TV ONE announced today that the network will premiere “Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” on Sunday, June 12 at 7 p.m. ET (encore presentation at 9 p.m. ET), directed by Christine Swanson from a screenplay she penned with Rhonda F. Baraka.
Starring Teyonah Parris in the title role and featuring a special cameo appearance from Grammy Award-nominated R&B songstress Miki Howard herself, this is the network’s first-ever bio-pic inspired by TV One’s signature series “Unsung.”
“Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” features an ensemble cast that also includes Darius McCrary as Gerald Levert; Vanessa Bell Calloway as Miki’s mother Josephine Howard; Gary Dourdan as Augie Johnson; LisaRaye as Sylvia Rhone; and Amari Cheatom as Eddie Phelps.
The film will serve as the crown jewel of TV One’s Black Music Month celebration.
“Black Music Month is the perfect time to share Miki Howard’s inspiring and courageous journey of resilience with TV One’s audience, said D’Angela Proctor, TV One’s SVP, Original Programming & Production. “We are proud to have such an incredibly talented cast involved in Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story to help us represent with our first feature film from our award-winning Unsung series.”
The film candidly explores the complicated history of Howard’s romantic relationship with R&B singer Gerald Levert, the tumultuous relationship with her mother, and her battles to overcome spousal abuse and drug addiction.
“I really wanted to be a part of this story because you watch someone go through so much,” star Teyonah Parris stated. “Literally hit rock bottom not just once, a few times – but pick themselves up and say, ‘that moment does not define who I am now and it won’t define who I am in the future.’”
Howard is excited to have her story told as an original movie to encourage dialogue about important topics affecting women of color: “We need to have a conversation about many of the things that happened to me as a young woman coming up in show business and being an African-American woman… I don’t think we talk about enough things that are prevalent in our community, such as spousal abuse and trying to live up to expectations that are not our own.”
“Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” is produced by Eric Tomosunas and Carl Craig for Swirl Films.
For TV One, Jubba Seyyid is Executive in Charge of Production and Sr. Director of Programming; Donyell McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; Robyn Greene-Arrington is VP of Original Programming; and D’Angela Proctor is Head of Original Programming.
“Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” was filmed on location in Savannah, Georgia.
TV One viewers can join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #MikiHowardStory and catch clips and promos on TV One’s YouTube Channel.
Check out the trailer below:
