On a wall in the top corner of Nkechi Okoro Carroll’s office hangs a photo from THR‘s 2018 Women in Entertainment issue. In it, the All American showrunner appears alongside 61 fellow Black women writers who are part of the Black Women Who Brunch group she co-founded with Lena Waithe and Erika L. Johnson in 2014 to create a network among their growing community within Hollywood. Membership has now swelled to 223 creatives at last count.
“That is the reason why I don’t feel lonely,” says Carroll, who is one of just a handful of Black women who’ve been at the helm of TV shows that have aired 100 episodes: Shonda Rhimes (Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal); Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends); Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single); Debbie Allen (A Different World). “Everyone is always so grateful to us for starting it, but it’s truly been a gift to me.”
All American,...
“That is the reason why I don’t feel lonely,” says Carroll, who is one of just a handful of Black women who’ve been at the helm of TV shows that have aired 100 episodes: Shonda Rhimes (Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal); Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends); Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single); Debbie Allen (A Different World). “Everyone is always so grateful to us for starting it, but it’s truly been a gift to me.”
All American,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Black List and Women In Film (Wif) have announced the participants selected for their sixth annual episodic lab.
Out of a record 1,200 applicants, six pilots from eight writers have been chosen to participate in the professional development-focused lab which includes master classes, pitch coaching, mentoring, and introductions to television industry representatives to help build writing careers. Over the past six years, previous mentors and instructors for the lab have included Monica Beletsky (Parenthood), Carly Wray (Watchmen), Sono Patel (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Glen Mazzara (The Dark Tower), Kira Snyder (The Handmaid’s Tale), Erika L. Johnson (The Good Lord Bird), and Lauren LeFranc (Impulse).
Lab alumni have worked successfully in television with 80% having representation in the industry, with over 80% having representation during or following the Lab, 44% staffed on television shows, and the majority continuing to work in entertainment.
“We’re so proud of our participants, past and present, who continue to persevere in an incredibly competitive landscape.
Out of a record 1,200 applicants, six pilots from eight writers have been chosen to participate in the professional development-focused lab which includes master classes, pitch coaching, mentoring, and introductions to television industry representatives to help build writing careers. Over the past six years, previous mentors and instructors for the lab have included Monica Beletsky (Parenthood), Carly Wray (Watchmen), Sono Patel (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Glen Mazzara (The Dark Tower), Kira Snyder (The Handmaid’s Tale), Erika L. Johnson (The Good Lord Bird), and Lauren LeFranc (Impulse).
Lab alumni have worked successfully in television with 80% having representation in the industry, with over 80% having representation during or following the Lab, 44% staffed on television shows, and the majority continuing to work in entertainment.
“We’re so proud of our participants, past and present, who continue to persevere in an incredibly competitive landscape.
- 10/13/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Marti Noxon and Jessica Rhoades are behind Torchlighter Dinners, a series of gatherings for women in television to talk all things industry – from finding the right agent, creating a diverse writers room to fighting for pay parity. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic the duo, who became close friends after executive producing together Sharp Objects, took their intimate gatherings to Zoom for Atx, where they invited a group of top showrunners and up-and-coming writers, Tanya Saracho (Vida), Nichelle Tramble Spellman (Truth Be Told), Janine Nabers (Atlanta), Jenniffer Gomez (Vida), Sarah Acosta (Second Wave) and Erika L. Johnson (The Good Lord Bird), to share best practices and common experiences as women in Hollywood.
Noxon and Rhoades kicked off their “An Evening with Torchlighters” panel, which will be released by Atx tomorrow, April 29 at 5 Pm (you can watch it here), revealing that the inspiration for their intimate gatherings, which would typically be in-person...
Noxon and Rhoades kicked off their “An Evening with Torchlighters” panel, which will be released by Atx tomorrow, April 29 at 5 Pm (you can watch it here), revealing that the inspiration for their intimate gatherings, which would typically be in-person...
- 4/28/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
The Writers Guild of America announced their WGA Awards TV nominations for on Wednesday, February 3. After getting just one bid from the Golden Globes earlier in the day, AMC’s “Better Call Saul” rebounded to top all shows with five nominations including for Drama Series along with Amazon Studios’ “The Boys,” Disney +’s “The Mandalorian” and Netflix’s “The Crown” and “Ozark.”
Hulu lands two shows in contention for Comedy Series with “The Great” and “PEN15,” making the streaming service the only company to score multiple nominees in the category. They are joined by HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” and FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Another notable feat belongs to “The Simpsons,” which dominates the animation category with four of the six nominations. Despite premiering over 30 years ago, the Fox series shows no signs of writer’s fatigue. “Bob’s Burgers” and “BoJack Horseman...
Hulu lands two shows in contention for Comedy Series with “The Great” and “PEN15,” making the streaming service the only company to score multiple nominees in the category. They are joined by HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” and FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Another notable feat belongs to “The Simpsons,” which dominates the animation category with four of the six nominations. Despite premiering over 30 years ago, the Fox series shows no signs of writer’s fatigue. “Bob’s Burgers” and “BoJack Horseman...
- 2/4/2021
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
The WGA on Wednesday unveiled nominations for its 2021 WGA Awards in the categories of TV, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing during 2020. Winners will be honored March 21 in a virtual ceremony.
AMC’s Better Call Saul topped all shows with five nominations including for Drama Series, joining a list that includes Amazon Studios’ The Boys, Netflix’s The Crown (which led the way on the TV side at the Golden Globe nominations earlier today) and Ozark and Disney+’s The Mandalorian.
Also making noise today is Hulu, the only other company to have multiple noms in the top categories; it scored in Comedy with Tony McNamara’s The Great and Pen15 and FX on Hulu’s What We Do in the Shadows, which are joined in the race by HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.
Lasso is also nominated in the New Series,...
AMC’s Better Call Saul topped all shows with five nominations including for Drama Series, joining a list that includes Amazon Studios’ The Boys, Netflix’s The Crown (which led the way on the TV side at the Golden Globe nominations earlier today) and Ozark and Disney+’s The Mandalorian.
Also making noise today is Hulu, the only other company to have multiple noms in the top categories; it scored in Comedy with Tony McNamara’s The Great and Pen15 and FX on Hulu’s What We Do in the Shadows, which are joined in the race by HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.
Lasso is also nominated in the New Series,...
- 2/3/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The nominations for the 2021 Writers Guild Award TV categories were announced on Wednesday, with streaming series dominating the lineup.
Both the drama series and the comedy series categories were majority streaming, with hits like “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Mandalorian,” “The Crown” and “Ozark” sitting alongside fan-favorites like “PEN15,” “The Great” and “Ted Lasso.” Other nominees included HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant,” HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” and Showtime’s “Good Lord Bird.
“Better Call Saul” also landed three additional nominations for individual episodes, with “Ozark” picking up another. “The Great” and “Ted Lasso” both picked up nomination for individual episodes as well as for Best New Series.
Comedy and variety nominees included Peacock’s fledgling late-night show, “The Amber Ruffin Show,” Amazon’s “Yearly Departed,” the one-off “30 Rock” reunion special and Stephen Colbert’s 2020 election coverage on Showtime.
Nominations in the film categories will be announced later this month,...
Both the drama series and the comedy series categories were majority streaming, with hits like “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Mandalorian,” “The Crown” and “Ozark” sitting alongside fan-favorites like “PEN15,” “The Great” and “Ted Lasso.” Other nominees included HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant,” HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” and Showtime’s “Good Lord Bird.
“Better Call Saul” also landed three additional nominations for individual episodes, with “Ozark” picking up another. “The Great” and “Ted Lasso” both picked up nomination for individual episodes as well as for Best New Series.
Comedy and variety nominees included Peacock’s fledgling late-night show, “The Amber Ruffin Show,” Amazon’s “Yearly Departed,” the one-off “30 Rock” reunion special and Stephen Colbert’s 2020 election coverage on Showtime.
Nominations in the film categories will be announced later this month,...
- 2/3/2021
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
“Better Call Saul” are among the top nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, landing a nod for best drama series, as well as three nominations in the episodic drama category. “The Simpsons” landed four nominations in best animation, while newcomers “Ted Lasso” and “The Great” both scored nominations in best comedy, new series and episodic comedy. Winners will be honored at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on Sunday, March 21, 2021. Here’s the complete list of nominations, announced on Wednesday morning:
Drama Series
“Better Call Saul,” Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Ariel Levine, Heather Marion, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock; AMC
“The Boys,” Written by Eric Kripke, Ellie Monahan, Anslem Richardson, Craig Rosenberg, Michael Saltzman, Rebecca Sonnenshine; Amazon Prime Video
“The Crown,” Written by Peter Morgan, Jonathan Wilson; Netflix
“The Mandalorian,” Written by Rick Famuyiwa, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni; Disney Plus
“Ozark,” Written by Laura Deeley,...
Drama Series
“Better Call Saul,” Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Ariel Levine, Heather Marion, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock; AMC
“The Boys,” Written by Eric Kripke, Ellie Monahan, Anslem Richardson, Craig Rosenberg, Michael Saltzman, Rebecca Sonnenshine; Amazon Prime Video
“The Crown,” Written by Peter Morgan, Jonathan Wilson; Netflix
“The Mandalorian,” Written by Rick Famuyiwa, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni; Disney Plus
“Ozark,” Written by Laura Deeley,...
- 2/3/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Nominations for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards were announced on Tuesday, and ABC’s black-ish and HBO’s Lovecraft Country led TV’s comedy and drama packs, respectively.
Topping all of TV as it did in 2020 (and the year before…), black-ish amassed 11 total nominations, including recognition for Outstanding Comedy Series and eight of its stars. (Last year, black-ish won in nearly every category for which it was nominated, including its fifth consecutive trophy for Outstanding Comedy). HBO’s Insecure followed with seven total comedy nods.
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Topping all of TV as it did in 2020 (and the year before…), black-ish amassed 11 total nominations, including recognition for Outstanding Comedy Series and eight of its stars. (Last year, black-ish won in nearly every category for which it was nominated, including its fifth consecutive trophy for Outstanding Comedy). HBO’s Insecure followed with seven total comedy nods.
More from TVLineBridgerton Is Now Netflix's Biggest Series Launch In the Streamer's HistoryTV Ratings: NCIS Rises,...
- 2/2/2021
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union-founded I’ll Have Another Productions has picked up the rights to The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, the debut novel from broadcast journalist Anissa Gray. The book is being developed into a series under I’ll Have Another’s first-look production deal with Sony Pictures Television.
Erika L. Johnson, a writer/producer who’s worked on shows like Queen Sugar, Shades Of Blue, and Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird, will pen the adaptation and serve as an executive producer.
Published in 2019, the story explores sisterhood, mothers and daughters, identity within a family, and how the relationships that form who you are, can also be the ones to swallow you whole. It’s about three sisters whose lives are thrown into chaos when the eldest sister and her husband are arrested for white-collar crimes in a small Michigan town. This incident will expose each sister’s deep-buried childhood trauma,...
Erika L. Johnson, a writer/producer who’s worked on shows like Queen Sugar, Shades Of Blue, and Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird, will pen the adaptation and serve as an executive producer.
Published in 2019, the story explores sisterhood, mothers and daughters, identity within a family, and how the relationships that form who you are, can also be the ones to swallow you whole. It’s about three sisters whose lives are thrown into chaos when the eldest sister and her husband are arrested for white-collar crimes in a small Michigan town. This incident will expose each sister’s deep-buried childhood trauma,...
- 10/14/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Chinonye Chukwu, in the awards conversation this season for her Sundance-winning death row drama Clemency, has been set to direct the first two episodes of HBO Max’s Americanah. The 10-episode limited series, written and showrun by Danai Gurira, stars Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh, Uzo Aduba and Corey Hawkins.
The series will premiere on HBO Max, the upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service set to launch in the spring. The news was revealed during the streamer’s turn Wednesday at the TCA winter press tour.
Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bestselling novel, Americanah tells the epic story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the West, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black.
The series will premiere on HBO Max, the upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service set to launch in the spring. The news was revealed during the streamer’s turn Wednesday at the TCA winter press tour.
Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bestselling novel, Americanah tells the epic story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the West, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black.
- 1/15/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Corey Hawkins (In the Heights) is set for a leading role alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh and Uzo Aduba in HBO Max’s Americanah, the limited series based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Americanah tells the epic story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
Hawkins will play Blaine, Ifemelu’s present-day boyfriend and Yale Professor, who is madly in love with her. Deeply passionate about social injustices,...
Americanah tells the epic story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
Hawkins will play Blaine, Ifemelu’s present-day boyfriend and Yale Professor, who is madly in love with her. Deeply passionate about social injustices,...
- 1/14/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Corey Hawkins has been cast in a lead role in the upcoming HBO Max series “Americanah,” Variety has learned.
Hawkins joins previously announced stars Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh, and Uzo Aduba. The series is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
“Americanah” is a 10-episode limited series that tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
Hawkins will play Blaine, Ifemelu’s present-day boyfriend and Yale Professor,...
Hawkins joins previously announced stars Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh, and Uzo Aduba. The series is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
“Americanah” is a 10-episode limited series that tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
Hawkins will play Blaine, Ifemelu’s present-day boyfriend and Yale Professor,...
- 1/14/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Max has cast Corey Hawkins in a leading role alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh and Uzo Aduba in its upcoming “Americanah” limited series.
The 10 episode series is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Here’s HBO Max’s official description:
Also Read: 'Vice' Docuseries Revival Gets Premiere Date From Showtime
“‘Americanah’ tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London. A highly...
The 10 episode series is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Here’s HBO Max’s official description:
Also Read: 'Vice' Docuseries Revival Gets Premiere Date From Showtime
“‘Americanah’ tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London. A highly...
- 1/14/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Five months ago, THR ran a story about Black Women Who Brunch (Bwb), a group created by writer-producers Lena Waithe (The Chi), Erika L. Johnson (Queen Sugar) and Nkechi Okoro Carroll (Bones) to help advance their underrepresented peers. "It's been unbelievable," says Carroll of the article's ripple effects. "I'm hearing from people that 'Bwb inspired me.' I've had producers and presidents of networks reach out, 'Do you know if anyone in your group is looking to staff and at what level?''"
With streaming services spiking the need for creators and ...
With streaming services spiking the need for creators and ...
Fox has given a script commitment with significant penalty to 8 Count, a drama inspired by the life of famed choreographer and creative director Laurieann Gibson, from multi-Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige, writer Erika L. Johnson and Gail Berman’s The Jackal Group. Written by Johnson, 8 Count is a music-fueled drama that follows a young choreographer who, in order to redeem her damaged reputation in the cutthroat music/dance world, must invest in an up-and-coming…...
- 11/7/2017
- Deadline TV
Mary J. Blige is in sync with Fox on a new music-focused scripted series. The network is developing the hour-long drama “8 Count,” based on the life of choreographer and creative director Laurieann Gibson. The project from The Jackal Group comes with significant penalty attached. “8 Count” centers on a young choreographer with a damaged reputation who invests in an up-and-coming singer in an effort to revive both of their careers. Also Read: '24' Franchise Revived at Fox With Female-Led Series Erika L. Johnson (“Shades of Blue,” “Queen Sugar”) is writing the script, and multi-Grammy winner Blige is serving as music advisor.
- 11/7/2017
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Wrap
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