TBS has enlisted Tiffany Haddish to host “Friday Night Vibes,” a weekly movie showcase that will feature wrap-around segments with the comedian and guests.
Haddish’s new venture with producer Reginald Hudlin was among a number of programming announcements unveiled Wednesday by WarnerMedia at the company’s annual upfront, including a plan to give HBO and HBO Max original series second-window airings on TNT and TBS. The shock of Monday’s news that WarnerMedia is set to spinoff of AT&T and merge with Discovery has greatly overshadowed the company’s programming announcements for its ad-supported cable networks.
But the upfront presentation that was scheduled long before Discovery and AT&T sealed the deal went ahead as planned, complete with remarks from WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who is expected to bolt after being unpleasantly surprised by the secret merger plan.
In its upfront pitch to advertisers, WarnerMedia referred to its linear general entertainment cable networks TBS, TNT and TruTV as “TNets,” a sign that the company is looking to program them as a block at times.
“The TNets have been invited into consumers’ homes for decades and our fans know they can continually turn to us for quality programming that fits their emotional need: a good time, a good laugh, or a thrill ride,” said Brett Weitz, general manager of TBS, TNT and TruTV.
In the summer, WarnerMeida said it would launch the “Front Row on TBS” and “Front Row on TNT” as programming blocks that will carry select titles from HBO Max platform. TBS’ lineup will include series “The Flight Attendant,” “Love Life,” “Close Enough” and “12 Dates of Christmas.” TNT will run DC superhero vehicle “Titans” docu-series “Class Action Park” and upcoming HBO Max original “Rich People Problems.”
“We know viewers discover content in a variety of ways, and with ‘Front Row’ we are giving more of them an opportunity to encounter our groundbreaking Max Originals,” said Tony Goncalves, exec VP and chief revenue officer for WarnerMedia. “To put it simply, we’re growing audience. That’s valuable to each and every one of our partners from distributors.”
Those programming umbrellas are designed to run with fewer commercials as a bid to keep viewers more engaged in the movie.
Haddish’s series is set to bow June 18 at 7:30 p.m. with 2015’s “Creed” followed by 2018’s “Creed 2.” The movie selections will emphasize artists from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. The wraparounds will feature Haddish interviewing celebrity guests as well as musical performances and a regular DJ. Haddish and Hudlin previously worked with TBS on the Tracy Morgan comedy “The Last O.G.”
Hudlin is executive producing with Phil Gurin of Gurin Co.
“I’ve wanted to work with Tiffany again since we did ‘The Last O.G.’ together, and ‘Friday Night Vibes’ is a place where we can celebrate great movies, play great music and hang out with funny and insightful guests. It’s the best way to spend your Friday night,” Hudlin said. “Let’s watch movies and have some fun,” Haddish enthused.
Separately, TBS said unscripted competition series “Wipeout” and “Fast Foodies” and scripted comedy “Chad” have been renewed for second seasons.
Oprah Winfrey and Sterling K. Brown at the 69TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Sunday, Sept. 17 , 2017 Photo by Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images
For this year’s Father’s Day OWN is premiering a new television special on June 15th dedicated to Dads titled, “Honoring Our Kings: Own Honors Black Fatherhood.” The special will be hosted by Oprah Winfrey and actor Sterling K. Brown and produced by (Emmys executive producer), Reginald Hudlin.
The two-hour special will feature conversations with everyday Dads, special messages from celebrity fathers and musical performances to celebrate fathers everywhere. “We want to honor the Black Kings who stand firm and proud in their role as a father, and celebrate the love and joy they bring to their families and communities,” said Oprah Winfrey to the press.
“Our intention at OWN – across all of our programming – is to authentically portray the real-life experiences of African Americans,” said Tina Perry, president of OWN. “We know, and our viewers know, the way Black fathers show up for their families, and we are honored to welcome Sterling K. Brown to co-host this special program to celebrate these Black men.”
In September of 2020 OWN premiered “They Call Me Dad,” an inspirational one-hour special that celebrated Black Fatherhood and the special bond Dads have with their children. That program featured Bishop T.D. Jakes, DJ D-Nice, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Franklin and NFL champ Malcolm Jenkins.
“Once again, [Oprah] knows exactly where the culture needs to go,” explains executive producer Hudlin. “There are so many Black Dads who give their all for their families who are never represented in the media. Sterling and I always compare notes on what’s best for our kids, and it’s wonderful to be able to take that conversation nationwide and replace inaccurate stereotypes with inspirational truths.”
“The greatest role of my life happened 10 years ago when I became a father for the first time,” said Sterling K Brown, co-host and Executive Producer. “I am honored to celebrate these exceptional men who are my ‘Brothers in Fatherhood’, and continue to shift the national perception of Black fathers.” Known for his Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Randall Pearson on NBC’s “This Is Us,” Brown also protrayed Erik Killmonger’s (Michael B. Jordan) father, Prince N’Jobu, in the Academy Award-winning Marvel film, Black Panther. Off screen Brown is married to actress Ryan Michelle Bath, with whom he has two boys, Amaré and Andrew. “This project is a testament to the consciousness, empathy and leadership Oprah Winfrey has shown over the course of her life. And to also have Sterling K. Brown, who is the definition of strength and positivity as a Black man/father, additionally leading the way, makes this truly a dream project,” said Byron Phillips, also Executive Producer of the program.
“Honoring Our Kings: Own Honors Black Fatherhood,” will air on June 15th at 9:00 p.m. ET. The special is produced by Hudlin Entertainment and The Gurin Company. Executive produced by Reginald Hudlin, Byron Phillips, Phil Gurin, Oprah Winfrey, Sterling K. Brown and Tara Montgomery.
EXCLUSIVE: STXfilms has set F. Gary Gray to direct Vin Diesel in the action-comedy Muscle, which will be Gray’s next film and will shoot later this year. Reginald Hudlin and Byron Phillips are producing alongside Diesel and Samantha Vincent for One Race Films. Gray will be executive producer through his Fenix Studios banner.
Diesel and Gray developed a rapport making 2017’s The Fate of the Furious, a film that grossed more than $1.2 billion in global box office. The latest draft of Muscle is by John Swetnam and Malcolm Spellman. The original script was written by Scott Taylor & Wesley Jermaine Johnson. The film’s log line is being kept under wraps.
“There are few directors who can match Gary’s skill with character, comedy and big action, which is why he is one of the most accomplished and in-demand directors working today,” said Adam Fogelson, chairman of STXfilms Motion Picture Group. “Over the years, Vin and I have worked together on a number of hit movies, and it’s a thrill to reteam Vin and Gary after their billion-dollar success on The Fate of the Furious. This will become one of the most eagerly anticipated films on our slate.”
Diesel also starred in Gray’s 2003 action thriller A Man Apart.
Muscle will be overseen by STX’s Drew Simon and Kevin Sauer. Straight Outta Compton helmer Gray, who is also developing to direct Saints Row, and M.A.S.K. for Paramount and Hasbro, is repped by UTA and attorney Nina Shaw; Diesel, who’ll next be seen starring in the ninth film in the Fast & Furious franchise and is coming off Bloodshot, is repped by CAA and Linden Entertainment.
Muscle adds to an STX slate that includes the Kristen Bell-Vince Vaughn-starrer Queenpins, a new action film directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, and Aubrey Plaza; The Marsh King’s Daughter, starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Neil Burger; American Sole, starring Pete Davidson, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Bad Bunny; the Jennifer Lopez starrer Godmother; the Dave Bautista starrer Universe’s Most Wanted; and the Chris Pine starrer Violence of Action.
