Notizie

BET+ has an exciting holiday slate.

The streaming service announced Monday it would launch 10 new movies, including family comedies, yuletide romances, and a little musical magic.

The flicks feature Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, and Dorien Wilson, Ne-Yo, Serayah, Romeo Miller, LeToya Luckett, and Lala Milan.

Get all the details on the movies below.

A Wesley Christmas - November 3

Adult siblings Chris, Todd, and Cydney Wesley travel to their childhood home to celebrate Christmas with their parents and the entire Wesley family.

With everyone together and all their physical and emotional baggage in tow, the annual Wesley family holiday promises to be a festive, hot-mess of a Christmas with life-changing impacts on the whole family.

Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill

Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones

Writer: Bree West

Produced by: Octet Productions

The First Noelle - November 10

After twenty years of friendship, Terrance and...

“The Upshaws” is a funny and relatable show about an American family trying to navigate life and complex relationships. Though it’s set in modern times, the show harkens back to the good old days of ‘90s sitcom TV. The first season was popular among Netflix viewers in 2021, and many people are looking forward to new episodes this year.

Here’s all the latest news and information we have about “The Upshaws,” its cast members, and season two details.

What Is “The Upshaws” About?

“The Upshaws” is a Netflix original series about a working-class Black family in Indiana. Regina and Bennie Upshaw are the heads of the family and have three children: Bernard Jr., Aaliyah, and Maya. Bennie also has a son, Kelvin Upshaw, with another woman, Tasha Lewis. Wanda Sykes and Regina Y. Hicks created the sitcom to show a modern family dealing with everyday struggles as they work...

Exclusive: Leonard Earl Howze (The Upshaws), Isabel Gameros (Deranged Granny) and Mark Jeffrey Miller (Outsiders) have been tapped for recurring roles in Netflix’s Florida Man, its eight-episode series starring Edgar Ramírez, from veteran TV writer producer Donald Todd and Jason Bateman & Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films.

In Florida Man, created by Todd, when a struggling ex-cop (Ramírez) is forced to return to his home state of Florida to find a Philly mobster’s runaway girlfriend, what should be a quick gig becomes a spiraling journey into buried family secrets and an increasingly futile attempt to do the right thing in a place where so much is wrong. The series is described as a wild odyssey into a sunny place for shady people in the spirit of Body Heat and Elmore Leonard’s Out of Sight.

Howze will play Ray-Ray, an ex-cop, Sonny Valentine’s longtime, loyal associate and the “muscle” for his illicit operations.

Vulture WatchCan Kevin Gable make it without Donna? Has the Kevin Can Wait TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season? The television vulture is watching the latest cancellation and renewal news so this page is the place to track the status of Kevin Can Wait, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you? What's This TV Show About?Airing on the CBS television network, Kevin Can Wait stars Kevin James, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Mary-Charles Joes, James Digiacomo, Gary Valentine, Leonard Earl Howze, and Leah Remini. The sitcom centers on Kevin Gable (James). In the first season, this former police officer yearned to revel in his retirement. The second installment opens a year after the events of the season one finale. Now,...

Why was Kevin Can Wait cancelled? Recently, CBS chief Kelly Kahl explained the network's decision to end the TV show after two seasons, Deadline reports.The sitcom stars James as Kevin Gable, a former police officer who, after the death of his wife, finds himself working for his old rival, Vanessa (Leah Remini), at her security firm. The cast also includes Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Mary-Charles Joes, James Digiacomo, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze.Read More…...

Network: CBS. Episodes: 48 (half-hour). Seasons: Two. TV show dates: September 19, 2016 -- May 7, 2018. Series status: Cancelled. Performers include: Kevin James, Erinn Hayes, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, Lenny Venito, and Leah Remini. TV show description: This traditional sitcom revolves around Kevin Gable (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer who lives in Massapequa, New York. After 30 years on the force, Kevin’s looking forward to relaxing and spending quality time with his wife Donna (Erinn Hayes) and their young kids -- Sara (Mary-Charles Jones) and Jack (James Digiacomo). Read More…...

When it escaped today's earlier cancellations, it looked like Kevin James might get a third season with his most recent sitcom, but that was not to be. CBS has cancelled the Kevin Can Wait TV show, and now the fans' wait has come to an end. Ep Andy Fickman broke the bad news. Check out his announcement, below. A CBS sitcom, Kevin Can Wait stars James as Kevin Gable, a former police officer who, after the death of his wife, finds himself working for his old rival, Vanessa (Leah Remini), at her security firm. The cast also includes Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Mary-Charles Joes, James Digiacomo, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze. Read More…...

“Kevin Can Wait” has been canceled by CBS after two season, Variety has learned.

The CBS sitcom stars Kevin James, Leah Remini, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright, Lenny Venito, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze. James, Rock Reuben, Rob Long, Jeff Sussman, Andy Fickman, Tony Sheehan, and Steve Mosko are executive producers for Sony Pictures TV and CBS Television Studios.

“Kevin Can Wait” underwent a creative overhaul between seasons one and two, with original co-star Erinn Hayes’ character written off the show and Remini joining the cast, reuniting James with his former “King of Queens” co-star.

But the show still saw a big ratings slide in its second season. The cancelation after investing in two seasons is a tough cut for Sony Pictures Television, which will shop the series to other buyers.

CBS has cleaned house of underperforming shows as it prepares to unveil its 2018-19 season...

CBS has opted not to pick up a third season of its Kevin James comedy series Kevin Can Wait.

This is one of the biggest casualties at CBS this season. The network had set out to shake things up on Monday, where its ratings fortunes had fallen. It has now canceled Kevin Can Wait, Superior Donuts and Scorpion and only has renewed Man with a Plan.

Fueled by the popularity of its star Kevin James and boosted by The Bing Bang Theory as a lead, Kevin Can Wait got off to a blazing start in fall 2016 and went on to become a sturdy Monday 8 Pm anchor. The series ranked as the most watched and highest rated new comedy last season. But there was some ratings decline over the course of the season.

Additionally, midway through Season 1, the series parted ways with co-creator and showrunner Bruce Helford, who now steers ABC’s Roseanne revival.

With Donna gone, how is Kevin handling Vanessa in season two of the Kevin Can Wait TV show on CBS? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether the TV show Kevin Can Wait is cancelled or renewed for a third season. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated that their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we'd like to offer you the chance to rate all the season two episodes of Kevin Can Wait for us, below. A CBS family sitcom, Kevin Can Wait stars Kevin James, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Mary-Charles Joes, James Digiacomo, Gary Valentine, Leonard Earl Howze, and Leah Remini. The sitcom centers on Kevin Gable (James). In the first season, this former police officer yearned to revel in his retirement. The second...

Why was Donna killed off on Kevin Can Wait? Recently, Kevin James spoke with the NY Daily News about Erinn Hayes' departure from the CBS TV show, TVLine reports.As reported earlier, Hayes' character Donna was killed off the comedy after only one season. The character was replaced by Leah Remini in season two, which premiere last month. The cast also includes Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

"I think I'm gonna cry." CBS has just released a new promo for season two of Kevin Can Wait.As reported earlier, the new season will take place after the death of Donna Gable (Erinn Hayes). After season one, Hayes was fired from the comedy and will be replaced by Leah Remini. The cast also includes Kevin James, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

Wedding bells will be ringing on Kevin Can Wait. Recently, CBS released new details for the TV show's season two premiere.As reported earlier, the new season will take place after the death of Donna Gable (Erinn Hayes). After season one, Hayes was fired from the comedy and will be replaced by Leah Remini. The cast also includes Kevin James, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

It looks like Leah Remini is back at CBS full time. Deadline reports the King of Queens star will be a series regular on season two of Kevin Can Wait.The sitcom revolves around Kevin Gable (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer who lives in Massapequa, New York. The cast also includes Erinn Hayes, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

The King of Queens was a very successful sitcom for CBS 15 years ago. But times have changed and so have audiences. Will Kevin James' new sitcom, Kevin Can Wait, also be a hit in the ratings for the network? Will it be cancelled or renewed for a second season? Stay tuned.Kevin Can Wait revolves around Kevin Gable (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer. After 30 years on the force, he’s looking forward to relaxing and spending quality time with his wife (Erinn Hayes) and their young kids (Mary-Charles Jones and James Digiacomo). That plan goes awry when his elder daughter (Taylor Spreitler) and her fiance (Ryan Cartwright) move in. As a result, Kevin's retirement dreams get put on hold. Kevin's friends are played by Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.The ratings are typically the best indication of a show's likelihood...

There is nothing on the surface of “Live Cargo” that would suggest anything more than a cookie-cutter relationship drama: A young couple struggles with the trauma of their stillborn child, escaping to an exotic island to work through their problems; in the process, they’re swept up in island life, and given a second chance to appreciate their shared existence. Fortunately, the black-and-white debut of writer-director Logan Sandler is just sharp enough to complicate its clichés with strong performances and a mesmerizing tone that pushes the mopey proceedings into psychological thriller territory. Despite some clunkier moments, it’s a notable effort to avoid some familiar traps.

“Live Cargo” mainly follows Nadine (Dree Hemingway) and Lewis (Lakeith Stanfield) as they arrive at the unspecified Bahamian island that Nadine’s family visited in her youth. It’s there that she introduces Lewis to Roy (Robert Wisdom), the island’s mayor and stern patriarch,...

Will Kevin James repeat his King of Queens success on The Tiffany Network? So far, he's right on Track. The Kevin Can Wait TV show has been renewed for season two on CBS, and there was no waiting required. CBS picked up the sitcom for a second season, as part of a huge, early renewal order.Airing on the CBS television network, Kevin Can Wait revolves around Kevin Gable (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer. The series also stars Erinn Hayes, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Taylor Spreitler, Ryan Cartwrigh, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

"We've been calling these islands the 'Wild Wild West' with all things been going on around here." FilmBuff has debuted a new official trailer for the film Live Cargo, from director Logan Sandler. Live Cargo stars Keith Stanfield and Dree Hemingway as a grieving couple who escape to an island in the Bahamas for some recuperation. However, they end up caught in a turf war between Roy, the island's aging patriarch, and "Doughboy", a dangerous human trafficker. The full cast includes Robert Wisdom, Sam Dillon, and Leonard Earl Howze. This looks like yet another intriguing tropical-island thriller, along with Isolation. I'm a fan of Keith Stanfield, and I like seeing B&W films, just not so sure this is worth watching. Take a look. Here's the new official trailer (+ poster) for Logan Sandler's Live Cargo, direct from YouTube (via Tfs): A grieving couple (Dree Hemingway & Keith Stanfield) retreats...

While he first made an impression in his debut feature film, Short Term 12, it’s been thrilling to see the star of Lakeith Stanfield rise. Since his 2013 break-out, we’ve seen him in Atlanta, Selma, Dope, Straight Outta Compton, Snowden, Miles Ahead, and most recently, Get Out. For his next role, he’s heading to the Bahamas in the black-and-white, grounded crime drama Live Cargo.

Premiering back at Tribeca Film Festival last year, Gunpowder & Sky Distribution picked it up for a release a the end of the month and have now released the first trailer. Coming from writer-director Logan Sandler, it stars Stanfield and Dree Hemingway as a couple who are reeling from a personal loss and head to the tropical location, only to be caught up in its criminal underbelly. Judging from the preview it looks to be a powerfully atmospheric drama with strong performances.

Also starring Robert Wisdom and Leonard Earl Howze,...

For his feature-length debut, “Live Cargo,” filmmaker Logan Sandler went back to the Bahamas, the setting of some of his earliest childhood memories. But instead of focusing on the beautiful and colorful scenery of the tropical island, Sandler chose black-and-white cinematography to convey the emotion and darkness of the story at hand.

Read More: Dree Hemingway and Keith Stanfield Star in Logan Sandler’s Moody Drama ‘Live Cargo’ — Exclusive Clip

“Live Cargo” stars indie standouts Lakeith Stanfield and Dree Hemingway as Lewis and Nadine, a couple who retreat to her family’s home in the Bahamas after experiencing a devastating loss.

But once there, things get complicated for the couple when they meet and develop a relationship with a local homeless boy named Myron (Sam Dillon), who is involved in a human-trafficking operation led by local criminal Doughboy (Leonard Earl Howze).

The main cast also includes Robert Wisdom in the role of Roy,...

Though Logan Sandler’s film “Live Cargo” is set in the Bahamas, it doesn’t reflect the archetypal tropical paradise, but instead a sharp look at the daily machinations of the island community. Filmed in black-and-white, the film stars Dree Hemingway (“Starlet”) and Keith Stanfield (“Atlanta”) as Nadine and Lewis, a couple who has recently experienced a devastating loss and travels to the island in order to restore their relationship. But when they arrive, they find that the island community is unraveling, with the island’s mayor squaring off against a human trafficker who manipulates an impressionable homeless teenager into assisting with his smuggling operation. Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.

Read More: Moody First Look at Logan Sandler’s Tribeca Premiere ‘Live Cargo’

The film is Sandler’s feature-length debut. It was co-written and produced by Thymaya Payne, who previously produced and directed the award-winning documentary “Stolen Seas.

Kevin James and The King of Queens TV show were staples of the schedule for many years. Now, James is back on Monday nights with a new comedy, Kevin Can Wait. Is it a hit in the ratings and a success with viewers? Will it stay on the air and be renewed for a second season? Cancel or keep it?Kevin Can Wait revolves around Kevin Gable (Kevin James), a newly retired police officer. After 30 years on the force, he’s looking forward to relaxing and spending quality time with his wife (Erinn Hayes) and their young kids (Mary-Charles Jones and James Digiacomo). That plan goes awry when his elder daughter (Taylor Spreitler) and her fiance (Ryan Cartwright) move in. As a result, Kevin's retirement dreams get put on hold. Kevin's retiree friends are played by Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.The series debuted on September...

True Memoirs Of An International Assassin is the latest Netflix original movie – an action comedy stars Kevin James as Sam Larson, a mild-mannered would-be author who gets mistaken for a killer-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. When the book is a huge success, he is suddenly kidnapped, taken out of the country, and forced into an assassination plot.

The film - which premieres on Netflix on November 11th – also stars Andy Garcia (Kill the Messenger), Zulay Henao (Meet the Blacks), Maurice Compte (Narcos), Andrew Howard (Taken 3), Rob Riggle (22 Jump Street), Kelen Coleman (The McCarthy’s), Leonard Earl Howze (Memphis Beat), Yul Vasquez (The Lottery) and Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy).

Check out the trailer and poster for True Memoirs Of An International Assassin below, and let us know what you think in the comments:...

Netflix released the trailer and poster for the Kevin James starring original film True Memoirs of an International Assassin, premiering on Friday, November 11 to members worldwide.

True Memoirs of an International Assassin, starring Kevin James (Pixels), Andy Garcia (Kill the Messenger), and Zulay Henao (Meet the Blacks) is a Netflix original film directed by Jeff Wadlow (Kick Ass 2)

The action comedy follows Sam Larson, a mild-mannered would-be author who gets mistaken for a killer-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. When the book is a huge success, he is suddenly kidnapped, taken out of the country, and forced into an assassination plot.

Maurice Compte (Narcos), Andrew Howard (Taken 3), Rob Riggle (22 Jump Street), Kelen Coleman (The McCarthy’s), Leonard Earl Howze (Memphis Beat), Yul Vasquez (The Lottery) and Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) also star in the film.

Check out the trailer and poster below.

Ray Romano is returning to CBS. Entertainment Weekly reports the Everybody Loves Raymond star will guest on the network's new series Kevin Can Wait. The sitcom stars Kevin James as a retired cop who is spending more time with his family after decades on the force. The cast also includes Erinn Hayes, Leonard Earl Howze, Gary Valentine, and Lenny Venito.Read More…...

Watch two new previews of the upcoming Kevin Can Wait TV show, premiering on CBS, Monday, September 19, 2016 at 8:30pm Et/Pt. Beginning October 24, it will move to 8:00pm.The sitcom stars Kevin James as retired police office, Kevin Gable. The cast also includes: Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright , Lenny Venito, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze. Read More…...

Doug Heffernan meet Kevin Gable. Watch these new teasers for the first season of the Kevin Can Wait TV show, premiering on CBS Monday, September 19, 2016 at 8:30pm Et/Pt. Beginning October 24, it will move to 8:00pm.In the first promo, star Kevin James plays himself, talking to his King of Queens character Doug, about his new role as Kevin Gable. His Kevin Can Wait co-star Erinn Hayes and King of Queens co-star Leah Remini are referenced in a sweet, flattering way. The new sitcom also stars: Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright , Lenny Venito, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze.Read More…...

Apparently, Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller can wait, too. During his TCA appearance for the upcoming Kevin Can Wait TV show on CBS, star Kevin James indicated his King of Queens co-stars will not be appearing on his new CBS sitcom anytime too soon. The Kevin Can Wait cast also includes: Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright , Lenny Venito, Gary Valentine, and Leonard Earl Howze.When asked if fans could expect to see Remini and Stiller on the new show,  TV Guide reports James said, ""If I did it too soon, it would feel like a ploy. I want this show to take on its own life and become its own thing. It can't help but be compared as it is, but I want to reduce that...

"You're home now. You have nothing but free time." CBS has released the first trailer for Kevin James' new sitcom, Kevin Can Wait.

The multi-cam comedy features James as a newly retired cop who discovers the challenges of living with his family full-time. Erinn Hayes, Taylor Spreitler, Mary-Charles Jones, James Digiacomo, Ryan Cartwright, Leonard Earl Howze, Lenny Venito and Gary Valentine also star.

Read More…...

Somewhere, Warren Beatty is having a good chuckle over the name of Kevin James‘ new CBS sitcom. The formerly untitled project, which was ordered to series earlier this year, will be called "Kevin Can Wait," TVLine has learned.

The multi-cam sitcom finds James playing a retired cop looking forward to spending more quality time with his wife Donna (played by Childrens Hospital‘s Erinn Hayes) and three kids (including Melissa & Joey‘s Taylor Spreitler), only to discover he faces a tougher time at home than he did on the streets.

The cast also includes Mary-Charles Jones,...

Leonard Earl Howze (Lone Ranger) has been cast opposite Kevin James and Ryan Cartwright in James’ multi-camera comedy series for CBS. The untitled show, from Sony TV and CBS TV Studios, centers on newly retired police officer Kevin (James) who looks forward to spending more quality time with his wife and three kids — only to discover he faces much tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets. Howze will play Goody, Kevin's former partner on the police force…...

Netflix has added several actors to its Kevin James action comedy True Memoirs Of An International Assassin. Zulay Henao (The Single Moms Club), Andy Garcia (Kill the Messenger), Maurice Compte (Narcos), Kelen Coleman (The McCarthys), Andrew Howard (Taken 3), Rob Riggle (22 Jump Street), Leonard Earl Howze (Memphis Beat), Yul Vazquez (The Lottery) and Kim Coates (Sons Of Anarchy) have join the pic directed by Jeff Wadlow. James stars as a mild-mannered would-be author who…...

Looks like Kevin James is going to be leading a Netflix original film, and despite the above featured image, it is a not a Paul Blart: Mall Cop movie. The streaming service has announced today that the actor/comedian will be heading the film entitled True Memoirs Of An International Assassin.

The film's synopsis is as follows:

"A mild-mannered would-be author gets mistaken for a killer-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. The book is a huge success and he is suddenly kidnapped and taken to Venezuela and forced into an assassination plot."

True Memoirs Of An International Assassin is directed by Jeff Wadlow, who is likely best known for directing Kick-ass 2, and will be hitting Netflix some time in 2016.

While I feel no particular way or another about this film, I'm very interested to see the online interest. Given James'...

Netflix has rounded out the cast of True Memoirs Of An International Assassin, the streaming service’s action comedy starring Kevin James. Zulay Henao, Andy Garcia, Maurice Compte, Kelen Coleman, Andrew Howard, Rob Riggle, Leonard Earl Howze and Yul Vazquez have joined the pic, which began shooting in November and wraps in about a week for a bow later this year. Sons Of Anarchy alum Kim Coates previously joined the cast. Jeff Wadlow is directing the movie based on the…...

Netflix has announced the full cast for their upcoming action/comedy original feature "True Memoirs of an International Assassin" from PalmStar Media, Broken Road Productions and Global Film Group. Filming began in Atlanta in November and is scheduled to wrap next week in the Dominican Republic.

Funnyman Kevin James and Genesis Rodriguez ("Man on a Ledge") lead the cast in the film which also stars Zulay Henao ("The Single Moms Club"), Andy Garcia ("Kill the Messenger"), Maurice Compte ("Narcos"), Kelen Coleman ("The McCarthy's"), Andrew Howard ("Taken 3"), Rob Riggle ("22 Jump Street"), Leonard Earl Howze ("Memphis Beat"), Yul Vazquez ("The Lottery") and Kim Coates ("Sons of Anarchy").

James plays a mild-mannered would-be author who gets mistaken for a hitman-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. He is suddenly kidnapped and taken to Venezuela and forced into an assassination plot.

Jeff Wadlow ("Kick Ass...

He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake, and he's had enough from the look of things. A Very Scary Xmas II kicks off on December 11th in New York. Also in this round-up: details on the Fantastic Phantasmagoria as well as information on Double Take's free Ultimate Night of the Living Dead issue and Kickstarter information / trailer for Brave New Jersey.

A Very Scary Xmas II: Press Release: "Hauppauge, NY (December 2015) -- Naughty or Nice no longer matters as Santa has had just about enough! The lists have gotten longer, the kids are ungrateful and somewhere along the way they took the sugar out of the cookies and put almonds in the milk! It's enough to drive an elf crazy...matter of fact, drive All the elves crazy! So watch out as you stroll 34th St. and be extra careful in the Elf Asylum! This Holiday...

Alicia Coppola (Teen Wolf), Brianna Brown (Devious Maids) and Leonard Earl Howze (The Lone Ranger) have booked series regular roles in ABC Family drama pilot Stay. Described as an edge-of-your-seat thriller, Stay centers on a recently widowed police detective and his two daughters who are stranded at a foreboding hotel during a storm and must unravel the hotel's mysteries to escape. Coppola, repped by Apa and manager Leslie Allan-Rice, plays Alison, Jake’s mother and the…...

Malcolm D. Lee ("The Best Man Holiday") is finalizing a deal to direct a third film in the comedy film series "Barbershop" at MGM.

Deals are reportedly quickly coming together for Ice Cube (Calvin Palmer) and Cedric the Entertainer (Eddie) to reprise their roles from the 2002 original and the 2004 sequel in which Cube will both star and produce.

It's unclear if previous film cast members like Sean Patrick Thomas (Jimmy), Eve (Terri), Troy Garity (Isaac), Michael Ealy (Ricky) and Leonard Earl Howze (Dinka) will reprise their roles for the sequel.

Source: Deadline...

The Caribbean based indie tale, "Happy People" has found its cast and begun production in the Bimini islands, The Bahamas. The film marks the directorial debut of AFI alum Logan Sandler. The film, which started production in Bimini on Monday, September 15, 2014, will star Dree Hemingway (Starlet, the Cosmopolitans, While We Were Young), Keith Stanfield (Short Term 12, Selma, Straight Outta Compton), Robert Wisdom (The Wire, Dark Night Rises, Nashville, Chicago Pd), Leonard Earl Howze (Antwone Fisher, Barbershop, Masters of Sex) and Sam Dillon (Boyhood, Scenes from the Suburbs, Memoria). “It is incredibly exciting to have such an amazing cast working on this project....

In our final part of our roundup of this summer’s television scores, we’ll take a look at the shows on TNT, Syfy, HBO and Lifetime. Also check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the series for the composers on all the other major network and cable shows of the summer.

TNT:

The most successful new show of the summer on TNT is the sci-fi series Falling Skies. The project starring Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Sarah Carter and Maxim Knight is produced by Steven Spielberg and centers on an alien invasion of Earth and the resistance formed by the survivor. Also producing are Graham Yost (Justified) and Robert Rodat (writer of Saving Private Ryan). Noah Sorota is scoring the show. Check out our announcement from earlier this year here and visit Tracksounds for an audio interview with the composer. The two-hour season finale is airing tonight on TNT.

p/c Justin Stephens

One of my favorite shows last year, Memphis Beat on TNT is coming back tonight, and I'm a little nervous that it may get lost in the shuffle of summer programming. I was already worried last season that we wouldn't get season two, because even though the numbers weren't that bad, it just didn't seem like enough people were talking about it.

For the uninitiated, Memphis Beat stars Jason Lee as detective Dwight Hendricks, an investigator with a laid-back style and passion for music. His particular brand of not exactly playing by the rules (a necessity of detective-focused shows) stems uniquely from almost an overemphasis on his need to oversee Memphis' care.

The show's blend of music, charm, and Memphis as character, make for a police show like no other, and the supporting cast shines in a way that adds credibility to the general idea of honoring ensemble performances.

Chicago – Jason Lee, best known as the star of “My Name is Earl,” took a different direction last year when he took the lead as a police detective in “Memphis Beat.” The second season premiere is June 14th on TNT Network.

TV Rating: 3.0/5.0

All the characters on the show seem more comfortable in their roles, the pacing is more relaxed and the show is improved, but the common elements seen in every cop show since “Dragnet” – tough but benign department head, detective who plays by his own rules, in-station comic relief – remains proportionately intact in this by-the-book police drama.

The second season premiere starts with a tragic bang – a Memphis cop has been murdered and dumped by the Mississippi River. Detective Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee) is on the case, backed by his partner Charlie “Whitehead” White (Sam Hennings). Their precinct supervisor, Tanya Rice (Alfre Woodard), wants Dwight and Charlie split on this case,...

HollywoodNews.com: TNT is ordering a second helping of its hit series “Memphis Beat,” starring Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl”) and Alfre Woodard (“Three Rivers”). TNT has ordered 10 episodes for the second season of the series, which also stars DJ Qualls (“Hustle & Flow”). The show is slated to return in 2011.

“Memphis Beat” premiered June 22 and quickly established itself as one of the summer’s hottest shows. In its first season, “Memphis Beat” averaged 4.7 million viewers and ranked as one of ad-supported cable’s Top 5 new series of the summer and the #1 Tuesday series among adults 25-54. “Memphis Beat” was created by Liz W. Garcia (Cold Case) and Joshua Harto (The Dark Knight). The series comes to TNT from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon Television.

“’Memphis Beat’ is a real treasure: a slightly off-center crime drama with great actors, memorable characters and a soundtrack steeped in Memphis sounds,...

TNT is reportedly close to a sealing a deal to renew Memphis Beat for a second season. The cable channel previously gave a renewal to fellow freshman drama Rizzoli and Isles.

Memphis Beat follows a detective (Jason Lee) in Memphis who happens to moonlight as an Elvis impersonator. The cast includes Abraham Benrubi, Alfre Woodard, Celia Weston, DJ Qualls, Leonard Earl Howze, Robyn Lively, and Sam Hennings.

The series debuted on June 22nd to a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.33 million viewers. The numbers came down a bit after that and the 10 episode first season has averaged a 0.8 in the demo and about 3.6 million viewers. The season concluded on August 24th.

What do you think? Does Memphis Beat deserve a second season? Is it worth watching?...

Back when Mallrats was released, I swore I knew Jason Lee from somewhere. I think it was several months before I was alerted to the fact that he was a professional skateboarder, and in case that wasn’t it, I might have seen him in a music video. I didn’t have my finger on the pulse back then.

I didn’t get much out of Mallrats, but I had oddly high hopes for Lee. It took a bit for him to get going, but then nice turns in Kissing a Fool, Mumford, and Almost Famous gave me a certain sense of satisfaction. Then, for several years, I started to get rather irritated by him. All I could think was that he has better work in him, but all I kept getting was Dreamcatcher, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Jersey Girl.

You might think I’m building you...

Filed under: Celebrity Interviews

When you get asked to go to New Orleans for work, you say yes. How could anyone pass up an opportunity to visit such an amazing town? The stars of TNT's new show 'Memphis Beat' must agree with me -- contrary to the show's title, they're busy shooting in the Big Easy.

I hit the set of the show on the absolute perfect day: they were filming a birthday party scene at a bar in Algiers that's been used in movies like 'Ray' and other series like 'Treme.' The atmosphere was festive and the cast -- including Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, DJ Qualls, Sam Hennings, Abraham Benrubi and Leonard Earl Howze -- and creators Joshua Harto and Liz Garcia took the time to sit down and give me all kinds of fun scoop on the show.

Take a look at the interviews to...

TNT has added three more shows to its lineup of originals, picking up a pair of cop shows for later this year and a Steven Spielberg-produced drama about an alien invasion for 2011.

The cable channel has picked up 10 episodes each of the untitled alien series, which stars Noah Wyle as the leader of a resistance group; "Delta Blues," featuring Jason Lee as a quirky Memphis cop; and "Rizzoli & Isles," about a Boston homicide detective (Angie Harmon) and medical examiner (Sasha Alexander) who work together on cases.

"Delta Blues" will star Lee ("My Name Is Earl") as Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police officer with deep ties to the city who lives with his mom (Celia Weston). Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") plays his boss; the cast also includes Robyn Lively ("Savannah," "Saving Grace"), Sam Hennings, Abraham Benrubi ("ER"), DJ Qualls ("Hustle & Flow") and Leonard Earl Howze. George Clooney and Grant Heslov...

Sam Hennings, Robyn Lively and Leonard Earl Howze have landed co-starring roles opposite Jason Lee on TNT's hourlong pilot "Delta Blues," executive produced by George Clooney.

From Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon, "Blues" centers on Dwight Hendricks (Lee), a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother and moonlights as an Elvis impersonator.

Hennings (Hallmark Channel's "Elevator Girl"), repped by Pro Talent and Thirdhill, will play Dwight's partner Whitehead.

Lively ("Saving Grace"), repped by Fortitude, will play Charlene, Dwight's ex-wife whose catering company is contracted by the Mpd.

Howze ("Barbershop") will play a detective who works closely with Dwight and Whitehead. He is managed by Krirzer Levine Wilkins Griffin.

Clark Johnson is directing the pilot from a script by Liz Garcia and Joshua Harto. Clooney, Heslov, Garcia and Johnson serve as exec producers, with Henry Bronchtein and Abby Wolf-Weiss co-exec producing and Harto producing.

We just discovered from our sources that it looks like the long rumored film Barbershop 3 is finally moving forward. There has been no official word from the studio, but our sources tell us that the film is in the works. As of this writing no one –including Ice Cube and Cedric The Entertainer- has been attached to the film as of yet, and we are not sure if there is a scrip yet, but we do know that the studio has expressed extreme interest in bringing back the entire cast for the film, and has finally gave the film the green light.

In case you missed the two previous films made in 2002 and 2004, the Barbershop films are basically about a day in the life of a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. The lead character Calvin (portrayed by Ice Cube), inherits the struggling business from his deceased father,...

Opens

Friday, Feb. 6

An appealing cast inhabits well-defined characters with warmth and ease in this reunion of the Barbershop staff. Exec producing this time, Ice Cube reprises his turn as good-guy straight man to a winning comedy ensemble, while Cedric the Entertainer steps into an expanded role as the memorably opinionated, "semiretired" barber Eddie. Again pitting the beloved neighborhood institution against unwholesome business interests, Barbershop 2: Back in Business has a rollicking time reaching its foreseeable conclusion. With the built-in draw of an established concept and the addition of Queen Latifah, the film should have the legs to surpass its predecessor's take of $75 million.

The script by Don D. Scott, one of the 2002 hit's three writers, is more earthbound than the first installment. In place of painfully dumb thieves and unbelievable police raids is a bit of social context. Chicago itself is more of a presence, from its elevated trains to its late-'60s turmoil. Opening with a slice of back story from 1967 that shows how Eddie first arrived at the South Side barbershop, the film jumps into present-day action with his rant about biracial public figures and the D.C. snipers.

Given the controversy the first film stirred up with its skewering of civil rights icons, the comments this time around don't have quite the same shock value. As funny as Eddie's contrarian attitudes can be -- especially in Cedric's inimitable delivery -- there's a sense in the early going that the film is trying too hard, in its good-natured way, to offend. Once director Kevin Rodney Sullivan (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) relaxes into the story, though, the rants become an integral part of the nonstop kibitzing.

Having withstood money troubles and loan-shark maneuvers in the first film, Calvin (Ice Cube) finds his shop targeted by a cigar-chomping developer (Harry Lennix) who's installing Chicago's first branch of the Nappy Cutz chain directly across the street. Boasting such amenities as titanium clippers, leather smocks and flat-screen TVs, not to mention room to play hoops, the new haircut emporium gives Calvin ample reason to worry. Go-getter Jimmy Sean Patrick Thomas), who has left barbering for politics -- Eddie calls him West Wing -- tries to help Calvin save his business, appealing to his verbiage-spouting boss, Alderman Brown (Robert Wisdom).

As they navigate personality clashes and other tensions, Calvin's haircutters remain more or less united, especially against Calvin's fresh-from-barber-school cousin (SNL's Kenan Thompson), who they wordlessly agree is an annoyance and a fool. Isaac (Troy Garity), the sole white barber, is more convinced than ever of his haircutting super-talents, and Nigerian immigrant Dinka Leonard Earl Howze) still harbors a crush on take-no-prisoners Terri (Eve), who's catching everyone off-guard with her serenity-now enlightenment -- she's even willing to share her apple juice. Ex-con Ricky (Michael Ealy) is still secretive and enigmatic when Terri discovers what he's been up to, she uncovers another surprise in the process.

Introducing the role she'll play in the upcoming spinoff Beauty Shop, Queen Latifah makes an impression as Gina, an ex-girlfriend of Calvin's and a stylist at the women's salon next door -- where things really get raunchy. Gina and Eddie face off in a rousing bout of insult comedy that's one of the film's best scenes, not only for the laughs but for the underlying affection.

Colorful, witty production and costume design heighten the spirited proceedings, and cinematographer Tom Priestley effectively uses black-and-white and desaturated color in flashback sequences. Helmer Sullivan keeps it all moving at a lively pace. Despite the predictable story arc, he and writer Scott generally avoid plot tidiness, letting strands unwind and overlap, propelled by the terrific actors.

BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS

MGM

State Street Pictures/Cube Vision

Credits:

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Screenwriter: Don D. Scott

Producers: Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr., Alex Gartner

Executive producers: Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez, Mark Brown

Director of photography: Tom Priestley

Production designer: Robb Wilson King

Music: Richard Gibbs

Costume designer: Jennifer Bryan

Editor: Paul Seydor

Cast:

Calvin: Ice Cube

Eddie: Cedric the Entertainer

Jimmy: Sean Patrick Thomas

Terri: Eve

Isaac: Troy Garity

Ricky: Michael Ealy

Dinka: Leonard Earl Howze

Quentin Leroux: Harry Lennix

Alderman Brown: Robert Wisdom

Kenard: Kenan Thompson

Gina: Queen Latifah

Loretta: Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

Miss Emma: Jackie Taylor

Running time -- 106 minutes

MPAA rating PG-13...