This is posted on the AJC Radio & TV Blog and written by Rodney Ho
Atlanta hip-hop star and actor Clifford "T.I." Harris is joining VH1's TV series "The Breaks" in a recurring role.
Based on the original TV movie that aired earlier this year, the new scripted series is scheduled to debut in January 2017.
Harris will portray Paul Anders, a powerful lawyer who comes to Barry Fouray's (Wood Harris) defense after a public scandal. The series is set in New York City in 1990 about three friends trying to make it big during the early days of the rap scene.
T.I. has appeared in "House of Lies," "Roots," "Get Hard" and "Ant-Man," to name a few. He is also part of VH1's "T.I. & Tiny" reality show.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
While filming "Jumanji"in Atlanta, Kevin Hart is filming 12 comedy specials for his upcoming streaming platform Laugh Out Loud. He hand selected 12 comedians to film 30-minute specials, four a night from October 19 through the 21 at Center Stage. (All the shows have sold out. Will Hart actually be there? Nobody is saying but we'll see.)
The comics include at least five from Atlanta: Ronnie Jordan, Special K ( who is part of Rickey Smiley's morning radio show), Rodney Perry, Lavar Walker and "Last Comic Standing' finalist Karlous Miller.
Here's the entire list:
– JJ Williamson (Filming October 19th)
– Jay Phillips (Filming October 19th)
– Ronnie Jordan (Filming October 19th)
– Robert Powell (Filming October 19th)
– Comedian D’Lai (Filming October 20th)
– "Special" K Douglas (Filming October 20th)
– Rodney Perry (Filming October 20th)
– Gerald Kelly (Filming October 20th)
– Karlous Miller (Filming October 21st)
– Lavar Walker (Filming October 21st)
– Comedian Capone (Filming October 21st)
– Jonathan Martin (Filming October 21st)
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"Lauren Lake's Paternity Court," shot at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Midtown, has seen growth on the CW, up 23 percent in households at 1 p.m. weekdays year over year. It's beating NBC's "Days of Our Lives," WATl's "The Jerry Springer Show" and Peachtree TV's "Judge Mablean."
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Deborah Ayorinde, a former Atlanta resident who lived in the Old Fourth Ward before it became hot, now has a recurring role on Netflix's "Luke Cage" and recently completed shooting an upcoming Queen Latifah comedy "Girl Trip."
On "Luke Cage," which came out last month, she plays a hostess at Harlem's Paradise who Dillard uses to frame Cage for Stokes' murder.
"Things are really picking up," said Ayorinde, who has been in the business for nine years. "I'm getting roles that are more significant to the story."
Ayorinde moved to Atlanta after graduating Howard University. Her parents moved here while she was in college. She considered New York or L.A. but tried Atlanta first because film and TV roles were becoming more prevalent here. She didn't expect to stick around as long as she did but she said she fell in love with the city and made a lot of friends. She spent a lot of time at Apache Cafe and Wednesday WindDown concerts at Centennial Olympic Park.
Before the acting breaks began happening, she waitressed, modeled, was a brand ambassador. "It was tough to juggle and really stay afloat," she said. "I grew newfound respect for artists and the grind." She wanted to quit numerous times. She manaed a few minor roles in Atlanta productions such as "The Game," "Necessary Roughness," "Constantine" and "Survivor's Remorse."
Ayorinde, who moved to New York two years ago from Atlanta, began getting better acting jobs this year. She nabbed a role in a TV One movie "Bad Dad Rehab,' which was produced in Atlanta and aired earlier this year. Then she landed the "Luke Cage" job playing someone who does bottle service, a job she knew well from the real world. And she got to work with Alfre Woodard. "At the wrap party, she actually complimented me on my work. I was so flattered," she said.
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