BET Plus Orders Dramedy Series ‘Birth Of Cool,’ Lena Waithe to Executive Produce

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Apple TV Plus has ordered a docuseries from the team behind “McMillion$,” Emmy-nominated filmmakers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, about the memorable 1996 TV commercial that advertised a Harrier Jet in exchange for seven million Pepsi points.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla OWN has ordered a new series from “Claws” showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois, “The Kings of Napa.” Barrois will executive produce alongside NAACP Image Award-winner Michelle Listenbee Brown and Oprah Winfrey. The series was created by Sherman Barrois under her exclusive multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros.

FX has ordered a limited series based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s New York Times bestselling debut novel Fleishman Is in Trouble. 

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered a limited series based on the Taffy Brodesser-Akner novel “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”Brodesser-Akner will serve as the writer and executive producer on the series, with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, and Susannah Grant also executive producing. ABC Signature is the studio, with Timberman-Beverly currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Chris Willman Music WriterEmmy-winning television producer Lena Waithe (“Twenties,” “Boomerang,” “The Chi”) is taking a big step into the music sphere, partnering with Def Jam Recordings to start up a new label, Hillman Grad Records, with the goal of what Def Jam describes as “leveraging opportunities across music, TV and film… to capitalize on the cultural significance generated when these worlds meaningfully intersect.”Although no artists signings were announced as part of the public launch

Kate Aurthur editorNetflix has renewed its popular docusoaps “Selling Sunset” and “Bling Empire,” and has ordered two new series from the creators of both shows. In a blog post on Wednesday morning, Brandon Riegg, the streamer’s vice president of unscripted and documentary series, announced the renewals and series orders.

From executive producer Lena Waithe and creator Little Marvin comes “Them”, a new anthology series that will explore terror in America set to premiere in April on Amazon. The streaming service shared the first official look at the first season, dubbed “Covenant” and starring Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Melody Hurd, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Ryan Kwanten.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterIn an historic elevation for BET, media personality B. Scott has been named star and executive producer of a new program — becoming the network’s first trans non-binary talent in those roles.B.

Tony and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs and Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe are set to narrate the audiobook production of viral conception artistNatasha Marin’s Black Imagination.

With only two films under his belt, Jordan Peele has such a distinct style that he’s his own horror subgenre already. But there are definitely new projects coming out that feel very much like “Jordan Peele Film.” One of those is the upcoming Amazon series, “Them.” READ MORE: ‘Without Remorse’ Trailer: Michael B.

Lena Waithe and creator Little Marvin comes, a new anthology series that will explore terror in America set to premiere in April on Amazon.

IFC Films has acquired the North American rights to Sonia Kennebeck’s (National Bird) documentary thriller Enemies of the State which is executive produced by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (The Fog of War). The docu will be released this summer.

Janet Jackson is to executive produce a documentary that will chronicle her career, some 40 years on from releasing her debut album.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS has given out a pair of pilot orders to comedy projects from Sarah Cooper and Mark Gross.Cooper’s untitled single-camera project is inspired by her book, “How to be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings.” It follows three women at different stages in their careers at a male-dominated company who help each other navigate modern gender politics in their professional and personal lives.Cooper will serve as co-writer and executive producer, with Cindy Chupack also

are speaking out to show support for Rachel Lindsay.

Annika Pham Keshet International has come on board as sales agent on the drama-comedy “Pørni.” The six-part Norwegian show, produced by Monster Scripted for NENT Group’s streamer Viaplay, is world premiering as part of Berlinale Series Market Selects.“Lilyhammer” actor Henriette Steenstrup makes her debut as creator/writer on top of headlining the show. Gunnar Vikene (“Occupied”) and Charlotte Blom (“Next Summer”) serve as co-directors.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFreeform has given a series order to the single-camera comedy “Single Drunk Female.”The series stars Sofia Black-D’Elia and Ally Sheedy in the lead roles. In the show, after a spectacularly embarrassing public breakdown, irreverent alcoholic Samantha Fink (Black-D’Elia) is forced to move back home with her “Smother” (Sheedy) to sober up and avoid jail time.