Television
Queen Latifah will host the 55th NAACP Image Awards
The 55th NAACP Image Awards return for one more 12 months of celebrating Black excellence and recognizing the high achievements of changemakers.
Multi-talented musician and actress Queen Latifah will return to host the annual ceremony, which will air live this month on BET and CBS.
“The NAACP Image Awards are an important celebration for our community and industry every year. We have the opportunity to highlight the major achievements of artists, writers, animators, activists and other changemakers who are moving Black excellence forward in powerful ways,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.
Amanda Gorman attracted national attention as a beacon of hope and inspiration after reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. The award-winning creator, inaugural poet and activist will receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award for outstanding efforts in public service and using your platform to advocate for change.
Costume designer June Ambrose will even be honored and recognized at the ceremony for her groundbreaking contributions to costume design and fashion in the entertainment industry. Known for designing the costumes for Hype Williams’ 1998 film “Belly” and styling influential artists corresponding to Missy Elliott and Jay Z, Ambrose will take home this 12 months’s Vanguard Award.
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“We are thrilled to be working with breakout megastar Queen Latifah and are thrilled to welcome her back as this year’s host! We also look forward to honoring changemaker and poet Amanda Gorman and fashion icon June Ambrose for their profound cultural impact,” said Connie Orlando, vp of specials and music strategy at BET. “Queen Latifah, the NAACP and Pastis have been incredible partners in amplifying black culture, excellence, creativity and ingenuity, and this year’s unforgettable show will be no different.”
The NAACP Image Awards will also honor the outstanding achievements of other Black pioneers who’re making an impact in 80 categories: film, television, streaming, music, literature and podcasts.
Previous winners include Angela Bassett, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Beyoncé, Nicco Annan, Ruth E. Carter, Glynn Turman, Quinta Brunson, Nia Long, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown and lots of other industry powerhouses.
The celebratory event will air on Saturday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
Television
Kim Godwin is leaving her position as president of ABC News after three years as the first Black woman to serve as the network’s news chief
NEW YORK (AP) — Kim Godwin is leaving after three tumultuous years as president of ABC News, a move that was announced earlier this yr when Walt Disney Co., the network’s owner, named one of its executives, Debra O’Connell, to oversee the division the news.
Godwin, the first Black woman to lead the network’s news division, announced Sunday that she was leaving the company. O’Connell said she would respond “for now” with the future in mind.
Godwin inherited a news division where his two top programs, “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” led rivals CBS and NBC in the rankings. They are still in the lead, although there was some slippage at “Good Morning America” following the chaotic departures of anchors TJ Holmes and Amy Robach and the move of Cecilia Vega to CBS News.
Godwin was hired as an outsider at CBS News and was affected by complaints about her management style that made it to print.
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In a memo to employees, Godwin said she understood and appreciated the importance of being the first Black woman to hold such a outstanding role in television news.
“It is both a privilege and a debt to those who blew the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity and an unwavering determination to be the best in the industry,” she wrote.
After working at ABC, CBS, NBC and 10 local news stations in nine cities, Godwin announced she was leaving the company.
“I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success,” she wrote.
Television
‘Good Times’ showrunner reacts to intense backlash against animated reboot
Two weeks have passed since Netflix released the animated reboot of “Good Times”, and its showrunner is counting on the audience’s response.
In a recent interview with Hollywood reportershowrunner Ranada Shepard said she understood the uproar and intense feedback from viewers who watched episodes of the reboot.
“There was no framing for the audience, it was just: watch it and form your own opinion. They observed and formed an opinion,” Shepard told the outlet.
Even before the episodes premiered, the discourse quickly spread online after Netflix released the primary official trailer for the animation in March. Social media users were offended by the brand new show’s portrayal of the family, saying it deviated from the unique 1974 series “Good Times.” Instead of reflecting the morals and values of a working-class black family, as viewers claimed, the brand new series does the alternative by incorporating negative stereotypes.
Shepard empathized with the shocking reactions from fans of the unique “Good Times,” but noted that the reboot was intended to be different from the early sitcom.
She told The Hollywood Reporter that she understands “if it’s jarring. Because they needed someone to tell everyone, “I do know you are used to this sweet sitcom, however it’s not only a reimagining, it’s a unique genre that requires it to be loud and offensive, with edgy and inappropriate jokes.” Without this type of framing, you’ll be able to never blame the audience and I’d never do it.”
Before Shepard’s comments, members of the unique Good Times forged shared their thoughts on the animation ahead of its release. John Amos, who played patriarch James Evans, touched on the challenges of newer projects living up to their predecessors. BernNadette Stanis, who played daughter Thelma Evans, said she didn’t expect the show to be what it was.
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The showrunner said she understands the reboot won’t be accessible to all viewers, especially those that might not be conversant in this particular genre of television.
“Listen, there are people for whom this won’t work,” Shepard he said. “But I ask these people, ‘Do you watch adult animation?’ Because I know a lot of people don’t watch adult animation, so if that’s not your genre, this genre will be difficult for you. But are these well-written stories that stand up to social commentary and each of them carries a message? Absolutely.”
Despite the controversy, Shepard is behind the reboot and urges viewers to give it a likelihood and watch all 10 episodes.
Television
Kid Cudi says playing ‘Knuckles’ is a ‘dream come true’
“Knuckles” is about Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba), a character from the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, who is tasked with training deputy sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) in the humanities of the Echidna warrior. Along the best way, Knuckles must defeat the Merchant, who wants his power, and Agent Mason, who works for the supervillain.
“The 10-year-old Scott in me was screaming like a schoolgirl,” Cudi says. “I think every now and then when you’re in this business, there are moments where you think, ‘Wow, this is a really amazing experience.’ I’m part of something mega.”
“Being involved in any way was a dream come true,” adds the 40-year-old. “Even when I was writing the song for ‘Sonic (The Hedgehog) 2,’ it was still very important to me, even working on the music video. The whole experience was so huge. Making “Knuckles” – words cannot express what all of it was like for me. It was crazy.”
“Knuckles” was the primary film in Cudi’s profession through which he was expected to look alongside computer-generated imagery. According to Cudi, “it takes some getting used to,” who claims that a lot of his scenes involved fighting and interacting with an animated Knuckles.
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“Once I got into a rhythm, we did a lot of training before we started filming (the series), choreographing all the fight scenes and so on,” he explained. “But there was definitely a learning curve involved. I’ve just done some action (in “Silent Night” and “The Crater”), but never on this scale. I also dabbled in knitting, which I had never done before.”
“Knuckles” is concerning the warrior spirit of Echidna, and it’s a sentiment Cudi can relate to. When asked if there is anything he approaches with the identical tenacity, the rapper-actor lists touring as one in every of the principal activities in his life, as a warrior.
– I’m occurring tour this summer, right? Cudi says. “It’s about 45 dates in total, but the primary block is about 31 dates. Every time you are on tour, across the twenty first show, you begin to feel it. It’s really these last 10 performances that say you might have to fight this. I mean, you enjoy it. But you then understand it’s work.
“I do two-and-a-half-hour shows every other night, and sometimes back-to-back shows. It takes a lot of my body and a lot of my voice. When I’m on the road and I’m in the trenches, I really think, “Hey, I’ve got to deal with this.” I have to be a warrior.”
Shortly after this interview, Cudi he broke his leg during an appearance on the 2024 Coachella music festival in Indio, California, which resulted within the cancellation of the “Insano: Engage the Rage” world tour.
“Knuckles” is now available to stream on Paramount+.
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