The new Starz comedy series Run the World has begun production in Harlem, and throughout New York City. The eight-episode, half-hour series is created by Leigh Davenport (The Perfect Find, Wendy Williams: The Hot Topic, BET’s Boomerang) who will executive produce with showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single, black-ish, Lionsgate’s Dear White People). The series is produced by Lionsgate Television. (Starz is a Lionsgate company.)
“Run the World is a love letter to Black women and a love letter to Harlem, that I hope inspires young, ambitious Black women to feel powerful, desirable and free,” said Davenport. “I created this series to celebrate the amazing women in my life and to illuminate the special bonds we built living in Harlem, while pursuing our post-collegiate dreams.”
“Run the World is the latest STARZ series that illustrates the network’s commitment to spotlighting diverse voices and stories that reflect a full spectrum of women both in front of and behind the camera,” said Christina Davis, president of programming for Starz. “Leigh Davenport and Yvette Lee Bowser are creating a bold and authentic scripted series that focuses on four strong and confident Black women who are smart, successful and loyal who live and thrive in Harlem – which is as much of a major character as any of the other characters in the series.”
Erika Alexander (Living Single) joins the cast in the recurring role of “Barb,” along with Nick Sagar (Queen of the South) as “Anderson,” Jay Walker (Grey’s Anatomy) as “Jason,” and guest star Tonya Pinkins as “Gwynn” (All My Children). Previously announced cast include: Amber Stevens West (The Carmichael Show) as “Whitney,” Andrea Bordeaux (NCIS: Los Angeles) as “Ella,” Bresha Webb (Marlon) as “Renee,” Corbin Reid (Valor) as “Sondi,” Stephen Bishop (Moneyball, Imposters) as “Matthew” and Tosin Morohunfola (Black Lightening) as “Ola.”
Emmy® award-winning designer-stylist Patricia Field will consult on wardrobe, alongside series costume designer, Tracy L. Cox, both known for their iconic work on Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada.
Primarily filming on location in Harlem, Run the World will feature renowned landmarks such as Marcus Garvey Park and the Harriet Tubman Memorial statue, to authentically showcase the rich cultural history and one-of-a-kind modern atmosphere of the neighborhood. Emmy® nominated set designer Diane Lederman (13 Reasons Why, The Americans) leads production design.
Directors include Millicent Shelton (black-ish, STARZ Original series P-Valley) who directed the pilot, Justin Tipping (Twenties), Jenée Lamarque (STARZ Original series Vida), and Nastran Dibai who makes her directorial debut from producing (Lionsgate’s Dear White People).
Melissa Rivers recounts grabbing valued possessions before Pacific Palisades fire burned home down
Melissa Rivers recalled how swiftly the California wildfires spread, forcing the county's Ready, Set, Go evacuation plan to essentially skip straight to "Set." That left her with little time to gather her most valued possessions before fleeing her home.
When the final warning arrived, Rivers said Tuesday, "The fire was still a canyon away, but you could clearly see the flames."
In the rush to evacuate, she quickly gathered her pets and a few sentimental items, including her late mother Joan Rivers ' Emmy Award. "I grabbed both my parents' watches and my dad's dress watch," which she had given to her son Cooper for his 18th birthday.
She also managed to pack a few pieces of clothing. "All our belongings are crammed into three tote bags, three large canvas bags, and several Macy's plastic bags along with a CVS bag," she said.
The fire completely devastated her property. "We lost everything. The only thing that survived is our front gate and the barbecue," Rivers shared.
She described the scale of destruction as unimaginable.
"It's so much more than just the homes — it's an entire town wiped off the map," she said. "Many businesses in Palisades were family-owned. There are people who not only lost their homes but also their businesses and livelihoods."
Finding safe shelter has been another challenge.
"We've had to move three times due to evacuations, but we've settled at a friend's house in Santa Monica," Rivers said. "They've been kind enough to take us in, along with another family we're friends with."
Rivers copes with these challenges through her self-proclaimed "dark sense of humor" and her knack for making people laugh. She also finds solace in supporting others who are struggling, which helps to... Read More