{blackbabes} Channing Tatum, Oscar Isaac & Zazie Beetz Set To Star In New York Crime Story ‘Kockroach’

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Producer Mad Chance (American Sniper) has set Channing Tatum, Oscar Isaac and Zazie Beetz to star in New York crime story Kockroach, which will be a hot package at the TIFF market next week.

Pic is the story of a mysterious stranger who takes on New York's criminal elite, transforming himself into a larger-than-life crime boss in a city where power is everything. 

The feature is an adaptation of the novel by William Lashner, writing as Tyler Knox, and will be directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) from a screenplay written by Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here) with revisions by Matt Ross. Andrew Lazar(American Sniper) is producing under his Mad Chance production banner.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin in January in Australia.

Black Bear will represent the international rights while CAA Media Finance and Range Select will co-represent U.S. rights.

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{blackbabes} Original Cast Member Marlyne Barrett Stepping Back From ‘Chicago Med’

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When NBC's Chicago Med returns this fall for its eleventh season, it will be without one of its three remaining original cast members. Marlyne Barrett, who has played doting yet no-nonsense ER nurse Maggie Lockwood since the show's 2015 launch, is stepping back from the medical drama for personal reasons, sources tell Deadline.

This is envisioned as a temporary leave, and the hope is for her to return at some point, I hear.

As Deadline reported in June, the other two Chicago Med original cast members, series stars S. Epatha Merkerson (Sharon Goodwin) and Oliver Platt (Daniel Charles), are set to come back after their options for the 2025-26 season were picked up. And just this week, Deadline broke the news that fellow OG Nick Gehlfuss, who left after eight seasons, will make a return this season as a guest-star, reprising his role as Dr. Will Halstead.

Over the years, Barrett's Charge Nurse Maggie has become the eyes, ears, and heart of Gaffney Medical's ED, endlessly dedicated to her position and loyal to all the physicians around her. Maggie's major Season 10 storyline involved the tense nursing union negotiations at the hospital, which culminated in a sick-out.

In Season 5, Maggie was diagnosed with cancer and eventually went into remission. Barrett announced her real-life diagnosis of uterine and ovarian cancer in July 2022. In September 2024, the actress revealed that she was in full remission.

Chicago Med, from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, is executive produced by Dick Wolf, Allen MacDonald, Stephen Hootstein and Peter Jankowski.

The three One Chicago dramas kick off their new seasons Oct. 1, with Chicago Med leading the charge at 8 p.m.

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{blackbabes} IT’S TIME TO PLAY ‘PASSWORD,’ AS NBC RENEWS EMMY NOMINATED SERIES FOR THIRD SEASON

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Emmy-Winning Host, Producer and "Password" Resident Player Jimmy Fallon Returns Alongside Emmy-Winning Host Keke Palmer 

New Celebrity Guests Join for More Fun and Games

 

• NBC has renewed its hit game show "Password" for a fun-filled third season of the ultimate word showdown. Get ready for more outrageous clues, wild guesses and comedic moments as Keke Palmer returns as host alongside wordplay master Jimmy Fallon. Filming is currently underway.

 

• "'Password' has really connected with audiences, blending nostalgic charm with a modern twist," said Sharon Vuong, Executive Vice President Unscripted Programming, NBCUniversal Entertainment. "We're delighted to pick up a new season and continue our partnership with everyone's favorite resident player, Jimmy Fallon, and our phenomenal host, Keke Palmer. This season promises to deliver more of the unforgettable humor and surprise gameplay that audiences have come to love."

 

• "We couldn't be more excited to return to 'Password,'" Fallon and Palmer said. "It's the only show where you get to lock eyes with a total stranger and think, 'OK, based on absolutely nothing, we're going to bet that you understand that when one of us says 'fluffy,' we mean 'pillow.' We love working with each other so much and are taking it to another level this season with bigger guests, wilder guesses and guaranteed laughs."

 

• "Password is a crown jewel in Fremantle's robust portfolio of game shows," said Kim Kleid, Executive Vice President of Current Programming, Fremantle. "This timeless format continues to captivate new generations and with Jimmy's infectious energy and Keke's magnetic charm, the show proves that great gameplay and great chemistry are always an irresistible mix." 

 

• After scoring a 2024 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show, "Password" is back to build on the classic gameplay elements that made this legendary format a hit. Each episode delivers fast-paced, high-stakes fun as recurring player Jimmy Fallon teams up with a contestant to face off against a celebrity guest/contestant duo. With hilarious one-word clues, teams race to guess the secret password for a chance to win cash prizes.

 

• Palmer, who made Emmy history by becoming the first Black woman to win for Outstanding Host for a Game Show, reclaims her spot at the podium as everyday contestants join forces with fellow Emmy-winner Fallon and a rotating cast of celebrities in an unpredictable battle of wits and words.

 

• Season 2 of "Password" has reached over 32 million total viewers across NBC and Peacock.

 

• Fallon and John Quinn serve as executive producers along with Jeffrey Breeden, who also serves as showrunner.

 

• "Password" is produced by Fremantle in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio and Electric Hot Dog.

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{blackbabes} ‘Boston Blue’: First Look at Donnie Wahlberg & Sonequa Martin-Green in ‘Blue Bloods’ Offshoot

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Danny Reagan is back, and he's got a new partner. TV Insider can exclusively debut the first looks at Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green in Boston Blue, the Blue Bloods offshoot coming to CBS this October.

Boston Blue stars Wahlberg as he reprises his role as NYPD Detective Danny Reagan. In this new series, Danny takes a position with the Boston Police Department and is paired with Detective Lena Silver (Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family. The Silver family is comprised of Boston District Attorney Mae Silver (Gloria Reuben), Boston PD Detective Lena Silver, Police Superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson), rookie cop Jonah Silver (Marcus Scribner), and renowned Baptist pastor Reverend Edwin Peters (Ernie Hudson). As Danny settles into his new city, he also hopes to reconnect with his younger son, Sean (Mika Amonsen), who is beginning his own career in Boston.

This Boston Blue first look shows Wahlberg and Martin-Green behind the scenes of the procedural, which splits its filming time between Toronto and Boston (Wahlberg's home town), and in character as Danny and Lena. Danny has swapped his usual suited-up work attire for a leather jacket and grey tee in one of the photos. Lena, meanwhile, is looking sharp in a grey (should we say silver?) suit. They're also seen on the scene of a crime on a Boston street. Based on the American and Pride flags hanging from the windows of the brick townhouses, it seems as though Boston Blue kicks off in June/July.

Get your first glimpses of Danny and Lena below.

Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green as Danny Reagan and Lena Silver

Danny and Lena at the scene of a crime in Boston

Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green behind the scenes of Boston Blue

Boston Blue premieres on Friday, October 17, at 10/9c on CBS (Blue Bloods' old time slot). The series premiere will feature Blue Bloods star Bridget Moynahan reprising her role as Erin Reagan. Wahlberg has hinted it's likely that more of the Blue Bloods family is going to appear on the new series.

Boston Blue aims to highlight new law enforcement families through the Silvers while showing the next chapter of Danny's family story.

"We are obviously standing on the shoulders of the Reagan family, the culture that was already established," Martin-Green said in a video with Wahlberg introducing their show. "And I love it because we're going to get close with another family, the Silvers, which is also a prominent law enforcement family, and that's where Lena Silver is from, and it's very similar to the Reagans. I mean, they couldn't be more different, but they are also so similar. Here we have Boston, which is a character in and of itself, and you have Danny, who understands a family like this. It's crime. It's doing the right thing. It's sacrifice. It's all those things that we've loved with Blue Bloods for a long time."

"No matter who was a fan of Blue Bloods, they all could relate to the family," Wahlberg added. That concept will be at the heart of Boston Blue.

Boston Blue, Series Premiere, Friday, October 17, 10/9c, CBS

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{blackbabes} 'It's in my DNA': Williams relishes US Open return at 45

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Venus Williams said Saturday she is relishing the prospect of her record-extending 25th US Open appearance, saying the experience of playing in her home Grand Slam never gets old.

The 45-year-old US tennis icon is poised to make what could be her farewell singles appearance at Flushing Meadows on Monday, where she will face 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the first round.

"Super thrilling to be back," said Williams, who is competing in New York after being handed a wild card by organisers with her world ranking now standing at 610th.

"It does not get old; it just gets more exciting," she told reporters.

Williams only returned to tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport, winning her opening match at the Washington Open before exiting in the second round.

This year's appearance comes some 28 years after she first graced the US Open as a 17-year-old in 1997, embarking on a fairytale run to the final where she lost to Martina Hingis.

Following that dazzling debut, Williams would go on to forge a legacy as one of the greatest women's players in history, winning seven Grand Slam singles titles -- two US Opens, five Wimbledons -- and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside sister Serena.

Williams said Saturday that despite the litany of achievements over a career that has straddled four different decades, her passion for tennis remained undiminished.

"I love my job," Williams told reporters. "So there's the joy right there."

Asked what people could take away from her appearance, she replied: "I haven't thought about what people would take away from it. I just mostly think about what I would get from it."

Williams meanwhile said she will take a relaxed approach into her 25th US Open appearance.

"I want to be my best, and that's the expectation I have for myself, to get the best out of me. And that's all any player can ask for," she said.

"I haven't played as much as the other players, so it's a different challenge ... I'm just trying to have fun, stay relaxed, and be my personal best."

While Williams' professional career may be drawing to a close, the US veteran says she expects to still be swinging a racquet well into old age.

"I think I'll always play tennis. It's in my DNA. So it doesn't matter if it's now or 30 years from now," Williams said.

"God willing, I'll be here, we'll all be here, we'll all be hitting balls. Maybe I'll come back to watch. Maybe I'll be saying I did it better, and it won't be true.

"But in any case, tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life."

Williams' participation also falls on the 75th anniversary of African-American trailblazer Althea Gibson's first appearance at the US national tennis championship in 1950.

"I think the most important part is that we are celebrating it and recognizing it, because Althea accomplished so much, and a lot of it has not been given the credit it deserves and the attention and the praise," Williams said.

"I think that's the most important part to me, just shining light on it and seeing, just acknowledging that."

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{blackbabes} Griffin Dunne, Alexis Bledel, Ben Rosenfield, Molly Ephraim & Jennifer Beals Starring In ‘Joy Will Prevail’ About Revered U.S. Architect Louis Kahn

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Production has recently wrapped in Philadelphia on Joy Will Prevail, a period drama about the final three years in the life of architect Louis Kahn, and the relationships — both romantic and professional — that inspired his final residential commission.

The film stars Griffin Dunne (After Hours) as Kahn, alongside Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid's Tale), Ben Rosenfield (Mickey and The Bear), Molly Ephraim (A League of Their Own), and Jennifer Beals (Flashdance). It is written and directed by Max Korman marking his feature debut.

Set in the early 1970s, Joy Will Prevail follows Kahn at the height of his career, designing monumental structures around the world, while quietly navigating a complex personal life: having fathered children with three different women – his wife, Esther Kahn (Beals), and two longtime partners, including landscape architect Harriet Pattison (Bledel) – all of whom live with the knowledge of one another.

When a young father, Steve Korman (Rosenfield), with the support of his wife, Toby Korman (Ephraim), approaches Kahn to design a country home for his family, the architect initially declines. But, as personal and professional tensions mount, he unexpectedly agrees, beginning a three-year collaboration that serves as a creative and spiritual reckoning for both men. It would culminate in the final house that Kahn ever designed, completed shortly before his sudden and mysterious death.

Pic is currently in post-production and was produced by J. Andrew Greenblatt, Derek Dienner through his Lancaster-based production company Make/Films, and Alex Peace-Power.

Filming took place at key architectural landmarks in Fort Washington and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including the Kahn Korman House, the Margaret Esherick House, and the Vanna Venturi House; as well as on location in various sites throughout Lancaster, Pennsylvania, including Armstrong World Industries and Penn Square. 

"The story behind Louis Kahn's final residential commission exists in the tradition of the American Western: the passing of generations; the wanderer and the settler; a family taking root in a changing world," stated Max Korman, the writer-director of the film. "At a time when architecture is regaining cultural relevance – particularly in cinema – I'm excited to share this personal project, brought to life by an extraordinary cast and crew."

Estonian-born American architect Kahn was considered by some at the time of his death in 1974 as "America's foremost living architect". Known for his monumental and monolithic style, he served as professor of architecture at Yale School of Architecture and professor of architecture at the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. His notable designs included The Salk Institute in La Jolla, California and the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, New York.

Griffin Dunne is repped by Constellation and UTA. Ben Rosenfield is repped by Entertainment 360 and Gersh. Molly Ephraim is repped by Range Media Partners and Innovative Artists. Alexis Bledel is repped by Industry Entertainment and Innovative Artists. Jennifer Beals is repped by Constellation
and CAA.

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{blackbabes} Jada Keche, Lionel Johnson Jr. & Carolyn Michelle Smith To Star In Kevin Jerome Everson’s Debut Narrative Feature ‘Lowndes County’

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Jada Keche (Reasonable Doubt), Lionel Johnson Jr. (Darwin) and Carolyn Michelle Smith (Familiar Touch) have attached to star in Lowndes County, the debut narrative feature of award-winning artist Kevin Jerome Everson.

Just recently wrapping production in Columbus, Mississippi, the film is set in rural Mississippi in 1959, five years after Brown v. Board of Education and five years before the 1964 Civil Rights Act. A year of deep uncertainty. Penned by Everson and playwright Talaya Delaney, and based on the experiences of Everson's father and uncle as teenage bus drivers in Columbus, Mississippi in the 1950s, the story centers on Borne (Keche), a brave, resourceful African-American teenager and her older brother Gago (Johnson Jr.), who must fight against a system determined to break them, and use their daring to fix their school bus after it is vandalized. To achieve their dreams, and ensure their safe passage to school, they turn to the strength, power and resources of their community, and learn through Cassilee, the "Queen of Catfish Alley" (Smith), the lessons of history.

A trilobite-arts DAC production, the film was produced by Madeleine Molyneaux, alongside Everson, Delaney and Kahlil I. Pedizisai. Erica Arvold and Dustin Presley were the casting directors.

Previously seen on the shows Reasonable Doubt and Ms. Marvel, Keche is repped by STW Talent Agency.

Seen in the indie thriller Darwin and The CW's All-American, Johnson Jr. is repped by Daniel Hoff Agency and Tassell Talent Group.

Smith's credits include And Just Like That…, Familiar Touch, The Chi and Russian Doll, to name just a few. She is repped by Anonymous Content, Buchwald, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.

Everson's work and practice encompasses photography, printmaking, sculpture and film. He has been recognized with the Guggenheim Fellowship, Alpert Award in Film/Video, Heinz Award in Arts & Humanities, Rome Prize, Berlin Prize and grants and commissions from the Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, and Creative Capital among others. His films, 12 features to date and over 300 solo and collaborative shorts, have premiered at major festivals including Sundance, Berlinale, BlackStar, Locarno, Venice, Toronto, New York Film Festival, BFI/London and AFI Fest and exhibit at museums (Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, MoMA, Whitney Museum of American Art), galleries and art biennials. He is the Commonwealth and Ruffin Foundation Distinguished Professor of Studio Art and Director of Studio Arts at the University of Virginia.

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{blackbabes} ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ Renewed For Season 3 At Netflix

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America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will be back for a third go-round. Netflix has renewed the docuseries for a third season for premiere in 2026. Cameras are already rolling on Season 3 with training camp wrapped up and football season about to kick off.

Season 2 premiered strong on June 18 on Netflix, reaching the top 10 English TV list in 19 countries, including the U.S.

From Emmy-winning director Greg Whiteley, the series will continue giving viewers unfiltered access into this iconic team and franchise. Season 3 will follow the 2025-26 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish — kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season. 

"The world of DCC is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to stories to be told. I'm grateful our crew has another season to keep telling them," said Whiteley.

DCC Senior Director Kelli Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell are back with the newly formed 2025 squad.

Whiteley and Adam Leibowitz of One Potato Productions executive produce with Andrew Fried and Dane Lillegard of Boardwalk Pictures and Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans of Campfire Studios. One Potato Productions and Boardwalk Pictures produce in association with Campfire Studios.

The series continues Netflix's ongoing relationship with the Dallas Cowboys along with the upcoming series, America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, premiering tomorrow, August 19 on Netflix. 

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{blackbabes} Maggie Grace, Devon Sawa, Tiffany Haddish & Ralph Macchio To Star In Crime Thriller ‘The Girl In The River’

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Maggie Grace (Taken), Devon Sawa (Final Destination), Emmy winner Tiffany Haddish (Bad Boys: Ride or Die) and Emmy nominee Ralph Macchio (Cobra Kai) have signed on to star in an indie crime thriller titled The Girl in the River.

In the film, which entered production in Mississippi this week, a seasoned criminologist and a young female psychologist are lured to a remote Mississippi town to investigate the murder of a little girl and the disappearance of her twin sister.

The project marks the feature debut of Brando Benetton, an Italian writer-director whose previous credits include the action-thriller short Nightfire starring Emmy nominee Dylan Baker.

The film is being produced by Andrew Stevens' Andrew Stevens Entertainment banner (The Ritual, The Deputy) and Joe Lemmon under his Black Diamond Films banner (The Ritual Killer). Executive producers are Rick Moore under his Eyevox Entertainment banner (Hotel Tehran, The Neglected), Hicham Benkirane under his HBK F.C. banner (Murder City, The Deputy), Jeff Roschman, Dawn Bursteen (Gunslingers), Alessandro Penazzi, Sam Stevens and Alan B. Bursteen (Hunting Season). Valerie McCaffrey handled casting.

In a statement to Deadline, producer Stevens teased, "Brando's script masterfully captures the essence of a Southern Gothic thriller, weaving in unexpected twists, deeply complex characters, and together with a stellar cast, they elevate the genre."

Also known for projects like Lost and the Twilight franchise, Grace is repped by Gersh. Best known for his role in the Final Destination franchise, as well as horror films like Chucky and Heart Eyes, Sawa is repped by Gersh, Artists First, and Felker Toczek Suddleson. A comedian and actress whose resume also includes projects like The Card Counter and Girls Trip, Haddish is repped by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Breaking out with his role in the original Karate Kid films, which he's recently reprised in Karate Kid: Legends and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, Macchio is repped by Gersh and Untitled Entertainment.

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{blackbabes} 'Beyond the Gates' Interview | Ambyr Michelle on Eva's Journey, Kat Battles, More | Women to Watch

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Video: https://youtu.be/EUpepO4J1-4

Welcome to TVLine's Women to Watch awards series, a celebration of bold voices making big waves. Our Daytime Star to Watch is Ambyr Michelle, who sits down with TVLine's Andy Swift for a deep-dive interview about her work as Eva in the CBS daytime soap 'Beyond the Gates.'

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{blackbabes} A look at Venus Williams’ tennis career and comeback. She’s returning to the US Open at age 45

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Venus Williams is back on the professional tennis tour at age 45 and will be returning to the U.S. Open next week for her first Grand Slam competition in two years.

She received a wild-card entry for singles from the U.S. Tennis Association on Wednesday — she will be the oldest player in that event in New York since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981 — after earlier getting one for mixed doubles.

Here is a look at the career of Williams, who owns seven Grand Slam titles in singles, 14 in women's doubles with her younger sister, Serena, and two in mixed doubles, plus a record five Olympic tennis medals:

Venus Williams' pro tennis debut came in 1994

Williams, who was born in Lynwood, California, on June 17, 1980, played her first WTA tournament in Oakland in October 1994, at 14. In the first round, Williams faced Shaun Stafford, the 1988 NCAA singles champion, and won 6-3, 6-4. In the second round, Williams lost to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who would retire with four Grand Slam trophies.

The first Grand Slam event for Venus Williams was the 1997 French Open

Her Grand Slam debut came at Roland-Garros in 1997, eliminating Naoko Sawamatsu in the first round and losing to Nathalie Tauziat in the second. Later that year, Williams played in the U.S. Open for the first time and reached the final before losing to Martina Hingis.

The 1998 Australian Open featured the first Venus vs. Serena matchup

Venus beat Serena — who is 15 months younger — in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open, the first of 31 meetings as pros. Serena went 19-12, 11-5 in Slam matches.

The Williams sisters won their first women's doubles Slam title in 1999

Venus and Serena teamed up to win their first major doubles title at the 1999 French Open. They also won the U.S. Open that year.

Venus Williams won her first major singles trophy at Wimbledon in 2000

Her first Grand Slam singles trophy arrived at the All England Club when she was 20, via a victory over Lindsay Davenport in 2000. That made Williams the first Black woman to win Wimbledon since Althea Gibson in the 1950s. With Serena having won the 1999 U.S. Open, they became the first sisters in tennis history to each win a major singles championship. They were just getting started. "I always expected to win Grand Slams," Venus said at the time. "This was meant to be." She also collected the Venus Rosewater Dish — the Wimbledon women's trophy — in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Olympic success for Venus Williams

Williams left the 2000 Sydney Olympics with gold medals from singles and doubles (with Serena, of course), then added golds in women's doubles in 2008 and 2012, plus a silver in mixed doubles (with Rajeev Ram) in 2016.

The first Williams vs. Williams Grand Slam final

Venus won her first U.S. Open title in 2000 with another victory over Davenport, and her second by defeating Serena a year later in the first major championship match between sisters since Maud Watson beat Lillian Watson at Wimbledon in 1884. During one remarkable stretch from 2002 into 2003, the Williams siblings met in four consecutive Slam finals; Serena went 4-0.

Venus Williams reaches No. 1 in the WTA rankings in 2002

Venus was ranked No. 1 for the first time in February 2002 and was there for 11 weeks. Serena spent a total of 319 weeks at No. 1.

Venus Williams announces her diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in 2011

During the 2011 U.S. Open, Williams withdrew before her second-round match and revealed she had been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain.

Later Grand Slam success for Williams

Williams had a career resurgence in 2016-17, making it to the finals at two major tournaments (at the Australian Open and Wimbledon) and the semifinals at two others (at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open).

Time away from the tour for Venus Williams — and a comeback

Williams had 10 consecutive Slam exits in the first or second round, including at the 2023 U.S. Open, her most recent major appearance. No one knew until recently, but Williams also was having more health issues: She had surgery for uterine fibroids last year. She was away from the tour for 16 months until returning at the DC Open this July, winning once each in singles and doubles.

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{blackbabes} Venus Williams gets a US Open wild card at age 45 and will be the oldest in singles since 1981

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NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open after a two-year absence, receiving a wild-card invitation on Wednesday to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows at age 45.

The American will be the oldest entrant in singles at the tournament since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981, according to the International Tennis Federation.

Williams already had been given a wild-card entry by the U.S. Tennis Association for next week's mixed doubles competition. Singles matches begin in New York on Aug. 24.

She is the owner of seven major singles championships — including at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001 — along with another 14 in women's doubles, all won with her younger sister, Serena, plus two in mixed doubles. Serena retired with 23 Slam singles trophies after playing at the 2022 U.S. Open.

The older Williams last participated in a Grand Slam tournament at the 2023 U.S. Open, losing in the first round. She hasn't won a singles match there since 2019.

When Williams came back to the tour last month at the DC Open for her first match anywhere in 16 months, a reporter asked whether that would be a one-time thing or if there were plans for other tournaments.

"I'm just here for now, and who knows?" she replied then. "Maybe there's more. ... But at the moment, I'm focused just on this. I haven't played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I'm a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand."

Last year, Williams had surgery to remove uterine fibroids and missed most of the season. In Washington this July, she competed for the first time since March 2024 at the Miami Open and became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova was 47 at Wimbledon in 2004; Williams also won a doubles match at the DC Open.

In the process, Williams drew a ton of attention for her tennis, yes, but also for letting the world know she's engaged to an Italian actor and for her half-joking comments about needing to get back on court to get covered by health insurance.

"I love Venus. We're friends. I didn't really know this was something she was still wanting to do. But I also didn't know it was something she didn't want to do," said Mark Ein, the chairman of the hard-court tournament in Washington. "I was surprised. And it was a wonderful surprise."

Williams also entered the Cincinnati Open via a wild card last week, exiting in the first round of singles.

In New York, she will play in the Aug. 19-20 mixed doubles tournament with Reilly Opelka, a 27-year-old American who used to be ranked in the top 20.

Other women getting singles wild cards for the U.S. Open are Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman and Alyssa Ahn, plus France's Caroline Garcia — who'll be playing in her last Grand Slam tournament before retirement — and Australia's Talia Gibson.

Men's wild cards went to Americans Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic and Darwin Blanch, and France's Valentin Royer and Australia's Tristan Schoolkate.

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{blackbabes} ‘Diarra From Detroit’ Casts Shoniqua Shandai For Season 2

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Shoniqua Shandai (Harlem) is set for a recurring role in Season 2 of BET's Diarra From Detroit, from creator, executive producer, writer, and star Diarra Kilpatrick. 

Season 1 followed Diarra (Kilpatrick), a divorcing schoolteacher who refuses to believe she's been ghosted by her rebound Tinder date. Her determined search leads her into a decades-old mystery rooted in the Detroit underworld. As the case deepened, she enlisted the help of her co-workers, friends and lovers, forming an unlikely crew that navigated danger and secrets.

Shandai will play Diarra's sassy opinionated cousin, Raqueeba.

In addition to Kilpatrick, Bryan Terrell Clark, DomiNque Perry and Jon Chaffin also will return for Season 2.

Produced by BET Studios and Khalabo Ink Society, Diarra From Detroit is executive produced by Kilpatrick, Kenya Barris and Miles Orion Feldsott. BET Studios is the studio.

Shandai is coming off her role of Angie on the Prime Video series Harlem, which wrapped its third and final season in February. She also recurred on TNT miniseries I Am the Night, directed by Patty Jenkins, and Paramount TV's Nobodies. On the film side, she was a lead in the Eminem-produced Bodied. Shandai is repped by Innovative Artists and Zero Gravity Management.

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{blackbabes} ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Adds Lori Harvey For Season 3

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Lori Harvey (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist) is set to recur in the third season of Hulu's Reasonable Doubt. She will play Chelsea, who's described as an "unpredictable force with a troubled past that resurfaces to challenge Jax in unexpected ways."

Harvey joins series regulars Emayatzy Corinealdi, McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey and Joseph Sikora, as well as previously announced recurring guest stars such as Morris Chestnut, Kyle Bary, Rumer Willis, Brandee Evans, Richard Brooks, April Parker Jones, Keith Arthur Bolden and Kash Doll.

Reasonable Doubt returns Sept. 18 with two episodes, followed by new episodes streaming Thursdays on Hulu. Here's the official logline for the new season: "After a tumultuous season of fighting to save her best friend from a life sentence while healing from her own deadly affair, Jax Stewart has finally earned some peace in her life … even if she sees it all as a little boring. So, when a former child star finds himself in a heap of trouble, Jax seizes the opportunity to spice up her daily routine. But when her client's personal life turns out to have all the drama and danger of a Hollywood movie and Jax's own professional future comes under threat from a charismatic associate at her firm, can Jax clear her client's name without losing the personal and professional successes she's worked so hard for?"

Harvey is repped by Tré Thomas. Reasonable Doubt hails from Onyx Collective and is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

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{blackbabes} Donnie Wahlberg & Sonequa Martin-Green To Unveil ‘Boston Blue’ At MIPCOM Cannes World Premiere

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A slice of Boston is coming to Cannes. Boston Blue will have its world premiere at MIPCOM Cannes in October and Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green will be in town for the screening in the famed Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals.

The premiere of the Blue Bloods offshoot will take place on October 12, on the eve of the MIPCOM market kicking off. The show bows on CBS in the U.S. on October 17.

Paramount Global Content Distribution is selling the series and will hope a room full of buyers will fire up international interest in the show, which see Boston-born Wahlberg reprising his role as NYPD Detective Danny Reagan.

In the series he is paired with Detective Lena Silver (Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family. As Reagan settles into his new city, he also hopes to reconnect with his younger son, Sean (Mika Amonsen), who is beginning his own police career in the city.

The premiere episode that is screening in Cannes also features a guest appearance from Bridget Moynahan, reprising her role as Danny's sister Erin Reagan. Moynahan will also direct a later episode in the series.

"We are excited to bring Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green to Cannes to help us unveil the first episode of Boston Blue, the next chapter in the Blue Bloods universe, to global media executives at the Opening Night World Premiere at MIPCOM Cannes," said Lisa Kramer, President, International Content Licensing, Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM Cannes, added: "Interest in the Reagan family and the Blue Bloods universe is deep seated and truly global, making this next chapter, led by the brilliant Donnie Wahlberg with its new setting, characters and stories a perfect premiere on the eve of MIPCOM Cannes this year."

The calendar of international TV events and markets has been redrawn in recent years, notably with the demise of MIPTV in the spring and advent of MIP London in Feb. MIPCOM – now officially MIPCOM Cannes to give it its full title – remains the biggest event of the year, attracting about 10,000 execs.

Boston Blue is produced by CBS Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Wahlberg is an exec producer alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed, as well as the lead in the series. Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis are showrunnners and are also EPs.

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