Tag Archives: Series

Young Black Author Aims To Increase Representation In Literature

Read more here:

C onnor Benjamin Littlejohn is still in grade school, but he’s already making moves in the literary world. The 10-year-old has penned his own book series for children dubbed Tag, You’re It! , Black News reported. Meet Connor Benjamin Littlejohn, a young reader turned writer whose book series called “Tag, You're It!” is inspiring people young and old! #blackpreneur #blackauthor #blackexcellence https://t.co/gfHCUeIKom — Black News (@BlackNews) February 20, 2019 Littlejohn—who is based in Washington, D.C. —started his book series as an avenue to channel his passion for reading and writing, the news outlet writes. A writing assignment given to him by his fourth-grade teacher sparked the inspiration for the series. The book series that he created is centered on a group of friends who battle monsters and zombies to save their town. Ever since launching the series last year, his books have been added to classrooms all over the country. Littlejohn says that he wanted to create the books so that children like him see themselves reflected in the literature that they read. “I’m really happy that my books are giving kids like me a chance to see themselves in fun stories,” he said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “I love to read and want to encourage other kids to read great books and maybe even write new books of their own.” Teachers throughout the country have said that his books have resonated with their students. “I purchased this book as a read-aloud for my 4th grade class,” said one of the teachers. “My students laughed out loud while listening and were inspired by the creative voice of this talented young author! The cliffhanger at the end left us all very eager for the second installment of the series!” There are many young Black authors who are making a name for themselves. In January, 7-year-old Georgia-bred author Nicholas Buamah had his book Kayla & Kyle The Walking Dictionaries: Election Day accepted into the Library of Congress. Buamah created the book in an effort to help youngsters build their vocabulary. SEE ALSO: Young Black Author Has Book Added To Library Of Congress Entrepreneur Creates Coloring Book Series To Empower Black Women [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3845955″ overlay=”true”]

Young Black Author Aims To Increase Representation In Literature

Modern Family: It’s Coming to an End!

One of the most successful sitcoms in television history will soon be coming to an end. During her panel discussion at the 2019 Television Critics Association winter press tour on Tuesday, ABC President Karey Burke announced that Modern Family has been renewed for its 11th season. Hooray, right? Yes, but before you pop open that bottle of champagne: It has been renewed for its 11th and FINAL season. Referencing so-creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, Burke gushed over the series that has won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys five times. “So proud to announce that Modern Family is returning for its 11th and final season,” Burke said, adding in her statement: “Chris and Steve have created one of the most seminal and iconic comedies in television history. “In its final season, there will be more milestone events that anyone who has been a fan of the series won’t want to miss.” Lloyd and Levitan released their own statements on the end of their show’s incredible run as well. First, from Lloyd: For 10 years, our characters have bravely faced turning points in life and moved through them to great personal enrichment; we have chosen a different path by doing one more season of Modern Family. And now from Levitan: Even after 10 years together, we realized there are still some things our writers don’t yet know about each other’s sex lives. As would be the case for any series that has aired for a full decade, ratings have been trending downward of late for the sitcom. Modern Family is averaging 5.1 million total viewers for Season 10, along with a 1.4 rating among 18-49-year olds; down 10 and 15 percent from Season 9 … … yet ranking as ABC’s number-two comedy (behind The Conners) and number-four series overall. Over the years, Modern Family has won 22 Emmys. The comedy has also picked up a Golden Globe… four SAG Award wins for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series… a Peabody Award… two GLAAD Media Awards… two NAACP Image Awards… six WGA awards… four PGA awards… a Television Critics award. And this list doesn’t even include all the individual honors earned by the show’s cast members. It will go down as one of the most decorated programs of all-time. (And it will end a year after another all-time sitcom great, The Big Bang Theory, airs its final episode on CBS this spring.) Modern Family tells the story of the Dunphys and the Pritchetts — and it has maintained a very steady cast through the years. All of the original actors and actresses remain in their roles, in fact, including: – Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett – Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy – Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy – Sofia Vergara as Gloria Pritchett – Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett – Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker – Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy – Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy – Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy – Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado. Will you miss Modern Family? Or is this the right time for the show to say goodbye?

Excerpt from:
Modern Family: It’s Coming to an End!

Kailyn Lowry to Jenelle Evans: Thanks for Making Me Rich!

Kailyn Lowry and Jenelle Evans have had their ups and downs. Mostly their downs, really, especially since Jenelle told the world that Kailyn was pregnant with her third child before her fellow Teen Mom 2 star wanted to break the news. Ever since then, there's been an endless stream of back-and-forth between the MTV personalities — but the feud may have hit its nadir a few weeks ago when Evans burned a bunch of hair products Lowry sent her way as a peace offering. Yes, this really happened. But why has Lowry spoken of the dangerous act in a positive manner? Why did she actually thank her long-time rival on microphone this week? Scroll down to find out! 1. I’m Rich, Biatch! On her latest podcast episode of Coffee Convos with Lindsie Chrisley, Lowry said something very nice about Evans. But it came with a major twist/caveat. 2. What Did She Say? Lowry thanked Evans for helping to pad her bank account. How so, you are likely wondering? Come with us as we explain… 3. In Late December, Lowry Sent Jenelle Some Products from Her Pothead Hair Line As you can see in the video above, Evans set fire to these items. 4. What Was Kailyn Thinking? “I sent everyone in the cast a PR box, including Jenelle,” Lowry told The Ashley’s Reality Roundup last month, adding at the time: “I figured maybe this will be the thing that breaks the ice and we’ll be cool again.” 5. What Was Jenelle Thinking? “Hey, Kail,” Jenelle says in the footage. “This is to your peace offering.” She then lights the products on fire and runs for her life, while some loud music plays in the background. 6. Evans Also Laid Into Kailyn Via a Caption to This Video “Been debating whether to upload this, but I feel like the time is appropriate,” it began. “Kail Lowry, for years you’ve been super jealous and envious of all us girls on the show.” View Slideshow

More here:
Kailyn Lowry to Jenelle Evans: Thanks for Making Me Rich!

Criminal Minds to End After Season 15

The Behavioral Analysis Unit will soon shutter its doors. For good. CBS announced on Thursday that Criminal Minds has been renewed for a 15th season, delivering great news to fans of this long-running drama… yet tempering their mood with some awful news. This will be the 15th and FINAL season. The concluding run will consist of 10 episodes, the network added, bringing the show’s total by the time all it said, done and solved to an astounding 325 installments. “It’s really bittersweet, but I’m so, so grateful to CBS for giving us this heads-up,” showrunner Erica Messer told TV Line of getting the news. She added: “I think one of my biggest fears was always, ‘Oh man, what if we don’t know’ and then they just don’t bring back the show? But they respect this series and the cast and the crew and the fans enough to end this properly.” The procedural is one of the longest-running dramas on CBS. “We wanted to make sure Erica had the time and ability to write a season (14) finale that honors the characters and the fans,” CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Amy Reisenbach told Deadline. “We discussed wanting to keep the show in continuous production so 10 felt like the right number for us to roll straight into and give Erica enough episodes to end the series the way she wanted to.” Speaking to Deadline, Messer also explained that the final season will film immediately following the conclusion of the current season — and that a major character may be killed off. Look for a “very worthy” adversary for the team to be introduced, she previewed, especially David Rossi. The bad guy will be introduced later in Season 14. “We have one in the works right now who’s a very memorable villain, but I don’t want to say too much if it doesn’t work out with casting,” Messer added. Messer has been in charge of Criminal Minds since it premiered. It is averaging 4.7 million total viewers and a 0.8 rating among 18-49-year olds in its Wednesdays-at-10/9c time slot. Season 14 will wrap up for viewers on February 6, so look for a huge cliffhanger that will make you hunger for the final season in 2019-2020. Messer, meanwhile, has had plenty of time to figure out how she wants the series to say goodbye. But that vision has also changed throughout the past decade-plus of being on the air. “That journey has changed a lot from the early days on the show because I wouldn’t have anticipated all the changes that’ve happened,” she said to Deadline. “I also don’t know if I would’ve anticipated that we’d have 325 episodes by the time it’s all said and done. It’s such an honor to be part of a series for that long.” This is how she concluded the interview, talking about the finale and what we can expect: “These people are family and friends to us at this point. I know it’s a drama, but I’m less likely to injure or write someone off in a way that says they’re not breathing anymore. I know a lot of shows, when they find out it’s going to be over, then characters are killed off or something like that. That’s not my instinct, mainly because I’ve been here for so long with all of these voices, I just don’t want that to be how it ends for them. So the jet won’t crash, I can tell you that.

Visit link:
Criminal Minds to End After Season 15

Reloaded: Peep The Official Trailer For Marvel’s The Punisher Season 2 On Netflix [Video]

Source: Jim Spellman / Getty Official Trailer For Marvel’s The Punisher Season 2 Fans have been patiently waiting for the new season of Marvel’s The Punisher series on Netflix since 2017. Well, the man with ALL the guns is back and this season 2 looks to be as dark and action-packed as the first go-round. Peep the official trailer below. Oh yeah, we’re definitely gonna burn up some bandwidth on this. Continue reading

R. Kelly Plans To “Sue Everybody” Following “Surviving R. Kelly” Documentary

Read more here:

Source: Live Nation / Live Nation I wonder if he means the viewers, too? It’ll be interesting to see how this all unfolds. Via | HipHopDX The finale of Lifetime’s six-part documentary,   Surviving R. Kelly,   aired on Saturday (January 5). For three nights, it explored disturbing details of R. Kelly’s sordid past and  sparked outrage across social media. Prior to Thursday’s (January 3) premiere, Kelly’s lawyer Brian Nix reportedly  threatened to sue the television network if the show aired. Now that it has, sources close to Kelly say the R&B legend is getting ready to “sue everybody who had anything do with this,” according to  TMZ.  Despite not watching any of it, Kelly is allegedly “disgusted” by the series and believes those who participated in it have a “vendetta” against him. READ MORE  

R. Kelly Plans To “Sue Everybody” Following “Surviving R. Kelly” Documentary

Pied Piper of Paperwork: R. Kelly Threatening To Sue Everybody Over Doc He Didn’t Watch

Source: R. Kelly (aka Robert Sylvester Kelly) 25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Celebration Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California- 26.10.05 Featuring: R. Kelly (aka Robert Sylvester Kelly) Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 27 Oct 2005 Credit: David Livingston / WENN R. Kelly’s name is the equivalent of hot garbage after the airing of Lifetime’s 6-part documentary, Surviving R. Kelly . Despite reportedly not actually watching any of the doc, the R&B crooner is threatening to sue those involved. Good luck with that. Reports TMZ : Sources in day-to-day contact with R. Kelly tell TMZ, the singer is “disgusted” by the series, which makes shocking allegations against him including sex with various underage girls, physical abuse and mind control. People interviewed say he’s running a sex cult.  The sources say R. Kelly views the series as a “vendetta” against him by producers and others who have hated him throughout his professional career. We’re told R. Kelly’s team downloaded him on the various people who appeared on the show and he claims he doesn’t even know half of them. He claims the other half hate him for various personal and professional reasons. We doubt the “I don’t even know her” defense would work in court. But then again, the crooner has gotten away with his alleged abuse for years. Nevertheless, a source told TMZ,  “He’s going to sue everybody who had anything to do with this.” We also doubt that R’uh really has the coin to “sue everybody” now that the jig is up and those concerts keep getting canceled . — Photo: WENN.com  

Read more:
Pied Piper of Paperwork: R. Kelly Threatening To Sue Everybody Over Doc He Didn’t Watch

Stoney Westmoreland: Andi Mack Star Arrested for Soliciting 13-Year-Old for Sex

Stoney Westmoreland has appeared on multiple shows, from Scandal to NCIS . These days, he appears on the tween Disney drama, Andi Mack . At least, he did. He has now been fired. On Friday, he was arrested for trying to have sex with a 13-year-old child. Stoney Westmoreland is best known for his role as Henry “Ham” Mack on Andi Mack , the grandfather of the titular character. Unfortunately, it appears that the man himself is considerably less wholesome than the show on which he was a star. On Friday, he was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah — the city where Andi Mack films. 48-year-old Westmoreland had allegedly contacted a person whom he believed to be a 13-year-old. He reportedly made contact through the use of an app Court documents describe the app as one specifically “used for dating and meeting people for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.” He had apparently also sent pornographic images to the very young teen, and attempted to solicit nudes from the 13-year-old. Westmoreland has been charged with five third-degree felonies. His charges are four counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor and one count of enticing a minor by Internet or text. “Materials harmful to a minor” is a reference to having sent lewd materials in an effort to excited and seduce the minor. The charge of enticing is pretty vital, as without it, sexual predators who are caught before attacking their intended victims could weasel out of trouble. All in all, these charges are pretty sickening. We assume the the police have solid evidence in this case. Either way, it looks like Westmoreland’s career as a Disney star is over. Disney almost immediately announced that Westmoreland had been fired, People confirms. “Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series ‘Andi Mack,’ was arrested in Salt Lake City today,” Disney announced. “Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors,” the statement says. Disney continues: “We have released him from his recurring role. “And,” Disney concludes. “He will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week.” Andi Mack is a widely celebrated series about adolescence and family. The show rose to fame — and began winning awards coupled with a hefty ratings surge — after one storyline in paticular. Cyrus Goodman is a character played by Joshua Rush, seen in blue holding up the award. Cyrus’ famous coming out storyline really put the series on the map. For Disney to have a show that tells such an important story for the audience that needs it most — tweens — is truly promising. Middle school-aged LGBTQ+ kids, and also their classmates and peers, need to see these stories play out to have a point of reference. It is absolutely heartbreaking that such an inspirational television program has to deal with the PR nightmare from Westmoreland’s inexcusable actions. We don’t know how strong the case against this alleged creep may be. The only good thing that we can say about this is that some of the language in reports makes it sound like he was never in actual contact with a real 13-year-old. No middle schooler needs to be chatting with a 48-year-old man, let alone discussing or planning a sexual encounter with him. This will be a pain for writers — to write him off the series. He was, after all, Andi Mack’s grandfather (whom she had long believed to be her father — long story). But writing a character off of a show is a small thing beside the enormity of the harm that sexual predators can do. View Slideshow: 21 Celebrities You Probably Want to Keep Away From Your Children

See the original post here:
Stoney Westmoreland: Andi Mack Star Arrested for Soliciting 13-Year-Old for Sex

Here’s An Exclusive Clip From Tonight’s Episode Of The Purge

Continued here:

We got our hands on a sneak peek of episode 103 of The Purge TV show which airs immediately after WWE Smackdown on the USA Network. If you’re a fan of the movies you’ll love the television show, as it is one of the must watch tv shows this fall. On tonight’s episode we see Penelope, who is played by Jessica Garza, getting ready to make the necessary sacrifices to offer herself up to Purgers, while Rick and Jenna played by amazing actors Colin Woodell and Hannah Anderson, consider the “intangibles” added to the cost of closing their business deal, they need to move up in the world. Lee Tergesen who you might remember from OZ also star in this new episode. In this clip, we see Gabriel Chavarria who plays Miguel, the brother of Penelope planning to go get his sister back before she sacrifices herself to blood-hungry purgers. If you’re new to The Purge you should know it’s based on the hit movie franchise from Blumhouse productions, The Purge tv show revolves around a 12-hour period when all crime, including murder, is legal. Set in a dystopian America ruled by a totalitarian political party, the series follows several seemingly unrelated characters living in a small city. Tying them all together is a mysterious savior who’s impeccably equipped for everything the night throws at them. As the clock winds down with their fates hanging in the balance, each character is forced to reckon with their pasts as they discover how far they will go to survive the night. From Blumhouse Television and Universal Cable Productions, The Purge is written and executive produced by the film franchise creator James DeMonaco and led by Jason Blum. Additionally, the entire team behind the blockbuster franchise ‎are on board to executive produce: Michael Bay with Brad Fuller and Andrew Form under the Platinum Dunes banner and Sebastien K. Lemercier. Thomas Kelly serves as executive producer/showrunner of the series. Emmy® and Golden Globe® award-winner Anthony Hemingway will direct and executive produce the premiere episode. Anthony is known for his hit show The Underground which aired on WGN about the underground railroad.

Here’s An Exclusive Clip From Tonight’s Episode Of The Purge

NYPD Sergeant Who Shot Unarmed Man Fired After Planting Knife At Scene

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images NYPD Sergeant Fired After Shooting Unarmed Man, Planting Knife Before Picking It Back Up A police sergeant who shot an unarmed man in the face has been fired—but not criminally charged. The New York Times reports that Ritchard Blake was under investigation in connection with the off-duty shooting of a man that’s been deemed his “love rival.” According to reports, Blake shot Thavone Santone Aug. 2 in East New York and video surveillance footage showed Blake, patting down Santana, as if looking for a weapon. When Blake didn’t find a weapon he was seen on surveillance footage pulling a sheath knife out of his back pocket and dropping it out of its covering beside Mr. Santana, reports the New York Times. Sergeant Blake then picked it back up. The two men reportedly knew each other and were involved in an ongoing dispute over a woman, the mother of Blake’s 10 year-old son. Santana survived the shooting and is currently recovering.  

Read the rest here:
NYPD Sergeant Who Shot Unarmed Man Fired After Planting Knife At Scene