When W. Kamau Bell got started, he just wanted to make people laugh. At 21, he began with a goal of being a stand-up comedian. Then everything changed.
“We had a Black president, then we had an orange president,” he says. “I got motivated in different directions. It would be hard to explain to the young me what this is.”
Bell always knew he wanted to be in showbiz and even took a class in filmmaking at Columbia — but at that point, it wasn’t for him.
“It was back in the days when you had to cut film with razor blades and tape it together and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do any of this!’ I definitely had ideas,” he says, noting that eventually, he knew he wanted to do comedy but also talk about important issues.
“When I was out there really trying to make it,...
“We had a Black president, then we had an orange president,” he says. “I got motivated in different directions. It would be hard to explain to the young me what this is.”
Bell always knew he wanted to be in showbiz and even took a class in filmmaking at Columbia — but at that point, it wasn’t for him.
“It was back in the days when you had to cut film with razor blades and tape it together and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do any of this!’ I definitely had ideas,” he says, noting that eventually, he knew he wanted to do comedy but also talk about important issues.
“When I was out there really trying to make it,...
- 8/18/2022
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
If you’re familiar with W. Kamau Bell’s work, it’s no surprise that his newest standup special is going to address the current presidential administration. But as he’s done in his other TV and podcast work, “Private School Negro” has its eyes on plenty of things happening outside of Washington, DC.
In this trailer for the new special, Bell spreads his focus across a number of different subjects, including some of the members of his own household. The preview below has jokes about the Attorney General, Berkeley, and even the cable network that employs him.
Bell has been the host of “United Shades of America” for three seasons on CNN, where he’s interviewed people from all across the political and ideological spectrum. Before “United Shades,” he led “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell” for a pair of seasons on FX and Fxx.
Bell’s latest standup...
In this trailer for the new special, Bell spreads his focus across a number of different subjects, including some of the members of his own household. The preview below has jokes about the Attorney General, Berkeley, and even the cable network that employs him.
Bell has been the host of “United Shades of America” for three seasons on CNN, where he’s interviewed people from all across the political and ideological spectrum. Before “United Shades,” he led “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell” for a pair of seasons on FX and Fxx.
Bell’s latest standup...
- 6/14/2018
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
For a movie meant to start conversations, “The Problem with Apu” follows its own advice and includes plenty of its own. In his search for answers about the origins, impact, and continued inclusion of “The Simpsons” character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Hari Kondabolu gives over much of the runtime of his new truTV documentary to his talks with South Asian performers and professionals about how Apu has affected not just their careers, but their lives.
Kondabolu’s film argues that as a character, Apu isn’t just a vehicle for promoting misguided and harmful stereotypes about South Asian people. For him, it’s a symptom of a system that never had anyone at the table to explain why the Kwik-e-Mart owner might be a caricature that would fundamentally shape understanding of the South Asian-American experience for everyone from playground bullies to well-intentioned businessmen.
This need for an honest evaluation of what Apu might represent,...
Kondabolu’s film argues that as a character, Apu isn’t just a vehicle for promoting misguided and harmful stereotypes about South Asian people. For him, it’s a symptom of a system that never had anyone at the table to explain why the Kwik-e-Mart owner might be a caricature that would fundamentally shape understanding of the South Asian-American experience for everyone from playground bullies to well-intentioned businessmen.
This need for an honest evaluation of what Apu might represent,...
- 11/20/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Comedian Hari Kondabolu (Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell) takes on a very popular cartoon and a specific character from that cartoon. The cartoon: The Simpsons. The Character: Apu. In the upcoming documentary The Problem with Apu Hari Kondabolu tells why he has a problem with the show, the character and minority media representation.
Below are new clips from the doc followed by the synopsis.
In this highly-personal, insightful and timely exploration of minority media representation, Kondabolu speaks with prominent South Asian actors about the damaging legacy of Apu – an animated character voiced by a white actor with a heavily exaggerated, stereotypical Indian accent. Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation), Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar), Aasif Mandvi (The Last Airbender), Hasan Minjaj (The Daily Show), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Pitch Perfect), Aparna Nancherla (Late Night with Seth Meyers), Russell Peters (Source Code), Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards) and Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock) share poignant...
Below are new clips from the doc followed by the synopsis.
In this highly-personal, insightful and timely exploration of minority media representation, Kondabolu speaks with prominent South Asian actors about the damaging legacy of Apu – an animated character voiced by a white actor with a heavily exaggerated, stereotypical Indian accent. Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation), Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar), Aasif Mandvi (The Last Airbender), Hasan Minjaj (The Daily Show), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Pitch Perfect), Aparna Nancherla (Late Night with Seth Meyers), Russell Peters (Source Code), Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards) and Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock) share poignant...
- 11/11/2017
- by Chris Salce
- Age of the Nerd
President Donald Trump isn’t just known for his tweets, but also, his manner of tweeting. He’s got a distinct voice, and favorite words that he loves to sprinkle throughout his 140 characters. The word that’s most synonymous with Trump? The label that’s become his go-to insult?
Sad.
Trump doesn’t hesitate to label something sad. In fact, he says it rather often, in both a serious way (when something actually brings him sorrow) or as an insult (when it’s a synonym for pathetic). By our count, he’s said it 64 times on Twitter alone. These are the people,...
Sad.
Trump doesn’t hesitate to label something sad. In fact, he says it rather often, in both a serious way (when something actually brings him sorrow) or as an insult (when it’s a synonym for pathetic). By our count, he’s said it 64 times on Twitter alone. These are the people,...
- 9/26/2017
- by Diana Pearl
- PEOPLE.com
2017-09-26T11:17:12-07:00Alec Baldwin Reacts to Mean Tweet from Donald Trump
Many Twitter users have questioned why Donald Trump can get away with posting abusive and threatening tweets that would get an ordinary troll banned from the platform. Twitter explains that tweets from the president are "newsworthy" even if they technically violate Twitter's terms of service, but that excuse doesn't satisfy those who think the president of the United States should be held to a higher standard than the run of the mill troll, not a lower one.
Truly weird Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky reminds me of a spoiled brat without a properly functioning brain. He was terrible at Debate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2015
In the meantime, if Trump is allowed to continue his social-media attacks, at least the targets can have fun reacting to them. That's what happened this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Many Twitter users have questioned why Donald Trump can get away with posting abusive and threatening tweets that would get an ordinary troll banned from the platform. Twitter explains that tweets from the president are "newsworthy" even if they technically violate Twitter's terms of service, but that excuse doesn't satisfy those who think the president of the United States should be held to a higher standard than the run of the mill troll, not a lower one.
Truly weird Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky reminds me of a spoiled brat without a properly functioning brain. He was terrible at Debate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2015
In the meantime, if Trump is allowed to continue his social-media attacks, at least the targets can have fun reacting to them. That's what happened this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- 9/26/2017
- by EG
- Yidio
Alec Baldwin dropped some yuge news during his Wednesday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Apparently, President Donald Trump turned down a request to appear on Saturday Night Live when Baldwin hosted earlier this year.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like if I met him , if I ran into him,” Baldwin, who impersonates Trump on SNL, told host Ellen DeGeneres. “When we did the show — when I hosted SNL this season — we asked him to come. We invited him to come, we were so hopeful he would come, but he didn’t show up.”
Baldwin has played...
“I can’t imagine what it would be like if I met him , if I ran into him,” Baldwin, who impersonates Trump on SNL, told host Ellen DeGeneres. “When we did the show — when I hosted SNL this season — we asked him to come. We invited him to come, we were so hopeful he would come, but he didn’t show up.”
Baldwin has played...
- 5/3/2017
- by Christopher Rosen
- PEOPLE.com
2016 has been quite an eventful year in television.
From shocking firings and abrupt morning show departures to the rise of true-crime and president-elect Donald Trump, the past 12 months have featured a myriad of major TV headlines.
As 2017 approaches, Et relives 11 of the biggest stories on the small screen.
1. Thomas Gibson’s Criminal Minds Firing
The longtime star, who played Aaron Hotchner since the series’ 2005 debut, was fired after allegedly kicking a writer on the set of the CBS procedural, prompting the writers to scramble for an appropriate resolution to his character’s abrupt exit. Ultimately, the show opted not to kill Hotchner, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future.
Related: How 'Criminal Minds' Handled Thomas Gibson's Final Episode
2. The Year of Trump TV
You couldn’t turn away from the TV without seeing or hearing mention of Donald Trump. Whether it be through the presidential debates, the fallout...
From shocking firings and abrupt morning show departures to the rise of true-crime and president-elect Donald Trump, the past 12 months have featured a myriad of major TV headlines.
As 2017 approaches, Et relives 11 of the biggest stories on the small screen.
1. Thomas Gibson’s Criminal Minds Firing
The longtime star, who played Aaron Hotchner since the series’ 2005 debut, was fired after allegedly kicking a writer on the set of the CBS procedural, prompting the writers to scramble for an appropriate resolution to his character’s abrupt exit. Ultimately, the show opted not to kill Hotchner, leaving the door open for a possible return in the future.
Related: How 'Criminal Minds' Handled Thomas Gibson's Final Episode
2. The Year of Trump TV
You couldn’t turn away from the TV without seeing or hearing mention of Donald Trump. Whether it be through the presidential debates, the fallout...
- 12/16/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
In a recent interview with Hola! magazine, Alec Baldwin opened up about impersonating Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, and how he hopes it can help heal the country.
"I'm glad people find it funny," Baldwin, 58, said of his portrayal of the president-elect. "But at the same time, I think people were very worried about the election. Both sides are very passionate, so it's been a very, very difficult time in this country. I haven't felt like this in a long, long time. There are bad feelings on both sides, so to have the opportunity to give people a chance to talk and laugh about it is a good thing."
Watch: Alec Baldwin Explains Donald Trump's Tweeting Habit on 'Saturday Night Live': 'My Brain is Bad'
While his impression has been praised by many, there are those who don't find it funny. Baldwin's youngest brother, Stephen, supported Trump through his run for office and told CBS News...
"I'm glad people find it funny," Baldwin, 58, said of his portrayal of the president-elect. "But at the same time, I think people were very worried about the election. Both sides are very passionate, so it's been a very, very difficult time in this country. I haven't felt like this in a long, long time. There are bad feelings on both sides, so to have the opportunity to give people a chance to talk and laugh about it is a good thing."
Watch: Alec Baldwin Explains Donald Trump's Tweeting Habit on 'Saturday Night Live': 'My Brain is Bad'
While his impression has been praised by many, there are those who don't find it funny. Baldwin's youngest brother, Stephen, supported Trump through his run for office and told CBS News...
- 12/7/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
Alec Baldwin returned to Saturday Night Live to mock President-elect Donald Trump and his Twitter habit, which this week included retweeting a 16-year-old high school student.
"There is a reason actually that Donald tweets so much, he does it to distract the media from his business conflicts and all the very scary people in his cabinet," Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway says, before Baldwin chimes in, "Also, my brain is bad."
The sketch stuffed a week's worth of Trump controversies into five minutes, from the President-elect reportedly dodging security meetings...
"There is a reason actually that Donald tweets so much, he does it to distract the media from his business conflicts and all the very scary people in his cabinet," Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway says, before Baldwin chimes in, "Also, my brain is bad."
The sketch stuffed a week's worth of Trump controversies into five minutes, from the President-elect reportedly dodging security meetings...
- 12/4/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Saturday Night Live went after Donald Trump yet again over the weekend, with Alec Baldwin reprising his impression of the president-elect to lampoon Trump's penchant for retweeting random teenagers.
In Saturday's cold open, Pete Davidson played high schooler Seth Morton, whom Trump recently found the time to retweet while in the midst of learning what a president does.
Watch: Alec Baldwin Returns to 'SNL' As an Overwhelmed Donald Trump, Gets a Visit from Jason Sudeikis' Mitt Romney
"I just retweeted the best tweet. I mean, wow, what a great, smart tweet," Baldwin's Trump explained to Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway.
"I really did retweet him, seriously," he reiterated, looking directly into the camera to break the fourth wall.
"He really did do this," Conway added to the camera.
"It was from a young man named Seth. He's 16 and he's in high school, and I really did retweet him," the president-elect...
In Saturday's cold open, Pete Davidson played high schooler Seth Morton, whom Trump recently found the time to retweet while in the midst of learning what a president does.
Watch: Alec Baldwin Returns to 'SNL' As an Overwhelmed Donald Trump, Gets a Visit from Jason Sudeikis' Mitt Romney
"I just retweeted the best tweet. I mean, wow, what a great, smart tweet," Baldwin's Trump explained to Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway.
"I really did retweet him, seriously," he reiterated, looking directly into the camera to break the fourth wall.
"He really did do this," Conway added to the camera.
"It was from a young man named Seth. He's 16 and he's in high school, and I really did retweet him," the president-elect...
- 12/4/2016
- Entertainment Tonight
President-elect Donald Trump has been expressing his displeasure over Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of him on “Saturday Night Live” throughout the current season and, apparently, this week he even decided to try watching “SNL” as it aired live. The experiment went predictably bad. Halfway through the episode, Trump once again took to Twitter to air his grievances against the show. He called it “unwatchable,” “totally biased” and “not funny,” before taking particular exception with Baldwin’s performance. Also Read: 'SNL': Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump Retweets Randoms Instead of Working Just tried watching Saturday Night Live – unwatchable! Totally biased,...
- 12/4/2016
- by Phil Owen
- The Wrap
Donald Trump tried watching the “unwatchable” Saturday Night Live tonight, and was not happy. The president-elect just tweeted: “Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can’t get any worse. Sad” See tweet below. The response came just 45 minutes after SNL‘s cold open that featured Baldwin’s Trump retweeting the anti-cnn tweets from 16-year-old Seth Morton. Read about that sketch here. Just tried watching Saturday Night Live – unwatchable! Totally…...
- 12/4/2016
- Deadline TV
It was early in the development of The Americans that the head of FX told the show’s creator what his series was really about — and was absolutely right. Joe Weisberg had planned to generate drama in the fake marriage between deep cover spies Philip and Elizabeth Jennings on ideological grounds: Philip was beginning to feel too comfortable in America, while Elizabeth stayed true to her Mother Russian roots. Then in a meeting with FX executives, FX CEO John Landgraf proposed adding another layer to things. “John had the idea that it would be very powerful and effective if Philip were really more in love with Elizabeth than Elizabeth were with Philip,” Weisberg said. “And you know how central that has become to the whole story of the show and the marriage. (The ideological argument) seemed like a good solid idea for what would create tension in the marriage, but...
- 9/14/2016
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
“The revolution will be podcasted and it will be hilarious,” says W. Kamau Bell, one half of the funny duo behind the new podcast “Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu,” which premieres June 29 on Slate’s podcast network, Panoply. The comedians and friends will speak to special guest politicos and comedians in each 20-25 minute episode. Each episode will have a specific theme and will include signature comedy segments.
Bell calls himself a “socio-political comedian,” and was the host of the short-lived FX comedy series “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” for which Kondabolu served as a writer and correspondent. Boasting Chris Rock as executive producer, the show hired all stand-up comedians as writers, including up-and-comers Aparna Nancherla (recently named one of Variety’s Top Ten Comics to Watch) and Guy Branum (“Awkward,” “Chelsea Lately”). As a regular on the public radio circuit (Terry Gross has him...
Bell calls himself a “socio-political comedian,” and was the host of the short-lived FX comedy series “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” for which Kondabolu served as a writer and correspondent. Boasting Chris Rock as executive producer, the show hired all stand-up comedians as writers, including up-and-comers Aparna Nancherla (recently named one of Variety’s Top Ten Comics to Watch) and Guy Branum (“Awkward,” “Chelsea Lately”). As a regular on the public radio circuit (Terry Gross has him...
- 6/27/2016
- by Judith Dry
- Indiewire
Over the course of its first season, "You're the Worst" — a romantic comedy about two terrible human beings (played by Chris Geere and Aya Cash) who would vomit at the thought that they are the hero and heroine of a romantic comedy — went from a show I felt pretty ambivalent about to one of my favorite shows on TV. It's been nearly a year since the last original episode aired on FX, in part because the show has moved over to the younger-skewing Fxx channel(*), but based on the new season's first two episodes (it premieres tomorrow night at 10:30), the wait was worth it. (*) Every mention of the network shift brings with it some doomsday theory about how FX is sending the show to Fxx to kill it. All that paranoia seems rooted entirely in the failure of "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" when it made the switch,...
- 9/8/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
IFC has ordered three new comedy pilot presentations featuring Dan Harmon, Jim Norton and Sara Schaefer. Harmon will host “Great Minds,” a panel show that features a revolving cast of comedians in character as history’s “greatest minds.” The show is created by Richard Korson (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”), produced by Matador and executive produced by Korson, Harmon, Jay Peterson and Kara Welker. Norton will host an untitled half-hour, late-night talk show on which he will discuss the day’s news with various guests. Matador produces the series with Norton, Jonathan Brandstein and Suzanne Fagel (“Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell”) executive producing.
- 8/5/2015
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
South African comedian and current The Daily Show correspondent Trevor Noah will be formally appointed today as the new host of the nightly show by Comedy Central, the New York Times is reporting. Noah will take over when current host Jon Stewart retires from the series.
Noah grew up in the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa, with his mother suffering legal consequences for her marriage to Noah’s father, due to the differing colours of their skin. Noah began acting when he was 18, appearing on Isidingo, a South African soap opera, before segueing to hosting a variety of programs, from radio shows to reality competitions, culminating in his hosting the comedy talk show Tonight with Trevor Noah.
Noah has appeared on numerous American comedy programs prior to his current role, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show With David Letterman, on both of which he...
Noah grew up in the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa, with his mother suffering legal consequences for her marriage to Noah’s father, due to the differing colours of their skin. Noah began acting when he was 18, appearing on Isidingo, a South African soap opera, before segueing to hosting a variety of programs, from radio shows to reality competitions, culminating in his hosting the comedy talk show Tonight with Trevor Noah.
Noah has appeared on numerous American comedy programs prior to his current role, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show With David Letterman, on both of which he...
- 3/30/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Guy Branum is one of my favorite people. He's always informed, never pretentious, and totally hilarious. He has the bravado and chutzpah of a gay Zero Mostel. We cold talk to him for hours, and in this edition of But What I Really Want to Know Is..., we settle for 13 minutes. Check out a clip above and the whole episode right here! Join us as Branum, a veteran of "Chelsea Lately" and "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell," answers all our toughest questions about the Academy Awards, funny ladies, and the topics he doesn't find funny. Be sure to check out our first episode of Bwirwtki with Diablo Cody.
- 1/2/2015
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
Lindy West, a writer for Gawker's feminist blog Jezebel, has secured a job writing for men's lifestyle publication GQ. West will begin covering culture online and in its monthly magazine on Sept. 22, editor-in-chief Jim Nelson announced on Wednesday. Also read: Jezebel Calls Out Parent Company Gawker Media for Refusing to Handle a ‘Rape Gif Problem’ West already contributed to GQ in previous years, as well as outlets including the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, Slate, MSNBC, the New York Daily News, Cracked, and Vulture. She's even made TV appearances, notably sparring with comedian Jim Norton over rape jokes on Comedy Central's “Totally Biased.
- 9/17/2014
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
The heavy metal trio reportedly inked a $1.8 million deal with Sony.
This isn't your typical boy band.
Brooklyn-based trio Unlocking the Truth is on the rise after harnessing the power of YouTube to go from busking for change in Times Square to performing at Coachella. Now, they've reportedly inked a $1.8 million record deal with Sony. Not bad for a group of 12- and 13-year-olds.
Meet Alec Atkins, Jarad Dawkins and Malcolm Brickhouse, the heavy metal middle school band making waves for their raw talent and frankly, for being adorable. They've been best buds since pre-school and cite Metallica, Slipknot, Disturbed, Living Colour, Chelsea Grin, Motionless in White and Escape the Fate as their biggest influences. "Metal is in their blood," declares a line in their website bio.
They may have signed a mega-money deal with Sony, but according to the New York Post, Unlocking the Truth still needs to prove that they can translate YouTube hits into...
This isn't your typical boy band.
Brooklyn-based trio Unlocking the Truth is on the rise after harnessing the power of YouTube to go from busking for change in Times Square to performing at Coachella. Now, they've reportedly inked a $1.8 million record deal with Sony. Not bad for a group of 12- and 13-year-olds.
Meet Alec Atkins, Jarad Dawkins and Malcolm Brickhouse, the heavy metal middle school band making waves for their raw talent and frankly, for being adorable. They've been best buds since pre-school and cite Metallica, Slipknot, Disturbed, Living Colour, Chelsea Grin, Motionless in White and Escape the Fate as their biggest influences. "Metal is in their blood," declares a line in their website bio.
They may have signed a mega-money deal with Sony, but according to the New York Post, Unlocking the Truth still needs to prove that they can translate YouTube hits into...
- 7/14/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
We’re in the midst of our week-long Vulture TV Awards, honoring the best things television had to offer in the past year. We’ve already singled out Amy Schumer, Julianna Margulies, and others actors for their solid performances; given props to director Cary Fukunaga for a particularly wonderful scene from True Detective, and welcomed David Milch and Kurt Sutter as guest judges. Up next: Best Late-Night Moment, as selected by Vulture writer Jesse David Fox.You may have noticed that it was an unusually eventful year in late-night. With all the changes, picking the best moments presents the opportunity to assert what late-night could and ultimately should look like. Though it is still undeniably dominated by middle-aged white men (R.I.P., Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell), late-night has diversified over the years in terms of its breadth of style and substance, as a survey of the many...
- 6/19/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
This month’s first-ever Vulture Festival — hosted by Mike Birbiglia and featuring sets by Billy on the Street’s Billy Eichner and Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, among others — ended on a high note, with an emphasis on high (am I right, Broad City fans?). Held at the Bell House in Brooklyn last weekend, Vulture brought together some of our favorite comedy stars to perform and answer questions. The theme of the night was “My First Time,” which the comedians were free to interpret however they liked. The aforementioned stars of Broad City interviewed each other about the first time they smoked weed, former Totally Biased host W. Kamau Bell recalled the first (and only) time he appeared on The View, Mike Birbiglia recounted the horrifying story of his first time doing a stand-up set ... and the list goes on. Watch below to see those comedians as...
- 5/19/2014
- by Abraham Riesman
- Vulture
News
CBS announced its fall schedule which is both a big shake-up and a return to CBS’ conservative scheduling. The network is moving away from serialized shows like Hostages but every night’s line-up will be changed. Probably the biggest move is dropping the two-hour comedy block on Mondays. The last time CBS aired a drama on Monday it was Scarecrow & Mrs. King in 1986.
CBS joined the networks promising year-round programming, noting that one of the season’s biggest new dramas was the summer show Under the Dome. There’s a good number of new and returning shows not on CBS’ announced schedule, they’ll be used to limit the number of repeats throughout the year.
At least Under the Dome had Mike Vogel to look at.
Vulture breaks down why CBS passed on How I Met Your Dad. Explanations include that CBS didn’t like two actors (though reports...
CBS announced its fall schedule which is both a big shake-up and a return to CBS’ conservative scheduling. The network is moving away from serialized shows like Hostages but every night’s line-up will be changed. Probably the biggest move is dropping the two-hour comedy block on Mondays. The last time CBS aired a drama on Monday it was Scarecrow & Mrs. King in 1986.
CBS joined the networks promising year-round programming, noting that one of the season’s biggest new dramas was the summer show Under the Dome. There’s a good number of new and returning shows not on CBS’ announced schedule, they’ll be used to limit the number of repeats throughout the year.
At least Under the Dome had Mike Vogel to look at.
Vulture breaks down why CBS passed on How I Met Your Dad. Explanations include that CBS didn’t like two actors (though reports...
- 5/15/2014
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
Tonight’s season finale of Legit will be the Fxx comedy’s swan song. FX Networks confirmed today that the sophomore comedy starring Jim Jefferies has been canceled along with the FX freshman animated series Chozen. FX Networks CEO John Landgraf said last month that FX and Fxx would be doubling their original output in the next year and that the fate of Legit and Chozen would be decided after their current seasons. Chozen wrapped its 10-episode run March 31. Legit was renewed for Season 2 in March 2013, along with fellow FX comedies It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and The League, and all three were moved to the fledgling Fxx, along with late-night talker Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell, which has since been cancelled. Legit followed the often often raunchy adventures of Jefferies, an expat Aussie comedian living in Venice, CA, with his boozy, divorced best friend Steve (Dan Bakkedahl...
- 5/14/2014
- by ERIK PEDERSEN
- Deadline TV
Less animation, plenty of reality, and another two-hour comedy block reduced — those are some of the quick take-aways from Fox’s 2014 fall schedule announcement.
First up: On Mondays, the network will launch perhaps fall’s most-anticipated new drama, the Batman prequel series Gotham at 8 p.m. followed by the sophomore return of Sleepy Hollow at 9 p.m. Fox has ordered 16 episodes of Gotham and 18 episodes of Sleepy Hollow. On Tuesdays, ambitious new reality show Utopia, in which contestants try to build a perfect society over the course of a year, will open for New Girl and The Mindy Project (which...
First up: On Mondays, the network will launch perhaps fall’s most-anticipated new drama, the Batman prequel series Gotham at 8 p.m. followed by the sophomore return of Sleepy Hollow at 9 p.m. Fox has ordered 16 episodes of Gotham and 18 episodes of Sleepy Hollow. On Tuesdays, ambitious new reality show Utopia, in which contestants try to build a perfect society over the course of a year, will open for New Girl and The Mindy Project (which...
- 5/12/2014
- by James Hibberd
- EW - Inside TV
At FX‘s upfront presentation last spring, Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell was a central piece as the late-night show was envisioned as a potential cornerstone for the new comedy-centric network Fxx. But, facing stiff competition from broadcast and cable, the Chris Rock-produced show didn’t transition well to the new network after its solid original run on FX, leading to its cancellation. That followed the demise of FX’s other late-night effort, Brand X With Russell Brand. At FX’s upfront presentation last week, there was no mention of late-night. Instead, FX Networks CEO John Landgraf said announced that FX and Fxx will be doubling their primetime original output from 11 to 20 series during the next year. That involves the relocation of resources to primetime as the network is retreating from late-night, at least for the foreseeable future. “There is less interest in late-night, and that is in...
- 4/16/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Caveat: There’s no guarantee that Comedy Central will program another topical nightly talk show in The Colbert Report’s place when Stephen Colbert leaves to take over CBS’s Late Show in 2015.
After all, Colbert isn’t just another late night gabfest — it’s a parody of a very specific type of news program, starring a character who’s a very specific caricature of folks like Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. (Limbaugh, naturally, has already spoken out against Colbert’s move to CBS, saying that the network has “declared war on the heartland of America.”) It would be...
After all, Colbert isn’t just another late night gabfest — it’s a parody of a very specific type of news program, starring a character who’s a very specific caricature of folks like Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. (Limbaugh, naturally, has already spoken out against Colbert’s move to CBS, saying that the network has “declared war on the heartland of America.”) It would be...
- 4/10/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
The 2014 GLAAD Media Awards nominations have been announced, celebrating TV shows, movies, music artists and journalism that puts forth fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.
The awards are given our in two ceremonies, April 12 in Los Angeles and May 3 in New York. The nominees are as follows:
Outstanding Drama Series
"The Fosters"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Orphan Black"
"Pretty Little Liars"
"Shameless"
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"Orange is the New Black"
"Please Like Me"
Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular Lgbt character)
"Bride and Prejudice," "The Soul Man"
"Larp and the Real Girl," "Supernatural"
"Secret Lives," "Drop Dead Diva"
"Snow Angels," "Elementary"
"There's the Door," "Necessary Roughness"
Outstanding TV Movie or Miniseries
"Behind the Candelabra"
"In the Flesh"
Outstanding Documentary
"Bridegroom"
"Call Me Kuchu"
"God Loves Uganda"
"The New Black"
"Valentine Road...
The awards are given our in two ceremonies, April 12 in Los Angeles and May 3 in New York. The nominees are as follows:
Outstanding Drama Series
"The Fosters"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Orphan Black"
"Pretty Little Liars"
"Shameless"
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"Orange is the New Black"
"Please Like Me"
Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular Lgbt character)
"Bride and Prejudice," "The Soul Man"
"Larp and the Real Girl," "Supernatural"
"Secret Lives," "Drop Dead Diva"
"Snow Angels," "Elementary"
"There's the Door," "Necessary Roughness"
Outstanding TV Movie or Miniseries
"Behind the Candelabra"
"In the Flesh"
Outstanding Documentary
"Bridegroom"
"Call Me Kuchu"
"God Loves Uganda"
"The New Black"
"Valentine Road...
- 1/30/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
With two big ceremonies coming up (April 12th in Los Angeles and May 3rd in New York City), the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards has a ton of great nominees all vying for a trophy.
On the film end of things, “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Blue is the Warmest Color” both received nods, and “Orange is the New Black” and “Pretty Little Liars” lead the way for television.
The GLAAD Media Awards honors the biggest and brightest stars in entertainment, journalism and real-life Lgbt movements.
The nominees for the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards are:
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
Blue Is the Warmest Color (Sundance Selects)
Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features)
Kill Your Darlings (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Philomena (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Film – Limited Release
Concussion (RADiUS-The Weinstein Company)
Geography Club (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Out in the Dark (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Reaching for the Moon...
On the film end of things, “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Blue is the Warmest Color” both received nods, and “Orange is the New Black” and “Pretty Little Liars” lead the way for television.
The GLAAD Media Awards honors the biggest and brightest stars in entertainment, journalism and real-life Lgbt movements.
The nominees for the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards are:
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
Blue Is the Warmest Color (Sundance Selects)
Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features)
Kill Your Darlings (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Philomena (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Film – Limited Release
Concussion (RADiUS-The Weinstein Company)
Geography Club (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Out in the Dark (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Reaching for the Moon...
- 1/30/2014
- GossipCenter
This morning the national Lgbt media advocacy organization GLAAD announced nominees for the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. According to GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis, the year “has brought momentous progress for Lgbt people and families – and our nominees have created images and stories that continue to challenge misconceptions, shatter stereotypes, and change hearts and minds of millions all across the globe.”
There are 130 nominees in 29 categories but a few notable honorees include wide release films Dallas Buyers Club, Philomena and Kill Your Darlings, all of which were previously reviewed here on TheBacklot.
In the limited release category, Geography Club scored a nod. (The film is based on the classic Ya novel by AfterElton alum Brent Hartinger.)
In the outstanding TV drama category, ABC Family scored 2 nominees: The Fosters and Pretty Little Liars.
In the TV comedy category, perennial nominees Modern Family and Glee were joined by Brooklyn Nine-Nine and...
There are 130 nominees in 29 categories but a few notable honorees include wide release films Dallas Buyers Club, Philomena and Kill Your Darlings, all of which were previously reviewed here on TheBacklot.
In the limited release category, Geography Club scored a nod. (The film is based on the classic Ya novel by AfterElton alum Brent Hartinger.)
In the outstanding TV drama category, ABC Family scored 2 nominees: The Fosters and Pretty Little Liars.
In the TV comedy category, perennial nominees Modern Family and Glee were joined by Brooklyn Nine-Nine and...
- 1/30/2014
- by Dennis Ayers
- The Backlot
On November 8, New York-based comedian Kerry Coddett (pictured, left) fired shots at Saturday Night Live with an editorial published on the Atlantic’s website. In it, she blasted the notion that the show’s cast hadn’t featured a black woman in years because — as longtime repertory player Kenan Thompson said in a widely-circulated interview last fall — “in auditions, they just never find ones that are ready.” Coddett contended instead that SNL’s diversity problems were endemic and ingrained. “Perhaps it’s not that black women aren’t ‘ready’ for SNL; it’s that SNL isn’t ready for a black woman,...
- 1/10/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW - Inside TV
In all the excitement about SNL finally hiring another black woman, we can’t overlook an important detail: New featured player Sasheer Zamata is not just an African-American lady. She’s a seasoned comedian with four years of professional experience, and she has an individual identity — as well as, you know, a name. (Ahem, headlines like this.)
So! Now that SNL has finally solved all its diversity problems forever and ever, let’s take a minute to put that issue aside and focus instead on Zamata herself. Here are a few things you should know about her before her big debut Jan.
So! Now that SNL has finally solved all its diversity problems forever and ever, let’s take a minute to put that issue aside and focus instead on Zamata herself. Here are a few things you should know about her before her big debut Jan.
- 1/7/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
New “Saturday Night Live” cast member Sasheer Zamata brings a fresh face to the late-night sketch show, and she has the funny bone-a fides to back it up. Also read: ‘Saturday Night Live’ Finds Its Black Female Cast Member: Sasheer Zamata Since hitting New York’s comedy scene in 2009, Zamata has racked up credits on Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer” and FX late-night series “Totally Biased w/ W. Kamau Bell,” and she is a member of comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade. Equally critical to her role on “SNL” is Zamata’s writing, which has appeared on Jezebel, the Hairpin and serves as scripts.
- 1/7/2014
- by L.A. Ross
- The Wrap
Saturday Night Live has hired its first female African-American cast member since Maya Rudolph's departure in 2007, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sasheer Zamata, who has performed at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater in New York City, will join the cast on the show's January 18th episode, which Drake will host.
Zamata moved to New York City in 2009, after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in drama. Since then, she has been performing at the Ucb Theater and has made appearances in sketches on Totally Biased with W.
Zamata moved to New York City in 2009, after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in drama. Since then, she has been performing at the Ucb Theater and has made appearances in sketches on Totally Biased with W.
- 1/6/2014
- Rollingstone.com
There's a new face on "Saturday Night Live!"Sasheer Zamata will make her debut on the late-night sketch series on Jan. 18, when Drake is set to host, a rep confirmed to toofab.Zamata will be the first black female "SNL" cast member in five years since the departure of Maya Rudolph.The casting comes after showcases featuring African American comediennes were held in New York and Los Angeles after the show faced criticism that the new cast lacked minority faces.Sasheer beat out 11 other woman who received callbacks and were invited to test on the SNL stage on December 16.The comedienne trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York and has appeared on "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" on FX and "Inside Amy Schumer." Congrats on the new gig!What do you think about "SNL's" casting choice? Sound off below! Read more...
- 1/6/2014
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
NBC’s Saturday Night Live has added Sasheer Zamata as a featured player, to make her debut on Jan. 18, our sister site Deadline reports.
Zamata represents the first African-American female to be a part of SNL‘s regular cast since Maya Rudolph left the show in November 2007.
Related | Jonah Hill to Host Saturday Night Live for a Third Time
SNL became the target of much debate/discussion this fall when its new slew of cast additions included not one person of color.
Related | Rapper Drake to Host First Saturday Night Live of 2014
A graduate of the University of Virginia, Zamata...
Zamata represents the first African-American female to be a part of SNL‘s regular cast since Maya Rudolph left the show in November 2007.
Related | Jonah Hill to Host Saturday Night Live for a Third Time
SNL became the target of much debate/discussion this fall when its new slew of cast additions included not one person of color.
Related | Rapper Drake to Host First Saturday Night Live of 2014
A graduate of the University of Virginia, Zamata...
- 1/6/2014
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
“Saturday Night Live” has hired Sasheer Zamata as a new cast member, following a search for a black female to join the ensemble, an individual with knowledge of the hire told TheWrap. Zamata, who began performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre after moving to New York City in 2009, has performed on the FX show “Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell,” as well as the Comedy Central offering “Inside Amy Schumer.” See photos: ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Not So Colorful Past: A History of Its Diversity Zamata’s work has also been featured in Bust, Jezebel, Vulture, Time Out New York and other.
- 1/6/2014
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Closing them on my desktop so you can open them on yours. Here we go:
Trading on Charlie Brown’s good name: What a cheap ripoff. I Am So Very Tired:
I am tired, not of arguing in favour of equality, diversity and tolerance, but of having to explain, over and over and over again, why such arguments are still necessary, only to have my evidence casually dismissed by someone too oblivious to realise that their dismissal of the problem is itself a textbook example of the fucking problem. I am tired of being mocked by hypocrites who think that a single lazy counterexample is sufficient to debunk the fifteen detailed examples they demanded I produce before they’d even accept my point as a hypothetical, let alone valid, argument…. In short, I’m tired of being a female geek.
Read the whole thing. Marvel’S Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Storyboards...
Trading on Charlie Brown’s good name: What a cheap ripoff. I Am So Very Tired:
I am tired, not of arguing in favour of equality, diversity and tolerance, but of having to explain, over and over and over again, why such arguments are still necessary, only to have my evidence casually dismissed by someone too oblivious to realise that their dismissal of the problem is itself a textbook example of the fucking problem. I am tired of being mocked by hypocrites who think that a single lazy counterexample is sufficient to debunk the fifteen detailed examples they demanded I produce before they’d even accept my point as a hypothetical, let alone valid, argument…. In short, I’m tired of being a female geek.
Read the whole thing. Marvel’S Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Storyboards...
- 12/22/2013
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Keeping up with W. Kamau Bell of FX's Totally Biased? We miss him on telly too, here's what he's up to: Well the dang TV Grinch came and sacked one of our favorite TV series of the last year. Bell’s comedy on race, gender and culture was the elusive combination of smart and funny. Cheer up! W. Kamau Bell is booked at the San Francisco Punch Line Dec. 17-20... Go to the city by the Bay as Kamau tells it like it is, as he tells his fans via an email: "Well if you’re me, you jump on a plane back to San Francisco get some love by doing some stand-up comedy at your home club, The Punch Line.
- 12/16/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
New York City – Comedian W. Kamau Bell will host the 66th Annual Writers Guild Awards New York Ceremony. The awards will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Award presenters to be announced. W. Kamau Bell was most recently the host of the Fxx television series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. When approached to host the annual awards ceremony, Bell remarked, “I’m excited to host the WGA Awards, mostly because I assume it will allow me to keep my health insurance.” The 2014 Writers Guild Awards will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014, simultaneously at the Edison Ballroom in New York City and the Jw Marriott in Los Angeles, CA.
- 12/9/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Least Shocking Return: Did anybody really think Coven’s Madison was dead?
Best Bromance: Move over Modern Family, Trophy Wife’s Warren and Bert are the new Luke and Manny.
Strangest Story-Point: Lost amidst the awesomeness that has been this fifth season of The Good Wife is the silliness surrounding Alicia’s son. Which is to say, are we the only TV Addict who has noticed that a-little-too-tech-savvy-for-his-own-good Zach Florrick has quietly transformed into the show’s equivalent of Star Trek’s Wesley Crusher?
Most Heartless Move: The Bold & The Beautiful’s Bill dumped Brooke so he could get back together with his ex-wife… who happened to be her sister, Katie. Once Katie returned Bill’s company and son to him, he revealed he’d been playing her and intended to go back to her sister! (Props to Brooke, who actually slapped the louse and sent him on his way!
Best Bromance: Move over Modern Family, Trophy Wife’s Warren and Bert are the new Luke and Manny.
Strangest Story-Point: Lost amidst the awesomeness that has been this fifth season of The Good Wife is the silliness surrounding Alicia’s son. Which is to say, are we the only TV Addict who has noticed that a-little-too-tech-savvy-for-his-own-good Zach Florrick has quietly transformed into the show’s equivalent of Star Trek’s Wesley Crusher?
Most Heartless Move: The Bold & The Beautiful’s Bill dumped Brooke so he could get back together with his ex-wife… who happened to be her sister, Katie. Once Katie returned Bill’s company and son to him, he revealed he’d been playing her and intended to go back to her sister! (Props to Brooke, who actually slapped the louse and sent him on his way!
- 11/15/2013
- by theTVaddict
- The TV Addict
The CW has ordered full seasons of their three new shows — The Originals, The Tomorrow People, and Reign. Hell on Wheels has been renewed for a fourth season and Sean Saves the World has received an order for five more episodes from NBC. The peacock network also wants Last Comic Standing back.
Body of Proof won't be resurrected by ABC while Angela Lansbury wishes NBC would leave Murder, She Wrote alone. Tales from the Darkside finds new life over on The CW. Meanwhile the revived versions of All My Children and One Life to Live seem to be over.
Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell is finished on Fxx and The Jeselnik Offensive is done on Comedy Central -- as are a lot of other shows. Meanwhile, a bunch of other shows have return dates -- What Would You Do?, Shameless, House of Lies,...
Body of Proof won't be resurrected by ABC while Angela Lansbury wishes NBC would leave Murder, She Wrote alone. Tales from the Darkside finds new life over on The CW. Meanwhile the revived versions of All My Children and One Life to Live seem to be over.
Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell is finished on Fxx and The Jeselnik Offensive is done on Comedy Central -- as are a lot of other shows. Meanwhile, a bunch of other shows have return dates -- What Would You Do?, Shameless, House of Lies,...
- 11/15/2013
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Oh, Totally Biased, we hardly knew ye.as an Fxx show. Just a few weeks into its second season on FX’s upstart sub network, airing four nights per week (and in 26 million fewer homes than FX), various writers have confirmed to Defamer that the show has been cancelled. Additionally, Deadline has reported that the last original episode will air tonight, so if you’re looking to get a candlelight vigil/watch party together, spam your Facebook friends now....
- 11/14/2013
- Pastemagazine.com
Divergent attempts to separate itself from the Ya pack, Costa Rica invites us to Meet the Sloths, Hawaii makes it official
Brad Garrett is set to recur on The Crazy Ones as the buttoned up partner that keeps Robin Williams’ character in business. And incidentally, he’s gay. In his first episode the running joke is him suffering through a juice cleanse with his partner Timothy. “He’s been married to a lovely man for 20 years. I love how he’s a guy that happens to be gay. There’s really nothing stereotypical. It was written very naturally.”
In an effort to control the hookup space, the parent company of Manhunt has purchased Jack’d. I don’t want to speculate on all these hookup companies, but the data mining they could do is frightening, especially with the geography data they have to have to make them work.
In an interesting move,...
Brad Garrett is set to recur on The Crazy Ones as the buttoned up partner that keeps Robin Williams’ character in business. And incidentally, he’s gay. In his first episode the running joke is him suffering through a juice cleanse with his partner Timothy. “He’s been married to a lovely man for 20 years. I love how he’s a guy that happens to be gay. There’s really nothing stereotypical. It was written very naturally.”
In an effort to control the hookup space, the parent company of Manhunt has purchased Jack’d. I don’t want to speculate on all these hookup companies, but the data mining they could do is frightening, especially with the geography data they have to have to make them work.
In an interesting move,...
- 11/14/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
News
Aisha Tyler has booked a guest-appearance on HBO’s upcoming human sexuality drama Open, according to TVLine. She’ll play a married nurse with a “modern outlook on matrimony”.
In frustrating but unsurprising news, Fxx has cancelled Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, as first reported by Defamer. At this point, that raises the question if Fxx can even support original programming. Established hits like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League were able to survive a move, but instead of debuting Chozen, Fxx will air repurposed episodes of Da Ali G Show.
The combination of Guy Branum and Janine Brito will be missed.
Individually they were great, together they’re amazing.
Balancing out that loss to comedy and diversity slightly is the news that NBC is reviving Last Comic Standing with Wanda Sykes joining the show as a producer. I tend to like the talent search episodes of Last Comic Standing.
Aisha Tyler has booked a guest-appearance on HBO’s upcoming human sexuality drama Open, according to TVLine. She’ll play a married nurse with a “modern outlook on matrimony”.
In frustrating but unsurprising news, Fxx has cancelled Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, as first reported by Defamer. At this point, that raises the question if Fxx can even support original programming. Established hits like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League were able to survive a move, but instead of debuting Chozen, Fxx will air repurposed episodes of Da Ali G Show.
The combination of Guy Branum and Janine Brito will be missed.
Individually they were great, together they’re amazing.
Balancing out that loss to comedy and diversity slightly is the news that NBC is reviving Last Comic Standing with Wanda Sykes joining the show as a producer. I tend to like the talent search episodes of Last Comic Standing.
- 11/14/2013
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
Fxx has cancelled their first television series. The new cable channel has announced that Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell won't be back for a third season.
The nightly talk show premiered well but struggled when it didn't have comedies It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League as a lead-in. Recent episodes dropped as low as 10,000 total viewers.
The series finale of Totally Biased will air on Sunday, November 17th. It will be a "best of" installment.
A representative told Defamer, "It's a bummer. We love the show, he [Bell] is an incredible talent. Unfortunately the ratings didn't meet the expectations; that's why we had to make the decision."
What do you think? Did you like this late-night talk show?...
The nightly talk show premiered well but struggled when it didn't have comedies It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League as a lead-in. Recent episodes dropped as low as 10,000 total viewers.
The series finale of Totally Biased will air on Sunday, November 17th. It will be a "best of" installment.
A representative told Defamer, "It's a bummer. We love the show, he [Bell] is an incredible talent. Unfortunately the ratings didn't meet the expectations; that's why we had to make the decision."
What do you think? Did you like this late-night talk show?...
- 11/14/2013
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The lower third. The chyron. whatever you call it, it's become the way for cable news shows to textually provide viewers with additional information about a breaking news story; or to provide you with a self-parodying glimpse into the bizarrely hyper-sensational world of cable news. Take your pick. Former MSNBC producer Henry Melcher (currently with Fxx's Totally Biased) has collected some of the goofiest cable news chyrons that make you wonder what producers consider news these days.
- 11/13/2013
- by Andrew Kirell
- Mediaite - TV
Well, this sucks. Two months after moving "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" to new spin-off channel Fxx, FX has canceled the comedy/talk show. Hosted by stand-up Bell and executive produced by Chris Rock, "Totally Biased" eagerly tackled topics of politics, race and gender, and had been bumped up to a scheduled of four days a week after starting as a weekly series on FX. The Hollywood Reporter confirms the news, which was first reported by Defamer. While a success on FX, "Totally Biased" had struggled in the ratings in its new spot and schedule. It wasn't helped by the fact that the new network Fxx is only was available in 72 million homes, 26 million fewer than FX. Ratings in recent episodes dipped as low as 10,000 total viewers. FX canceled its other attempt at late night talk shows, "Brand X with Russell Brand," in June. The last new episode of "Totally Biased" will air tomorrow.
- 11/13/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
FX’s decision to split in three has claimed its first victim, as Defamer reports that Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell’s time on Fxx has come to an end. The survivor in the FX late-night cagematch of 2012 (Brand X With Russell Brand: Never forget), Totally Biased was one of the flagships of the great Fxx migration, a move that spread the talk show’s satirical Pov across four nights. Four, lonely, windswept nights where reruns of network sitcoms and the 20th Century Fox movie library were all the show had to keep it company. When Bell and ...
- 11/13/2013
- avclub.com
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