Tyler Perry’s drama ‘The Haves and The Have Nots’ continues strong, returning to OWN for it’s mid-season summer premiere
Hit drama “The Haves and The Haves Nots” continues to go strong in its 5th season this summer. The series returned Tuesday, June 20th for more melodrama with new episodes, followed by season two premiere of “Queen Sugar”. All new episodes of “The Haves and the Have Nots” feature Hanna (Crystal R. Fox), the moral conscience, being tested like never before. Hanna and her son, Benny, (Tyler Lepley) are stripped of everything they have once Candace’s (Tika Sumpter) latest hustle fails miserably. In the premiere episode, Hanna’s family is once again pushed to their limits after Warlock (Jon Chaffin) unleashes his vengeance. In its most recent season, “The Haves and the Have Nots” averaged over 3 million viewers in Live +3, was Tuesday night’s #1 original cable series for W25-54 and Tuesday night’s #1 original series on all of t.v. for African-American women and total viewers. “The Haves and the Have Nots” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
Dark drama series ‘Claws’ airs own TNT network with a ballsy cast, female lead Niecy Nash and co-star Karrueche Tran
Turner Network Television’s latest series “Claws” is a new hour-long dramedy starring Niecy Nash and Karrueche Tran. Premiering on June 11, with the second episode airing June 18, “Claws” follows a Florida manicure shop, Nail Artisan in Manatee County, where five manicurists launder money for a neighboring pain clinic out of their local, but booming salon. A versatile actress, Nash (“Getting On,” “The Soul Man” and “Masters of Sex”) takes on lead role in the new series. Her character, Desna Simms is an ambitious, yet crooked salon owner who cares for her mentally ill brother (Harold Perrineau) while running the salon with her 3 best friends, Polly (Carrie Preston), Quiet Ann (Judy Reyes) and Jen (Jenn Lyon). The three get themselves involved with local drug gang, “Dixie Mafia,” drug dealer and Desna’s boyfriend, Roller (Jack Kesy). As Desna pressures Roller to pay up and relinquish her from drug dealing, Virginia (Tran) gets in the middle. Things come to a head with a murder committed by the manicurists. Initially enemies, they are forced to form an alliance to secure their murderous secret. “Claws” is a female-driven series following five women who are pushed to the forefront with men as a vessel to their hustle. The series represents female empowerment and sisterhood despite its dark side. “It’s not about her making it for herself. It’s, ‘I want to make this happen for all of us,” she tells associated press. “Money is an issue. Sexism is an issue,” said Nash. It’s not so much about the black and white of it all, or the oppression of it all, it’s more about being underserved as a woman and wanting to have respect.” “I mean Southside of midnight dark. Pitch-black dark,” Nash describes the series dark theme on Twitter. “I wanted to do something great and I wanted to work with all these strong women,” Tran stated at the TNT Upfront in New York City. Referring to Virginia, Tran explains “she had to fight to survive, and I have a bit of those qualities in me. She’s tough, and having to pull herself together. When she could give up, she pushes herself.” Rashida Jones, Elliot Laurence, Janine Sherman Barrois and more executive produce the show. “To be able to do a drama and have humor in it is very, very refreshing,” Barrois said. “Normally you have all these bad things happening in the nighttime, and in darkness, but with a Florida noir show, you can have things happen in the light and under the bright sun, which is absurd.“ Watch “Claws” Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. on TNT.
(Photo Courtesy: Tony-Kelly-TNT)
Irv Gotti’s ‘Tales’ capture’s new and old hip-hop on BET this summer
New and returning summer series continue with new show “Tales.” Music producer and founder of Murder Inc. Records, Irv Gotti is recognized for songs from Jay-Z featuring Amil & Ja Rule “Can I Get A…”, Ja Rule “Holla Holla,” Ashanti’s “Foolish” and more. He returns to the scene of music and now television with series “Tales” premiering on BET. A scripted anthology series of “song stories”, the project weaves classic and current hip-hop songs into captivating visual narratives. “Tales” brings hip-hop alive in a completely new way for television. Through songs like N.W.A’s “F**k the Police,” Notorious B.I.G.’s “I Got a Story to Tell,” Meek Mill’s “Cold Hearted,” and Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen,” to name a few. Each song’s lyrics are imagined as cinematic adventures with different directors, including Irv Gotti’s directorial debut. The episodes were written by different screenwriters, introducing “Tales” as an innovative twist by recreating our favorite hip-hop songs into “mini-movies”. Woody McClain and Keith Powers (“The New Edition Story”), Jennifer Freeman, Elise Neal, MC Lyte, Boris Kodjoe, Lance Gross, Matthew Noszka, Clifton Powell and many more help bring the music to life in the highly anticipated BET original series “Tales” June 27th at 8 p.m. (Photo Courtesy: BET)
