Paramount+ has released the first look at the eighth and final season of “The Chi,” premiering later this year.
Set in the South Side of Chicago, “The Chi” will enter “its coldest winter ever” in the upcoming season.
The logline reads, “Life or death choices must be made. The question becomes, who is willing to make them? Legacy, conflict, joy, and pain.”
The series stars Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Hannaha Hall and Jason Weaver.
“The Chi” is created and executive produced by Emmy-winning producer Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner. “The Chi” is executive produced by co-showrunners Justin Hillian for Hillianaire Productions and Jewel Coronel for Uncut Gems.
Additional executive producers include Common, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Resheida Brady-Anderson, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia, Naomi Funabashi and Rishi Rajani, along with James Rogers III.
Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield will direct multiple episodes and serve as co-executive producers.
“The Chi” is produced by 20th Television.
Below, the first look of the upcoming season.
(L-R): Birgundi Baker as Kiesha and Jacob Latimore as Emmett in The Chi, Season 8, streaming on Paramount+ Photo Credit: Sandy Morris/Paramount+
Sandy Morris/Paramount+
(L-R): Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson as Bakari, Michael V. Epps as Jake and Shamon Brown Jr. as Papa in The Chi, Season 8, streaming on Paramount+ Photo Credit: Sandy Morris/Paramount+
Sandy Morris/Paramount+
PROGRAMMING
“The Neighborhood” is getting a sendoff special at CBS ahead of its final episode.
CBS will air “The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special,” an Entertainment Tonight presentation hosted by Kevin Frazier, on April 6 from 8–9 p.m. ET/PT. The hourlong special will also stream on Paramount+.
Filmed on the sitcom’s soundstages, the special will celebrate the show’s eight-season run, which totals 156 episodes. It arrives ahead of the series finale scheduled for May 11.
The retrospective will feature new interviews with the cast reflecting on the show’s beginnings, its evolution and its cultural impact. The comedy, which debuted in 2018, has centered on the friendship between two neighboring families — the Butlers and the Johnsons — while exploring themes of community, family and shifting neighborhood dynamics.
The broadcast will also include never-before-seen footage and archival interviews from the Entertainment Tonight vault, highlighting memorable moments from throughout the series. Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s final days of production, including the last table read, moments from the final tapings and emotional goodbyes from the cast and crew.
To close out the hour, the program will preview the upcoming finale, with the cast and producers offering insight into what viewers can expect as the Butlers and Johnsons say goodbye to the neighborhood they’ve called home for nearly a decade.
RELEASE DATES
Two of Investigation Discovery’s longest-running true-crime series are returning next month with new seasons.
“Homicide Hunter: American Detective,” hosted by former homicide detective Joe Kenda, and “On the Case With Paula Zahn,” fronted by veteran journalist Paula Zahn, will premiere back-to-back on April 15 beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Investigation Discovery.
The new season of “Homicide Hunter: American Detective” will again spotlight real-life investigators from across the United States as they work to solve complex murder cases. Kenda guides viewers through the investigations while highlighting the methods and persistence required to close difficult cases.
In the season premiere, titled “Man’s Best Friend,” detectives investigate the killing of Mandy Reynolds after her burned body is discovered in a rural Texas field. The case leads to a high-speed chase, an arrest and a tense interrogation as authorities attempt to unravel the crime.
Following at 10 p.m., “On the Case With Paula Zahn” returns with new episodes of the long-running newsmagazine series, which features in-depth reporting on crimes that have shaken communities nationwide. Zahn conducts interviews with investigators, family members and others connected to the cases, while examining the investigative breakthroughs that ultimately brought suspects to justice.
The season premiere, “Edge of the Abyss,” centers on the disappearance of a young woman on her way to work, with police piecing together videotaped clues in hopes of solving the mystery.
“Homicide Hunter: American Detective” is produced by Jupiter Entertainment, while “On the Case With Paula Zahn” is produced by Scott Sternberg Productions and Weinberger Media.
PRODUCTION
Season 10 of Telemundo’s “El Señor de los Cielos” (“The Lord of the Skies”) is officially in production.
Rafael Amaya will reprise his role as Aurelio Casillas for the forthcoming season, who will return “more powerful and determined than ever. After disappearing from his clan’s radar, Aurelio resurfaces to reclaim his empire and avenge his family. But as he pushes the limits of power and loyalty, the lines blur, threatening to ignite a conflict that could destroy everything he has built,” reads the official logline. Returning cast members also include Carmen Aub as Rutila Casillas and Isabella Castillo as Diana Ahumada.
“As Spanish-language television’s longest-running scripted franchise, reaching a tenth season of El Señor de los Cielos is an extraordinary milestone,” said Javier Pons, chief content officer and head of telemundo studios, in a statement. “This season, our production team is taking the story to the next level with cinematic locations and the high-octane action that has distinguished the series as a global phenomenon. With Rafael Amaya leading this powerhouse ensemble, we are proud to deliver a story that is more intense, visually stunning and emotionally gripping than ever before.”
The series is created and written by Luis Zelcowicz and directed by Danny Gavidia, Mauricio Corredor, Laura Marco and Jorge Ríos, with Monica Vizzi and Rafael Amaya as executive producers and Mabel Vargas as general producer.
EXEC NEWS
Vanessa Esteves and Joey Case have joined Boat Rocker Studios’ creative affairs teams in the kids and family and unscripted departments, respectively. The hiring comes as part of the independent entertainment company’s strategic focus on owned IP and rights management.
Esteves joins as senior director of creative affairs, kids and family, and will support Boat Rocker’s original animation slate through creative development, pre-sales, current series and production. She will report to Gia Delaney, SVP of global sales and content, kids and family. She previously served as head of production and creative supervising producer of development at Nelvana.
Case joins as senior director of creative affairs, unscripted, and will bolster Boat Rocker’s original unscripted slate while supporting creative development, pre-sales, current series and production. He will report to Natalie Vinet, SVP of global sales and content, unscripted. Case most recently served as executive producer and development executive at Alibi Entertainment.
“Boat Rocker Studios continues to invest in best-in-class owned IP and expand our in-house creative expertise as we grow our slate of premium content,” said Jon Rutherford, president of global content and rights at Boat Rocker Studios, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome Vanessa and Joey to the team and are excited for them to help us continue to build our content creation and rights management business across our Kids & Family and Unscripted divisions.”
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