Kelly Rowland at the “Queen & Slim” AFI Fest premiere in Los Angeles on November 14, 2019. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau)
Terrence J at the 2017 Miss USA Pageant (Photo courtesy of Fox Broadcasting)
DJ Khaled at “The Four: Battle for Stardom” Season 1 finale viewing party at Delilah in Los Angeles on February 8, 2018. (Photo by Scott Kirkland/Fox)
The following is a press release from BET:
BET announces an array of high impact initiatives to support communities of color impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Americans are being disproportionately harmed by the health and financial devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. BET, in partnership with the NAACP, United Way Worldwide, leaders in the African American creative, civil rights and business communities will provide critical financial, educational and community support directly to the African Americans hardest hit by this crisis.
These initiatives include the “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” broadcast special; the creation of a relief fund in partnership with United Way Worldwide to assist people of color most impacted by this health and financial crisis, and our support of the NAACP’s Town Hall Series.
For 40 years, BET has been rooted in a legacy of helping afflicted communities of color, raising $12 million for Katrina victims and millions more for Haiti earthquake victims. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BET will use their global platform to provide critical educational and financial resources directly related to the African American community.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is savagely compounding the profound health and financial vulnerabilities many Black Americans face. Every day, there are new reports of how this pandemic is killing African Americans at much higher rates than other communities.” said Scott Mills, President of BET. “BET is using all of our resources – our capital, our media platforms, our relationships with the creative community, sponsors, businesses and charitable organizations to support our community in this time of crisis.”
The “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” broadcast special, will air on Wednesday, April 22nd at 8 pm EST. The special, co-hosted by Grammy Award-Winning singer and actress Kelly Rowland, TV personality Terrence J, and actress Regina Hall; will feature virtual appearances and musical performances from some of the biggest names in music and entertainment as they share tips on how to manage, cope and help during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Celebrity guest appearances and performances will include DJ Khaled, Charlie Wilson, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Fantasia, Melvin Crispell III, and many more. The special will give up-to-date information and drive viewers to needed resources during this unprecedented time. In partnership with United Way, proceeds are being donated to African American communities severely impacted by COVID-19.
“Our goal for this special is to come together in a collective spirit of strength, community and hope. As we unite in harmony and compassion, through the collective healing power of music, comedy and entertainment, we can bring restoration and inspire the world that our brighter days are ahead,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET will serve as Executive Producer for the “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” broadcast special along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
To support these initiatives, BET has established a COVID-19 relief fund in partnership with United Way Worldwide to support African Americans that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way, the largest private funder of human services in the U.S., has a presence in 95% of communities across the country, and has, for more than 130 years, mobilized the caring power of the community to advance the common good. United Way is unparalleled in its power to convene local partners, providers and resources to address the needs of vulnerable communities on the ground.
Financial donations from the joint fund will allow United Way to disburse resources to local organizations under United Ways in New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Detroit and Chicago, regions that have been most impacted by this crisis. There are long-term plans to expand these resources to other markets going forward. In particular, United Way will be supporting families in crisis who are experiencing food insecurity and are in need of emergency assistance.
“United Way is deeply embedded in communities across our country, and our ‘local-ness’ means we know the needs on the ground and how to get the right kind of help to those who need it most,” said Stan Little, Chief Experience Officer of United Way. “We look forward to partnering with BET to bring much-needed relief and long-term recovery to already vulnerable communities that are being hit especially hard because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
BET is also providing resources and content on COVID-19 across multiple digital platforms including a four-part virtual town hall series in partnership with the NAACP. On Wednesday, April 8, at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT, “Unmasked: A COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Series Powered by NAACP & BET” will stream on NAACP.org and focus on how the pandemic is affecting African Americans and what steps the community can take to build an action plan for positive change. The first town hall will focus on the health, emotional, economic toll, congressional response and how activists can apply pressure to ensure legislation is equitable. Additionally, BET.com is reporting daily on what the African American community needs to know about COVID-19, and how it is impacting our lives.
You can donate to the fund beginning Friday, April 10th. More information on BET’s partnership with UWW and additional extensions of our relief efforts are forthcoming. For further details, please visit BET.com.
April 17, 2020 UPDATE
Anthony Anderson (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for VH1)
Today BET announces comedian and actor Anthony Anderson as the fourth host of the upcoming “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” special. Anderson joins stars Kelly Rowland, Terrence J, and Regina Hall as host for the two-hour special broadcast. “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” is set to air on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 8 PM EST.
Performances include Alicia Keys with a special tribute to New York City, and a Gospel moment with Kirk Franklin featuring Fantasia, Jonathan McReynolds, Kelly Price, Tasha Cobbs, Le’Andria Johnson, and Melvin Crispell III. Exclusive performances by John Legend, Usher, Jhene Aiko, Chloe X Halle, CeeLo Green, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Swae Lee, Tyrese Gibson, Buju Banton, DJ D-Nice, SiR, D Smoke, and Charlie Wilson.
Additional celebrity guest appearances will include Tiffany Haddish, Idris Elba, Ciara, Don Cheadle, Mike Epps, Deon Cole, Angela Rye, Dr. Rheeda Walker, Charlamagne Tha God, Symone D. Sanders, DJ Khaled andChance The Rapper.
Expanding the reach of the telecast, BET will simulcast the special across BET and BET Her domestically, as well as their channels internationally bringing awareness to over 90 million homes. Additionally, BET will join forces with Bounce to help expand the audience to include free, over-the-air broadcast viewers with Bounce simulcasting “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort.”
About BET
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
About United Way
United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 9.8 million donors worldwide and $4.7 billion raised every year, United Way is the world’s largest privately funded nonprofit. We’re engaged in 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org. Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited.
About NAACP
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at naacp.org.
The following is a press release from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences:
Michael Douglas at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 6, 2019. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
Viola Davis at the 90th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. (Photo Craig Sjodin/ABC)
Jimmy Kimmel at the 90th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)
The Television Academy and Emmy Awards telecast producers Don Mischer Productions and Done+Dusted announced the first group of talent set to present the iconic Emmy statuettes at the 71st Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 22.
The presenters include:
Angela Bassett* (9-1-1 and The Flood)
Stephen Colbert* (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
Viola Davis* (How to Get Away with Murder)
Michael Douglas* (The Kominsky Method)
Taraji P. Henson (Empire)
Terrence Howard (Empire)
Jimmy Kimmel* (Jimmy Kimmel Live)
Peter Krause (9-1-1)
Seth Meyers* (Late Night With Seth Meyers and Documentary Now!)
Billy Porter* (Pose)
Naomi Watts (The Loudest Voice)
Zendaya (Euphoria)
The cast of Game of Thrones: Alfie Allen*, Gwendoline Christie*, Emilia Clarke*, Peter Dinklage*, Kit Harington*, Lena Headey*, Sophie Turner*, Carice van Houten*, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau*, and Maisie Williams*
September 17, 2019 UPDATE:
More presenters have been announced for the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards:
Anthony Anderson* (black-ish)
Ike Barinholtz (Bless the Harts)
Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood)
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood)
Bill Hader* (Barry)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus* (VEEP)
Cast of VEEP: Anna Chlumsky, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Clea DuVall, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Sarah Sutherland, Matt Walsh
Gwyneth Paltrow (The Politician)
Amy Poehler* (Duncanville and Russian Doll)
Maya Rudolph (Bless the Harts and The Good Place)
RuPaul* (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
Lilly Singh (A Little Late with Lilly Singh)
Ben Stiller* (Escape at Dannemora)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge* (Fleabag)
Cast of Keeping Up with the Kardashians: Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner
The 71st Emmy Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22, (8:00-11:00 PM ET/5:00-8:00 PM PT) on FOX.
For more information, please visit Emmys.com. Find out Where to Watch.
Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther” (Photo courtesy of Disney/Marvel Studios)
With eight prizes, the blockbuster superhero film “Black Panther” was the top winner for the 50th annual NAACP Image Awards.”Black Panther” was the leading contender going in the ceremony, by having 12 nominations. The biggest awards were presented in a live ceremony on TV One at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 30, 2019. The majority of the show’s prizes were given during a NAACP Image Awards non-televised dinner in Los Angeles on March 29, 2019. Anthony Anderson hosted the televised NAACP Image Awards ceremony for the sixth consecutive year. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People produces the awards, which are give to those are outstanding representations for people of color in entertainment. Eligible nominations are for entertainment that was released or premiered in 2018.
The awards for “Black Panther” were for Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (Chadwick Boseman), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Michael B. Jordan) and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture (Letitia Wright).
Beyoncé was named Entertainer of the Year, while her husband Jay-Z received the President’s Award, a non-competitive category. In other non-competitive categories, politician Maxine Waters received the Chairman Award, while singer/songwriter Ne-Yo received the Black & Positively Golden Music Award.
In the TV categories, the sitcom “Black-ish” reigned supreme, winning five of out its nine nominations: Outstanding Comedy Series; Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (Anthony Anderson); Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (Tracee Ellis Ross); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Marcus Scribner); Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Marsai Martin).
Actor/comedian Chris Rock, who presented the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, poked fun at “Empire” co-star Jussie Smollett and the controversy over Smollett’s claim that he was physically attacked by two homophobic racists in Chicago on January 29, 2019. It’s a claim that led to Smollett being arrested and charged on March 8 with felony disorderly conduct after police and Chicago prosecutors said that Smollett staged the attack and lied to the police about it. The charges were dropped on March 26.
Rock said on stage: “They said no Jussie Smollett jokes. Yeah, I know, I know. What a waste of light skin. You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be outta here! I would be fucking running Hollywood! What the hell was he thinking? Jussie … you ain’t getting no respect from me.”
Smollett and the other cast members from “Empire” did not attend the ceremony or the pre-ceremony dinner. Smollett was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, but lost to Jesse Williams of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson of “Empire” won the prize for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
In the recording categories, Ella Mai won the most awards (three): Outstanding New Artist; Outstanding Song – Contemporary (for “Boo’d Up”); and Outstanding Album (for “Ella Mai”).
Here is the complete list of winners nominations for the NAACP Image Awards:
*=winner
SPECIAL AWARDS
Chairman’s Award: Maxine Waters
President’s Award: Jay-Z
Vanguard Award: Tom Joyner
Black & Positively Golden Music Award: Ne-Yo
Entertainer of the Year
Beyoncé*
Chadwick Boseman
LeBron James
Regina King
Ryan Coogler
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
Michael B. Jordan – Creed II (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)
Denzel Washington – The Equalizer 2 (Columbia Pictures)
John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
Stephan James – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Amandla Stenberg – The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)*
Constance Wu – Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures)
KiKi Layne – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Sanaa Lathan – Nappily Ever After (Marc Platt Production/Badabing Pictures Production for Netflix)
Viola Davis – Widows (20th Century Fox)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Brian Tyree Henry – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Mahershala Ali – Green Book (Universal Pictures, Participant Media, DreamWorks) Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
Russell Hornsby – The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)
Winston Duke – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Danai Gurira – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
Letitia Wright – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)
Lupita Nyong’o – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)
Regina Hall – The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)
Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features) If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)*
Nappily Ever After (Marc Platt Production/Badabing Pictures Production for Netflix)
Sorry to Bother You (Annapurna Pictures)
Traffik (Codeblack Films/Lionsgate Entertainment)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Storm Reid – A Wrinkle in Time (Walt Disney Studios) Letitia Wright – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
Winston Duke – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)
John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
KiKi Layne – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)
Widows (20th Century Fox)
Outstanding Motion Picture
Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures)
If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
Atlanta (FX Networks) Black-ish (ABC)*
Dear White People (Netflix)
Grown-ish (Freeform)
Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish (ABC)*
Cedric the Entertainer, The Neighborhood (CBS)
Donald Glover, Atlanta (FX Networks)
Dwayne Johnson, Ballers (HBO)
Tracy Morgan, The Last O.G. (TBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Danielle Brooks, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Issa Rae, Insecure (HBO)
Logan Browning, Dear White People (Netflix) Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish (ABC)*
Yara Shahidi, Grown-ish (Freeform)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jay Ellis, Insecure (HBO)
John David Washington, Ballers (HBO)
Laurence Fishburne, Black-ish (ABC) Marcus Scribner, Black-ish (ABC)*
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Essence Atkins, Marlon (NBC) Marsai Martin, Black-ish (ABC)*
Natasha Rothwell, Insecure (HBO)
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Yvonne Orji, Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series
How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) Power (Starz)*
Queen Sugar (OWN)
The Chi (Showtime)
This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Mitchell, The Chi (Showtime)
Keith David, Greenleaf (OWN)
Kofi Siriboe, Queen Sugar (OWN) Omari Hardwick, Power (Starz)*
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Alfre Woodard, Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix)
Naturi Naughton, Power (Starz)
Rutina Wesley, Queen Sugar (OWN) Taraji P. Henson, Empire (FOX)*
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jesse Williams, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)*
Joe Morton, Scandal (ABC)
Jussie Smollett, Empire (FOX)
Romany Malco, A Million Little Things (ABC)
Wendell Pierce, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Prime Video)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
CCH Pounder, NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) Lynn Whitfield, Greenleaf (OWN)*
Sanaa Lathan, The Affair (Showtime)
Susan Kelechi Watson, This Is Us (NBC)
Thandie Newton, Westworld (HBO)
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series
Erika Alexander – Black Lightning – Book of Consequences: Chapter Three: Master Lowery (CW)
Kendrick Lamar – Power – Happy Birthday (Starz) Kerry Washington – How to Get Away With Murder – Lahey v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (ABC)*
Loretta Devine – Love Is – Rose (Going Home) (OWN)
Tisha Campbell-Martin – Empire – Without Apology (Fox)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Behind the Movement (TV One)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
Seven Seconds (Netflix) The Bobby Brown Story (BET)*
The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
John Legend, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC) Michael B. Jordan, Fahrenheit 451 (HBO)*
Russell Hornsby, Seven Seconds (Netflix)
Woody McClain, The Bobby Brown Story (BET)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Anna Deavere Smith, Notes From the Field (HBO)
Gabrielle Dennis, The Bobby Brown Story (BET)
Jeanté Godlock, The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar (Lifetime) Regina King, Seven Seconds (Netflix)*
Toni Braxton, Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story (Lifetime)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
A Thousand Words With Michelle Obama (BET)
AM Joy (MSNBC)
Angela Rye’s State of the Union (BET) Oprah Winfrey Presents: Becoming Michelle Obama (OWN)*
Unsung (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
ESPN’s First Take (ESPN)
Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) The Real (Syndicated)*
The View (ABC)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
Iyanla: Fix My Life (OWN)*
Lip Sync Battle (Paramount Network)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Shark Tank (ABC)
The Voice (NBC)
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
2 Dope Queens (HBO) Black Girls Rock! (BET)*
Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia (Netflix)
Outstanding Children’s Program
Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior)*
Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest (Disney XD)
Motown Magic (Netflix)
Sesame Street (HBO)
Top Chef Junior (Universal Kids)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Alex R. Hibbert – The Chi (Showtime)
Lonnie Chavis -This Is Us (NBC)
Lyric Ross – This Is Us (NBC) Marsai Martin – Black-ish (ABC)*
Miles Brown – Black-ish (ABC)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield Norris, Willow Smith – Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)*
Joy Reid – AM Joy (MSNBC)
LeBron James – The Shop (HBO)
Lester Holt – NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (NBC)
Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Iyanla Vanzant – Iyanla: Fix My Life (OWN)
LL Cool J – Lip Sync Battle (Paramount Network)
Queen Latifah – Black Girls Rock (BET)
RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Steve Harvey – Family Feud (Syndication)*
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
Amazing Grace (Sundial Pictures/Neon)*
Making The Five Heartbeats (Green Lighthouse)
Quincy (Netflix)
RBG (CNN)
Whitney (Roadside Attractions/Miramax)
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
Hope & Fury: MLK, The Movement and the Media (NBC)
King in the Wilderness (HBO) Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (HBO)*
Shut Up & Dribble (Showtime)
Time For Ilhan (Fuse)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Justin Simien – Dear White People – Chapter 1 (Netflix)
Marquita J. Robinson – GLOW – Work the Leg (Netflix)
Peter H. Saji – Black-ish – Purple Rain (ABC)
Regina Y. Hicks – Insecure – High-Like (HBO) Trevor Noah , Steve Budow, David Kibuuka, Zhubin Parang, Dan Amira, Lauren Sarver Means, Mr. Daniel Radosh, David Angelo, Devin Trey Delliquanti, Zachary DiLanzo – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – 23087 Alex Wagner (Comedy Central)*
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Janine Sherman Barrois – Claws – Cracker Casserole (TNT) Kay Oyegun – This Is Us – This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life (NBC)*
Lena Waithe – The Chi – Pilot (Showtime)
Patrick Joseph Charles – Black Lightning – Sins of the Father: The Book of Redemption (The CW/Netflix)
Lena Waithe, Dime Davis, – The Chi – The Whistle (Showtime)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Anna Deavere Smith – Notes From the Field (HBO)
J. David Shanks – Seven Seconds: Matters of Life and Death (Netflix)
Katrina M. O’Gilvie – Behind the Movement (TV One)
Ramin Bahrani, Amir Naderi – Fahrenheit 451 (HBO) Shalisha Francis – Seven Seconds: Of Gods and Men (Netflix)*
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Boots Riley – Sorry To Bother You (Annapurna Pictures)
Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
Peter Chiarelli, Adele Lim – Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures) Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Donald Glover – Atlanta – FUBU (FX Networks)*
Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin – Chapter Seventy-Four (CW)
Hiro Murai – Atlanta – Teddy Perkins (FX Networks)
Ken Whittingham – Atypical – “Ernest Shackleton’s Rules for Survival” (Netflix)
Millicent Shelton – Insecure – High-Like (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Ayoka Chenzira – Queen Sugar – Here Beside the River (OWN) Deborah Ann Chow – Better Call Saul – Something Stupid (AMC)*
Dee Rees – Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams – Kill All Others (Prime Video)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield – Marvel’s Luke Cage – I Get Physical (Netflix)
Zetna Fuentes – How to Get Away With Murder – Lahey v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (ABC)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Ernest Dickerson – Seven Seconds: Until It Do (Netflix)
Ramin Bahrani – Fahrenheit 451 (HBO)
Tanya Hamilton – Seven Seconds: That What Follows (Netflix) Tracy Heather Strain – Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart (PBS)*
Victoria Mahoney – Seven Seconds: Witness for the Prosecution (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features)
Steve McQueen – Widows (20th Century Fox) Ryan Coogler – Black Panther (Marvel Studios)*
Alan Hicks, Rashida Jones – Quincy (A Le Train Train\Bob’s Your Uncle\Tribeca Production for Netflix)
ANIMATED/CGI
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)
Issa Rae – Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
Laya Deleon Hayes – Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior)
Mahershala Ali – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation in association with Marvel) Samuel L. Jackson – Incredibles 2 (Disney and Pixar Animation Studios)*
Shameik Moore – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation in association with Marvel)
RECORDING
Outstanding New Artist
Ella Mai (10 Summers/Interscope Records)*
Jade Novah (EMPIRE)
Koryn Hawthorne (RCA Inspiration)
Omar Wilson (BSE Recordings)
Tory Lanez (Mad Love/Interscope Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)*
Childish Gambino (RCA Records)
John Legend (Columbia Records)
MAJOR. (BOE/Empire)
Raheem DeVaughn (BMG)
Outstanding Female Artist
Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records)
Ella Mai (10 Summers/Interscope Records) H.E.R. (RCA Records)*
Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records)
Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“A Good Night” – John Legend featuring BloodPop (Columbia Records) “All the Stars” – Black Panther – Kendrick Lamar, SZA (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope Records)*
“Could’ve Been” – H.E.R., Bryson Tiller (RCA Records)
“Finesse (Remix)” – Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
“Everything Is Love” – The Carters (Roc Nation)
Outstanding Jazz Album
Facing Dragons – Christian Sands (Mack Avenue)
Hollywood Africans – Jon Batiste (Verve)
RISE! – Ben Tankard feat. Marion Meadows, Kirk Whalum, Paul Jackson Jr. (Ben-Jamin’ Universal Music) The Story of Jaz – Jazmin Ghent feat. Jeff Lorber, James P. Lloyd, Kim Scott, Philippe Saisse (Jazmin Ghent Music)*
Waiting for the Sunrise – Camille Thurman (Chesky Records)
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)
Heart. Passion. Pursuit. Live at Passion City Church – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)
Hiding Place – Tori Kelly (Capitol Records)
Make Room – Jonathan McReynolds (Entertainment One)
One Nation Under God – Jekalyn Carr (LMG) Unstoppable – Koryn Hawthorne (RCA Inspirational)*
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
Apes**t – The Carters (Roc Nation)
Could’ve Been – H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records)
Finesse (Remix) – Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B (Atlantic Records) This Is America – Childish Gambino (RCA Records)*
All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar, SZA (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
“Amen” – Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records)
“Better With You In It” – MAJOR. (BOE/Empire)
“Beyond” – Leon Bridges (Columbia Records) “Long as I Live” – Toni Braxton (Def Jam Recordings)*
“Never Alone” – Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin (Capitol Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“A Good Night” – John Legend featuring BloodPop (Columbia Records)
“As I Am” – H.E.R. (RCA Records) “Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai (10 Summers/Interscope Records)*
“Finesse (Remix)” – Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
“This Is America” – Childish Gambino (RCA Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation
“Black Panther The Album: Music From and Inspired By” – Kendrick Lamar, SZA featuring 2Chainz, ScHoolboy Q, Saudi, Khalid, Swae Lee, Vince Staples, Yugen Blakrok, SOB x RBE, Jorja Smith, Anderson Paak, Ab Soul, Reason, Zacari, Babes Wudumo, Sjava, Travis Scott (Interscope Records)*
“Greenleaf, Season 3 (Music from the Original TV series)” – Various Artists (Lions Gate Entertainment)
“Marvel’s Luke Cage Season Two” – Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Mondo Music)
“Insecure – Music From the HBO Original Series, Season 3” – Various Artists (RCA Records)
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From & Inspired by the Motion Picture” – Various Artists (Republic Records)
Outstanding Album
“Dirty Computer” – Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records) “Ella Mai” – Ella Mai (10 Summers/Interscope Records)*
“Even More” – MAJOR. (BOE/Empire)
“Everything Is Love” – The Carters (Roc Nation)
“I Used to Know Her: The Prelude” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
LITERARY
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“An American Marriage” – Tayari Jones (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)*
“Better Late Than Never” – Kimberla Lawson Roby (Grand Central Publishing)
“Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther? Prose Novel” – Jesse James Holland Jr (Titan Books)
“Envy” – Victoria Christopher Murray (Touchstone)
“They Come in All Colors: A Novel” – Malcolm Hansen (Atria Books)
“Black Girls Rock! Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth” – Beverly Bond (37 Ink, A Division of Atria Books)
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” – Donna Brazile (Author), Yolanda Caraway (Author), Leah Daughtry (Author), Minyon Moore (Author), Veronica Chambers (With), (St. Martin’s Press)*
“May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem” – Imani Perry (University of North Carolina Press)
“The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row” – Anthony Ray Hinton (Author), Lara Love Hardin (With), (St. Martin’s Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“Heads of the Colored People: Stories” – Nafissa Thompson-Spires (37 Ink, A Division of Atria Books)
“Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement” – Janet Dewart Bell (The New Press)
“Lucile H. Bluford and the Kansas City Call: Activist Voice for Social Justice” – Dr. Sheila D. Brooks (Author), Clinton C. Wilson II (Author), (Rowman & Littlefield)
“Small Country: A Novel” – Gaël Faye (Hogarth)
“Us Against the World: Our Secrets to Love, Marriage, and Family” – David Mann (Author), Tamela Mann (Author), Shaun Saunders (With), (W Publishing)*
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke” – Jeffrey C. Stewart (Oxford University Press)
“The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela” – Nelson Mandela (Author), Sahm Venter (Editor) (Liveright Publishing)
“Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist” – Franchesa Ramsey (Grand Central Publishing)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration” – Carla Hall (Author) Genevive Ko (With) (Harper Wave)
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” – Donna Brazile (Author), Yolanda Caraway (Author), Leah Daughtry (Author), Minyon Moore (Author), Veronica Chambers (With), (St. Martin’s Press)
“Poised for Excellence: Fundamental Principles of Effective Leadership in the Boardroom and Beyond” – Karima Mariam-Arthur (Palgrave Macmillan)
“Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life” – Daymond John (Author), Daniel Paisner (With), (Currency)*
“Confessions of a Barefaced Woman” – Allison Elaine Joseph (Red Hen Press)
“Ghost, Like a Place” – Iain Haley Pollock (Alice James Books)
“Refuse” – Julian Randall (University of Pittsburgh Press) “Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart” – Alice Walker (Author) (37 Ink/Atria Books)*
“The Gospel According to Wild Indigo” – Cyrus Cassells (Crab Orchard Review & Southern Illinois University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, A Monumental American Man – Tonya Bolden (Abrams For Young Readers) Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race – Margot Lee Shetterly (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator), (Harper)*
I Can Be Anything! Don’t Tell Me I Can’t – Diane Dillon (The Blue Sky Press)
The 5 O’Clock Band – Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews (Author), Bryan Collier (Illustrator), (Abrams For Young Readers)
The Word Collector – Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard Books)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“A Very Large Expanse of Sea” – Tahereh Mafi (Harper)
“Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin” – James L. Swanson (Scholastic Press) “Harbor Me” – Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy M. Paulsen)*
“The Journey of Little Charlie” – Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic Press)
“We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding our Racial Divide” – Carol Anderson (Author), Tonya Bolden (With), (Bloomsbury YA)
Jennifer Lawrence at a photo call for at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images)
Jack Black at a photo call for “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on March 27, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
Taraji P. Henson at the Fox All-Star party at Wollman Rink in New York City on May 15, 2017. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Fox)
The following is a press release from the Hollywood Walk of Fame:
A new group of entertainment professionals in the categories of Motion Pictures, Television, Live Theatre/Live Performance, Radio and Recording have been selected to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was announced today, Thursday, June 22, 2017 by the Walk of Fame Selection Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. These honorees were chosen from among hundreds of nominations to the committee at a meeting held in June and ratified by the Hollywood Chamber’s Board of Directors. Television Producer and Walk of Famer Vin Di Bona, Chair of the Walk of Fame Selection Committee for 2017, announced the new honorees with Leron Gubler, President & CEO for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who is also the emcee of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.
The new selections were revealed to the world via live stream exclusively on the official website www.walkoffame.com. The live stream began at 2:15 p.m. PDT and was held at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce offices.
“The Walk of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce our newest honorees to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Committee looked carefully at each nominee and we feel that we have selected an eclectic group of talent that will appeal to the tastes of many fans around the world,” said Di Bona. “As a Walk of Famer myself, I know these honorees will remember the dedication of their stars with great memories and will be proud that they are part of Hollywood’s history now and forever. We look forward to their big day as the Walk of Fame Class of 2018 becomes cemented one by one on the most famous sidewalk in the world!”
The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2018 are:
In the category of MOTION PICTURES: Jack Black, Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Goldblum, F. Gary Gray, Mark Hamill, Jennifer Lawrence, Gina Lollobrigida, Minnie Mouse, Nick Nolte and Zoe Saldana
In the category of TELEVISION: Anthony Anderson, Gillian Anderson, Lynda Carter, Simon Cowell, RuPaul Charles, Taraji P. Henson, Eric McCormack, Ryan Murphy, Niecy Nash, Mandy Patinkin, Shonda Rhimes, and posthumous Steve Irwin
In the category of RECORDING: Mary J. Blige, Sir Richard Branson, Petula Clark, Harry Connick, Jr., Ice T, Snoop Dogg, Carrie Underwood and “Weird Al” Yankovic
In the category of RADIO: Steve Jones
In the category of LIVE THEATRE/LIVE PERFORMANCE: Charles Aznavour, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and posthumous Bernie Mac
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and its Walk of Fame Selection Committee congratulate all the honorees. Dates have not been scheduled for these star ceremonies. Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before they expire. Upcoming star ceremonies are usually announced ten days prior to dedication on the official website www.walkoffame.com.
