“Aretha was the key to learning how magical music could be.  She’s the example …architect in the music industry which is what I aspire to be.”  She also had a real love for clothing & style.  It was cool to wear clothing through time… from the 70’s to 80’s” – Cynthia Erivo

 

Cynthia broke out as Celie in the broadway hit The Color Purple, earning her a Daytime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and a Tony Award for Best Actress.  And in 2019, her leading role as Harriet garnered her Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.  THIS is how I was introduced to this AMAZING talent.  My mom still watches the film almost everyday. LOL!

During our roundtable she provided a lot of great insight on her role as Aretha… I was taken as she reflected on Harriet Tubman and the late great Cicely Tyson.

“My goal was not to be perfect but to be truthful… and I led with that.  I will never be that person but my intentions were in the right place with empathy in telling the story.  Harriet liked stories… if she liked that, I knew there was a tenderness … a soft side.  I got to show that and hopefully you knew more about her than you knew.  Cicely is one of many I admire who had a variety of full body careers.  Who kept you guessing by playing many different roles.” – Cynthia

What’s next for Cynthia? Here’s a few projects coming your way!

• New role as Franklin in National Geographic’s Emmy-winning anthology Genius, which premieres in March 2021.
• Will star in the upcoming film Talent Show
• A future biopic about Nigerian princess Sara Forbes Bonnetta.  (I’m really excited about this one  )
• Planning to release her first album with Verve/Universal Music Group in 2021.
• Last but not least… National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha coming soon!

Watch the behind the scenes trailer:

For all of her wonderful accomplishments… Cynthia Erivo will be presented with the SCAD “Spotlight Award”!!!

NOTE: I was able to capture this queen at the 2019 NAACP Image Awards.

Photos RobinLori

Stay tuned for more exciting coverage from SCAD aTVfest!

In 2018, Kenan received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the SNL song “Come Back, Barack” and was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018 and 2020. On film, Thompson has appeared in Hubie Halloween, The Magic of Belle Isle, Snakes on a Plane, D2: The Mighty Ducks, and Good Burger, among others. He has also showcased his voice talents in The Grinch, Trolls World Tour, Wonder Park, The Smurfs, Space Chimps, Rock Dog, and more. His upcoming projects include Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Disney+ reboot of Home Alone.

Thompson has made tons of contributions to SNL with his hilarious impressions, including The Rev. Al Sharpton, Charles Barkley, Steve Harvey, and more recently… the gorilla glue ad with Regina King. LOL, take a look!

I had a chance to attend a virtual chat with the Kenan cast during #atvfest.  Here’s a few questions & answers from the session:

Question: What was at the top of your mind in creating the cast?

Kenan: “It’s a Family dynamic we haven’t seen before… a professional environment, bringing worlds together with SNL.  I’m in Atlanta, on the radio and it’s a lot fun & silliness happening at home. Everyone getting on each other’s nerves a little but love each other”.

Question: Will we continue to see the aspect of your TV wife’s death? How will it progress?

Kenan: We don’t want it to be too down because it it is a sitcom… but will be exploring how men deal with grief/death… and how it takes a village with family and friends.

Question: Why ATL?

Kenan: “It was a writers choice…. based on me… the character. And I wanted to keep it closer to home… to make it feel more comfortable for the viewer.  Seeing me sell real estate… no one is really interested in that. LOL!”

Kenan on NBC 

Raising two kids is a three-man job in this unconventional family comedy from executive producer Lorne Michaels. Kenan Thompson stars as a single dad trying to balance his career as the host of a popular morning show in Atlanta with raising his two spirited daughters. While his father-in-law Rick (Don Johnson) and his brother Gary (Chris Redd) try to help him, they usually find a way to make things a whole lot harder.

Watch the trailer!

Sending another huge congrats to Kenan on receiving theVirtuoso Award!

Now in it’s ninth year… SCAD aTVfest celebrates the best of design, creativity, and innovation in television and streaming media. The university’s annual signature event VIRTUALLY took place on Feb. 4-6, 2021.  Visit aTVfest.com for more information.

It’s all good.. I have 5 fun facts to share about the NEW show and this remarkable… giggly young lady called Gabby. 

About the Show:

At 16, Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas stunned the world in 2012 by becoming the first African American in history to win the USA team and individual all-around gold medals at the Summer Olympics. Now 20, after a couple of years away from the sport, Gabby returns laser-focused, more confident and doesn’t just want to be on the medal podium in Rio, she wants gold.

Behind her meteoric rise was a family willing to sacrifice everything to help her accomplish her dreams. This time, as Gabby trains tirelessly in Ohio with her grandmother by her side, the rest of the family keeps busy juggling Gabby’s business and their own lives back in California. Her brother John is a standout athlete in track, while devoted sisters Arie and Joy are eager to blaze their own paths with “Momager” Natalie keeping this tight-knit family in-check.

With Gabby’s dogged determination and her family’s unwavering support, this dream team proves that sometimes things are better the second time around. -Facebook

Watch a sneak peek:

5 fun facts shared on the call:

1. Natalie Hawkins (Gabby’s mom) revealed that Gabby is a prankster and we get to see some of the practical jokes on the show!

2.  Natalie Hawkins’ favorite reality tv show is…. Chrisley Knows Best!

3.  Douglas Family Gold was pitched by Gabby’s older sister Arielle Hawkins but mom & Gabby wasn’t buying it at first.

“I was the one who was a little bit hesitant because, you know, my main focus was Rio and, you know, obviously it still is. So I didn’t want, you know, the cameras in the gym distracting me while I was training and for the most part they, you know, everyone at Oxygen was very respectful and they were like, “Hey we don’t want to, you know, get your mind off Rio either. So we all like came together and, you know, figured out a plan and it worked out and, you know, then I agreed and yes.”  -Gabby

4.  Gabby’s favorite scripture:  2 Timothy 1:7… For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

5.  And here is Gabby’s overall message/ takeaway for the show:

“We wanted to put some, you know, something bright and something, you know, inspiration out there on the TV.  We want people to take away a lot of laughter and supportive family time.  Also just strong inspiration to see what it takes for you to accomplish your goal and the hard work, sacrifice and bonding with your family.  I want people to draw that inspiration and be a fighter and go out there and keep fighting!!” – Gabby

Now in its sixth year, NBC’s trailblazing program for emerging diverse late night and sketch comedy writers has named its 2018 class of writers. Alyssa Feller, Jonathan Giles, Michael Hartney, John Mahone, Cameron Smith, Natasha Vaynblat and Bryan Yang were chosen to be the new class of the network’s annual Late Night Writer’s Workshop. 

Chosen from 1,000 applicants, the new class will participate in an intensive six-day program this month that will ready them to be staff writers on late night and sketch comedy shows.  Congrats to these talented individuals who will be responsible for the next wave of entertainment for us!  It’s not an easy task and here’s what Karen had to say for all of YOU aspiring writers:

“A good idea doesn’t make a good show. A good show-runner makes a good show.  People have a lot of ideas… if yo have an idea about a show… know where you pitch it.  It’s really important to know where you pitch because if you look at our landscape… what we have on our air, do we have something like that?  is that a place where you see the show living?  If not, then you should not pitch it to us… always do your research.  And then also… if you have never written for television then yo may want to bring in someone who has to help develop your idea because we’re not in the business of one episode… this for years of episodes.  And do to do that over and over again… is a muscle that really has to be exercised.”

MEET the “head lady in charge” as she shares her history!

iPhone VIDEO (Karen Horne):

 

“In the six years since its inception, our Late Night Writers Workshop has changed the landscape of late night and sketch comedy by infusing fresh, new diverse voices into the writers’ rooms,” said Karen. “Since late night and sketch comedy use the cultural zeitgeist and world events to drive their humor, it’s especially critical to have inclusive writers’ rooms that reflect the diversity in our world.”

For more information, visit the NBCUniTIPS.com.

Great meeting you Karen!