Latest news with #ABlackLadySketchShow
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Newest ‘Jeopardy!' champion donates portion of winnings to Oakland schools
W. Kamau Bell just became the Bay Area's latest 'Jeopardy!' champion, and he's donating a portion of his winnings to East Bay schools. The Oakland comic and documentarian won 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' beating out 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' comedian Robin Thede and entrepreneur Dave Friedberg on the season finale, which aired Wednesday, April 23. By winning, he secured $1 million for the charity of his choice: education nonprofit DonorsChoose, which helps teachers request classroom supplies and enables donors to help fund public school projects. 'It means the world to me to be able to do something for this community,' Bell told the Chronicle. 'I know that an educated student is better for all of us, and teachers that don't have to reach into their pockets to support their students is better for all of us. … The students may never actually understand what just happened, but I know the teachers appreciate it." Bell took no time to celebrate. The next morning, he visited Castlemont High School in Oakland, one of the institutions that will benefit from his 'Jeopardy!' pay out. Joseph Blasher, the school's principal, said Bell's donation is particularly helpful in the wake of Oakland Unified School District's financial struggles, which have made it difficult for teachers to plan projects. "It means people that are from our space continue to help and love our space and our people,' Blasher said. 'OUSD is going through some pretty significant budget issues, so this really helps with specific teacher projects that normally we would be able to fund but are not able to … This just means the world to us.' A total of $183,000 of Bell's winnings will support Oakland teachers across 63 schools, while $53,000 will benefit teachers across 22 schools in Mobile, Ala., where his dad lives. Though the comic got off to a slow start during the final 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' matchup, trailing behind both of his opponents by more than $2,000, Bell was able to turn things around during the second half of the game thanks to some pop culture training from his 10-year-old daughter, Juno. He correctly identified 'Drivers License' as the Olivia Rodrgio ballad named for 'this government-issued form of I.D.,' shortly after revealing to the audience that his daughter had quizzed him about the pop singer in the car that morning. 'I nailed it,' he said proudly on the quiz show. But it was the Daily Double that secured the lead for Bell, who correctly responded to the clue about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' setting him ahead at $11,200. Though he dropped to second place during the third round, for Final Jeopardy, Bell was the only contestant to correctly identifying Bob Newhart as the comedian who often credited his wife for inspiring 'what is still called one of the greatest finales in TV history,' a nod to the 1978 episode of 'The Bob Newhart Show.' He ended the game with a total of $27,199, dominating over Thede and Friedberg by more than $25,000. 'This is amazing,' Bell said when receiving his trophy from host Ken Jennings. Past winners of the celebrity game show, which launched in 2022 as an offshoot of 'Jeopardy!', include 'The Mindy Project' actor Ike Barinholtz and 'Abbott Elementary' star Lisa Ann Walter. During his run on Season 3 of the quiz show, Bell faced off against celebrities such as 'New Girl' star Max Greenfield, 'Grey's Anatomy' actor Camilla Luddington and Bay Area comic Margaret Cho. Earlier this month, Bell brought the show to the East Bay for his third stand-up comedy residency at Berkeley Repertory Theater.
CBS News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Comedian Amber Ruffin pulled from White House Correspondents' Dinner
Amber Ruffin's slated performance at next month's White House Correspondents' Dinner has been canceled, the group's president announced Saturday. In an email to members, White House Correspondents Association President Eugene Daniels said that the WHCA board had "unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year." The Emmy-nominated Ruffin — a longtime writer and performer on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," among numerous other credits, including "A Black Lady Sketch Show" — had already been announced by the WHCA in early February as the featured entertainment for the April 26 dinner. "At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists," Daniels said in his Saturday email. Daniels did not elaborate on the decision. However, in an appearance on the Daily Beast podcast this week, Ruffin said she was told by the WHCA that "you need to be equal, and make sure that you give it to both sides and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, 'There's no way I'm going to be freaking doing that, dude, under no circumstances.'" Ruffin currently features on the CNN series "Have I Got News For You," and her work has often been critical of President Trump. The annual gala, an opportunity for media members to socialize with federal officials and celebrities in a relaxed setting, has historically included a performance from a comedian as well as a roast of sorts from the sitting president. Mr. Trump, whose contentious relationship with the media is well documented, broke precedent and snubbed the event entirely during his first term. However, during a Feb. 5 White House briefing , White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not rule out the possibility of Mr. Trump attending the April dinner. "It's certainly an interesting choice," Leavitt said at the time of Ruffin's selection to perform. "I have the president's invitation on my desk, I have the invitation for myself on my desk as well. I haven't talked to the president about it. When he makes his decision, I will let you all know, but definitely an interesting choice of the comedian. I'll talk to the boss about it and see what we decide." This is not the first time that the WHCA has canceled a comedian. Following Michelle Wolf's controversial 2018 performance , the group announced that it would not feature a comedian the following year, instead opting to go with an address from historian Ron Chernow in 2019. The dinner was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2022, and along with it then-President Joe Biden's participation . The 2024 dinner , featuring comedian Colin Jost of "Saturday Night Live," occurred against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, with hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallying outside the Washington Hilton, where the event is held.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The White Lotus Season 3 Cast: Where Have You Seen The Stars Before?
There are a few things a new season of The White Lotus is always going to get us excited about – namely, where the next resort will be located, who will be meeting their maker and, of course, which star-studded guests will be checking in this time around. Well, with TV's most famous hotel chain about to reopen its doors, we're happy to report that the cast is as packed with stars as ever, most of whom you'll recognise from either the silver screen, your TV set or, in some cases, the pop charts. Here's your quick guide to where you've seen the stars of The White Lotus season three before… Let's start with an obvious one. Fans of The White Lotus will have already seen Natasha Rothwell in action back in the first season, and she reprises her role as former spa manager Belinda in this third run. Both a singer and actor, Natasha's credits include the teen drama Love, Simon, the award-winning comedies Insecure, A Black Lady Sketch Show and Brooklyn Nine Nine, the divisive superhero offering Wonder Woman 1984 and the musical Wonka. Natasha was also the showrunner of How To Die Alone, which was cancelled shortly before the premiere of The White Lotus season three, and has lent her voice to the likes of BoJack Horseman, American Dad and the Disney movie Wish. Shortly before being cast in The White Lotus, Christian Friedel received huge acclaim for his chilling performance in the Oscar-winning film The Zone Of Interest. Prior to that, his main credits were in his native Germany, appearing in the likes of Netflix's Babylon Berlin and Perfume. As a musician, he was also a member of the band Woods Of Birnam, providing vocals and synths. The White Lotus is actually Lalisa Manobal's first acting credit. If you're a fan of pop music, though, you're probably more aware of her music work, performing in the global girl group Blackpink, who have collaborated with stars like Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga and Cardi B, as well as scoring UK chart hits with songs like Kill This Love, How You Like That and Pink Venom. Later this year, she'll release her debut solo album, Alter Ego, which includes collaborations with Doja Cat, Raye and Rosalía. Arnas Fedaravičius has landed his biggest role to date in The White Lotus, playing 'energy healer' Valentin, who catches several tourists' eyes during their stay at the hotel. You might have previously spotted the Lithuanian actor in The Wheel Of Time or The Last Kingdom. Known to cinephiles as the 'Queen of the Indies', Parker Posey starred in several hit indie films in the 1990s, including Dazed And Confused and Party Girl. A two-time Emmy nominee, her TV work has included Tales Of The City, Will & Grace, The Good Wife, Lost In Space, New Girl, Search Party and, more recently, Mr And Mrs Smith. Parker has also appeared in films as varied as The Daytrippers, Scream 3, Best In Show, The Sweetest Thing, Superman Returns, Beau Is Afraid and Thelma. Harry Potter fans will know Jason Isaacs for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy, and he's also appeared more recently in Sex Education and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jason's additional work includes The OA, Star Trek: Discovery, The Patriot and that live-action Peter Pan we all loved back in the day, in which he played both Captain Hook and Me Darling. If you enjoy a bit of true crime, you might have already seen Patrick Schwarzenegger in the drama version of the hit documentary The Staircase, and he's also appeared in the films Daniel Isn't Real and Moxie. His other TV work has included Gen V and the Ryan Murphy projets Scream Queens and American Sports Story. As his last name suggests, Patrick is the son of action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. He also dated Miley Cyrus for around a year, and is thought to have inspired her Dead Petz single BB Talk. Sam Nivola's acting career is really picking up steam, after landing a score of impressive credits since 2021. You may have recently watched him in the Anne Hathaway thriller Eileen, the romantic miniseries The Pursuit Of Love, the Netflix biopic Maestro or the soapy drama The Perfect Couple, in which he starred as Nicole Kidman's on-screen son. Sarah Catherine recently took the lead in the TV adaptation of Cruel Intentions, playing the character inspired by Sarah Michelle Gellar's on-screen role in the 2000s teen film. Before that, she appeared in Impeachment: American Crime Story, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and First Kill. Aimee Lou Wood's break-out role came in the hit Netflix teen comedy Sex Education, which earned her a Bafta win. Since then, she's shared the screen with Bill Nighy in Living, took the lead in the BBC series Daddy Issues and co-created the upcoming show Film Club. If you're a theatre fan, you might have also seen Aimee on the West End as Sally Bowles in the current production of Cabaret. Among Wolton Goggins' vast CV are several Quentin Tarantino collaborations, including The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. He's also appeared in The Bourne Identity, Marvel's Ant-Man And The Wasp and the TV series Vice Principals, The Shield, Fallout and Justified, earning Emmy nominations for the latter two. For her role in the dystopian drama The Leftovers, Carrie Coon earned herself a Critics' Choice Awards win back in 2016. She's also appeared in shows like Fargo and The Gilded Age, and starred as Ben Affleck's on-screen sister in the hit thriller Gone Gill. To us, though, she'll always be the woman who gave Miranda the 'dancing frogs' in Sex And The City… Some of Leslie Bibb's most prominent roles included playing Brooke McQueen in Ryan Murphy's Popular and Christine Everhart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Leslie has also appeared in Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy, Apple TV+'s Palm Royale and the ninth season of the US medical drama ER. True Detective viewers will remember that Michelle originated the role of Maggie Hart in the very first season, earning her a nomination at the Golden Globes. Her other work has included the third Mission: Impossible movie, the high school drama Boston Public and Netflix's polarising Messiah. The White Lotus season three premieres on Now and Sky on Monday 17 February. 'Delicious' And 'Sensational' Or 'Slow' And 'Dour'? Critics Weigh In On The White Lotus Season 3 Arnold Schwarzenegger Makes Surprising Comment About Son Patrick's White Lotus Nude Scene Leo Woodall Makes Rare Comment About His Romance With Meghann Fahy
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kelly Rowland & Method Man To Lead Amazon MGM Studios Rom-Com; Robin Thede & Annie Gonzalez Also Star
EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Rowland (Mea Culpa) and Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (Power Book II: Ghost) are set to lead the new Amazon MGM Studios rom-com Relationship Goals, based on Michael Todd's New York Times bestseller Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex. Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show) and Annie Gonzalez (Flamin' Hot) will also star. Relationship Goals is a funny and inspiring romantic comedy on finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship at every stage of courtship. The book, based on Todd's viral sermon series about dating, marriage, and sex, spent 13 straight weeks on the NY Times bestsellers list and debuted at No. 1 on Amazon, according to the streamer. More from Deadline 'Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter' Scripted Series In Works At Amazon 'Culpa Tuya' & 'Maxton Hall' Exec James Farrell Leaving Amazon MGM Studios After A Decade To Launch YA Company 'Bosch' Star Titus Welliver Inks First-Look Series Deal With Amazon MGM Studios The script was written by Laura Lekkos (Somewhere Only We Know), with prior drafts by Michael Elliot (R&B) and Cory Tynan (R&B). Rowland and Bart Lipton will executive produce while DeVon Franklin (Flamin' Hot, R&B) will produce. Linda Mendoza (Survival of the Thickest, Harlem) is set to direct. Rowland recently starred in Netflix's Tyler Perry film Mea Culpa. She has also guest starred on several series including Girlfriends, Empire, American Soul, Being Mary Jane, and L.A.'s Finest. On the film side, Rowland appeared in Kevin Hart's Think Like A Man, New Line Cinema's Freddy vs. Jason, Netflix's The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and produced and starred in Merry Liddle Christmas Baby. Additionally, she executive produced her docuseries Chasing Destiny and co-produced a digital series called Milk + Honey alongside Idris Elba and Issa Rae. Smith starred in all four seasons of the hit Starz series Power Book II: Ghost, which recently wrapped up after four seasons last year. For his portrayal of Davis MacLean, he received three NAACP Image Awards for 'Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.' He can currently be seen in Carnegie Hill Entertainment's feature Bad Shabbos, and the Paramount+'s feature film On the Come Up for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination for 'Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture'. Smith will next be seen in Maude Apatow's directorial debut Poetic License and as a guest star in Peacock's Emmy Award-winning original series Poker Face for Season 2. He is represented by Shauna Garr, CAA, and Frankfurt Kernit Klein & Selz. Six-time Emmy nominee Robin Thede is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer, and star of HBO's Emmy-winning sketch comedy series, A Black Lady Sketch Show. She recently starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross in the Amazon MGM Studios holiday feature, Candy Cane Lane. Previously, she was the creator, executive producer, writer and host of The Rundown with Robin Thede on BET becoming one of the only Black women to host a late-night talk show. She is represented by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP. Gonzalez can be seen in films such as East of the Mountains directed by S.J. Chiro, Flamin' Hot from Searchlight Pictures and Franklin Entertainment, Drive-Away Dolls directed by Ethan Coen, and Jenni, which Gonzalez stars in and produced. On the TV side, credits include Netflix's Gentefied, Showtime's Shameless, FX's American Horror Story, Netflix's Good Girls, Starz's Vida, and most recently, NBC's Lopez vs Lopez. She is represented by Innovative, Neon Kite, and Granderson Des Rochers. Elliot and Tynan are represented by Evoke Entertainment. Lekkos is represented by Gersh and Felker Toczek. Mendoza is represented by Independent Artist Group, Atlas Literary, and Del, Shaw, Bobb et al. Best of Deadline A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Everything We Know About 'The Night Agent' Season 3 So Far 'A Complete Unknown's Monica Barbaro On Finally Meeting The 'Thoughtful And Wonderful' Joan Baez And A Sweet Moment With Ariana Grande
