Uncategorized

Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer Will Host the Awards Ceremony Airing Live on The CW and TBS on Sunday, January 9, 2022 From The Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel

(Los Angeles, CA – December 16, 2021) – The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry will receive the sixth annual SeeHer Award at the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The honor will be presented to her at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW and TBS on Sunday, January 9 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET (delayed PT – check local listings).

The SeeHer Award honors a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes and pushes boundaries. SeeHer is the leading global movement for accurate portrayals of women and girls in media. Founded in 2015 by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and The Female Quotient (The FQ), SeeHer is a global collective of marketers, media organizations and industry influencers committed to creating gender-bias-free advertising and media. Previous award recipients are Viola Davis (2017), Gal Gadot (2018), Claire Foy (2019), Kristen Bell (2020), and Zendaya (2021).

Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry continues to break down barriers acting in a multitude of critically acclaimed, diverse roles and most recently added the title of ‘director’ to her already impressive filmography.

For her brilliant performance in MONSTER’S BALL, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the first Black woman to ever receive that honor. Berry’s performance garnered her numerous other awards including Best Actress awards for SAG, the Berlin Silver Bear, and the National Board of Review. No stranger to accolades, Berry also earned an Emmy, SAG and NAACP Image Award for her extraordinary performance in HBO’s telefilm, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” which she also produced.

Currently, Berry can be seen in her highly anticipated directorial debut BRUISED, in which she also stars. The plot follows a disgraced MMA fighter who must fight a rising MMA star, while trying to become the mother her child deserves. The film was released on Netflix in November 2021 to great success as it hit #1 in the U.S. on the streaming service during its first week and #2 globally. Fresh off the triumph of BRUSIED, Berry inked a multi-picture partnership with streaming giant Netflix.

Up next, Berry will be seen in Roland Emmerich-helmed sci-fi epic MOONFALL, for Lionsgate. MOONFALL follows the journey of three unlikely heroes mounting a last-ditch mission into space to save the world from annihilation after a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit. The film is due in theaters February 4, 2022.

Her film credits include: Bruised, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the X-Men franchise, The Call, Cloud Atlas, New Year’s Eve, Frankie & Alice, Things We Lost in the Fire, Perfect Stranger, Robots, Catwoman, Gothika, Die Another Day, Monster’s Ball, Swordfish, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Bulworth, B*A*P*S, The Rich Man’s Wife, Executive Decision, Race the Sun, Losing Isaiah, The Flintstones, The Program, Boomerang, The Last Boy Scout, and Strictly Business.

Berry has garnered praise not only for her roles on-screen, but for her philanthropic work with a range of organizations focusing on women and children and underserved communities. She is an active supporter and chair member of the Jenesse Center in Los Angeles. The Jenesse Center was founded in 1980 and assists victims of domestic violence and aims to change the pattern of abuse in the lives of women and children. She previously partnered with Michael Kors’ Watch Hunger Stop campaign and the United Nations World Food Programme to raise awareness for building a world with zero hunger. This partnership saw Watch Hunger Stop commit its global reach and resources to WFP’s goal of building “a world with zero hunger.” In support of this, Berry visited rural Nicaragua to raise awareness. Berry joined forces with Novo Nordisk and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch the Diabetes Aware Campaign and has supported a vast number of charities and organizations such as Revlon Run/Walk, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Afghanistan Relief Organization, Stand Up to Cancer, Love Our Children USA, Clothes Off Our Back and Black Lives Matter.

In 2020, Berry founded rē•spin which is a platform created to provide broader access to health and wellness content and products through inclusivity and conversation. Rooted in discovery and learning, the heart of rē•spin is its global community connected around the core belief of a holistic mind, body, and soul approach to wellness. 

The Critics Choice Awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, they are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.

The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards show will be produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The CCA is represented by Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig.

Follow the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards on Twitter and Instagram @CriticsChoice and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards. Join the conversation using #CriticsChoiceAwards.

About the Critics Choice Association (CCA)

The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content.

About The CW:

THE CW TELEVISION NETWORK launched in 2006 as America’s fifth broadcast network, with programming targeting younger viewers, a demographic highly sought after by advertisers. The CW, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, now broadcasts across the week, offering fourteen-hours of primetime programming, Monday through Sunday, beginning in Fall 2021. The CW’s primetime programming is also available to stream for free, without authentication, on the ad-supported CWTV.com and The CW app, now available on every major OTT platform. Additionally, The CW broadcasts a three-hour Saturday morning kids block. The CW’s digital network CW Seed launched in 2013 and offers original short-form digital content as well as past seasons of fan-favorite television series. For more information about the network and its programming, visit www.cwtvpr.com.

About TBS:

TBS, a WarnerMedia brand, is a top-rated destination for television among young adults and known for escapist, good-time entertainment, featuring smart, imaginative stories with heart and comedic edge. From scripted comedy series to late-night shows, game shows, and animated programming, TBS’ Originals slate is comprised of some of the most popular shows on cable — “Miracle Workers,” “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” “The Last O.G.,” “American Dad!” and “Chad.” The network’s slate of premium unscripted series includes “The Misery Index,” “Go-Big Show,” “Wipeout,” “Friday Night Vibes” and “The Cube” along with upcoming series, “The Big D”. TBS’ lineup also includes comedy hits like “Young Sheldon” and “The Big Bang Theory,” classic sitcom favorites such as “Friends,” blockbuster movies, and live event coverage of Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and “ELEAGUE,” WarnerMedia’s eSports gaming competition. Website: www.tbs.com

About SeeHer:
Despite strides made in recent years to accurately portray women and girls in media, unconscious bias persists throughout advertising and entertainment. The average age, race, body type, and other aspects of women depicted in media today still represent only a small fraction of the female population. SeeHer is a collective of marketers, media organizations and industry influencers committed to creating advertising and supporting content that portrays women and girls as they really are. Led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) in partnership with The Female Quotient (The FQ), SeeHer launched in June 2016 in in Washington DC at the United State of Women. To help marketers benchmark success, the group developed Gender Equality Measure® (GEM®), the first research methodology that quantifies gender bias in ads and programming. GEM® shows that content portraying females accurately dramatically increases both purchase intent and brand reputation. In 2017 GEM® won the prestigious ESOMAR Research Effectiveness Award. The methodology quickly became the industry standard, which led to a global rollout in 2018. In 2019, the movement expanded into new verticals: sports (SeeHer In Sports) and music (SeeHer Hear Her). Visit SeeHer.com and follow @SeeHer on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

CINCINNATI ( December 16, 2021) – Accomplished actor, director, educator and lifelong children’s literacy advocate LeVar Burton will serve as host of the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the televised semifinals on June 1 and finals on June 2, 2022, near Washington, D.C.

Burton has won Emmy and Grammy awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He will serve as grand marshal of the Jan. 1, 2022, Rose Bowl Parade, themed “Dream. Believe. Achieve.”

He has entertained generations as former host and executive producer of PBS’s “Reading Rainbow” (1983-2006); starring as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed television miniseries “Roots” (1977); and as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation television series (1987-94).

“The selection of Mr. Burton as host aligns with the mission of the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “To have such a prominent advocate for children’s literacy involved in this special and unique competition is a perfect match. We have the same goals: to educate tomorrow’s leaders and build reading competency in all young people.”

“Hosting the Scripps National Spelling Bee will be an honor,” Burton said. “Like a lot of folks, I look forward to the competition every year and am excited to be a part of this wonderful tradition that celebrates excellence.”

Burton has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and 27 Daytime Emmys, culminating in 21 wins. “Reading Rainbow” was one of the longest running children’s television shows in history and won more than 25 awards, including 10 for outstanding series and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. Burton has been nominated twice for the Best Spoken Word Album Grammy Award and won in 1999 for narrating “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.”

The announcement about Burton follows recent news that the 2022 Bee will be accessible to the widest audience in its nearly 100-year history with the semifinals and finals airing on national television networks ION and Bounce, both available free and over-the-air to viewers as well as on cable and streaming platforms. Full broadcast schedules and streaming plans will be announced in early 2022.

The Bee is the nation’s longest-running educational competition, having launched in 1925, and has aired on ESPN platforms since 1994. The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is the longtime steward of the competition and owns ION and Bounce. ION is the No. 5 most-watched entertainment network in primetime, and Bounce is the No. 2 most-watched network targeted to African Americans across broadcast and cable TV.

The deadline for schools to enroll in the 2022 Spelling Bee is Jan. 31 for most regions; check www.spellingbee.com to confirm your school’s enrollment deadline. School bees are held throughout the fall and early 2022, and regional bees run Feb. 1 through March 31.

About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.

About Scripps

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As the nation’s fourth-largest local TV broadcaster, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff, Court TV Mystery, Defy TV, and TrueReal. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of the broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades the motto, “Give light, and the people will find their own way.”

Rebels: From Punk to Dior

Rebels: From Punk to Dior is an installation of photography featuring the work of artist Janette Beckman that has been curated by Amanda Hajjar, Director of Exhibitions at Fotografiska New York. In collaboration with artist Cey Adams, Rebels will celebrate the launch of Beckman’s monograph of the same title, published by Drago.

The installation will spotlight 11 key photographs from her book, including portraits of cultural legends such as Andre 3000, Salt-n-Pepa, Keith Haring, Sade, and more. Iconic visual artist and NYC native, Cey Adams, will create a live “Mash Up” inside the exhibition space – a combination of Janette’s portrait of Run-DMC, layered with Adams’ paintings.

Janette Beckman began her career at the dawn of punk rock in London, working for titles like The Face & Melody Maker. She shot bands from The Clash to Boy George as well as documenting the rebellious youth culture fans and emblematic moments for iconoclasts like Blondie and the Police. Relocating to New York in 1983, Beckman was immediately drawn to the burgeoning hip-hop scene where she photographed trailblazers of the movement like Salt-N-Pepa, Run DMC, Grand Master Flash, Slick Rick, and LL Cool J.

Covering four decades of photography, Rebels: From Punk to Dior and corresponding installation serve as a stunning snapshot of Beckman’s significance in the world of art, photojournalism, music, fashion, and popular culture – but most prevalently, it’s a testament of her unique ability to extract beauty from the outliers of society.

“I have always been attracted to documenting cultures and people who are passionate about doing things their own way regardless of society rules,” says the artist, Janette Beckman. “My journey has taught me there are no road maps, being an artist is just about following your passion no matter what happens.”

In addition to publishing five books, Janette Beckman’s work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide and is included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Museum of the City of New York, and the British National Portrait Gallery. She is represented by the Fahey Klein Gallery.

Exhibition Runs:

NOVEMBER 18 – JANUARY 9

Fotografiska – Park Ave – New York, NY

From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.  

In celebration of the film’s release in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22, UnitedMasters, the “record label in your pocket” for independent artists, is giving artists a once in a lifetime opportunity.

UnitedMasters is looking for songs created and submitted by UnitedMasters Select artists for the opportunity to earn $15,000 and have the possibility to be included in the movie’s upcoming promotional campaign. The UnitedMasters team is looking for tracks that represent The Matrix themes, creativity, production quality, lyrical content, dynamics, mood, and emotion.

To be considered, your song must be uploaded through the UnitedMasters app, contain vocals, be clear of any and all samples, and above all else – get people excited about “The Matrix Resurrections” release.

Submissions are open now and run until November 28, 2021. You can see full details on the UnitedMasters Exclusives section in the app or on desktop.

LIVE LINKS: 

• Twitter
• Instagram

IMAGES:

• Announcement Assets

ABOUT UNITEDMASTERS

UnitedMasters gives creators access to premium music distribution services, a suite of tools to help directly connect with their fans, and opportunities to connect with brands that want access to premium music produced and owned by independent artists. UnitedMasters artists maintain full ownership over their master recording rights while being introduced to millions of new fans worldwide through direct brand partnerships.

Launched in 2017 by Translation founder and music industry veteran Steve Stoute, UnitedMasters is a music technology company that gives creators access to premium music distribution services, a suite of tools to help them directly connect with fans, and opportunities for unique partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands all while allowing them to maintain full ownership over their master recording rights.

ABOUT THE FILM 

“The Matrix Resurrections” is a continuation of the story established in the first MATRIX film. It reunites Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as cinematic icons Neo & Trinity in an expansion of their story that ventures back into the Matrix and even deeper down the rabbit hole. A mind-bending new adventure with action and epic scale, it’s set in a familiar yet even more provocative world where reality is more subjective than ever and all that’s required to see the truth is to free your mind.

The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Candyman,” the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Ereìndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).

Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by James McTeigue, Lana Wachowski and Grant Hill. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Karin Wachowski, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman.

Wachowski’s creative team behind the scenes included “Sense8” collaborators: directors of photography Daniele Massaccesi and John Toll, production designers Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole, editor Joseph Jett Sally, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, and composers Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be in theaters nationwide and on HBO Max via the Ad-Free plan on December 22, 2021; it will be available on HBO Max in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos (English only) on supported devices for 31 days from theatrical release.

Q&A with Director Robert Alexander

What inspired you to make a movie about Kid Cudi?

Like many people, I used to find it hard to always be myself. It felt more important to fit in than to let someone know how excited I was about an idea they might find odd. We all look for someone to inspire us by showing us something we’ve never seen before, by unapologetically being themselves and in turn giving us the strength to do the same. Kid Cudi has meant so much to so many people by encouraging them to be who they are at all times. He is an icon who has empowered multiple generations of young people to be okay with who they are, that’s why it was important to share this story.

In the film, former Complex Media Editor-in-Chief Noah Callahan-Bever describes Man on the Moon as one of the most influential albums of the past 20 years. What is it about that record that made it so groundbreaking and enduring?
Cudi was one of those revolutionary artists who truly connected with a generation of people who were overwhelmed with emotion but didn’t feel like anyone understood them or was speaking up for them. On his debut album not only was his sound so fresh and innovative but in his dialogue he went out of his way — sacrificing his own privacy — to be incredibly vulnerable in his art and share who he was and what he was going through.

The film features interviews with a diverse group of Cudi’s friends, collaborators and observers: from Kanye West to Timothée Chalamet to Willow Smith to clinical psychologist Candice Norcott.
How did you go about choosing who to include?

It’s a combination of people Cudi loves and worked with and people I love. I wanted it to be a conversation about creativity from many different perspectives. The goal for me was ultimately to make a “power film,” similar to the song you put on at the gym when you’re feeling tired and uninspired. I hope when people watch this it motivates them to find new ways to see their own creative expression and push themselves artistically.

Along with the interviews, the film uses dancers, actors, special effects, graphics and more to create an artwork that underscores and complements the story of Cudi’s life and career. Can you talk about how you approached creating the visual elements?

I love all mediums, and I don’t like the idea of limiting what you make to one particular space, and this film is an example of that. By design part of the film feels like a documentary, part of it feels like an advertisement for creative expression, and part of feels like a one-man show, beautifully performed on stage by Jaden Smith. That is what’s beautiful in the synergy of working with Cudi because he has the same approach in his music. He doesn’t limit himself to the label of a “Rapper” and exist exclusively in that space. His music transcends genre. He just as passionately and honestly can make pop music, hip hop, punk rock or anything else he feels. Hopefully the film serves as a reminder that the more we live as ourselves the faster these labels placed on us become meaningless and we can just create based on how we feel.

The two locations where you interview Cudi are so different: One is a room crammed with ornate mirrors and chandeliers, the other is extremely spare.

We only sat down with Cudi twice, once in Tokyo and once in Italy, and the locations reflect this duality that exists within him. In the first interview we’re talking with Kid Cudi the artist, the music persona. The second time we were talking with Scott Mescudi, the person behind the persona. By the time we were set to have that second conversation I had spent several months interviewing all these people in his life who had shared intimate stories about their experiences. So out of respect for him and the film, it was critical to have a completley transparent conversation, and he was more than willing to do that. He was incredibly giving and supportive of honesty. He didn’t want to make himself look better than he was; he wanted to be authentic.

Beyond being the subject of the film, what was Cudi’s role in the making of A Man Named Scott?

It was a very kind collaboration. There were some things he felt were important to touch on and certain people he wanted to have a significant presence in the film. But he had a lot of trust in me and he was incredibly respectful in allowing me to make this film the way I felt was best.

The montage cut to the “Pursuit Of Happiness” Steve Aoki remix makes for a really exhilarating conclusion to the film. Why did you choose that track to end with?

That sequence uses a lot of archival material we had gathered that we didn’t want to waste. So we decided to build a beautiful collage of Cudi’s career. The song made perfect sense because in my mind, “Pursuit Of Happiness” is the alternative title to the film. It’s a lifelong endeavor, and not one that’s achieved overnight. Cudi is so open about the dark place he was in before he went to rehab and then later reemerged. I didn’t want to conclude the film at that point and make it feel like now everything is perfect because he got the necessary help. That’s not how life works. We all experience our own life- long journey in the pursuit of happiness.

AVA DuVERNAY, RUTH NEGGA, WILL SMITH,

DANIELLE BROOKS, KENAN THOMPSON, ROBIN THEDE,

AMONG OTHERS TO BE HONORED

HOSTED BY NIECY NASH

Presented by the Critics Choice Association on Monday, December 6 in Century City

(Los Angeles, CA, – November 10, 2021) – The Critics Choice Association announced today the final list of honorees for the annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, taking place on Monday, December 6 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel.

The event, hosted by Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Niecy Nash (“Claws,” “When They See Us”) will include 16 award categories as part of a star-studded night honoring standout achievements in Black filmmaking and television.

The Celebration of Black Cinema & Television will honor the following:

Award winning writer, director, producer, and film distributor Ava DuVernay will be receiving the first-ever Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award. Her slate of current projects includes the narrative film adaptation of the bestselling book “Caste” for Netflix, along with television projects “Colin in Black and White” and “Wings of Fire” for Netflix, “Home Sweet Home” for NBC, “Queen Sugar” and “Cherish the Day” for OWN, and “DMZ” and “One Perfect Shot” for HBO Max.

“We are truly honored to name our prestigious Trailblazer Award after Melvin Van Peebles,” said Shawn Edwards, CCA Board Member and Executive Producer of the Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. “Van Peebles inspired a generation of filmmakers. He was a true maverick and a visionary cinematic genius. We’re thrilled that Melvin’s son, Mario will be presenting the award to Ava DuVernay, as the first recipient of the Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award.”

Two-time Academy Award-nominated actor Will Smith will receive the Actor Award for Film for his role in “King Richard,” which follows the journey of Richard Williams, the father who was instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, Venus and Serena Williams.

Emmy and PGA Award-winning director and producer Antoine Fuqua will receive the Director Award for Film. Among his many credits, Fuqua is best known for directing “Training Day,” and most recently “The Guilty” starring Jake Gyllenhaal which can be seen on Netflix.

The cast of the Netflix film “The Harder They Fall,” which includes Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Deon Cole, R.J. Cyler, Edi Gathegi, and Danielle Deadwyler, will receive the Ensemble Award.

Academy and Emmy Award-nominated actress Ruth Negga will receive a Special Honoree Award for her recent role in the critically acclaimed Netflix film “Passing,” the story of a Black woman who finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who is passing as white.

Grammy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actress Danielle Brooks will receive the Actress Award for Television for her role in the Lifetime movie “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” based on one of the most revered gospel singers in history, Mahalia Jackson. She is also well-known for her role in Netflix’s acclaimed series “Orange is the New Black.”

César Award-winning French actor Omar Sy will receive the Actor Award for Television for his impressive work in Netflix’s “Lupin.” He also appeared in the critically acclaimed film “The Intouchables.”

Emmy nominee Robin Thede will receive the Showrunner Award for HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” She is also the creator, executive producer, writer and star of the eight-time Emmy-nominated variety sketch series.

Toheeb Jimoh will receive the Breakthrough Award for his role on the Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” where he plays the young Nigerian footballer Sam Obisanya.

Emmy Award-nominated actor Kenan Thompson will receive a Special Honoree Award recognizing his work on both NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” where he is the longest-serving cast member, and his eponymous comedy “Kenan.”

Tony Award winner Patina Miller will receive a Special Honoree Award for her starring role in the Starz series “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” the third installment in the “Power” universe that chronicles the early years of Kanan Stark, played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Natasha Rothwell will receive a Special Honoree Award for her acclaimed role as Belinda Lindsey on HBO’s “The White Lotus.” She also serves as a writer, series regular and consulting producer on HBO’s “Insecure.”

As previously announced, Halle Berry will receive the Career Achievement Award, Anthony Anderson will receive the Producer Award for Television, Jennifer Hudson will be honored with the Actress Award for Film, and Barry Jenkins will receive the Director Award for Television.

About the Critics Choice Association (CCA)

The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing almost 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.

CONTACTS:

Andy Gelb / Julia Rossen / Laurina Spencer – SLATE PR

andy@slate-pr.com / JuliaR@slate-pr.com / Laurina@slate-pr.com

Vivica A. Fox, Romeo Miller, Colin Egglesfield, Michelle Borth, Juliana Harkavy, Claire Coffee & George Stults headline the casts

Downloadable Image Here

ATLANTA (Oct. 21, 2021) – Five new original holiday movies will premiere on ION and Bounce beginning Sunday, Nov. 21. In total, the Scripps Networks will combine to air over 200 hours of holiday movies and programming. Last year, ION ranked No. 1 among all networks airing original holiday programming. *

The new original Scripps Networks holiday movies for 2021:

Bounce
“Who is Christmas Eve?” – Premieres 8 p.m., Nov. 21
Eve Simmons (Paige Hurd, Power Book II: Ghost, Hawaii Five-O) was abandoned as an infant on the steps of a church 30 years ago on Christmas Eve. Now, struggling to move forward with her life, she embarks on a search to uncover the mystery of her birth with the help of her boyfriend Curtis (Romeo Miller, Romeo!, Empire) and famed investigative genealogist Pam Slaton (Juliana Harkavy, Arrow). The movie is inspired by actual events from Slaton’s real-life cases, and she serves as a producer.

ION
“Christmas Down Under” – Premieres 8 p.m., Nov. 21
After a fight with her husband (Paul O’Brien, Home & Away, Neighbors), a tightly wound wife (Justine Kacir, Home & Away) follows him to his hometown of Sydney, Australia, in hopes of saving their marriage. Tracking him down proves complicated, and she must rely on an Aboriginal tour guide and a social media influencer ride-share driver to help – all just days before Christmas.

“A Christmas Witness” – Premieres 8 p.m., Nov. 28
A no-nonsense federal marshal (Arielle Kebbel, Ballers, The Vampire Diaries) is tasked with protecting a low-level, charming mobster (Colin Egglesfield, Rizzoli & Isles, All My Children) until he testifies against his mafia boss two days after Christmas.

“ The Christmas Thief ” – Premieres 8 p.m., Dec. 5
Lana Lawton (Michelle Borth, Hawaii Five-O), a fledgling private eye home for the holidays, realizes the only way to save her career is by solving a string of local burglaries where the main suspect is Santa Claus. With little evidence and having to contend with a local detective with an investigative style that clashes with hers, the season may prove to be anything but holly and jolly. Vivica A. Fox co-stars as the head of a local detective agency.

“A New Lease on Christmas” – Premieres 8 p.m., Dec. 11
A single real estate agent (Clair Coffee, Grimm, Lincoln Rhymes – Hunt for the Bone Collector) falls for a handsome coffee shop owner (George Stults, 7th Heaven) – only to discover that the job she just took requires her to evict him from his shop.

In addition, Laff will air a week of primetime family-friendly holiday movies beginning Dec. 6 and Grit will present holiday-themed Westerns on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

About Scripps

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As the nation’s fourth-largest local TV broadcaster, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff, Court TV Mystery, Defy TV and TrueReal. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

# # #

*Source: Nielsen Media Research, A25-54 C3 Impressions, 2020 (11/26/20 – 1/1/21), competitive set based on networks with original holiday movies, total day excluding kids programming.

‘Protect or Neglect’ world premieres Oct. 27

ATLANTA (Oct. 20, 2021) – Bounce, the first broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, will explore the topic of policing and the Black community with the world premiere of “Protect or Neglect” at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 27. The exclusive new, one-hour Bounce Original documentary will be available on Bounce’s popular subscription streaming service Brown Sugar starting Oct. 28.

“Protect or Neglect” looks at decades of turmoil between the Black community and police officers. With interviews from brutality survivors, academics, civil rights attorneys, former police staff and entertainment luminaries, the special looks to address the age-old question: “Who guards the guardians?”

“The deaths of Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Breanna Taylor, George Floyd and too many others have drawn worldwide attention, and the powerful voice of the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a global conversation on the subject of the treatment and value of Black people in America,” said Bounce general manager Cheryle Harrison. “Bounce plays an important role in the Black community, and ‘Protect or Neglect’ was produced to amplify this discussion and let voices be heard.”

Among those interviewed in “Protect or Neglect:” Cedric The Entertainer and his daughter Lucky Kyles, political activist and former House member Stacey Abrams, retired LAPD sergeant Cheryl Dorsey, “A Million Little Things” producer Royale Watkins and the co-stars/co-executive producers of Bounce’s “Johnson,” Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones.

Cedric The Entertainer talks openly with his daughter about the emotional toll she deals with watching people who look like her die at the hands and knees of police officers who took an oath to protect.

Dorsey questions the behavior displayed repeatedly towards the Black community by police officers, which, she said, will only end when those officers take responsibility for their actions and are held accountable. When it comes to the police, USC Law Professor Jody Armor vehemently recounts an experience he calls the “Black tax” – a common theme shared by the voices in the documentary.

Abrams, a former candidate for Georgia governor, shares her story of not being let into her own graduation celebration. “It’s not a figment of our imagination,” she says. Jones comments on crimes committed by police officers, while LaRay offers, “I think too many people still don’t acknowledge that abuse exists. …We have to have law enforcement that are willing to not keep this wall of silence.”

According to a Pew Research Center study, nearly 92% of white officers surveyed believe Black people in the U.S. have equal rights, compared to only 29% of Black officers. The documentary asks the question: “How much longer must the Black community go on feeling neglected?”

Bounce (@bouncetv) programming is seen over-the-air, on cable, on DISH channel 359, over-the-top on Roku®, on mobile devices via the Bounce and Brown Sugar apps, and on the web via BounceTV.com. Bounce features a programming mix of original series, docuseries and movies, off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and events, and more. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

# # #

Advance press screeners of Protect or Neglet are available upon request.

Competition Series “The Big Holiday Food Fight” Hosted By Kym Whitley Premieres Tuesday, November 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

“A Chestnut Family Christmas” Starring Meagan Holder and Brad James Premieres Tuesday, November 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

“A Sisterly Christmas” Starring Deborah Joy Winans and Kendrick Cross Premieres Tuesday, December 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

“A Christmas Stray” Starring Andra Fuller and Rhyon Nicole Brown

Premieres Tuesday, December 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Click HERE for first look images and key art.

Photo credit for key art: Courtesy of OWN

Los Angeles – Now in its third year, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is expanding its “OWN For The Holidays” annual tradition with the addition of a fast-paced and exciting holiday-themed cooking competition series hosted by Kym Whitley, “The Big Holiday Food Fight.” The new five-episode series will air Tuesday nights beginning November 16, leading up to this season’s original Christmas movies which will debut on consecutive Tuesdays beginning November 30. True to OWN’s annual holiday movie theme, each original movie celebrates and honors the deeper meaning of the season — giving to others and putting friends and family first. The movies will also air concurrently on discovery+. 

 “The Big Holiday Food Fight” premieres Tuesday, November 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, moving to its regular 8:00 p.m. ET/PT time slot on Tuesday, November 23.

 It’s ‘knives out’ (but in a good way) when “The Big Holiday Food Fight” makes its debut on OWN this November. Hosted by Kym Whitley, this exciting holiday-themed cooking competition series from SallyAnn Salsano and 495 Productions (“Peace of Mind with Taraji,” “The Real,” “Jersey Shore” “Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Party Challenge”) celebrates the holidays with traditions, family recipes and a side order of fierce competition. In each episode, we crown a new King or Queen of the holiday table and put a little jingle in their pocket with enough cash to tackle some fierce Christmas shopping.

 Three home cooks will bust out their most beloved holiday family recipes and ‘jingle bell rock’ the kitchen in a multi-stage cook-off that will leave only one home chef standing at the end of each episode — and the winner of a $5,000 stocking stuffed with cash. Appetizers, side dishes and desserts take center stage each week as our cooks are challenged to whip up their best family-favorite recipes to wow our accomplished judges, Gina Neely, Darnell ‘SuperChef’ Ferguson and James Wright Chanel. At the end of each round, our panel of judges will decide who stays for the next round and who gets booted out in the cold.

 First Look: “The Big Holiday Food Fight”

https://youtu.be/AKTxQt7o7t4

 Embed code:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/AKTxQt7o7t4“title=”YouTubevideoplayer”frameborder=”0″allow=”accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>

 “A Chestnut Family Christmas” Premieres Tuesday, November 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Starring Meagan Holder (“Nina Chestnut”) and Brad James (“Malcolm Butler”) 

When a talented pastry chef, currently working as a live-in cook, accidentally commits to hosting her family for the holidays, she poses as the wealthy homeowner in order to impress them and to remove the “black sheep” burden she has been carrying her whole life. All seems to be going well, until everyone’s secrets are exposed and relationships begin to unravel. “A Chestnut Family Christmas” is produced for OWN by MarVista Entertainment in association with Harpo Films.

 First Look: “A Chestnut Family Christmas”

https://youtu.be/3n5_fwffDNY

 Embed code: 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3n5_fwffDNY</a><span style=”color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;”>” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>

 “A Sisterly Christmas” Premieres Tuesday, December 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Starring Deborah Joy Winans (“Kristina Marshall”) and Kendrick Cross (“Keith Fisher”)

Two sisters, one who loves Christmas and everything that comes with it and the other who can be the scroogiest of Scrooges, receive an early Christmas gift: an inheritance that takes them on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury holiday vacation. Their Christmas proves to be more than they bargained for when they run into their childhood rival, now a Broadway star who digs in on these sisters, testing their resolve as women and their bonds of sisterhood. “A Sisterly Christmas” is produced for OWN by MarVista Entertainment in association with Harpo Films.

 First Look: “A Sisterly Christmas Trailer”

https://youtu.be/xL_-MEwNxhk

 Embed code: 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xL_-MEwNxhk</a><span style=”color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;”>” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>

 “A Christmas Stray” Premieres Tuesday, December 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT  

Starring Andra Fuller (“Ethan”) and Rhyon Nicole Brown (“Foster”)

A tightly-wound corporate executive, finds himself hopelessly stranded in a small mountain town on Christmas Eve, unable to shake the adorable stray dog who ran him off the road, and irresistibly drawn to the free-spirited, local veterinarian who is sorely in need of some Christmas magic herself. “A Christmas Stray” is produced for OWN by MarVista Entertainment in association with Harpo Films.

First Look: “A Christmas Stray”

https://youtu.be/ApJZKgOwc8U  

 Embed code: 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ApJZKgOwc8U</a><span style=”color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;”>” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>

About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey’s heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism of the channel. OWN is a leading destination for premium scripted and unscripted programming from today’s most innovative storytellers. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery, Inc. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. Access OWN anytime, anywhere on WatchOWN.tv or across mobile devices and connected TVs. For more information, please visit www.oprah.com/own and https://press.discovery.com/us/own/.

# # #