or


[06/20/16 - 01:30 PM]
Tavis Smiley Teams Up with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions for TV Adaptation of Smiley's Upcoming Michael Jackson Book Before You Judge Me, for Warner Bros. Television
The book is a taut novelistic rendering of the final months in the life of one of the most iconic figures in modern popular culture, Michael Jackson.
[via press release from Warner Bros. Television]

TAVIS SMILEY TEAMS UP WITH J.J. ABRAMS' BAD ROBOT PRODUCTIONS FOR TV ADAPTATION OF SMILEY'S UPCOMING MICHAEL JACKSON BOOK BEFORE YOU JUDGE ME, FOR WARNER BROS. TELEVISION

BURBANK, Calif. (June 20, 2016) - Broadcaster/author/producer Tavis Smiley and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions are joining forces to develop an event television series based on Smiley's upcoming book Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson's Last Days, for Warner Bros. Television (WBTV), where both Smiley and Bad Robot have TV deals.

To be published June 21, 2016, by Little, Brown and Company, Before You Judge Me is a taut novelistic rendering of the final months in the life of one of the most iconic figures in modern popular culture, Michael Jackson. The book examines the soaring highs and deep lows faced by the late pop star - his constant hunt for privacy in a life that was more public than almost any other, and the pressures he endured as someone whose fame made him socially fragile and almost unable to live. The publication of Before You Judge Me will be supported by a nationwide book tour and media appearances by Smiley.

Smiley, Abrams, Ben Stephenson and David Brewington will serve as executive producers on Before You Judge Me, which will be produced by Bad Robot Productions and Tavis Smiley TV & Film in association with WBTV.

The deal for Bad Robot to board Before You Judge Me marks the latest collaboration between Smiley TV & Film, Bad Robot and WBTV. It was previously announced in April 2015 that the three companies are developing an event series based on Smiley's book Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Final Year. Published in 2014, the book recounts the final 365 days of King's life and became a New York Times best seller.

It was subsequently announced in October 2015 that Smiley had signed an exclusive multi-year development and production pod deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, with Before You Judge Me and another Smiley book adaptation - My Journey with Maya, a memoir of the author's nearly 30-year friendship with the renowned poet Maya Angelou - earmarked as the first two projects to be developed under the deal.

Before You Judge Me, Death of a King and My Journey with Maya are all written by Tavis Smiley and David Ritz.

Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS as well as The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI).





  [june 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




[05/25/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "The Marked Woman" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is found in a shipping container with no memory of who she is, two detectives race to figure out her identity - and who wants her dead.
[05/24/26 - 09:02 PM]
Video: "President Curtis" - New Series Coming in July - Adult Swim
The new series is coming in July on Adult Swim.
[05/24/26 - 08:46 AM]
Video: HBO Max Unveils Coming Soon Spot Featuring First Looks at Several Upcoming Originals
The spot features never-before-seen footage from "Conan O'Brien Must Go," "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness," "Monsters of God," "The Gilded Age," "The Man Will Burn," "War," and "Youth."
[05/22/26 - 02:54 PM]
Video: Summer Nights 2026 - All Month Long this June
Summer Nights returns this June with all-new movies every Saturday on Hallmark Channel.
[05/22/26 - 11:15 AM]
"Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" Is Taking a Big Summer Spin!
This summer, "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" brings 10 all-new episodes exclusively to Disney+ and Hulu beginning Friday, June 12.

[05/22/26 - 07:17 AM]
ESPN Films and Wakai Announce Global Premiere of "FC Barcelona: Sonar, jugar y ganar"
The documentary premieres in the U.S. on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and streaming on ESPN+.
[05/22/26 - 07:11 AM]
Video: Back to Where It All Began - Official Teaser for "Vought Rising" Revealed
The prequel to the global hit series "The Boys" will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 2027.
[05/22/26 - 07:01 AM]
First Picture of Charlie Heaton in "Peaky Blinders" Reveals His Role as Charles Shelby
The new chapter will premiere globally on Netflix - and on BBC iplayer and BBC One in the UK.
[05/22/26 - 04:27 AM]
Video: "Maa Behen" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When trouble knocks on her door, a mother and her estranged daughters attempt to cover up a crime in a nosy colony where no secret is safe.
[05/21/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Husbands in Action" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A detective teams up with his ex-wife's new husband to chase down her kidnappers. Can this unlikely duo put aside their differences for one wild rescue?
[05/21/26 - 02:32 PM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 Since 2018
The New York Knicks overtime victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19 generated an average audience of 7.1 million viewers and peaked with 8.87 million viewers at 10:45 p.m. ET.

[05/21/26 - 02:00 PM]
"Survivor" Historic 50th Season Concludes with Most-Watched Finale Since 2020
The season finale drew an average of 5.78 million viewers, based on Nielsen Preliminary panel only data.
[05/21/26 - 12:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This June
Highlights include the return of "House of the Dragon" and the debut of "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness."
[05/21/26 - 11:00 AM]
A24's "How to Make a Killing" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 19
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Hannah Berner: None of My Business"
Hannah Berner delivers her most vulnerable material yet - questioning her future, exposing her unorthodox career path, dishing dating secrets and admitting she's "part-time hot" in this sensational sophomore special.