Entertainment
Issa Rae explores history of Black representation in TV in documentary: “It makes such a difference”
Award-winning actor producer and writer Issa Rae is opening up about what inspired her new documentary, “Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television.” She’s executive producer of the two-part series that explores the history of Black representation on TV and how Black artists and creators revolutionized the industry while confronting major challenges.
The series, which Rae and her collaborators started creating in 2019, features media icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Norman Lear and Shonda Rhimes.
“What inspired me to even get my start was just seeing the people that I love, the people that I know, the people that raised me on TV, and that representation was so essential for me to recognize that I could do it,” Rae told “CBS Mornings” Tuesday about her inspiration growing up in the 90s.
In the early 2000s, Rae said there was a “disappearance all of the sudden” of Black characters and shows on TV, but they reemerged about a decade later.
In the 2010s, “there were just so many new shows, new shows of color,” she said. But now, Rae said TV and media is once again in an era where Black characters and shows have disappeared.
“I think the advent of cable made a huge difference where, you know, now these networks had to try to capture the broadest audience possible because they were losing audiences to different niche cable networks and so they were like, ‘how can we maximize the audience we have?’ and they have a tendency to go broad then, and broad sometimes just means White, the most eyeballs that you can get,” she said.
Even though shows like “Family Matters” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” were universal and watched by a broad audience, there is sometimes a feeling that Black shows may exclude an audience, she said.
The documentary also explores the importance of representation behind the camera.
“It makes such a difference when you’re thinking about something as small as set design. I’ve seen that just even on my own productions and watching movies. Sometimes you’ll watch a movie and you’ll see a Black character’s bedroom, and you’ll be like ‘they would never, what? They would never have that.'”
The details in a show could also apply to how a character dresses or their hair.
“I don’t want to be taken out of a story. If I’m immersed, like those small details really, really matter, and there’s just — also there’s a different level of honestly, pride that goes in, in creating something that you know you’re a part of and you understand on a different level,” Rae said.
She said the changing media industry is challenging, “but it’s another time that I’m confident we’ll get through. There’s so many opportunities in the digital era and that’s where I came from. I find hope in knowing that I can create. If I want to tell a story I’m going to tell a story regardless.”
The HBO documentary film “Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television” debuts Sept. 9 on HBO and HBO Max.
Those who are willing to watch Emma Stone’s latest movie, Bugonia, in an early screening for free must fulfil this condition: come bald.
Yes. That’s what the post on social media read about the Yorgos Lanthimos-directed movie, which gives a nod to the lead actress who got her head shaved for the role.
“Are you bald, or willing to shave your head? On Monday, 10/20, head to the Culver Theater for a FREE advanced screening of ‘Bugonia’,” the DoLA post says on Instagram.
It adds, “The new Focus Features fever dream from Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.”
The post notes that a barber will be on-site for those who wish to get bald on the spot, stating, “This is real.” And yes, part of it will be filmed.”
It continues for those who wish to see the movie with their hair; tickets are also available. Yargos served as director, while Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone starred alongside Emma.
It is worth noting Bugonia will get a wide release on Oct 24 after the limited release on Oct 31.
Sydney Sweeney has reportedly fallen head over heels for music mogul Scooter Braun.
According to The National Enquirer, while getting serious with Braun, who famously managed stars like Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, was not part of the Euphoria actress’ original plan, she has quickly become smitten.
“Sydney has the world at her feet, she genuinely doesn’t need Scooter’s help to get anything done, but she’s started running all her business decisions by him,” a source revealed.
However, not everyone in her circle is thrilled about the budding romance.
The Emmy-nominated actress was previously engaged to Jonathan Davino, whom she began dating in 2018 before they quietly split earlier this year.
According to insiders, Sweeney’s close friends are “baffled” by the new relationship, especially since she had initially vowed to remain single for at least a year.
“She told them she wanted to stay single to get to know herself after so many years in a relationship,” the tipster added in conclusion.
Louis Tomlinson has opened up about the emotional aftermath of Liam Payne’s tragic untimely death.
Louis’ former One Direction bandmate died aged 31 in Buenos Aires after falling from a third floor balcony at the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel on October 16, 2024.
Toxicology report revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system.
In a new interview with The Independent, Louis shared that he has a hard time accepting that Liam is dead.
“I naively thought that, at this point, I’d unfortunately be a little bit more well versed with grief than other people my age,” he reflected, having lost his mother to leukemia in 2016, and his sister to an accidental overdose in 2019.
“I thought that might mean something, but it didn’t at all. It’s something I’ll never really accept. I don’t think,” he added of Liam’s death.
On Thursday, October 16, tributes poured in for the late singer. His girlfriend Kate Cassidy shared a sweet video of Liam attempting to lift her up and failing.
Liam’s sister Ruth penned a heartbreaking note, writing, “1year, 12months, 52weeks, 365days… whichever way I say it, it still means the most heartbreaking truth that you’re not here any more.”
She added, “When you used to go away on tour, and l’d cry that you’d be gone for a while, I always knew you’d come back, but now I can’t get you home, I can’t meet up with you somewhere in the world, I can’t facetime or text to see how you’re doing, it’s an eternal homesick feeling because we can’t go back.”
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