Archives: Episodes

Charlamagne tha God on his Comedy Central show 'Hell of a Week' and what's next

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Comedy Central

Charlamagne tha God is back for season two of his Comedy Central series, but it may look a little different to fans who watched the first season. After all, it’s got a new name and a new format. 

The series, which was called Tha God’s Honest Truth for its first season, is now titled Hell of a Week with Charlamagne tha God, and the host is now joined by a panel. 

So why the change?

“I thrive with community,” the multi-hyphenate tells ABC Audio. “And if you see me on any show, whether it’s Bill Marr whether it’s The View, whatever it is, I like having conversations with a group of people and that’s just something I wanted to capture on my show.”

“The thing that always felt most comfortable to me was when I actually had people up there just kicking it with me and yeah, that’s just it,” he continues. “I look forward to coming here every week and just kicking it with a panel of people who got different thoughts…. You’ve got a different mindset. I wanted to be able to challenge each other.”

Charlamagne does much more than helm a TV show, though — he’s also a podcast host, radio host, New York Times Best Seller and more — and while it may seem like he’s got his hand in a little bit of everything, he explains that he really does just “stay in [his] lane.”

“If you look at what I do business wise, most of it is just media. That’s my wheelhouse,” he says. 

As for what’s next, Charlamagne is letting his faith guide him. “God has shown me a million times, your good plan is not my plan for you. So, just sit back and watch.”

Hell of a Week with Charlamagne tha God airs Thursdays at 11:30 ET on Comedy Central. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Nicki Minaj drops first trailer of upcoming six-part documentary series: “It’s like NOTHING you’ve seen before”

Rich Fury/Getty Images for Billboard

Nicki Minaj is once again lifting the velvet rope and letting fans inside of her personal life via an intimate, new six-part documentary.

The “Anaconda” rapper dropped the first trailer for Nicki on Instagram, writing, “Coming out SOONER THANK [sic] YOU THINK.”

“I took some time to perfect this very intimate, delicate, electrifying, inspiring body of work. As I decide on a home for this project, I can’t help but reflect on what I’m including in this doc,” she continued in the caption.  “Some things are so personal, it’s scary. It’s like NOTHING you’ve seen before & I need it to be handled with care.”

The documentary, produced by Bron Studios, not only dives into Nicki’s origins as a rapper but also explores her mindset as she navigates the music industry as a female rapper. In a voice-over, the Grammy nominee is heard saying, “No one gives you a manual on how to be a famous rapper.  You just learn it as you go.”

Other moments in the two-minute clip sees Nicki declaring, “I never wanted to be mainstream. Mainstream came to me.  I take the arts form of rap very seriously.”  

The trailer also focuses on the “Chun-Li” rapper discussing sexism in the industry as well as overcoming the lows of her career.  “I have to make music in order to stay sane,” the trailer closes, with Nicki performing before scores of screaming fans.

The rapper has tapped six-time Emmy nominated director Michael John Warren to helm this forthcoming project. He previously directed her past documentaries: 2015’s Nicki Minaj: My Time Again and 2010’s Nicki Minaj: My Time Now.  

A release date for Nicki has not yet been announced.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Kelis claims Beyoncé stole a sample of her song “Get Along with You”

Prince Williams/Getty Images

There’s at least one person not happy with Beyoncé’s new album, Renaissance: Kelis.

The singer claims Bey stole a sample of her 1999 song “Get Along with You” for the track “Energy.”

“I heard about this the same way everyone else did,” Kelis wrote on Instagram Thursday. “Nothing is ever as it seems, some of the people in this business have no soul or integrity and they have everyone fooled.”

She subsequently posted two videos about the issue, explaining, “It has to do with the fact that, from one artist to another, you should have the decency and common sense and the courtesy to call.”

Kelis not only called out Beyoncé but also Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who produced “Get Along with You.”

“Pharrell knows better. This is a direct hit at me,” she claims, adding, “He does this stuff all the time. It’s very petty.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Secrets under the 'Surface': Cast sounds off on Apple TV+'s twisty new thriller, debuting today

Apple TV+

In Apple TV+’s new thriller series Surface, Loki veteran Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Sophie, a woman who is getting re-acquainted with her seemingly perfect life after losing her memory in a near-fatal accident. 

However, as she recovers, she begins to learn that her life wasn’t what she thought it was — nor is it what her loved ones tell her it was. 

Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays James, her seemingly devoted husband. Like many of the other characters in the show, James is hiding more than a few secrets. “It’s just a kind of really fascinating journey,” he tells ABC  Audio. 

“I think all the characters go on in this show where…nothing is sort of how it seems,” he continues. “And so I think to play that, to be able to play holding on to secrets and sitting on things and hiding things — and they can be read so many different ways — that the tension that creates is incredible fun.”

Stephan James plays Baden, a guy who comes into Sophie’s life seemingly out of nowhere but who shows her they’ve actually been acquainted. Intimately. He holds the keys to her former life.

“You know, he’s kind of dark, he’s kind of mysterious, a little aloof, and you can’t quite put your finger on him,” James says of his character.

“I mean, he gives you the impression that his intentions are pure coming into it. But I think over the course of the season, you know, your mind may change a couple of times about that,” he says with a smile. “For me as an actor, that’s kind of what drew me to it is not knowing who this guy was.”  

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

A “deeply remorseful” Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock, his family, and fans for Oscars slap

Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A “deeply remorseful” Will Smith posted an emotional, nearly six-minute long video on Friday in which he addressed his physical and verbal attack on Chris Rock at this past March’s Oscars. 

“It’s been a minute,” reads a title card that begins the video, as Smith is heard settling into a chair in front of a microphone. “Over the last few months I have been doing a lot of thinking and personal work,” the message continues, adding, “You asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take some time to answer,” before Will’s recorded message begins. 

“Why didn’t you apologize to Chris in your acceptance speech?” Will first asks, quoting fans. He answered, “I was fogged out by that point. It’s all fuzzy.”

Will adds, “I have reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he’ll reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”

Will also apologizes to Chris Rock’s mother — who as previously reported gave an interview about the incident — and to Tony Rock, Chris’ writer brother.

“I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in in that moment,” Smith continues. “And I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.”

As for fans who asked if Smith’s wife, Jada, put him up to the stunt after “she rolled her eyes” at Chris Rock’s G.I. Jane jab at her, Smith denies it. 

“I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris,” Will insists. “Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe. And say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”

Smith also acknowledges his remorse for “tarnishing” the moment for fellow Oscar nominees and winners, as well as letting his fans down.

“It hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me,” he declares. “The work I’m trying to do is I am deeply remorseful, and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed for myself. I’m human and I made a mistake.”

The actor — who won his first Oscar at the ceremony not long after the slap — concludes by saying, “I know it was confusing. I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on a promise, we’ll be able to be friends again.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.