First, Salim Akil will write, produce and direct a docu-style comedy titled Mr. Director, which will take audiences on a trip through “Black Hollywood,” with Akil himself starring, playing a version of himself, as he navigates the peaks and valleys of the Hollywood machine. I actually dig this idea. It could be fresh, instructive, informative and outright entertaining. 

Second, Debra Martin Chase, via her ABC Studios-based Martin Chase Productions, will executive produce a Catherine The Great mini-series, based on a best-selling novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Massie, which will center on the Russian empress’ rise to become the world’s richest and most powerful woman of her time. Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Michael Cristofer will pen the script.

And finally, Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios has signed Divorce Court’s Judge Mablean Ephriam, to star in the a 5th court show for the company, titled Justice with Judge Mablean, which joins Entertainment Studios’ already existing stable of 4 courtroom shows, including America’s Court with Judge Ross, We the People with Gloria Allred, Supreme Justice with Judge Karen and Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez. How many court shows does one entertainment company need to have in its library? They must be profitable. Cheap to make. 

And now you know…