Latest news with #Insecure
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
iCarly fans 'can't wait' for Miranda Cosgrove Netflix romcom as 'hilarious' trailer drops
Nickelodeon fanatics will love this one Netflix fans are holding their breath after the streaming giant dropped a "hilarious" trailer for a star-studded new romcom. The Wrong Paris stars iCarly icon Miranda Cosgrove as Dawn, a woman with ambitions to move to Paris, France, to pursue her dream of attending art school there. Despite getting accepted, she struggles to make ends meet in order to see it through. However, she soon stumbles across an opportunity to audition for a dating show called The Honey Pot which she believes is filmed in the city of love. However, after winning a spot on the show, she soon realises it is actually held in Paris, Texas. Despite the mix-up, things may not be as bad as they seem as she finds that the show's horse-riding bachelor Trey McAllen (portrayed by Dope Queen star Pierson Fodé) is a familiar face. The official synopsis reads: "A young woman (Miranda Cosgrove) joins a dating show thinking it's in Paris, France, but it's actually in Paris, Texas. She plots a way to get eliminated until her unexpected feelings for the bachelor (Pierson Fodé) complicate her plans." Alongside Cosgrove and Fodé, the cast also features Yvonne Orji (Pop the Balloon Live, Insecure) and Madison Pettis (He's All That, The Game Plan). The first trailer for the upcoming film, slated for release on September 12, was shared on Netflix's official social channels this week and excited fans have been quick to offer up their thoughts. "This is either gonna be the worst or best thing I've ever seen and I can't tell which yet," penned one, while another excited viewer shared: "That plot twist sounds hilarious. Miranda Cosgrove in a rom-com with a mix-up like that? Definitely adding The Wrong Paris to the watchlist." "Miranda Cosgrove the people princess and Netflix's new sweetheart! O can't wait to see her shining on my screen again [sic]," a third Netflix fan added.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Being a special ed teacher taught Chinedu Unaka his biggest lesson in stand-up
There are some aspects of comedy you just can't teach. But for comedian Chinedu Unaka, plenty was learned while giving lessons in a classroom. As a kid growing up in South L.A., it wasn't planned that he would find his way to comedy by stepping up to the chalkboard to teach mild to moderate special education students how to do algebra. But looking back on it, he says, there was really no better training ground for practicing the basics of his future craft — keeping eye contact, learning crowd work, making entertainment out of boring subjects. For over a decade, his passion-driven work that he fell into in college at UC Santa Barabara would become the day job that both funded his dream and gave him the tools to achieve it as he held the attention of kids with ADHD while making them learn while laughing. Coming at comedy from the lens of a charismatic instructor with a Nigerian American background, Unaka's quick wit and dry humor about life, relationships and his immigrant parents is on full display in his latest special, 'LOL Live With Chinedu Unaka,' which premiered last month on Hulu. Unaka talked to The Times recently about his unique path into stand-up that also led to acting on shows like 'Insecure' and 'Abbott Elementary.' Your background as a special education teacher comes up a lot in your new special. What inspired you to take that career path before comedy? I think something like that has to be in you a little bit. I was always that kid in school who was trying to help my friends understand the material better or help my teammates try to pass classes and stuff like that. So I knew that part was always in me. I've always been a person that had a desire to help and share what I know. When I was in college, I started stand-up comedy, and I knew I liked this art form, but I didn't necessarily know how to make money. Randomly, I saw a Teach for America group promoting in the quad at school. And so that's when I approached them. I figured 'Oh, I could be a teacher. I'm probably done by 3:30-4 o'clock, and still have my nights and do what I need to do while figuring out stand-up.' I applied to Teach for America and that's kind of how I got into education. I was pretty good at it, just because I think A) having a heart for it. And then, B) I think humor plays a big part in helping teachers become great. Teaching helped me become a better comedian as well. Teaching mild to moderate special education students algebra and trying to make that entertaining was a lot harder than performing at a comedy club. Kids can definitely be a tough crowd. Especially when you're trying to teach them something they are not necessarily in the mood to learn. So watching how students would relate to different lessons and why this lesson went well versus this lesson, etc., when it comes to a lot of those small things, I kind of applied it to doing stand-up. That included getting better at maintaining eye contact on stage with certain people, or moving across the stage a certain way, or knowing when is it time to actually go into a crowd and do some crowd work, to bring the energy back into the room. You grew up in South L.A. and Harbor City, and then you went to college in UC Santa Barbara; definitely a culture shock in terms of diversity. What was your first experience with stand-up in college? How did that help you find your voice later as a comedian? It definitely helped. Because being from Harbor City or the Carson area, it's super diverse. So my high school, Narbonne High, we had everybody there. … And so I was used to white folks, but I never met white folks that had never met Black folks until I got to UC Santa Barbara. I think that's kind of what helps my comedy too, because I have friends from different places, and because I'm genuinely interested and curious about people's stories and their background. I think when I write to tell my own story it is easily digestible by everyone just because I have an understanding of many different types of people. And so when I started comedy in college, it was definitely something random that my friend Dion was constantly trying to get me to do because you thought I was just a little bit funnier than average, but it was something that I loved watching. It wouldn't necessarily be anything I wanted to do until I dared to try it, and the bug bit me. I was like, 'Oh, my funny off-stage kind of translates onstage,' and then the joke writing came quicker than usual, because I was writing a lot of poetry and music in high school, and so I was used to playing with words. So I was able to survive onstage because of that background of writing and then the performance came later. What areas of the L.A. scene helped you tighten your craft and what aspects of it are unique? There were two comedy clubs that are now closed — the J Spot and the Comedy Union. Those were huge for me, because when I moved back to L.A., they were the first places to let me onstage. And it was historically, more of like a Black entertainment spot. Have any of your former students ever come see you perform material about them? A lot of my co-workers came to see me while I was working. A lot of them still come to see me after I left teaching [in 2015]. I had students being in the audience, like they're grown people. I'll be like walking down the street sometimes and I'll hear, 'Mr. Unaka!' What's been the best gig that you've had so far as an actor? Either 'Abbott Elementary' or 'Insecure.' I think just as an educator, to be on that show was really cool. I didn't play an educator on the show. I was a parent. But I know Quinta [Brunson] as well, and then director Justin [Halpern] as well, got to meet Janelle James on that set, and everybody's just super nice. So I do remember that being a really cool moment, being on that show as someone that cares so much about education. Then also 'Insecure' was dope as well, because my good friend Yvonne Orji was one of the stars of that show. And so finally getting to be on that show was really cool. With Yvonne being a fellow Nigerian American, did you guys ever talk about how your path in comedy might be different than other Black comics? Oftentimes you're going to be the only person within your immediate family that kind of went that route [of doing comedy]. I have four other siblings. They're all service workers — have a sister who is a doctor. My little brother is a doctor. My older brother worked at probation services. So as a comic you're doing something, yeah, so different than what your parents might necessarily want. And so when you find someone of Nigerian descent, also kind of like taking a risk or just walking their own path that's like, true to their souls. It is cool and it is comforting to have that camaraderie and to kind of keep that energy around you. That way you could focus on what needs to be done versus on the thought of, 'Did I make a mistake?' or something. Comedy definitely found me. I wasn't searching for it, but when it did find me, it felt like home. And, yeah, it's just something that I just genuinely enjoy doing and it has nothing to do with, like, anything that could necessarily come from it. I just genuinely always love making people laugh and then to get paid for that still feels crazy to me. To get your own special on Hulu through Kevin Hart's LOL Network and Hartbeat must feel like a big moment for you. How did that come about? First, shout-out to Kevin for even putting vehicles like this out there, because he doesn't have to. And it's not the first time he's done something like this before. I worked with him when he was booking comedians for his LOL Network to go to tape for Just for Laughs. And at that point, I never did Just for Laughs, only auditioned for the 'New Faces' showcase and stuff like that. But this was a thing that I didn't have to audition for. His people reached out to my people, like 'we love Chinedu to do this for us.' They paid us, they put us up, they flew us out. And it was during the festival, and it was an incredible feeling. So to work with him again on something similar but on a bigger scale was definitely like a dream come true; especially respect who Kevin is as an artist, but then also just his work ethic and how he goes about his business and how he's just very forthcoming and helping the younger generation get more eyes on them. So doing that, and then doing with the people at Hartbeat as well and seeing how much attention to detail they took to it, versus it being a rush job. It felt dope, just like the way it looked. They filled the room. Everything about it felt actually special. So to have an opportunity to be one of these comedians selected was incredible. And I'm happy that I was ready for it, and that it went well. We basically had one shot to tape it too. I think I got it right. What do you think is next for you in your career? I think what's next for me is to definitely, you know, produce some TV show ideas that I have. I would love to get those out to people then definitely start having this podcast me and my boy, James Davis, are doing named after my first album, 'Mostly Kidding,' and so I'll be releasing that soon. And that's really just to give the audience another vehicle to understand my humor, understand more of who I am, what I've been through. Then outside of that, just hoping to make comedy with friends. Chinedu Unaka performs at 9:45 p.m. Thursday at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood.
Refinery29
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Issa Rae Found Joy Through Running & She Wants That For You Too
Issa Rae is learning how to slow down. And she wants other women to give themselves permission to do the same. Ironically, running is slowing down for the mogul. 'It's about feeling good and feeling your best. It's not about being perfect,' she said in a Zoom interview. 'That movement, and running especially has just felt like such a great release. It makes me happy. And that's so weird to say, because it's something my younger self couldn't imagine finding happiness and in movement in that way. I'm not a dancer, I don't consider myself athletic by any means. But this is mine.' Her movement fuels her to create, prioritize wellness and find a moment to reconnect with herself amongst the hectic world around her. The 'Insecure' and 'Rap Sh!t' creator's latest collaboration with Beyond Yoga is promoting just that. With the Seek Beyond collection, Beyond Yoga and Rae are celebrating the beauty of the journey over the vanity of results, looking one specific way. Rae penned Seek Beyond's mantra, which encapsulates that. 'Not a single second has ever been wasted on joy,' she wrote for the campaign, which launched July 25. 'And here's the thing: you can have as much as you want. Take a second, a minute, an hour, a whole day and breathe.' With TV and film projects, Viarae prosecco, businesses around Los Angeles and a forthcoming book, slowing down takes intention for Rae. But she's made movement a ritual as she builds her empire and cherishes the little moments. In a conversation with Unbothered, the mogul dished on her collaboration with Beyond Yoga, how she redefines wellness for herself and the best business advice she has for Black women in 2025. Unbothered: Congrats on everything that you're doing! You have your hands in so many pots, and they all seem to align with who we know you to be. How did this collaboration come about? How does it align with your personal mission? Issa Rae: It just came at the perfect time. I've been focused on myself, how I feel in my body and how I want to present and feel in this next phase of my life. So it was just a super natural collaboration. I'm already wearing their clothes a lot. I've taken my passion for running and taking care of myself seriously. When the opportunity presented itself to be a part of the brand and write their mantra, I was basically talking to myself and thinking about what I wanted to hear and what I wanted other people, my friends, to hear, and the people who contribute to my own wellness. Like, what can I say to them? I tell myself I'm going to run, but I've never been a fan of running. How did you get into running? Are you doing long distances? What does that look like for you? IR: I started off as an early morning walker. That became like, 'This is my time, and this is the least I can do for myself.' There's a little course trail in my area, and I got recognized looking really ugly early on. I was like, damn, I don't want to stop walking in my neighborhood. So I bought a treadmill so that I could walk at any time of the day. And that turned into just trying out running. Then it turned into I want to run outside and try long distances. And it just became kind of a fun test of what I could do. And I feel you on getting caught slipping mid-workout. There was a point where I would just put on anything. Now there's more of an emphasis, not only to get dressed so I don't get caught slipping, but also, if I have on a cute set, I think it fuels that movement a little bit more. IR: You're absolutely right. Not only that, now I want to kind of dress up and take care of myself. And it's dressing up in a way where it's still comfortable. Even with these, these new sets, I took them back to London after I shot the campaign because I was shooting something, and that kind of became my uniform. The wide leg pants I wear all the time. It bridges the gap between showing up any kind of way and showing up for myself. I want to talk about that bridge between movement, wellness and creativity. I found that when I'm moving, I write better and I'm more focused. How does movement show up in your creativity? IR: We're the same. Whenever I have writer's block, whenever I feel overwhelmed by something I'm trying to accomplish in writing, I go and take a walk and literally try not to think about it. But you inevitably think about it, and then something comes. An idea comes just because I feel like I'm outside living, and I'm not putting too much pressure on coming up with the idea. There's something about just sitting in the misery of a [writer's] block and then actually walking off and literally getting your creative juices flowing and allowing that movement to complement the thoughts that you're having in your mind. And it just helps to rev up the creative process in the best way. For me, it's so necessary. I'd be remiss not to mention women in sports, not only on the court and field, but also behind the scenes. I love seeing your journey as part-owner of the San Diego Football Club. What has that experience been for you? Why did you decide to take on this venture? IR: Sports in general, and women's sports, the moment that they've been having over the last few years, has really thrilled me. It hasn't been a model [like this before]. In the WNBA in particular, I love basketball, but there was always a sort of stigma against women's basketball for some reason. And I think this new generation of players has just completely taken ownership of the image of what a female athlete looks like. I think that generation has grown up seeing women like Serena and Venus [Williams] and even these incredible, beautiful Olympic track stars, and just being like, I can own my definition of femininity and be athletic and be a boss and take on anybody in this profession. And it's so beautiful to see. I was just talking to the Washington Mystics the other day when they came to LA to play the Sparks. I was also curious about the other ways that they want to show up outside of being athletes. Everyone wants to kind of just show all parts of themselves and not be limited in that perception of being just in one lane. I'm not just an athlete. I'm more than this. I create, I make things, I have passions for this. That's what it comes down to. And that's where my passion comes, even in owning teams, it's just like the stories of each of these individual players. Yeah, absolutely. I want to pivot to talk about some of the other things that you're working on. What are you most excited about right now? IR: There's too much. The several shows that I'm working on really excite me. Obviously, we're working on the One of Them Days sequel, which is coming together great, and I'm excited to have news about that soon. But lots of things are in the works that I'll be able to announce really soon. I do have a book coming out in August, I Should Be Smarter Now. From what I've read, the book feels like such a good retrospective, from your first book, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, to now. Especially considering the business perspective that you give, and right now it feels so important. What is the best advice you have for other Black women when it comes to business in 2025? IR: Try to find what your niche is in this particular marketplace. It sounds so obvious, but you'd be surprised. I think even in a culture of content creation, there are so many copycats, and we're literally in an era of people repeating other people's words or mimicking other people's videos, and the originality is lacking in some cases. My advice is always just to find what nobody else is doing and what space you're filling. And to also think about yourself because it really does start with you. Then find the community to build around that.
Forbes
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jay Ellis And Rabbit Hole Blend Whiskey And Art In New Collaboration
Jay Ellis drinking a cocktail with Rabbit Hole in it. For actor and producer Jay Ellis, whiskey has always been more than a drink. 'It reminds me to savor the moments we have with people,' said the actor known for his roles in Insecure and Top Gun: Maverick. 'So much of it, for me, happens around connection — with friends, family, people I work with.' That ethos of presence, creativity, and storytelling now lives in a bottle, thanks to a new limited-edition single barrel release that is a collaboration between Ellis and Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian. A Meeting of Minds—and Palates The collaboration began with a conversation. Zamanian, a former psychologist turned whiskey entrepreneur, had heard about Ellis's love for bourbon and his passion for storytelling. The two met in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival, where Zamanian brought a selection of samples for Ellis to taste. 'We sat and tasted through different options,' Zamanian recalled. 'It was a really collaborative, fun process. We talked about what stood out, what felt distinct. Jay has a great palate and a clear creative vision.' The final selection? A single barrel selection of Dareinger, a riff on a core Rabbit Hole offering that is a wheated bourbon finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks—rich, smooth, and layered. 'You can have it neat or in a cocktail. It's got depth and balance.' Dareringer Single Barrel Pick with Jay Ellis. The Bottle as a Canvas The bottle's design is just as intentional. Created by South Korean fashion illustrator Kasiq Jungwoo Lee, the label features a modern reinterpretation of Lewis Carroll's White Rabbit—complete with a skateboard and an Apple Watch. 'The skateboard came from my daughter,' Ellis said with a laugh. 'She kept asking for one, and my parents finally gave in. So when I saw that detail, it just clicked.' Other elements are persona to Ellis: the green in the rabbit's jacket is Ellis's favorite color, and the green-and-yellow palette nods to his childhood love of the Seattle SuperSonics. The watch, he said, is a symbol of time—how we spend it, and who we spend it with. 'It was a really cool process,' he said. 'They let me have an imprint—my own expression—through the artist. That doesn't happen often with brand collaborations.' Rabbit Hole Distillery Whiskey as Storytelling For Zamanian, openness to creative input is part of Rabbit Hole's DNA. Since founding the distillery in Louisville in 2012, he's made it a mission to challenge convention—not just in whiskey-making, but in how the industry presents itself. 'I wanted to make manufacturing look attractive,' he said during a recent tour of the Rabbit Hole facility. 'We designed the distillery to be transparent, beautiful, and educational. Every step of the process is visible.' That philosophy extends to the brand's core releases, each of which is named with intention and rooted in local history or personal meaning:Cavehill, a four-grain triple malt bourbon, pays homage to generations of Louisville distillers and the historic Cave Hill Cemetery, where many of bourbon's pioneers are a high-rye bourbon, honors Christian Heigold, a German immigrant and stonemason who settled in Louisville after the Civil War and carved patriotic symbols into his home as a response to anti-immigrant a sour mash rye, celebrates Louisville's rich boxing heritage and the city's legacy of turning local talent into world a sherry-cask finished bourbon, is a tribute to Zamanian's wife—'the daring ringer' who inspired him to take the leap into whiskey-making. 'Every name tells a story,' Zamanian said. 'It's not just about drinking—it's about connection, about learning something new.' Zamanian is known for telling lesser-known stories in whiskey. He's also behind Mary Dowling Whiskey, named after an unsung historic female distiller, and co-authored a book about her. One of the most striking features of the distillery, where both Rabbit Hole and Mary Dowling is made, is a commissioned art piece by Brooklyn-born artist Jeremy Dean. Created in response to Executive Order 13769, which banned travel from several Muslim-majority countries, the piece weaves together threads from the U.S. flag and the flags of the banned nations. It's a quiet but powerful statement about inclusion and identity. 'We don't preach,' Zamanian said. 'We live by example. Art is one way we express our values.' Jay Ellis, Kaveh Zamanian Supporting the Next Generation That commitment to creativity and community is also what drew Ellis to the partnership. Through his short film program, Intrinsic, Ellis supports emerging filmmakers by funding and mentoring their first projects. Rabbit Hole is now contributing to that mission by donating camera equipment and offering additional support to selected filmmakers. 'There are so many barriers for young artists,' Ellis said. 'If you can help open one door, that can change everything.' Zamanian agreed. 'We started sponsoring Sundance because we believe in that ecosystem—of discovery, of giving people a shot. This partnership with Jay is a natural extension of that.' A Shared Vision Both Ellis and Zamanian are outsiders who found their way into traditional industries—Hollywood and Kentucky bourbon, respectively—and brought fresh perspectives with them. Their collaboration is a testament to what can happen when creativity, intention, and craft come together. 'This isn't just about whiskey,' Zamanian said. 'It's about creating something meaningful.' Ellis echoed the sentiment. 'It's personal. It's about savoring the moment, telling stories, and building something that lasts.' The collaboration ($125) is available at Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky for a limited time.
Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Courtney Taylor makes dramatic debut in Bosch spinoff 'Ballard' as Samira Parker on Prime Video
Courtney Taylor has taken on her first leading role in a drama series with Ballard, a new Bosch spinoff streaming on Prime Video. Known for her comedic roles in Insecure and Abbott Elementary, Taylor now steps into the crime procedural genre, portraying Samira Parker. In an interview with Shadow and Act, Taylor spoke about her transition into drama, calling the experience both challenging and rewarding. 'As much as comedy feels like home, I'm so happy that drama has found a way into my career,' she said. Ballard centres on Detective Renée Ballard, played by Maggie Q, and her work in the Los Angeles Police Department's cold case unit. Taylor's character, Samira Parker, is described as 'wary, impulsive and tough,' with a strong sense of justice. She explained that the show highlights underfunded investigative units and the personal commitment of staff, most of whom are volunteers. 'Everybody else is here… just because they're passionate,' Taylor said. Reflecting on her journey, Taylor shared how each role has shaped her confidence. 'I think I've spent a lot of time doubting me,' she said, adding that opportunities in her career have helped her build trust in her abilities. She also emphasised the importance of being adaptable and collaborative on set. Taylor, who has also starred in Neon on Netflix, noted that her creative goal is to tell stories that centre people of colour and offer varied perspectives. Ballard season one is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
