EURweb |
FILM/TV BITS: HBO’s ‘Thug’; Brown’s ‘One on One’; Ace takes ‘Half’; Harvey ‘Straight Up’; Sherman gets ‘Surreal’; Mandela’s stolen pigs; T.I. shows off acting chops in 'ATL.'
*HBO has given a greenlight for the comedy pilot “The Unsuccessful Thug,” starring Mike Epps. The show is based on the comedian’s life in Indiana as a low-rent criminal who eventually makes it big as a stand up comic. Executive producers on the project will be Epps, the pilot’s writer, Brad Kaaya, as well as Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, who plucked Epps from obscurity and recruited him to perform on their HBO show "Def Comedy Jam."
*Singer Chris Brown will make his acting debut in a cameo appearance on UPN’s “One on One.” During the March 27 episode, titled “Recipe for Disaster,” the teen performs his latest hit single “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” at Hollywood party. He flirts with Breanna (Kyla Pratt), only to have his game shot down because he is too young. “One on One” airs Mondays at 8 p.m.
*UPN is also cashing in on the “American Idol” monster by rerunning its “Half & Half” episode featuring heartthrob finalist, Ace Young. The beanie-toting singer stars as Ace Blackwell, Dee Dee’s first potential client who wants to quit baseball to sing. When the pro-athlete turns out to be musically gifted, an all out bidding war breaks out between the half-sisters who both want to sign him. The episode, titled “The Big Off Pitch Episode," will be rebroadcast on Monday, April 3 at 9:30 p.m.
*This week, Steve Harvey was the subject on the Black Family Channel program "Straight Up," a series of candid interviews with celebrities. The episode featured the radio titan taking viewers on a journey from his humble beginnings to his unimaginable paydays and commitment to God. Check your local cable guide for channel listings, show times and encore viewings. Harvey's new standup film, "Don’t Trip…He Ain’t Through With Me Yet,” hits select theaters today.
*Sherman “George Jefferson” Hemsley will appear in the new season of VH1’s “Surreal Life,” which debuts Sunday (March 19) at 9 p.m. The star of “The Jeffersons” will share the same living space as fellow TV icon Florence “Carol Brady” Henderson, Steve Harwell of Smashmouth, Whitesnake video vamp Tawny Kitaen, C.C. Deville from Poison, Playboy TV’s Andrea Lowell and gender-bending actor/actress Alexis Arquette. The group's first task is choosing an extra cast member from a pool of reality stars, including ousted "American Idol" bad boy Corey Clark.
*Speaking to the cast of the Oscar-winning South African film “Tsotsi,” former South African president Nelson Mandela joked about his days as a young knucklehead, echoing the film’s story of a violent young gangster’s journey of redemption. "All of us were very mischievous in our younger days," Mandela said after meeting with the cast in Cape Town. "You know, we had a method as young chaps of about 16 or 17, of stealing pigs." Mandela, 87, proceeded to tell folks how he used to roast swine stolen from the villages. “Once we are far away we will get behind the pigs and drive them to a valley especially on the banks of the river, and then stab it ... the owners will not hear its sounds and then we would roast it and eat it," he said to loud laughter from the cast and journalists. "Some of the leaders of this country and elsewhere in the world started with misdemeanors of all kinds, but as they grew up, they became responsible people who have served our country very well."
*Last night we had a chance to check out the film "ATL" starring Tip Harris, better known as rapper T.I., who convincingly plays a 17 year-old high school student who's also damn near playing father to his younger brother. One of the story lines revolve around Sunday night at the Cascade roller rink and the competition between the crews. In fact, it sort of reminded us of "You Got Served," but with a harder edge and strong message. After the screening, we ran into OutKast's Big Boi, who plays the bad guy in the movie. He said it was his very time seeing it. He even admitted to seeing scenes and actors that he knew nothing about. And yes, he represents fully in the film. Bottom line, we found "ATL" to very entertaining and very well acted. Look for it in theaters March 31. We smell a hit. Learn more at ATLthemovie.com.
.jpg)
