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EXCLUSIVE: Gabrielle Union has been tapped for the lead in Single Black Female, BET’s hourlong pilot from Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, the husband-and-wife duo behind the cable network’s hit comedy series The Game. Written by The Game creator Brock Akil, Single Black Female chronicles the work and family life of a Black woman (Union) who is the host of a popular Atlanta-based talk show host in the vein of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Single Black Female falls under the mega production pact the Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (he directs The Game) signed with BET in May. Union, repped by Paradigm and Intellectual Artists Management, co-stars opposite Tyler Perry in Good Deeds. She was pursued for broadcast pilots as well this season.
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Good work, Gabrielle is a black goddess. Hot as they come. Would much rather see her in mainstream Hollyweird movies or network fare rather than the “urban” box, but I’ll take this.
And spare me the eventual “what’s wrong with ‘urban’” comeback, thanks in advance.
It wouldn’t be an urban box if people like you stopped referring to anything that stars black people as urban. It’s a show about a talk show host for chrissake.
It’s on BET. That’s urban.
Thanks BRETT. I love how idiots like brick try to bend reality to make a point.
Good for her. Congrats.
That’s a real get for BET!!!!
Is she the ONLY black female actress out there? Damn give new ones an opportunity.
Why is every BET show either a comedy or reality show? It would be interesting to see a black drama series.
thank you!!! ITA
I beleive directors can pick and choose who they like. She is a fine choice and the ones that dont like it can stop clicking on sites that she is a topic on. DUH!!!!!
Congrats Gabby.
Wow, yet another actress/actor who was previously in features being put on TV. There must be some studio edict that was put out mandating that any who’s ever been in more than 5 movies must be downgraded to a series of some sort.
Safe House isn’t urban. Madea is.
Columbiana isn’t urban. Jumping the Broom is.
Colored Girls is considered urban but is broadly human esp. given the GOP trying to take the Pill away.
It’s a bit ironic Gabby is still single though she’s been with Dwayne Wade forever.
This is a good look for Gabby. She’s parlayed her otherworldly beauty and marginal talent into a gig that will most likely be on for years.
Why play the 3rd lead in some network show when you can top line on BET?
And she has really made her presence known in the black community. She’s damn near iconic there and will be around forever. Good for her.
And did I mention this woman is gorgeous?
This comment has GOT to be a joke, right? I mean, this has to be serious satire or condescension at its finest. You state:
“Why play the 3rd lead in some network show when you can top line on BET???”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????
1. The QUALITY. Of the entire show would be different on network or a reputable cable network even. From writing, producing, directing, acting, lighting, sound, post production, props, locations, EVERYTHING. Have you ever watched a ‘tv show’ on EBT I mean BET?? it’s God awful.
As an actress, my one and only desire is for QUALITY as an actress of color, it is my biggest hurdle b/c of comments and attitudes like this. Settling for crumbs just b/c its more than ‘nothing.’ If you’re a REAL artist, and actor, then you would naturally only want to do the BEST. Hence why I do not believe for one second that Gabby was chased by other networks and yet, she chose BET. lol. Yea ok.
2. MONEY. Let us not act as if BET or TBS (T.P’s home) have remotely the money nor the reach of audience that a real show would have. Her pay would be through the roof. I can GUARANTEE you BET is not being her jack compared to a 3rd string supporting role on a network show. NO WHERE NEAR.COM
3. I’d rather be 3rd on something GREAT then 1st on some garbage. B/c then guess what? When the shit hits the fan, and it’s a stink fest, guess who’s looking like they cant act, and suck??? THE ACTRESS. Granted Gabby isnt and doesnt try to be a ‘good’ actress, and I respect her honesty at her lack of ‘skill set’ but I promise her basic abilities will be highlighted to look even worse b/c of the lack of QUALITY surrounding her.
Be prepared to see just how bad of an actress she really is.
4. Im really going to need people of color’s standards to raise in this business. Im sick of it. Seriously. The tyler perry’s, the BET’S, the ‘hood low budget direct to dvd movies’ with no message, depth, quality or heart? Where did the 90′s go and the blacks of the 90′s???
Seriously, I dont know how long it will take, but when I get there (there, being the TOP) I promise you Im not succumbing to the step n fetch it sell out role of settling for anything. I LOVE ART. I LOVE PERFORMING. I LOVE FILM, THE CLASSICS, THE GREATS. Period. B/c Im a true artist. This runs through my veins.
With all of the complaining and insulting you just did, why don’t you get up off of your behind and MAKE SOMETHING if you’re such a “true artist” and that passionate about what you do instead of waiting on someone to hand you a script and do your makeup?
Grant it, the “black projects” that are being created may not be that up to par but I TOO, am an actress of color who, instead of sitting around waiting for someone else to create quality work and complaining about it, decided to take it into my own hands and create what I’d like to see.
So while I understand your disdain and contempt for the quality of work that’s out there for us, what I can’t stand even more is an actress who complains about the lack of work and belittles other actors, writers, directors instead of channeling all of that energy into their own projects. Stop complaining and do something about it. You sound just as capable as anyone else. GET UP AND DO SOMETHING.
Actually, I write, produce AND act. I’ve sold a script to Showtime. Im producing a feature in Chicago later this year. So as for sitting and waiting for someone to “hand” me something, that has and NEVER will be my M.O.
Just b/c I come here and state my OPINION on this board doesnt mean Im doing nothing. It means Im “STATING MY OPINION.” It takes 5 minutes to write a comment, and it’s 5 minutes I choose to take from my day to comment on the business that I am in. Period.
You can talk to me when you DO SOMETHING other than comment on my comment. Im pretty sure we can compare resumes, experience, and success, side by side, and Im more than likely light years ahead of you. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOING OR CREATING?? Youtube videos? low budget horribly written “webisode” series??? I probably do more in 1 day than you’ve done in your entire “career.:
So, I’ll keep doing what Im doing, which is being opinionated and PRO-ACTIVE in MY career, and you can keep sitting around watching BET, and hoping to be like “Gabby Union” one day, while I aim to be My own person, my own business.
Love your response so true!
Excuse me folks the word Urban is just what it means “City Living.” I am not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone here but anytime anyone uses our gorgeous black women on the big screen I say awesome! I do however want to see more of our bodacious bundles on the big screen playing in an array of movie genres!
As a white male (There! I’ve outed myself! Happy?!) I have every time for Gabrielle Union. She is beautiful and talented in equal measure. I have ‘Bring It On” playing on continuous loop at home and in the office.
BET has a seller track record when it comes to the shows it has recently produced and picked up to series. The network gives it time to find and audience and respects the actors it casts. I can’t say that about Network TV..if a show is t pulling it high demo ratings and total viewers..it never gets a chance and is ultimately pulled off the schedule. Good for Gabrielle!..im a fan!
are you guys kidding me with all this “hate” and sub-dermis racism?!! how about a little love for the writing and directing behind the projects? mara and salim have been knocking out the park for almost a decade now and that should be obvious by an actress of gabriel’s level taking the show. i think that the fact that color has to come up into a conversation about an actress taking a job is a prime example why I am directly considering making the move from writing on “mainstream” shows and take a round at going to places where my talent is respected for just that… talent. i’ve looked at ten other actors/actresses and NOT ONE of them mentioned their race being a factor in their decision. this is the reason that there is NOT ONE comedy from a person of color on TV now although “urban” comedy is hotter than ever (Kevin Hart, Dave Chapelle, etc…). You guys don’t even see how you’ve been brainwashed! And by “you guys” I don’t just mean White people. It’s obvious by some of the responses that the propaganda machine has been working on both sides of the fence. congrats salim and mara! congrats gabby!