Viola Davis, Sterling K. Brown & Jussie Smollett Lead TVBlack’s List
Get ready for a juicy week of television talk shows on TVBlack, the weekly column highlighting African American guests on American television talk shows.
Our leads this week are Jussie Smollett on “Harry,” Viola Davis on “Live with Kelly & Ryan,” Chance the Rapper on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Kofi Siriboe on “The Wendy Williams Show” and Sterling K. Brown is doing 3 talk shows this week – “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Watch What Happens Live.” Let’s go!
This Week of Television Talk Shows
Jussie Smollett on “Harry,” Friday September 29th
Jussie Smollett doesn’t just have “Empire“; he’s got his hands on a bunch more projects. The 5-time Image Award winner has teamed up with CoverGirl Issa Rae to executive produce a dramatic web-series titled, “Giants.” He has partnered with filmmaker Nathan Hale Williams, as an executive producer, on the riveting film “90 Days“: a short film that tells the story of a heterosexual couple reckoning with the future of their relationship after one reveals they are HIV positive. Plus Smollett is working on his own music projects like the politically charged track “F.U.W. ” (Fucked Up World), written as a resistance to the Trump Administration. All of the Smollett siblings grind, a work ethic that was instilled by their first acting coach and mother, Janet Smollett. Harry Connick, Jr. will interview Smollett this Friday for the latest on the “Empire” actor. (“Harry,” Friday September 29th, syndicated; check your local listing for show times.)
Jussie Smollett
Viola Davis on “Live with Kelly & Ryan,” Thursday September 28th
Viola Davs
Viola Davis and the cast of How to Get Away with Murder are back for season four of their suspenseful legal drama. Though Davis didn’t take home the Primetime Emmy for lead actress in a drama series this year for “HTGAWM,” she still slayed the kids on the red carpet in a dazzling orange double-strapped Zac Posen gown and Harry Winston jewels. Davis, however, has lots of hardware to keep her in demand as one of the preeminent black actresses, including the aforementioned Emmy award in 2015, an Oscar and two Tony awards. The Fences actress is one Grammy award away from the coveted EGOT. Catch Davis this Thursday morning on “Live with Kelly & Ryan” where she is expected to scoop on the Emmy’s, the upcoming season of “HTGAWM” and her new Steve McQueen directed film, “Widows.” (“Live with Kelly & Ryan,” Thursday September 28th, syndicated; check your local listing for show times)
Sterling K. Brown on “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” Monday September 25th; “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” CBS, Monday September 25th; “Watch What Happens Live,” CBS, Wednesday September 27th.
Sterling K. Brown is on a roll when it comes to Emmy awards. First for “People vs. OJ“ where he played prosecutor Chris Darden and this year for CBS’ critically acclaimed television drama, “This is Us.” Brown took home the coveted award for lead actor in a drama series, making him the third black actor do so. He was bestowed the same honor by the NAACP as they presented the Stanford University trained actor with the Image Award. Brown will appear on “The Ellen Denegeres” Show Monday to talk about his Emmy experience and the upcoming season premier of “This is Us.” Later on Monday he will sit down with crazy man Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show”. On Wednesday it’s Andy Cohen turn to chat with Brown in his newly designed studio (clubhouse) for the taping of “Watch What Happens Live.” The Ellen Degeneres Show, Monday, September 25th, syndicated; check your local listing for show times. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS, Monday, September 25th 11:35 pm/10:35 pm C. Watch What Happens Live, Bravo, Wednesday, September 27th 11:00 pm/10:00 pm C.
Sterling K. Brown
Chance the Rapper on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” CBS, Monday September 25th
Chance the Rapper
It’s the partnership with Apple Music that brought us Chance the Rapper’s 3rd album, “The Coloring Book.” The critically acclaimed mixtape took home Grammy awards for best new artist, best rap performance and best rap album. And Lil Chano from 79th St. is everywhere these days. From showing up at a Chicago Public School to donate a million dollars to appearing in a cameo during Stephen Colbert’s opening number on this year’s Emmys broadcast. Chance spits, “I love television, it’s a pleasant distraction/ But just imagine taking action/ I like ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine,’ in fact I’m addicted/ But where’s the cop show where one gets convicted?,” lyrics highlighting the importance of social activism for the artist. Expect to hear a track from Chance the Rapper’s 3rd album and to hear about his adventures of fatherhood when he appears on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” this Monday. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS, Monday September 25th 11:35 pm E/10:35 pm C.
Kofi Siriboe on “The Wendy Williams Show,” Wednesday September 27th
Before this summer’s blockbuster hit movie “Girls Trip” it was fair to ask, “who is Kofi Siriboe?” Maybe you missed him in “Awkward,” the irreverent teen comedy on MTV. There’s a better chance you’ve seen him as Ralph Angel in Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar“ on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). But surely once you see the 23-year-old, dark chocolate feast for the eyes you won’t ever again have to ask who Kofi Siriboe is. When he appears on “The Wendy Williams Show” this Wednesday, expect that the heartthrob will talk about his Ghanaian heritage, growing up the middle of three brothers and his experience filming Girls Trip.“The Wendy Williams Show,” Wednesday, September 27th, syndicated; check your local listing for show times.
Kofi Siriboe
Cardi B on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Tuesday September 26th
Cardi B
News of Cardi B topping the Billboard Hot 100 charts rippled far and wide. Fans lauded the accomplishment, sensing it was inevitable. Others were left wondering, “who is Cardi B?” The bombastic Nicki Minaj doppelganger exploded on the scene with the hit single “Bodak Yellow” back in June. Over the banging beat by JWhiteDidThat, which critics seem to give a pass while slamming the Instagram stripper as unfit for leading her own “movement,” she spits, “you in the club just to party/I’m there, I get paid a fee.” The Christian Louboutin stiletto-wearing rapper goes on to say, “dropped two mixtapes in six months/what bitch working as hard as me?” If art imitates life, there’s no denying she is going hard to craft her future. Cardi B gained mainstream exposure after first appearing on “Love & Hip Hop,” and now has millions of fans. The “Bodak Yellow” video on YouTube has garnered more than 170 million views. Even Janet Jackson is feeling the cut; she used “Bodak Yellow” as a transitional dance track on her State of the World Tour. Some are calling Cardi B a one hit wonder, but she has made clear she’s “making money moves.” Topping the Billboard Hot 100 charts is but one for the new artist. See for yourself this Tuesday when Cardi B appears on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” NBC, Tuesday September 26th 11:35 pm E/10:35 pm C.
All black artists on this week of television talk shows:
Monday September 25th
Jussie Smollett on “Live with Kelly & Ryan”
Viola Davis on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
Sterling K. Brown on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”
Sterling K. Brown on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Chance the Rapper on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson on “The View”
Aisha Tyler on “Steve”
Aisha Tyler on “Conan”
Ronreaco Lee on “The Real”
Tuesday September 26th
G-Eazy ft. Cardi B on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”
Nia Long on “Steve”
Taye Diggs on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”
Michelle Buteau on “Harry”
Terrence Howard on “Harry”
Rick Fox on “The Real”
Wednesday September 27th
Sterling K. Brown on “Watch What Happens Live”
Kofi Siriboe on “The Wendy Williams Show”
Tyler the Creator on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”
Christina Milian on “The Real”
Craig Robinson on “Late Night with Seth Meyers”
Thursday September 28th
Nischelle Turner on “The Talk”
Chandra Wilson on “Steve”
Jamie Foxx on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”
Tamar Braxton on “The Wendy Williams Show”
Jay Pharoah on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”
Jennifer Hudson on “Late Night with Seth Meyers”
Friday September 29th
Jussie Smollett on “Harry”
LL Cool J on “The Ellen Degeneres Show”
Annie Ilonzeh on “Steve”
Richard T. Jones on “The Talk”
Ms. Pat on “Harry”
Terry Crews on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”
