August 4-11, 2017 The Mid-South Tribune Page 3 Entertainment Ava Duvernay inks deals with Lifetime bolsters scripted OWN and Harpo Films content for fall schedule from entertainment page 1 Lifetime continues to dominate true story space. Greenlights new Toni tor, “Alone”), Liesl Tommy “I’m so proud of Ava and Fast Company’s Most (Tony-nominated director, her ability as a filmmaker Innovative Companies in Braxton film, biopic of Gold Medalist Simone Biles, Flint, and Elizabeth “Eclipsed”) and Christina Voros to challenge the status quo Hollywood. Smart. (acclaimed cinematographer and director “The Ladies,” “Child of and push for inclusiveness About “Queen Sugar” LOS ANGELES, CA – – her to become one of the great- Zimmer), demands. Season God”) will join previously on screen and behind the (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT) Lifetime ups its premium script- est and most celebrated athletes three features Everlasting's new announced Julie Dash camera. I love, love, love In the contemporary drama ed content with new season in the world. feminist "suitress," Serena “It’s an exciting time for all (Caitlin FitzGerald, Masters of (Sundance award-winning the work we have been “Queen Sugar,” the Bordelon greenlights of the critically- “Daughters of the Dust”) to siblings struggle to move for- acclaimed drama series women when a female-directed Sex), who is determined to have direct upcoming episodes of the able to create so far. I am ward with their lives as they UnREAL for a fourth season movie, featuring a female super- her pick of eager male second half of season two, airing looking forward to devel- strive to honor the legacy of and freshman drama Mary Kills hero, tops the summer box suitors.Co-created by Marti this fall. oping many more mean- their father following his unex- People for a season two, it was office,” said Gateley of the July Noxon and Sarah Gertrude 28th announcement. “In televi- Shapiro and produced by A+E ingful projects together,” pected passing. Charley (Dawn- announced today by Liz Gateley, About Ava DuVernay Lyen Gardner, “Unforgettable”) EVP and Head of Programming sion, Lifetime is the top tier des- Studios, seasons three and four Filmmaker Ava DuVernay was said Oprah Winfrey, CEO, relocates to Saint Josephine, for Lifetime. The renewal of tination for hiring female writ- are helmed by showrunner and nominated for an Academy OWN and Harpo Films. Louisiana, to help run the family UnREAL comes ahead of its ers, directors and producers and executive producer Stacy Award and won the BAFTA for business. As the only black much-anticipated third season, we continue to celebrate the Rukeyser. UnREAL season Best Documentary for “13th” "Venus Vs," "My Mic Sounds female sugarcane mill owner, which will debut in early 2018 everyday, real-life heroes in our three is also executive produced which had the honor of opening Nice" and "This is The Life." she must fight to regain her alongside Mary Kills People. programming.” by Shapiro, Robert M. Sertner, the New York Film Festival DuVernay recently wrapped independence while rebuilding Lifetime’s scripted fare also Lifetime also sets airdates for Sally DeSipio, Peter O’Fallon before premiering on Netflix. production on directing Disney’s her relationships with her includes the straight-to-series its fall movies: The Watcher in and David Solomon. UnREAL The documentary showcased her “A Wrinkle in Time” based on estranged siblings. Ralph Angel psychological thriller from Greg the Woods (Oct 21) starring is the first scripted series fully commitment to activism and the beloved children’s novel of (Kofi Siriboe, “Girls Trip”) Berlanti and Sera Gamble, Academy Award winner produced and distributed by reform in the criminal justice the same name; marking the first struggles to transform from a YOU, starring Penn Badgley Anjelica Huston and directed A+E Studios. A+E Networks system. Previously, she directed time an African American formerly incarcerated single and Elizabeth Lail, which begins and executive produced by also handles global sales for the acclaimed feature film woman has directed a feature father to a landowner in the eyes production this August. In line Melissa Joan Hart; Flint (Oct UnREAL, which has been sold "Selma," which was nominated with a budget over $100 million. of his family as he works to with Lifetime’s Broad Focus ini- 28) starring Queen Latifah, Jill and airs in more than 100 territo- for two Academy Awards and The film, which stars Oprah restore his relationship with his tiative, more than 50% of direc- Scott, Marin Ireland and Betsy ries. four Golden Globes. Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon tors for these series are female, Brandt from executive produc- Mary Kills People- Returns Winner of the 2012 Sundance and Mindy Kaling, will be Please see ent. page 4 and are predominately produced ers Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Early 2018 Film Festival's Best Director released in March 2018. and written by women. Katie Couric; The Lost Wife of Single mother Mary Harris Prize for her previous feature In 2010, DuVernay founded With three original cable Robert Durst (Nov 4) starring (Caroline Dhavernas) is an ER "Middle of Nowhere," ARRAY, a film collective which PBS movies ranked in the top four in Katharine McPhee and Daniel doctor by day, but by night, she DuVernay's earlier directorial distributes and amplifies the women 25-54* this year, Gillies and I Am Elizabeth and her partner Des (Richard work includes "I Will Follow," work of people of color and launches Lifetime furthers its supremacy Smart (Nov 18) featuring Short), a former plastic surgeon, women directors, named one of in long form storytelling with Elizabeth Smart and starring moonlight as underground greenlights of Faith Under Fire Skeet Ulrich, Deirdre Lovejoy angels of death helping termi- Third Rail and The Simone Biles Story and introducing Alana Boden. nally ill patients slip away on (working title). Grammy winner SCRIPTED SERIES their own terms. So far Mary has with OZY Toni Braxton, whose Lifetime UnREAL- Returns Early 2018 managed to stay under the radar; biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak UnREAL gives a fictitious but death is hot, business is booming, and her double life is BOSTON, MA— Carlos My Heart was the #1 rated cable behind-the-scenes glimpse into getting complicated. When her Watson, Emmy Award-winning movie of 2016**, makes her the chaos surrounding the pro- August Highlights world starts to unravel, Mary journalist and Editor in Chief of return to the network to star as duction of a hit dating competi- realizes she’s going to have to OZY.com, will host a new, Antoinette Tuff, a clerical work- tion program, Everlasting. Editor’s Note: See below Bishop (Keith David) an olive fight dirty if she’s going to stay prime-time, cross-platform er who talks down a school UnREAL is led by flawed hero- August Highlights of branch. Kevin (Tye White) in the killing game. Jay Ryan debate program, Third Rail with shooter in Faith Under Fire from ine Rachel Goldberg (Shiri OWNL Oprah Windfrey makes a decision that leaves returns as Ben Wesley. Mary OZY. Co-produced by WGBH Sony Pictures Television. Appleby), renowned for her Network. Please check your Charity (Deborah Joy Winans) Kills People is executive pro- Boston’s Studio Six and OZY America’s most decorated gym- skills manipulating her relation- local cable network for des- reeling. duced by Tassie Cameron, Amy Media, and made possible with nast with 19 Olympic and World ships with, and among, the con- ignated channels. All times Cameron, Jocelyn Hamilton and support from the Corporation for Championship medals, Simone testants to get the vital dramatic are in ET/PT. Check local (P) Wednesday, August 16 (10 Tecca Crosby. The series will be Public Broadcasting, PBS and Biles also signs on for a and outrageous footage that the cable network for any re- p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/PT) Episode: directed by Kelly Makin, Norma The Pew Charitable Trusts, this Lifetime biopic revealing the program’s dispassionate execu- broadcasts. Call Not Complete Bailey and David Wellington seven-part series will broadcast sacrifices and dedication it took tive producer, Quinn King Jacob (Lamman Rucker) and and stream Fridays at 8:30pm (Emmy-nominated Constance Please see ent. page 4 Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne) estab- ET, starting September 8, 2017 NEW SERIES & SEASONS lish their new ministry. Charity Travel on the Book lane on The Mid-South Tribune and Black Information Highway.com (Check your local and cable net- (P) Denotes: Premieres (Deborah Joy Winans) desper- works for channel designation.). ately tries to reach Kevin (Tye Intriguing, unexpected and GREENLEAF White). Darius (Rick Fox) gets enlightening, Third Rail with Two-night midseason premiere an offer that may take him out of OZY promises to present new Tuesday, August 15 and Memphis, leaving Grace (Merle voices and valuable dialogue for Wednesday, August 16 (10 p.m. Dandridge) to wonder where she the digital age. In a fresh addi- – 11 p.m. ET/PT) fits in his life. *The series will air regularly on tion to the PBS line-up, Watson will frame each week’s half- Wednesdays (10 p.m. – 11 p.m. (P) Wednesday, August 23 (10 hour show around a single, ET/PT) p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/PT) Episode: provocative question. Expert OWN’s original drama series Changing Season and celebrity guests will debate “Greenleaf,” from award-win- When Sophia (Desiree Ross) ning writer/producer Craig it in the studio each Friday, mod- Forgiving Christmas and Zora (Lovie Simone) are erated by Watson, and informed Wright (“Lost,” “Six Feet excluded from the upcoming by the weeklong social media Under”) and executive produc- debutante Cotillion, Lady Mae conversation leading up to it. ers Oprah Winfrey (“Selma”) (Lynn Whitfield) sets out to The series’ underlying query in and Clement Virgo (“The Book make things right. Grace (Merle this contentious age is: can dia- A Contemporary Novel of Negroes”), takes viewers into Dandridge) is inspired by logue–informed by data–alter the unscrupulous world of the Basie’s (Jason Dirden) sermon. people’s points of view? Greenleaf family and their Charity (Deborah Joy Winans) “Third Rail with OZY will be sprawling Memphis reaches out to Carlton (guest star sharp, smart, and–we hope–fun. megachurch, where scandalous Parnell Damone Marcano). WGBH’s partnership with OZY secrets and lies are as numerous (P) Wednesday, August 30 (10 By Arelya J. Mitchell Media creates a rare and impor- as the faithful. In the series’ sec- p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/PT) Episode: tant opportunity for Americans ond season, the Greenleaf fami- House Rules to really listen to each other, and ly tree will split at the root as Basie’s (Jason Dirden) sermon engage with a diverse range of Jacob (Lamman Rucker, “Why regarding inclusivity in the viewpoints for a new type of Did I Get Married?”) ventures church goes viral, lighting a fire conversation,” says Denise *** off to begin his new career with under Grace (Merle Dandridge) DiIanni, series creator and sen- long-time rival church Triumph and provoking the Bishop’s ior executive in Charge for Ministries, breaking faith with (Keith David) suspicions. WGBH. Performed in audio his father, Bishop James Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne) push- “After the success of Point by Greenleaf (Emmy-winner Keith es Jacob (Lamman Rucker) to Taken in 2016, we are excited to David, “Community”), while his get a day job. mother, Lady Mae Greenleaf welcome Carlos Watson back to PBS stations this fall. Carlos Janine Santana (Golden Globe nominee and BLACK LOVE brings a unique combination of Emmy-winner Lynn Whitfield, Series premiere Tuesday, August smarts and razor-sharp wit to his “The Josephine Baker Story”), 29 (10 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/PT) role as host and moderator, struggles with Jacob’s decision *The series will air regularly on exploring a range of topics that to abandon the family. Saturdays (9 p.m. – 10 p.m. Available on Audible.com, iTunes.com, Kindle, and print are timely and relevant to the Meanwhile, after exposing her ET/PT) beginning September 2 concerns of the American pub- uncle Mac’s (GregAlan “Black Love,” highlights love lic,” said Marie Nelson, vice at Amazon.com Williams, “The Accountant”) stories from the Black commu- president, News and Public crimes, but failing to bring him nity and seeks to answer the Affairs, PBS. “While there are to justice, Grace “Gigi” burning question, “What is the many issues that divide our Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge, secret to making a marriage country, there is often common “The Night Shift”) finds herself work?” “Black Love” dives into ground to be found. We are intrigued with someone new, how love begins while showing proud to continue to serve as a hen Christmas brings you the best and worst and delivers you Darius Nash (Rick Fox, the reality of what life-long love platform for spirited and civil theW bonus of the Great Recession, can you keep your family together? “Dope”), a local journalist looks like, and offers proof that discussion.” who’s been closely following while it can happen for every- “Forgiving Christmas” is a contemporary novel wrapped in symbolic Online and social media voting the ongoing threats plaguing the one, it isn’t a cakewalk. The will be used to assess outcomes twists and the reality that ‘life’ happens and what happens Greenleaf empire. docu-series shares honest, emo- of each week’s debate. transcends all seasons. (P) Tuesday, August 15 (10 p.m. tional and sometimes cringe- Viewpoints posted on Facebook – 11 p.m. ET/PT) Episode: The worthy always-true love stories. and Twitter, and on PBS.org, Bear Featured couples include Oscar- will be integrated and displayed Grace (Merle Dandridge) and winner Viola Davis and husband as part of the program. To frame Mac’s (GregAlan Williams) Julius Tennon, Hollywood “Forgiving Christmas” by Arelya J. Mitchell, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The and inform the televised and showdown sends shockwaves power couple Meagan Good and Mid-South Tribune, is now available on Kindle and in print in bookstores and at through the family. Jacob digital discourse, the Marist Amazon.com. The audio version of the novel performed by Janine Santana is (Lamman Rucker) offers the Please ent. page 4 Please see ent. page 5 available also at Amazon.com