Johnson Returns to Bounce; According to Jim Star Starring in Lifetime Film; Remembering Erica Ash of Survivor's Remorse

Friday, August 02, 2024

Johnson Returns to Bounce; According to Jim Star Starring in Lifetime Film; Remembering Erica Ash of Survivor's Remorse

Johnson, Bounce TV's popular dramedy focusing on four life-long best friends with the same last name, returns for an all-new season Saturday nights at 8pm ET / 7pm CT starting August 3 with two new back-to-back episodes. Johnson is a journey of love, self-discovery, and brotherhood, touching on hot-button topics including race, mental health, classism and the ever-evolving relationship dynamics between men and women -- themes that continue to be prominent in the new season ahead.

Johnson is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, as well as Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. The ensemble cast is led by Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Philip Smithey (Murderville, The Rookie), Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley (The Original Kings of Comedy, The Hughleys). LaRay and Jones serve as show-runners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.

Courtney Thorne-Smith and Stella Gregg

Lifetime announces the new original movie, He Slid Into Her DMs. Inspired by a true story, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim) and Stella Gregg (daughter of Clark Gregg, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Trust Me) star in the movie about a teenage social media influencer whose stalker shows up on her doorstep after blocking him online. The movie explores the tragic consequences of how online and social media fame can fuel real-world violence. Alicia Coppola (Writer and director of the award-winning short film And You Are...?, Jericho, Why Women Kill) directs her first feature film with He Slid Into Her DMs, which premieres Saturday, September 28 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime's fall Ripped from the Headlines movie slate.

Erica Ash

Actress and comedian Erica Ash, who starred in the final season of Mad TV and played M-Chuck Calloway in Survivor's Remorse, has died. She died from breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 28. Ms. Ash was only 46.

Ash was a cast member in the first two seasons (2006-2008) of the Logo sketch comedy program The Big Gay Sketch Show. One of her characters included LaTanya, an uncouth, loudmouthed fitness instructor who teaches classes with a "Chicago-style" twist (i.e. Chicago-style yoga, Chicago-style pilates).

Mad TV - Season 14

She joined the cast of the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) in 2008 as a feature performer for the 14th and final season, along with Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Her impressions included Naomi Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg, Mo'Nique, Lisa Leslie, Raven-Symoné, and Michelle Obama.

Ash had a recurring role as Bridgette Hart, Kevin Hart's ex-wife, in the 2013-2016 BET reality television parody series Real Husbands of Hollywood. The series was co-created by comedian Kevin Hart, and follows the daily lives of him and other married celebrities, each playing a fictionalized version of themselves, as they venture through their surreal life in Hollywood.

Survivor's Remorse

She starred as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway in the 2014-2017 Starz comedy-drama Survivor's Remorse, which was created by Mike O'Malley and produced by LeBron James. The plot centers around the lives of Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) and his family after he signs a pro-basketball contract and moves his family to Atlanta. M-Chuck is Cam's half-sister. The series also starred RonReaco Lee, Teyonah Parris, Tichina Arnold, and Mike Epps (Seasons 1-2).

Erica Ash - Family Reunion

Ash appeared as Grace, Moz and Daniel's younger sister, in three episodes of the Netflix sitcom Family Reunion from 2019 to 2021. She guest starred as Lydia in a 2024 episode of the NBC sitcom Extended Family. She provided the voice of Julie Vous Coucher for a 2020 episode of the Fox animated sitcom Bless the Harts.

In 2018, she starred as Gwendolyn "Gwen" Sullivan, a public defender, in the BET legal drama In Contempt. Some of her other television guest appearances included Cold Case, Shades of Blue (3 episodes), Legacies (4 episodes), and Sacrifice.

Ash starred as Kendra Brooks in Scary Movie 5 (2013). Some of her other film credits included Jean of the Joneses (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), We Have a Ghost (2023), and Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).

Ms. Ash was a talented and funny actress. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 6

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Gemma Johnson's Day Off" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Gemma reaches her limit at work, and when a car issue forces her to slow down, an unexpected break helps her rethink what she really wants next. Meanwhile, Marty and Malcolm’s plans are thrown off course when unexpected opportunities arise, and Dave embraces a new career path.

The Neighorhood - "A Farewell Special" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CBS presents The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special, an Entertainment Tonight production, airing Monday, April 6 (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier and filmed on location on The Neighborhood's stages, the special celebrates the acclaimed CBS comedy's final season, honoring eight seasons, 156 episodes, and eight unforgettable years of laughter, heart and community, leading up to the series finale on May 11.

This celebratory event features exclusive new interviews with the cast reflecting on their journey, revisiting early days on set, and looking back at the show's evolution and cultural impact. From its heartfelt exploration of friendship and family to its comedic take on life in a changing community, The Neighborhood has become a beloved part of CBS' comedy legacy.

The special includes never-before-seen footage and archival interviews from the ET Vault, offering fans a nostalgic look at the series' most iconic moments and the relationships built along the way. Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the emotional final days of production, including the cast and crew's last table read, intimate moments from the final tapings, and heartfelt goodbyes.

Additionally, The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special brings audiences inside the cast's final wrap party, capturing the laughter, speeches, memories, and surprises that marked the end of an era. To cap off the evening, fans will get an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming series finale, with the cast and producers sharing what viewers can expect as the Butlers and Johnsons say farewell to the neighborhood they've called home for nearly a decade.

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to New Horizons" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dave’s silent auction wins lead to a classical concert outing with Gemma and the Butlers that quickly goes off the rails. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s ghostwriting gig takes a surprising turn when Tina encourages him to dive into reality TV for inspiration – sparking an unexpected obsession.

St. Denis Medical - "We Make Time" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a doctor becomes a patient, his co-workers rally around him, whether he likes it or not; Matt and Serena need to talk.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - "The Loyalty Swamp" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tobin's past comes back to haunt him; Reggie and Brina struggle to set a wedding date.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Monday, April 6

Jason Segel (Shrinking/How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Watch Jason on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Outcome on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Melissa Gilbert (Stand by Your Man) - ABC's Good Morning America has George Stephanopoulos' exclusive interview with Melissa sometime between 7-9am.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Big Mistakes on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy talks about Mindy's Book Studio on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry and Rebecca King-Crews make an exclusive announcement on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am. Terry will also be on in the 9am hour.
Sterling K. Brown (Starved) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (First Wives Club/Retired at 35) - Sterling and his wife Ryan Michelle tell Sherri about the highly anticipated new season of Paradise now streaming on Hulu & Disney+ on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda talks season 2 of Your Friends & Neighbors and her new film Fantasy Life on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.