See it Loud: The History of Black Television
Stars: Anika Noni Rose, Debbie Allen, Deon Cole, Desus & Mero, Gabrielle Union, Jimmie Walker, Lamorne Morris, Lynn Whitfield, Mo’Nique, Tisha Campbell, and Vivica A. Fox
Premiere Date: July 9 at 9 p.m. on CNN
This five-part series from The SpringHill Company, which boasts LeBron James as one of its producers, takes a deep dive into the history of Black television, looking at its evolution from the earliest and inherently racist days of the medium all the way to today with shows like Abbott Elementary. First up is “Sitcom-ish” which looks at Black comedies including The Jeffersons, Good Times, The Cosby Show (where the series doesn’t shy away from the Bill Cosby accusations and his now troubled legacy), Girlfriends, Living Single, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Future episodes explore dramas, unscripted television, horror, and science fiction. With commentary from producers, writers, actors, historians, and on-air personalities, the series offers a can’t miss look at the shows that shaped television and how it reflected (or didn’t) the Black experience.
Project Greenlight: A New Generation
Stars: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, and Gina Prince-Bythewood
Premiere Date: All ten episodes premiere July 13 on Max
Eight years after the latest iteration of Project Greenlight ended and 22 years after the series first premiered, Project Greenlight returns with Issa Rae (Insecure) as the series’ new executive producer. After picking ten finalists from thousands of entries, Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, and Gina Prince-Bythewood help to mentor this year’s winner as she directs the new film Gray Matter. That’s right, with intent, for the first time in Project Greenlight history, the winner is a woman. The science fiction film about a mom and daughter with superhuman abilities stars Jessica Frances Dukes, Mia Isaac, and Garret Dillahunt, and will be released on Max on July 13, allowing you to watch both the making of the film and the actual film all at once. Check out the trailer for Gray Matter for more.
Survival of the Thickest
Stars: Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Taylor Sele, Tasha Smith, Anissa Felix, and Garcelle Beauvais
Premiere Date: All eight episodes premiere July 13 on Netflix
Comedian Michelle Buteau, who hosts The Circle on Netflix, is Mavis Beaumont, a New York stylist whose world is upended when she discovers that her live-in photographer boyfriend Jaque (Taylor Sele) is cheating on her. The ever optimistic Mavis must start over. She’s got her best friend Khalil (Tone Bell) to help her as she navigates a new apartment and growing her new business. Based on Buteau’s 2020 books of essays of the same name, this hilarious, charming, and poignant show is chock-full of guest stars, including Sarah Cooper, Peppermint, and Nicole Byer.
Praise Petey
Stars: Annie Murphy, John Cho, Stephen Root, Amy Hill, Christine Baranski, and Kiersey Clemmons
Premiere Date: The first two episodes premiere July 21 at 10 p.m. on Freeform, streaming next day on Hulu
Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek, Kevin Can F**k Himself) headlines as the title character Petey St. Barts in this new adult animated comedy from creator, writer, and executive producer Anna Drezen. Petey is living a great life in New York City until her dad (voiced by Stephen Root) unexpectedly dies and leaves Petey his cult. Keep an ear out for Christine Baranski as Petey’s mom White, John Cho as long-time cult member Bandit, Amy Hill as Bandit’s mom Mae Mae, and Kiersey Clemmons as Petey’s best friend Eliza. The ten-episode series will premiere two episodes back-to-back every Friday on Freeform until the finale on August 18. Episodes will also be available the day after they premiere on Hulu.
Amy Amatangelo, the TV Gal®, is a Boston-based freelance writer and a member of the Television Critics Association. She wasn’t allowed to watch much TV as a child and now her parents have to live with this as her career. You can follow her on Twitter.
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