Jussie Smollett Finds a Home at BET+ For His Post-Scandal Directorial Debut, ‘B-Boy Blues’

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThere you are, watching Season 2 of HBO Max’s Emmy-winning comedy “Hacks,” and delighting in the genius of American treasure Jean Smart and her worthy sparring partner, Hannah Einbinder.And then along comes Laurie Metcalf, playing a burned out tour manager named Weed.Or there you are again, on a binge of Hulu’s limited series “The Dropout,” marveling at Amanda Seyfried’s spot-on portrayal of Theranos grifter Elizabeth Holmes. And then who pops up? Laurie Metcalf, playing Stanford professor Phyllis Gardner, Hjjfjsgwho early on calls Holmes out on her lies (and later partners with another familiar TV face, William H.

Months after his brief stint in jail, Jussie Smollett is hoping to put the scandal that’s dominated his life for the past few years in the rearview mirror

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAnyone who’s watched “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” has has been well aware of the erosion of women’s rights, and how this right-leaning Supreme Court was ready to overturn Roe v. Wade, despite it being the law of the land for nearly 50 years. Nonetheless, when word of an impending verdict came out, it was still shocking.

Khloé Kardashian’s sisters have had enough of Tristan Thompson! During Hulu’s The Kardashians’ latest episode, fans will see the exact moment when the Kardashian-Jenner family learned about the basketball player’s paternity scandal.In December of 2021, Maralee Nichols welcomed to the world Thompson’s baby boy, Theo. Tristan later confirmed that he was still in a relationship with Khloé at the time of the conception.Talking on the phone with Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian can be seen furious and sharing with her mom what Tristan stated in his declaration. “This whole declaration is in this thing,” Kim said.

Putting him on blast. Khloé Kardashian‘s family did not hold back when they found out that Tristan Thompson was being sued for child support by Maralee Nichols.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorA new study estimates that upwards of 10% of Twitter active accounts post spam content — double the company’s own claims.The report from U.K.-based data analytics and consulting firm GlobalData comes as Elon Musk, the billionaire Twitter power-user, has threatened to nix his $44 billion deal for the social network over the question of the prevalence of spam and fake accounts on Twitter. On Monday, Musk’s lawyers sent a letter to Twitter alleging the company was in “clear material breach” of the acquisition agreement because Twitter has refused to furnish information backing up its claim that fake/spam accounts represent less than 5% of daily active users.A Twitter rep declined to comment.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeHBO Max’s “Hacks” is the latest entertainment series to be honored by the Peabody Awards, which announced the win on Tuesday morning.“When they’re together taking on all things comedy and feminism, ‘Hacks’ crackles with wit and truly sings,” Melissa McCarthy said in her presentation to the show.Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, are behind the show.“HBO Max’s Hacks became a word-of-mouth hit thanks to the brilliantly funny intergenerational pairing of Jean Smart as standup legend Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, the desperate young comedy writer sent to freshen up Deborah’s act,” the org said in its statement honoring the show. “Created by ‘Broad City’ writers Lucia Aniello, Paul W.

a five-month prison sentence in March for lying to Chicago cops about a racist and homophobic 2019 attack. “I know how grateful I must be. It is not up for debate.

2 min read Former Empire star and convicted criminal Jussie Smollett who was previously sentenced to five months in prison for staging a homophobic attack is returning to the world of entertainment with his directorial debut, B-Boy Blues.

Jussie Smollett has launched his directorial debut with BET+ "B-Boy Blues." The LGBTQ+ centered show will debut on the streaming network June 9, just in time for Pride Month. This project marks the first for Smollett since he was found guilty of making false reports on what he alleged to be a hate crime.

Drake shared a photo on his Instagram from his first time meeting LA sisters Haim.“Just met the Beatles,” he wrote in the caption alongside the black and white photo which shows the rapper with Este, Danielle and Alana Haim.Haim also shared the photo on their Instagram account, jokingly writing “We’re the Beatles” in their caption.The band are currently on their 2022 North American tour in support of their latest album ‘Women In Music Pt. III‘.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe night before HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” was set to shoot an episode revolving around a tornado, a real one came close to the show’s set. “Somebody Somewhere” star Bridget Everett recounted to Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast how life imitated art that day, and vice versa.“There was a real tornado that ripped through Naperville (Ill.) and also not far from where we were staying in Lamont,” she says.

Jussie Smollett, is making his directorial debut next month. Per , the Smollett-directed , has been picked up by BET+ and will hit the streamer June 9, as part of BET+'s Pride Month programming.In addition to directing and writing the project, Smollett is also a producer on , alongside  Mona Scott-Young and her Monami Entertainment, who the outlet said was instrumental in getting the deal done with BET+.Starring, Timothy Richardson, Ledisi, Brandee Evans, Heather B, Marquise Vilson, Jabari Redd, Broderick Hunter and Thomas Mackie, is the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s novel by the same name.Described as «a clash of class and culture when Mitchell Crawford, a college educated journalist from Brooklyn and Raheim Rivers, a bike messenger from Harlem, fall in love,» the indie film made its award-winning debut last year at the 2021 American Black Film Festival, taking home the Narrative Feature Fan Favorite Award. Smollett's directorial debut comes after he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars in March and given 30 months of felony probation -- three months after he was found guilty on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct for which he was charged.

K.J. Yossman “Westworld’s” Fares Fares is set to make his directorial debut with a Swedish film titled “A Day and a Half” for Netflix.Fares will also star in the feature alongside Alexej Manvelov (“Chernobyl”) and Alma Pöysti (“Tove”). It is scheduled to hit Netflix in 2023.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeI recently wrote a story, timed to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, about “Fresh off the Boat” executive producers Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan’s growing roster of projects spotlighting different elements of the vast AAPI experience for multiple networks and streamers. That’s a positive development in this expansive world of limitless distribution.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFormer NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy has launched a new shingle with his cousin, Berlin-based advertising exec Stefan Telegdy, and they are pitching their first TV project, a 10-episode series about the Falklands/Malvinas War of 1982.The Telegdys’ The Whole Spiel production company has partnered with Lone Wolf Pictures and Infinity Hill to produce “The Islands,” which tells the story of that 1982 war, from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the 74-day conflict.Argentine writer Sebastian Rotstein (“El Presidente” Season 2, “Morir de Amor”) is writing the screenplay for the show, which will employ writers and directors from both the U.K. and Argentina to tell the full story.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” is returning to Brooklyn for its sixth visit to the borough, marking its first time broadcasting back in New York since 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic put such trips to a halt, of course).The late night talk show will once again tape in front of a live studio audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” has originated from BAM in all six of its visits to Brooklyn.Airdates and guests for the “Brooklyn Week” shows for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will be announced at a later date.Previous guests of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in Brooklyn have included Eddie Murphy, Alicia Keys, Adam Sandler, Benedict Cumberbatch, Senator Bernie Sanders, John Krasinski, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Eminem, Cardi B, Wu-Tang Clan, David Letterman, Howard Stern, Tracy Morgan, Michael J.

Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose and Jennifer Jason Leigh have joined the cast of Chris Pine’s directorial debut Poolman. They join the previously announced cast of Pine, Annette Bening and Danny DeVito.

Manori Ravindran International EditorAriana DeBose and Jennifer Jason Leigh have joined Chris Pine’s directorial debut, “Poolman.”Fully financed by Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, the actors join an existing cast of Annette Bening and Danny DeVito. Pine also stars in the movie, which is billed as a moving tribute to Los Angeles.Plot details for the pic are so far sparse, but “Poolman” is crafted as a nod to famous LA noirs like “Chinatown,” “The Long Goodbye,” “The Big Lebowski” and “La La Land.”DeBose is fresh off her awards season sweep, which included Oscar, BAFTA and SAG awards for her star-making historic portrayal of Anita in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” Her other credits include “Hamilton,” “The Prom” and HBO’s “Westworld.” DeBose is also set to host the Tony Awards in June.