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
Tuesday, June 24
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 23)
Tuesday, June 24
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Catch Tiffany on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory) - Alan appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Frankie Grande (Henry Danger/Danger Force) - Frankie stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth/No Activity/The League) - Jason appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class) and Joel Kim Booster (Loot/Shrill) - Jason and Joel are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Brandy Norwood (Zoe Ever After/The Game/Moesha/Thea) - Brandy and Monica talk about The Boy is Mine Tour on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison talks about M3GAN 2.0 on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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