By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, filed originally Dec. 12, 2014
Columbus Short, who played Harrison Wright on "Scandal" but was booted from the show after several drug-related issues, moved to Atlanta a few months ago and told Access Hollywood earlier this week that he's doing better and is ready to go back to work.
He gives "Scandal" creator Shonda Rhimes credit for trying to help him out but he ultimately couldn't deal with the cocaine addiction on his own.
"They protected me and they held me down," he told "Access.". "And that was one of the real reasons ... they just wanted me to get my stuff together. Sometimes the bottom has to be dropped out for you to really get it. So I moved to Atlanta. I've been living there for the last five months, five-and-a-half months, and it's just been great. It's been life-changing."
***
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Margaret Cho
, who spent six years shooting "Drop Dead Diva" in Peachtree City and becoming a de facto resident of Midtown, has nabbed a new late-night panel talk show on TLC called "All About Sex."
This sounds like a racier version of daytime talk shows such as "The View" and "The Talk."
Heather McDonald
("Chelsea Lately"),
Marissa Jaret Winokur
, and sex and relationship expert
Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry
will join her on the panel.
.
That arena, even with the departure of "Chelsea Lately," is still very competitive but this is very different from "The Daily Show" and "Conan."
Cho is not shy about discussing sexual issues in her stand-up.
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Alfonso Ribeiro
has joined the "Dancing With the Stars" New Year's Eve show at Cobb Energy Centre. The former "Fresh Prince" star won the most recent mirror-ball trophy earlier this month. He's the only non pro dancing celebrity I know of joining the cast.
***
BET's "The Game" wrapped forever in Atlanta last week but since the show shot two seasons in a row, the ninth season won't air until 2016. Season 8 should start early next year.
***
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
On Wednesday, I visited the set of USA's "Complications" with
Jason O'Mara
as an ER doctor facing, well, numerous complications. It's more of a thriller and less a straightforward medical drama. The creator of "Burn Notice"
Matt Nix
created this series and based on the pilot, it feels darker. It will be based in Atlanta and is set at St. Joseph's Hospital on the northside off I-400 and 285. The show won't debut until the summer of 2015 so I'll write a lot more later.
***
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
FX has ordered a comedy pilot called "Atlanta" executive produced by former "Community" star and "30 Rock" writer
Donald Glover
. Glover is also a Grammy-nominated rap star
Childish Gambino
and he grew up in Stone Mountain.
It's too early to say if the show will actually be shot in Atlanta.
According to the press release:
Atlanta revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy. Glover will play "Earnest 'Earn' Marks," a college drop-out who reconnects with his long buried ambition and sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star.
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