Day: April 24, 2024

Gina’s fierce fun ripples through “Bob” comedy

On the “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” set, people were semi-celebrating a semi-successful run.
The show has spent much of its five seasons in the top-25 of Nielsen ratings. It’s been a rare throwback to the days when comedy was king.
So members of the Television Critics Association directed questions to its stars (Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku) and producer Chuck Lorre — who made one thing clear: “We would have never gone far with the show had we not found Gina.”
That’s Gina Yashere, ready for her close-up. In the show, she’s Kemi, a noisy friend who’s there for a few quick laughs. In the second-to-last episode (8:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, on CBS), she finally gets the focus (shown here), with a Las Vegas wedding.
But the core of the show – including its culture conflict – springs from Yashere.
“They found me on Google,” she said later. “I turned it down. But my best friend and my brother said, ‘You’re being stupid.’” Read more…

Best-bets for April 26: musical lives of Jon and Yo-Yo

1) “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” opener, Hulu and Disney+. This four-parter juggles two stories: One is semi-interesting: Jon Bon Jovi, now 62, battles throat problems, hoping to launch his band’s 40th-year tour. The other is compelling – a story of “five guys from nowhere” (led by a young Jon Bon Jovi, shown here) becoming, at times, the world’s leading rock band. Read more…