Sean Combs & Mary J. Blige to Guest on Season Finale of ABC's BLACK-ISH; Jonathan Groff Directs

By: Caryn Robbins Mar. 12, 2015

Music industry LEGENDS and longtime artistic collaborators Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mary J. Blige will reunite, this time on the small screen, as guest stars on the season finale of ABC's critically acclaimed hit comedy "black-ish," in an episode set in the 1920s Harlem Renaissance.

The episode, "Pops' Pops' Pops," finds Jack and Diane (Miles Brown, Marsai Martin) looking for clues about their roots for their class assignment, a history of the Johnson family. But they can't find anything out about the family's past. Pops (Laurence Fishburne) comes to the rescue with the colorful story of how "Pops' Pops' Pops," great-great grandfather, Drexler Johnson, bet the future of the Johnson family against a ruthless gangster, Elroy Savoy. The episode will air in May.

Combs (TV/film credits include "Entourage," "CSI: Miami," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Get Him to the Greek") will appear as Savoy, the gangster in question, owner of the swinging Savoy club where the Johnson ancestors all met (including Anthony Anderson as Drexler and Tracee Ellis Ross as showgirl Bea). Blige (TV/film credits include "Empire," "Entourage," "Rock of Ages," "Betty and Coretta") will play Mirabelle Calais, the club headliner. Renowned choreographer Fatima Robinson will choreograph the episode.

"black-ish" stars Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson, Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, Marcus Scribner as Andre Johnson, Jr., Miles Brown as Jack Johnson, Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson and special guest star, Laurence Fishburne.

"Pops' Pops' Pops" was written by Vijal Patel and directed by Jonathan Groff.

"black-ish" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos