Yahoo Lifestyle Ramy Youssef’s ‘#1 Happy Family USA’ Drops First Look at Adult Animated Series From A24 (TV News Roundup)
Amazon Prime Video has released a premiere date and first look images for “#1 Happy Family USA,” a new adult comedy series from Ramy Youssef and A24. All eight episodes of the new series will premiere April 17 on Amazon Prime Video.
Co-created by Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady, “#1 Happy Family USA” follows “the maniacally upbeat Husseins – the most patriotic, most peaceful, and most definitely-not-suspicious Muslim family in post-9/11 ‘Amreeka,'” according to a press release. “With satire and absurdity, it redefines finding humor in hardship as they navigate the early 2000s under the watchful eyes of their terrified neighbors.”
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The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, A24 and Cairo Cowboy, and stars Youssef, Alia Shawkat, Mandy Moore, Chris Redd, Salma Hindy, Randa Jarrar, Akaash Singh and Whitmer Thomas.
Also in this week’s TV News Roundup:
FIRST LOOKS/TRAILERS
The new trailer for the Apple TV+ series “Dope Thief” has been unveiled, showing Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in action after they rob the wrong house.
Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book of the same name, “Dope Thief” follows lifelong friends (Henry and Moura) who see their lives torn apart after a robbery unravels a narcotics corridor. The cast also includes Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Nesta Cooper, Amir Arison, Dustin Nguyen and Ving Rhames, with Ridley Scott directing the first episode.
“Dope Thief” premieres globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes Friday, March 14 before new episodes drop weekly.
Watch the trailer below.
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David Blaine pushes the limits of what is possible in the new trailer for the National Geographic show “David Blaine Do Not Attempt.”
The six episodes in the season span from Brazil, Asia, India, South Africa to Japan as Blaine explores the world and puts endurance to the test. The show also reveals a more personal side to the world-renowned magician as he explores the culture and history of the places he visits.
The series is produced by Imagine Documentaries for National Geographic and premieres March 23 before streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Watch the trailer below.
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Animated comedy show “BE@RBRICK” will premiere March 21 on Apple TV+.
DreamWorks Animation and Dentsu Inc. produced and animated the series, which contains 13 episodes and uses original music and CG animation. The character Jasmine Finch (Brianna Bryan) and her band work toward their dreams in a setting where people’s paths are decided after high school graduation.
The voice cast also includes Skyla I’Lece playing Holly, Isaiah Crews playing Nick, Noah Bentley playing Klaus and Alison Jaye playing Ada.
Meghan McCarthy (“My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”) developed the series and is showrunner, writer and executive producer. Timbaland is executive music producer. Jina Hyojin An and Shirley Song contributed an original score.
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Uzo Aduba will star as a detective investigating a murder at the White House in “The Residence,” a new screwball whodunit series from Shondaland arriving on Netflix March 20.
Created by “Scandal” writer Paul William Davies, “The Residence” is Shondaland’s second series set in the White House, and stars Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp, a “wry” sleuth racing to find the killer amid a disastrous state dinner.
“‘The Residence‘ a lot of things. It’s funny, it’s suspenseful, it’s clever, it’s totally farcical in places, it’s genuinely romantic in others,” said Davies citing Stanley Donen’s 1963 mystery/comedy “Charade” as an inspiration for the series.
“As a murder mystery, what I think really makes it fresh and unique is Cordelia Cupp,” continued Davies in a press release. Aduba will star alongside an ensemble cast including Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kelechi Watson, Jane Curtin, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Al Mitchell, Edwina Findley.
PROGRAMMING
In The Black Network is expanding its entertainment programming with a dedicated Latino division, adding to the free streaming service’s network that has traditionally highlighted Black voices.
Producer Liana Mendoza will be the curator of content for ITBN’s new initiative. The first film acquired under the division is “The Low End Theory.” The indie crime thriller played at both the New York Latino and Guadalajara Film Festivals and tells the story of a beats producer navigating the Los Angeles underground hip-hop scene.
“‘The Low End Theory’ represents the ideal project to launch ITBN’s Latino Division, which will serve Latinx audiences worldwide by showcasing authentic, original, and inclusive storytelling,” In The Black Network CEO and founder James DuBose said in a statement. “This is a pivotal step in our platform’s extended mission to provide content that entertains, educates, and highlights diverse cultural narratives.”
ITBN will celebrate its new streaming platform debut with a red carpet premiere on Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Fine Arts Cinema in Beverly Hills.
PRODUCTION
Brendan Gleeson and Harper Steele have joined Peacock’s “The Good Daughter” as series regulars, while Paula Malcomson and Jake McDorman will play recurring roles in the limited series crime thriller.
Based on Karin Slaughter’s novel of the same name, “The Good Daughter” stars Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy as sisters Charlotte and Samantha, who “have spent the last 28 years trying to piece together the lives that were fractured by a single night of violence,” according to an official synopsis.
“When another attack splinters the small town of Pikeville, Charlotte is the first witness on the scene. Now a lawyer like her father, she’s forced to confront her own demons as the case twists through one shocking revelation after another. In the end, both she and Samantha find themselves wondering if the price of being the good daughter was worth it after all.”
“The Good Daughter” is written and executive produced by Slaughter, with Byrne serving as an additional executive producer alongside Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Casey Haver for Made Up Stories, and director Steph Green.
AWARDS
The Gotham Television Awards is returning for the second year and currently accepting submissions.
The deadline to submit is March 24. There are twelve categories, including breakthrough drama series, breakthrough limited series, outstanding lead performance in a comedy series and outstanding performance in an original film.
“For the 2nd Annual Gotham Television Awards, we are thrilled to continue building on the incredible success of last year’s inaugural event,” Jeffrey Sharp, the Gotham Film & Media Institute’s executive director, said in a statement. “The response from both the industry and audiences was overwhelming, and we look forward to honoring even more groundbreaking television series and performances in 2025.”
Nominees will be revealed April 29, with the ceremony happening June 2 in New York City. Previous winners include Andrew Scott for “Ripley” and the series “Baby Reindeer.”
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