News: Showtime® Signs Emmy®Award Winner Lena Waithe to First-Look Deal

SHOWTIME^® SIGNS EMMY^® AWARD WINNER LENA WAITHE TO FIRST-LOOK DEAL

Creator Of THE CHI To Develop Projects In Comedy And Drama For The Network

LOS ANGELES – July 24, 2018 – Emmy-winning writer and producer Lena Waithe (THE CHI) has signed a first-look deal with SHOWTIME, expanding her relationship with the network that launched her first series as a creator and executive producer. Waithe will work with SHOWTIME on comedy and drama projects that she both writes and produces through her company Hillman Grad Productions. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks.

Lena Waithe

“I have been a fan of SHOWTIME for as long as I can remember,” said Waithe. “They make shows that most networks wouldn’t touch and they’ve never been afraid of taking risks. I look forward to introducing my showtime family to fresh and exciting new voices. I want to make content that will challenge audiences and take them places they never thought TV could go. It’s going to be a fun ride.”

A champion for diversity in entertainment, Waithe is a triple threat as a producer, writer and actor who expertly taps into emerging cultural sensibilities with a sharp wit, speaking to myriad experiences from her unique perspective and challenging audiences to think outside of conventional norms.

Waithe’s signature creation, THE CHI, premiered in January as the biggest launch for a SHOWTIME drama series in two years and was quickly renewed for a second season after growing its audience in consecutive weeks. THE CHI continued to add tremendous growth in the second half of the season, with the finale outperforming the premiere by 64 percent. Produced entirely in its namesake city of Chicago, THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story that explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago.

The debut of THE CHI came on the heels of Waithe winning the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, and a GLAAD Media Award, along with an NAACP Image Award Nomination for the Master of None episode “Thanksgiving” that she co-wrote. The episode adapted Waithe’s personal experience as a queer black woman coming out to herself and her family into the character of Denise, whom Waithe played. It was recently announced that her latest script, Queen & Slim, will go into production in January starring Daniel Kaluuya for Universal. Waithe also serves as executive producer and writer of the upcoming series Twenties. Her producing credits include the films Step Sisters and Dear White People, which later became a TV series in which she guest starred. Her on-screen roles include Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, as well as This Is Us, Transparent and The Comeback. Waithe was also named to Time magazine’s Most Influential People of 2018. She was the recipient of The Trevor Project’s Hero Award and MTV’s Trailblazer Award. Waithe was born and raised in Chicago and currently resides in Los Angeles with her fiancé, Alana Mayo.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!