Lance Gross Talks 'STAR,' Playing the Man Everyone Loves to Hate And Explosive Season 2 Finale

From the moment season 2 premiered, Fox’s STAR has put its foot on the gas, and the drama, music and sensational storylines haven’t slowed down since. This season has brought brand new goals, heartbreaks and even more obstacles for Carlotta (Queen Latifah), Star (Jude Demorest), Simone (Brittany O’Grady) and Alex (Ryan Destiny). As the second season barrels toward what will surely be a tumultuous conclusion, one character stands at the center -- orchestrating much of the chaos. Lance Gross made his STAR debut in season 2 as the mercurial Maurice Jetter, the head of A&R at Midtown Records. Though Maurice seemed to be a stand-up guy in the beginning, his true nature began to show as his past and his temperament started to unravel. It’s a role that Gross has thoroughly enjoyed diving headfirst into. "Maurice is so ambitious —he wants to win," the Oakland native explained to me ahead of STAR’s season two finale. "When I first started with this character I didn't know that he was gonna take the turn that he took. We all were kind of trying to figure out the character. In my talks with Lee Daniels, we knew he was going to become dark, but we didn't exactly know how. As the season progressed it just started to get real interesting. It’s fun because its something that I haven't really played too much in the past, and that's been interesting as an actor. I wouldn't say (Maurice) is a bad guy, I would just say he's about winning. He wants what's best for his artists and he sees something that shines in Star, so he's going full speed ahead with breaking her out.“

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'Star' Showrunner Karin Gist On Being The Boss, Telling Black Women's Stories & The Explosive Midseason Premiere

Karin Gist is shinning. The Star showrunner and executive producer is elevating television as one of the few Black female showrunners in the industry, and she’s taken on her role in stride. Still, Gist’s journey in TV which led her to the sets of Girlfriends, One Tree Hill, Grey’s Anatomy, and Revenge among others didn’t start off as seamlessly as one would assume. Ahead of the mid-series premiere of Star and during Women’s History Month, Shadow and Act sat down to chat with Gist about her career, why showrunning speaks to her soul, and how it feels to be one of the only Black women calling the shots in television. Gist’s path to storytelling was unconventional to say the least. "I moved out to LA to practice law for about two and a half years, and honestly I was spending most of my day daydreaming in my law office just knowing that it wasn't the right choice in life for me," she explained. "I had this feeling that there was a now or never. Why not take a risk and try to do something that I thought I'd love? Ultimately, I ended up loving it. I love writing for television and telling stories. I tried to find a path to that even in practicing law. I moved from corporate law to family law at one point, and that was more interesting because of course, it's stories about people and emotions. It was interesting, but still, I was yearning to do something more creative and luckily I found my path on Girlfriends — my first show."

Throughout her career, Gist has focused on female-centric stories. For the Spelman alum, it’s been a blessing to put women at the center. "I’ve always said how lucky I was to fall into my dream job on my dream show, Girlfriends," she revealed. "I was able to learn the craft and practice the craft but tell stories that reflected my life at the time and my friends at the time. That is such a rare thing, especially in this business, especially as a Black woman. So, that was a happy coincidence. I am drawn to telling stories about women, about women of color. That has become my drive in storytelling. I just so happened to get my first job on a show like that.”

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Review: ’24: Legacy’ Is A Bold & Culturally Relevant Reboot Reminiscent Of Its Predecessor

Fifteen years after the iconic television series starring Kiefer Sutherland hit TV screens, and seven years since the last official episode of the series went off the air, Fox’s spin-off series, “24: Legacy” is attempting to breathe new life into the overcrowded and often overdone genre of television political thrillers.

Starring “Straight Outta Compton” actor Corey Hawkins, “24: Legacy” is an innovate, bold, and culturally relevant reboot of the original series. It’s also the first rendition of “24” that won’t star Sutherland in any capacity. As executive producer Brian Grazer said at the premiere party that I attended earlier this week, with everything going on in the world currently, “24: Legacy” serves as the perfect port of escapism.

The pilot opens with a very gruesome bang, and the action goes non-stop until the final second on the clock calls the episode to a close. Hawkins stars as Eric Carter, an Army Ranger who has gone into hiding with his wife Nicole (“Greenleaf’s” Anna Diop). After returning to US soil following a classified mission in Afghanistan that killed terrorist Bin-Khalid and prevented an attack in the States, Eric and Nicole are looking for a fresh start. Unfortunately, it seems like everything Eric did during that fateful mission is coming back to haunt him.

With this help of his former commander, Rebecca Ingram (Miranda Otto), head of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) who is supposed to be stepping down from her role to support her husband in his bid for Presidency, Eric must figure out how to save himself and the country that he serves. In an interview with TV Guide, executive producer Manny Coto said that “24 Legacy” was inspired by the Navy SEALS who killed Osama bin Ladan and the trauma that they felt during the months following the raid.

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Urbanworld First Look: ‘Shots Fired’ Is a Gripping Commentary About the State of Our Nation

 

Every other week it seems, I awake to news that another unarmed Black person has been slaughtered by law enforcement. Whether it’s a teenager turning his back, a young mother clutching her small child, or a man waiting with his stalled vehicle, the narrative has become a horrific cycle of death, videos and no repercussions for the police. This death and violence are a part of America’s framework, and it’s always been here, it’s simply more visible in the age of advanced technology and social media.

Visionary storytellers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood have decided to combine the art of storytelling and activism in order to say something about the state of our very broken country. In a ten-hour miniseries event that for the couple was inspired by their sons, Fox’s “Shots Fired” goes well beyond a hashtag. The gripping story which stars Sanaa Lathan (“Love & Basketball”), Tristan Wilds (“The Wire”), and Stephan James (“Selma”), flips the usual narrative on its head. Wilds stars as Deputy Joshua Beck, a Black police officer who kills an unarmed white college student, and is now being deeply scrutinized in the national media and in his North Carolina small town. Further exacerbating the situation is the fact the Beck is the sole Black officer on the police force.

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“Fires Of Heaven” – Recap of ‘Empire’ Season 2, Episode 3

Prosecutor Roxanne Ford is still in her low cut top holding a press conference outside of the courthouse. She is NOT pleased that Lucious has been granted bail, and she’s not afraid to let everyone know. Oh, and she might be running for Assistant District Attorney. Meanwhile, Lucious walks out of the courthouse looking slick and smooth with Jamal and his new attorney Thirsty on either side of him. The only problem is, apparently under his bail terms Lucious isn’t allowed in Empire Entertainment headquarters. This seems insane but Lucious appears to be unbothered.

At Empire headquarters (on the steps, not in the building) Lucious speaks to his fan as Roxanne Ford looks on from her beat-up car. She has it out for Lucious BAD.

At Hakeem’s apartment, it looks like several bombs detonated. (If Lucious hasn’t cut him off yet, he should really consider a housekeeper.) He’s rather disheveled as Cookie beats down his door. Apparently he’s late for something…like that’s a surprise. It seems that the youngest Lyon has been laid up with the new lead singer of Rainbow Sensation, because she pops out of nowhere looking for her draws. After Cookie puts the girl in her place, she tells Hakeem that Lucious is out of jail.

Hakeem makes it to his interview with Sway in the nick of time,  and after his performance, he sits down to chat about his leaked album and Lyon Dynasty. Sway gets Lucious on the line during the interview, but doesn’t have much to say about his youngest son or the leaked album, but Hakeem does provide an update on his girl group. Evidently they are no longer Rainbow Sensation, instead they’re Ménage à Trois.  Sway suggests that Hakeem the girls to his show in a couple of days, and despite Cookie’s horrified glare and headshakes, Hakeem agrees. (Cookie’s broom needs to make a comeback.)

Later that evening Lucious has invited the entire Lyon clan over to break bread. (Why anyone bothered to show up is beyond me.) Lucious tells them all that if they dismantle Lyon Dynasty, EVERYTHING will be forgiven.  It seems that he thinks that no one can eat without him. This is the point when Queen Cookie shows out,. Mama snatches up her bag and proceeds to tell Papa Lyon that she’ll always eat. Prior to exiting, she politely snatches the table runner and all of the food off the table.

Sometime later, Anika foolishly meets Lucious at Leviticus. He lies through his teeth and convinces her to plot against Lyon Dynasty. (SMH Anika I thought you were bright.)

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Image: FOX

Interview: Chatting w/ Meagan Good About ‘Minority Report’, Her New Film ‘A Girl Like Grace’ & Viola Davis’ Emmy Shout-Out

Meagan Good has been working in the entertainment industry for well over twenty years. She first burst onto the scene as the troubled and secretive tween, Cicely Batiste in Kasi Lemmons’ 1960’s era “Eve’s Bayou” alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Lynn Whitfield. Since then, Good has been on numerous television shows, and starred in a plethora of films including “Think Like A Man” and “Anchorman 2.” Good’s career has certainly been taken to new heights in the past few years. In 2013, she snagged a starring role on the NBC drama “Deception”. And currently, she leads the new FOX sci-fi drama “Minority Report” as police detective Lara Vega, showing audiences just how badass she can be as an actress. Good took time out of her extremely hectic schedule to chat with Shadow and Act about “Minority Report”, her latest film ("A Girl Like Grace"), and Viola Davis shouting her out at the recent Primetime Emmy Awards.

Aramide Tinubu: Hi Meagan. Thank you so much for speaking with me and with Shadow and Act. How are you doing?

Meagan Good: I’m great how are you?

AT: I’m wonderful thank you. It’s great to be speaking with you. 

MG: It’s wonderful to be speaking with you as well.

AT: Thank you. I know you don’t have much time, so I’d love to jump right in and start chatting about “Minority Report” if that’s OK with you. 

MG: Of course.

AT: Well to start off, who is detective Lara Vega? Why is she so different from all of the previous characters that you’ve played in your life? From watching the first two episodes, I can see that she a badass, but she also has a gentle side.

MG: You’ll really get to know her as the season goes on, and you’ll see that there is this vulnerability to her. She wanted to become apart of Pre-Crime, because if it had been in effect, her father might not have passed away. He was murdered on the job. So, she really wanted to follow in his footsteps, and she thought that being a part of Pre-Crime would be a game changer for her. However, by the time she got to the program, it was abolished. So that really is a part of what motivates her and drives her. There is also this sense of purpose. When she wakes up, she lives and she breathes partially because of her dad. She wants to save lives and stop people from going through the pain that she and her family have been put through. She also just wants to make the world a better place, one person at a time. She’s really driven by this purpose in wanting to do good, and be good. Lara wants to give back in some way, to get rid of some of that pain of losing her father.

AT: You can certainly sense her motivations in the actions that she takes. However, knowing the history behind the 2002 film “Minority Report” starring Tom Cruise, were you nervous at all about such a well-loved film being transformed for a television audience?

MG: Yes. You definitely know that a lot of people are going to have opinions; a lot of people are huge fans of the movie and you just want to do it justice. It’s already quite different when you have a woman in that kind of role. You have to figure out how to bring strength but also that vulnerability that a woman has in a certain kind of way while still making it feel strong.  So, it’s definitely a challenge, one that I was game for and excited to have the opportunity to do. So I was a little bit nervous, but the other part of me knew that it was something that I’d literally prayed for. I’d waited on the role, and turned down other opportunities because I knew that it was coming. So when it got here, and it was everything that I really wanted, I had and have a confidence in that, because of how it all came together. I just knew that it was going to be what it was supposed to be.

AT: Yes, that’s such a blessing. I did read that you prayed about a role like this and it came to fruition for you within a year.  That’s amazing.

MG: Thank you.

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Image: FOX

“Without A Country” - Recap of 'Empire' Season 2, Episode 2

Note: if you haven’t watched the episode, you may want to skip this recap.

After the insanity of last week’s season premiere, it looks like “Empire” has settled right back into the juicy show that we all love.

The episode opens with Cookie, Andre and Hakeem being put out of Empire headquarters. They all look rather pathetic carrying their personal items as the exit the building. Jamal really isn’t playing games with them. The trio engages in various conversations over the phone about what their next move might be. Hakeem suggests looping Anika into the fold, but Cookie is not having it, and Andre is not trying to be in the middle of them. Cookie and the boys meet at Ghetto Ass Studios, the studio where Jamal recorded some of hits last season.  Neither Andre nor Hakeem look like they’re about this life, but at the moment it’s their only option. It seems like Hakeem ignored Cookie’s wishes (surprise, surprise) because Anika is already in the studio with former Empire recording Artist V.  V is less than impressed with her surroundings because she is NOT feeling Anika or her helpful hints.

In jail, Lucious is attempting to see the doctor for his medication. If you recall, he doesn’t have ALS, but he does have myasthenia gravis, which isn’t fatal but still needs to be monitored and treated.  Unfortunately for him, the doctor can’t seem to find his authorization forms, which means no medicines for Mr. Lyon. Something is definitely amiss here.

Back at his fancy loft, Jamal is singing his ass off and giving an interview with a reporter from “Spilling the Tea”. He lets the world know that Michael is his bae and he’s chatting about the delay in his new album, and his father’s imprisonment when Cookie comes bursting in unannounced (In true Cookie fashion.)  The duo keep it cute for the cameras, but Cookie is there for Hakeem’s album. She doesn’t want Empire holding it hostage. Jamal is still feeling petty it seems, because he doesn’t seem to care what she wants. Oh, and Cookie also takes this time to tell her middle son that she, Andre and Hakeem are starting their own company.

Back on the prison yard, Lucious is acting like the King of Sheba, rapping and carrying on with his crew. Ludacris appears out of nowhere as one of the prison guards (I believe his name is McKnight). It’s clear immediately that McKnight has it out for Lucious, he snatches the crew up off their bench and then proceeds to call them “boys”.  Lucious is wheezing and out of breath and apparently McKnight knows something about his missing medical form.  He’s in Prosecutor Roxanne Fuller’s pocket. (You know the lady with the extreme cleavage from last week.) As much as I despise Lucious, McKnight is truly the worst kind of human.

At Ghetto Ass Studios, Hakeem is auditioning female artists for a girl group he randomly came up with. (Apparently he put an ad on Instagram). One particular Latina artist blows him away, but when he tells her he’s looking for a group, not a solo artist, she is over the entire situation. (I’m pretty sure this story line will somehow tie in with Lee Daniels ‘next venture with FOX, “Star”. It’s an “Empire”spin-of about a girl group based in ATL.) Later on, Hakeem tells Andre and Cookie that he found some girls he likes, but they’re all Latina. His idea was to get a Black, a white and a Latina artist to form the girl group. He wants to call “Rainbow Sensation.” Andre is understandably horrified, and it took me a moment here to stop laughing. In the midst of this, Anika comes strolling in and Cookie comes for her immediately! She knows about Boo Boo Kitty’s escapades with Hakeem, and she is PISSED. She tells Anika she knows marketing because, “She’s made a whole career of selling her ass.” WHELP!! Oh and Hakeem is 20 years old, I don’t think we knew that before.

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Image: FOX

"The Devils Are Here" - Recap of 'Empire' Season 2, Episode 1

I’ll admit that my head was spinning after the season finale of “Empire” last spring. It seemed like the writers crammed everything they could into a two-hour story block, and it left me feeling off kilter and befuddled.  During last night’s season premiere, I felt the same way almost until the very end of the episode.

The season premiere of “Empire” picked up three months after Lucious’ initial incarceration. With Jamal still in position as the head of Empire; the rest of the Lyons are playing nice for the time being. Cookie and Jamal have put together a Free Lucious concert hosted by Swizz Beats and attended by nearly every black celeb known to man. From Al Sharpton to Andre Leon Talley, it was cameo overload, and not in a good way. When Don Lemon popped up out of nowhere, I really wanted to fight my TV screen.

Still, nothing could have prepared me for Cookie dropping on the stage in a cage while wearing a gorilla suit.  As talented as Lee Daniels is, this was just #teamtoomuch. Though I did appreciate the show driving home the fact that thousands of Black men are unfairly incarcerated, Cookie’s chanting “How Much Longer?!” did not make me feel sympathetic towards Lucious. Even Reverend Al said he was a lost cause.

After Cookie gets the crowd riled up, Jamal takes the stage to perform on his father’s behalf and we cut to Lucious watching all of this on a rather fancy television from prison.  It turns out that Lucious is basically The Godfather of jail and he already has his minions set up to do his bidding.  A shifty prisoner (who turns out to be another one of Cookie’s cousins) Jermel (played by DeRay Davis) begs Lucious to protect him from a gangster named Frank Gathers. Lucious isn’t too keen on the idea, he has no beef with Gathers and he’s not trying to start any. Lucious gives Jermel a swift brush off just in time to see Hakeem take the stage.

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Review: Fox’s 'Rosewood' Is Vibrant, Flashy and a Whole Lot of Fun

With so many medical dramas on television, it seems nearly impossible for one show to stick out over the others. For an audience to stay hooked, a show must have gripping storylines and captivating characters that will entice viewers to tune in week after week. Fox’s “Rosewood” has these elements and so much more. Gorgeously shot and saturated with the vibrant colors of Miami, “Rosewood” follows Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr.; played brilliantly and humorously by veteran actor Morris Chestnut. Rosewood is a private pathologist who likes to insert himself and his unbridled knowledge about corpses into the Miami homicide department’s most troubling cases, much to the chagrin of the members of the police department.

Though Rosewood comes off as annoying at first, his charm and charisma (which Chestnut has mastered), softens not only the other characters he interacts with, but the audience as well. Rosewood is an extremely complex character and many of his various sides are yet to be seen. It’s clear that he enjoys life and wants everyone around him to do so as well, despite having his own haunting demons.

Structured similarly to Fox’s long running show “Bones”, Rosewood meets his match in an unlikely partnership with Detective Annalise Villa; a role played so ferociously by relative newcomer, Jania Lee Ortiz that it’s clear she’s destined for great things. Like Rosewood, Detective Villa is not quite who she appears to. The chemistry between the actors and the push and pull of their characters’ relationship keeps the show churning at a delicious pace.

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Interview: Chatting w/ Morris Chestnut About Heading to TV to Star in Fox's New Series, 'Rosewood'

The debonair Morris Chestnut first captivated audiences with his portrayal of Ricky in John Singleton’s classic film, “Boyz n the Hood”. Since then, Chestnut has been a leading man in numerous films, including the recent thriller “A Perfect Guy” alongside Sanaa Lathan and Michael Ealy. Though the 46-year old actor’s most notable roles have been in films, he also has also appeared in major television series including “Nurse Jackie” and “American Horror Story”. Fox’s new medical dramedy “Rosewood” will show a very different side of the generally more serious actor. Chestnut will star as Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr., a private pathologist with a penchant for finding clues about the dead and who might be hiding some very serious secrets of his own.

Chestnut recently sat down to talk about his new show at a screening of the pilot episode. Here is what he told Shadow and Act.

On Becoming Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr.:

It was tough. I pretty much prepared on a case-by-case basis depending on what they had me do. We have technical advisors and doctors on the set to advise me on the best way to do procedures, and give me information on certain aspects of doing autopsies. My character is definitely flawed from a heath standpoint. He has certain things that he can’t do because of his heath issues, and that’s one thing that I love about the character because nobody’s perfect. He’s not a superhero. He tries to do right by people, he tries to do right in life, and he tries to do by women.

On Working With Lorraine Toussaint:

She’s a great actress. She came to the show a little bit late, but she’s definitely a welcome addition. She’s incredible. I love doing scenes with her because she’s so emotional and it adds so much depth to the show.

On Rosewood’s Closeness to Death:

That’s one of the aspects of the character that I love. He treats each day like it’s his last day.  He knows his days are numbered, but he tries to instill optimism in everyone he touches and everyone he comes across on a daily basis. He enjoys life, and he wants others to enjoy life and have fun. You have to savor every moment and don’t take things for granted.

On Character Development:

Watching the character grow I think, is the fun part about a television show. All of the characters are going to grow and develop. That’s why I like to hear what people have to say about the show, because it’s not like a movie. Once we do a movie and it’s done, it’s out there and nothing is going to change. With this, if it’s something that you guys liked, or something you didn’t like that you want to see then let me know. Our writers are very receptive and you guys are our audience and we make this type of entertainment for you. That’s why I’m always open to hearing what you have to say.

On the Recent Change in Hollywood for Black Actors:

I think it’s great. With “Empire” doing as well as it’s doing, it’s open up the doors for us to have other types of entertainment out there, and different types of shows. Hollywood listens to people. People always ask me if Hollywood is Black or white. It’s really green. If people are watching, they’re going to provide you guys with more entertainment. You guys have much more of a voice then you make think, so if you don’t watch then Hollywood will stop making and producing these types of shows.

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