Monday, December 21, 2015
Freeform (ABC Family) Announces Nicki Minaj Comedy Stars; Tiffani Thiessen Returns with Cooking Channel Series
ABC Family has confirmed the cast for the scripted comedy Nicki. Ariana Neal (Get Hard, Fruitvale Station) will play Nicki, a role inspired by Nicki Minaj in her early years before she became a Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum superstar; Selita Ebanks (Real Husbands of Hollywood) will play the role of Grace, Nicki's mom; Wesley Jonathan (The Soul Man) will play Vincent, Nicki and Jaylen's father; and McCarrie McCausland (Army Wives, The Originals) is cast as Jaylen, Nicki's older brother. Whoopi Goldberg will guest star as Nicki's neighbor, Miss Martha. Minaj is executive producer and will also appear in the show. ABC Family is becoming Freeform on January 12, 2016.
The single-camera comedy is inspired by the story of Minaj and her family's immigration from Trinidad in the early 1990s, her growing up in Queens, New York with her vibrant family, and the personal and musical evolution that lead to her eventual rise to stardom. In October, ABC Family announced a series commitment for the half-hour comedy. Nicki will shoot in Queens this winter with director Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like a Man). Kate Angelo (Sex Tape, Will and Grace, Bernie Mac) penned the pilot and will write and executive-produce the series. Minaj, Aaron Kaplan (Life in Pieces, Kevin From Work), Stella Bulochnikov and Brian Sher (Boss), and Gee Roberson will also serve as executive producers.
Actress Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210, White Collar) returns to Cooking Channel for a second serving of Dinner at Tiffani's, premiering on Wednesday, February 3 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Throughout the 16 half-hour long episodes, Tiffani showcases her culinary talents and entertaining skills for throwing effortless get-togethers for family, friends and former castmates, where every dinner is filled with special guests, entertaining stories, and party-pleasing recipes. From burger bashes to fiesta nights, and from campfire cookouts to farmer's market fresh meals, guests will come for the party, but stay for the food. Tiffani knows that delicious dishes and good company are the main ingredients for the perfect dinner party.
Over the course of the season, her dinner menus include mouthwatering, crowd-pleasing recipes such as Jumbo Crab Cakes and Tartar Sauce, Citrus Marinated Beef Fajitas, and the juiciest Ultimate Lux Burger topped with bacon and Tiffani's special sauce. The list of special guests RSVPing to attend in the new season includes Sasha Alexander, Bill Bellamy, Julie Benz, Dan Bucatinsky, Hilarie Burton, Eric Close, Neal Dodson, Ethan Embry, Jennifer Finnigan, Dave Foley, Daisy Fuentes, Catriona & Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Clare Grant, Seth Green, Bill Horn, Vanessa Lachey, Matthew Lillard, Scout Masterson, Ross Mathews, Tim Meadows, George Newbern, Cheri Oteri, Naomi Priestly, Missi Pyle, Property Brothers Drew & Jonathan Scott, Nicole Sullivan, Bree Turner, Cynthia Watros, Ashley Williams, and Scott Wolf. It is the not-to-be-missed event of the season, so pull up a chair for Dinner at Tiffani's.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, July 23
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "
Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Desperate to stave off a public relations nightmare, the Gang embraces their newfound corporate professionalism to strategically scapegoat one Paddy's employee to fall on the proverbial sword.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 21)
Wednesday, July 23
- Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune guest hosts on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Watch Arnold on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Anthony is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Molly appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Abbott Elementary/Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Keyla and Brandon are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Christopher McDonald (Hacks/Mr. Iglesias/Good Advice/Walter & Emily) - Christopher talks about Happy Gilmore 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling talks about Washington Black on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Stephanie Beatriz (Twisted Metal/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Stephanie talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is playing a round of Behind-the-Scenes and dishing on some of his biggest projects on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina is telling Drew about being single and using dating apps, her daughter turning 21, and filming the last season of The Neighborhood on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max and Tess Sanchez are telling Drew all about how they make their marriage work in an all new Drew Love on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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