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[08/23/16 - 11:08 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, August 23
Updates include: Jason Richman brings "The Departed" TV series to Amazon; John Cho lands "Connoisseur" at USA; and Chris O'Dowd, Ray Romano eyed for Epix's "Get Shorty."
[01/30/16 - 07:08 PM]
Outstanding Film and Television Performances Honored at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(R)
Actors(R) for television drama and comedy ensemble performances went this year to "Downton Abbey" and "Orange is the New Black."
[12/10/15 - 05:58 AM]
73rd Annual Golden Globe(R) Awards Nominees Announced
"American Crime," "Fargo," "Mr. Robot," "Outlander," "Transparent" and "Wolf Hall" lead all TV nods with three each.
[12/09/15 - 07:12 AM]
Nominations Announced for the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(R)
This year's event will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, January 30 at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT).
[09/21/15 - 06:46 AM]
HBO Receives 43 Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, The Most of Any Network This Year, And the Most in HBO History
"Game of Thrones" led all programming with 12 Emmys(R), a record for a series in one year, while "Olive Kitteridge" received 8 Emmys(R), the second-most of any program this year.
[09/12/15 - 07:01 PM]
Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Complete 2015 Winners List
"Game of Thrones" took home eight trophies, followed by "American Horror Story: Freak Show" with five and "Bessie" and "The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special" with four each.
[07/16/15 - 11:14 AM]
HBO Receives 126 Primetime Emmy(R) Nominations, The Most of Any Network This Year
"Game of Thrones" led all nominees with 24 nominations, while "Olive Kitteridge" received 13 nominations, and "Bessie" received 12 nominations.
[07/07/15 - 12:48 PM]
HBO Series Hit Record Highs, While Summer Shows Off to Strong Start
HBO spins the numbers for the year to date.
[05/06/15 - 10:07 AM]
The Broadcast Television Journalists Association Announces Nominations for the 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards
Said event will be broadcast live on A&E from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, May 31 at 8:00/7:00c.
[05/05/15 - 11:32 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, May 5
Updates include: Hulu gives series commitment to "Myst"; Jamie Anne Allman, Derek Wilson board AMC's "Preacher"; and Cary Elwes, Cristina Rosato cast in Crackle's "The Art of More."
[04/15/15 - 09:39 AM]
Queen Latifah Stars in HBO Films' "Bessie," The Story of Iconic Blues Singer Bessie Smith, Debuting May 16
The film also features Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tory Kittles, Tika Sumpter, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, Charles S. Dutton and Mo'Nique.
[03/13/15 - 12:34 PM]
Video: "Bessie" - Tease (HBO Films)
The Queen Latifah-led film airs Saturday, May 16 at 8:00/7:00c on the pay channel.
[02/24/15 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Films' "Bessie" Debuts May 16
Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.
[01/08/15 - 03:14 PM]
Queen Latifah Stars in HBO Films' "Bessie," The Story of Iconic Blues Singer Bessie Smith, Debuting This Spring
Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, Charles S. Dutton and Mo'Nique also star.
[07/10/14 - 02:13 PM]
Queen Latifah Stars in and Executive Produces HBO Films' "Bessie," The Story of Iconic Blues Singer Bessie Smith, Written and Directed by Dee Rees, Shooting in Atlanta and Debuting in 2015
Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, Charles S. Dutton and Mo'Nique also star.
[07/01/14 - 11:29 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, July 1
Updates include: Lena Waithe to bring "Twenties" to BET; Devon Aoki to recur on The CW's "Arrow"; and Colin Farrell to executive produce "Stillwater" at HBO.
[06/09/14 - 11:34 PM]
Development Update: Monday, June 9
Updates include: FOX nixes burn off run for "Us & Them"; Charles S. Dutton, Mike Epps board HBO's "Bessie"; and Kerri Medders joins the cast of ABC Family's "Mystery Girls."
[05/22/14 - 11:35 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, May 22
Updates include: Mark Pellegrino boards "The Returned" at A&E; Netflix eyes "The Crown"; and Mo'Nique, Khandi Alexander join HBO's "Bessie."
[05/01/14 - 11:28 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, May 1
Updates include: Queen Latifah to play Bessie Smith for HBO; ABC Family's "Unstrung" casts first pair; and Marcella Plunkett is set for two roles in FX's "How and Why."






BESSIE (HBO)
BROADCAST HISTORY:
5/16/15
STATUS:
telefilm/mini-series in the can
DESCRIPTION:
(from HBO's press release, April 2015) Oscar(R) nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ("Pariah") from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Dee Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Debuting SATURDAY, MAY 16 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, BESSIE is executive produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Lili Fini Zanuck, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Shelby Stone and Randi Michel. Ron Schmidt produces.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Bryan Greenberg as John Hammond
· Charles S. Dutton as William "Pa" Rainey
· Khandi Alexander as Viola
· Michael K. Williams as Jack
· Mike Epps as Richard
· Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey
· Oliver Platt as Carl Van Vechten
· Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith
· Tika Sumpter as Lucille
· Tory Kittles as Clarence
CREW INFORMATION:
· Dee Rees as WRTR/DIR
· Lili Fini Zanuck as EP
· Queen Latifah as EP
· Randi Michel as EP
· Shakim Compere as EP
· Shelby Stone as EP
GENRE(S):
· mow
STUDIO INFORMATION:
· Flavor Unit Entertainment
· Zanuck Company, The