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Robin Thede talks season three of ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show,’ working through COVID and casting guest stars

TheGrio spoke with the actress/comedian about the new season of her Emmy award-winning HBO sketch comedy series.

HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show has been a hit since it premiered in 2019, helping make its star and creator Robin Thede a household name. The actress/comedian has not only spearheaded an Emmy Award-winning show that’s funny, irreverent, and biting all at once, but it’s given many other talented Black women a platform to shine.

Like most television shows, A Black Lady Sketch Show ran into the roadblock that is the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdown threatened the show’s momentum, but it quickly recovered thanks to brilliant writing and amazing guest stars.

Thede spoke with theGrio about the third season of the series, the challenges of navigating COVID-19, and her approach to booking and utilizing guest stars on the show.

73rd Primetime Emmy Awards - ArrivalsRobin Thede attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on Sept. 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

“It’s my favorite season. I think every season gets better,” Thede told theGrio.

She says there was a marked difference between producing the second and third seasons after navigating through the pandemic with and without a vaccine.

“I think season two was made during a rampant pandemic and we didn’t even have the vaccination. In season three we had vaccinations, we knew more about how to make a show in a pandemic, so, it was less challenging to make than season two,” Thede says.

She explained how crucial it was for the show, its cast, and writers to find the “rhythm,” especially given that much of season two happened during the height of the pandemic.

“We were able to get back into what I think is the real rhythm of the show. And season two was great! Listen, five Emmy nominations, a win– like season two was amazing,” Thede said. “I am in competition with myself to amp the bar every season, to raise the bar.”

Although Thede and the cast were getting used to working with COVID restrictions, shooting during the rise of the omicron variant was still a challenge.

“We shot [this season] in the fall, so, you know, it was still COVID-y out here in these streets,” she said. “So it was really scary. We were still testing six times a week and by the grace of God, never got shut down. But our crew was still really, really careful, and protecting our cast.”

One major aspect of A Black Lady Sketch Show’s success is its guest stars. Season one included Angela Bassett, David Alan Grier, and Tia Mowry. Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, and Kim Wayans appeared in season two. Thede tells theGrio that season three will take the guest stars to another level.

“We’ve got 40 plus guest stars on this season. You know, everybody from Ava DuVernay to Michael Ealy to Kel Mitchell to Holly Robinson Peete, to Wanda Sykes to Tommy Davidson; Essence Atkins is back, [and] Raven Symone,” Thede said.

Although the show has landed numerous A-list guests, Thede said she focuses on the writing first. “The brilliant thing about this show is that we write sketches and characters that we love, and then the writer’s room closes and then we cast the show,” she says.

“We can’t write for celebrities just because we need them to come one day and often we only have that location a specific amount of time, so it’s just a narrow window to fill. So what we do instead is create great sketches and great characters, and then we reach out to celebrities that we think will fit the bill for those characters.”

Season three of A Black Lady Sketch Show premieres Friday.

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A Black Lady Sketch Show’s Hilarious Shenanigans are at Their Best in Revealing Season 3

If you’re looking for the smartest, freshest, funniest comedy on TV, look no further than HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show. As great as Seasons 1 and 2 were, Season 3 is actually even better.

For three seasons we’ve been following the “end of the world” storyline, wondering what happened and who’s watching the women as they hilariously struggle to survive. Well, the surprising answers to all those questions play a major role in Season 3. Creator, writer, star Robin Thede spoke with The Root about what fans can expect from the new season, the bond with her fellow cast members and what sketch’s reaction she’s most surprised by.

Before viewers dive into Season 3, Thede suggests they go back and rewatch the first two seasons so they can take full advantage of all the Easter eggs and hints that have been planted.

“If you look back at Seasons 1 and 2, which I highly recommend people do before they watch the season, you will then notice things in Season 3 right away,” she said. “I can’t wait to break this down after the season airs, because there’s actually a lot of layers to what we’ve been planning for the last three years.”

It was always the plan to have this overarching storyline run through the series. The former host of The Rundown knew she would need something special to make the show undeniable. However, as big a role as the “end of the world” interstitials play, A Black Lady Sketch Show wouldn’t be the comedy masterclass it is without having all the elements blend together perfectly.

“I knew I couldn’t just make a sketch show. I knew that in order to stand out and be a sketch show with all Black women, we were going to have to do more,” Thede said. “For me it was always about creating a grounded sketch show that has narrative storylines, fully realized characters, but in a magical reality. I knew that there was going to be a world where we could play a variety of characters, but that world was going to have a throughline that made sense why we were doing all of these things and playing all of these characters.”

Finding out that everything has been connected all along adds another brilliant layer to an already clever show. Because the comedy is made by Black women, for Black women, the jokes are familiar and authentic, but they’re also never predictable. What sets the sketches here apart from other comedy shows is that they’re layered.

Just when you think you know where things are going, you’re met with a wildly ridiculous punchline that somehow makes everything even funnier. Of course, if it weren’t for the flawless chemistry of cast members Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend, viewers wouldn’t be able to accept the insane shenanigans these women effortlessly deliver.

“This cast in Season 3 with Skye, Gabrielle, Ashley and myself, we’re just unstoppable. It was really instant chemistry,” she said. “It’s like walking into the Black Lady Courtroom. You see each other and you’re like, ‘Yes we’re here!’ We have never had weirdness in the cast. When we walk on set, no matter what’s going on, if a wig’s on crazy or the day is running late, when we see each other, we’re locked and we’re in it.”

And speaking of the Black Lady Courtroom aka “,” it’s the sketch that Thede says she was most surprised by. She never expected it to become the phenomenon that it is. “That shit took off in a way…it has become a cultural touchstone, this is what people are telling me,” she said. On women telling her about their celebrations in “Black Lady Offices,” she added, “To me it personifies the joy we feel when we see each other and we’re not supposed to be there. And it was also a celebration of Black professional women, which we never get to see. That took off in a way I did not anticipate.”

A Black Lady Sketch Show airs Fridays at 11/10c on HBO and is also available on HBO Max.

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Georgia Reaches $4.8 Million Settlement with Family of Black Man Killed by a State Trooper

The state of Georgia will pay the family of Julian E. Lewis, a 60-year-old Black man killed by a state trooper in August 2020, $4.8 million in a settlement— the largest settlement in the state since 1990– according to CNN.

Lewis was shot in the face and killed instantly by 27-year-old trooper Jacob Gordon Thompson when he tried to stop a traffic-related offense in Screven County, Georgia.

According to CNN, a statement released by Hall and Lampros said, “While the record-making settlement does not bring back her husband for widow Betty Lewis and other family and loved ones, it sends a powerful message to the State and those in law enforcement and other positions of power that unnecessary use of force against innocent citizens is unlawful, morally corrupt and carries legal consequences.”

Thompson was fired from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault but a for fatally shooting Lewis.

From :

When Lewis refused to stop, Thompson gave a brief chase before using a “precision Intervention technique,” sending the car to a stop in a ditch, according to a statement released by Georgia Bureau of Investigation at the time the incident occurred.

Thompson then fired one shot, striking Lewis in the face. Lewis was pronounced dead on the scene.

Lewis’ wife, Betty, and the rest of his family have asked a different grand jury to take a look at the case and the US Attorney’s office said they are in discussion with the FBI about the circumstances of the shooting, according to CNN.

Andrew Kanoris said in a statement, “The events of that August night should never have happened. Shooting an unarmed man without cause is unconscionable, and violates the freedom that the United States Constitution guarantees all individuals. We were prepared to sue the trooper, the department and its leadership asserting both Constitutional claims as well as state law tort claims,” according to CNN.

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Oprah Winfrey to Receive Honorary Literary Award

Listen kids, there was a time when if Oprah Winfrey told you to read a book, you ran out to the actual brick and mortar book store and bought it. In the literary world, an “Oprah’s Book Club” sticker was as good as gold. Now the former talk show host is being recognized for her years of support, as reports that the former talk show host is being honored by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation with its inaugural Literary Champion Award, “a lifetime achievement prize for contributions to literacy and for inspiring younger readers and writers.”

In case you’re too young to remember, each month on her talk show Oprah would introduce a new book to her audience, who would then spend their days reading it before the author appeared on the show for a discussion. Obviously, book clubs weren’t new, but she made them popular again. Think of all the books and authors who were discovered and given a chance because Oprah recommended them. Since she ended The Oprah Winfrey Show, the media maven has continued her book club in O, The Oprah Magazine.

“Oprah Winfrey is a literary force field,” PEN/Faulkner Board Vice President Mary Haft said in a statement. “She has been like a lighthouse, standing sentry and shining a beacon of light onto literature and into the lives of writers and readers.”

In recent years the OWN CEO has been focused on producing TV and films through Harpo Productions, notably shepherding Queen Sugar, Greenleaf, Selma and upcoming The Color Purple movie musical. Of course, she can still break out the interview skills for special events like Oprah with Meghan and Harry and Adele One Night Only.

Whatever you think of her influence, there’s no denying that Oprah made book clubs a mainstream part of life again, and kept brick and mortar bookstores in business for a while. This is a 100 percent well deserved honor.

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‘Woke’ on Hulu drops season 2 first look images

The popular Hulu series starring Lamorne Morris returns after debuting on the streaming service in 2020.

Woke fans are in for a treat. The popular Hulu series from the minds of Marshall Todd and Keith Knight is officially returning for season two, and theGrio has some exclusive first look images from the anticipated second season.

Woke, which premiered in 2020, follows cartoonist Keef Knight who is played by Lamorne Morris. In season one, after spending much of his career “keeping it light,” Keef has a complete shift in perspective after a racially-motivated incident.

Woke — “Free At Last” – Episode 202 — Armed with a new online following, Keef’s public response to a tone deaf ad leads to an interesting corporate proposition. Clovis tries something new. Clovis (T. Murph), Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris), Ayana (Sasheer Zamata) and Gunther (Blake Anderson), shown. (Photo by: Mark Hill/Hulu)

What follows is a story that blends the real and fantastical, as his cartoon-oriented mind becomes “woke,” with inanimate objects coming to life, often highlighting microaggressions he deals with daily.

The second season will reunite viewers with characters they fell in love with in the first season, including Keef, Gunther (Blake Anderson), Clovis (T. Murph), Ayana (Sasheer Zamata) and Marker (JB Smoove).

Woke — “Papa’s Got a Brand New Boil” – Episode 203 — Keef drops everything to help Clovis deal with a surprise guest. With the Bay Arean on the decline, Ayana struggles to find a new place to live. Ayana (Sasheer Zamata), Gunther (Blake Anderson), Clovis (T. Murph) and Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris), shown. (Photo by: Mark Hill/Hulu)

In the second year, Keef will have to face a world where, “‘woke’ has become big business,” according to the synopsis provided by Hulu. “Can Keef and his friends bring about real change, or is it just about the dollar$? And can Keef navigate this new world without destroying what he’s become? Inspired by the life and work of artist Keith Knight, Woke continues to upend Black nerd and activist culture, deftly satirizing with a wink and a smile.”

Also joining the cast in a guest role is Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Clovis’ estranged father. Described as stubborn and hard-nosed, Whitlock Jr.’s character is a “former Black Panther turned sovereign citizen,” who butts heads with his son often over his absence in his son’s life and conspiracy theories. However, the two are able to find common ground in one thing: ribbing Keef.

Woke — “Papa’s Got a Brand New Boil” – Episode 203 — Keef drops everything to help Clovis deal with a surprise guest. With the Bay Arean on the decline, Ayana struggles to find a new place to live. Mr. Jackson (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), shown. (Photo by: Mark Hill/Hulu)

Woke is executive produced by Todd and Knight, as well as Anthony King, Maurice “Mo” Marable, Richie Schwartz, John Will, Will Gluck, and Eric Christian Olsen. The series returns to Hulu with eight episodes on Apr. 8.

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Black Bread Co. featured on Tina Knowles-Lawson docuseries 

“Profiled: The Black Man,” a four-part OWN series on the Discovery+ network, debuted Saturday, featuring the company’s owners and co-founders.

Profiled: The Black Man, a new four-part Discovery+ docuseries created by OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and executive produced by Tina Knowles-Lawson, kicked off Saturday with its first episode.

The Black Bread Company, based in Chicago, is one of the first Black male-owned businesses to be featured on the series, which is hosted by Tristan “Mack” Wilds. Its owners and founders, Charles Alexander, Mark Edmond and Jamel Lewis, are best friends, all from the South Side of Chi-Town, who partnered up to start the first-ever Black-owned sliced bread company in the world.

The Black Bread Company showcased on “Profiled: The Black Man” Saturday was founded by best friends (from left) Jamel Lewis, Charles Alexander and Mark Edmond. (Photo: Screenshot/blackbreadco.com)

According to their website, the three “strive to inspire others to believe in the power of their own individual contributions to improve the world around them one great idea at a time.”

The trio was featured on the first Discovery+ episode of Profiled: The Black Man, titled “Black Men are Dangerous,” on which Alexander, Edmond and Lewis note that the founding and growth of their company was due in part to the global uprise that followed the police murder of George Floyd.

“For us to be on the first episode,” Alexander told The Chicago Tribune, “it gives us a really unique opportunity to dismantle that stereotype, to talk about if we’re dangerous, we’re dangerous in a way of succeeding — dangerous in a way of overcoming stereotypes, overcoming obstacles in our current lived experiences. It’s a chance to mix in our lived experiences, and we’re coupling it with how we created our company.”

“When we first started,” Edmond added, “we were told from a gentleman that was in this industry for over 40 years, that this was the first time his people were sitting down with Black people. To hear those statements, and realize the importance of African American business … our role is to say that all Black men are not dangerous. Just because we’re from Chicago, the South Side, young, Black males, we automatically have this stereotype, or stigma over us, which is not the case.”

The Black Bread Company — which sells a variety of sliced loaves and buns — ships its products nationwide, and its website contends the company has “centered our efforts toward providing you with the freshest quality in premium sliced bread.” The founders say they hope supporters join them “in using our powers collectively to encourage creativity and ensure generational progression to sustain marginalized communities.”

The men’s baking business was also featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last spring, where the talk show host tasted their bread and presented them with a check for $20,000 from Shutterfly to help grow their efforts.

Per theGrio’s previous reporting, the Discovery+ series’ official synopsis, per the press release, reads: “Through a powerful mixture of historical footage, real-life testimony, and commentary from an array of renowned thought leaders, Profiled: The Black Man aims to show the difficulties Black men have faced, both in the past and present-day, while also highlighting and celebrating the triumphs and resilience of countless extraordinary men. In addition, each episode will feature commentary from notable community members such as executive producer Tina Knowles-Lawson, civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson, activist Tamika Mallory, hip-hop culture icon Sway Calloway, the Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning Billy Porter and more.”

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Whoopi Goldberg says Harris response to 2024 questions ‘insulting, crazy’

In a recent interview, Harris dismissed questions about the 2024 presidential election

Whoopi Goldberg took aim at Kamala Harris on The View Thursday over the vice president’s dismissive response to questions about the 2024 election.

In an interview for NBC’s Today Show, Harris was asked by host Craig Melvin whether she’ll be President Joe Biden’s running mate in 2024.

Kamala Harris Whoopi Goldberg thegrio.com(Credit: Getty Images)

OP-ED FLOATS BIDEN-CHENEY TICKET IDEA: After Vice Pres. Harris was asked about a ‘New York Times’ op-ed that proposed a 2024 ticket between Pres. Joe Biden and Rep. Liz Cheney, the co-hosts weigh in on if it’s just chatter or a plausible pairing. https://t.co/cVclFZyKV0 pic.twitter.com/2qkGmnE1sF

— The View (@TheView) January 13, 2022

“I’m sorry, we are thinking about today,” Harris said in the interview that aired Thursday.  “I mean, honestly — I know why you’re asking the question, because this is part of the punditry and the gossip around places like Washington, DC. Let me just tell you something: we’re focused on the things in front of us.”

Harris, who is facing historically low approval ratings, was then asked about a recent New York Times op-ed proposing a bipartisan ticket with Biden and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). The former California senator made clear that not only has she not read the New York Times piece, but Harris also said she “could care less about the high-class gossip on these issues.”

In response to Harris’ comments, Goldberg said on The View, “Not only is it insulting but, you know, it’s just crazy. This idea that we have no say over what’s happening like it’s already done and we shouldn’t give a poop.”

Biden said last March it is his “expectation” that Harris will be his running mate when he seeks reelection in 2024.

“The answer is yes, my plan is to run for reelection. That’s my expectation,” Biden told reporters at a news conference but refused to make a definitive commitment.

“I’m a great respecter of fate — I’ve never been able to plan four and half, three and a half years ahead for certain,” Biden said.

The president also praised Harris for “doing a great job” as vice president.

“She’s a great partner,” Biden said.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

When asked his thoughts about the possibility of Trump being the GOP challenger in 2024, Biden said: “I have no idea.”

“I have no idea if there will be a Republican Party,” he added.

Meanwhile, Trump hasn’t committed to running in 2024 but Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, believes Americans are so over the Biden administration at this point that they are “desperate” for a Trump victory in 2014.

“People are desperate to get Donald Trump back in office,” Lara told Fox News’ Fox & Friends on Thursday, Newsweek reports.

The Biden administration has caught some heat over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The global crisis has shut down businesses, created employee shortages, and divided family and friends over the vaccine — not to mention the mounting lawsuits over Biden’s vaccine mandates.

Lara told the Fox & Friends co-hosts that Americans see “how much better things were” when Trump was in office.

If the 2024 presidential election comes down to Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Lara said, “Believe me, Trump versus Clinton, we know which way it’s going to go. It’s going to go for Donald Trump.”

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TheGrio’s 10 best television shows of 2021

Check out theGrio’s favorite series from ‘Underground Railroad’ to ‘Insecure’

As 2021 comes to an end it’s time to reflect on the best (and Blackest) things we’ve seen on the small screen this year. With so many notable projects released during a year where TV time remained one of the most safest things we could binge on, there was a lot to sift through this year.

From dramas like Underground Railroad to comedies like Southside, actors and creators of color really delivered when it came to content.

Check out our list of the Best 10 TV shows of the year:

Underground Railroad

Underground thegrio.com(Credit: OWN)

Based on the 2016 book by Colson Whitehead, the beautiful and brutal limited series from Barry Jenkins was easily the best thing on TV this year. While it wasn’t promoted the way it should have been, and requires a certain amount of commitment to get through, this is a slave story told through the eyes of a true genius and the result is a depiction of our people that we have never seen before. Thuso Mbedu is absolutely amazing as Cora and her talent is matched by a laundry list of incredible performances from William Jackson Harper, Aaron Pierre, Chase DIllon, and others. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime 

Blindspotting

Jasmine Cephas Jones stars as Ashley in the series that’s a spinoff of the 2018 film from Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, who returns sporadically as her partner/babydaddy, Miles. This time around, he’s behind bars and Ashley is forced to figure out her future while living with his deliciously difficult mother and sister, played by Helen Hunt and Jaylen Barron. A long list of talented actors including Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Atticus Woodward, and Anthony Ramos round out the cast of this unique series whose score is almost as addictive as its script.  

Where to watch: STARZ

Ziwe

Youtube: ZIWE | Series Premiere | Full Episode (TV14)
Ziwe

Watching Ziwe Fumudoh take her rightful place at the top of the comedy game has been one of the biggest joys of 2021 and if you still don’t know her name; what are you waiting for? As the star and executive producer of this deeply satisfying variety series that puts her knack for satire on full display, Ziwe has proven she’s a force to be reckoned with ad has no problem making her unsuspecting guests squirm every chance she gets. Those guests range from political giants like Stacey Abrams to folks like Eboni K. Williams and Lil Rel Howery whose uncomfortable interviews are punctuated by hilarious musical numbers that touch on race relations, politics, and more. 

Where to watch: HBO MAX 

Love Life

The second season of this rom-com anthology stars William Jackson Harper as Marcus Williams, a book editor who realizes he and his white wife aren’t meant to be and finds himself suddenly singe again. Jessica Williams shines as Mia Hines, one of the many love interests we get to watch Marcus court as he navigates this new single life and gets to know himself. Punkie Johnson plays Marcus’ sister, Ida Watkins and the dynamic between her and her brother is an added bonus to the show that’s as funny as it is introspective. 

Where to watch: HBO MAX

POSE

Pose thegrio.comDominique Jackson, starring as Elektra Abundance Evangelista, in a scene from the FX show, “Pose,” which just ended filming its final season. (Photo by Macall Polay/FX)

This groundbreaking series came to a close after three seasons and while it’s hard to say goodbye to such am important piece of television, this crew left on high note for sure. MJ Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Dyllon Burnside and so many other talents left it all on the ballroom floor and delivered a heart-wrenching and inspiring experience to viewers who were captivated by the raw, compelling drama that illuminated so much for so many. Few projects will make as big of a mark as POSE did when it comes to representation and while we’re still waiting for more shows to follow in its footsteps, the impact it has had on the culture is truly immeasurable. 

Where to watch: FX 

BMF

“BMF” stars Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory, Jr. (left), who is portraying his own father, Big Meech, in the leading role, and Da’’Vinchi (right) as Terry Flenory. (Photo: STARZ)

When Black Mafia Family (BMF) burst onto the scene this year, no one could have expected for it to be such a captivating drama that’s less about crime and more about family than we imagined. Anchored by a powerhouse cast that includes Russell Hornsby, Michael Briana White, Wood Harris, Ajiona Alexis, Eric Kofi-Abrefa and Da’Vinci, this show has the heart and the grit to keep us coming back. The first season revealed how infamous, real-life kingpins, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and his brother Terry ‘Southwest T” Flenory got their start in the drug game and eventually became one of the most prolific American crime families this country has ever seen. Executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Tasha Smith and written by Randy Huggins, the show delivered dose after dose of drama that had us on the edge of our seats. Even more impressive is the fact that the character of Bug Meech is portrayed by his real-life son, Demetrius Flenory Jr., who was just five years old when his father was sent to prison.

Where to watch: STARZ

Master of None Presents: Moments in Love

One of the most pleasant surprises of the year came from the third season of Master of None. The series deviated from its usual format and shifted its attention from Aziz Ansari’s character to focus on his friend, Denise (Lena Waithe) and her wife, Alicia (Naomi Ackie). Up until now, Denise was kind of a side character whose main contribution to the show has been comic relief, but this season, it’s all about the drama that comes with finding success and building a life with another person. The 5-episode season is beautifully shot and expertly acted by both leading ladies who manage to portray a lesbian love story like we’ve never seen before. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Insecure

Insecure: Issa, Molly and Lawrence(Photo: Twitter/Issa Rae)

Even though some folks may have been deterred by a slow start to the final season of this monumental series, most fans agree it finished hella strong. The show that shot Issa Rae into superstardom and changed the landscape of television forever stayed true to its roots and centered on the love story between Molly (Yvonne Orji) and Issa while serving up the romance drama we all came to crave.  The entire cast brought their A-games to their final bow and the show even shed light on the harsh realities of co-parenting and kicking imposter syndrome to the curb. 

Where to watch: HBO 

Southside

The second season of this practically perfect comedy served up even more laughs than the first and raised the bar for all of its competition. Created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, the show follows Simon and Kareme, two friends pursuing their post-college dreams in the Chicago neighborhood they call home. Those dreams often amount to schemes to get rich quick and the antics these two get into had us in stitches. The stellar cast includes Sultan Salahuddin, Kareme Young, Chandra Russell, Lil Rel Howery, and Zuri Salahuddin, among other standouts. 

Where to watch: HBO MAX

Karma’s World

With so much fantastic kids content hitting the small screen this year, we had to highlight one of the year’s best new offerings. Created by Chris Bridges aka Ludacris, the animated series is full of instantly lovable characters, mesmerizing music, and stories the whole family can get into. The titular character, Karma, is smart, confident, and creative and her friends look like kids you would see on a real playground with your little ones. While all of the episodes of the first season are great, a special shout out goes to the one that shows lots of love to Karma’s natural curls. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

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Nichelle Nichols honored as she makes final Comic-Con appearance

The farewell celebration in LA lauded Nichols, whose pioneering “Star Trek” role inspired generations of Black space fanatics, science nerds and astronauts.

Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols appeared at the Los Angeles Comic-Con this past weekend as part of a three-day farewell celebration to honor the star whose pioneering role on a single TV show helped inspire generations of Black space fanatics and science nerds. 

Nichols — who will turn 89 on December 28 — is suffering from dementia and is at the center of a conservatorship battle between her son, Kyle Johnson, and former manager Gilbert Bell. 

“Star Trek” actress Nichelle Nichols attends the Nichelle Nichols Finale Celebration during 2021 Los Angeles Comic-Con at Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday. (Photo: Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

She was joined at the convention by Johnson, who served as her spokesperson, as well as her younger sister, Marian Michaels. Actresses Judy Pace and Beverly Todd joined Nichols, too, as did former astronaut Mae Jemison — the first Black woman to go into space. Jemison joined NASA after being recruited by Nichols, who used her Star Wars fame to recruit women and minorities into the space program in the 1970s and 1980s.

In her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura in the iconic original Star Trek series, which debuted in 1966, Nichols was one of the first Black women with a prominent co-starring role on network television. In 1968, she and show star William Shatner’s Captain Kirk character shared the first interracial kiss ever seen on TV. Not only was she seen on the series, she was also featured in six of the Star Trek films, and voice acted in at least one cartoon.

After the cancellation of the series, Nichols was asked by NASA to volunteer for a special project from the space agency, and was instrumental in recruiting Jemison, Dr. Sally Ride — the first American female astronaut — among others.

According to People, during the convention, Nichols signed autographs, posed for photos and attended an early birthday celebration. Several tribute panels dedicated to her life and career were convened; however, she didn’t make any public statements.

“One of the things that you’ve heard everyone say when they talk about meeting and spending any time in Miss Nichelle Nichols’ presence is warmth and generosity,” said Jemison. “And you feel like you’ve known her because she is that real, not just relatable, but that important and sentient in our lives.”

During a farewell panel on Sunday, NASA Astronaut Appearance Specialist Denise Young awarded Nichols with the agency’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. According to People, the actress rose from her wheelchair to accept the award and received a standing ovation. 

“A life well lived is reward enough, every day, and my mother’s certainly had a life well lived in many respects,” Johnson told the audience. “This is an exceptional recognition, and I’m, of course, very proud of her for all that she’s done and the value and the meaning of her work. Not just as an actress, but very real and important work that she inspired and enabled people to understand.”

In a 2011 interview reprinted by the official Star Trek blog in 2018, Nichols recalled that she actually resigned from Star Trek early on in its run. She said that the very weekend she turned in her letter of resignation, she was approached by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at an NAACP fundraiser, and he told her, “Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan.” The civil rights leader begged her to stay on the show, saying, “When we see you, we see ourselves, and we see ourselves as intelligent and beautiful and proud.”

Nichols said she went back to the show on Monday morning and recounted the story to the show’s creator Gene Roddenberry, who wept with gratitude. 

Just read about Nichelle Nichols final Comic Con appearance recently. She was richly honored at the event. So many people made a real effort to honor her & it was well deserved. She inspired so many.FOR NICHELLE pic.twitter.com/bANUWHWJSP

— Debi Yarberry (@YarberryDebi) December 7, 2021

I just read some amazing stuff. 1) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Star Trek fan.2) Nichelle Nichols was going to quit Star Trek and go back to Broadway, her first love. He convinced her to stay during a chance encounter because her representation was so important.

— Angry Shane Gamer (@AuldShaneGamer) December 7, 2021

Roddenberry’s son, Rod, also honored Nichols at the Comic-Con. 

Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays the first African American female captain on a Star Trek series, Star Trek: Discovery, referenced that interaction in a video tribute, saying, “Nichelle’s legacy can be described as that of sacrificial, heroic contribution.”

“She decided to stay and ultimately devoted her entire self to the progression of Black people, people of color and women,” said Martin-Green. “And she gave everything. She gave her time, her energy. She gave her intelligence, her wisdom, her leadership and her heart for the betterment of the world and the future. I am only here because of her.” 

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Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Anthony Anderson and Barry Jenkins to be honored by CCA

CCA’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television will be held this December

Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Anthony Anderson, and Barry Jenkins are set to be honored by the CCA’s Celebration Of Black Cinema & Television.

The Critic’s Choice Association’s Celebration Of Black Cinema & Television was first bought about in 2014. The event was created to honor “standout achievements in Black filmmaking,” and this year, the event will also highlight achievements in television. With Berry, Hudson, Anderson, and Jenkins set to receive the honor, the event will take place this December.

Halle Berry Anthony Anderson thegrio.comAnthony Anderson (L) and Halle Berry attend the 49th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on January 15, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for NAACP)

Berry’s achievement in film cannot be understated with her Oscar win for her performance in 2002’s Monster’s Ball making her the first African American to win Best Actress. Speaking highly of Berry, Shawn Edwards, a CCA board member, shared in a statement obtained by Deadline, “Berry’s iconic performances throughout her career have showcased her brilliance as an actor and blazed the trail for Black performers who have come after her. She has become the personification of excellence as she transitions from being in front of the camera to sitting in the director’s chair.”

Berry will receive the Career Achievement Award.

Anderson, of course, has earned multiple Emmy nominations for his performance in the critically acclaimed ABC series, black-ish. He will receive the Producer Award for Television, as he also produces black-ish and their respective spin-offs, grown-ish and mixed-ish. He also executive produces To Tell the Truth on ABC, which he also hosts.

Barry Jenkins Jennifer Hudson thegrio.com(Credit: Getty Images)

Hudson, who won the Oscar for her performance in Dreamgirls, will receive the Actress Award for Film. The actress and singer is fresh off of her performance as Aretha Franklin in Respect. Barry Jenkins, known for his Oscar-winning film Moonlight among other projects, will receive the Director Award for Television after his adaptation of Colson Whitehead‘s The Underground Railroad on Amazon Prime, which earned rave reviews and multiple Emmy nominations.

Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin shared in a statement regarding the four honorees, “2021 was an incredible year of creativity and growth in film and television, and we’re thrilled to be able to honor the changemakers who are making a difference. Jennifer both starred in and executive produced Respect, giving the performance of a lifetime. Barry transformed the small screen with his innovative and thought-provoking series The Underground Railroad, which he wrote, executive produced and directed, and Anthony has become one of the most prolific and admired producers on television with black-ish, grown-ish and mixed-ish.”

With more honorees set to be announced soon, the event will take place on Monday, December 6.

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Jim Acosta on refugee ‘contradiction’: ‘Welcoming Afghans, but sending Haitians back’

“Is there a contradiction there?” Acosta asked DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about America’s treatment of refugees.

CNN anchorman Jim Acosta singularly questioned U.S. immigration policy this weekend when he interviewed Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Acosta noted to Mayorkas on Sunday that America has welcomed at least 50,000 Afghans who aided the U.S. war effort in their homeland, but is sending back Haitian refugees.

“We’re welcoming Afghans, but we’re sending Haitians back. Is there a contradiction there?” Acosta asked, as reported by Newsweek.

“Not at all,” replied Mayorkas, the first Latino and first immigrant confirmed to serve as Homeland Security secretary. “Those two processes are quite different. We are bringing in Afghan nationals by air after they have been screened and vetted. That is a safe, orderly and humane process.”

CNN anchorman Jim Acosta (left) singularly questioned U.S. immigration policy this weekend when he interviewed Alejandro Mayorkas (right), secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Photo: CNN)

“That is quite different,” he contended, “than irregular migration, illegal entry in between ports of entry in a time of pandemic when we have been quite clear, explicit, for months now that that is not the way to reach the United States. And it will not succeed.”

President Joe Biden‘s administration is ramping up the deportation of Haitians, with increased flights leaving Del Rio, Texas. Associated Press is reporting up to eight flights a day will depart to send migrants back to the Caribbean nation struggling with natural disasters and political turmoil.

Mayorkas confirmed he will be traveling to Del Rio, where thousands of Haitian migrants are camping, to assess the situation.

The Afghan refugees coming to our shores aided the U.S. war effort, Mayorkas explained.

We have seen a significant influx of Haitian migrants in Del Rio, TX. But we are surging resources, and @DHSgov is taking a multi-prong approach to this. https://t.co/AWD5isegmX

— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) September 20, 2021

#NEW: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will travel to Del Rio today to receive an operational briefing on what steps are being taken to address the current migrant situation.

— Sandra Rodriguez (@KRGV_Sandra) September 20, 2021

“This is who we are as a country. We stand up for the people who stood up for us,” he maintained. “We are providing refuge to individuals who assisted us in combat in Afghanistan. We are providing refuge to vulnerable women, journalists, young kids.”

“This is one of our greatest traditions as a country,” Mayorkas told Acosta. “We have committed relief to those individuals, and we are delivering it. And we are delivering it while securing the safety of the American public.”

Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley recently said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch, “That ICE [the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] would continue to carry out the mass deportations of our Haitian neighbors — with Haiti in the midst of its worst political, public health and economic crises yet — is cruel and callous.”

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Three new Steve McQueen documentaries debut on Amazon Prime Video

The three documentaries, available now, share similar themes with McQueen’s award-winning anthology series Small Axe

Get ready for some exciting new content on Amazon Prime Video. Three documentaries from award-winning British director Steve McQueen have arrived on the streamer.

Known for award-winning projects like 12 Years A Slave, Widows and Small Axe, McQueen is one of the most acclaimed names in Hollywood.

The docs are described as exploring, “key themes and events depicted in Steve McQueen’s award-winning Small Axe anthology.”

Small Axe, as theGrio previously described, was comprised of five original films “set from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s that tell personal stories from London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will despite rampant racism and discrimination.”

Director Steve McQueen attends the photocall of the movie “Small Axe – Ep. Red White and Blue” at the 15th Rome Film Festival on Oct. 16, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Stefania M. D’Alessandro/Getty Images for RFF)

Check out the official synopses from the press release below:

Uprising, co-directed by McQueen and James Rogan, “is a vivid and visceral three-part documentary series (comprised of three hour-long episodes) examining three events from 1981 in the UK: The New Cross Fire that killed 13 Black youths and resulted in the Black People’s Day of Action, which saw more than 20,000 people join the first organized mass protest by Black Brits and the Brixton riots. 

Uprising will reveal how these three events are intertwined, and how, in the process, race relations were defined for a generation.”

Black Power: A British Story of Resistance, directed by BAFTA-nominated director George Amponsah, “is a searing 90-minute account of the Black Power movement in Britain. The documentary examines how the Black Power movement came into being in the UK in the late 1960s and fought back against police brutality and racism, challenging the British establishment and helping to shape a new political and cultural landscape in the UK.

It features rare archival footage of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael’s activities in Britain, and footage of leading figures in the movement in the UK, including Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Darcus Howe, and Roy Sawh.”

Subnormal: A British Scandal, directed by Lyttanya Shannon, “is an hour-long documentary examining one of the biggest scandals in the history of British education, where Black children in the 1960s and ‘70s were disproportionately sent to schools for the so-called “educationally subnormal.”

It explores the controversial debates on race and intelligence that led to the scandal, the devastating impact it had on the children affected, and illuminates how Black parents, teachers, and activists banded together to expose the injustice and force the British educational system to change.”

All three documentaries are available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.

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