Freeform (ABC Family) Announces Nicki Minaj Comedy Stars; Tiffani Thiessen Returns with Cooking Channel Series

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.

Dinner at Tiffani's

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

Wednesday, November 20

The Goldbergs - "Angst-Giving" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Even though Beverly’s patience with Pop Pop is put to the test due to his endless Thanksgiving demands, she is able to put aside her own feelings to help heal the longstanding rift between Murray and Pop Pop. Meanwhile, Barry and Erica are ready to return home for the holiday, but Uncle Marvin accidentally drives them to Pittsburgh. Marvin attempts to make it right not knowing if they will make it to Jenkintown in time to celebrate the holiday. Judd Hirsch and Dan Fogler return to guest star as Pop Pop and Uncle Marvin.

Schooled - "Friendsgiving" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CB celebrates Thanksgiving by having all of William Penn rally around him after a cooking incident at his house, while the alumni faculty football game brings out the competitive sides of Wilma and Coach Mellor.

Modern Family - "The Last Thanksgiving" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Cameron and Mitchell’s friends mistakenly assume they have split up and have definitely chosen a side; and Haley attempts to cook Thanksgiving dinner as a thank you for Claire and Phil’s support with the twins. Meanwhile, Jay invites Phil and Dylan out to fly his model plane, and Phil thinks this is his chance to reclaim his dignity after their first outing 10 years ago went so wrong.

Single Parents - "Every Thursday Should Be Like This" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Will gets busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner at Douglas’ home, he asks Angie to hang out with Tracy Freeze (guest star Jama Williamson). Angie reluctantly does so, only to realize that Tracy is actually wonderful, except for a secret she’s keeping from Will. Meanwhile, Miggy shows up to Thanksgiving dinner with the kids’ teacher, Ms. Pronstroller (Sarah Yarkin), as his date, and he enlists Douglas’ assistance in helping them form an in-person connection, given all of their previous communication has been via texts, DMs and memes.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "A Woman's Right to Chop" / "Waiting for Big Mo" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Trapped inside Paddy's with a suicidal jumper on the roof, the gang wonders if it should bother intervening; Dennis ponders the reasons of playing laser tag and if the pursuit of a victory is worth the effort.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Wednesday, November 20

Adam Driver (Girls) - Watch Adam on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Michael Rapaport (Awkward/The War at Home) and Tony Rock (Living Biblically/All of Us) - Michael and Tony are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Dax visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Lena Waithe (Master of None) - Lena is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Ed Quinn (One Day at a Time/2 Broke Girls) - Ed visits The Real, do check your local listings.
Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
Maura Tierney (NewsRadio) - Maura talks about The Report on People Now at 12pm.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin talks about OWN's Ambition on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee talks about Knives Out on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Ashley talks about Holiday Hearts on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.