Wendell Pierce campaigning to play ‘Family Guy”s Cleveland after Mike Henry steps down from the role

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentWe are in the midst of Hollywood’s two big film events. One is the Oscar race, in which film artists salute great work.The other is the surrounding mini-industry that involves campaigners, contenders, agents, journalists and Oscar pundits.There is always confusion because the latter event is also called the Oscar race — but in fact, the two are very different species.Oscar Race #1 features major names (this year including Nicole Kidman, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg), newcomer/vets (Troy Kotsur, Ciaran Hinds) plus top-of-the-line artisans.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterCBS has ordered comedy pilots from “Jane the Virgin” creator Jennie Snyder Urman and Lonely Island crew Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone.The Urman-produced multi-cam project is called “Sober Companion” and follows Eliza, a hot-mess alcoholic who owns a bar with her uncle in New Orleans. She is forced to get her life together when the court appoints her an exhaustingly upbeat sober companion with whom she has to live 24/7.The potential series is based on a story by Urman, Gracie Glassmeyer and David Rosenthal.

Selome Hailu Netflix announced that “Chappelle’s Home Team,” a series of stand-alone comedy specials featuring comics chosen by Dave Chappelle, who serves as executive producer. The series will debut on Feb.

Dave Chappelle will executive produce four new stand-alone comedy specials featuring comics personally selected by him as part of his Chappelle’s Home Team series for Netflix.

EXCLUSIVE: His reps declined to comment, but word in publishing circles is that Elliot Page’s memoir Pageboy sold to Flatiron Books for north of $3 million. The deal was made based on a 49 page proposal shopped by UTA. Deadline read the document, and it sounds like Page has a truly compelling story to tell about a long struggle to find himself amidst a torrent of homophobic hatred, not only in his hometown of Halifax, Novia Scotia but also in Hollywood where Page first came to fame as an Oscar nominee for Juno. Before he transitioned, Page describes numerous occasions where he was set upon by homophobic bullies, with few willing to help. A beer thrown at Page in Toronto, a menacing loudmouth chasing Page into a restaurant in Hollywood, this was something that happened often to the diminutive Page. The loathsome industry people in Hollywood weren’t named, but there was the male film director who tried to seduce Page at age 16; and the time that a big movie star — who would later say he was ossified and blacked out in a clumsy apology — berated Page at a party in an outrageous homophobic rant. This was just after Page — then known as Ellen — had come out as queer. The actor accused Page’s bold announcement of being false. “You aren’t gay. You are just afraid of men…I’m going to fu*k you to make you realize you aren’t gay.” As the torrent grew louder and more graphic, nobody in the room, even Page’s closest friends, stood up for their friend. It was unclear if they were shocked, or afraid to say anything because the actor was one of the biggest stars in town.

Margaret Styne, the widow of Broadway composer Jule Styne who oversaw an estate and legacy that includes the much anticipated upcoming revival of Funny Girl, has died.

Staying supportive. Amid the news that Jennifer Grey is set to pen a tell-all memoir, her ex-husband, Clark Gregg, was seemingly nervous about what would be included.

Kanye West hasn't really been one to hold his tongue or his Twitter trigger. And in recent weeks, West – formally known as "Ye"  – has been increasingly vocal about his views on how estranged wife Kim Kardashian has been raising their oldest daughter, North West, one of their four children. In addition to publicly addressing Kardashian’s parenting habits, West, 44, has also expressed his love and adoration for the 41-year-old Skims founder while exhibiting his disdain for her current partner, comedian Pete Davidson, 28.

Thirteen pedigree dogs were tragically killed after a tree blown over by Storm Dudley knocked a power line of 11k onto their kennel block, electrocuting them.

A paedophile who commissioned child abuse in America from his UK home has been locked up.

Just one teaspoon of this 50p food could cut your cholesterol by 10% and lower blood glucose by an incredible 24%.

Brooke Shields is sharing the love! The 56-year-old actress celebrated Acts Of Kindness Day by handing out yellow flowers to people in the streets of New York City.“Today is random Acts of Kindness Day so I wanted to know if I could give you some flowers?” Brooke can be seen on a new video, asking the question to surprised strangers in a park.Brooke approached many people on the street, evoking some emotional responses, including tears of joy from a woman who was shocked by the act of kindness, as she received a bundle of flowers.The model and mother of two also runs a nonprofit organization, ‘Beginning is now’ described as “a global community of women of all ages who find strength, wisdom, optimism, humor and more in each other.”Shields decided to spread the joy by taking part in Positive Week, which runs from February 13 to February 19, including Kindness Day, which has been celebrated on February 17 since 1995, and was created by the Random Acts Of Kindness Foundation, based in Denver, Colorado.Online users praised the model’s actions on social media, showing appreciation for her acts of kindness, including the people that received flowers, posting the lovely gesture on Instagram Stories.

Former Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean has got a matching tattoo with her husband Nick Feeney.Taking to Instagram on Friday 18 February, Andrea, 52, teased that they’d had something booked in since November and, while the activity they were about to do wasn’t a first for her, it was for husband of four years, Nick. In the video shared to social media, Nick could be seen proudly showing off his new tattoo that covered his wrist and hand and joked that he’s “so grown up” after getting it.

Happier.The 31-year-old pop star’s plan to build a private burial chamber on his property is on track for approval, despite neighbors’ pleas.As part of an eco-friendly renovation of his over $5 million, 16-acre Framlingham, UK estate, the English singer plans to construct a two-story private chapel complete with a crypt. While the chapel — set to feature stained glass windows and be warmed by an environmentally-friendly heat pump — was approved for construction in Nov.

untimely death last month at the age of 65 shocked fans around the world. However, the “Full House” alum filmed one more project before he passed: a rap video.Saget starred in a music video for rapper Desiigner’s new single “Bakin’.”The song features singers Slushii & DJ Whoo Kid and dropped on Friday. The video first opens with Snoop Dogg suggesting that Desiigner, 24, should “get Bob on the job.” Saget then comes in blazing and starts cooking up bacon, catching money and dancing to the music alongside adult film star Kendra Sunderland.The video, which contains some language not suitable for kids, includes a special tribute at the end of the video for the late actor.

Biggest Loser couple Jessica Limpert and Ramon Medeiros are inviting fans back into their weight loss journey.

Wendell Pierce is putting his name in the hat to take over the role of Cleveland Brown.

30 Rock and Golden Girls have been pulled from streaming services for (though the jury is definitely on that GG example), it seems like a more urgent transformation is happening in the world of animated TV. So far, , , Family Guy, and more shows are starting to answer for casting white actors as characters of color.

The Wire star Wendell Pierce wants to voice Cleveland in Family Guy after white actor Mike Henry stepped down from playing the African-American character.Henry has voiced Cleveland since Family Guy debuted in 1999, and also starred in spin-off series The Cleveland Show from 2009 and 2013, but announced he would step down last week (June 28, 20), in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.On Sunday, Pierce put himself forward as a replacement, tweeting,Now that Mike Henry has consciously given up the role of Cleveland,I am publicly starting a campaign to voice the role myself on The Cleveland Show.

Now that Mike Henry has stepped down from the role, Wendell Pierce said he would like to take over performing the voice of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy. Henry, who voiced the character for 20 years both on Fox'sFamily Guy and and four seasons on The Cleveland Show, announced last week he would no longer play the African American cartoon character amid a new push for characters of color to no longer be portrayed by white actors.

“Family Guy” needs a new actor to voice Cleveland, and Wendell Pierce wants to be that guy.

Family Guy actor Mike Henry is stepping down from voicing the African-American character of Cleveland Brown to make way for a person of colour.Henry, who is white, originated the role back when the hit cartoon debuted in 1999, and also brought Brown to life on the spin-off series, The Cleveland Show, which ended after a four-season run in 2013. However, Henry has since announced he will no longer voice the part of Brown in the long-running Seth MacFarlane sitcom.

Hot New Hip Hop reported today that Mike Henry, who voiced the role of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy, finally stepped down from the position following more than two decades. On the 26th of June, the Family Guy cast member shared that he was stepping down from the position because he wasn’t a person of color.

Also Read: 'The Simpsons' Will No Longer Have White Actors Voice Nonwhite CharactersBrie’s statement comes after several other white voice actors stepped away from their roles as people of color in animated series. “Family Guy” star Mike Henry said on Friday that he would step away from the Fox sitcom as the longtime voice of the Black character Cleveland Brown.

The Simpsons and Family Guy plan to recast white actors who previously voiced characters of color on the long-running Fox animated sitcoms.“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the network said in a statement to TVLine on Friday, June 26.Meanwhile, Mike Henry, a white voice actor, tweeted on Friday that he will stop playing Cleveland Brown on Family Guy.“It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color,” he wrote.

Family Guy for over two decades, has stepped down from the role.Henry has appeared as Brown since the show’s very first episode broadcast in 1999, and starred in spin-off series The Cleveland Show which ran for four seasons between 2009 and 2013.In a tweet, Henry said: “It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color.

Mike Henry, who has voiced the character of Cleveland Brown for two decades on "Family Guy," said on Friday that he is stepping down from the role on the FOX animated series. "It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years," Henry, 54, wrote on Twitter.

and  are the latest shows that are making big changes. Amid recent backlash over the use of blackface, as well as white actors voicing ethnic characters, a spokesperson for tells ET on Friday that «Moving forward, will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.”Mike Henry, known as the voice of Cleveland Brown on, also said that he would no longer be voicing the Black character.

Cornerstone animated shows “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons” are doing away with white voice actors voicing characters of colour.

Major changes are on the way for both Family Guy and The Simpsons.

Twitter. “It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years,” he wrote.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerVoice actor Mike Henry said Friday on Twitter that he no longer will voice the Cleveland Brown character on Fox’s animated Family Guy.Henry, who is white, has voiced the African-American Brown since the show’s inception in 1999. He also voiced the character and his son, Rallo Tubbs, on the spinoff, The Cleveland Show, which ran for four years on Fox.Henry was a voice on Family Guy since its 1999 debut.

Will Thorne Staff Writer“The Simpsons” won’t have any repeats of Hank Azaria voicing Apu.The producers behind the show issued a statement saying that from now on, characters of color will be voiced by actors of color only.“Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the statement read.News of the decision comes less than an hour after Mike Henry announced he will no longer voice the character of Cleveland Brown on fellow Fox comedy series “Family Guy.”More to come…Want to read more articles like this one?