Richard King, a member of the King World Productions family dynasty that build a small syndication firm into an industry powerhouse, died Dec. 7 in Los Angeles after battling heart and lung problems. He was 79.
King was one of six children who inherited King World Productions in 1972 after the death of patriarch Charles King. The company was known for distributing “The Little Rascals” and other vintage Hollywood fare in syndication.
After the six King heirs — four brothers and two sisters — took command of the company as adults, King World Productions grew into a major player as the home of long-running hits such as “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy!” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The company’s syndication pact with Oprah Winfrey, then a star anchor in Chicago, in 1986 transformed its fortunes as the show rocketed to No. 1 in daytime and set Winfrey on the path to riches and influence.
By the mid-1980s,...
King was one of six children who inherited King World Productions in 1972 after the death of patriarch Charles King. The company was known for distributing “The Little Rascals” and other vintage Hollywood fare in syndication.
After the six King heirs — four brothers and two sisters — took command of the company as adults, King World Productions grew into a major player as the home of long-running hits such as “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy!” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The company’s syndication pact with Oprah Winfrey, then a star anchor in Chicago, in 1986 transformed its fortunes as the show rocketed to No. 1 in daytime and set Winfrey on the path to riches and influence.
By the mid-1980s,...
- 12/11/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
“We’re gonna lose the farm, son!” husks country star Trace Adkins in the trailer for “Bennett’s War,” which then goes on to further suggest the viewer is in for a steaming pile of platitudinous corn, with a side order of flag-waving. And indeed, Alex Ranarivelo’s sports drama has a pretty hokey story gist: Wounded military veteran forces himself to miraculously recover his full mobility so he can return to motocross racing and get that prize money to … yep, save the family farm.
Maybe such on-the-nose marketing works for some Heartland audiences, but the good news about that bad trailer is that it does this film a disservice. While “War” may be a duly formulaic feel-gooder at heart, it also soft-pedals the more potentially heavy-handed emotional beats to pleasing effect.
Modest but enjoyable, with some exciting race footage, it should provide an inviting alternative for audiences on the...
Maybe such on-the-nose marketing works for some Heartland audiences, but the good news about that bad trailer is that it does this film a disservice. While “War” may be a duly formulaic feel-gooder at heart, it also soft-pedals the more potentially heavy-handed emotional beats to pleasing effect.
Modest but enjoyable, with some exciting race footage, it should provide an inviting alternative for audiences on the...
- 8/31/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
"Going wheel to wheel is not smart for someone in your condition." Forrest Films has debuted an official trailer for an indie injured war veteran meets racing sports drama titled Bennett's War, the latest from filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo. The film is about a young soldier in the Army Motorcycle Unit named Marshall Bennett, who is injured by an Ied while serving in combat. He returns home and makes a remarkable comeback from a broken back and leg to be a champion motorcross racer. Michael Roark stars as Bennett, with a cast including country star Trace Adkins, plus Ali Afshar, Allison Paige, Hunter Clowdus, Brando Eaton, Tony Panterra, Michael King, & Taylor Kalupa. This looks exactly as cheesy and kitschy and uber heroic as described, but maybe that's what works for this. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Alex Ranarivelo's Bennett's War, direct from YouTube: After surviving an Ied explosion in combat overseas,...
- 5/30/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Own has reversed its decision to renew the drama “Love Is__,” less than a month after co-creator Salim Akil was first accused of domestic violence by a former girlfriend.
“Own has decided not to move forward with the second season of ‘Love Is __,'” the network said in a statement. “The TV memoir was inspired by the real-life love story of producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.”
The network’s move to scrap the series is said to be unrelated to the abuse allegation or the subsequent Warner Bros. inquiry, but it comes months after the network first announced that it had renewed the show, co-created by Akil and his wife and producing partner Mara Brock Akil, for a second season.
Also Read: Warner Bros Is Investigating Accusation of Abuse Against 'Black Lightning' Showrunner Salim Akil
Warner Bros. Television launched its inquiry into Akil’s professional behavior last month,...
“Own has decided not to move forward with the second season of ‘Love Is __,'” the network said in a statement. “The TV memoir was inspired by the real-life love story of producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.”
The network’s move to scrap the series is said to be unrelated to the abuse allegation or the subsequent Warner Bros. inquiry, but it comes months after the network first announced that it had renewed the show, co-created by Akil and his wife and producing partner Mara Brock Akil, for a second season.
Also Read: Warner Bros Is Investigating Accusation of Abuse Against 'Black Lightning' Showrunner Salim Akil
Warner Bros. Television launched its inquiry into Akil’s professional behavior last month,...
- 12/19/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Own announced today it has renewed for a second season its hit romantic drama series Love Is___ from award-winning producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (Black Lightning). The Akils created and executive produced the series through their company Akil Productions, in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Brock Akil serves as the series' showrunner, as well as director for the pilot and upcoming season finale episode.
Love Is___ (Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Et/Pt) premiered June 19 with 1.2 million viewers and a 1.2 W25-54 rating (L+3) and was the night's #2 telecast on all of television among African American women. The July 17 telecast achieved a series high across all key demos and total viewers with 1.4 million viewers and a 1.51 W25-54 rating. On average over its series run, Love Is___ ranks as the #1 show on cable in its time period with W25-54.
"Mara and Salim have brought their heart and...
Love Is___ (Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Et/Pt) premiered June 19 with 1.2 million viewers and a 1.2 W25-54 rating (L+3) and was the night's #2 telecast on all of television among African American women. The July 17 telecast achieved a series high across all key demos and total viewers with 1.4 million viewers and a 1.51 W25-54 rating. On average over its series run, Love Is___ ranks as the #1 show on cable in its time period with W25-54.
"Mara and Salim have brought their heart and...
- 7/31/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
“Love Is __” has been renewed for a second season on the Oprah Winfrey Network, the network announced Tuesday.
“Mara and Salim have brought their heart and soul to this passion project working with our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television and we couldn’t be more thrilled to renew the show for a second season,” said OWN president Erik Logan. “This series is an important part of OWN’s scripted programming lineup and to see the ratings grow as the Akils’ love story unfolds each week is truly exciting.”
Creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil serve as executive producers through their company Akil Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Brock Akil is showrunner and directed the pilot and upcoming Season 1 finale.
The series follows Nuri (Michele Weaver...
“Mara and Salim have brought their heart and soul to this passion project working with our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television and we couldn’t be more thrilled to renew the show for a second season,” said OWN president Erik Logan. “This series is an important part of OWN’s scripted programming lineup and to see the ratings grow as the Akils’ love story unfolds each week is truly exciting.”
Creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil serve as executive producers through their company Akil Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Brock Akil is showrunner and directed the pilot and upcoming Season 1 finale.
The series follows Nuri (Michele Weaver...
- 7/31/2018
- by Ashley Boucher
- The Wrap
Own: Oprah Winfrey Network has ordered a second season of its hit romantic drama series Love Is ___ from Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (Black Lightning).
The renewals come amid strong ratings for the series, which premiered June 19 with 1.2 million viewers and a 1.2 rating among women 25-54 in L+3. The debut episode was the night’s No. 2 telecast on all of television among African American women. The July 17 telecast notched a series high across all key demos and total viewers with 1.4 million viewers and a 1.51 rating among women 25-54. On average over its series run, Love Is___ ranks as the No. 1 show on cable in its time period with W25-54, according to Own and Nielsen.
“Mara and Salim have brought their heart and soul to this passion project working with our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television and we couldn’t be more...
The renewals come amid strong ratings for the series, which premiered June 19 with 1.2 million viewers and a 1.2 rating among women 25-54 in L+3. The debut episode was the night’s No. 2 telecast on all of television among African American women. The July 17 telecast notched a series high across all key demos and total viewers with 1.4 million viewers and a 1.51 rating among women 25-54. On average over its series run, Love Is___ ranks as the No. 1 show on cable in its time period with W25-54, according to Own and Nielsen.
“Mara and Salim have brought their heart and soul to this passion project working with our friends at Warner Horizon Scripted Television and we couldn’t be more...
- 7/31/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
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