Small Screen: Eve Is Leaving ‘Queens;’ Michelle Obama Is Set To Guest Star On ‘Black-ish,’ Hulu Renews ‘Wu Tang’ For Final Season
Rekha Sharma - Jean Baptiste Lacroix / Stringer
Broadcast: Grammy, Daytime Emmy, BET, MTV Video Music Award winning and multi-platinum selling artist Eve, who is now known as Brianna on the new ABC Drama Queens, announced news of her upcoming maternity leave. Eve is expecting her first child in February 2022, after releasing the news in October. According to deadline, Eve has been commuting to Atlanta, where Queens films, from the UK where her family home is. ABC and the show’s producers have been supportive of the star, adjusting the schedule so Eve could film additional scenes before her leave to be with her family. As a result, Brianna will be in the majority of Queens‘ original 13-episode order, we hear. We also hear that the character’s storyline is wrapped up in a way so Eve could return if she chooses to and should the series get renewed for a second season.
ABC’s Black-ish returns for its eighth and final season in 2022 with a guest star spot by Michelle Obama. Obama will be playing the former first lady and will appear as herself although more details have yet to be revealed. ‘The series, created and executive produced by Kenya Barris, will continue to tell stories that shine a light on current events through the lens of the Johnson family, including the global pandemic, voting, systemic racism, and the movement for social justice and equality. Black-ish stars include Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson, Trace Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson, Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, Marcus Scribner as Andre Johnson Jr., Miles Brown as Jack Johnson, Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson, Laurence Fishburne as Pops, Jenifer Lewis as Ruby, Peter Mackenzie as Mr. Stevens, Deon Cole as Charlie Telphy, Jeff Meacham as Josh and Katlyn Nichol as Olivia.’
ABC has just renewed their comedy remake of The Wonder Years. This back-nine order marks the first full season for a rookie show this fall. ‘The Wonder Years, a remake of the 1988-93 coming-of-age comedy that centers on a Black family, stars Elisha “EJ” Williams, Dulé Hill, Saycon Sengbloh, Laura Kariuki, Julian Lerner, Amari O’Neil and Milan Ray. Don Cheadle narrates the show as the grown-up version of Williams’ character, Dean. Disney’s 20th Television produces The Wonder Years. Lee Daniels, Saladin K. Patterson, Fred Savage, Marc Velez and Bob Daily executive produce. The series is averaging 4.8 million viewers across all platforms within a week of episodes debuting. It’s tied with The Conners as ABC’s top-rated comedy among adults 18-49 with a 1.3 rating in the key ad demographic.’
NBC’s The Blacklist has just signed Colby Lewis as Alina Park’s (Sohn) husband Peter. Described as ‘A ray of sunshine and an attentive spouse, Peter is protective of his wife, Alina (Sohn), and deeply anxious about the danger she encounters at her job. Peter’s voice was heard briefly in a phone call and the character has been referenced in earlier episodes.’ The Blacklist is produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. Lewis previous credits include a recurring role on Chicago Med and a cast member in the Broadway play Hamilton. He’s repped by Artists and Representatives and manager Bob McGowan.
The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico will see Rekha Sharma (known for her role in Battlestar Galactica) in a recurring role on the upcoming fourth season. She will play Shivani, an internationally recognized futurist and tech entrepreneur with a distinct warmth and wisdom underneath her genius antics. Roswell, New Mexico is written by Carina Adly MacKenzie and directed by Julie Plec, the reimagined Roswell, like the original, is based on the Roswell High book series by Melinda Metz. Amblin TV, Bender Brown Prods and Warner brothers are all attached as producers.
Desmond Chiam - Gregg DeGuire / Stringer
Streaming: Helen Wan’s 2013 novel Partner Track is being adapted by Netflix. The giant streaming service will be making this into a drama series and have cast Desmond Chiam (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier) and Tehmina Sunny (Chicago Med) in recurring roles. ‘Chiam will play Zi-Xin “Z” Min, a handsome idealist with a strong sense of right and wrong. His steadfast commitment to the environment might seem overzealous to some, but to Z, integrity is everything. His priorities bring him head-to-head with Ingrid as her client courts his family’s energy company Sunny will portray Victoria St. Clair, a British hotelier, who’s as rich as she is glamorous. Sexy, sophisticated, and shrewd, Victoria is one of the law firm’s biggest clients and is used to getting what she wants.’ They will be joining Arden Cho, Bradley Gibson, Alexandra Turshen, Nolan Gerard Funk, Dominic Sherwood, Rob Heaps and Matthew Rauch.
Larry Owens (High Maintenance, Modern Love) and Aparna Nancherla (Corporate, Master of None) have joined season five of HBO Max’s comedy series Search Party. Owens will be playing one of Dory’s disciples who join her in her grand existential pursuit while Nancherla joins as Tunnel Quinn’s (Jeff Goldblum) head scientist. ‘Created by Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss, Search Party stars Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early and Meredith Hagner. The first three seasons followed best friends Dory (Shawkat), Drew (Reynolds), Elliott (Early) and Portia (Hagner) through a messy private investigation, semi-accidental murder, absurd cover-up and sensational trial. In Season 4, Dory was held prisoner by her psychotic stalker (Cole Escola), forcing Drew, Elliott and Portia to again become a search party – but this time for Dory.’
Hulu has renewed Wu Tang: An American Saga for its third and final season. This follows the second season ending in October, with the group successfully acquiring deals only to find most of their records had been destroyed due to a flood in the basement. ‘The series is set in the early 1990s, at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, with the formation of the Clan, a vision of Bobby Diggs aka The RZA, who strives to unite a dozen young, black men that are torn between music and crime but eventually rise to become the unlikeliest of American success stories.’ The show's stars are Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, Siddiq Saunderson, Julian Elijah Martinez, Marcus Callender, Zolee Griggs, T.J. Atoms, Dave East, Johnell Young, Uyoata Udi and Damani Sease.
