Watch The Trailer For Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s ‘Africa’s Great Civilizations’

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been known to document and chronicle the stories of African, African American people, and those who wanted to know from where they came from. Now, in a bid to add color and context to our legacy, Skip Gates teamed up with PBS to put out a 3-part/6-hour documentary series titled Africa’s Great Civilizations. For him, he aims to tell the stories of an African continent prior to colonization and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Tales about the Saadi dynasty in Morocco, the Sultanate of Sennar in Sudan and the Oyo, Benin and Ashanti empires in West Africa highlight this experience, which will be must see TV surely.

To add another bit of polish to the forthcoming doc, Gates + PBS have released a trailer that takes audiences into the different parts of the continent. Without spoiler much of what the series will be, for those who aren’t vested in African history, there will be much to uncover. “This series is a breathtaking and personal journey through history that includes evidence of the earliest human culture and art, arguably the world’s greatest ever civilizations and kingdoms, and some of the world’s earliest writing,” the official summary states.

Mark your calendar for this three-night event, as Africa’s Great Civilizations airs beginning Feb. 27 – Mar. 1 from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET.

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/henry-louis-gates-jr-africas-great-civilizations-trailer.html

Shonda Rhimes: Scandal, Private Practice

The driving creative force behind one of the most successful television medical dramas since ER, tireless multi-hyphenate Shonda Rhimes worked for years as a feature-film screenwriter before bringing Grey's Anatomy to the small screen in 2005. Of course, writing comes easy for the lifelong storyteller who was tape-recording stories for her parents to transcribe before she even learned to spell, yet entering into the world of show business proved a formidable task for the artist who wasn't used to the idea of dealing with network executives.

It was Rhimes' screenplay for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge that earned actress Halle Berry her first Emmy, and after the success of the Britney Spears road movie Crossroads and the well-received Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, it seemed that the emerging talent had a successful career writing features in her future. Yet all of that would change when Rhimes adopted a newborn child back in 2002. In the months after adopting the child, Rhimes found herself largely housebound and rediscovering her love of television. Realizing that she was just as capable of creating a successful weekly series as she was a stand-alone feature, the ambitious writer created a show concerning a group of sexy young war correspondents. As fate would have it, however, the war in Iraq would prompt Touchstone to cancel the series before it even went before the cameras, yet rumors persisted that the studio was searching for a quality medical drama. It didn't take long for the University Park, IL, native to grasp the inherent drama of being a medical intern, and in 2005, Grey's Anatomy debuted to critical and popular acclaim. It seemed that the writer who had once been accepted to USC on the prestigious Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship had finally arrived, and that, despite some hard times getting there, Rhimes had finally hit her stride as a writer, while showing impressive growth as a producer as well.

With Grey's Anatomy still maintaining an impressive fan base three years after its debut, Rhimes continued telling the story of popular character Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery (Kate Walsh) in the spin-off series Private Practice in fall 2007. - Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Source: http://www.aoltv.com/celebs/shonda-rhimes/2042554/biography

OWN: Sweetie Pies

When Robbie Montgomery, a 1960's backup singer and former "Ikette" of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, suffered a collapsed lung and had to stop singing, she decided to pour her talents into another creative venture -- a soul food restaurant called Sweetie Pie's. At her family-oriented eatery, which she runs with her son, Tim, both hilarity and drama are offered in equal measure.

It turns out, at the age of seventy, Miss Robbie's life in the limelight is not over, as she finds herself still entertaining the masses every day at Sweetie Pie's! You can always find her on the floor of the restaurant, during the busy lunch rush, cutting up and chatting with the slew of customers who come from all over the world to get a taste of her famous soul food. Her headstrong son, Tim, is her business partner, and together they have two Sweetie Pie's locations running successfully. For Miss Robbie, however, that is not enough, and now she is working to build her legacy and plans to open a new, even bigger Sweetie Pie's in downtown St. Louis, where as a little girl, she was not allowed during segregation. She's come a long way, and this willful woman doesn’t plan on letting anything stand in the way of her dreams to own a building with a huge restaurant and banquet facility.

While Miss Robbie juggles her business and the day-to-day kitchen chaos at Sweetie Pie's, she is also the glue that holds her family together. She is constantly lighting fires under her lazy nephew, Charles, and trying to train him to be a manager at the restaurant, so she can know she has enough family to run it after she's gone. Her sisters help her run the original Sweetie Pie's location, and are constantly pawning Charles off on Miss Robbie, because he does no work to help them out. Her son Tim, is a hard worker, but just as stubborn as she is, and this mother-son duo are constantly bickering back and forth. Yet, despite their non-stop squabbling, they have fierce loyalty to one another. As Tim so aptly points out, he is the Clyde to her Bonnie.

As we follow the antics of this spirited family, we witness not only Miss Robbie's business growing, but her family growing as well. Tim's girlfriend, Jenae is pregnant, and this means Miss Robbie is expecting a grandson! Tim is planning to propose and become a family man, despite his history of being a player, and against the wishes of his close friends. Through laughter and tears, singing and quarreling, you will fall in love with the Montgomery family again and again, as you watch Miss Robbie's empire grow. One thing's for sure...you will find yourself craving seconds of some good ol' home cooked, Sweetie Pie's soul food.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/own-sweetie-pies/Welcome-to-Sweetie-Pies#ixzz1in9A7vyS

Chef Roble & Co.- Sunday, 10/9c on Bravo

Bravo serves up a new slice of culinary drama with Chef Roblé & Co. as Roblé Ali risks it all to cater the biggest events New York City has to offer, premiering on Sunday, December 4 at 10 pm ET/PT. Chef Roblé Ali has cooked for everyone from red carpet rock stars to award-winning actors, but nothing has prepared him for the stresses and strains of setting up his own high-end catering company. From a doggie wedding in the Hamptons to a Bollywood inspired birthday party, this series follows Roblé and his team as they create world-class cuisine and produce jaw-dropping events for a range of top-name clients and celebrities, including Rachel Dratch, and Kandi Burruss from The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

In the premiere episode, Chef Roblé meets his first client -- a glamorous New York socialite who wants a creepy, carnival-themed birthday party. Roblé wonders whether he's bitten off more than he can chew after finding out she has a list of demands such as a live monkey and only allowing him to serve red, white, and black foods. Roblé is joined by his older sister Jasmine, who has relocated from Atlanta to help him start his business. Other members of the catering team include Artie and Shawn, who handle the front of house, and Adam, Ché, Kikuyo, and D'Andre in the kitchen.

Chef Roblé Ali was always fascinated with food and cooking. He showed talent in the kitchen at a young age after learning from his grandfather, Jesse Harris, who was a professional chef. At 15, Roblé began working in his first professional kitchen and continued to develop as a chef throughout his high school years. Upon graduation, he enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he broadened his knowledge of food.

After quickly being identified as one of the hottest up-and-coming chefs, Roblé worked through the ranks as the youngest sous chef ever at Abigail Kirsch, an elite New York catering company. He worked side by side with Chef Chris Santos as Chef de Cuisine of Restaurant Mojo and on the opening of Stanton Social. In addition, Roblé was hired by nightlife mogul, Noah Tepperberg, to be the executive chef and design the menu at Avenue, a popular gastro-lounge in New York City.


Source: http://www.bravotv.com/chef-roble-and-co/season-1/about

B.E.T.: Reed Between The Lines

A blended family with an Psychologist and English Professor as mom and dad - children growing up in today's ever-changing society, and a family friend who has not been so lucky in love.

Source: http://www.bet.com/shows/reed-between-the-lines.htm

Next Episode Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00pm

NBC Show: Undercovers

From acclaimed writer/producer/director J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek," "Fringe," "Lost," "Alias") and executive producer/writer Josh Reims ("Brothers and Sisters," "What About Brian") comes a sexy, fun, action-packed spy drama that proves once and for all that marriage is still the world's most dangerous partnership.

Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, "Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Vacation," "Soul Food," "Resident Evil: Afterlife") and his wife, Samantha (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, "Dr. Who," "Bonekickers"), are a typical married couple who own and operate a small catering company in Los Angeles - with help from Samantha's easily frazzled handful of a sister, Lizzy (Mekia Cox, "90210," "This Is It"). Secretly, the duo were two of the best spies the CIA had ever known, until they fell in love on the job five years ago and retired.

When fellow spy and good friend Leo Nash (Carter MacIntyre, "American Heiress," "Nip/Tuck") goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss and agency liaison, Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney, "Deadwood," "Jericho"), to locate and rescue Nash.

With assistance from resourceful CIA field agent Bill Hoyt (Ben Schwartz, "Parks and Recreation," "Bronx World Travelers"), whose professional admiration for Steven isn't hard to miss, the pair is thrust back into the world of espionage, disguises and hand-to-hand combat.

Following leads that take them to cities spanning the globe, Steven and Samantha quickly realize that perhaps this supercharged, undercover lifestyle provides exactly the kind of excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing.

"Undercovers" is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Abrams directed the pilot and co-wrote it, along with Reims. They also serve as executive producers along with Bryan Burk ("Star Trek," "Fringe," "Lost, "Alias").

Source: http://www.nbc.com/undercovers/

Undercovers
Premiers Date: 9/22/2010
Time: 9/8 c

TNT Show: HawthoRNe

The doors of Richmond Trinity have closed…permanently. That’s the dramatic reality that opens the second season of TNT’s powerful medical drama, HAWTHORNE. This June, the hit series returns with star and executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith (The Women, The Matrix trilogy) as Christina Hawthorne, a Chief Nursing Officer ready for battle on the front lines of a war against declining patient services and hospital budget cuts.

HAWTHORNE is told from the point of view of nurses as they struggle against the odds to deliver the best care possible. The series also stars Michael Vartan (Alias) as Dr. Tom Wakefield, Richmond Trinity’s Chief of Surgery who helped Christina’s husband during the last stages of his cancer; Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees) as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Christina’s best friends; David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore (90210) as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a patriotic sense of duty; Vanessa Lengies (American Dreams) as Kelly Epson, who continues to find her footing as a nurse; and Hannah Hodson (TNT’s The Ron Clark Story) as Christina’s daughter Camille.

As the second season of HAWTHORNE opens, several Richmond Trinity doctors and nurses have been transferred to James River, a failing hospital in terrible shape. There, Christina butts heads with the ER’s head nurse, Gail Strummer (Vanessa Bell Calloway – The District), who is extremely set in her ways. Christina is impressed, however, by the charming Dr. Steve Shaw (Adam Rayner – Mistresses), who hails from England, and the hard-working ER clerk Marcus Leeds (Collins Curtis Pennie – Half Nelson), who has his eye on Camille.

This season, Christina and Tom will try to forge a romantic relationship, especially now that he is no longer serving as Chief of Surgery and can devote more time to patient care and a private life. Bobbie will once again find herself helping out homeless mother Isabelle. Ray’s lust-hate relationship with Dr. Marshall will hit some snags over Ray’s continued feelings toward Candy, who is serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Kelly’s confidence as a nurse will slowly build, thanks in part to her work with a nurse (guest star Sarah Gilbert – Roseanne) who’s even more insecure. And Camille takes a step toward adulthood that her mother isn’t sure she’s prepared to take.

Created by Emmy winner John Masius (St. Elsewhere, Providence, Dead Like Me), HAWTHORNE comes to TNT from Sony Pictures Television in association with Pinkett Smith’s 100% Womon Productions, John Masius Productions and Jamie Tarses’ FanFare Productions. HAWTHORNE is executive-produced by Pinkett Smith; Masius; Glen Mazzara (The Shield, Crash, Life); and Jamie Tarses (My Boys).

Source: http://www.tnt.tv/series/hawthorne/

HawthoRNe
Day: Tuesday
Time: 8/7c

Image Source: http://www.buzzsugar.com/TV-Tonight-Series-Premiere-TNTs-HawthoRNe-3313437