Issa Rae News

Vengeance, the directorial debut from writer and star B.J. Novak (The Office), is a darkly comic thriller about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who investigates the death of a girl he was hooking up with. The film’s ensemble cast includes Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, J. Smith-Cameron and Dove Cameron. 

Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner COMMON will  make his Broadway debut in the role of “Junior” in the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly  Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Between Riverside and Crazy, directed by Austin Pendleton.  

Kenan Thompson hosted the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12 on NBC. Notable winners included Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jean Smart, Zendaya, Amanda Seyfried, Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus, Succession, and more. Check out the complete list of winners below!

HBO Max has renewed the comedy series RAP SH!T, from Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Issa Rae, for a second season. Season one starred Aida Osman, KaMillion, Jonica Booth, Devon Terrell and RJ Cyler, RAP SH!T follows two estranged high school friends from Miami, Shawna (Osman) and Mia (KaMillion), who reunite to form a rap group.

The new season will feature Ace Vane, Emmy-nominee Demi Adejuyigbe, Desi Banks, Jerome Benton, Michael Blackson, Heidy De La Rosa, Emmy-winner Chris Hardwick, Emily Kinney, Ted Lange, Laci Mosley, Rashida Olayiwola “Sheedz,” Emmy-nominee Dewayne Perkins, Jay Pharoah, Emmy-nominee Issa Rae, Chance The Rapper, Amanda Seales, and more.

Watch the trailer for the Max Original unscripted series Sweet Life: Los Angeles, from Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Issa Rae, for its second season. The enterprising and charismatic core cast is comprised of Amanda Scott, Briana Jones, Cheryl Des Vignes, Jaylenn Hart, Jerrold Smith II, P’Jae Compton, Rebecca Magett, Rob Lee, and Tylynn Burns. 

The song arrives with an official music video, directed by FINNEAS’ longtime partner, actress Claudia Sulewski. The video features clips and snippets from life on the road during his sister Billie Eilish’s recent European tour. ‘Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa’ serves as the follow up to FINNEAS’ first release of 2022, “Naked.' Watch the new music video now!

HBO/HBO Max earned the most nominations for a single network or platform this year, marking the 20th time in history that the HBO brand has received the most Primetime Emmy® nominations of any network/platform in a single year. This bests HBO’s previous record of 137 nominations in 2019.

Check out the complete list of Emmy nominations, which include Andrew Garfield, Steve Martin, Jodie Comer, Tony Awards Presents: Broadways Back!, Annie LIVE!, Jane Lynch, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Nathan Lane, Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Shalom, Mare Winningham, Laurie Metcalf, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, and more!

Prior to pursuing her childhood dream of becoming an actor, Meg Lin was a former K-12 teacher, school principal, college professor, and non-profit CEO. But along the way, she struggled finding her true identity as a Chinese American as the first in her family born in the U.S. In her original solo play What am I, Chopped Suey? Meg shares how she struggled to defy cultural norms to 'save face' while coping with challenges she went through to overcome stereotypes and redefine what it means to be Asian in America. I decided to speak with Meg about how universal her first-generation American tale will resonate with so many, as well as her plans to continue presenting it as an Encore selection from this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Tamron Hall was honored by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on Friday with her second Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host during the televised ceremony from the Pasadena Convention Center. ABC News announced “Tamron Hall’s” premiere date for the show’s fourth season.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center production of D'Lo's solo show, “To T, or Not To T? A Comedic Trans Journey through (T)estosterone” is currently in previews, opens at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre on June 29 at 8 p.m. and continues through July 10.

Chart topping singer/songwriter and Emmy Award-winning actress Dove Cameron serves up her latest musical offering “Breakfast.' Coming hot off the heels of her massive smash hit “Boyfriend,” the track emphasizes the strength of femininity and embracing one's inner power. The track was released alongside a new lyric video.

A new image of Ryan Gosling in the highly-anticipated live action Barbie film has been released.  Last month, a first look at Margot Robbie as the title character was also revealed. Barbie is now being filmed in London. The film also stars America Ferreria, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Haru Nef, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, and more.

The Max Original comedy series RAP SH!T, from Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Issa Rae. RAP SH!T follows two estranged high school friends from Miami, Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion), who reunite to form a rap group. The cast also includes Jonica Booth, Devon Terrell and RJ Cyler.

Back by popular demand, comedy sensation Earthquake returns with his Father's Day Comedy Show! This year's line-up features guest stars Donnell Rawlings, Bill Bellamy and Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore that will ignite the stage at King's Theatre with their laughter on Saturday, June 18 at 7PM and at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, June 19 at 7PM. 

The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations.The series stars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend.

Brian Kite, interim dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, announced today that Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur (CODA, Spring Awakening) will deliver the keynote address at the school’s 75th annual commencement ceremony. Writer-director-producer Amy Aniobi will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dean Kite will preside over the event to be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at UCLA’s Royce Hall. 

A&E Network will premiere the new two-part documentary event “Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution” exploring the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humor to expose, challenge and ridicule society’s injustices and to articulate the Black experience in America.

VENGEANCE, the directorial debut from B.J. Novak (“The Office”), is a thriller about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with. With an ensemble cast that includes Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, J. Smith-Cameron, and Dove Cameron.