News

Christopher B. Stokes, the directors of such films as House Party 4, You Got Served, Somebody Help Me, Somebody Help Me 2, The Stepmother, and The Stepmother 2, is about to send four more movies out into the world over the course of just three months – and it’s all thanks to the Tubi streaming service. Continuing to get into original programming (previous Tubi originals include the Terror Train remake and its sequel), Tubi has teamed up with Footage Films to bring four “Black cinema thrillers” to their service. Stokes has directed all four of the movies and wrote the scripts for each one with Marques Houston.

First up is The Assistant, which is set to reach Tubi on January 20th. Variety reports that The Assistant follows doctor Raven Fields (Erica Mena) who finds herself drowning in work and looks to hire an assistant to help with her day-to-day. Taking a chance on a young and cheery woman,...

Tubi is set to launch four new original Black cinema thrillers from Footage Films: “The Assistant,” “Best Friend,” “You’re Not Alone” and “No Way Out.”

The four upcoming thrillers are directed by Christopher B. Stokes from scripts the filmmaker co-wrote with Marques Houston. Stokes and Houston also serve as executive producers on the films, with Footage Films president Juanita Stokes as producer. Tubi has previously worked with Footage Films on several original films, including “The Stepmother” and “The Stepmother 2.”

Per the logline, “The Assistant” follows doctor Raven Fields (Erica Mena) who “finds herself drowning in work and looks to hire an assistant to help with her day-to-day. Taking a chance on a young and cheery woman, Raven believes she’s found the perfect person until assistance turns into obsession, and she risks losing everything, including her life.” In addition to Mena, the film stars Parker McKenna Posey, Flex Alexander,...

Mistakes were made.

TV Fanatic scored an exclusive clip of the hit Allblk series, Partners in Rhyme, and it's bound to make you giggle.

Rap legend Mc Lyte not only stars in the series, but she co-created it, and you can tell she's having a blast.

Partners in Rhyme is a family sitcom that is chocked full of laughs.

It's about a legendary rapper, played by an actual rap legend and renaissance woman, Mc Lyte.

Lana has devoted her time to managing the budding career of her niece, a social media starlet, high schooler, and foster kid who hopes to become the next Cardi B.

In the interim, Lana hopes that amid helping her niece, Luscious T, she'll be able to kickstart and salvage her own career and hopefully get from beneath the massive debt she's in.

Partners in Rhyme is currently in its second season. Its premiere was October...

Exclusive: Tubi has greenlit the original thriller The Stepmother 2 from Marques Houston and Chris Stokes, a sequel to The Stepmother, with Erica Mena portraying Elizabeth Carter/Diana Valdez. The project is slated to premiere in December.

The Stepmother 2 picks up after Elizabeth, a woman with dissociative identity disorder, cheats death in a showdown with the Linbrook family, as she breaks free from the hospital with a new mission— find a new family and live happily ever after. Yet, as much as she longs for normalcy, she can’t escape her tormented past and will fight to protect her fairy tale at all costs.

Cast will also include Daniel Johnson in the role of Kevin Smith, a loving, caring father who has fallen in love with a woman that he knows as Diana, who we know as Elizabeth Carter. Kevin becomes conflicted when his ex-wife shows up and wants to reconcile...

Partners in Rhyme is returning soon for its second season. The Allblk streaming service has released a trailer teasing the sitcom's return. Mc Lyte, Precious Way, Ron G, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Wesley Jonathan, Rolonda Watts, Bruce Nozick, Junn Baby, Maritza Lazcano, Xhaania Wright, Andrea Torres, Duane Ramos, Jeff Rolle Jr., Eric Nenninger, and Emonjay Brown star in the comedy which follows a legendary rapper who is helping her niece navigate the record industry, while also navigating her own massive debt.

Read More…...

Exclusive: Umc, the AMC Networks streaming service with a focus on Black film and TV, has renewed four of its original series including the top-rated Craig Ross Jr.’s Monogamy and A House Divided, which will both return for their third seasons.

The streamer also gave Season 2 renewals to rookies Double Cross and Stuck With You, part of a renewed focus on originals that has seen a new series premiere almost every month on the service in 2020. That has helped spur a subscriber surge of 200% over the past 12 months, according to the network, with about half that total coming since the coronavirus lockdown that began in March.

Debuting in May 2018, Craig Ross Jr.’s Monogamy follows four troubled couples who sign up for an experiment called “swap therapy” in order to determine if their relationships are worth saving or if they should walk away for good. The series stars Caryn Ward Ross,...

Long before what is now referred to as the streaming wars began, Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television (Bet) and Chairman of Rlj Entertainment, announced Umc — Urban Movie Channel, Rlj’s proprietary streaming network. Officially launched in February 2015 featuring “urban-themed” series and movies, the service, which is now known only as Umc, is part of a suite of channels and streamers owned by AMC Networks, after the media company acquired Rlj in late 2018.

A direct competitor to the more recognized brand in Bet+, which launched just last fall, Umc might be smaller in comparison, but it’s a characteristic that makes them much more flexible and far less averse to taking risks, especially when it comes to programming decisions. Additionally, having a five-year head start has allowed them the time to work through kinks that typically come with being a pioneer, which arguably gives them a leg-up when...

The A Brighter Future for Children Charity Gala will take place in Los Angeles tonight, September 26.

The Dream Builders Project presents the 5th Biennial black tie charity gala, celebrity poker tournament and silent auction. All proceeds benefit Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Stars expected to attend include David Arquette, Jared Harris, Dulé Hill , NFL player Kerry Rhodes, David Sullivan, Eric Roberts, Bethany Joy Lenz, Mekhi Phifer, Beth Hall (CBS – Mom), Cassandra Scerbo, Loni Love, Tiffany Michelle, Stephen Kramer Glickman, Mimi G Ford, Wesley Jonathan, Jonathan Adams, Adam Fergus, Ellen Hollman, Patsy Palmer, Spencer Trinwith, Angela Martini, Natalia Safran, Ozlem Altingoz, Juan Riedinger, Rachel Mullins, Dario, Neko Sparks, Elise Neal, Emily Shah, Anjelika Washington and many more!

Red Carpet Arrivals: 6:30 p.m.

Dinner: 8:00 p.m.

Poker: 8:30 p.m.

Where: 1201 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90038 – The Taglyan Complex.

From: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/19310-stars-to-attend-5th-biennial-a-brighter-future-for-children-gala

Related past articles Stars...

Melora Walters, Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino, and Gil Bellows are set as leads in Drowning, an indie film written and being directed by Walters. It’s based on Walters’ real-life account of the time her young son decided to join the Army and fight in Iraq. It’s A mother’s worst nightmare, compounded by the fact that he’s then stationed in Mosul for the ‘final battle’. Albert Chi, Rory Rooney, and Sergio Rizzuto are producers on the film and are aiming for a festival release. Executive producer is Steven Swadling.

Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul), Karsen Liotta, Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), and James Paxton have been tapped to lead the ensemble cast of the indie comedy Teenage Badass, which is currently filming on location in Phoenix.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired worldwide rights to Omari Hardwick-Meagan Good’s romance drama “A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.”

The distributor announced the deal Thursday and did not give a release date. The producer is Datari Turner through his Datari Turner Productions with Qasim Basir (“Destined”) directing from his own script.

Hardwick is playing a Los Angeles club promoter on the night of the 2016 presidential election. He meets a woman named Free (played by Good) who challenges him to revisit his broken dreams during a series of unfortunate events that happen as Donald Trump surges ahead over Hillary Clinton in the race for electoral votes to win the White House.

The film, which debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival, also stars Jay Ellis (“Insecure”), Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan, and Affion Crockett. Hardwick and Good are executive producers on the film along with Jash’d Belcher, Louis Steyn,...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired worldwide rights to A Boy. A Girl. A Dream, the Qasim Basir-directed movie starring Power‘s Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. No release date has been set.

The Los Angeles-set drama penned by Basir and Samantha Tanner revolves around a Los Angeles club promoter (Hardwick) who on the night of the 2016 Presidential election meets a woman (Good) who challenges him to revisit his broken dreams. It’s all set against the backdrop of Donald Trump overtaking Hilary Clinton in the course of the evening.

Jay Ellis, Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan and Affion Crockett co-star in the pic, produced by Datari Turner. Jash’d Belcher, Louis Steyn, Tj Steyn, Jamal Chilton, Tim Weatherspoon, Phil Thornton, Good and Hardwick are executive producers.

The deal was negotiated by Samuel Goldwyn’s Meg Longo and CAA, Turner, and attorney...

Us election night drama premiered in Sundance.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired worldwide rights to Qasim Basir’s Sundance entry A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.

Basir and Samantha Tanner wrote the film starring Omari Hardwick as a Los Angeles club promoter on the night of the 2016 Us presidential election who meets a woman (Meagan Good) who challenges him to revisit his broken dreams.

Jay Ellis, Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan, and Affion Crockett round out the key cast. Datari Turner produced via his Datari Turner Productions. Executive producers on the film are Jash’d Belcher, Louis Steyn, Tj Steyn, Jamal Chilton,...

In today’s roundup, CNN announced it will host a town hall with former FBI director James Comey, and NBC Entertainment promoted Sahara Bushue to senior vice president of alternative programming.

TV News

PBS named “Today” alumna Meredith Vieira as host of its new series, “The Great American Read.” The show will explore the country in search of America’s top 100 novels, as well as their authors and fan bases. Its first episode, a two-hour special, will air May 22 at 8 p.m. The series will include appearances by Margaret Atwood, Jenna Bush, Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton, Junot Diaz, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Green, Gayle King, George R.R. Martin, Shaquille O’Neal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Reynolds, Gabrielle Union, and Ming-Na Wen.

Fox News Channel hired reporter Jeff Paul as a west coast correspondent, the network’s president of news, Jay Wallace, announced Wednesday. Paul currently works as a reporter...

Power‘s Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good, who stars in Hulu's upcoming Foxy Brown, will star in the indie romance drama A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love On Election Night. The film, which is about a budding romance during Trump’s election night, co-stars Jay Ellis (Insecure), Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan, and Affion Crockett. Produced by Datari Turner and written and directed by Qasim Basir (Destined), the story follows a Los Angeles club promoter named Cass (Hardwick), who on…...

It looks like Nicki might have an uncertain future. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Freeform has cancelled their series order for the upcoming TV show.Based on the childhood of Nicki Minaj, the sitcom follows the life of a young girl and her family growing up in Queens, NY. The cast includes Ariana Neal, Selita Ebanks, Wesley Jonathan, and McCarrie McCausland.Read More…...

Sam & Dave would be proud. In honor of The Soul Man's last episode, TV Land has released a new video featuring the cast singing and dancing.

A spin-off of Hot in Cleveland, the comedy centers around Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine (Cedric the Entertainer), a Las Vegas R&B star who becomes a preacher in St. Louis. The cast also includes Niecy Nash, John Beasley, Jazz Raycole, and Wesley Jonathan. The series' fifth and final season ended on June 22nd.

Read More…...

At one time, TV Land was known for producing original multi-camera sitcoms with stars of old sitcoms. Those have either ended or been cancelled and it looks like season five of The Soul Man is the end of that era. How will this sitcom do in the ratings in its final run? Should TV Land have ordered a sixth season? Stay tuned.

On The Soul Man, former Las Vegas singer Boyce Ballantine (Cedric the Entertainer) continues his new life as a minister in his father's St. Louis church. The rest of the cast includes Niecy Nash, John Beasley, Wesley Jonathan, and Missi Pyle.

Read More…...

[caption id="attachment_45516" align="aligncenter" width="590"] "The Soul Man" (Ep. 501 Airs 3.30)/caption]

The fifth and final season of TV Land's The Soul Man TV series premieres Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at 10:30pm Et/Pt. Back in July, TV Land announced it had renewed The Soul Man for a fifth and final season, leaving the show effectively cancelled.

The Soul Man cast includes: Cedric the Entertainer, Niecy Nash, Wesley Jonathan, and John Beasley. Missi Pyle is a special guest star in The Soul Man's fifth and final season.

Read More…...

Cedric "The Entertainer," Niecy Nash, Wesley Jonathan, and John Beasley will return for a 5th and final season of TV Land's comedy series "The Soul Man," the network announced today. The series follows Boyce (Cedric "The Entertainer") after he relocated with his wife, hairdresser Lolli (Niecy Nash) from Las Vegas to St. Louis, where they're constantly caught between their celebrity life and the simple life of a reverend's family. This season, Boyce sets out on a campaign trail to run for Mayor with his supportive wife by his side, while his brother Stamps (Wesley Jonathan), who is still trying to figure out life, attempts to help him campaign the best...

Nicki Minaj's childhood will be chronicled in a new television series - and the cast has already been selected! The 33-year-old rapper took to Instagram over the weekend to gush about Ariana Neal, the 11-year-old selected to play a young Minaj in the upcoming ABC Family series Nicki. "I literally cried watching her taped audition. I demanded to meet her!" Minaj captioned a photo of the little girl. "Sat in a room with her teaching her how to rap by doing a beat on the table & forcing her to stay on beat! Lol. Then pulled out all the attitude...

Nicki Minaj's childhood will be chronicled in a new television series - and the cast has already been selected! The 33-year-old rapper took to Instagram over the weekend to gush about Ariana Neal, the 11-year-old selected to play a young Minaj in the upcoming ABC Family series Nicki. "I literally cried watching her taped audition. I demanded to meet her!" Minaj captioned a photo of the little girl. "Sat in a room with her teaching her how to rap by doing a beat on the table & forcing her to stay on beat! Lol. Then pulled out all the attitude...

Nicki Minaj took to Instagram Friday to reveal who will portray her family in the upcoming Freeform series Nicki, a sitcom about the rapper's childhood growing up in Queens in the 1990s. Fruitvale Station's Ariana Neal plays young Nicki on the show, while model Selita Ebanks and City Guys actor Wesley Jonathan were cast as Minaj's parents. Whoopi Goldberg features in a guest-starring role as the Minaj's neighbor Miss Martha. Minaj, who serves as the show's executive producer, will also appear on Nicki occasionally in an unspecified role.

"I...

Did you see Nicki Minaj in the The Other Woman? If you did, you're very excited about today's casting announcement for the upcoming ABC Family (soon-to-be Freeform) scripted comedy based on her childhood in Queens. Nicki will star Ariana Neal (Get Hard, Fruitvale Station) as Nicki when she was still Onika Tanya Maraj; Selita Ebanks (Real Husbands of Hollywood) as her mom Grace; Wesley Jonathan (The Soul Man) as her dad Vincent; and McCarrie McCausland (Army Wives, The Originals) as her brother Jaylen. Best of all, Whoopi Goldberg will play Miss Martha, a neighbor who will surely be saltier than beef roti.As previously reported, the single-camera comedy is inspired by Minaj and her family’s immigration from Trinidad to Queens in the early 1990s, and the personal and musical evolution that led her to fame. Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like a Man) has been tapped to direct. Kate Angelo (Will and Grace,...

ABC Family, which, in a rebranding effort, will change its name to Freeform in January, 2016, has announced the cast for its upcoming Nicki Minaj sitcom based on the rapper’s pre-teen years in New York City. Ariana Neal ("Get Hard," "Fruitvale Station") has been cast as a young Minaj; Selita Ebanks will play Grace, Nicki’s mom; Wesley Jonathan will be Vincent, Nicki’s father; and McCarrie McCausland ("Army Wives," "The Originals") will play Jaylen, Nicki’s older brother. Also Whoopi Goldberg has booked a recurring role as Nicki’s neighbor, Miss Martha. Kate Angelo scripted the pilot and will also write and executive produce the...

The stars of ABC Family’s Nicki, based on the life of creator Nicki Minaj, were announced Friday — and in case you’re wondering, yes, each actor was “literally hand picked” by the superstar herself.

PhotosCancelled ABC Family Series: Twisted, Chasing Life, Ravenswood and 7 Other Cliffhangers (Finally) Resolved

Minaj released the names on social media, beginning with Ariana Neal (Fruitvale Station), who will play the singer before she became the anaconda magnet she is today.

Additional cast members include Selita Ebanks (Real Husbands of Hollywood) as Nicki’s mom Grace, Wesley Jonathan (What I Like About You) as Nicki’s...

Nicki Minaj‘s ABC Family sitcom has cast its leads, toplined by the selection of Ariana Neal as young Nicki. Additionally, Selita Ebanks will play Minaj’s mom, Grace; Wesley Jonathan is dad, Vincent; and McCarrie McCausland has been selected for the big brother role, Jaylen. Whoopi Goldberg will guest star as Nicki’s neighbor, Miss Martha. The “Anaconda” rapper will appear on the show as well, while simultaneously serving as executive producer. For the role of young Nicki, ABC Family had announced open online auditions — but Neal is no newcomer. Her credits include “Fruitvale Station” and “Get Hard. Plus,...

Network: TV Land

Episodes: 54 (half-hour)

Seasons: Five

TV show dates: June 20, 2012 -- Tbd

Series status: Ending

Performers include: Cedric the Entertainer, Niecy Nash, John Beasley, Jazz Raycole, and Wesley Jonathan.

TV show description:

A spin-off of Hot in Cleveland, this sitcom revolves around Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine (Cedric the Entertainer). He lives the high life in Las Vegas, placing at the top of the music charts, when he gets "the calling."

Read More…...

TV Land's "The Soul Man," starring Cedric "The Entertainer," Niecy Nash and Wesley Jonathan, has been renewed for its fifth and final 12-episode season, the network announced today.  The sitcom, which follows Cedric as R&B super-star-turned minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine, is the network's highest-rated original series among African Americans 25-54 and African American Women 25-54. "It has been amazing working with Cedric, Niecy, Wesley and the rest of the cast and crew on what has truly been a memorable and fun experience," said Keith Cox, Executive Vice President of Development and Original Programming for TV Land. "We...

TV Land has renewed The Soul Man for a 12-episode fifth season, which will be the Hot In Cleveland spinoff’s last. With Hot In Cleveland recently ending its run and Soul Man getting an end date, The Exes remains the only original multi-camera sitcom on TV Land as the network has been going through a brand transformation, moving into edgier, single-camera programming. The Soul Man, starring Cedric The Entertainer, Niecy Nash and Wesley Jonathan, has been a solid performer…...

This season is the end for Hot in Cleveland as TV Land shifts to producing a new kind of original sitcom. Will this be the end of The Soul Man as well? Cancelled or renewed for season five? Stay tuned.

On The Soul Man, former Las Vegas singer Boyce Ballantine (Cedric the Entertainer) continues his new life as a minister in his father's St. Louis church. The rest of the cast includes Niecy Nash, John Beasley, and Wesley Jonathan.

Read More…...

Cedric the Entertainer's prayers have been answered. TV Land has renewed his sitcom The Soul Man for a fourth season of 12 episodes. This is the biggest episode order since the sitcom's first season. (Season two had 10 installments while season three had just eight.) The new episodes will start airing some time next year.

Here's the press release:

TV Land Picks Up Season Four Of “The Soul Man” Starring Cedric “The Entertainer” And Niecy Nash

New York, NY – August 4, 2014 – TV Land has renewed its sitcom “The Soul Man,” starring Cedric “The Entertainer” and Niecy Nash, for a fourth season, it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, President of TV Land. The series, which also co-stars Wesley Jonathan, has been picked up for 12 episodes. Last season, “The Soul Man” premiered with a live episode and saw...

TV Land has renewed its sitcom “The Soul Man,” starring Cedric “The Entertainer” and Niecy Nash, for a 4th season, it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, President of TV Land. The series, which also co-stars Wesley Jonathan, has been picked up for 12 episodes. Last season, “The Soul Man” premiered with a live episode and saw great guest stars like Brandy, Martin Lawrence, B.o.B., David Alan Grier, Deion Sanders, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cedric Yarbrough and TV Land’s own Betty White. Season 4 will premiere in 2015. “We are thrilled to bring back Cedric, Niecy and ‘The Soul Man’ for another season,” said Jones. “TV Land has loved working with this cast and crew who come together...

The music is pumping, the dance floor is moving and Donny (Derek Hough) stops when he sees Aya (BoA) performing with her hip-hop Cobu crew on stage at Static, the hottest underground club in New York. They come from two different worlds, but they speak the same language - dance. Against all odds, they come together and show the world what they've got in Make Your Move. Cj Entertainment has released a behind-the-scenes featurette and five clips from Make Your Move, which opened in theaters this weekend.

Make Your Move: Movie Pictures GalleryMake Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 1Make Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 2Make Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 3Make Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 4Make Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 5Make Your Move: Movie Pictures Gallery 6

Make Your Move stars international dance sensation Derek Hough (Dancing with the Stars) along with Korean pop star BoA, in her...

Tonight, Wednesday, March 26th, TV Land will broadcast the Live season premiere of its half-hour comedy series The Soul Man, which stars Cedric "The Entertainer" and Niecy Nash, and follows R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine (Cedric) after he relocates from Las Vegas to St. Louis with his wife Lolli (Nash). While learning to adjust to their new humble life, they have plenty of obstacles in their way. One of these is Boyce's brother Stamps (played by Wesley Jonathan), who seems to have taken up permanent residence in their house - and that's only made worse when Stamps sparks a new relationship with Lolli's sister, Kim...

Brandy's coming to The Soul Man. I can exclusively reveal that the singer-actress has been cast in the TV Land show's live episode airing on Wednesday, March 26. The episode centers on Boyce (Cedric "The Entertainer") headlining his first annual church fundraiser for the summer youth program. He tries to reunite his old band for the event. Brandy will play Rita, one of his former backup dancers, who is desperately trying to hide a big secret. Also causing some trouble are Lolli (Neicy Nash) and Boyce's feelings about Stamps (Wesley Jonathan) and Kim's (Keellee Stewart) possible plans to move in together. The live episode also marks the comedy's season three...

The music is pumping, the dance floor is moving and Donny (Derek Hough) stops when he sees Aya (BoA) performing with her hip-hop Cobu crew on stage at Static, the hottest underground club in New York. They come from two different worlds, but they speak the same language - dance. Against all odds, they come together and show the world what they've got in Make Your Move. Watch their hot moves and heated passion in the first trailer for this new dance movie from the director of Save The Last Dance and the original Step Up.

Make Your Move stars international dance sensation Derek Hough (Dancing with the Stars) along with Korean pop star BoA, in her first English language feature film leading a cast of talented actors, dancers and artists in this classic dance romance, with a unique twist.

Make Your Move comes to theaters July 18th, 2014 and stars Derek Hough,...

TV Land has renewed The Soul Man for a third season. The cable channel has ordered just eight episodes this time around.

Dateline reports that the renewal comes as a result of the sitcom being so popular with African-American viewers. "We’re so proud to have this show in our portfolio of sitcoms,” said TV Land president Larry W. Jones. “Fans of The Soul Man are the drivers behind the success of the series. Because of their passion, we are able to continuously bring new viewers to the channel."

The Soul Man stars Cedric The Entertainer as a former Las Vegas headliner who decides to become a minister and relocates his family to his hometow of St. Louis. The comedy also stars Niecy Nash, Wesley Jonathan, Jazz Raycole, and John Beasley.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that The Soul...

TV Land has given the green light to a third season of The Soul Man starring Cedric "The Entertainer," Niecy Nash and Wesley Jonathan, it was announced today via press release by Larry W. Jones, President of TV Land. The new season will premiere in the spring of 2014 with eight episodes. "We're so proud to have this show in our portfolio of sitcoms," said Jones. "Fans of 'The Soul Man' are the drivers behind the success of the series. Because of their passion, we are able to continuously bring new viewers to the channel." The Soul Man follows R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine (Cedric) after he relocates from Las Vegas to St. Louis with...

Exclusive: TV Land‘s The Soul Man will return for a third season. The network has given the 8-episode order more than three months after Season 2 of the show, starring Cedric “The Entertainer,” Niecy Nash and Wesley Jonathan, ended its run. Comedy veteran Ric Swartzlander (Cougar Town), who quietly joined the show at the beginning of Season 2, will be back as showrunner. Like with the second season pickup, I hear a key renewal factor was the show’s strong showing among Black viewers. Over the first two seasons, The Soul Man averaged a potent 3.7 rating among African-American Women 25-54 and a 3.0 rating with African-American Adults 25-54. Season 2 of the series posted gains of +103% among A25-54 and +111% among W25-54 (L+7) versus channel prime average. “We’re so proud to have this show in our portfolio of sitcoms,” said TV Land president Larry W. Jones. “Fans of The Soul Man...

As previously reported, Hot in Cleveland, The Exes, and The Soul Man are returning to TV Land beginning June 19th. Cleveland will be finishing up its fourth season while Soul Man is returning for season two and The Exes will be starting its third round.

Here are some additional details:

TV Land Reveals All-star Summer Line-up Starting June 19th

Live Episode Of "Hot in Cleveland"

"The Exes" Season Premiere Spices Up The Night

"The Soul Man" Returns With A Weekly Bonus Segment Of Cedric "The Entertainer's" Stand-Up

New York, NY - May 2, 2013 - Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick, Jane Leeves, Kristen Johnston, Donald Faison, Wayne Knight, David Alan Basche, Kelly Stables, Cedric "The Entertainer," Niecy Nash and Wesley Jonathan all squeeze into an hour and a half of comedy...

Last year, we featured the trailer for writer/actress/producer Reagan Gomez's new webseries Almost Home, starring Gomez, as well as Wesley Jonathan, Denyce Lawton, Jackie Long, DeJuan Turrentine, QU33N!, and DeWayne Turrentine. Its synopsis reads: After the death of their mother, Lisa and DeJuan decide to live out her dream and move to sunny, California. Lisa quickly finds a job while DeJuan gives up engineering school to become a singer. All seems well, but old troubles find them... mainly, Lisa’s abusive fiancé. Lisa learns to embrace her stronger self, while DeJuan learns a little responsibility isn’t such a bad thing. Gomez, who funded...

The web is the new TV, as we've said many times on S&A. And content creators from under-represented groups are taking full advantage, which is a good thing! If you're not seeing yourself on screen (Broadcast TV and at the movie theater), the burden is on you to create those images of yourself that you want to see, especially now that the tools of creation and distribution have become much more accessible. Last year, we featured the trailer for writer/actress/producer Reagan Gomez's new webseries Almost Home, starring Gomez, as well as Wesley Jonathan, Denyce Lawton, Jackie Long, DeJuan Turrentine, QU33N!, and DeWayne Turrentine. Its synopsis reads: ...

Amanda Bynes's former co-star Wesley Jonathan has offered the actress advice following her alleged driving offences. Bynes recently pleaded not guilty in her suspended driving license case as well as two hit-and-run driving charges. The actress worked with Jonathan on the popular WB series What I Like About You, in which they played best friends for four seasons. Jonathan has now told TMZ that Bynes should not be driving at this point in her life. (more)...

Amanda Bynes is too rich to get DUIs ... because someone with her kinda paycheck can afford a chauffeur -- at least according to Amanda's former co-star from "What I Like About You."Wesley Jonathan -- who played Amanda's Bff on the show -- was out in L.A. yesterday when we asked if he had anything to say to his old TV buddy, and he replied, "The only thing I would say to her is 'You got enough money.

Singer Boyce Ballantine (Cedric the Entertainer) hopes to make a new life as a minister -- while TV Land is hoping that The Soul Man is a big success in the ratings. Others in the show's cast include Niecy Nash, John Beasley, Jazz Raycole, and Wesley Jonathan.

The comedy's ratings are the best way to tell if The Soul Man will be cancelled or renewed for a second season. The first season typically airs Wednesday nights on TV Land and there are 12 episodes.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season averages: 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 1.06 million total viewers.

Episode 01-12: Wednesday, 09/05/12 (season or series finale)

0.3 demo rating (0% change) with 0.99 million (-2% change).

Season averages:...

The web is the new TV in case you haven't been paying attention. The *process* as we know it has been democratized. Got a story to tell, the necessary tools are far more accessible than they ever were, and distribution/exhibition is an upload and a click away. Of course, attracting an audience is where the challenge really lies. From director Matthew Cherry (The Last Fall) and writer/actress/producer Reagan Gomez, comes a new webseries starring Gomez, as well as Wesley Jonathan, Denyce Lawton, Jackie Long, DeJuan Turrentine, QU33N!, and DeWayne Turrentine, titled Almost Home. Al Thompson exec produces.  Its synopsis reads: After the death of their...

Loretta Devine is heading to the TV Land this week for a 2-episode arc in its freshman half-hour comedy series, The Soul Man. Cedric the Entertainer stars in the original scripted sit-com, which is a spinoff of the network's Hot in Cleveland. He stars as Rev. Boyce "The Voice" Ballantine, a former R & B singer turned minister, who takes over his father's church. In the series Niecy Nash plays his wife, Jazz Raycole plays his daughter Lyric, John Beasley as Boyce’s father, Barton, and Wesley Jonathan as his brother, Stamps. In her 2-episode arc, Loretta...

Tune in alert for The Soul Man, as guest star Sherri Shepherd in .The God-Fathers. as Boyce (Cedric the Entertainer) is put to the test by the Council of United Leaders of Faith . .made men. who can either "make it or break it" for Boyce and his church. The Soul Man revolves around Cedrics character, Reverend Boyce The Voice Ballentine, an R&B superstar-turned-minister who takes over as preacher of his father's church. Niecy Nash stars as the reverends wife, Lolli. The pilot also features John Beasley as his father, Wesley Jonathan as his younger brother, and Jazz Raycole as his daughter. The character of Reverend Boyce originated on a second season episode of Hot in Cleveland in which...

Anthony Anderson to Guest Star on "The Soul Man" Wed July 25th at 10pm On .Preacher.s Block., Boyce (Cedric the Entertainer) gets preacher.s block, Lolli (Niecy Nash) invites his old writing partner Sweet Brown Taylor (Anthony Anderson) to come help - but Sweet has another agenda. Barton (John Beasley) and Stamps (Wesley Jonathan) lock themselves in Boyce.s office while installing a new alarm system.On the web: http://www.tvland.com/shows/the-soul-manTwitter: #TheSoulManFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thesoulmantv...

In so-called specialty box office... 2 indie films of note that opened over the weekend. First - The Obama Effect, directed by Charles S. Dutton (he also stars it by the way), and co-stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Katt Williams, Megan Good, Wesley Jonathan and Glynn Turman. It opened in limited release in the USA (25 screens to be exact), and if you saw it over the weekend, I'd like to know what you thought of it. So please share in the comments section. The social media campaign for it was quite relentless, from my Pov, as there likely wasn't much of a marketing budget.  So how did it do? Not that great unfortunately....