Larry Wilmore and Issa Rae have teamed to co-write a comedy series project for HBO, with Rae set to star. The project focuses on the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern day African-American woman. These are also themes Rae has tackled in her successful webseries, The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl. Wilmore will executive produce with 3 Arts, which manages both him and Rae, while Rae will co-executive produce.
Rae, recently named to Forbes’ “30 under 30” list, is writing a memoir/collection of personal essays to be published by HarperCollins. Last season, she penned a comedy script for ABC and Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland. The Bernie Mac Show creator Wilmore, repped by United Talent Agency and attorney Tom Hoberman, is a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and recently did two interview specials for Showtime entitled Larry Wilmore’s Race, Religion And Sex. Rae is represented by UTA and John Meigs Jr.
article by Nellie Andreeva via deadline.com
Posts tagged as “Issa Rae”
ASPiRE, the new television network from Magic Johnson Enterprises that promised, at the time of its launch, an “entertaining and inspiring mix of original and groundbreaking programming,” with the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Omari Hardwick, Esperanza Spalding and Jonathan Slocumb set to host prime-time series blocks focused on movies, comedy, original series, and music, has greenlit it first talk show, according to Variety.
Titled Exhale, the new network’s entry into the talkshow space is said to be similar to The View, and will be hosted by five African-American women in media: journalist Angela Burt-Murray, actress and comedian Erin Jackson, Issa Rae (“The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”), author and TV anchor Rene Syler, and actress Malinda Williams.
Content will include conversation on the usual topics – family, relationships, career, money and faith. Exhale, which is ASPiRE’s 3rd original series, will be produced by Lynne Robinson and Black Robin Media. Shooting has already begun for what will be an 8-episode first run set to debut in June.
“We are thrilled to add ‘Exhale’ to our lineup of original programming,” said the ASPiRE GM Paul Butler. “This fresh, hip and candid new series will enlighten audiences with its broad range of topics relevant to the community.”
ASPiRE, launched in June 2012, was selected by Comcast from among over 100 candidates as one of four new minority-owned independent networks, and expectations are that the new network will be available in 20 to 30 million homes by the end of this year.
article by Tambay A. Obenon via indiewire.com
Deadline.com reported today that “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” creator/Executive Producer Shonda Rhimes is expanding the reach of her Shondaland banner into half-hour comedy and hour-long dramedy at ABC. Rhimes and her producing partner, Betsy Beers, have set up “I Hate L.A. Dudes,” written by “The Misadventures Of An Awkward Black Girl” creator and star Issa Rae and “The Mix,” by John Hoffman (“Igor”). For more details, click here: Shonda Rhimes’ Sells Talk Show Dramedy & Comedy Project To ABC.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson