Mo'Nique, Demetrius 'Lil Meech' Flenory Jr., Da'Vinchi And La La Anthony On The Elevation Of 'BMF' Season 2

Inspired by the real-life empire, Black Mafia Family built by the Detroit-born Flenory brothers, Starz’s BMF returns for its sophomore season. Set in Detroit in the 1980s, the highly-rated drama series follows the rise and fall of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (Demetrius “Meech” Flenory Jr.) and Terry “Southwest Tee” Flenory (Da’Vinchi).

At the end of the first season, Terry walked away from BMF to pursue a legitimate car-service business with his father, Charles (Russell Hornsby). However, interest in Markisha Taylor (Alani “La La” Anthony), the wife of an infamous drug dealer, may push Terry back toward the streets.

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Intense drama and new characters give Power Book II: Ghost a soap opera flair in season 2

Seven years ago, TV viewers were introduced to Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.), the 12-year-old son of drug kingpin James “Ghost” St. Patrick and his ride-or-die wife, Tasha St. Patrick, in Power. Throughout six seasons of the Courtney Kemp-created series, Tariq transformed from a precocious young tween into a grown man whose sinister and calculating demeanor is more like his father’s than he’d ever care to admit. Now in Power Book II: Ghost, which picks up directly after the events of the original series, Tariq is coming into his own.

The first season of the spin-off chronicled Tariq’s life in the days and weeks following his father’s murder. Determined to adhere to the conditions of his father’s will, Tariq enrolled in the prestigious Stansfield University to obtain his degree. However, with his mother on trial for his father’s murder, he found himself following in Ghost’s footsteps as a means of financial freedom.

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How 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Soars Beyond The Original Series With Women At The Heart

Hollywood isn't exactly breaking the mold when it comes to new ideas. Though series like P-Valley and Sex Education offer fresh voices and perspectives, many of the films and TV series coming down the pipeline are reboots, revamps, or even flat-out retellings of narratives that we've already seen. Therefore, when Power Universe creator Courtney Kemp announced multiple spinoffs from the titular show, it caused quite a stir on social media and in the industry. 

Power followed James "Ghost" St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), a powerful drug kingpin on a quest to become a legit businessman. However, throughout six seasons, Ghost learns that you can't outrun the sins of your past. The original series has spawned several spinoffs, including Power Book II: Ghost, which chronicles the life of Ghost's son, Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.), in the aftermath of his father's death. 

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Starz's 'Blindspotting' series had a lot to live up to. So its creators forged a different path.

From "Soul Food" to "Clueless," there have been successful film-to-TV adaptations, but none have higher stakes than “Blindspotting.”

Based on director Carlos López Estrada's electrifying 2018 debut feature of the same name, which chronicled three days in life of Oakland, California, resident Collin (Daveed Diggs) and his best friend Miles (Rafael Casal), Starz's new dramedy series shifts the lens to Ashley (Emmy winner Jasmine Cephas Jones), Miles' girlfriend and the mother of his 6-year-old son, Sean (Atticus Woodward).

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Starz’s Run The World showcases the power of Black female friendship

“Sometimes you look up, and life is different… adapt and reinvention, that’s the game.” This is the advice that Erika Alexander’s character Barb gives her mentee Ella (Andrea Bordeaux) in Run The World, a new Starz comedy from Leigh Davenport. Twenty-eight years after Living Single first debuted, Davenport and executive producer Yvette Lee Bowser (who created the 1993-1998 Fox sitcom) introduce a brand new group of Black women to TV audiences, this time with a Harlem setting and 21st-century problems.

In addition to following in the wake of Bowser’s series, Run The World comes more than 20 years after the debuts of Sex And The City and Mara Brock Akil’s Girlfriends. Although it arrives at a time when shows like BET+’s Bigger and HBO’s Insecure are thriving on TV, Run The World has a different texture and tone than its contemporaries. While many series across the networks and streaming service speak to twentysomethings (save for Bigger), Run The World zeros in on the issues that many face in the third decade of life.

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La La Anthony Just Stepped Into The Spotlight: EXCLUSIVE

Five years ago, television creator Courtney A. Kemp teamed up with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and delivered a massive mega-hit drama for Starz. Over the past five seasons of Power, La La Anthony’s Lakeisha Grant has slowly taken center stage. Since it first premiered in 2014, the series has exploded and become the most-watched cable drama following HBO’s Game of Thrones. The compelling epic centers James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick). Ghost is a New York drug kingpin turned club owner desperately trying to turn legit and shed his criminal past. However, dismissing your past is easier said than done, especially if death, dirt and blood are lurking in the shadows.

Though Ghost anchors Power, the women in the show are the ones who have shifted, guided and changed the course of the narrative. There’s Angela Valdes (Lela Loren)–an assistant district attorney and Ghost’s childhood sweetheart who finds herself enamored with ex-lover again. Ghost’s now-estranged wife, Tasha St. Patrick (Naturi Naughton)–has sacrificed nearly everything for her husband, and is seeking revenge. Then there is La La Anthony’s Lakeisha, who has had one of the most transformative character arcs on the series.

When we first meet Lakeisha in Season 1, she’s just Tasha’s best friend. A hairstylist and single mom–Lakeisha values her friendship with Tasha, but she also envies the lavish lifestyle that the St. Patricks live. However, what she soon discovers is that even the most lavish lives can be built amidst smoke and mirrors. As the seasons have pressed forward– we’ve watched Lakeisha get further entangled into Ghost and Tasha’s dark work. Though she’s found “love” with Tommy (Joseph Sikora), Ghost’s oldest friend–a volatile and murderous drug dealer, her relationship with Tasha and her business have suffered along the way.

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'Power' Season 4 Finale recap “You Can’t Fix This”

At the police station, a bleary-eyed Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) gives his statement to a detective about his sister's death. The detective asks him to go over the moments before Raina’s (Donshea Hopkins) murder in detail over and over again. Finally, a devastated Tariq exclaims, "Don’t you think I would have told you if I knew something?!” When the camera pans out, we see a grief stricken Ghost (Omari Hardwick) and Tasha (Naturi Naughton) sitting beside their son. Deciding the St. Patricks have had enough for one day, the detective dismisses them to go home. As Tariq and Ghost exit the room, the detective gives Tasha Raina’s things. Tasha learns that her baby's body will not yet be released to the family. Somewhere in Queens, an oblivious Tommy (Joseph Sikora) is chatting with Teresi’s (William Sadler) goon friend. It looks like the old gangster has kept his word and introduced his son to the family. As the men continue their discussion, a trigger-ready Kanan (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) rolls up on them and pops his trunk. After assuring the men with him that Kanan's cool, Tommy peers into the trunk to see the bodies of the guys that tried to take Kanan out. Tommy immediately IDs the dead dudes as Cristobal's (Matt Cedeño) men. He assures Kanan that he doesn't have any beef with him (he knows Kanan saved Tariq's life) —but he does let Kanan know that Cristobal has been tight with Dre (Rotimi) recently. Newly embolden Kanan, takes off to get after Cristobal and his new BFF Dre. In the midst of their discussion, Tommy gets a 911 text from Ghost letting him know about Raina's death.

host, Tasha and Tariq pull into the parking garage of the St. Patrick's apartment building. There is dead silence in the car until Tasha asks her son to tell them what he knows about Raina’s death. In a rush, Riq tells his parents he doesn’t know anything before jumping out of the SUV and heading upstairs. Furious and heartbroken, Tasha and Ghost get into a heated conversation after his exit. Tasha tells Ghost that she knows Tariq’s lying— she can tell. Ghost isn’t convinced. He believes that the Jimenez (finally got the name right!) siblings are behind the hit. As though he's in a daze, he tells Tasha that he’s going to fix it. Enraged and in disbelief, Tasha screams, “You can’t fix this!” Tasha tells him that she carried their child and now their baby is gone. Ghost promises his wife that he will kill who ever did this. She warns him not to get caught or killed.

The fractured couple finally heads into the building and walk into a household full of people all ready to greet them and provide comfort. While Tasha tries to at least engage with everyone, Ghost heads straight to the master bedroom, removing his tux from the previous night. We watch him disrobe— shedding his James persona to embody the ruthless killer, Ghost. In the midst of his transformation, he balls up the program from the Man of the Year ceremony that he had just been so thrilled to be a part of. He also gets a text from Councilman Rashad Tate (Larenz Tate) offering his condolences and telling Ghost to meet him at a well-known church later in the day. (Sir??!! A raggedy text when this man has lost his child?!!) Ghost ignores it and readies himself for war.

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A definitive ranking of the Top 8 characters on 'Power' that we've despised

The fourth season of Starz’s Power comes to a close this Sunday, and everything that has happened up until this point will lead to what will surely be an explosive conclusion. With the death of his eldest daughter, Raina (Donshea Hopkins)  — Ghost (Omari Hardwick) will certainly be embarking on a vicious path for revenge, unlike anything we’ve seen thus far. This season much of our collective frustration has been geared toward Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) the St. Patrick’s insolent teenage son, whose anger and desire to play gangsta helped lead to his twin sister’s death. Power doesn't have any shortage of villains, and throughout the seasons there have been plenty of characters who’ve earned our disdain. Ahead of the season finale, peep the top 8 characters we've despised on Power. Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

'Power' Season 4, Episode 9 recap: “That Ain’t Me”

As the ninth episode of the fourth season of Power opens, Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) is attempting to be less terrible. He’s interviewing for a position at the boarding school in Connecticut Raina (Donshea Hopkins) told him about. (It’s the same school Angela attended.) Though the interviewer points out the decline in Riq's academics and behavior, the boy still aces the interview. Later, when Ghost (Omari Hardwick) drops the Riq off at school he proudly shows his son a news story that says his name has been cleared. Riq seems pleased, but he also asks if they should fear Kanan's (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) return. Ghost explains that Kanan will leave them alone because they are all witnesses to Juke Box's (Anika Noni Rose) murder. He also urges Riq to let go of his guilt. At Angela’s (Lela Loren) apartment, she and her sister Paz (Elizabeth Rodriguez) are getting ready for their day. Paz has been saying with her baby sister since the whole Mike (David Fumero) incident. She’s pissed that Angela used herself as bait, but she’s glad Mike is dead.

In a car somewhere in the city, Tommy (Joseph Sikora) and Teresi (William Sadler) are talking on the phone. Since Teresi was the one who took Mike out for Ghost and Tommy, he now wants a favor. He asks Tommy to come and see him in prison. Because Tommy is a felon, he’s going to need proof that they are family to get in to see him. Teresi assures Tommy that his mother Kate (Patricia Kalember) has all the proof he needs. He tells Tommy he’s not the kind of guy that would deny his own son. “That ain’t me,” he says.

At a warehouse somewhere, Tommy’s men are playing poker. They are all delighted that they’ve avoided a war with the Hermanas and they have turned in their coins to receive their new shipment of drugs which is set to arrive the next day. They all agree that as long as Tommy stays chill, they’re good. Unfortunately, stupid ass Dre (Rotimi) and Cristobal (Matt Cedeño) have other plans. They want the organization for themselves, and they’re going to have to do something drastic to get it from Tommy.

At the Feds, Angela meets with the new US Attorney for the Eastern District. New lady applauds Angela for her work on bringing Mike in. However, she explains that since they were not able to prosecute him they must win back the public's trust. The first step for the Feds is making an appearance at the Destroy Injustice Gala. This year, the Gala just happens to be honoring the newly exonerated James “Ghost” St. Patrick. New Attorney lady says that after the Gala, she doesn't want to ever hear St. Patrick’s name again. She also asks Angela her opinion about appointing the new Head of Criminal since Mike's death has left the job vacant. Her choices are either John Mak (Sung Kang) or Saxe (Shane Johnson). Angela thinks she deserves the promotion, but new lady basically laughs in her face.

Meanwhile, in Queens, Ghost and Councilman Rashad Tate (Larenz Tate) are walking the streets and getting interviewed by Olivia (the reporter that interviewed the St. Patricks and was real thirsty and in Ghost’s face a few episodes ago). This new ultra visibility is going to come back to haunt Ghost.

At the St. Patrick’s penthouse, Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon) and Tasha (Naturi Naughton) are still on and as bold as humanly possible. Silver is supposed to be dropping off some of the St. Patrick’s belongings that were seized by the FBI during Ghost's incarceration. Instead, in between smooches, Tasha tells him about her plans to expand the weave shop with Keisha (La La Anthony). She also tells Silver that she's going to divorce Ghost as soon as his real estate venture with Simon Stern (Victor Garber) gets off the ground. (Tasha, we love you girl, but sometimes you need to move in silence.)

At a gym somewhere, Riq is playing ball when Brains and Big Country finally run up him, The boy acts unbothered (personally I would've been afraid.) He assures the two that he’s not snitching because he would be guilty by association. He also asks them where his share of the money from the hit is. Riq’s balls must have dropped between this episode and the last one.

Later Ghost and Stern are meeting about their upcoming vote with the City Council. Stern is pissed that Ghost has made friends with Tate and he decides to take the reigns at the vote as a form of punishment. Ghost tells Stern that since he owns 51 percent of the venture, he wants a bigger role. Stern tells him nah. (When will this old white man learn Ghost ain’t the one?!)

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 8 recap: “It’s Done”

After a night of sexing Tasha (Naturi Naughton), Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon) wakes up in his bed alone. As he turns over, he sees a note from Tasha saying that she had fun. Shortly thereafter he gets a call from his doorman saying that he has a visitor. Walking toward his elevator, a barely dressed Silver greets (Ghost) who wants to know if Silver has any information about either themselves or Proctor (Jerry Ferrara) getting investigated. Silver tells him nah, but he'll keep him up to speed if that changes. As Ghost turns to leave, he spots Tasha’s earring on the floor. Ghost definitely knows Silver is sexing his wife. (But he also has no room to say anything.)

At the warehouse, Tommy (Joseph Sikora) is pissed that he hasn’t heard back from the Hermanas and he tells Dre (Rotimi) that he needs to gear up for war. Tommy isn’t certain that this is the right thing to do, but he’s made his choice, so he’s going with it. Dre claims that he’ll let his runners know and that he backs Tommy one hundred percent. (Lies he tells.)

On the street, Saxe (Shane Johnson) is on his way to meet up with Angela (Lela Loren) and Donovan (Ty Jones) to continue piecing together their theory that Mike (David Fumero) is the mole. As he’s about to hail a cab, Mike runs up on Saxe extra paranoid to ask if John Mak (Sung Kang) has spoken to him separately about the investigation. Saxe brushes it off and hurries along to Angela’s place. Mike is on the verge of losing it.

At the penthouse, Keisha (La La Anthony) is trying to get Tasha’s attention, but Tasha is too busy thinking about the good good that she got from Silver. Just as Tasha is about to tell Keisha about her new boo, Raina (Donshea Hopkins) walks in to show her mom a brochure for a boarding school. Immediately, Tasha notices the bruise on her daughter's arm. Raina covers for her brother and gets her mom to say she’ll consider the boarding school. Meanwhile, on the couch, Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) texts Brains telling him he wants in. (Ugh, I wish this boy would find some business.)

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 7 recap: “You Lied to My Face”

Ghost (Omar Hardwick) and Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) are on the train from Queens, and both of them are traumatized from fall with Kanan (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) and Juke Box (Anika Noni Rose). Tommy (Joseph Sikora) arrives back in NYC and visits his stash house to find his henchmen tied up. He learns that Ghost was the one who robbed him and he has questions. Just as he’s about to retaliate, Tommy gets a call from Ghost saying that Kanan is alive and that Tariq is in trouble.

Tommy jumps in his car to go and pick Riq and Ghost up. When they meet, Tommy tells Ghost about the ransom demand and about Kanan. The entire time the two men are having this conversation, Tariq is looking on. Before they head home, Tommy asks Tariq if Dre (Rotimi) knew that Kanan was alive. Tariq lies to protect Dre.

At the Feds office, John Mak (Sung Kang) tells Angela (Lela Loren), Mike (David Fumero) and Saxe (Shane Johnson) that they’ve been suspended and that they’ll probably be fired. Apparently, Mok was able to avoid the same plight. With no logins and no clearance, the team is ass out. John is still determined to get justice for Greg (Andy Bean). As they exit the meeting, Saxe tells Anglea that he’s coming for her. (LMAO OK Saxe.)

Ghost and Tariq are greeted by a distraught Tasha (Naturi Naughton) when they walk into the penthouse. Riq tells his mother that she lied to his face about everything. Before things go left, Ghost pulls Tasha into the bedroom and confront her about the ransom, Kanan, and everything that’s been happening while he was locked up. He tries to blame Tasha for their son spiraling out of control. Apparently, he thinks she had “one job” while he was away. Tasha isn’t having it. She reminds him that this all happened because he left the family and was too busy pretending to be someone he wasn’t with Angela. Ghost says, “I didn’t leave the family, I left you.”

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 6 Recap: “New Man”

Ghost (Omari Hardwick) is home — but he’s still being haunted by prison. He startles awake in the penthouse after dreaming about beating CO Marshall Williams’ (RIP Charlie Murphy) head in. Looking over, he realizes that Tasha (Naturi Naughton) didn’t sleep in the bed next to him. Why would she? Showering and putting on one of his usual suits, Ghost tries to become James again, but he’s not quite feeling like himself. Entering the kitchen, Tasha is there, but none of the kids are (apparently, they’re all at sleepovers). In the absence of his children, Ghost tries to approach Tasha about starting over. He promises that everything that went down between himself and Angela (Lela Loren) is a wrap. Tasha is unmoved. She tells her husband that she just watched Angela blow up her life for him. She also informs Ghost that she’s just dealing with him for the sake of appearances. What did he expect?

At Truth, the Feds have unlocked the doors and Ghost is feeling pretty pleased. He smiles for the first time in forever as he turns on all of the lights. That is until Simon Stern (Victor Garber) rolls up on him talking about a business deal and debt owned. Apparently Stern loaned Tasha some coins. In exchange, Stern wants Ghost to be the CEO of a new real estate venture. He needs Ghost’s Black face for the tax credit and publicity. In the midst of their conversation, Ghost’s burner phone rings. It’s Tony Teresi (William Sadler) wanting to know why Tommy (Joseph Sikora) hasn’t been in touch. Ghost tries to buy more time with the old Gangster (if you recall Teresi knows Ghost killed Marshal), he hasn’t been able to get a hold of Tommy since he got out, but Teresi is getting impatient.

In some empty house in Queens Juke Box (Anika Noni Rose) is holding Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) hostage, but the boy doesn’t know it yet. He’s so damn gullible that he believes he’s just chilling there until his new friend Slim (who is really Kanan (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) arrives. Juke Box is getting annoyed because Kanan hasn’t confronted Ghost yet and she’s had to come up with ways to get Tasha off of Tariq’s back.

In Manhattan, Tasha and Keisha (La La Anthony) are having brunch. Keisha is PISSED! She’s ready to reopen her weave shop and get it back legit, and she’s also irritated that she hasn’t heard a word from Tommy. Tasha tries to talk her friend off the ledge, but it’s clearly not working. Tasha texts Tommy to find out where he’s been but we all know, Tommy doesn’t have his phone.

In Chicago, Tommy meets with Jason Micic (Mike Dopud), the head of the organization. He tells Tommy that Ghost is out of jail (which Tommy didn’t know) and that he’s impressed with the work he’s done thus far. Jason informs Tommy that he thinks he would be a good replacement for Milan (Callan Mulvey) and that he wants him to run both the East and West Coasts. In return, Jason asks that Tommy cut all ties with Ghost (yeah, that’s never gonna happen). Though he’s ready to get back on the road for NYC, (why is he driving 22 hours?! I guess he doesn’t want a paper trail) Jason informs Tommy that he’ll be staying the night to celebrate his potential promotion Chicago style.

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 5 Recap: “Don't Thank Me”

Angela (Lela Loren) is trying to run her guilt away, but it’s not going to work. She finally tells her older sister Paz (Elizabeth Rodriguez) that she thinks Jamie (Omari Hardwick) is innocent. Paz is no fan of Ghost’s (after all he’s a liar, cheater and murderer.) However, she does tell her sister that if she knows something that proves Ghost didn’t kill Greg (Andy Bean) — she has to tell the truth. In prison, Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon) is doing his best to calm an enraged Ghost. With Proctor (Jerry Ferrara) out, Ghost doesn’t trust Silver to win his freedom. Silver calmly tells him that he has no other choice. He says, “I’m the ni**a standing between you and a needle.” With the asset forfeiture hearing approaching, Ghost has no other option than to put his life in Silver’s hands.

At the Feds, Angela (who seems to get more and more simple each episode) approaches Mike (David Fumer) about the surveillance tape. She thinks that the tape proves Ghost never hid the gun before she arrested him. Angela also notes that Mike was the one who last viewed the footage. Mike being the OG that he is (and Greg’s real killer) essentially tells Angela to STFU. Their conversation is interrupted by a delighted Saxe (Shane Johnson) who comes bursting in the room with evidence for the forfeiture hearing. The Feds have found a seven-figure check paid from Tommy (Joseph Sikora) to Club Truth. They are going to try and say that it was a hit payment. They think (or at least are going to claim) that Tommy paid Ghost to kill Greg.

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 4 Recap: “We're In This Together”

As I open this recap, I’d just like to acknowledge the fact that Tommy (Joseph Sikora) is even more insane that I’d previously thought which is saying A LOT — but we’ll get to that shortly. "We're in This Together" begins with Ghost (Omari Hardwick) lifting weights in the rec room. Resigned to his current situation, he seems determined to make the most of his prison time. This doesn’t stop Marshal Williams (Charlie Murphy), the prison guard/U.S. Marshall from antagonizing Ghost. In fact, he runs up on G and tries to choke him out with a barbell.

At the St. Patrick’s penthouse, Tommy is sleeping on the couch (They don’t have a guest room?!). He’s taken Ghost’s request to take care of his family to heart, but that doesn’t stop Keisha (La La Anthony) from blowing up his phone. Apparently, he slipped out of her bed in the wee hours of the morning and Keisha is not too pleased about it.

At the Feds, Saxe (Shane Johnson) and Mike (David Fumero) are still reeling from DNA fall out, and they are letting Angela (Lela Loren) HAVE IT. Though John (Sung Kang) sticks up for her at first, when the conference room clears he checks Angela for going behind his back and offering Ghost a deal. He tells her since she wants to be helpful; she needs to approach Tasha (Naturi Naughton) to get more info. Angela doesn’t want to, but she has no other choice.

Proctor (Jerry Ferrara) and Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon) meet with Ghost in prison, and they tell him that both Julio (J.R. Ramirez) and Dre (Rotimi) were picked up and questioned by the Feds. Ghost doesn’t seem too bothered because he knows his men are loyal. Silver reminds him that associating with known felons is not a good look. The attorneys inform Ghost that their new focus is on getting the gun thrown out. On the low, Ghost asks Proctor to look into Marshal Williams, and he reminds him to also inform Tommy about the money drop he needs to make to Teresi (William Sadler). Tommy must find out any info he can on the old gangster.

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 3 Recap: “The Kind of Man You Are”

Ghost’s (Omari Hardwick) legal troubles are now spreading out to his associates. As the episode opens, Tommy (Joseph Sikora), Dre (Rotimi), Julio (J.R. Ramirez) and Keisha (La La Anthony) are all hemmed up by the Feds and brought in for questioning. Though Julio and Dre paint Ghost as a do-gooder who gives back to those from the hood, Keisha inadvertently slips up and gives Angela (Lela Loren) information that could be used to break the spousal privilege between Ghost and Tasha (Naturi Naughton). Anglea wants to paint Tasha as Ghost’s accomplice.

In jail, Proctor (Jerry Ferrara) introduces Ghost to his second chair, Terry Silver (Brandon Victor Dixon). Immediately, Ghost and Silver aren’t feeling one another. Ghost seems desperate to get Silver to see him as an innocent man, but Silver just wants to win. Ghost walks through the day Greg (Andy Bean) died with Silver to try and establish an alibi. He doesn’t have one, but when looking at the crime scene, he does notice a phone in Greg’s drawer that hadn’t been there when he initially broke into his apartment. It’s new info for Proctor and Silver, but it might not actually help. Later, when the attorneys return, Ghost recalls being pulled over by Greg the day Greg died. He’s adamant that Angela knows about the stop. Silver and Proctor try to find evidence since Greg never logged it.

Somewhere in the city, Tommy drops Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) and Raina (Donshea Hopkins) off at school. After waving Rena goodbye, he tries to have a heart to heart with Riq, but the boy is still on BS. Tommy tries to reassure Tariq that his dad is innocent of killing Greg, but in seeing Tariq’s reaction, Tommy also realizes that something is not quite right with the boy.

Later, after determining the Feds are trying to break spousal privilege, Proctor decides they NEED to get Ghost’s DNA thrown out from the case, and he sets about trying to make that happen. Meanwhile, in prison, Tony Teresi (William Sadler) gets a packet of Ramen noodles delivered to his cell. We discover that a phone is actually embedded in the dry noodles. From the voice on the other line, Tony gets more deets on Tommy, and he learns Tommy runs with a man named Ghost. Though the voice on the other line has no idea who Ghost might be. Tony starts piecing things together.

At the Feds office, John Mak (Sung Kang) is pissed. He’s annoyed that the team got nothing from Ghost’s associates because he is determined that Ghost gets the needle and that Tommy and the whole organization go down as well. Once Angela tells him the info she got from Keisha in order to break spousal privilege his mood does brighten. Angela tries to reason with him about leaving Tasha out of the trial for the sake of the kids, but John wants blood. We also learn that Ghost’s old club manager Kantos (Adam Huss) is willing to talk to the Feds, but he wants full immunity. The Feds blow him off… for now.

In school, some asshole jock named Ethan sends out a mass text about Ghost being up for the death penalty. Rena get’s the text and is distraught, but Riq takes care of it before taking off to hang with Kanan (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson). Crying, Rena tries to run after her brother and is photographed by the paparazzi. At her apartment, Keisha tells Tommy she’s afraid Tasha will give them up if her kids are on the line. Tommy tries to reassure her that Tasha would never do that, but he also looks unsure.

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'Power' Season 4, Episode 2 Recap: "Things Are Going To Get Worse"

Prison looks very rough on Ghost (Omari Hardwick). Injured from his violent encounter with the prison guards at the end of the season premiere, Ghost is now dealing with blood in his urine and a possible broken rib. Gone is the polished and well put together James St. Patrick that we’ve grown accustomed to over the past three seasons of this series. At home, Tasha (Naturi Naughton) is trying to reassure Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) and Raina (Donshea Hopkins) of their father’s innocence, even though he won’t be home anytime soon. She also warns them to keep their family business to themselves and to NEVER refer to their father as Ghost. Tariq is insolent and rude, and he’s not trying to hear anything that his mother is saying.

Meanwhile, the sexual tension between Keisha (La La Anthony) and Tommy (Joseph Sikora) is building. Disturbed by the fact that Ghost hasn’t been granted bail, Keisha barges into Tommy’s loft to tell him she wants his and Tasha’s hands out of her business. Tommy tells her that he can’t have that, not with all eyes on Ghost and his associates. He assures Keisha that he has her back and that everything will work out in the end.

Back in prison, Proctor (Jerry Ferrara) visits Ghost in jail, he tells Ghost that his hands are tied until the prosecution shows their hand, but he also warns his client to suppress his baser self. Meanwhile, at work, Angela (Lela Loren) should be humiliated since her colleagues are discussing her sex life. In a back and forth split screen Proctor convinces Ghost and AUSA John Mak (Sung Kang) convinces Angela that neither of them can take the stand. The timeline and knowledge of their relationship hurts the Feds’ case and the love triangle between Ghost, Angela, and Greg (Andy Bean) would give Ghost a motive. Instead, John decides that he wants to go for Ghost, Tommy, and their entire drug empire.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Will Ghost Be Able to Pull Off the Performance of His Life? Recapping the ‘Power’ Season 4 Premiere

Ghost is living his worst nightmare. As “When I Get Out” opens, he finds himself being booked in prison. As he disrobes, he reflects back to all of the warnings Tommy and Tasha gave him about Angela. He realizes that every poor decision he’s made regarding her has led him to this moment and yet, he’s almost in disbelief.At the river, Sandoval is preparing to dispose of the gun he used to kill Greg Knox when he gets the call about Ghost’s arrest. This news changes his plans, and walks away from the river, with the gun still in his jacket pocket. Meanwhile, in some deep dungeon somewhere, Tommy goes to retrieve Keisha who has been in hiding since Milan put a hit out on her. The two exchange a look. Could it be something between them?

At her home, Tasha is still reeling from the news of Tariq’s kidnapping. Unable to get in contact with a now imprisoned Ghost she calls Tommy who orders Dre to find out where the boy is. Arriving at Kanan and Jukebox’s hideout, Dre strikes a deal with the volatile duo and their friend. He agrees to pay them $50,000 a week as long as they leave Tariq alone. Dre also tells them about Ghost’s arrest. The news leaves Kanan positively gleeful. When Dre brings Tariq home, he feeds Tasha and Tommy a ridiculous story that Tommy doesn’t believe. If you recall, Tommy and Tasha think Kanan is dead. However, Tariq’s twin sister Rena also knows Kanan’s face. Dre’s gonna die over this; it’s only a matter of time.

In jail, Ghost uses his phone call to contact his attorney Joe Proctor who seems to have his ish to deal with. Proctor tells Tasha about Ghost’s arrest. Proctor visits Ghost in jail, and he tells him he needs to embody James St. Patrick while imprisoned. Ghost has no place there. We also learn that the feds have Ghost's fingerprints and DNA. Though Ghost tries to hold it together as he awaits is the bail hearing, one of the guards played by the late Charlie Murphy has no patience for cop killers, and he begins the antagonization and mind games.

With Ghost’s bail hearing a day away, Tasha goes in search of clean money to bail him out only to learn that Ghost has wiped their accounts. She also finds the necklace that he brought Angela. In the midst of this, the feds appear at Tasha and Ghost’s penthouse with Angela in tow. (Homegirl has a lot of nerve.) Rena arrives home as the search warrant is being carried out and gives Angela a much-deserved dragging.

Out streets, Tommy announces that with Milan out of the picture, he is the new connect. He also informs the crew that Julio is the new distributor. Dre is pissed about the news and confronts Tommy. Tommy tells him Julio has been fam forever, and he also lets Dre know that he doesn't believe a word he was told about Tariq’s friend Slim. Tommy knows Dre isn’t to be trusted.

An 'American Gods' Chat w/ Ricky Whittle, Yetide Badaki, Orlando Jones

After many years in limbo, Starz is bringing Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed novel "American Gods" to life. The gorgeously shot epic, follows Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), a man who is released from prison early after his wife Laura dies in a car accident. On his way home, Shadow encounters an eclectic man named Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), who offers him a job as his bodyguard. As Shadow is pulled into Mr. Wednesday's world, we soon learn that he is not, in fact, the con-artist that he is masquerading himself to be. Instead, Mr. Wednesday is the god, Odin, who is making his way across America to try and unite the old Gods who have integrated themselves into American life in a war against the new Gods, Media and Technology who are consuming the world.

As Shadow and Mr. Wednesday move across the country battling for the very soul of America, "American Gods" gives us the immigration stories of various mythical beings in America. Ahead of the series premiere, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ricky Whittle who stars as Shadow Moon, Yetide Badaki who stars as the love goddess Bilquis and Orlando Jones who brings Mr. Nancy aka Anansi to life.

Aramide Tinubu: Ricky, what did you know about Neil Gaiman’s novel prior to signing on to the series?

Ricky Whittle: I didn’t know about “American Gods” until fans started hashtagging me online. That’s why I’ll always have an affinity and a love for my fans because I wouldn’t be here if it weren't for them. I feel very grateful that they introduced this project to my life and allowed to me to audition in the first place.

AT: What was the audition process like for you?

RW: Starz put out a search #CastingShadow. They wanted the fans to have input because it’s a huge book and Neil Gaiman is a rock star. After sixteen years of anticipation, the fans put me forward and feel very blessed and honored to be a part of that. That’s when I took it to my reps. I started reading the book during the audition process, and Bryan and Michael stopped me because it was affecting my auditions. I spoke to Neil about it recently actually. He told me they saw twelve-hundred tapes.

AT: Stop it! Just for Shadow Moon?! That’s incredible.

RW: So to whittle it down, wow that is a terrible pun. I apologize that is awful! (Laughing) But, to whittle it down to the last person that is an incredible honor. They stopped me from reading the book early on in the audition process because I was too much like Shadow in the book; quiet, blasé and too laid back. They needed to adapt him to screen. We wanted the character to be more vocal and charismatic and to have a little bit more about him; to ask more questions and to have anxiety and fears. After we finished filming, I was able to go back and read through it. That’s when I really appreciated the script for what it was because I could see the magic that Bryan and Michael had done with the script and in changing the timeline. It blew my mind. Fans of the book who know it inside and out are still going to watch with fresh eyes because everything they love in the book is in the show, but so much more.

Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

The Cast Of ‘Survivor’s Remorse’ Talk Secrets Uncovered In Season Three, Character Evolution & #BlackLivesMatter

It’s rare for a series to be able to tackle hard-hitting issues such as colorism and class disparities in thirty-minute segments. However, Starz’s “Survivor’s Remorse”, which is led by showrunner Mike O’Malley and produced by LeBron James, hits the nail on the head every week. The series follows NBA star Cam Calloway’s (Jessie T. Usher) life off the court as he juggles his Boston bred family, his newfound fame and his massive fortune. The first two seasons had some pretty thought-provoking story lines, including the Calloway matriarch’s (Tichina Arnold) vaginal rejuvenation and Cam’s sister-in-law Missy’s (Teyonah Parris) decision to do the big chop and wear her hair natural.

The season two finale left audiences and the Calloways reeling from Uncle Julius’ (Mike Epps) possibly fatal car accident.  Ahead of the season three premiere this Sunday June 24th, I sat down with showrunner and writer Mike O’Malley, Jessie T. Usher, Erica Ash, Teyonah Parris, RonReaco Lee and Tichina Arnold. We chatted about where “Survivor’s Remorse” is headed, their characters’ evolutions, and how #BlackLivesMatter has personally affected them all.

Taking On “Survivor’s Remorse”

Mike O’Malley: I’m really just a ham and egger. I’m just a guy out there looking for work just like everybody else. I’m a character actor and I’m a writer. When LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Tom Werner call up and say, “Would you be interested in working with us?” I’m like “Yeah for sure.” So, I’m going to be fifty this year, and I’ve been in this business for a long time. One of the things that I’ve realized is, if you associate yourself with winners and with people who can help raise the profile of a project above the fray, you have a better shot of your hard work being seen by people, which ultimately is what you want. I was looking at this time in my life for a great collaboration, and to be supported and encouraged and also enhance that writing experience with people who have real depth and knowledge about the work that I was writing about. Essentially when you just go to the building blocks of human behavior, that’s where universality comes into play. We have a great writing staff who talks specifically about things. The actors also have a big part in talking to me about how they think some things might be said or portrayed, and it’s a real collaborative effort. We had a big story-line in season two about Missy’s hair. I haven’t thought about a haircut in fifty years. I don’t know anything about that. But, when you have actors and Tracy Oliver who really talked about the fact that when you’re a Black woman and you move to a new town, the first thing you have to figure out is where you’re getting your hair done. Erica Ash and Teyonah Parris were also talking about how important that is to them. I am fully aware that I am just completely oblivious to that, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great story and that we can’t put a writer on it and say, what are the stakes here, what does this mean to people?

On The Importance Of “Survivor’s Remorse”

MO: I think if you’re interested in stories about how we live now, and if you’re interested in stories about characters and how people are striving to be better people, then “Survivor’s Remorse” will mean something to you. It’s a show about how our humanity gets in the way, and often times trips us and leads us to make mistakes in our own individual lives; how we make mistakes in relationships, how we make mistakes in what we say, and the choices we make. It’s about how we love and criticize in the wrong way. Or, we choose relationships that take us away from happiness. So I think what I find interesting about working on the show is that it reminds me of the purpose of storytelling.

On Incorporating Current Events

MO: One of the things we found with the show is that it’s very hard nowadays for a famous athlete in Cam’s situation, to not be alert to what is going on in the real world. So, it is our choice to root these characters in the real world, and not have them oblivious as to what’s going on in life. One of the funny things about comedy is that even when dark things happen, you make a joke because what else can you do?

Getting To Season Three

MO: It is a miracle. As an actor I’ve been on like three shows that were canceled after two episodes. (Laughing) The unifying element on that was me. Starz is a very brave network! You’ll see this season and you’ll think, I can’t believe they said, “Yes, go do that.” This year was very much about what is not being talked about on other shows. It was about what can’t you have on broadcast television or on a sitcom that you’d be restricted by. So this show has just been a gift to me to work on and to learn and to just be surrounded by these actors who are just bursting with talent, and to finally have the opportunity to make it manifest. Writers from the first and second season, they’ve gone on and are now working on other shows, and they constantly want my actors on other shows and I’m like, “No! They’re working on this show; we have this season. Don’t take them away please.” That’s the whole thing about diversity in television and in films is that people are like, “I don’t see enough stories about people who look like me and are about people like me.”

Where “Survivor’s Remorse” Is Headed

MO: Well, I don’t know how the story’s going to end because I want it to go for a long long time. (Laughing) I’ve got three kids to put through college…hopefully. The cast is so talented and their range is so wide so they can play comedy and then they can do drama and have depth, and they can go to those things quickly; they can turn on a dime. That includes the new series regulars this year, Chris Bauer who plays Jimmy Flaherty and Robert Wu who plays Da Chen Bao. We have seven actors on the show who are series regulars and can do anything. So, it’s an embarrassment of riches. It’s been a real gift to me. And then just being around these actors, it’s just been amazing.

On Matriarch Cassie Calloway

Tichina Arnold: Cassie, as with any single mother busting their ass to just keep their head above water; when you finally get money, fame or glory and you see your son’s dreams playing out; it’s scary. So sometimes you make certain decisions that your probably shouldn’t make. Or, you react in certain ways that you probably shouldn’t react. But with Cassie, I always try and make sure that I keep her authentic. Out of all of the characters on “Survivor’s Remorse”, Cassie is the only character that is not trying to find herself. She knows who she is. But, there is that underlying core which I’m sure everyone who has a mother can understand, there is a lot of shit your mother won’t tell you. You might have never even seen your mother cry. I asked my daughter the other day. “Have you ever seen me cry?” She was like, “No, I’ve never seen you cry mom.” My daughter is twelve now so I was like, “Whoa.” As a parent, you naturally have defense mechanisms of protection, and you naturally have a mechanism of coping and dealing with life. I never want to lose that with Cassie. When Mike O’Malley gave me the line, “You punched the money!” last season, I would never verbalize that. I would think it, but Cassie is that type of person to say it. That is the difference between me and Cassie. Her life is very synonymous with mine even though they’v got millions and I don’t (laughing). That’s the only difference. I wish I had it, but I don’t! (Laughing)

On Cassie’s Evolution

TA: With this season you’re going to see Cassie a little more vulnerable because of her brother Uncle Julius getting in the car accident. I can’t say what happens with him, but you’re going to deal with the fallout. Sometimes when death and travesties happen in a person ‘s life, it forces that person to look at themselves. It forces that person to look at their present reality outside of the fame, fortune, money and glory. I think Cassie in this season is forced to go back to the basics. She’s also forced to deal with her past. She drops a fucking bomb about something that happened to her in her past. Obviously, the things that happen affect us all in our lives regardless of whether or not we believe it. Whatever happened to Cassie, it affected her, and it affected her relationship with her daughter Mary Charles. It affected her relationship with people and it affected her relationship with love. We get deeper into each character this season, and you find out more as to why they tick. With Cassie this year, when I play her, I try to picture in my brain all of the Black women out there who are watching her.

On Reggie’s Evolution

RonReaco Lee: I think this third season for Reggie, his focus really gears towards Cam this year, as opposed to trying to branch out. He certainly wants to continue to build that legacy. Reggie struggled a little bit in the first two seasons. In season one he kind of screwed up the Da Chen Bao deal, and in the second season there was the whole Jupiter debatable. So this third season is really about negotiating the contract; getting Cam everything that he can get for him. Reggie has to learn and make mistakes. Now the trust is there a bit more and they still deal with some trust issues as it pertains to Cam trusting Reggie to really be his manager and we will see that this season. Continue reading at Shadow and Act.

Image: Starz

Amazing time today interviewing Jessie T. Usher and the entire cast of #Starz "Survivor's Remorse" Deets on season 3 coming soon via @shadowandact.film.tv.web 🎬🎞 #chocolategirlinterviews 👸🏿

A photo posted by Chocolate Girl In The City (@midnightrami) on Jul 12, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT