BET Networks Announces New Scripted Miniseries ‘Uptown’

Uptown crew

*NEW YORK– BET Networks has announced new original scripted miniseries “Uptown.”

 The three-part television event will tell the comprehensive story of Andre Harrell’s iconic New York City record label, Uptown Records.

Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with MCA, Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&B, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father MC, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs and many more.

Each gripping episode will take viewers from the label’s inception to the current day, featuring the music and powerhouse hit-makers that helped mold what would come to be known as the Uptown ‘sound’ and define a musical era that would impact generations to come. “Uptown” is scheduled to premiere on BET in 2020.

“We are proud to bring the story of Uptown Records to life and celebrate the indelible imprint the label has made on the industry, transforming the sound, face, and business of hip-hop and R&B”

Tweet this

“We are proud to bring the story of Uptown Records to life and celebrate the indelible imprint the label has made on the industry, transforming the sound, face, and business of hip-hop and R&B,” said Scott Mills, President, BET Networks. “We look forward to partnering with music industry titan Andre Harrell and powerhouse producer Jesse Collins on the Uptown miniseries, bringing viewers premium content that reflects and celebrates Black excellence.”

 

Andre Harrell - uptown-records-miniseries-bet
Andre Harrell

“I am thrilled to partner with BET Networks and Jesse Collins Entertainment to share my story, the rise of Uptown Records and successful black entrepreneurship, and the management and cultivation of some of the most iconic artists to come out of the late 80s and 90s hip hop, R&B, and soul music era,” said Andre Harrell.

“Andre Harrell is a true visionary and culture creator. It is such an honor to tell the story of a label and an icon that not only gave us such great music, but was the blueprint for black excellence through entertainment,” said Jesse Collins, CEO, Jesse Collins Entertainment.

Uptown” is executive produced by Jesse Collins (“The New Edition Story,” “The Bobby Brown Story”) for Jesse Collins Entertainment and Andre Harrell (Honey, “New York Undercover”). Writers Charles Murray (“Luke Cage,” “Sons of Anarchy”), Carlito Rodriguez (“Empire,” “The Leftovers”) and Barry Michael Cooper (New Jack City, “She’s Gotta Have It”) have penned the scripts.

Uptown Records logo

ABOUT BET NETWORKS:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT:

Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran and Emmy® Award nominee Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, the company has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment including groundbreaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars, ABFF Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards. On the scripted side, JCE has produced numerous shows for BET including Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart as well as the critically acclaimed The New Edition Story, a biopic on the boy band that aired as a 3-part mini-series. It posted record ratings for the network and attracted nearly 30 million viewers. It was followed by The Bobby Brown Story, which chronicled the talented but troubled singer’s exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo success, and was the highest rated non-tentpole program on the network since The New Edition Story. The company’s second season of American Soul, the critically-acclaimed period drama based on the untold rise of the iconic music and dance program Soul Train, will debut in 2020. For VH1, JCE has produced the network’s annual Mother’s Day special, Dear Mama and the hit game show Hip Hop Squares and for HBO, the hit comedy special, Amanda Seales I Be Knowin’. JCE also produced Rhythm and Flow where judges Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I. searched for the next breakout hip-hop star in this music competition series for Netflix and Nashville Squares for CMT. Collins is also a producer for The Grammy Awards and was on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players list. He has been featured in numerous publications including Ebony magazine’s Power 100 issue and on the cover of Vibe magazine. Go to https://www.jessecollinsent.com/ for more information on the company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

source:
Luis Defrank
[email protected]

Chloe Williams
[email protected]

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

Dario Harris - via Instagram
TikTok logo - American flag
Kristen Crowley - Karen Bass (screenshot)
Robert Brooks beating - screenshot
Photos: Richard Termine; Zach Hyman
Allison Holker Boss and Stephen Boss - Getty
Mike Tomlin - Getty
Otis Williams - GettyImages
Ms Dookie - screenshot
Tanya Nolan - via TanyaNolan.com
Cooking With Kya
Read More
Ryan Levert - via Instagram
Read More
Otis Williams (Stefan Brending via Creative Commons)
Read More
Aaron Pierre - screenshot
Read More
George W. Bush - Donald Trump (Getty)
Read More
Denzel Washington getting baptized
Read More
Shamsud Din Jabbar - YouTube screenshot
Read More
New Orleans New Years Eve Terror Attack
Read More
Jimmy Butler & Kaitlin Nowak - screenshot
Read More
WICKED: PART 1
Read More

POPULAR

Dario Harris - via Instagram
Emmy Winner, Army Vet Dario Harris to Release 'Legacy of Land' Doc on Wealthy Black Landowners
TikTok logo - American flag
Yes, A TikTok Ban is Closer Than Ever - No, Your App Probably Won’t Just Disappear | VIDEO
Kristen Crowley - Karen Bass (screenshot)
Unity or Tension? LA Mayor Bass and Fire Chief Crowley Under Public Scrutiny Over Fire Dept. Funding - What's the Real Story? | WATCH
Robert Brooks beating - screenshot
If Robert Brooks Was Your Brother, What Would You Do? - The Journal of Steffanie Rivers | WATCH
Photos: Richard Termine; Zach Hyman
Michael B. Jordan & SZA Travel to ‘Sesame Street’ for Show's 55th Season | WATCH
Allison Holker Boss and Stephen Boss - Getty
Allison Holker Details Alleged Discovery of Stephen 'tWitch' Boss’ Drug Stash Weeks After His Death | WATCH
Mike Tomlin - Getty
NFL
Steelers Fans Demand Change After AFC Wild Card Exit - Is Head Coach Mike Tomlin's Job Safe? | VIDEOs
Otis Williams - GettyImages
Temptations Founder Otis Williams Talks ‘My Girl’ Legacy and Impact of Group’s Version of ‘Silent Night’ | VIDEOs
Ms Dookie - screenshot
Ms. Dookie and Mr. Clean: Florida Couple Attempts Heist - Leaves Family Dollar Employees with Messy Situation! | VIDEO
1 2 3 8,496