered around Paperboi -- played by Brian Henry Tyree. In retrospect, we didn't realize how easy we had it until this Thursday.For 41 uninterrupted minutes, viewers followed Darius, a beloved character played by LaKeith Stanfield, on a quest to obtain a free piano he claimed to have desperately needed in his life. He arrives to a mansion in a U-Haul truck while jamming to Stevie Wonder and is eventually greeted by the eerie and off-putting Michael Jackson-adjacent character of Teddy Perkins -- who some believe is played by Donald Glover himself. (Spoilers ahead)As the episode unfolds, Perkins -- and his home -- appear increasingly weird. We discover the piano was once owned by Teddy's brother, Benny Hope, a '60s/'70s-era musician who is locked in the mansion's basement and who, in the final moments of the episode, kills both Teddy and himself. Throughout the episode, numerous references are made to Jordan Peele's "Get Out," which Stanfield also starred in, amplifying the show's already sinister nature.The sixth episode of "Robbin Season" was strange. At best, it's a gripping commentary on the troubled lives led by some of the most profoundly talented artists. Thus far, the haunting and epic episode was unarguably the most notable of the series, with some social media users even insisting it's Emmy-worthy.But before we can get to any talk of award season, we got questions,  and they desperately need answers.As we try to dissect Donald Glover's mindf***ery,  the Twitterverse has alleviated some of our analytical woes by offering a few explanations about what exactly went on in that commercial-free span of our Thursday night. Here are a few:  -This #AtlantaFX episode theories:- the ending mirrored Michael’s actual ending: first he killed his mask, then he killed himself- “there is no bobby”... michael kept his real self (brother — also “brother” as in “black”) locked in the basement (supressed)— LaT’Challa 🎥✨ (@JustLatasha404) April 6, 2018 The piano, Teddy’s childhood, our souls. Lot of robbin #atlantaFX— Sowmya Krishnamurthy (@SowmyaK) April 6, 20181. Mrs. Winners was robbed.2. Paperboi was robbed3. Earn was robbed by strip club finesse4. Earn & Van robbed of a true love relationship5. Paperboi robbed of his time, patience & a permanent barber6. Darius was robbed of a piano. Teddy was robbed of his childhood #AtlantaFX— Riley (@rileywrittens) April 6, 2018 I think its deeper than that bro (pause) I think Darius got robbed of his innocence. Paper boi was telling him to leave but Darius really thought dude was just different like himself.— J$ (@Startrack90) April 6, 2018 The answer to this entire episode... #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/t7wL342yoj— Omari Daniels (@TheOtherBigO) April 6, 2018Just read a pretty amazing theory on tonights #AtlantaFX episode. Going to thread it here.— Sammy H. 🐻 (@sammylemar) April 6, 2018Love how #AtlantaFX portrayed Benny/Teddy and duality. Benny represented the innocence/childhood, beaten, locked away, and sacrificed for greatness. Teddy, a shell of a human. Evil behavior from a person that has rationalized what was done to him and repeating a vicious cycle. pic.twitter.com/C5JF4aNyZ4— rafael. (@rafaxodiaz) April 6, 2018 Best Twitter analysis I've seen so far: Teddy is Michael Jackson and Benny is Prince, now I have to watch third time, to see what else I missed #AtlantaFX— Trevor Michaels (@trevmikewrites) April 6, 2018These theories could explain some of the episode's head-scratching moments. Either way, folks still reacted in the best ways:  That Atlanta episode was all sorts of uncomfortable. As soon as Teddy said he didn’t have a butler, it would have been a wrap for me at that point. #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/NLIpbVPmga— Ben Felix (@TheBENfactor_) April 6, 2018If you then youdon't love don't deserveme at my me at my#AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/8uyHcPbcph— Papa-Gâteaux (@SadgeRising) April 6, 2018#AtlantaFX When Teddy Perkins answered the door I woulda been like.... pic.twitter.com/6tS70l3QlH— Sheila Dixon (@SheilaELTL) April 6, 2018A live look at me this entire episode #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/ouVkL5rQTa— Pusha V (@vebeans) April 6, 2018at first i was like , "uhhhh, darius, what are you doing?" , but then i saw his vision & i'm here for it .U MAD !!!! 😝 😝 😝 #AtlantaFX #RobbinSeason pic.twitter.com/tBuzgvmwm1— —- n i c o l e . (@saucyfbaby) April 6, 2018The credits list “Teddy Perkins” as himself. #AtlantaFX staying in character even after the credits. 😂— Jeff J. (@JeffJSays) April 6, 2018#AtlantaFXIf you then you don'tdon't love deserveme at my me at my pic.twitter.com/o5DneI6FlE— nathaniel (@NatMcMahan) April 6, 2018When someone asks me to describe tonight's ep of #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/a5ps6nd5wi— Mike Hanley 🇵🇷 🇺🇸 (@Magic20099) April 6, 2018WTF they got me watching before I go to bed?! 😨#AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/c4MkXHRO0d— 👸🏾L E A👸🏾 (@_MissLeandra) April 6, 2018"You're my sacrifice" #AtlantaFX pic.twitter.com/skRo3xp3BV— di blek pentha (@panhalfrican) April 6, 2018Just read a pretty amazing theory on tonights #AtlantaFX episode. Going to thread it here.— Sammy H. 🐻 (@sammylemar) April 6, 2018 All we know is the cast better be in their God-given skin tones next...

In the second season of FX’s “Atlanta,” stans of the Donald Glover executive-produced series are introduced to an eerily familiar rapper named Clark County. Clark is portrayed by up-and-coming actor, RJ Walker. One of the season’s most memorable moments features Walker’s character and comes in the form of a Yoohoo commercial. Clark is seen performing a jingle reminiscent of recent ads like Lil Yachty’s Sprite commercial and Chance the Rapper’s irksomely catchy Kit-Kat commercial.A few days after the episode premiered, an Instagram repost from Lakeith Stanfield, who plays Darius, further solidified the segment’s virality. Walker says he figured the parody commercial would be a hit. “Honestly, I did know. Before we shot it, I was like, this is going to go viral. I spoke it,” Walker recently told Blavity. “I was at one of the table reads in Atlanta and Donald comes up to me he’s like, ‘Do you rap?’” Walker said of how the segment came about. “And I’m like, ‘A little bit, I’m not a rapper like you. But I can do something (laughs). He was like, ‘Yeah me and my brother came up with this song about YooHoo. It’s like a jingle and we want to incorporate it.”“ I was like, ‘Let’s get it, let’s do it.’ He sent it to me and all the while Donald was saying it’s simple, I was like, it’s kind of hot though!” the actor continued. “It's catchy, it’s simple and it’s fun. I got to love it. He was downplaying it, so I studied it, studied it, studied it. So when we got on set, I just let loose. I wanted to make this dope. I was taking it so serious. When they yelled cut, everyone was quiet. I thought I did something bad, but everyone was like this is going to be good! All credit goes to Donald and Steve [Glover]. I had to breathe life into Clark County but they are the musical geniuses behind that jingle.”  Watch the parody commercial below and read the full interview with Walker -- where he talks about the social media chatter about who his character is inspired by -- at our sister site, Shadow and Act.  Atlanta airs Thursday nights on...

Recently, I finally got around to watching the highly anticipated crossover episode between Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. While I absolutely love all of Shonda Rhimes’ work, I've found myself slowly losing interest in the plots of both shows. However, this one episode has returned my interest in full force and invoked in me, once again, a sea of emotions which brought me to tears several times throughout the 43-minute duration of the episode.Rhimes offers a chapter replete with black feminist teachings, highlighting the necessity of black sisterhood, the often overlooked divine power of black motherhood and the irresistibility of black love. She analyzes the role of white women in both their opposition to and allyship with black women, she provides commentary on the degrading actions of white men, she teaches viewers about intersectionality and she analyzes the ways in which black women persevere, despite numerous forces constantly acting against us. Rhimes uses all of this to address the prison industrial complex and the disgusting nature of mass incarceration. It is for these reasons that I view this episode as a black feminist manifesto.The episode beautifully follows the developing relationship between Olivia Pope and Annalise Keating, two black women who fans know are powerful and formidable, but who also are far from perfect; two women who are presented as strong, yet lonely and oftentimes misunderstood; two women who have dedicated their lives to helping others out of their mess while consistently failing to avoid their own personal, all-consuming issues. However, in the crossover episode, we witness the critical importance of black sisterhood. We see Olivia and Annalise represent a loving relationship between two black women who support one another, call each other out on their faults and pull each other up when the rest of the world beats them down. They are both aware of the magic the other holds and they trust that by working together they’ll be able to do more than they could do apart. I was reminded of Alice Walker’s definition of a “womanist,” where she states how it describes a woman who might be viewed as “outrageous, audacious, courageous” and is, “a woman who loves other women [... who is] committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female.”This commentary on black women’s loving relationships and their commitment to their community does not end here, rather it continues with a stunning tribute to black motherhood and the ways in which black mothers love their own and all those who need them. Through Annalise's mother, Ophelia, we are gifted with an appreciation of black motherhood and poignant commentary on the potentially destructive nature of the “Strong Black Woman” motif. Ophelia, after spilling food on Olivia’s white coat, speaks to the need black women feel to constantly take care of others before taking care of themselves. She makes a beautiful comparison to the way in which she is also an inspiration and caretaker, even though she isn’t as famous as Olivia and Annalise. Through this, Rhimes gives honor to “ordinary” black women, making the statement that there is no such thing.The poignant commentary on black relationships — which also includes the introduction of Nate’s father to Annalise’s parents, that could be viewed as a symbol of reintroduction to freedom and a statement that we have not forgotten about the humanity of the victims of mass incarceration — is constantly juxtaposed with the role of white characters. A white male judge who is intent on disrespecting Annalise, constantly cutting her off by telling her not to interrupt him; a white woman who symbolizes manipulation, trickery and the fact that black women are strategically placed on an uneven playing field; another white woman who, despite knowing the importance of Annalise’s case, calls to chastise her moments before she is supposed to enter court; and a white woman who, more sensitively, approaches delivering worrisome news to Annalise at the end of the episode, probably to remind us that not all white people are bad.Finally, the episode makes direct commentary about the importance of intersectionality and of considering the various different oppressive forces at play operating against marginalized groups. In a scene where the same white male judge mentioned earlier tries to force Annalise to choose between making an argument about race or class, we are reminded of similar circumstances of black women historically being forced to choose either between their race or their gender when arguing cases in court. While I could continue to go on and on about how brilliantly Rhimes places layers of symbolism, implicit and explicit commentary on race, gender, class and more, I will conclude by simply saying that this episode is a necessary watch. Whether you’ve always been a fan of Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, whether you’ve started to lose interest in their plots or whether you’ve never watched an episode of either, this one stands out on its own and we all have something to learn from...

Actress and screenwriter Lena Waithe said she wants LGBTQ people of color to be out and proud on behalf of the kids coming up behind them during an appearance on The View Wednesday morning.“Honestly, we have to be a bit of a beacon of light for those young kids of color who are wondering like, 'Am I weird?' 'Is something wrong with me?' 'What quality of life might I have?'" she said.Waithe lamented that Hollywood remains a great example of the lack of LGBTQ representation when it comes to people of color.“Probably you could count them on one or two hands? The numbers don't add up ... There's a lot of us, but a lot of us don't want to be public about it," she said. Despite this, she doesn’t think her expression is “revolutionary” because it’s merely a part of her.“I don't know how to not be gay as hell or black as hell. That is who I am!" she added.Waithe, who made history when she became the first black woman to win a comedy writing Emmy in September, also discussed the riveting speech she made following her win. She said she was inspired by Halle Berry, the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar and her inclusive speech.“I remember watching that speech and her making it about everyone," Waithe said.She explained that she hoped pay homage with the speech to other black women writers like Living Single’s Yvette Lee Bowser, who opened the doors for her career.“They've been beating these doors for so long — so when I came up, I just had to kinda push it with a finger and walk through," she said."I know I'm not the first black woman to write a funny half-hour script ... the stars had to align and I ended up being the vessel, so I wanted to make sure I shared that moment."Check out the full interview...