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NBA Star Chris Paul Developing Autobiographical ABC Comedy

By goodblacknews on October 24, 2014
Chris Paul Clippers

Add Chris Paul to the list of NBA stars producing autobiographical TV projects.  Paul has teamed with comedy writer Warren Lieberstein and producers Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum to develop a family comedy for CBS TV Studios that is inspired by his experiences growing up in North Carolina with his older brother.

The untitled project revolves around two brothers who work at a service station owned by their grandfather, who champions old-school values in contrast to the attitude of their guarded, politically-correct mother.
Paul, a point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, is executive producing with his brother, CJ Paul, Lieberstein and the Tannenbaums. Paul began his NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets in 2005. He joined the Clippers in 2011.
Lieberstein had a long run on NBC’s “The Office.” More recently he was an executive producer on ABC’s James Caan comedy “Back in the Game.”
Paul’s project comes to ABC at a time when LeBron James’ early years have become the inspiration for the Starz comedy “Survivor’s Remorse,” which was recently renewed for a second season with James among the exec producers. Former NBA player Baron Davis just set up a project at Fox about his experiences growing up in South Central L.A. while attending a prestigious suburban school.
Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant will also be in the spotlight next month with the premiere of the Showtime documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse.”
article by Cynthia Littleton via Variety.com

Los Angeles Police Department Fires Detective Over Racially-Charged Recordings

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2014

California Prisons Agree to End Race-Based Lockdowns

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2014

In settling a federal civil rights suit, California prisons agreed Wednesday to no longer base lockdowns on inmates’ race or ethnicity.

The suit, filed in 2008 on behalf of male prisoners, alleged that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation violates inmates’ constitutional rights by imposing excessively long modified programs and lockdowns.
Corrections officials have said in the past that segregation units are needed in maximum-security lockups to control prison gangs responsible for violence and crime.

Under the settlement, “lockdowns or modified programs may be (1) imposed on all inmates, and lifted from all inmates in the affected area, or (2) imposed and lifted from inmates in the affected area based on individualized threat assessments.”
Furthermore, if a modified program or lockdown lasts more than 14 days, the warden is required under the settlement to start giving outdoor activity to the affected inmates.
“We see this as a tremendous result,” said Rebekah Evenson, one of the attorneys representing inmates.
article by Lauren Raab and Paige St. John via latimes.com

Toni Morrison’s Papers To Be Housed At Princeton University

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2014
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — The papers of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison are now part of the permanent library collection of Princeton University.  Princeton made the announcement Friday, shortly before the 83-year-old Morrison took part in a forum at the school where she served on the faculty for 17 years.
The renowned author’s papers contain about 180 linear feet of research materials documenting her life, work and writing methods. They include manuscripts, drafts and proofs of many of Morrison’s novels. Materials for her children’s literature, lyrics, lectures, correspondence and more are also part of the collection.
Additional manuscripts and papers will be added over time, beginning with the manuscript of Morrison’s next novel, which is expected to be published in the spring.
Morrison, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel “Beloved” in 1988, came to Princeton in 1989 and was a member of the university’s creative writing program until she retired in 2006. In 1994, she founded the Princeton Atelier, bringing together undergraduate students in interdisciplinary collaborations with acclaimed artists and performers.
“Toni Morrison’s place among the giants of American literature is firmly entrenched, and I am overjoyed that we are adding her papers to the Princeton University Library’s collections,” Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber said. “We at Princeton are fortunate that (Morrison) brought her brilliant talents as a writer and teacher to our campus 25 years ago, and we are deeply honored to house her papers and to help preserve her inspiring legacy.”
Morrison received an honorary doctorate during the school’s 2013 commencement.
article by via blackamericaweb.com

Justus Uwayesu, Who Lived in a Rwandan Dump after Being Orphaned by Genocide, Earns Full Scholarship at Harvard

By goodblacknews on October 22, 2014
Justus Uwayesu, rescued at 9 from the streets of Rwanda, is enrolled as a freshman at Harvard. (IAN THOMAS JANSEN-LONNQUIST FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)

BOSTON — Nine years old and orphaned by ethnic genocide, he was living in a burned-out car in a Rwandan garbage dump where he scavenged for food and clothes. Daytimes, he was a street beggar. He had not bathed in more than a year.When an American charity worker, Clare Effiong, visited the dump one Sunday, other children scattered. Filthy and hungry, Justus Uwayesu stayed put, and she asked him why.
“I want to go to school,” he replied.
Well, he got his wish.
This autumn, Mr. Uwayesu enrolled as a freshman at Harvard University on a full-scholarship, studying math, economics and human rights, and aiming for an advanced science degree. Now about 22 — his birthday is unknown — he could be, in jeans, a sweater and sneakers, just another of the 1,667 first-year students here.

YouTube's Todrick Hall Lands MTV Unscripted Series

By goodblacknews on October 22, 2014

Todrick HallAccording to Variety.com, MTV has ordered a new unscripted series, “Todrick,” which takes a docu-style look at the elaborate performance videos crafted by YouTube star Todrick Hall.  
“Todrick” revolves around the lives of Hall (pictured) and the troupe that helps him choreograph and stage his weekly musical efforts.  The half-hour series has an eight-episode order and is on target to debut next year.
“We’re excited to bring Todrick’s tenacious energy and multi-dimensional talent to MTV for his first-ever series,” said MTV programming president Susanne Daniels.
“Todrick” hails from Brian Graden Media. Graden, a former MTV and VH1 chief, executive produces with Danny Salles, Lois Curren and Gaurav Misra as well as Hall, Scooter Braun and Danny Rose.  If you’ve never seen Hall’s work, start with the creative “Cinderoncé” below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7mGAxWB04&w=560&h=315]
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (follow @lakinhutcherson)

Producer Will Packer sells TV Pilot "Like Father, Like Son" to NBC

By goodblacknews on October 22, 2014
Will Packer TV Pilot
Will Packer attends Sony Pictures’ ‘Think Like A Man Too’ Miami red carpet screening at Regal South Beach on June 10, 2014, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Thaddaeus McAdams/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Will Packer, who produced the hit films Ride Along, Think Like a Man, and Think Like a Man Too, sold a TV pilot for a female cop dramedy to NBC, according to Hollywood Reporter. 
This marks the fourth TV pilot sale for the 40-year old producer in the last year. Earlier this week, Packer sold an autobiographical comedy to NBC called Like Father, Like Son. His production company, Will Packer Productions, has a first look deal with the network.
This is his first year working in television development.
Packer’s as-yet-untitled fourth project will feature two female detectives from LA who investigate homicides and have complicated personal lives. The hour-long project is being billed as a dramedy and riff on the familiar buddy cop formula. Ride Along, Packer’s last buddy cop project starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, raked in more than six times its budget and has a sequel planned for early 2016. Packer is set to return as producer for Ride Along 2.
Packer, however, is staying busy in the meantime. In addition to producing the thriller film No Good Deed, which made more than $52 million domestically against a $13 million budget, Packer is also the producer of the upcoming January 2015 Hart film The Wedding Ringer and the N.W.A. biopic slated for August 2015 titled Straight Outta Compton.
Packer will executive produce the new drama-comedy, with Gossip Girl writer and producer Amanda Lasher set to pen the pilot.
article via thegrio.com

Lisa Price's Beauty Company Carol's Daughter Purchased by L'Oreal USA

By goodblacknews on October 20, 2014

carols-daughterL’Oreal USA announced today that it has purchased beauty company Carol’s Daughter, which will help the company reach a diverse consumer base.
“Carol’s Daughter possesses an expertise in the multi-cultural consumer segment, a rapidly expanding market that represents an important growth opportunity in the beauty industry,” said Frederic Roze, president and CEO of L’Oreal USA. “This acquisition will enable L’Oreal USA to build a new dedicated multi-cultural beauty division as part of our Consumer Products business, and strengthen the company’s position in this dynamic market.”
Carol’s Daughter, which was founded in 1993 by Lisa Price, will continue with its current leadership team, based out of its New York City headquarters.
“L’Oreal has a proven track record of helping established companies achieve their full potential while staying true to the core of the brand and they have an understanding of the future of multi-cultural beauty. I could not be more proud to begin this next chapter of the Carol’s Daughter brand with them,” said Price in a statement.
In May, Carol’s Daughter announced the closing of five store locations as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Many at the time questioned the financial health of the company. Price addressed those questions directly in a Facebook post.
“It is important to set the record straight. Carol’s Daughter is still going strong after twenty-one years and the future has never looked brighter. As part of our increased focus on new retail channels, we have decided to close five of our stores. This was portrayed as if we are having some challenges, but nothing could be further from the truth,” she wrote at the time.
“The nationwide Target launch this past March is an opportunity that very few companies receive. I am proud of that. I am also proud and blessed to have valuable partners, like HSN, Ulta and Sephora inside JC Penney. These partnerships have enabled me to distribute Carol’s Daughter in over 2,500 stores and on direct TV which is far beyond the reach of my living room in Brooklyn,” the letter continued.
Today’s sale is subject to the final regulatory approvals. Other financial details are undisclosed.
article by Tonya Garcia via madamenoire.com

Nigeria and Senegal Declared Free of Ebola Virus by World Health Organization

By goodblacknews on October 20, 2014

Screen Shot 2014-10-20 at 11.03.30 PMNigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.  WHO representative Rui Gama Vaz, speaking in the capital Abuja, said it was a “spectacular success story”.

Nigeria won praise for its swift response after a Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July.  The outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
An estimated 70% of those infected have died in those countries.  The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss how to strengthen their response to the threat posed by Ebola.
Speaking on the sidelines, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said he expected the meeting to appoint a co-ordinator to galvanize the EU’s response to the epidemic.
“My colleagues are unanimous in saying that this idea of a European co-ordinator for the fight against Ebola is a good idea. The name will be chosen in the coming days. I think it’s a very important step.”
European countries have committed more than 500m euros (£400m; $600m) but the UK is pressing to double that amount.
The money is being sought to help reinforce over-stretched healthcare systems in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and to mitigate the damage Ebola is doing to their economies.
Earlier, the Spanish government said a nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola outside West Africa had tested negative for the virus.
article via bbc.com

"Saturday Night Live" Writer Leslie Jones Becomes Show's Latest Cast Member

By goodblacknews on October 20, 2014
'Saturday Night Live' Adds New Cast

According to Variety.com, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” has added Leslie Jones, a member of its writing staff, to the cast.  She’ll begin in this role as regular performer starting with this week’s Jim Carrey-hosted episode.

The comedian was a contender in the search for a new cast member of color last fall. The spot went to Sasheer Zamata, but producers decided to bring Jones on as a writer.  Jones is the latest “SNL” cast member to be plucked from the writing staff.  Michael Che, the new Weekend Update co-anchor, was also upped from his spot as a writer earlier this season.
Jones has appeared several times on SNL’s Weekend Update segment, including one in the 40th season premiere, proving her onscreen chops. She also starred in her own comedy special, “Problem Child,” for Showtime.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (follow @lakinhutcherson)