Peacock Announces Season 3 Of 'Mr. Mercedes'

Based on the best-selling Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch) by Stephen King, MR. MERCEDES returns for its much-anticipated third season. When beloved local author John Rothstein is found murdered, Hodges, Holly, and Jerome, along with local police, must track down his killer. But this case is more complex than the cold-blooded killing of an American icon. Unpublished novels of Rothstein’s were stolen from his home, and they are worth millions. As the case unfolds, the trio learns that although Brady Hartsfield may be gone, his depravity lives on in the lives of his victims.

Season three of MR. MERCEDES premieres on Thursday, March 4 on Peacock. All 10 episodes will drop at once. Seasons one and two are now streaming on Peacock.

MR. MERCEDES season three cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Justine Lupe, Jharrel Jerome, Breeda Wool, Holland Taylor, Kate Mulgrew, Gabriel Ebert, Maximiliano Hernandez, Rarmian Newton, Josh Daugherty, Claire Bronson, Brett Gelman, Bruce Dern, Glynn Turman, Natalie Paul, Patch Darragh, and Meg Steedle.

MR. MERCEDES is produced by Sonar Entertainment and Temple Hill Entertainment.

David E. Kelley wrote and executive produced season three with Stephen King, along with executive producer Jonathan Shapiro. Jack Bender serves as director and executive producer.

The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards Announced

The nominations for the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced Wednesday morning.

The announcement took place virtually, with previous Golden Globe winners Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P. Henson hosting. It aired at 5:35 a.m. PT on NBC's Today. 

Nominees were announced across 25 categories encompassing film and TV. Overall, Netflix leads all networks and streamers with a total of 42 nominations — 22 in film (followed by Amazon Studios with seven) and 20 in TV (followed by HBO with seven).

The Golden Globe nominations announcement comes a day after it was revealed that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return as hosts of the ceremony. 

The show will be bicoastal for the first time in history, with the duo splitting duties from their respective home bases. Fey will be in New York at the Rainbow Room, and Poehler will host from inside the Beverly Hilton, where the show is typically held. Nominees are expected to appear from various locations around the world.

This will mark Fey and Poehler's fourth time hosting the Golden Globes; they previously served as hosts for three consecutive years, from 2013-15.

This year's Golden Globe Awards ceremony airs live Sunday, Feb. 28, at 5 p.m. PT on NBC. (The show is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is also a division of MRC.)

Best Motion Picture, Drama

The Father

Mank

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

The Trial of the Chicago 7 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Gary Oldman, Mank

Tahar Rahim, The Mauritanian

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Hamilton

Music

Palm Springs

The Prom

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Kate Hudson, Music

Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit

Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot

Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

James Corden, The Prom

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton

Dev Patel, The Personal History of David Copperfield

Andy Samberg, Palm Springs

Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman, The Father

Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian

Amanda Seyfried, Mank

Helena Zengel, News of the World

Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Jared Leto, The Little Things

Bill Murray, On the Rocks

Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami

Best Director, Motion Picture

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

David Fincher, Mank

Regina King, One Night in Miami

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Jack Fincher, Mank

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Florian Zeller and  Christopher Hampton, The Father

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Best Motion Picture, Animated

The Croods: A New Age

Onward

Over the Moon

Soul

Wolfwalkers

Best Picture, Foreign Language

Another Round

La Llorona

The Life Ahead

Minari

Two of Us 

Best Original Score, Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky

Ludwig Göransson, Tenet

James Newton Howard, News of the World

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Mank

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste, Soul

Best Original Song, Motion Picture

"Fight for You," Judas and the Black Messiah

"Hear My Voice," The Trial of the Chicago 7

"Is Si (Seen)," The Life Ahead

"Speak Now," One Night in Miami

"Tigress & Tweed," The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Best Television Series, Drama

The Crown

Lovecraft Country

The Mandalorian

Ozark

Ratched

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Olivia Colman, The Crown

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve

Emma Corrin, The Crown

Laura Linney, Ozark

Sarah Paulson, Ratched

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Jason Bateman, Ozark

Josh O'Connor, The Crown

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Al Pacino, Hunters

Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason

Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy

Emily in Paris

The Flight Attendant

The Great

Schitt's Creek

Ted Lasso

Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy

Lily Collins, Emily in Paris

Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant

Elle Fanning, The Great

Jane Levy, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek

Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy

Don Cheadle, Black Monday

Nicholas Hoult, The Great

Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Ramy Youssef, Ramy

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Normal People

The Queen's Gambit

Small Axe

The Undoing

Unorthodox

Best Performance by an Actress, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People

Shira Haas, Unorthodox

Nicole Kidman, The Undoing

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit

Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Bryan Cranston, Your Honor

Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule

Hugh Grant, The Undoing

Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird

Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

Best Supporting Actress, Television

Gillian Anderson, The Crown

Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Julia Garner, Ozark

Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek

Cynthia Nixon, Ratched

Best Supporting Actor, Television

John Boyega, Small Axe

Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule

Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek

Jim Parsons, Hollywood

Donald Sutherland, The Undoing

"She's The Boss' Set To Premiere February 25

 

USA Network welcomes entrepreneurial power-player, Nicole Walters, and her family to its air when the new docu-comedy “She’s The Boss” premieres on Thursday, February 25 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, joining USA’s growing unscripted lineup.

“She’s The Boss” follows Nicole Walters, an ambitious, jet-setting entrepreneur who runs a multi-million dollar marketing empire, and her husband, Josh Walters, a quirky and devoted stay-at-home lawyer. The modern-day family is made complete with the couples’ three lovely adopted daughters and Eddie, Nicole’s over-the-top executive assistant and best friend. Although Nicole has conquered the business world, she and Josh are learning on-the-fly that parenthood isn’t always as easy as it seems, and the Walters work to juggle family, careers, obstacles, laughter, and love. Faced with the never-ending entrepreneur laundry list and all the demands that come with being a wife and mother of three, can Nicole learn to find the perfect balance and truly have it all?

The series is produced by Line By Line Media and executive produced by Justin Tucker, Amanda Scott, Sam Sarkoob, and Bob Unger.

 In addition to “She’s The Boss,” USA’s unscripted roster includes family docu-comedies “Chrisley Knows Best,” “Growing Up Chrisley” and “The Rev,” WWE-related series “Miz & Mrs.” and “Straight Up Steve Austin,” and the buzzy “Temptation Island” reboot.

'One Night In Miami' Cast Talks About The Film

 

The cast of 'One Night In Miami'

By Darlene Donloe

Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, and Cassius Clay walk into a motel room and what ensues is pure magic.  

That’s the premise of the much-ballyhooed fictionalized drama, ‘One Night In Miami,’ which takes place February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, right after Clay wins the heavyweight championship against Sonny Liston.  It’s the same night he decides to officially become a Muslim, join the Nation of Islam and eventually become known as the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Most of the film takes place in a motel room. The story spans what happened before and after Clay’s championship fight.

The audience is like a fly on the wall observing what goes on naturally between four larger than life, extremely famous, black men who are at their core, good friends and just want to get together, celebrate Clay’s win, and have a good time with each other. 

As friends, they laugh and rib each other, but most of all they are fearless when it comes to challenging each other’s views on everything including the present and future of Black America. It’s not always pretty with each man unleashing a sometimes merciless barrage of ‘truths.’

The movie, adapted from a one-room play, is Regina King’s directorial debut and by all accounts, she nailed it. It's full of thought-provoking moments and memorable performances from an exceptional cast.

I recently caught up with the cast, director, and screenwriter who were all eager to talk about the captivating film. 

The film, directed by King and adapted by screenwriter Kemp Powers, stars Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown), Eli Goree (Cassius Clay), Leslie Odom Jr. (Sam Cooke), and Kingsley Ben-Adir (Malcolm X).

Q: This started with a stage play. How did you expand on that world to make this movie version? 

POWERS: I wanted to retain the theme of the stage play. I’m not precious about my own writing.  Everything else was open to being reimagined. We don’t even get to a moment that exists in the play until 45 minutes into the movie.

Q: What did you think of the reimaging, Regina?  What are some of them?

KING: The script was our Bible. It was on the page. It brought us to the table to be a part of it. We all had to audition for the job. I understood Kemp’s intention with the play and screenplay. Through vulnerability you find strength. It was me trying to push that theme even further. Expanding the prayer scene and creating moments with Malcolm where we got to see him as a father. Also, we made some choices to remove some scenes that didn't play through ‘vulnerability you find strength’ theme.  That allowed us to really dig in and capture that. What’s beautiful about the performances is, each actor understood how important the nuance moments were.

Q: Hodge, how did you come to the project? Any reservations about playing the icon Jim Brown? 

HODGE: Regina is right. We all had to audition. I had reservations because when you’re stepping into the shoes of someone who has accomplished great feats that affected your life, you want to be ready to pay homage to the person. Plus, he’s still here. He’s going to see this. Whatever I put down, it had to reflect what he thought was an honest journey.  You gotta find the honest thread of who the person is.  We worked on it daily. I was nervous, but I had help in Regina. Kemp – the words were right there and the work ethic on the fellas eased my fears.

Q: How much research did you do, Eli? When did you know it’s time to step back?

GOREE: When we wrapped. It was a long preparation process. I was going to do a play. When I was preparing that’s when I found out Regina was looking for a Cassius. There was never a time I felt that I got it. It was about being reverent. I was playing the greatest athlete of all time.

Q: Same question to you Leslie Odom.

ODOM JR: The music was a real gift for me. It was the doorway for me. It's a psychological profile on who they are. Once you marry our research with listening to the recordings, you learn more. It starts to make sense. I had to go in and recreate some of the needle drops.  I recorded “You Send Me” and “For Sentimental Reasons”. That process of listening and trying to get as close as I could, that process brought me closer to Sam. That, and watching videos. The music was the most beneficial. 

Q: Was there time to rehearse the chemistry you all had in the film?

BEN-ADIR: I think the chemistry I believe that it came down to the fact that we had Regina directing us. We were allowed to play and figure out. It was a wonderful opportunity to flow together and play together and never feel bombarded with too many technical things. Regina, because she understood what we needed, we benefited from that. We were in a relaxed flow state. We got to shoot a whole movie and stay in a rehearsal state. It was a unique experience for me. We didn't know each other at all.

Q: Was that a product of her being a performer?

BEN-ADIR: One hundred percent. It took an actor to cast me in a leading role. It took an actor to cast me in a leading role. We connected as actors. Her understanding of truth. I’ve never had the pleasure of working with someone so in tune with humanity. It was all vulnerable. It’s about real human behavior. It was like an extended rehearsal.  Staying in that state of play. It's a constant discovery, a bottomless state of ideas. You trust and let go fully. If you cant do that, you don't get this film.  

Q: How was the process - being in a confined space with limited movement and angles?

KING: We made creative choices that weren’t authentic. If we had kept it the actual size, we would have suffocated. I’m one of these people, I have to build a story in my head. If someone asked a question, I would always have an answer. The Hampton house made a suite out of two rooms for important people who came to stay. We would have the depth when I needed it and also be able to be claustrophobic when we needed to.  We had a table read and then a rehearsal the night before all of the men were in the room. I didn’t want to over-rehearse. It came down to everybody being on board. Everyone had to know the script well. This was a band. 

This quartet of musicians understood we only have this much time to make this song sing.   Everyone was game to go that extra mile.

NAACP Image Awards Releases Nominations

By Darlene Donloe

The NAACP Image Awards released its nominations on February 2 with several top films taking center stage. 

There are multiple nods for 'Soul,' 'Da 5 Bloods,' 'One Night in Miami,' 'The Banker' and 'Sylvie's Love'; TV series 'Insecure,' 'Lovecraft Country,' 'P-Valley,' 'Little Fires Everywhere'; 'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel'; and the filmed version of 'Hamilton.'

The Netflix holiday movie, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, earned 10 nominations, the most of any film. 

Other top film nominees include Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Soul (nine nominations each with Ma Rainey star Viola Davis also up for Entertainer of the Year), Da 5 Bloods and Sylvie's Love (five nods each), and four-time nominees One Night in Miami, The Banker and Hamilton, the filmed version of the hit Broadway musical that debuted on Disney+ over the summer. One Night in Miami director Regina King is also up for Entertainer of the Year.

Best Motion Picture nods went to Jingle Jangle, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey, Bad Boys for Life, and One Night in Miami.

On the TV side, Black-ish leads with 11 nominations, followed by Lovecraft Country with eight nods, Insecure with seven, P-Valley and The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel with six each, and Little Fires Everywhere with five nods.

Entertainer of the Year nominees includes D-Nice, Viola Davis, Regina King, Trevor Noah, and Tyler Perry. Social Justice Impact award nominees are April Ryan, Debbie Allen, LeBron James, Stacey Abrams, and Tamika Mallory.

Beyoncé was nominated for seven awards, six in the music categories. 

Netflix has 48 nominations, followed by HBO with 25 nods.

“We are excited to recognize and celebrate this year’s nominees, who at times throughout this unprecedented year have provided moments of levity, brought our communities together, and lifted our spirits through culture when we needed it the most,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

The NAACP Image Awards — recognizing the achievements of people of color in TV, music, literature and film and those who promote social justice through creative endeavors — is set to air live on BET and across ViacomCBS' networks including CBS, VH1, and MTV on Saturday, March 27 at 8 p.m., with winners in non-televised categories set to be announced virtually March 22-26.

Below is a complete list of this year's Image Awards nominees.

SPECIAL AWARD CATEGORIES

Social Justice Impact

April Ryan

Debbie Allen

Lebron James

Stacey Abrams

Tamika Mallory

Entertainer of the Year

D-Nice

Regina King

Viola Davis

Trevor Noah

Tyler Perry

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series

#blackAF (Netflix)

Black-ish (ABC)

grown-ish (Freeform)

Insecure (HBO)

The Last O.G. (TBS)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson - Black-ish (ABC)

Cedric The Entertainer - The Neighborhood (CBS)

Don Cheadle - Black Monday (Showtime)

Idris Elba - In the Long Run (Starz)

Tracy Morgan - The Last O.G. (TBS)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Issa Rae - Insecure (HBO)

Folake Olowofoyeku - Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS)

Regina Hall - Black Monday (Showtime)

Tracee Ellis Ross - Black-ish (ABC)

Yara Shahidi - Grown-ish (Freeform)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)

Deon Cole - Black-ish (ABC)

Jay Ellis - Insecure (HBO)

Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Laurence Fishburne - Black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Jenifer Lewis - Black-ish (ABC)

Marsai Martin - Black-ish (ABC)

Natasha Rothwell - Insecure (HBO)

Tichina Arnold - The Neighborhood (CBS)

Yvonne Orji - Insecure (HBO)

Outstanding Drama Series

All Rise (CBS)

Bridgerton (Netflix)

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Jonathan Majors - Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Keith David - Greenleaf (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Nicco Annan - P-Valley (Starz)

Regé-Jean Page - Bridgerton (Netflix)

Sterling K. Brown - This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett - 9-1-1 (FOX)

Brandee Evans - P-Valley (Starz)

Jurnee Smollett - Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Simone Missick - All Rise (CBS)

Viola Davis - How To Get Away With Murder (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Clifford “Method Man” Smith - Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Delroy Lindo - The Good Fight (CBS All Access)

J. Alphonse Nicholson - P-Valley (Starz)

Jeffrey Wright - Westworld (HBO)

Michael Kenneth Williams - Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Adjoa Andoh - Bridgerton (Netflix)

Aunjanue Ellis - Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Lynn Whitfield - Greenleaf (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Mary J. Blige - Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Susan Kelechi Watson - This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special

Hamilton (Disney+)

Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)

The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special

Blair Underwood - Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Chris Rock - Fargo (FX)

Daveed Diggs - Hamilton (Disney+)

Leslie Odom, Jr. - Hamilton (Disney+)

Nnamdi Asomugha - Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special

Aunjanue Ellis - The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)

Kerry Washington - Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Michaela Coel - I May Destroy You (HBO)

Octavia Spencer - Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Tessa Thompson - Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

AM Joy: Remembering John Lewis Special (MSNBC)

Desus & Mero: The Obama Interview (Showtime)

The Color of Covid (CNN)

The New York Times Presents "The Killing of Breonna Taylor" (FX)

The Reidout (NBC)

Outstanding Talk Series

Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

Tamron Hall (Syndicated )

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

The Oprah Conversation (Apple TV+)

The Shop: Uninterrupted (HBO)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Iyanla: Fix My Life (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Shark Tank (ABC)

United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN)

Voices of Fire (Netflix)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)

8:46 (Netflix)

Black Is King (Disney+)

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion (HBO Max)

VERZUZ (APPLE TV)

Yvonne Orji: Momma I Made It! (HBO)

Outstanding Children’s Program

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (Netflix)

Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)

Family Reunion (Netflix)

Raven's Home (Disney Channel)

We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)

Alex R. Hibbert - The Chi (Showtime)

Lexi Underwood - Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Lyric Ross - This Is Us (NBC)

Marsai Martin - Black-ish (ABC)

Miles Brown - Black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Don Lemon - CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (CNN)

Jada Pinkett Smith - Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

Joy Reid - The Reidout (NBC)

LeBron James - The Shop: Uninterrupted (HBO)

Trevor Noah - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Alfonso Ribeiro - America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC)

Iyanla Vanzant - Iyanla: Fix My Life (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Steve Harvey - Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

W. Kamau Bell - United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN)

RuPaul - RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)

Outstanding Guest Performance - Comedy or Drama Series

Chris Rock - Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Courtney B. Vance - Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Dave Chappelle - Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Issa Rae - Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Loretta Devine - P-Valley (Starz)

Outstanding Animated Series

Big Mouth (Netflix)

Central Park (Apple TV+)

Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Netflix)

Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Aisha Tyler - Archer (FX)

Courtney B. Vance - Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (PBS)

Dawnn Lewis - Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access)

Deon Cole - Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Netflix)

Laya DeLeon Hayes - Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior)

Outstanding Short-Form Series - Comedy or Drama

#FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

CripTales (BBC America)

Lazor Wulf (Adult Swim)

Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)

Sincerely, Camille (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form Series

Giancarlo Esposito - The Broken and the Bad (AMC.com )

J.B. Smoove - Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)

Jasmine Cephas Jones - #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Laurence Fishburne - #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Stephan James - #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Outstanding Short-Form Series - Reality/Nonfiction

American Masters - Unladylike2020 (PBS)

Benedict Men (Quibi)

Between The Scenes - The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

In The Making (PBS)

Inspire Change Series (NFL Network)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Katori Hall - P-Valley (Starz)

Keith Knight - Woke (Hulu)

Ramy Youssef - Ramy (Hulu)

Raynelle Swilling - Cherish the Day (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Teri Schaffer - Cherish the Day (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding New Artist

Chika - High Rises (Warner Records)

Doja Cat - Say So (RCA Records/Kemosabe )

D Smoke - Black Habits (WoodWorks Records / EMPIRE)

Giveon - When It's All Said And Done (Epic Records)

Skip Marley - Higher Place (Island Records/ Tuff Gong Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

Big Sean - Detroit 2 (Def Jam Recordings/G.O.O.D Music)

Black Thought - Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able (Republic Records)

Charlie Wilson - All of My Love (P Music Group/BMG)

Drake - Laugh Now, Cry Later (Republic Records)

John Legend - Bigger Love (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Beyoncé - Black Parade (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

H.E.R. - I Can't Breathe (RCA Records/MBK Entertainment)

Jazmine Sullivan - Lost One (RCA Records)

Ledisi - Anything For You (Listen Back Entertainment/BMG)

Alicia Keys - Alicia (RCA Records)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

I Can't Breathe - H.E.R. (RCA Records/MBK Entertainment)

Anything For You - Ledisi (Listen Back Entertainment/BMG)

Black is King - Beyonce´ (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Brown Skin Girl - Beyonce' feat WizKid, SAINt JHN, Blu Ivy Carter (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Do It - Chloe x Halle (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Outstanding Album

Alicia - Alicia Keys (RCA Records)

b7 - Brandy (Brand Nu/eOne)

Bigger Love - John Legend (Columbia Records)

Chilombo - Jhené Aiko (Def Jam Recordings)

The Wild Card - LEDISI (Listen Back Entertainment/BMG)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Music from the Netflix Film) - Branford Marsalis (Milan)

Insecure: Music from the HBO Original Series - Various Artists (Atlantic Records)

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey - Various Artists (Atlantic Records )

Soul Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste and Tom MacDougall (Walt Disney Records)

The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack - Donald Lawrence (Relevé Entertainment)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

Chosen Vessel - Marvin Sapp (RCA Inspiration)

Gospel According to PJ - PJ Morton (Morton Inspiration / Tyscot Records)

I Am - Koryn Hawthorne (RCA Inspiration)

Kierra - Kierra Sheard (Karew/RCA Inspiration)

The Return - The Clark Sisters (Karew/Motown)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

All in His Plan - PJ Morton (Morton Inspiration / Tyscot Records)

Never Lost - CeCe Winans (Pure Springs Gospel)

Something Has To Break - Kierra Sheard feat. Tasha Cobbs-Leonard (Karew/RCA Inspiration)

Strong God - Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA Records)

Touch from You - Tamela Mann (TillyMann Inc.)

Outstanding Jazz Album - Instrumental

Be Water - Christian Sands (Mack Avenue Music Group)

Music From and Inspired By Soul - Jon Batiste (Walt Disney Records)

Omega - Immanuel Wilkins (Blue Note Records)

Reciprocity - George Burton (Inner Circle Music)

The Iconoclast - Barry Stephenson (Independent)

Outstanding Jazz Album - Vocal

Donny Duke and Wonder - Nathan Mitchell (ENM Music Group)

Holy Room - Live at Alte Oper - Somi (Salon Africana)

Pulling Off The Covers - Mike Phillips (Sono Recording Group)

Stronger - Jeff Bradshaw (Bone Deep Enterprises)

The Eddy (From The Netflix Original Series) - The Eddy (Arista Records)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

I Can't Breathe - H.E.R. (RCA Records/MBK Entertainment)

Anything For You - LEDISI (Listen Back Entertainment/BMG)

B.S. feat. H.E.R - Jhené Aiko (Def Jam Recordings)

Black Parade - Beyonce' (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Do It - Chloe x Halle (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song

Deep Reverence feat. Nipsey Hussle - Big Sean (Brand Nu/eOne)

Savage Remix - Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé (300 Entertainment / 1501 Certified Ent. LLC)

Cool Off - Missy Elliott (Atlantic Records)

Laugh Now, Cry Later - Drake (Republic Records)

Life Is Good - Future & Drake (Epic Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

Alicia Keys feat. Jill Scott - Jill Scott (RCA Records)

Chloe x Halle - Wonder What She Thinks Of Me (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis feat. Babyface - He Don't Know Nothin' Bout It (BMG)

Kem feat. Toni Braxton - Live Out Your Love (Motown Records)

Ledisi and PJ Morton - Anything For You (Listen Back Entertainment/BMG)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Alicia Keys feat. Khalid - So Done (RCA Records)

Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hussle - Deep Reverence (Def Jam Recordings/G.O.O.D Music)

Chloe x Halle - Do It (Columbia Record/ Parkwood)

Jhené Aiko feat. H.E.R. - B.S. (Def Jam Recordings)

Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé - Savage Remix (300 Entertainment / 1501 Certified Ent. LLC)

Outstanding International Song

Blessed - Buju Banton (Roc Nation Records)

Lockdown - Original Koffee (Promise Land Recordings)

Pressure (Remix) - Original Koffee feat. Buju Banton (Promise Land Recordings)

Tanana - Davido feat. Tiwa Savage (RCA Records/Sony Music U.K./Davido Worldwide Entertainment)

Temptation - Tiwa Savage (Motown Records)

Outstanding Producer of the Year

Donald Lawrence

Hit-Boy

Jathan Wilson

Sean Keys

TM88

LITERATURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction

Black Bottom Saints - Alice Randall (HarperCollins Publishers)

Lakewood - Megan Giddings (HarperCollins Publishers)

Riot Baby - Tochi Onyebuchi (TorDotCom Publishing, imprint of Tom Doherty Associates)

The Awkward Black Man - Walter Mosley (Grove Atlantic)

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett (Riverhead Books)

Outstanding Literary Work - Nonfiction

A Black Women’s History of the United States - Daina Berry (Beacon Press)

A Promised Land - Barack Obama (Crown)

Driving While Black - Gretchen Sorin (W. W. Norton & Company)

Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America - Michael Eric Dyson (St. Martin's Press)

We're Better Than This - Elijah Cummings (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author

A Knock at Midnight - Brittany Barnett (Penguin Random House)

Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World - Cole Brown (Skyhorse)

Lakewood - Megan Giddings (HarperCollins Publishers)

The Compton Cowboys - Walter Thompson-Hernandez (HarperCollins Publishers)

We're Better Than This - Elijah Cummings (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/Autobiography

A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team - Arshay Cooper (Macmillan)

A Promised Land - Barack Obama (Crown)

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice - Deborah Draper (Simon & Schuster)

The Dead Are Arising - Les Payne, Tamara Payne (W. W. Norton & Company)

Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player - Willie O'Ree (Penguin Canada)

Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional

Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Space - Valerie Harrison (Temple University Press)

Living Lively - Haile Thomas (HarperCollins Publishers)

The Black Foster Youth Handbook - Ángela Quijada-Banks (Soulful Liberation)

The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith--Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally - Kimberla Lawson Roby (Lenox Press)

Vegetable Kingdom - Bryant Terry (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry

Homie - Danez Smith (Graywolf Press)

Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry - John Murillo (Four Way Books)

Seeing the Body - Rachel Eliza Griffiths (W. W. Norton & Company)

The Age of Phillis - Honorée Jeffers (Wesleyan University Press)

Un-American - Hafizah Geter (Wesleyan University Press)

Outstanding Literary Work - Children

I Promise - LeBron James, Nina Mata (HarperCollins)

Just Like a Mama - Alice Faye Duncan, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Simon & Schuster)

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice - Nikki Grimes, Laura Freeman (Simon & Schuster)

She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm - Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez (Lee & Low Books)

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver - Gene Barretta, Frank Morrison (HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens

Before the Ever After - Jacqueline Woodson (Penguin Random House)

Black Brother, Black Brother - Jewell Parker Rhodes (Hachette Book Group)

Dear Justyce - Nic Stone (Crown Books for Young Readers)

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning - Jason Reynolds (Hachette Book Group )

This is Your Time - Ruby Bridges (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Motion Picture

Bad Boys For Life (Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

One Night In Miami… (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Anthony Mackie - The Banker (Apple)

Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Delroy Lindo - Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

Forest Whitaker - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Will Smith - Bad Boys For Life (Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Issa Rae - The Photograph (Universal Pictures)

Janelle Monáe - Antebellum (Lionsgate)

Madalen Mills - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Tracee Ellis Ross - The High Note (Focus Features)

Viola Davis - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Aldis Hodge - One Night In Miami... (Amazon Studios)

Chadwick Boseman - Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

Clarke Peters - Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

Colman Domingo - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Glynn Turman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Anika Noni Rose - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Gabourey Sidibe - Antebellum (Lionsgate)

Nia Long - The Banker (Apple)

Phylicia Rashad - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Taylour Paige - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

Emperor (Universal Home Video)

Farewell Amor (IFC Films)

Miss Juneteenth (Vertical Entertainment)

The 24th (Vertical Entertainment)

The Banker (Apple)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

Ainu Mosir (ARRAY)

His House (Netflix)

Night of the Kings (Neon)

The Last Tree (ArtMattan Productions)

The Life Ahead (La vita davanti a se) (Netflix)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Dayo Okeniyi - Emperor (Universal Home Video)

Dominique Fishback - Project Power (Netflix)

Jahi Di’Allo Winston - Charm City Kings (HBO Max)

Jahzir Bruno - The Witches (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Madalen Mills - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

The Banker (Apple)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

Onward (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Over the Moon (Netflix)

Scoob! (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Trolls World Tour (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - Motion Picture

Ahmir-Khalib Thompson aka Questlove - Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Angela Bassett - Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Chris Rock - The Witches (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Jamie Foxx - Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Phylicia Rashad - Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Short-Form. (Live Action)

Baldwin Beauty (Powderkeg Media)

Black Boy Joy (Film Independent Project Involve )

Gets Good Light

Home

Mr. & Mrs. Ellis (AMB Productions)

Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

Canvas (Netflix)

Cops and Robbers (Netflix)

Loop (Pixar Animation Studios)

The Power of Hope (The Power Of Hope)

Windup (Unity Technologies)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Loira Limbal - Through the Night (Third Shift Media, Inc.)

Melissa Haizlip - Mr. Soul! (Shoes In The Bed Productions)

Nadia Hallgren - Becoming (A Higher Ground Productions and Big Mouth Productions Film for Netflix)

Radha Blank - The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)

Remi Weekes - His House (Netflix)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

All In: The Fight For Democracy (Amazon Studios)

Coded Bias (7th Empire Media)

John Lewis: Good Trouble (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)

Mr. Soul! (Shoes in the Bed Productions)

On the Record (HBO Max)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

And She Could Be Next (PBS)

Black Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)

The Last Dance (ESPN / Netflix)

Unsung (TV One)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Issa Rae - Insecure - "Lowkey Feelin' Myself" (HBO)

Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon - Little America - "The Rock" (Apple TV+)

Michaela Coel - I May Destroy You - "Ego Death" (HBO)

Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher - Never Have I Ever "Pilot" (Netflix)

Rajiv Joseph - Little America - "The Manager" (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Attica Locke - Little Fires Everywhere - "The Spider Web" (Hulu)

Erika L. Johnson, Mark Richard - The Good Lord Bird - "A Wicked Plot" (Showtime)

Jessica Lamour - Little Voice - "Love Hurts" (Apple TV+)

Katori Hall - P-Valley - "Perpetratin'" (Starz)

Tanya Barfield - Mrs. America - "Shirley" (FX)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, D. Rodney Carter, Emily Goldwyn, Rob Haze, Zuri Salahuddin, Bennett Webber, Evan Williams, Will Miles - Sherman's Showcase Black History Month Spectacular (IFC)

Eugene Ashe - Sylvie's Love (Amazon Studios)

Geri Cole - The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)

Lin-Manuel Miranda - Hamilton (Disney+)

Sylvia L. Jones, Camille Tucker - The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

David E. Talbert - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

Kemp Powers - One Night in Miami... (Amazon Studios)

Lee Isaac Chung - Minari (A24)

Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones - Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Radha Blank - The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

Mary Mazzio - A Most Beautiful Thing (Peacock)

Melissa Haizlip - Mr. Soul! (Maysles Documentary Center)

Nile Cone - The Beat Don't Stop (TV One)

Royal Kennedy Rodgers - Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (PBS)

Yoruba Richen, Elia Gasull Balada, Valerie Thomas - The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Anya Adams - Black-ish - "Hair Day" (ABC)

Aurora Guerrero - Little America - "The Jaguar" (Apple TV+)

Eric Dean Seaton – Black-ish - "Our Wedding Dre" (ABC)

Kabir Akhtar - Never Have I Ever - "… started a nuclear war" (Netflix)

Sam Miller, Michaela Coel - I May Destroy You - "Ego Death" (HBO)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Cheryl Dunye - Lovecraft Country - "Strange Case" (HBO)

Hanelle Culpepper - Star Trek: Picard - "Remembrance" (CBS All Access)

Misha Green - Lovecraft Country - "Jig-a-Bobo" (HBO)

Nzingha Stewart - Little Fires Everywhere - "The Uncanny" (Hulu)

Steve McQueen - Small Axe - "Mangrove" (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Emmanuel Adeji, Blitz Bazawule, Kwasi Fordjour - Black Is King (Disney+)

Christine Swanson - The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)

Chuck Vinson, Alan Muraoka - The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)

Eugene Ashe - Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)

Kamilah Forbes - Between The World And Me (HBO)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

David E. Talbert - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

George C. Wolfe - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)

Gina Prince-Bythewood - The Old Guard (Netflix)

Radha Blank - The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)

Regina King - One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

Keith McQuirter - By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (EPIX)

Muta'Ali - Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn (HBO)

Sam Pollard, Maro Chermayeff - Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2) (HBO)

Simcha Jacobovici - Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)

Yoruba Richen - The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)

NBC Sitcom 'Kenan' Set To Premiere February 16

By Darlene Donloe

Kenan Thompson is one of the most beloved cast members on the iconic NBC ensemble sketch comedy, Saturday Night Live (SNL). He is expanding his comedy repertoire this television season when he stars in ‘Kenan,’ a new NBC comedy set to premiere Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 p.m.  

On the show, Thompson plays a morning talk show personality, who is recently widowed and struggling to raise his two daughters, despite the help of his father-in-law and brother.

‘Kenan’ stars Thompson (KT), Don Johnson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, and Dani and Dannah Lane.  The show is executive produced by Davis Caspe, Jackie Clarke, and Ken Whittingham, who also directs.

Q: Process of getting to this point.

K: It was a long process. Me and Jackie (Clarke) talked over the summer. Wanted a show we hadn’t seen before. Trying to think of a new twist on a father figure.  Chris Rock was involved. That was good. Now we’ve stretched out to what it is now. Grateful to live with the material. We got some pretty great people in it. It’s been going how it goes.

Q: How are you making SNL and your new show work?  Are you still go back and forth?

KT: We’ve only done it once so far. We’ll see how it goes.  We’ll see how that turn around goes. I won’t be overly exhausted. We’ll hold each other up.

Q: David and Jackie: How is it to find an ensemble to nail that energy?

DC: Anyone in this cast could have their own show. I’m happy to be along for the ride. 

JC: It’s really, I couldn't ask for a better cast. We’re so lucky. They make our jobs so easy.

Q: Kenan, nobody has a career like you. You started as a teen. Did you ever think at this time you would be as busy as you are today?

KT: It’s always been a goal to stay busy and start working. I couldn’t have pictured it being the way it is, but I’m definitely enjoying the ride.  I couldn’t be prouder, let alone being tired. I’m in good company. 

Q: Don, what’s it like to be doing comedy after drama?

DJ: It’s amazingly joyful hard work. The good thing about it is, I get to work with these guys who are so good and such professionals. They pick me up and are supportive. I watch and say I have to keep up with that. 

Q: Keenan, you have worked with multi-cam. Are you planning a multi-cam? Do you miss not having an audience?

KT: It’s different. The show is designed to be different. No multi-cam with an audience. We have to find those moments and stretch out and make it work in single camera. We’re Scorcese out here.

Q: The final scene of the pilot. That is establishing a backstory of the family. How much more are we going to get over the course of a season?

JC: We’re establishing. When we have a mom that is deceased it drives me crazy that that’s a ghost. You are going to see her in flashbacks. The backstory is that they were teenagers on a sitcom called ‘Grownup Little Boy’. We’re playing with that a lot. You’ll see more of that.

Q: Why was it important to have her pass away, or divorces or something like that?

JC: My mom passed when I was little. I thought what if you have a guy like Keenan, the nicest guy in the world devoted to his daughters.

KT: It was something we hadn’t seen before. I hadn’t seen someone dealing with something like this. 

Q: Don, you got great reviews on Watchmen. Who would think you’d end up here?

DJ: It was at the beginning of the pandemic. They pulled the movie. I get a call from Loren Michaels. We’re friends. He said let me send you something. Then Kenan and I got on the phone. Instant chemistry. I am blessed working with these comedians and writers. 

Q: Kenan, can you compare Don Johnson to Kel Mitchell?

KT: I would have to mix Chris (Redd) in there. They stack up pretty solid. Anytime I’m given the straight man position I love to sink my teeth in that. One smells better than the other. I won’t say who that is. We are making good progress here. I couldn’t be happier. It’s fun when the three of us have the opportunity to be the children. 

Q: Kenan, do any of your personal experiences give you an affinity for your character?

KT: No, my only experience is watching from a distance how someone I know went through something like this. I’m terrified to go there. How would I feel if I lost my best friend, teammate?  I give it up to single parents. I have the utmost respect for single parents. 

Q: Is your comedy going to deal with social issues.

KT: I don't think we’re getting political necessarily.  We don't have to have a Black Lives Matter episode. We have a nice, strong African American cast. A family unit. Not just a one-sided family unit. We’re trying to reflect what we’ve seen in families.

Q: Kenan, what role does social media play in your creative process? Will it be important to check in weekly?

KT: Yeah, it’s good to always engage as long as it's positive feedback. We want to stay on tone. We put together a diverse enough writers room.  We want it to be positive.   We are going to rely on our own creativity. We’ll be checking in to satisfy certain issues.

NBC's 'Young Rock' Set To Premiere February 16

The cast of 'Young Rock'

By Darlene Donloe

Dwayne Johnson is letting it all hang out as he puts his life on display in the new NBC series, "Young Rock," set to debut Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.

The show takes a comedic look at Johnson's life during his formative years and centers on him growing up in a resilient family and surrounded by all the wild characters of professional wrestling, playing football at the University of Miami, and becoming the person he is today.

The show is executive produced by Johnson (DJ) and Nahnatchka Kahn (NK) and features cast members Adrian Groulx (AG), Bradley Constant (BC), Ana Tuisila (AT), Joseph Lee Anderson (JLA), Stacey Leilua (SL), and Uli Latukefu (UL).

I recently caught up with the executive producers and the cast to talk about the upcoming comedy.

Q: Dwayne and Nahnatchka, can you talk about being able to cast such wrestling legends as both within Dwayne’s family and whether we night see any actual wrestlers make cameos down the line.

NK: Yeah, it was an amazing and incredible challenge.  I want to give a shout-out to our casting directors Anya Coloff and Michael Nicolo because they killed it.  And it's a tall order.  It's iconic, legendary wrestlers we're talking about.                  

And Matt Willig playing André the Giant, Nate Jackson playing Junkyard Dog.  We have so many amazing wrestlers coming down the pipe that you don't even see in the pilot. We've got "Macho Man" Randy Savage. We've got Iron Sheik. We've got the Wild Samoans. We've got so many amazing characters, and I think that it was just part of the fun, really, of a show like this.  And, you know, it was a casting challenge and we were happy to fulfill it because I think those guys just crushed it.

DJ: And to add to what Nahnatchka was saying is, you know, from my perspective, it was truly a love letter to professional wrestling, which is a business that I grew up in and a business that I've loved all of my life and learned some of my most valuable, while very unorthodox, lessons coming out of the world of pro wrestling, so to be able to highlight and showcase these men who were, in essence, my superheroes.  They didn't wear capes when I was a little boy.  They were these men in the professional wrestling world.

And I will say that you know, of all the actors who we cast, all of them really, truly embodied these professional wrestlers. Because in many ways, this was the very first time you were seeing these wrestlers portrayed certainly in primetime.

And I will say that for Joseph Lee Anderson to play my dad in such an uncanny way and, not only that, but all of our actors were so committed to these roles.  As Nahnatchka was saying, it was a very tall order, especially for Joseph because he had to go from not being a professional wrestler to actually learning how to wrestle professionally, which is an incredibly difficult thing to do.  And my dad was a bad dude in the game, and he had a lot of charisma and he had tons of athletic ability, and Joseph really did a tremendous job.  I'm embarrassing him now, but I was really quite proud of not only Joseph but so proud of our entire cast.

Q: The premise makes it look like the show is going to be set in an interview format. Is that true?

NK: No. I think we’re going to be following candidate Johnson on his 2032 presidential campaign. So, for the course of Season 1, we’re going to be at different press events with him and Randall (Park) is going to try to get some insight into who Dwayne the man is in the future. But we also are going to have some other elements coming in and to sort of vary it up that way, but really following him on the campaign tour, on the campaign trail is what’s going to carry us through that 2032 timeline in Season 1.

Q: Dwayne, how important was it for you to subvert the perfect sitcom-dad trope and portray something that was really quite complicated and quite real?

DJ: The most important thing, two years ago, when I first sat down with Nahnatchka as well as Jeff, was to really understand why and what is the real reason why we're going to do this?  How can we create something for audiences that hopefully will entertain them, but also allow them with a bit of a takeaway afterward?  And once we had identified that and I felt good with that and comfortable with that, then we moved forward. So, to answer your question, I thought, well, I didn't -- let's not take the easy route.  My life, you know, we use these terms wild and crazy and there's such -- you know those are great sizzle words we use as we promote this thing, but it was incredibly complicated and it was incredibly tough growing up.  And, you know, we specifically went with these timelines in my life that were very defining times at 10 years old, 15, and 18.  And, again, if we are, universe willing, lucky enough to come back for another round of this thing, there's a lot of other things in between those years that took place. But it was complicated, and the relationship that I had with my dad was incredibly complicated, which was fueled by tough love. My dad was kicked out of his house at 13 and he was homeless, so that then shaped the man who then raised me. And in that complication, then came an extraordinary life that was full of travel.

I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old. I also lived in New Zealand. And we have -- there was so much breadth to this life that I had. And after sitting down with our creators and Natch specifically, and Jeff, and to figure out the right, creative pathway to get into that, but then not only that. But also, I think, to your point is really the willingness to rip some things open and realize that vulnerability is going to be one of those factors, but also, through that, I think, really, when I look back on this and I can reflect this, the series has really allowed in a way me to appreciate those hard times that much more.  Because through the brilliance of Nahnatchka and Jeff, they were able to craft something that still made audiences -- I hope and I think and fingers crossed -- feel a certain way and know that, you know, that we all go through these tough times.  And sometimes when we're going through tough times like this, sometimes when you're in it, you're in the bubble. Sometimes when you see somebody else going through it, it just adds.  It just gives a different perspective. It's almost like you take that “Kaleidescape” -- kaleidoscope, rather, and you just click it a few times and you see something in a different perspective.  So long story long, we didn't want to take the traditional route or the typical route of what you might think this could be.  But, still, let's talk about the complications. Let's reveal things.  But then also, very important, let's talk about the good stuff.  Because there was so much good stuff now when I look back at it and the good stuff of growing up in this wild world with these characters who are larger than life, who, all of these men and women.  My grandmother, who Ana Tuisila did such a tremendous job playing, she was one of the first pioneering women in the world of professional wrestling.  But all of these men, so successful what they did, but yet, interestingly enough, they played that role 24 hours a day.  Even if that meant they lived in small apartments.  Even if that meant they lived paycheck to paycheck.  So, there was this -- again, I look back with such profound gratitude that I'm able to share these stories.  So, again, very long story long, but it was –

And last thing, I will say this.  I've celebrated one year of the loss of my dad.  My dad died one year ago this month last year.         He died suddenly.  And he's obviously featured throughout the show, and Joseph Lee did a tremendous job playing my dad.    He would have loved this.  He would have loved this and he would have been so proud.  Because for the first time, certainly in primetime, we are showcasing this world that he and all of his brothers of the ring, so to speak, of those men in the '70s and the '80s, that they gave their life to and, you know, to showcase it like this and to showcase it through the lens of something that's positive I know would have meant a lot to my dad.  Because a lot of times the world of pro wrestling isn't always looked at through that lens in a positive way, and there's a lot of positive that we can take out of this.  So, thank you for asking the question.

NK: I just want to say, DJ, also that you are incredibly open and honest as a person, and the fact that you were willing to allow us to tell these kinds of stories, you know, and be a little vulnerable in moments, I think

that's really what I'm very proud of the show.  And it's like, yes, it's entertaining and it's funny hopefully, but also it feels real because it is real.  And, so, credit goes to you for that.

Q: What is the plan for future seasons of “Young Rock” from a casting perspective? The three guys playing Rock are going to age.

NK: We're going to do that, like, you know those face melds where you, like, meld two people, we're going to like morph.  Like, look at these two little faces right here, like, Adrian and Bradley. We're just going to -- we're going to create an uber-Dwayne once we meld them together. No.  I think that's a good question.  I think like Dwayne alluded to, his life is so big and there are so many stories to tell that, you know, I imagine there's even a season maybe pre-Adrian.  You know, there's more seasons to tell in Hawaii. There's a lot of places we can jump to in Dwayne's big book of life.  So, I think once we sort of determine these next stories and these next timelines we want to tell, I think that's going to be our kind of plan moving forward.

DJ: Yeah.  I think we have a real opportunity if we were to go on after this.  I mean, there is pre-Adrian, 5, 6, 7, 8, and, again, in this world.  And then, from 11, 12, 13, 14, those were my years where I was the star of getting arrested all the time, so, I mean, we have so many stories there.  And, of course, the University of Miami and playing there and then post-university Miami when I made the decision that I felt like I might have something to offer the world of pro wrestling and then we get into the WWE of it also.  There's a good amount of stuff.  All along, I'm bringing the fanny pack, though, guys. Don't you worry.  Nobody worry.  I'm bringing the fanny pack.

DJ: Talk about the importance of telling stories about these kinds of families?

NK: I mean, listen.  I think that so many of us from diverse backgrounds really appreciate and gravitate towards seeing ourselves reflected and our stories reflected on screen. And I think Dwayne -- Dwayne's upbringing forming who he is today is so, so crucial, and he'll be the first to tell you his family was everything and being able to really honor that.  I mean, we're following a road map.  And I think for us it was very important to get it right, to get the details right, and to get these stories on screen and to, you know, get characters that you haven't seen before featured in a way and centered in a way that they haven't been.

DJ: And, you know, yes, it was important for us to showcase diversity and -- but, also, it was important for us to be real and authentic and this, it is my life and it is who I am.  And I'm half Samoan and half Black and that combination and considering the families that came together in the world of pro wrestling. Where, as you see, we have the Iron Sheik from Iran.  We have André the Giant from France. We have the Junkyard Dog. We have my dad. We have the Wild Samoans from Samoa. And these are the ones that we just showcase in the pilot, and there's more to come down the road.

But I think the responsibility that we had as -- well, as the inspiration of the show but certainly, the creator with Nahnatchka is just to be authentic and make sure that we're authentic around every corner and everything felt real.  And we reached out to all of our wrestlers.  And the ones who are no longer here with us, reached out to their families and made sure that they knew that they were going to be portrayed in a positive way, because that was important to us, and to be authentic.

Q:  This question is for Adrian Bradley and Uli.  How did you stay in touch with each other to get the consistency of behaviors and ticks of doing accurately? And, how much coaching did Dwayne give you on how to play him?

BC: I think the coolest part was us all being there together.  We got to hang out. I and Adrian played plenty of Xbox together. There's plenty of dinners together, me and Uli and Adrian, and we got to know each other.  And once we kind of got a feel for how each other acted, that really gave a good insight into where we lean into going forward.  And, of course, DJ gave great insight into what it was like to be him at that age as well.

AG: I definitely agree with you.   Yeah, once we really got to know each other and we got used to each other's presence, we formed this bond to, like, sort of talk to each other on how we are going to play the role but still have our similarities.   And Dwayne did a really good job of coaching us on how to play the roles.

UL: Yeah. I mean, Dwayne was incredibly open and helpful with everything, really.  Made himself available at all hours.  So, he didn't really give any kind of guidance other than just to be true and have fun with the role, and I think that's -- you know, in terms of consistency, I think it's there.

DJ: And I will say this.  Now that I'm watching these three guys talk and I met with them all individually, spent time with them all individually, but never before have we all been on a Zoom together in this format, and it's so surreal when I sit back and I look at this.  I've got the kid who's playing me at 10 years old and that little, innocent boy who just needed guidance but who loved the world I was in.  I loved the bad guys of pro wrestlers, of pro wrestling. I love my dad.   He was my hero. Never understood that things were actually tougher than they appeared in terms of lifestyle.  I never knew.

And that's the blessing that I have with mom and dad, who never, you know, really hit me to what happened, to what was happening. And then now, I'm looking at Bradley at 15 and it's a kid who had some anger issues but also thought he was really cool. Clearly had an identity crisis.  I didn't want to be known as Dwayne when I moved from high school to high school. I called myself Tomas. Girls used to call the house and ask for Tomas and my mom would go, "I'm sorry. There's no Tomas here."  And I would run, "No, no, no, no, no.  That's me. That's me."  I'd get on the phone, "Hey. Yeah, hey, hey.  It's Tomas."  And she would be like, "What are you doing?" And then, of course, Uli at 18. I remember telling Uli, just remember, I was just so determined to make something of myself.  That was so important to me.

And, you know, these guys nailed it, so I'm just -- it's so surreal and I want to give these guys so much credit.  Never in my wildest dreams, number one, would I have ever had the career that I've been lucky enough to have.  I'm a lucky SOB to have this career.  Never did I ever think I'd be in this position where people are bringing to life people in my life and my loved ones.  So, these guys did such a tremendous job. And everyone too, by the way, I mean, when you look at it like Stacey, Leilua playing my mom. Really, truly, she is the rock of this entire thing. It all comes down to my mom, who, by the way, she's still going strong and she's here. And every time she sees a trailer or any one of these episodes, she starts crying and she's like, you know, "Don't take pictures of me ugly crying."  I'm like, "OK, mom." 

So anyway, I just had to give it up to this cast.

Q: Dwayne, you talk about there being tough times in your life. When you look back on your life when was the hardest time?

And then I wound up going to Nashville, Tenn. Then I went up -- then we were forced out of Nashville.  Then I went up to Bethlehem.  And as we were forced out of Nashville, that summer I had already just turned 15 years old.  We thought we were going to make a home in Tennessee. It didn't work out that way.  Things happen.  And then we left for Bethlehem, Penn.  So, within the course of about, you know, nine months, I was in three different cities, from Hawaii to Nashville then to Bethlehem.  And, you know, things were really -- there was a real instability in Bethlehem when we first got there.  So, I would say around that time period.

So, you know, I give Bradley, our actor, a lot of credit, because, as you saw in the pilot, it was important to me that I -- you know, I -- at that time, I was still -- I was still taking -- I was still stealing because I wanted to present myself in a way that truly wasn't me or that I thought people would want to see, so, you know, we go through all that stuff.  But, anyway, I would say that, around that time period, about 15. And then, you know, a few years later when I was -- I did not get called up to the NFL.  That was a pretty big loss because when you're done with your college career, you're done.  You don't get another shot at it.  You can't come back.  And there was no NFL for me. Instead, I went to the CFL, which we'll get into a little bit of that in this series. So that was a tough time too because then I was cut from the CFL.  And then that's when I had the infamous seven bucks in my pocket.  So, 15, I would say.  Then 22.

Q: Dwayne, how did you get the nickname Dewey?

DJ: So Dewey, when I was a little baby -- and I was born in the Bay Area, San Francisco area, Hayward, Calif., to be exact.  I was with my godparents and I was probably, from what I'm told, you know, 6 months old.  And my mom had said to my godmother, "Is his -- is he wet?  Is his diaper wet?"  And she goes, "No, he's just a little dewy." (Snap.) And in my existence for years, when my parents would come around in front of my girlfriends or friends or anyone, "Hey, Dewey."  It came automatically.  Because it's a name -- it's not like, you know, "That's a powerful name." Automatically, people were like, oh, God.