I’ve been following these guys for several years now; their Black Cinema Review skit (from their Web series The Message) still cracks me up, some 7 years later. It was ahead of its time back then, in my not-so humble opinion.
I’m referring to the dynamic duo, Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, who recently received a greenlight from HBO to write a half-hour comedy pilot for the premium cable TV network.
By the way, they’ve also written and performed for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
The currently untitled project will star both gentlemen as two young reporters, trying to make it big in Atlanta.
And announced this evening, Dorian Missick (Southland) will join them in the comedy pilot, in his first comedic lead.
Missick will play a character named Jay Favors, who’s described as a Harvard educated African American man who is exceedingly bright, likable and strategic. He’ll also be a rival to his 2 co-tars.
Lorne Michaels will executive produce, along with Riddle and Salahuddin, with Dave Flebotte serving as showrunner.
I’m glad that HBO will be home to the project. I hope it means that Riddle and Salahuddin will be free to push the envelope a bit, and give us something wholly original, especially when compared to other mostly lackluster *black shows* on both broadcast and cable TV currently.
I can only guess that their reasons for setting the series in Atlanta, may have been influenced by the wealth of reality TV series that are set in that city, many starring African Americans; along with the fact that Atlanta is something of a *black metropolis*… or is it *black mecca*…
Most recently, Missick starred in Neil Drumming’s festival darling dramedy Big Words, which AFFRM’s ARRAY released in June.
He’s also landed a role in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced supernatural, Beware The Night, in a cast that includes Eric Bana and Joel McHale.
He’s repped by Todd Eisner at Innovative Artists, Myrna Jacoby at MJ Management and Attorney Richard Genow of Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson and Binder.
While we wait for this new project to materialize, and as a reminder (or if you’ve never seen it), watch Riddle and Salahuddin in their 7 year-old Black Cinema Review skit below: