News

Bill Lawrence and Jason Segel unpacked their reasons for empowering “Shrinking” writers to guest star in the series, highlighting that it’s important to provide opportunities for growth in Hollywood, and that it simply just helps the show be better and funnier.

“I am of the opinion that you should empower everybody who is working on something to have their opportunities, because this job is really hard,” Segel, one of the creatives behind “Shrinking” who strongly suggested that Brett Goldstein — who stars as Louis in the series — take on the role, told TheWrap.

“I don’t make decisions about the writers doing guest spots. They earn those all on their own,” Segel went on. “But I really do feel like if you have the opportunity to give someone breaks, give people breaks left and right.”

“Shrinking” executive producer Brian Gallivan, Nicole Ashley Black, Matt Knudsen, Rachna Fruchbom and more are...

On the heels of the second season premiere of Shrinking, Apple TV+ today announced that the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-nominated comedy has landed a renewal for season three. Co-created by Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein, the first two episodes of Shrinking season two are now streaming globally on Apple TV+, and new episodes premiere every Wednesday.

The news was announced at New York Comic Con, where creators Segel and Goldstein and stars Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley took the Main Stage for a special discussion around the new season.

“I’m so lucky to work on ‘Shrinking’ with actors, writers, and a crew so talented that they all elevate the material,” said co-creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence. “I’m even luckier that they are people I’d want to spend time with anyway. Huge thanks to Apple TV+ and...

“Shrinking” has been renewed for Season 3 at Apple TV+.

Co-created by Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, the show follows “grieving therapist Jimmy (Segel), who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own,” per the official description.

In addition to Segel, “Shrinking” stars Harrison Ford (as Paul) in one of his first television roles, Christa Miller (Liz), Jessica Williams (Gaby), Luke Tennie (Sean), Michael Urie (Brian), Lukita Maxwell (Alice) and Ted McGinley (Derek). Goldstein also makes a guest star appearance in the second season.

The news of the renewal was announced Thursday at New York Comic Con, where creators Segel and Goldstein, along with members of the “Shrinking” cast, appeared for a special discussion around Season 2. The first two episodes of the latest season are...

The grieving therapist is back.

Apple has renewed Shrinking, which stars Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, for a third season. It comes a day after the launch of season two.

The news comes as the creators and stars of the show are speaking at New York Comic Con.

Shrinking was co-created by Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein. It stars Segel as grieving widower Jimmy Laird, who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own.

Harrison Ford stars as Jimmy’s boss and mentor Paul, Jessica Williams as their co-worker Gaby, Michael Urie as Jimmy’s best friend Brian, Luke Tennie as one of Jimmy’s clients Sean, Lukita Maxwell as Jimmy’s daughter Alice, Christa Miller as Jimmy and Alice’s neighbor and Ted McGinley as Liz’s husband Derek.

Shortly after the premiere of “Shrinking” Season 2, Apple TV+ has renewed the comedy series for a third season. The show, which is set in the world of therapy, debuted in 2023 as the brainchild of “Ted Lasso” co-creator Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein.

“I’m so lucky to work on ‘Shrinking’ with actors, writers and a crew so talented that they all elevate the material,” said co-creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence in a statement to press. “I’m even luckier that they are people I’d want to spend time with anyway. Huge thanks to to Apple TV+ and Warner Bros. for the amazing partnership and support. So grateful we get to keep making this show. Onward!”

“Shrinking” marks the third partnership for Apple, Lawrence and Warner Bros. Television, alongside “Ted Lasso” and new comedy series “Bad Monkey.”

“It has been wonderful to watch audiences around the world...

Shrinking has booked more sessions at Apple.

The therapy comedy starring Jason Segel has been renewed for a third season at the streamer. The news comes on the heels of Tuesday’s season two launch.

Created by Segel with Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein — the latter, who joined the cast in a key guest role for the second season — the cast also includes Harrison Ford in one of his first television roles.

The renewal news was announced Thursday at New York Comic Con when Segel and Goldstein — along with castmembers Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley — took the Main Stage for a discussion around season two, which is now streaming its first two episodes.

“I’m so lucky to work on Shrinking with actors, writers and a crew so talented that they all elevate the material,” said co-creator and executive producer Lawrence in a statement.

Plot: Follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own.

Review: When the first season of Shrinking premiered in January 2023, I called it one of the year’s best shows. Audiences felt the same as the follow-up series from Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence alongside Brett Goldstein and Jason Segel. It was warmly received for its balance of humor and emotional storylines. Almost two years later, the sophomore run of Shrinking is finally debuting on AppleTV+ with the main ensemble back for more psychological shenanigans. Segel and Harrison Ford continue to shine alongside Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Ted McGinley, Lukita Maxwell, and Luke Tennie, with some new faces joining the cast. Shrinking continues to shine a light on the harder aspects of love,...

Get ready to crank up the volume because Val Verde’s favorite (and now officially #1) classic rock station, 108.9 The Hawk, is back for Season 5! Join hosts Geoff “The Angry Man” Garlock (the seminal hardcore band Orchid) and Jason Gore as they navigate the turbulent waters of radio broadcasting with their signature blend of improvised comedy, classic rock, and absurd characters.

This season, 108.9 The Hawk is turning up the heat with a lineup of amazing special guests, starting off with a bang with guest Dave Holmes (Who Killed the Video Star?; Waiting For Impact; MTV). Tune in on Monday, August 19th as Dave takes on the role of Val Verde’s beloved weatherman Greg Fresca, as they celebrate Extreme Heat Days, Val Verde's favorite outdoor festival that takes place in a mall parking lot. The following week they will be joined by Will Hines (Comedy Bang Bang; The World’s Greatest...

Andrew Yancy is a former detective demoted to restaurant inspector, but when the craziest case of his life falls in his lap, he has a plan to get back on the police force. In the new Apple TV+ series “Bad Monkey,” Vince Vaughn navigates the insanity of a severed hand, a voodoo witch, and a nasty monkey. Based on the book of the same name by Carl Hiaasen, the series premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 14 and is created by “Scrubs” and “Ted Lasso” creator Bill Lawrence. Watch this new comedy-crime series with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.

How to Watch ‘Bad Monkey’ When: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘Bad Monkey’

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel and enduring cult favorite, “Bad Monkey” tells the story of Andrew Yancy...

Vince Vaughn is back on the red carpet!

The 54-year-old actor was joined by wife Kyla Weber at the premiere of his new Apple TV+ series Bad Monkey on Monday (August 12) held at the Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

Fellow cast members in attendance included L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, Zach Braff, Ashley Nicole Black, Scott Glenn and Charlotte Lawrence.

Hours earlier, Vince was honored with the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – and his and Kyla‘s two kids made a very rare public appearance at the ceremony!

Keep reading to find out more…Based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel, “Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after...

Plot: The story of Andrew Yancy, who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.

Review: The last time Vince Vaughn starred in a mystery series for television, the result was the divisive second season of True Detective. Playing a fully dramatic role was nothing new for the versatile Vaughn, but the mixed reception pushed the actor back to the big screen. Aside from a recurring role in the final seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Vince Vaughn has stayed away from television until now. Partnering with Bill Lawrence, the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Ted Lasso,...

To lift a title from kids’ novelist Wilson Rawls, this has become the Summer of the Monkeys.

Before we get to HBO’s Chimp Crazy and Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans, devotees of the simian arts will be treated to Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey, a Carl Hiaasen adaptation from the streamer’s comedy patron saint, Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking).

Contrary to the show and novel’s name, the eponymous monkey is not, in fact, bad. Played by veteran animal thespian Crystal — you know her from Community, The Fabelmans and more — she is, in fact, quite good, reliable for reactive cutaways or wild, furry hijinks. She (actually, Crystal is playing a character who seems to identify as male, but we are not going down the path of monkey pronouns here) doesn’t always feel particularly connected to the plot of Bad Monkey, but it’s charming and fun just to have her around.

Audible and Broadway Video Enterprises are launching two new, original comedy podcasts this fall, with a lineup of castmembers including Glen Powell, Nicholas Braun, Taraji P. Henson and Tracee Ellis Ross.

The Best Man’s Ghostwriter follows Nate (voiced by Powell) as a speechwriter hired to help write best man speeches and one of his client’s, Dan (voiced by Braun), in a podcast exploring the “often idiotic world of male friendship.” The podcast, written and directed by comedian Matthew Star, a former real-life best man’s ghostwriter, debuts Sept. 12.

The cast for The Best Man’s Ghostwriter also includes Ashley Park, D’Arcy Carden, Lance Bass, Zach Braff, Lukas Gage, Alex Wolff, Debra Messing, George Takei, Jack McBrayer, Nicole Byer, Zach Cherry, Lennon Parham, Neil Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Ben Marshall, John Higgins, Martin Herlihy, Jonathan Van Ness and Sherri Shepherd.

“Bringing The Best Man’s Ghostwriter to life was a blast,...

Bad Monkey finally has a release date. The new comedy series starring Vince Vaughn will arrive on Apple TV+ next month. The streaming service ordered the comedy from Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso) in August 2021. Ten episodes have been produced.

Starring Vaughn, L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, Jodie Turner-Smith, the Bad Monkey series is based on a novel by Carl Hiaasen. John Ortiz, Zach Braff, Ashley Nicole Black, Scott Glenn, and Charlotte Lawrence guest star.

Read More…...

“The Boy and the Heron” Comes to Max in September

Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent “last” film “The Boy and the Heron” is taking flight.

The Oscar and Golden Globe-winning animated film from famed studio Studio Ghibli will make its United States streaming debut exclusively on Max on Friday, Sept. 6.

The hand-drawn original written and directed by Miyazaki was the famed filmmaker’s first feature film in 10 years. The story follows young Mahito Maki, who loses his mother in a hospital fire and a series of mysterious events leads him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron.

Watch the trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” below:

When his new stepmother disappears, Mahito follows the gray heron on an epic journey into a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead, uncovering the secrets of the world and the truth about himself.

The voice...

“Bad Monkey” is a new ‘crime comedy’ TV series, starring Vince Vaughn, L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Ortiz, Zach Braff, Ashley Nicole Black, Scott Glenn and Charlotte Lawrence, streaming August 14, 2024 on AppleTV+:

“…’Andrew Yancy’ has been bounced from the ‘Miami Police Department’ and is now a health inspector in the Florida Keys.

“But after stumbling upon a case, he realizes if he can prove a murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"All kinds of bad people getting in the water now." Apple has revealed an official trailer for Bad Monkey, a comedy series about more crazy kooky Floridians (also see: Netflix's Florida Man). This series will be on Apple TV+ streaming in August before the summer's over if anyone's interested. "Welcome to the shady side of paradise where Vince Vaughn has a long list of unusual suspects." Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancy, who has been bounced from the Miami Police and is now a health inspector working in the Florida Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm being fished up, he might help solve a murder which will bring him back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey... The ensemble cast includes L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan,...

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for Bad Monkey, the highly anticipated comedy from award-winning executive producer Bill Lawrence and starring acclaimed actor, producer and screenwriter Vince Vaughn, who also serves as an executive producer. The 10-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on August 14, 2024 followed by new episodes every Wednesday through October 9.

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel and enduring cult favorite, Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.

The ensemble cast also includes L. Scott Caldwell...

Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for ‘Bad Monkey,’ the highly anticipated comedy from award-winning executive producer Bill Lawrence and starring acclaimed actor, producer and screenwriter Vince Vaughn.

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel and enduring cult favourite, the series tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.

The ensemble cast also includes L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, Jodie Turner-Smith, with special guest star John Ortiz and guest stars Zach Braff, Ashley Nicole Black, Scott Glenn.

Bad Monkey, Bill Lawrence’s adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen 2013 novel of the same thing and a longtime passion project for the power producer, is finally set to premiere. Having firmed up plans for its Aug. 14 release, Apple TV+ dropped the first trailer for the project on Wednesday.

The Florida-set dramedy mystery tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), a former Miami P.D. detective whose transfer to the Keys quickly resulted in him getting bounced from the force entirely to work as a health inspector. When a privileged tourist hooks a human arm on a fishing trip, Yancy is drawn into a murder mystery whose resolution he thinks might earn back his badge.

Filling out the comically large ensemble of oddball characters related to the case are L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat , Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet and a capuchin playing the titular primate.

Vince Vaughn is getting down and dirty in the Florida Keys as a detective in the Apple TV+ dramedy series “Bad Monkey.” The actor stars in and executive produces the adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s bestselling novel. Bill Lawrence also executive produces and serves as showrunner, adding to his Apple TV+ portfolio.

The official synopsis reads: “Andrew Yancy (Vaughn) has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.”

The series co-stars Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Alex Moffat, L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, and Ronald Peet. Zach Braff, John Ortiz, Ashley Nicole Black, and Scott Glenn guest star,...

On Thursday June 20 2024, CBS broadcasts After Midnight!

James Davis; Ashley Nicole Black; Laurie Kilmartin Season 1 Episode 73 Episode Summary

In this episode of “After Midnight” on CBS, viewers can look forward to a night filled with laughter and humor. Comic James Davis, comic Ashley Nicole Black, and comic Laurie Kilmartin will take the stage to entertain the audience with their unique styles and comedic talents.

James Davis, known for his sharp wit and relatable humor, will kick off the show with his hilarious observations on everyday life. Ashley Nicole Black, with her infectious energy and clever punchlines, is sure to keep the audience in stitches with her comedic charm. Laurie Kilmartin, a seasoned comic with a knack for storytelling, will bring her wit and sarcasm to the stage, promising an evening of laughs for all.

“As Midnight” continues to showcase a diverse lineup of talented comedians, each bringing their own flavor of humor to the table.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, After Midnight, hosted by Taylor Tomlinson, welcomes James Davis, Ashley Nicole Black, and Laurie Kilmartin to the show. James Davis, a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, is known for his work on Hood Adjacent and Wild n Out. Davis has also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and […]

After Midnight: James Davis, Ashley Nicole Black, Laurie Kilmartin...

Leif & Co. are on the move in a new trailer for Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla, which you can check out above.

Set in the early 11th century, the period drama chronicles the “heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived, Leif Eriksson (played by Sam Corlett), his sister Freydis (Frida Gustavsson) and the Norwegian prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter),” per the official description.

More from TVLineElite Gets Final Season Release Date - Plus, Watch Nadia Return in TeaserBridgerton Season 4 Won't Arrive Until 2026 - Here's WhyJoey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi to Settle 'Unfinished Beef' in Netflix...

Exclusive: Ashley Nicole Black is doubling down on both sides of the camera.

The two-time past Emmy winner has joined the second season of Shrinking and the upcoming first season of Bad Monkey, I’ve learned.

However, Black’s’ addition to the two AppleTV+ series, executive produced by Bill Lawrence, is both a little unconventional and playing to all the Black Lady Sketch Show vet’s strengths. While it was already out there that Black was writing on the Vince Vaughn-led Bad Monkey, she will also be a member of the cast of the Florida-set restaurant-inspecting comedy. Also, having been part of the award-winning Ted Lasso writing team, Black is now joining Lawrence and Brett Goldstein on their Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams and Jason Segal-led therapists comedy show.

Like on Bad Monkey, Black will be both a writer on Shrinking Season 2 and a member of the cast.

What...

Exclusive: Veteran producer and executive Becky Sloviter has been named President of Miramax Motion Picture Group, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

The news follows Miramax’s announcement three weeks ago that Jonathan Glickman had been officially appointed as CEO, taking over from the exiting Bill Block.

An Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, Sloviter launched her production company, A Dare To Be Great Situation, in 2022 and has most recently been under a first-look overall deal with ABC Signature. Prior to that, she served as Head of Funny Story Films, a division of MRC Film, there producing upcoming titles including the road trip comedy The Inheritance from Emmy winner Ashley Nicole Black and the Annie Murphy starrer Witness Protection, from screenwriters David West Read and Rupinder Gill, alongside Alloy Entertainment.

In addition to the acclaimed Andy Samberg rom-com Palm Springs, which won the Critics’ Choice Award...

Atx TV Festival announced new updates to its line-up Wednesday, including screenings of Fargo, Pretty Little Liars and the Season 3 premiere of HBO’s critically acclaimed Industry. All of these are in addition to the previously announced Suits reunion panel that’s set to take place at the annual Austin, Texas event later this spring.

Fargo creator, writer and director Noah Hawley will join for a screening of Season 5, Episode 1 (“The Tragedy of the Commons”), followed by a conversation about the overall season, which stars Juno Temple, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

More from TVLineI Apparently Inspired a Scene...

Ike Barinholtz is going full dumbass.

That’s how The Mindy Project writer-star describes his latest character, Chris Chatman, who he’ll play for his newest project, The Chris Chatman Do-Over podcast, beginning Jan. 11.

The weekly show, which is being billed as an original improvised comedy, is the second of three installments in a series of podcasts from Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions and Audacy. The first, which launched in September, is Say More with Dr? Sheila, which stars Poehler as a fictional, world-class therapist/life coach, who has questionable methods and credentials and sees new couples each week. Barinholtz is among the many recognizable voices who have appeared as fictional guests on the popular podcast; though in his case, he was setting up a standalone series as Chatman, a controversial shock jock host.

The premise of The Chris Chatman Do-Over is that Chatman’s hit podcast was canceled but he’s listened,...

In the 24th weekly installment of the Deadline Strike Talk Podcast, host Billy Ray doesn’t seem too shaken by the surprise breakoff of talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA.

Even though CAA chief Bryan Lourd stated publicly there is a wide gap between the streamers and actors over residuals, Ray believes a deal could be had by the end of next week. The pressure is high, as crew members stretch further without a paycheck, and the streamers find themselves the focus over issues like viewer transparency and what that should mean in the area of residuals and health benefits for actors.

This week, Ray takes a look at the actor’s life with three veterans who each trod a hard road to get to a position of prominence: Ashley Nicole Black, Clark Gregg, and Robert Wisdom. They discuss the ongoing strike, the importance of continued solidarity and the essential next steps for performers to protect their work.

Ray’s intro deals with Jackie Robinson and former Dodgers Gm Branch Rickey and how the historic shattering of baseball’s color line came two years in the making and involved a key person who’d grown up in the segregated South and had to be swung over to the right side of history in order for the audacious move to succeed. Luck is opportunity meeting preparation, Ray says. He believes that the planning that went into the current painful labor stoppage will change the business long term, for the better, and make it possible for the next Ashley Nicole Black, Clark Gregg and Robert Wisdom to thrive in an art form that pours of billions in revenues, and ought to provide for health benefits and a cushion against lean times like the ones we are all dealing with right now.

Listen here:...

Anthony Rapp claims the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers repeatedly cancelled meetings during the final days of the extended contract negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, and wanted “free rein” on several issues, including AI and self-taping.

“[After] a certain point in the process I’m not surprised that we’re here, but initially, I thought, Ok, maybe they’re getting the message,” the Star Trek: Discovery actor and member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee told The Hollywood Reporter on Friday during the first day of the actor’s union strike. “Because we went in with the strike authorization vote — it was a really excellent turnout, it was a huge margin — I thought that would be enough leverage to maybe make them get a little more serious.”

Rapp said that as a first-time negotiating committee member, he found the studios’ approach to working on a new theatrical and TV basic contract — talks...

With the news that SAG-AFTRA will now go on strike, members of the acting guild have taken to social media to express their support for the union and to commit to the fight. SAG-AFTRA members are joining the Writers Guild of America in striking for fair compensation, making it a “double strike,” which hasn’t happened since 1960. The WGA has been on strike since May 2.

George Clooney released a statement to Variety expressing his solidarity with the union. “This is an inflection point in our industry,” he said. “Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living. For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors that journey starts now.”

Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram and championed the strike by posting a photo of the comedy and tragedy masks. “It looks like it’s time to take down the Masks. And pick up the Signs,...

No word on whether Chris or Lachel is to blame, but A Black Lady Sketch Show is done at HBO after four seasons. Creator Robin Thede — who costarred with Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, Quinta Brunson, and Skye Townsend on the comedy series — gave her thanks to her collaborators and the show’s fans on Instagram last week. “For fans of the show, please know that your support and love for Ablss has always been so blippity appreciated,” Thede wrote. “Thank you for sharing the videos, posting the memes, and yelling the catchphrases at us when you saw us in the streets!” So, in the interest of keeping the video-sharing going, scroll down to see the most-viewed Ablss sketches on YouTube. 11. “Purgatory Soul Food”: 1.4 million views Two women (Dennis and Brunson) are eager to support a new soul food eatery in their neighborhood but are confronted with a B.

A Black Lady Sketch Show will not return for a fifth season, per Deadline. HBO has cancelled the comedy series a few months after the fourth season finished airing.

Robin Thede created and stars in the series, which features “Black women living funny, relatable experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations.” Gabrielle Dennis, Skye Townsend, Quinta Brunson, Laci Mosley, and Ashley Nicole Black have also starred in sketches across the series' 24 episode run.

Read More…...

A Black Lady Sketch Show Season 4 was its last at HBO. The three-time Emmy-winning sketch comedy series returned for Season 4 on April 14, and, like the seasons prior, ran for six episodes. Robin Thede created and starred in the series that featured a stellar cast including Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, Skye Townsend, Quinta Brunson, and more. HBO praised Thede and the creative team in a statement to Variety confirming the show’s end on July 6. “For four exceptional seasons of A Black Lady Sketch Show we’ve been thrilled to partner with her on this groundbreaking, hilarious series,” the statement reads. “Robin, alongside Hoorae, Jax Media, and the incredible cast and crew, leave an indelible legacy not only in sketch, but in television comedy, and we look forward to continued creative collaboration under her deal with us.” Thede executive produced the series with Issa Rae for Hoorae, along with Dave Becky,...

A Black Lady Sketch Show is taking its final bows: The Emmy-winning sketch series is ending after four seasons on HBO, according to our sister site Variety.

“Thank you to all the immensely talented cast members, guest stars, writers, directors, editors and crew members who have made A Black Lady Sketch Show an Emmy-winning success,” star and creator Robin Thede said in a statement. “I especially want to recognize the Black women and other women of color who excelled in every department at Ablss. I am also eternally grateful for the support of Issa Rae and Jax Media, Amy Gravitt,...

There will be no fifth season for A Black Lady Sketch Show, Deadline has confirmed. HBO’s Emmy-winning comedy series has ended with its fourth season, which wrapped in May.

Created, written, executive produced, and starring Robin Thede, A Black Lady Sketch Show, per the logline, featured a core cast of Black women living funny, relatable experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend also starred.

In a statement, HBO described Thede as “a visionary comedic talent,” adding “for four exceptional seasons of A Black Lady Sketch Show we’ve been thrilled to partner with her on this groundbreaking, hilarious series. Robin, alongside Hoorae, Jax Media, and the incredible cast and crew, leave an indelible legacy not only in sketch, but in television comedy, and we look forward to continued creative collaboration under her deal with us.”

Thede executive produced with Issa Rae for Hoorae,...

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” has told its final joke on HBO. The comedy series from creator and star Robin Thede will note return for a fifth season at the premium cable network, TheWrap has confirmed.

Thede and HBO mutually decided to end the series on a creative high with its Season 4 finale, which aired May 19.

“Thank you to all the immensely talented cast members, guest stars, writers, directors, editors and crew members who have made ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ an Emmy-winning success,” Thede said in a statement. “I especially want to recognize the Black women and other women of color who excelled in every department at ‘Ablss.’

“I am also eternally grateful for the support of Issa Rae and Jax Media, Amy Gravitt, Casey Bloys and the entire team at HBO, Max and Warner Bros. Discovery,” she added.

Also Read:

Robin Thede Is Not Done ‘Constantly Reinventing’ Reality...

The fourth season of the Emmy-winning comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show” will be its last, Variety has learned exclusively.

In a statement confirming the decision to end the show, HBO praised series creator and star Robin Thede as a “visionary comedic talent” and saluted the show’s historic achievements.

“For four exceptional seasons of ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ we’ve been thrilled to partner with her on this groundbreaking, hilarious series,” representatives for the network said of Thede. “Robin, alongside Hoorae, Jax Media, and the incredible cast and crew, leave an indelible legacy not only in sketch, but in television comedy, and we look forward to continued creative collaboration under her deal with us.”

Created by Thede, who also served as showrunner, executive producer and writer, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” framed the world in a Black woman’s point of view with sketches that subverted traditional...

It’s late March and “A Black Lady Sketch Show” creator and star Robin Thede is working with the show’s editors to put the finishing touches on Season 4 of the half-hour HBO comedy.

“First season,” she tells Variety, “I was like, I want every third line to be a joke. Second season, every other line. Now, literally every line is a joke, even the setups to the punchlines. It’s crazy.”

With sketches that riff on relatable themes — like hair woes, ashy skin and the politics of the Black church — “A Black Lady Sketch Show” frames the world from a Black woman’s point of view. Even when the subject matter has nothing to do with Blackness, the show’s existence is impactful, a sentiment Whoopi Goldberg underlined during a recent episode of “The View.”

“You have invited an entire room of Black women to write comedy. This is unheard of,...

Top Hollywood writers took to social media to express defiant support for their first union walkout in 15 years and showed their feelings about studios being unwilling to meet their contract demands.

The Writers Guild of America announced the work stoppage will begin Tuesday afternoon. The union also released a list of claimed responses from the studios to their proposals, which helped fire up members.

“The Shield put FX on the map,” wrote FX’s Snowfall writer-producer Sal Calleros. “Mad Men put AMC on the map. House of Cards put Netflix on the map. Writers did that. Not some CEO. Know what you get when you put CEOs in creative lanes? You get Quibi.”

“They shut down an entire industry rather than part with less than 3% of their record profits,” wrote Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost).

“Looks like it’s time to cancel my streaming services,” wrote David Simon (The Wire). “Ask the...

Patrick Somerville, creator of the HBO series “Station Eleven” and the Netflix show “Maniac,” was among a slew of Hollywood writers to weigh in late Monday after the Writers Guild of America went on strike, saying the union’s negotiating points firmly lined up with reason — and the studios knew it.

“We’re going to do this because our guild is strong enough to do it,” said Somerville, who had changed his Twitter ID to “Strikerick Somverville” in an apparent writerly flourish. “The ask is level-headed, and even they know that we’re right. Collective action is the one place they can’t win.”

We’re going to do this because our guild is strong enough to do it. The ask is level-headed, and even they know that we’re right. Collective action is the one place they can’t win. https://t.co/E8Zy6TIlVO

— Strikerick Somerville (@patrickerville...

Minutes after the Writers Guild of America declared it was on strike, members lit up social media with vows to stay strong as they prepare to hit the picket lines on Tuesday.

News of the strike, which takes effect later this evening, came late Monday after the guild’s negotiations with the AMPTP failed to reach an agreement on a new film and scripted TV contract. It’s the WGA’s first strike since the 100-day walkout of 2007-08.

Reaction on Twitter was swift. “Here we go,” wrote David Simon. “See you all on the pavement, my brothers and sisters.” He followed it with the hashtag #WGAstrong.

Some expressed fear but that was quickly replaced by resolve, as scribes encouraged fellow members to ignore the spin “that’s already coming out.”

Related: WGA Strike Picket Line Locations List For Los Angeles & New York

“We’re on strike,...

The 2023 National Association of Broadcasters Show, which wrapped Wednesday in Las Vegas, attracted an estimated 65,000 delegates, according to show organizers, which many viewed as a healthy number for a post-pandemic show.

The attendance numbers marked a notable rise following Nab’s return to an in-person event in 2022, which counted 52,468 delegates, though it was still well below its last show before the lockdown, which drew 91,000 attendees in 2019.

Artificial intelligence was arguably the most widespread topic this year, as Nab marked its centennial. As the potential of AI rapidly evolves, it’s a topic that clearly will continue to cause significant anxiety, as well as staggering potential opportunities.

Generally, it was an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary year on the exhibition floor. From a tech standpoint, there was a large number of new and evolving tools for all sorts of cloud-based remote workflows. And while there’s still a lot to understand...

Robin Thede designed A Black Lady Sketch Show to have no end. “That is my original vision for the show,” she tells TV Insider ahead of the April 14 Season 4 premiere on HBO, “that the show can be an institution and a launching platform for so many talented Black women to come through and to be able to show the world everything they’ve got.” That talent is on full display in A Black Lady Sketch Show Season 4, which features returning stars Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Skye Townsend. This is the first season without star Ashley Nicole Black, but three new cast members — DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, and Angel Laketa Moore — join the hilarious crew in her stead. Thede serves as an executive producer, showrunner, and writer in addition to being a star and creator. “Teamwork is the key” to keeping the magic flowing in their writers’ room and beyond. “I’m constantly moving.

Robin Thede, creator and star of “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” has set a new comedy series for development at HBO.

The half-hour project is titled “Disengagement,” and centers on the prestigious Cole family after a very public and embarrassing business implosion shatters their perfect Midwest image. Per the logline, it was just an image, because behind closed doors, even their dysfunction has dysfunction, proving family is the ultimate pyramid scheme.

Thede serves as writer and executive producer of the series, which she is developing via the overall deal she signed with HBO in 2022. Meghan Cheek produces on behalf of For Better or Words, Inc.

Thede began her career performing sketch comedy and went on to write for programs like the BET Awards and the NAACP Image Awards. When she joined the staff of “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore,” she became the first Black women ever to serve as...

A Black Lady Sketch Show will be bringing the laughs next month, when the HBO series returns for Season 4 on Friday, April 14 at 11/10c.

The upcoming six-episode season will star returning cast members Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend, plus new featured players DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, Angel Laketa Moore and more than 20 celebrity guests, including Colman Domingo (Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead), who appears in the above teaser video.

More from TVLineWendi McLendon-Covey to Headline NBC Comedy Pilot St. Denis MedicalIs New Ted Lasso 'Do a Big Don't? Can't Magnum Relocate Rick? Were Grey's Accents Wicked Bad? And...

Updated with latest: Grab your dress and your bow tie because Oscar party week is here. While there were few parties on Golden Globes night, the industry is making up for it starting this weekend. More events may be added as the week goes on as some studios date their events at the last minute (as in Netflix and A24). Please send any event or party details to anthony@deadline.com. Most events are by invite-only. All times Pt.

Saturday, March 4

2 Pm: 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards

Santa Monica Pier

Joining host Hasan Minhaj are presenters Adam Brody, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Dae Kim, Danielle Deadwyler, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jeremy Pope, Jodie Turner-Smith, Joel Kim Booster, Kevin Bacon, Lily Tomlin, Molly Shannon, Nicholas Braun, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Simona Tabasco, Stephanie Hsu, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and W. Kamau Bell. They will be joining the previously announced Honorary Co-Chairs, Academy Award winners and Film Independent...

The American Cinema Editors handed out their annual Ace Awards on Sunday as the chilly final leg of the 2023 awards season draws to a close. Hosted by Ashley Nicole Black, the afternoon saw the editors or editing teams from “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Andor” take home major prizes.

Read More: Complete list of 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards winners

Other winners included “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “The Bear,” “Fire of Love,” “George Carlin’s American Dream,” “The Black Lady Sketch Show” and “Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story.”

Lifetime Achievement honors were bestowed upon Don Zimmerman.

Continue reading ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ And ‘Andor’ Triumph At 2023 Ace Eddie Awards at The Playlist.

American Cinema Editors handed out its 73rd Eddie Awards on Sunday, with Top Gun: Maverick editor Eddie Hamilton and Everything Everywhere All at Once editor Paul Rogers collecting trophies for best edited dramatic feature and comedy feature, respectively.

Everything Everywhere – which won the BAFTA in film editing – and Top Gun: Maverick, along with Eddie nominees Jonathan Redmond and Matt Villa for Elvis, Monika Willi for Tár and Mikkel E.G. Nielsen for The Banshees of Inisherin are nominated for the Oscar in film editing.

Everything Everywhere’s Rogers thanked mentors, friends and family, including the Daniels, remembering cutting the movie during lockdown. He also urged diversity, saying, “We can choose what stories we get to tell.” Hamilton wasn’t in attendance and colleagues accepted, reading thanks to those including Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie.

Also on Sunday at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Ken Schretzmann and Holly Klein collected the animated feature prize,...

Top Gun: Maverick took the marquee Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) honor and Everything Everywhere All At Once landed the top Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy) award at the 73rd Ace Eddie Awards Sunday. Hosted by Ashley Nicole Black, the winners were announced live in a ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Eddie Hamilton, Ace, edited Maverick, a film that earned Tom Cruise the Producer’s Guild’s David O. Selznick award at last week’s PGA Awards. The honor puts Hamilton and Top Gun: Maverick in frontrunner status in the Best Film Editing Oscar race, for which both Maverick and Everything Everywhere are nominated.

Since the turn of the 21st century, the Eddie winner for theatrical drama has gone on to score the Academy Award for Best Editing 13 of 22 times — but none of the past three years. In 2022, King Richard took that Ace trophy, but Dune went home with the Oscar.