Growing up in Omaha, Amber Ruffin didn’t have many role models who looked like her. “I had not seen Black female performances that weren’t a stereotype and honestly, it was a while until it became regular.” Luckily, there were two movies on regular rotation in her home: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “The Wiz.”
The first started Oscar-winner Whoopi Goldberg, in whose hyphenate shoes Ruffin would follow, becoming an actor, host, writer and comedian. And the latter was the big-screen adaptation of the revolutionary 1974 Broadway musical, a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” with an all-Black cast and bumping tunes that blended rock, gospel and soul. Says Ruffin of the films, “They were just so specific and weird that it was like an invitation to be yourself. So I had to squeeze all of the belonging out of those two movies and they lasted me well beyond childhood.”
One...
The first started Oscar-winner Whoopi Goldberg, in whose hyphenate shoes Ruffin would follow, becoming an actor, host, writer and comedian. And the latter was the big-screen adaptation of the revolutionary 1974 Broadway musical, a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” with an all-Black cast and bumping tunes that blended rock, gospel and soul. Says Ruffin of the films, “They were just so specific and weird that it was like an invitation to be yourself. So I had to squeeze all of the belonging out of those two movies and they lasted me well beyond childhood.”
One...
- 4/30/2024
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Straight to Cards, the production company set up 18 months ago by Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel, has upped Justin McGriff.
McGriff, who was a creative executive at the company, which has an overall deal with Universal Television, has been promoted to Vice President.
It comes after Ruffin set up her latest scripted project at Peacock. The Late Night with Seth Meyers writer is developing an adaptation of You’ll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey, the book she wrote with her sister Lacey Lamar, for the streamer.
McGriff is a producer and executive with roots in late-night comedy. Beginning his television career at Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he first met Ruffin and Hagel, McGriff became a supervisor on the show before helping to launch The Amber Ruffin Show in 2020. He became a producer on the show in 2021.
He also helped develop Ruffin’s previous scripted project, Non-Evil Twin,...
McGriff, who was a creative executive at the company, which has an overall deal with Universal Television, has been promoted to Vice President.
It comes after Ruffin set up her latest scripted project at Peacock. The Late Night with Seth Meyers writer is developing an adaptation of You’ll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey, the book she wrote with her sister Lacey Lamar, for the streamer.
McGriff is a producer and executive with roots in late-night comedy. Beginning his television career at Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he first met Ruffin and Hagel, McGriff became a supervisor on the show before helping to launch The Amber Ruffin Show in 2020. He became a producer on the show in 2021.
He also helped develop Ruffin’s previous scripted project, Non-Evil Twin,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Amber Ruffin has another scripted project in the works with NBCUniversal.
The comedian, who writes for Late Night with Seth Meyers and hosts The Amber Ruffin Show, has been developing an adaptation of You’ll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey, the book she wrote with her sister Lacey Lamar, for Peacock.
It comes after her last scripted project, her Non-Evil Twin pilot, did not move forward at NBC.
However, NBCUniversal remains keen to work with Ruffin, once the writers and actors strikes have ended. Ruffin and her writing partner Jenny Hagel signed an overall deal with Universal Television last year, through their new production company Straight To Cards.
It also comes as the future of her Peacock variety series The Amber Ruffin Show is unclear.
The show has run for three seasons on the streamer after launching in September 2020. The first two seasons were weekly, airing every Friday,...
The comedian, who writes for Late Night with Seth Meyers and hosts The Amber Ruffin Show, has been developing an adaptation of You’ll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey, the book she wrote with her sister Lacey Lamar, for Peacock.
It comes after her last scripted project, her Non-Evil Twin pilot, did not move forward at NBC.
However, NBCUniversal remains keen to work with Ruffin, once the writers and actors strikes have ended. Ruffin and her writing partner Jenny Hagel signed an overall deal with Universal Television last year, through their new production company Straight To Cards.
It also comes as the future of her Peacock variety series The Amber Ruffin Show is unclear.
The show has run for three seasons on the streamer after launching in September 2020. The first two seasons were weekly, airing every Friday,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC has handed out its latest comedy pilot to Non-Evil Twin, starring and written by Amber Ruffin.
The multi-camera pilot stars Ruffin as a woman who is forced to step in to her sister’s role as the leader of a Fortune 500 company despite knowing little about business and even less about the way her sister has been running the corporation.
It marks the first pilot for Ruffin, who wrote a book — You’ll Never Believe What Happens to Lacey — with her older sister Lacey Lamar, after she and her writing partner Jenny Hagel signed an overall deal with Universal Television, which will produce the potential series via their new production company Straight to Cards.
However, the move comes as Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Ruffin continues to scale back the amount of episodes of her own late-night show, The Amber Ruffin Show.
While the first two seasons of the Peacock series were weekly,...
The multi-camera pilot stars Ruffin as a woman who is forced to step in to her sister’s role as the leader of a Fortune 500 company despite knowing little about business and even less about the way her sister has been running the corporation.
It marks the first pilot for Ruffin, who wrote a book — You’ll Never Believe What Happens to Lacey — with her older sister Lacey Lamar, after she and her writing partner Jenny Hagel signed an overall deal with Universal Television, which will produce the potential series via their new production company Straight to Cards.
However, the move comes as Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Ruffin continues to scale back the amount of episodes of her own late-night show, The Amber Ruffin Show.
While the first two seasons of the Peacock series were weekly,...
- 2/14/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: iHeartMedia is launching its latest slate of original podcasts with shows from the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Jason Alexander, Eric Andre and Amber Ruffin as well as a Curb Your Enthusiasm rewatch series.
It is rolling out The History of Curb Your Enthusiasm with Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin, Onward with Rosie O’Donnell (w/t), Really? No, Really? from Alexander, The Amber and Lacey Show/Lacey and Amber Show (w/t) and Bombing with Eric Andre.
Related Story Richard Lewis Confirms Return To Larry David's ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm' For Season 12 Related Story Wilmer Valderrama Becomes Shareholder In iHeartMedia's My Cultura Podcast Network Related Story 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Renewed For 12th Season By HBO
The company is behind podcasts such as The Ron Burgundy Podcast, Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy from The Daily Show and Man Thinkers from George Kareman and Dan Klein.
The History...
It is rolling out The History of Curb Your Enthusiasm with Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin, Onward with Rosie O’Donnell (w/t), Really? No, Really? from Alexander, The Amber and Lacey Show/Lacey and Amber Show (w/t) and Bombing with Eric Andre.
Related Story Richard Lewis Confirms Return To Larry David's ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm' For Season 12 Related Story Wilmer Valderrama Becomes Shareholder In iHeartMedia's My Cultura Podcast Network Related Story 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Renewed For 12th Season By HBO
The company is behind podcasts such as The Ron Burgundy Podcast, Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy from The Daily Show and Man Thinkers from George Kareman and Dan Klein.
The History...
- 11/29/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Amber Ruffin Show will officially be back for a second season after Peacock renewed the late-night talk show.
The show launched in September 2020 and was picked up for an additional 10 episodes in December before being picked up through September in May.
The renewal means that the show, hosted by the eponymous Late Night with Seth Meyers writer, will begin its second season on October 8 with new episodes dropping every Friday.
“We are thrilled to keep doing what we love for another season,” said Ruffin. “Margaritas for everyone.”
The show, which sees Ruffin give her signature take on the week’s news with added bits, songs, and bowties, welcomed back a live studio audience in August, and the new season also will have a crowd.
It also recently picked up an Emmy writing nom for the first time, competing in the Writing for a Variety Series category with Ashley Nicole Black competing against herself,...
The show launched in September 2020 and was picked up for an additional 10 episodes in December before being picked up through September in May.
The renewal means that the show, hosted by the eponymous Late Night with Seth Meyers writer, will begin its second season on October 8 with new episodes dropping every Friday.
“We are thrilled to keep doing what we love for another season,” said Ruffin. “Margaritas for everyone.”
The show, which sees Ruffin give her signature take on the week’s news with added bits, songs, and bowties, welcomed back a live studio audience in August, and the new season also will have a crowd.
It also recently picked up an Emmy writing nom for the first time, competing in the Writing for a Variety Series category with Ashley Nicole Black competing against herself,...
- 9/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock has renewed “The Amber Ruffin Show” for a second season, which will premiere on Oct. 8 with new episodes releasing every Friday.
The late night series features Ruffin’s personal and comedic takes on each week’s news. Along with hosting and writing, she executive produces the show.
“We are thrilled to keep doing what we love for another season,” Ruffin said. “Margaritas for everyone!”
Ruffin, also a writer and performer for NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” received an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing for a variety series on the Peacock show bearing her name. It is her fifth Emmy nomination — she previously received four nominations for her writing on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”
She is competing against “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” “SNL” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” for the trophy on Sunday.
Ruffin was the first African...
The late night series features Ruffin’s personal and comedic takes on each week’s news. Along with hosting and writing, she executive produces the show.
“We are thrilled to keep doing what we love for another season,” Ruffin said. “Margaritas for everyone!”
Ruffin, also a writer and performer for NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” received an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing for a variety series on the Peacock show bearing her name. It is her fifth Emmy nomination — she previously received four nominations for her writing on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”
She is competing against “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” “SNL” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” for the trophy on Sunday.
Ruffin was the first African...
- 9/14/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
When comedian Amber Ruffin opened a week's worth of Late Night With Seth Meyers episodes by retelling her own harrowing run-ins with the police, she made it clear her experiences were hardly unique in the Black community. Now, Ruffin has teamed up with sister Lacey Lamar to share even more enraging and witty stories about everyday bigotry in their new book, You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism ($18).
We're thrilled to announce we're hosting both Amber and Lacey in our Popsugar Book Club Facebook group on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1:30 p.m. Pt/4:30 p.m. Et for an exclusive live chat. Tune in via Facebook Live, and ask them all your burning questions about their new bestselling book and the jaw-dropping experiences that inspired it.
To join this free event, become a member of our Popsugar Book Club Facebook group today. Don't forget to pick...
We're thrilled to announce we're hosting both Amber and Lacey in our Popsugar Book Club Facebook group on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1:30 p.m. Pt/4:30 p.m. Et for an exclusive live chat. Tune in via Facebook Live, and ask them all your burning questions about their new bestselling book and the jaw-dropping experiences that inspired it.
To join this free event, become a member of our Popsugar Book Club Facebook group today. Don't forget to pick...
- 2/12/2021
- by Lisa Peterson
- Popsugar.com
Amber Ruffin has joined the Broadway-bound team of Some Like It Hot as a co-writer of the film-to-stage adaptation. The host of Peacock’s The Amber Ruffin Show will partner with Tony nominee Matthew López on the new musical’s book.
The announcement was made today by producers The Shubert Organization and Neil Meron. In a statement, producers Meron and Bob Wankel also said that Kenny Leon is joining the producing team.
Some Like It Hot, based on MGM’s 1959 Billy Wilder comedy film starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, is targeted to begin performances on Broadway in 2022.
Ruffin, a four-time Emmy-nominated writer for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, joins a creative team that includes book writer López (Broadway’s The Inheritance), Hairspray composer Marc Shaiman and his co-lyricist Scott Wittman, and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
“I am so thrilled to be...
The announcement was made today by producers The Shubert Organization and Neil Meron. In a statement, producers Meron and Bob Wankel also said that Kenny Leon is joining the producing team.
Some Like It Hot, based on MGM’s 1959 Billy Wilder comedy film starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, is targeted to begin performances on Broadway in 2022.
Ruffin, a four-time Emmy-nominated writer for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, joins a creative team that includes book writer López (Broadway’s The Inheritance), Hairspray composer Marc Shaiman and his co-lyricist Scott Wittman, and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
“I am so thrilled to be...
- 2/10/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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