Lena Waithe News

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced today that star of the Broadway LBGTQ-themed musical phenomenon "The Prom," Caitlin Kinnunen, will perform the show's LGBTQ youth anthem 'Unruly Heart' with the NYC Youth Pride Chorus at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

Today, The Trevor Project announced that actress, musician, and style icon Cara Delevingne will be honored at the organization's TrevorLIVE New York gala with the Hero Award for her commitment to supporting The Trevor Project's mission to end suicide among LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning) young people. TrevorLIVE New York, the organization's annual star-studded signature fundraiser, will be held on Monday, June 17 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

On the heels of the second season pick up of critically- acclaimed BOOMERANG series BET Networks announces continued partnership with Lena Waithe as it green lights her single-camera comedy series “Twenties.” Created and written by Waithe when she was in her early 20s the eight-episode half-hour series, follows the adventures of a queer black girl, Hattie, and her two straight best friends, Marie and Nia, who spend most of their days talking 'ish' and chasing their dreams. “Twenties” is a scripted show about friendship, finding love, and messing everything up along the way.

According to The Wrap, Lena Waithe will join the third season of HBO's Westworld. She joins previously announced Aaron Paul. Waithe's character details have yet to be revealed.

Starting today, the season two premiere of the hit SHOWTIME drama THE CHI is available for free sampling online, on streaming platforms and on TV on demand. Created and executive produced by Emmy® winner Lena Waithe (Boomerang, Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award®, Emmy and Golden Globe® winner Common (Selma), THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The season premiere episode is available for free now on YouTube, and SHO.com ahead of its linear debut this Sunday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Today BET Networks announced second season pick-ups for both its half-hour subversive, smart, serialized comedy series 'BOOMERANG,' and the critically-acclaimed period drama based on the untold rise of the iconic music and dance program 'Soul Train,' 'AMERICAN SOUL.' BET is investing in partnerships with leading Black content creators with unique creative voices to bring viewers elevated storytelling and premium programming.

The NAACP today announced that globally dominant pop culture icon Shawn 'JAY-Z' Carter will receive the prestigious President's Award during the 50th NAACP Image Awards. The President's Award is presented in recognition of a special achievement and distinguished public service with previous recipients including Jesse Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Soledad O'Brien, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Muhammad Ali among others. NAACP President Derrick Johnson will present the award to Shawn 'JAY-Z' Carter during a LIVE TV special on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Anthony Anderson.

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced today that it will honor Emmy Award-winning host, producer, and author Andy Cohen with the Vito Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on May 4, 2019.  The award will be presented by Cohen's longtime friend and LGBTQ ally Sarah Jessica Parker. They join previously announced honoree Madonna, who will become the first woman ever to receive GLAAD's Advocate for Change Award. Cast members from FX's “Pose,” Samantha Bee and CNN journalist Don Lemon will also appear at the New York event.

The NAACP today announced that mass media icon Tom Joyner will be honored with the Vanguard Award at the 50th NAACP Image Awards. The Vanguard Award is presented to a person whose groundbreaking work increases our understanding and awareness of racial and social issues. To date, the special award has been presented to Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis, surviving Memphis Sanitation Workers, Prince, Russell Simmons, Stanley Kramer, Steven Spielberg and Wyclef Jean. The 50th NAACP Image Awards will air during a LIVE TV special on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Anthony Anderson.

Deadline reports that Showtime has ordered a pilot from How To Make Love To A Black Woman (Who May Be Working Through Some Sh*t), a comedy anthology series from Lena Waithe and Cathy Kisakye.

Hulu and Lionsgate today announce that UNBANNED: THE LEGEND OF AJ1, the powerful and inspiring true story of how Air Jordan 1 (AJ1) transcended sport to become a global phenomenon, will stream exclusively on Hulu. From first time filmmaker Dexton Deboree, the documentary interviews culture-defining titans, including NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan himself, Quincy Jones, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, Carmelo Anthony, Chuck D, and Phil Knight among others, to explore how AJ1 was not just a sneaker, but a worldwide movement that broke through barriers of race, age, and gender to define the culture in which we now live. Lionsgate acquired the documentary which is set to make its exclusive streaming debut on Hulu on February 14.

SHOWTIME has been nominated for seven NAACP Image Awards, led by five for the network's hit drama, THE CHI – including Outstanding Drama Series. THE CHI received more nominations than any other cable drama and tied for most nominations among dramas overall. Series creator and executive producer Lena Waithe earned a solo NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and shared in another with Dime Davis. SHOWTIME also received three acting nominations for Jason Mitchell and Alex R. Hibbert of THE CHI and Sanaa Lathan of THE AFFAIR. In addition, SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE, executive produced by LeBron James, was nominated for Outstanding Documentary (Television).

The nominees for the 50th NAACP Image Awards were exclusively announced today at the Television Critics Association's (TCA) TV One's joint press conference with Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP and Alfred Liggins, Chairman and CEO of TV One. The winners will be revealed during the Two-Hour LIVE TV special airing on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

The highly anticipated second season of the hit SHOWTIME drama THE CHI will premiere on Sunday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe (Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award(r), Emmy and Golden Globe(r) winner Common (Selma), THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The ensemble cast includes Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), Jacob Latimore (Sleight), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight) Yolonda Ross (Treme), Tiffany Boone (The Following), Armando Riesco (Bull), Barton Fitzpatrick, Shamon Brown Jr., and Michael V. Epps. THE CHI averaged 4.5 million weekly viewers across platforms and ranks as the highest-rated SHOWTIME freshman series since BILLIONS in 2016. The announcement was made by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc., at the Television Critics Association's Winter Press Tour. 

Casamigos kicked off the first weekend of Sundance with Michael B. Jordan, Shailene Woodley, Kiki Layne, David Arquette, Gerard Butler, G-Eazy, Isidora Goreshter, Lena Waithe, Marshmello, Black Panther and Training Day star Denzel Whitaker, Angie Martinez, former NBA player Baron Davis, Utah Jazz's Boris Diaw, Dallas Cowboys' Tyrone Smith and more at TAO Park City last night.

Sundance Institute and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (AI2) today released demographic data on submissions and acceptances to the annual Sundance Film Festival to reveal key insights on the talent pipeline in the film industry for women and people of color. 

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced today the nominees for the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards live from the Sundance Film Festival. The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Gilead, and Ketel One Family-Made Vodka.

The 2nd Annual MACRO Lodge (www.StayMACRO.com), presented by SheaMoisture, announced its return to the Sundance Film Festival today. The showcase will feature an inclusive, eclectic, exciting mix of invitation-only panels, screenings and parties and be experienced at its exclusive location on Main Street in Park City, UT from January 25-28, 2019 and be hosted by MACRO Founder & CEO Charles D. King and his wife Stacey Walker King.