James Warren Jackson and An Earlier Atlanta Black Gay Life

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Zazie Beetz is set to star in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming HBO Max limited series “Full Circle,” Variety has learned. Variety exclusively reported the show had been ordered at HBO Max back in August 2021. Soderbergh will direct all six episodes and executive produce, with Ed Solomon writing and executive producing. Casey Silver will also executive produce. The three previously worked together on the HBO Max film “No Sudden Move.” Per the official description of the series, “An investigation into a botched kidnapping uncovers long-held secrets connecting multiple characters and cultures in present day New York City.” Exact details on Beetz’ character are being kept under wraps.

The amount of television premiering each month is overwhelming. This is mainly a good thing as it offers up series for just about every type of fan, as evident by September’s release schedule.

Thania Garcia Live Nation Women is joining forces with the When All Women Vote campaign to put together a week of events called Beautiful Noise Live, taking place in Atlanta from Sept. 19-23. Fans can register ahead of time for a chance to win a variety of prizes including VIP experiences for the Brandi Carlile concert on Sept. 22 at the Fox Theater and the Alicia Keys concert Sept. 23 at Cadence Bank Amphitheater. The VIP experiences are a part of the grand prize package which also includes a trip for one winner and a friend to attend Beautiful Noise Live in Atlanta. This package covers the price of airfare, hotel stay and tickets. There is also a silver prize package comprised of a gift bag with special edition merch, along with a pair of tickets to either Carlile’s or Keys’ concerts. The last day to enter to win is Sept. 13.

Sundance Institute and Hartbeat have selected Mayanna Berrin, Kiana Butler Jabangwe and Danielle Solomon as the recipients of the “Women Write Now” fellowship for Black female comedic screenwriters.Logan Browning (“The Perfection”, “Dear White People”), Tika Sumpter (“Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Mixed-Ish”) and Nicole Byer (“Nailed It,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show”) have signed on to direct three short films written by the fellows, which will debut at a special exhibition during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.Additionally, the fellows have been awarded a one-year first-look deal with Hartbeat, the multi-platform media company founded by Kevin Hart.Browning will partner with Solomon on her project “Hey Boo,” which follows a top Atlanta braider with a tendency to cancel on clients, who must braid her way out of being canceled by one of the biggest social media influencers. Sumpter is directing Kiana Butler Jabangwe’s “Night Off,” about two new parents who try to enjoy their first night away from their newborn.

D-Block Europe have announced details of a world headline tour – get ticket details and dates below.Following their appearance at Reading & Leeds Festivals, D-Block Europe have confirmed they’ll be heading to North America for their first ever US festival appearance at Rolling Loud New York ahead of a string of headline shows. They’ll then return to the UK for a gig at London’s O2 Arena.

Atlanta Black Pride Weekend has announced the honorees of this year’s 10th annual Pure Heat Community Festival, as well as other events happening throughout the Labor Day weekend.

Rick Ross has announced a special, one-night-only event for Atlanta, where he’ll perform alongside the all-Black Orchestra Noir.The show, slated for November 4 at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, comes as the first North American event in the Red Bull Symphonic series. As its name implies, the series pairs an orchestra with artists that is typically unassociated with classical music, reinventing their catalogues in a hybrid format.

That’s her man — and she wants the world to know! Rachael Kirkconnell clapped back at a sports announcer who incorrectly claimed that her boyfriend, Matt James, was “single” numerous times during a recent celebrity basketball tournament.

EXCLUSIVE: J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley) has signed on to star alongside Neal McDonough and Casey Cott in the sports drama Black Spartans from writer-director Ben Cory Jones (Insecure), which is set to shoot in Atlanta this fall.

Angelique Jackson Ahead of the film’s world premiere next month at TIFF, Netflix has released the first trailer for Tyler Perry’s “A Jazzman’s Blues,” the billionaire media mogul’s longtime passion project. Written, directed and produced by Perry, the period drama tells the tale of forbidden love, starring Joshua Boone and Solea Pfeiffer as Bayou and Leanne, a star-crossed couple navigating the world as young Black people in the deep South during the 1940s and through the decades that follow.  “That was our first kiss. Ain’t nothing felt that good in all my life,” Boone’s Bayou narrates as the trailer opens on the lovers sharing a sweet smooch while sitting in a sun-soaked tree.

Exclusive: Filmmaker Ben Cory Jones (Black Spartans) has signed with Cultivate Entertainment Partners for representation.

On September 2, Atlanta Black Pride is hosting a fashion show showcasing local Black queer designers along with local LGBTQ Greek organizations. The show, which is chaired by new board member and friend of Georgia Voice Tiana Clay, promises to be a diverse and incredible event.

BreAnna Bell For the fourth annual CultureCon presented by the Creative Collective NYC, renowned stars Nia Long and Larenz Tate will take the stage in a “Love Jones” reunion, marking the film’s 25th anniversary.Long and Tate will headline a Creative Genius conversation — a mainstage dialogue celebrating some of the most impactful names in culture — on Saturday, Oct. 8, as part of the weekend’s festivities.

Always in her heart. NeNe Leakes paid tribute to her late husband, Gregg Leakes, on what would have been his 67th birthday.

EXCLUSIVE: Neal McDonough (The Flash) and Casey Cott (Riverdale) will headline the sports drama Black Spartans, written and to be directed by Ben Cory Jones (Insecure), which is heading into production in Atlanta this fall.

The 6th Annual Black Reel TV Awards were held and it was Quinta Brunson and ABC’s Abbott Elementary that took the most wins with seven in total. Brunson won four awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Guest Actress.

At a time when linear networks are largely managing the decline, with live viewing of entertainment programming dropping double digits every year, it is very rare for a net to set a multi-year high in primetime. VH1 did it on Monday this week with the return of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop: Miami, which led the Paramount Global network to its highest Monday primetime Live+Same Day adults 18-49 rating (0.557) and share (3.22) in over two years, since April 2020 and March 2020, respectively.