Exclusive: BET Her has greenlit Black Girl, Erupted from director and star, Vanessa Bell Calloway (This Is Us), and executive producer, Tressa Azarel Smallwood of MegaMind Media. The project is the first feature film under the BET Her Presents: The Couch franchise.
Written by Tiffany Yancey, Black Girl, Erupted follows Reina (Khalilah Joi), a woman paying her dues at a law firm while facing microaggressions from co-workers and her boss Mr. Horowitz (Eric Roberts). Reina’s parents, Cassandra (Vanessa E. Williams), and Donald (Rodney Van Johnson), favor their younger daughter, Reilly, (Janeva Stoute), and consistently remind Reina not to be the “angry black woman” at the firm. The pressure to be perfect and uphold the family’s image wreaks havoc on Reina’s mental state.
B.J. Britt, Kareem Grimes, Brely Evans and Asia’h Epperson also star.
The film reunites Calloway with Smallwood, who has overseen the production of all the...
Written by Tiffany Yancey, Black Girl, Erupted follows Reina (Khalilah Joi), a woman paying her dues at a law firm while facing microaggressions from co-workers and her boss Mr. Horowitz (Eric Roberts). Reina’s parents, Cassandra (Vanessa E. Williams), and Donald (Rodney Van Johnson), favor their younger daughter, Reilly, (Janeva Stoute), and consistently remind Reina not to be the “angry black woman” at the firm. The pressure to be perfect and uphold the family’s image wreaks havoc on Reina’s mental state.
B.J. Britt, Kareem Grimes, Brely Evans and Asia’h Epperson also star.
The film reunites Calloway with Smallwood, who has overseen the production of all the...
- 4/4/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
From 1999 – 2007, daytime soap fans enjoyed a daily escape to the fictional New England town of Harmony, where things were often anything but harmonious. From love triangles to tragedies to witches and a real-life doll named Timmy, Passions was quite a thrilling soap.
Many of the actors from the show kept in touch after things wrapped up, remaining friends for years to come. One of the longest-running friendships is that of Rodney Van Johnson and James Hyde, who played T.C. Russell and Sam Bennett, respectively. Not only are these two still close friends, but they’ve both recently re-entered the world of soap opera work.
Rodney Van Johnson and James Hyde are both soap opera veterans Rodney Van Johnson speaks at a panel discussion in 2013 I Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Van Johnson and Hyde both played essential characters on Passions, but it wasn’t the first soap stint for either actor.
Many of the actors from the show kept in touch after things wrapped up, remaining friends for years to come. One of the longest-running friendships is that of Rodney Van Johnson and James Hyde, who played T.C. Russell and Sam Bennett, respectively. Not only are these two still close friends, but they’ve both recently re-entered the world of soap opera work.
Rodney Van Johnson and James Hyde are both soap opera veterans Rodney Van Johnson speaks at a panel discussion in 2013 I Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Van Johnson and Hyde both played essential characters on Passions, but it wasn’t the first soap stint for either actor.
- 3/12/2023
- by Jessica Wick
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
If you were a soap fan in the early 2000s, you probably knew about the wild antics of NBC’s Passions. Known for pushing the envelope even by soap standards, you never knew what you’d see when you tuned in to watch the adventures of the Krane, Russell, Bennett, and Lopez-Fitzgerald families. From witches and warlocks to actual portals to hell, the show never ceased to push the limits — and the actors never seemed to mind.
Rodney Van Johnson played the role of T.C. Russell on the show, spanning nearly its entire run from 1999 – 2007 (he was dropped to recurring status in its final year). While he was largely grateful for the opportunity to work in the industry, he admitted that part of it took a personal toll on him — and there was one aspect that was especially challenging.
Rodney Van Johnson hated playing the ‘angry Black man’ Rodney...
Rodney Van Johnson played the role of T.C. Russell on the show, spanning nearly its entire run from 1999 – 2007 (he was dropped to recurring status in its final year). While he was largely grateful for the opportunity to work in the industry, he admitted that part of it took a personal toll on him — and there was one aspect that was especially challenging.
Rodney Van Johnson hated playing the ‘angry Black man’ Rodney...
- 3/11/2023
- by Jessica Wick
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Rodney Van Johnson is best known for his work on the soap opera Passions. For eight years, Johnson played T.C. Russell. While the role earned him fame, there were aspects of the job Johnson hated.
Passions star Rodney Van Johnson I Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Rodney Van Johnson played T.C. Russell on ‘Passions’
Johnson was one of the original cast members of Passions when it debuted in July 1999. The actor portrayed T.C., the patriarch of the Russell family. T.C. is married to Eve Russell (Tracey Ross), and they have two daughters, Whitney Russell (Brook Kerr) and Simone Russell (Cathy Jenee Doe).
T.C. is a tennis instructor whose dreams of playing professionally were dashed after a knee injury in a car wreck. The Russell patriarch blamed his longtime rival Julian Crane (Ben Masters) for the accident and ruining his career. T.C. has a temper...
Passions star Rodney Van Johnson I Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Rodney Van Johnson played T.C. Russell on ‘Passions’
Johnson was one of the original cast members of Passions when it debuted in July 1999. The actor portrayed T.C., the patriarch of the Russell family. T.C. is married to Eve Russell (Tracey Ross), and they have two daughters, Whitney Russell (Brook Kerr) and Simone Russell (Cathy Jenee Doe).
T.C. is a tennis instructor whose dreams of playing professionally were dashed after a knee injury in a car wreck. The Russell patriarch blamed his longtime rival Julian Crane (Ben Masters) for the accident and ruining his career. T.C. has a temper...
- 2/19/2023
- by Carol Cassada
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
BET+ has an exciting holiday slate.
The streaming service announced Monday it would launch 10 new movies, including family comedies, yuletide romances, and a little musical magic.
The flicks feature Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, and Dorien Wilson, Ne-Yo, Serayah, Romeo Miller, LeToya Luckett, and Lala Milan.
Get all the details on the movies below.
A Wesley Christmas - November 3
Adult siblings Chris, Todd, and Cydney Wesley travel to their childhood home to celebrate Christmas with their parents and the entire Wesley family.
With everyone together and all their physical and emotional baggage in tow, the annual Wesley family holiday promises to be a festive, hot-mess of a Christmas with life-changing impacts on the whole family.
Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill
Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones
Writer: Bree West
Produced by: Octet Productions
The First Noelle - November 10
After twenty years of friendship, Terrance and...
The streaming service announced Monday it would launch 10 new movies, including family comedies, yuletide romances, and a little musical magic.
The flicks feature Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, and Dorien Wilson, Ne-Yo, Serayah, Romeo Miller, LeToya Luckett, and Lala Milan.
Get all the details on the movies below.
A Wesley Christmas - November 3
Adult siblings Chris, Todd, and Cydney Wesley travel to their childhood home to celebrate Christmas with their parents and the entire Wesley family.
With everyone together and all their physical and emotional baggage in tow, the annual Wesley family holiday promises to be a festive, hot-mess of a Christmas with life-changing impacts on the whole family.
Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill
Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones
Writer: Bree West
Produced by: Octet Productions
The First Noelle - November 10
After twenty years of friendship, Terrance and...
- 10/10/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Exclusive: Own: Oprah Winfrey Network is making its first foray into original holiday movies with One Fine Christmas, Carole’s Christmas and Baking Christmas, set to air over three consecutive Fridays in November.
One Fine Christmas, starring Rick Fox and his daughter Sasha Fox in their first time acting together, as well as Marla Gibbs and Vanessa Williams, will premiere November 15. It will be followed by Carole’s Christmas, starring Jackée Harry and Kimberly Elise Star, on Nov. 22, and Baking Christmas, starring Aloma Wright and Tim Reid Star, on Nov. 29.
Holiday movies are a major audience draw, especially among women who are Own’s core demographic. And, while TV movies are generally difficult to make work financially for a cable network because they are one-offs, holiday films are generally evergreen and can be rerun every holiday season.
Original holiday movies have been...
One Fine Christmas, starring Rick Fox and his daughter Sasha Fox in their first time acting together, as well as Marla Gibbs and Vanessa Williams, will premiere November 15. It will be followed by Carole’s Christmas, starring Jackée Harry and Kimberly Elise Star, on Nov. 22, and Baking Christmas, starring Aloma Wright and Tim Reid Star, on Nov. 29.
Holiday movies are a major audience draw, especially among women who are Own’s core demographic. And, while TV movies are generally difficult to make work financially for a cable network because they are one-offs, holiday films are generally evergreen and can be rerun every holiday season.
Original holiday movies have been...
- 10/7/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
1970: Dark Shadows' Quentin and Maggie had matching pitchforks on their hands.
1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at Draper's trial.
1995: Atwt's Eduardo died.
2006: Gh's Courtney found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color, shifting from the black-and-white telecasts of the show's first 11 years.
1970: On Dark Shadows, Quentin (David Selby) and Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) noticed they both had pitchfork marks on their hands.
1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at Draper's trial.
1995: Atwt's Eduardo died.
2006: Gh's Courtney found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color, shifting from the black-and-white telecasts of the show's first 11 years.
1970: On Dark Shadows, Quentin (David Selby) and Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) noticed they both had pitchfork marks on their hands.
- 2/20/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1970: Dark Shadows' Quentin and Maggie had matching pitchforks
on their hands. 1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at
Draper's trial. 1995: Atwt's Eduardo died. 2006: Gh's Courtney
found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color,...
on their hands. 1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at
Draper's trial. 1995: Atwt's Eduardo died. 2006: Gh's Courtney
found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color,...
- 2/20/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Natalie Zea is taking a detour from her TBS comedy to join Showtime’s White Famous.
The Detour star will recur on the upcoming Jamie Foxx co-created/co-starring series as Amy, a high-profile Hollywood agent to whom SNL alum Jay Pharoah’s up-and-coming comedian Floyd is drawn.
Additionally, Kendrick Sampson (How to Get Away With Murder) will recur as Robbie, a handsome British actor auditioning alongside Floyd.
RelatedJay Pharoah Lands Lead in Jamie Foxx’s Showtime Pilot White Famous
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* Michael Jackson’s Halloween is coming to CBS this fall in...
The Detour star will recur on the upcoming Jamie Foxx co-created/co-starring series as Amy, a high-profile Hollywood agent to whom SNL alum Jay Pharoah’s up-and-coming comedian Floyd is drawn.
Additionally, Kendrick Sampson (How to Get Away With Murder) will recur as Robbie, a handsome British actor auditioning alongside Floyd.
RelatedJay Pharoah Lands Lead in Jamie Foxx’s Showtime Pilot White Famous
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* Michael Jackson’s Halloween is coming to CBS this fall in...
- 7/11/2017
- TVLine.com
Actress and comedienne Kym Whitley has been best friends with fellow actor Rodney Van Johnson for more than 20 years. Rodney has played an even bigger role in Kym's life since he offered to be the father figure for her young son Joshua. From then on, the three became a modern family.
Throughout their unconventional arrangement and the entire first season of Kym's series "Raising Whitley," Rodney and Kym straddled the line between friendship and a romantic relationship. Lately, however, Rodney has seemed ready to move everything into romance territory -- and, in this clip from the season finale of "Raising Whitley," he's ready to ask Kym an important "life-changing" question.
"There's something I want to ask you," Rodney says to Kym, placing his hand over hers.
"What's the question?" Kym asks suspiciously.
Silence.
"What?" Kym pushes. "You're all serious!"
"I want to ask you something," Rodney begins again.
In an...
Throughout their unconventional arrangement and the entire first season of Kym's series "Raising Whitley," Rodney and Kym straddled the line between friendship and a romantic relationship. Lately, however, Rodney has seemed ready to move everything into romance territory -- and, in this clip from the season finale of "Raising Whitley," he's ready to ask Kym an important "life-changing" question.
"There's something I want to ask you," Rodney says to Kym, placing his hand over hers.
"What's the question?" Kym asks suspiciously.
Silence.
"What?" Kym pushes. "You're all serious!"
"I want to ask you something," Rodney begins again.
In an...
- 6/14/2013
- by Lisa Capretto
- Huffington Post
Kym Whitley has no secrets when it comes to her relationship status. The actress and comedienne has been single for years -- even prior to the unexpected adoption of her son Joshua -- but all that might be changing soon. Kym's best friend and Joshua's father-figure, Rodney Van Johnson, is frequently straddling the line between friendship and a romantic relationship with Kym, and finally makes a move in the new episode of "Raising Whitley."
When Joshua originally came into Kym’s life, Rodney stepped up to be the boy's key father figure. "I want to be Joshua's father because I didn't have that growing up," Rodney says. "I think it's so pivotal for Joshua to know that there [are] two people in his life."
In the video, Rodney comes over to Kym's house for his bedtime routine with Joshua. In the toddler's room, Rodney pretends to read a story out loud to Joshua.
When Joshua originally came into Kym’s life, Rodney stepped up to be the boy's key father figure. "I want to be Joshua's father because I didn't have that growing up," Rodney says. "I think it's so pivotal for Joshua to know that there [are] two people in his life."
In the video, Rodney comes over to Kym's house for his bedtime routine with Joshua. In the toddler's room, Rodney pretends to read a story out loud to Joshua.
- 6/7/2013
- by Lisa Capretto
- Huffington Post
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