Laz Alonso to Star in BET’s “The Bobby Brown Story” Miniseries

Laz Alonso is reliving some music history…

The 43-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor  will star in BET’s The Bobby Brown Story, a two-part miniseries starring Woody McClain as the veteran R&B singer.

Laz Alonso

In addition to Alonso and McClain, the miniseries will also star Mekhi PhiferLil Rel HoweryT.K. Carter, Lance GrossAlyssa Goss and Sandi McCree.

The New Edition Story broke BET ratings records when it aired in January 2017, and The Bobby Brown Story picks up where it left off following Brown’s successful solo run.

McClain is reprising his role as Brown, one of the genre’s original “bad boys” whose life epitomizes the meaning of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. His hits may have kept him at the top of the charts, but his antics kept him on the front page.

Alonso (The Mysteries of Laura) is Louil Silas Jr, an MCA producer-executive who helps make Bobby a solo star.

Phifer plays Tommy Brown, Bobby’s brother. Howery is Brian Irvine, Bobby’s business manager. Carter plays Herbert “Pops” Brown, Bobby’s father. Gross is set as Steven Sealy, a childhood friend of Bobby’s who is killed in a gunfight after hanging with him at a hometown bar. Goss plays Bobby’s current wife, Alicia Etheridge, and McCree will reprise her New Edition Story as Bobby’s mother Carole Brown.

The Bobby Brown Story is directed by Spike Lee protégé Kiel Adrian Scott.

Production is currently underway in Atlanta.

BET plans a two-night September premiere for The Bobby Brown Story.

La La Anthony Lands Recurring Role on Fox’s Drama Series “Star”

La La Anthony’s Star is rising.

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican actress and television personality has landed a recurring role on Fox’s music-fueled drama series Star.

La La Anthony

Anthony will portray Paola, the estranged mother of Angel (guest star Evan Ross) who also happens to have a connection to Jahil (Benjamin Bratt).

Co-created by Lee Daniels and Tom DonaghyStar follows three talented singers – running from their pasts and desperate for a new start – with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cutthroat music business.

Anthony’s recent television credits include Starz’s Power and the Lifetime telepic The New Edition Story. She also has appeared in the recent features Double Play, Deuces and Destined.

She first earned national attention in the early 2000s as a VJ on MTV’s Total Request Live and went on to host a number of reality shows for its corporate sibling VH1 including Flavor of Love. She also starred in the reality television programs La La’s Full Court Wedding and La La’s Full Court Life.

Anthony Signs Exclusive Production Partnership with ITV America

La La Anthony is looking to bring new content to television…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actress and reality television star has signed an exclusive production partnership with reality producer ITV America.

La La Anthony

The deal would allow Anthony to create and produce projects in the urban, music and pop culture space via her LaLaLand label, under the ITV America banner.

Anthony is already developing a hip-hop docuseries that takes an inside look at the business side of New York City’s hip-hop scene with Timbaland and Leftfield Entertainment/ITVA prodco Leftfield Pictures. They also are in development on several other projects that include documentaries and scripted series, as well as true-crime and live-event series.

“I’m beyond excited to be partnering with Leftfield and ITV America,” Anthony said. “I have a long history of working with David George, and I truly feel this company will help bring my ideas to life.”

Added Leftfield Entertainment CEO David George: “I’ve known La La a long time, as a friend and colleague, and she is one of the hardest-working, most driven and connected people in our business. We’re thrilled to be deepening our relationship with La La and to take her inspiring voice and entrepreneurial fierceness to multiple genres and platforms.”

Anthony’s TV credits include the hit Starz series Power, BET’s The New Edition Story and A&E’s Unforgettable. Her film credits include Think Like a Man, Think Like a Man Too, Baggage Claim, Chi-Raq and the upcoming Earnest Dickerson film Double Play. Anthony is also a twice-published, New York Times best-selling author and recently made her Broadway producing debut with the Tony-nominated play Eclipsed, which featured Broadway’s first all-female, all-black cast.