Usher to executive produce 'Storyville', a series about the birth of jazz

Marcus Ingram/Getty Images

Usher has signed on to executive produce Storyville, a series that explores the roots of the Jazz Age.

Variety reports the upcoming show follows a group of five brothel madams fighting for control of New Orleans’ red light district. Usher will work alongside show creators Bill Macdonald and Walt Becker.

Storyville is an epic tale sparked by the origins of the sound that inspired my career,” the eight-time Grammy winner said in a statement, “a story that touches the nerve of social and cultural relevance today.” 

The show marks Usher’s first time serving as an executive producer of a drama series. The “OMG” singer previously served as EP for Quibi’s series short The Sauce in addition to the 2005 movie In The Mix.  

Storyville is being developed by Starlings Television and company president-slash-EP Chris Philip said of the forthcoming series, “Usher’s massive global appeal, musical and acting genius will propel this unique and compelling original series into must-see viewing worldwide.”

“His invaluable creative and musical contributions to Storyville fulfill our vision of contrasting the gritty, sometimes brutal sides of New Orleans life with it giving birth to a beautiful, diverse and defining new artform,” the statement continued.

It is unknown what network will air the forthcoming series, as it is currently being shopped to broadcasters.

Storyville was New Orleans’ red light district, which ran between 1897 and 1917. It is believed to be the birthplace of jazz music.  

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See Kevin Hart make the most of his 'Me Time' with Mark Wahlberg in new Netflix comedy

Netflix/Saeed Adyani

Kevin Hart plays a devoted stay-at-home dad who gets a week away from the kids, thanks to his wife (Regina Hall), in the trailer to the new Netflix comedy Me Time.

The free week comes at the perfect time, when his over-the-top childhood friend, played by Mark Wahlberg, decides to go all out to celebrate his 44th birthday.

The birthday boy is quick to take the fish out of the water: He’s shown taking a hesitant Hart to a nude beach, camping in the desert — in which Hart’s character gets tackled by a mama mountain lion — and going wing-suit diving, the latter mostly accidentally.

The comedy hits Netflix on August 26.

(Video contains uncensored profanity)

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Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X lead 2022 MTV VMA nominations

MTV

The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are in, and Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow and Kendrick Lamar lead this year’s nominations with seven nods each. Doja Cat and Harry Styles follow closely behind, with six nominations apiece.

Other nominees include Drake and The Weeknd, each of whom has five nominations.

The 2022 MTV VMAs will take place Sunday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. ET and will air live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Here are the nominees in some of the major categories. Check out the full list on MTV.com/VMA.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Doja Cat – “Woman”

Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”

Ed Sheeran – “Shivers”

Harry Styles – “As It Was“

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY”

Olivia Rodrigo – “brutal”

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bad Bunny

Drake

Ed Sheeran

Harry Styles

Jack Harlow

Lil Nas X

Lizzo

SONG OF THE YEAR

Adele – “Easy On Me”

Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever”

Doja Cat – “Woman”

Elton John & Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”

Lizzo – “About Damn Time”

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “STAY”

BEST NEW ARTIST

Baby Keem

Dove Cameron

GAYLE

Latto

Måneskin

SEVENTEEN

BEST COLLABORATION

Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”

Elton John & Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY”

Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – “Sweetest Pie”

Post Malone & The Weeknd – “One Right Now”

ROSALÍA ft. The Weeknd – “LA FAMA”

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “STAY”

BEST HIP-HOP

Eminem & Snoop Dogg – “From The D 2 The LBC”

Future ft. Drake, Tems – “WAIT FOR U”

Kendrick Lamar – “N95”

Latto – “Big Energy”

Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby – “Do We Have A Problem?”

Pusha T – “Diet Coke”

BEST R&B

Alicia Keys – “City of Gods (Part II)”

Chlöe – “Have Mercy”

H.E.R. – “For Anyone”

Normani ft. Cardi B – “Wild Side”

Summer Walker, SZA & Cardi B

The Weeknd – “Out Of Time” 

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Rege-Jean Page on returning to 'Bridgerton', “We're not gonna touch that”

Good Morning America

Fans have been burning to see Rege-Jean Page‘s the Duke of Hastings, back on their screens since season one of Bridgerton ended. However, it doesn’t seem he’ll be making a return anytime soon.

While appearing on Monday’s Good Morning America, host Michael Strahan asked Page, “What do you say to all those fans, they’re still waiting and clamoring for you to come back?”

“I mean, I’ll take the compliment that’s built in there,” the 34-year-old actor replied. “I’m so glad that they had a good time and they want more. Shonda [Rhimes] and I are still super proud of how we stuck that landing.”

He added, “Much like we were talking about playing villains, Simon started from a very dark place. He was emotionally broken and the fact that we had this beautiful redemption arc is what feels so good about him. He is now married, he has kids, he’s emotionally available, he’s communicating. They lived happily ever after, we’re not gonna touch that.”

Bridgerton became a phenom when it hit Netflix in December 2020. The first season focused on the love story between Page’s character and Phoebe Dynevor‘s Daphne Bridgerton. Each season of the series, which is based on Julia Quinn‘s collection of novels of the same name, will, like the books, focus on a different member of the Bridgerton clan’s love story.

Season two, which centered around Jonathan Bailey‘s Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest son of the family, premiered in March 2022. Season three is in the works and will focus on the family’s third son, Colin, played by Luke Newton.

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All-female team breaks world record by rowing from California to Hawaii

ABC News

(NEW YORK) — Four female rowers made history Tuesday morning when they arrived in Hawaii after rowing more than 2,400 nautical miles from California to Hawaii.

Libby Costello, Sophia Denison-Johnston, Brooke Downes and Adrienne Smith of the Lat35 team started the Great Pacific Race in San Francisco in June and arrived in Honolulu after rowing for 34 days, 14 hours and 11 minutes.

“I feel totally overwhelmed in the best way by love. And I’m also exhausted,” Denison-Johnston told ABC News’ Good Morning America in an exclusive interview.

The teammates took turns rowing in two-hour shifts and averaged just 90 minutes of sleep per day. They rowed unassisted and it was also their first time rowing in the deep ocean.

They also relied on boil-to-order prepackaged meals for sustenance and had to endure seasickness, extreme wind and rough seas.

The team, however, was determined to break barriers. Their online fans also kept the wind in their proverbial sails flying strong.

“I think something that I want people to take away is that these women are so incredible but we’re not superhuman. There’s nothing that we were born with that makes us any different than anybody else,” Downes told GMA.

Added Costello: “We inspired a bunch of different types of people and that’s really important.”

Last year, a four-man team also set a world record rowing from San Francisco to Honolulu in 30 days, 7 hours and 30 minutes, breaking the previous 2016 record of 39 days, 9 hours and 56 minutes.

After they finished the race, Smith received a warm welcome back from her daughter. She said she told her daughter how brave she was to be without her mom for so many days.

In addition to racing, the Lat35 team also raised money for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

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