Following weeks of speculation, it is finally confirmed – ’Scandal’ will be bowing out after its 7th season.

The news was broken at ahead of the ABC Upfronts moments ago by the network’s Entertainment President Channing Dungey.

Speaking to congregated press, he said:

“Shonda has decided the series needs to come to a close, and while this is definitely a bittersweet moment for all of us gladiators, I have no doubt what she has in store for the final season will be as powerful as what’s come before, and we will be sure to honor that every step of the way.”

Rhimes, creator and executive producer of the politic drama, chimed in adding:

“Deciding how to end a show is easy. Deciding when to finish is quite simple when the end date is years away. But actually going through with it? Actually standing up to say: ‘This is it?’ Not so much. So, next year we are going all out. Leaving nothing on the table. Creating this world in celebration. We are going to handle the end the way we like to handle the important things in our ‘Scandal’ family: all together, white hats on, gladiators running full speed over a cliff.” [Source]

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As a consistent ratings performer, confirmation of the show’s end will come as a blow to its millions of fans. And while we count ourselves among that mass, we do feel ’Scandal’ has reached a respectable ceiling as far as believability goes. Hence, it’s best for it to go out on a high rather than linger on and drag.

Kudos to Kerry Washington, the cast, crew, writers, and all involved. It’s been a hell of a ride.

Your thoughts?

Fifth Harmony‘s Normani Kordei continues to crush the competition on the current season of ‘Dancing With The Stars.’

Competing alongside Val Chmerkovskiy, the 20-year-old has been amassing major momentum with her flaw-free showings.

And week 9 was no different.

Tackling the Viennese Waltz (to Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’ hit ‘Desperado’) and a 2nd Jazz number, Kordei earned high scores – the latter of which being the top score.

Watch ‘Mani werk it all the way out below…

She came, she slayed, she conquered.

Word on the curb is that new 5H material is due in a matter of weeks, so this is all lining up rather handsomely.

Your thoughts?

In 2010, the attorney Phaedra Parks waltzed into America’s homes by way of the hit series ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’

Shortly after, the esteemed mother of two found herself in hot water when a former friend named Angela Stanton penned a book detailing what she claims was criminal activity engaged in by Parks, her husband Apollo Nida and Nida‘s brother.

Fortunately for Parks, it wasn’t long before the book and the interviews launched to support it were buried beneath Park’s rising star and on-camera storylines served up by she and her fellow ‘Housewives.’

Alas, her feuding with her co-star Kandi Burruss and the firestorm it has created has prompted viewers to take a fresh look into Stanton’s allegations.

What a new generation of ‘Housewives’ viewers has discovered?

Angela Stanton explaining EXACTLY what kind of car stealing scheme she, Apollo and Phaedra were involved in. THIS. IS. INSANE!!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/ltbMjAxoty

— Mikey Alexander (@Sublime00) May 15, 2017

Parks has always denied these allegations. Alas, despite blasting the show’s decision to overlook tall tales told by her nemesis Kenya Moore, fans of the series took to Twitter to share remarks like the ones below…

Watch that Angela Stanton interview from years ago and boy oh boy! That Phaedra is one smooth criminal

— Uwa (@its_flankiee) May 10, 2017

Just finished the reunion ?? what’s this book talkin bout ?? Phaedra look hella bad https://t.co/3iOUy6oXNv

— Solay (@cirquesolay) May 9, 2017

@cirquesolay her past criminal activities with this chick Angela who ended up being locked up for their ish & Phaedra cut her off..so she wrote this book

— Auntie Simone (@SimoneRaiis) May 9, 2017

Phaedra is so devious. I bet she was the ringleader behind all of Apollo’s criminal activity.

— Laura (@Ljjoyce15) May 8, 2017

@Kandi @Cotyhh Phaedra is the devil. She has profited from criminal activity and she has evaded conviction. LOCK HER UP

— Louise Hicks (@lillyrhicks) May 8, 2017

Your thoughts?

After doing her part to save ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ from complete ratings ruin, the influencer Kylie Jenner steps into her own light this year with the birth of her own TV series ‘Life of Kylie.’

In it, fans are given access into the celebrity’s world as she builds an empire fuelled by the fame of her older sister Kim Kardashian, father Caitlyn Jenner and mother Kris Jenner.

E! ordered eight episodes from the Bunim/Murray production outfit which built the series with help from Ryan Seacrest Productions.

Waiting below? A first look delivered by NBC during its recent upfront presentation in New York City.

Keep it locked on TGJ for ‘Kylie’s release date.

#NowPlaying: Monica – Teen People Interview.

Will you be watching?

Aaron Hernandez, the athlete who murdered Odin Llyod, stunned the world when he committed suicide during time as an inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.

Tonight, as his family faces claim the murder and suicide were ignited by his supposed desire to conceal his alleged (and potentially baseless) dalliances with men, his fiancee’ will make her to Dr. Phil to bare all.

What she shared may surprise you.

He was very positive, so excited to come home. I spoke to him the night before and he was so, “Daddy’s going to be home,” and “I can’t wait to sleep in the bed with you guys, and I can’t wait to just hold you and love you.” There was no indication at all of such events.

‘I remember him saying “Babe I’ve got to go, they’re shutting the doors” and I honestly don’t think we said I love you to each other and that was it.

I just know that the feedback I was getting from our last talk had nothing to do with any suicidal thoughts.

I felt like we were looking so bright. We were going up a ladder to a positive direction.

Catch the interview in full when it airs in two parts on Monday and Tuesday.

Your thoughts?

Jason Blum, one of the minds behind the hit movie ‘Get Out‘ has teamed up with the charismatic creative Dee Rees to create a lesbian horror movie inspired by the release.

In a New York Times-penned piece named  ‘The Scarily Profitable Hits of Jason Blum‘, the publication reveals:

Rees, it emerged, was a serious horror fan. She told Blum about two recent movies that she especially admired, “Hush” and “Creep,” and Blum said that as it happened they were also Blumhouse projects. Rees said she had an idea for her own low-budget horror picture — one location, tiny cast — set in a small town not unlike the one where she has lived for the last year. Blum listened carefully. “You’ve got me and my wife, two black lesbians, and when we first moved in, we fought every day over all these little things: ‘Why is this over there? Did you move that?’ ”

A few weeks after Blum met Rees, I called her to see if anything had come of their impromptu pitch meeting. Something had, Rees said. They’d met for lunch and talked about a deal. She told me what was most surprising wasn’t that she was suddenly developing a horror movie centred on the domestic lives of black lesbians in rural America but that Blum had followed up at all. “I can’t tell you how rare it is that people mean what they say in this business,” she said. “He’s just letting me make the best possible version of what I want to make.”

The creatives are yet to unlock details on the black lesbian horror project set in rural America but Rees, who is to thank for the movie ‘Mudbound‘, did say this about its plot.

Maybe it was a ghost. Or maybe it was some other force — like us not wanting to be there or fitting in. 

 
Unfamiliar with Rees?
Watch the interview below…

Your thoughts?

Katy Perry is reportedly in advanced talks to join the revived ‘American Idol.’

According to TMZ, the ‘Bon Appétit’ belter is “very interested” in a judging role on ABC‘s incarnation of the singing show. So much so that she’s said to be willing to map out her upcoming tour around Idol’s taping schedule.

The only (major) detail being hashed out presently is money.

Although, with ABC losing out to NBC‘s no holds barred approach to snagging talent they were interested in (see: both Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson joining ‘The Voice’), Perry appears to be in a great position at the negotiation table.

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This actually makes an abundance of sense.

For Katy, Idol – regardless of the naysayers – will command an audience sizeable enough to be beneficial to her career. It’ll also line her pockets handsomely at a time when it’s uncertain what the returns would be from her music and touring efforts (see: current underperformance).

Meanwhile, for the show, Perry lends a heightened degree of star-power right out of the gate.

Make…it…happen!

Your thoughts?

Hankering for a new Shonda Rhimes legal drama?

You’re in luck!

Soaring towards ABC as part of its 2017/2018 is ‘For the People’, a ‘Law & Order’ style series packed with scandal, murder, crime, corruption, lies, and deception.

You’d like to see a teaser?

Press play…

A premiere date for the series, which follows the lives of new lawyers battling the aforementioned evils within the New York City judicial system, is yet to be set.

Want more from Shondaland?

Click here to learn about ‘Scandal’s forthcoming final season and here for details on its sister series ‘How To Get Away with Murder’.

Your thoughts?

It’s been two years since Mo’Nique‘s “blackball” drama hit headlines.

For those that need a refresher, the actress went public with claims that she was blacklisted in Hollywood after butting heads with director Lee Daniels.

At the time, both publicly clashed over the validity of their accounts with little resolve taking place thereafter.

During a comedy gig last night, the Oscar winner re-ignited the flames by taking direct aim at Daniels as well Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey.

See what we mean below. Be warned though, expletives feature…

A post shared by yeahimfamous (@yeahimfamous) on May 13, 2017 at 6:27pm PDT

Sigh.

Here at TGJ we have already expressed our varying views on the matter, but one thing that is certain is that candidness in the manner she expressed above definitely comes at a price. A hefty one.

Your thoughts?

All roads lead to June 25th for the hugely anticipated return of STARZ hit original series, ‘Power.’

Kicking off its season 4 with a must-see bang, the Courtney A. Kemp-created show’s comeback will pick up exactly where season 3’s highly rated cliffhanger ended with James “Ghost” Patrick (Omari Hardwick), Angela Valdes, Tommy, and the rest of the gang.

Curious to see how the show will launch episode 1 of its 10-episode fourth season? Click below to watch:

(more…)

Is Mariah Carey returning to the talent show arena as a judge?

According to reports from the British press, the answer could very well be yes.

Several sources claim the former vocal wonder is in talks to join judging panel of The X Factor UK. 

If indeed true, the role would see Mimi star alongside Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh on the ITV1 hit. The 47-year-old would allegedly be replacing Nicole Scherzinger who is reportedly in contention for a role in the movie adaptation of ‘Wicked.’

When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the show offered the following in regard to Mimi:

“No formal decision has yet been made regarding the full judging panel for The X Factor 2017.”

The show wouldn’t be Mariah’s first foray into the realm of reality singing competitions. After all, who could forget the star’s ill-fated turn on ‘American Idol’ with Nicki Minaj?

As for the validity of her ‘X Factor’ recruitment? We’re skeptical. She commanded a colossal fee for American Idol, something ‘X Factor’ – in a smaller market – wouldn’t be able to match.

Still, Mimi is full of surprises these days, is on her business hustle proper, and could do with the show as a promotional platform. So who knows.

Your thoughts?

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to celebrate TV and cinema’s brightest moments.

Today, almost twenty years after its arrival, we revisit the stellar African-American movie ‘Eve’s Bayou‘.

In it, Jurnee Smollett, Samuel L. Jackson, Meagan Good, Diahann Carroll and Lynn Whitfield pull viewers through a maze of magic, memory and murder to tell the story of a young girl who places a curse on her father when she discovers his involvement in something sinister.

However, all may not be as it seems.

‘Eve’s Bayou’ below…

The movie stood tall as the directorial debut of the director Kasi Lemmons and earned $14 million at the box office following its release on November 7th 1997.

The New York Times had this to say about it, and Jackson’s performance, following its release:

Every element of the film — from the turbulent, stormy performances to the rich cinematography (which includes black-and-white computer-enhanced dream sequences) to the setting itself, in which the thick layers of hanging moss over muddy water seem to drip with sexual intrigue and secrecy — merges to create an atmosphere of extraordinary erotic tension and anxiety.

 

Mr. Jackson has never played a character quite this avid. And in a performance that requires him to infuse the role of perfect father and dream lover with a demonic charge, Mr. Jackson makes Louis at once irresistibly lovable and slightly terrifying.

Your thoughts?