Lil Rel Howery dropped some nuggest about pushing comedic boundaries at the FOX TCAs before hitting the afterparty with Angela Bassett, Jussie Smollet and more. More inside...
Actor Lil Rel Howery has been making waves in Hollywood starring a few of our fave shows like "Insecure" and "The Carmichael Show" (R.I.P.). And he also did his thing in Jordan Peele's Get Out.
Now, he's gearing up to bring the laughs in his very own show, "Rel," where he brings his real life experiences to our televisions. He has teamed up with his former co-star Jerrod Carmichael, who will serve as executive producer of the show, and they are ready to bring some comedy to FOX while touching on real-world issues. And NOTHING is off limits.
The show centers around Lil Rel after finding out his wife is having an affair with his barber. Fans will see Lil Rel try to rebuild his life post-divorce as a single father living on the west side of Chicago.
“We’ll try to bring the truth but with a different perspective,” Jerrod Carmichael said during FOX's Summer Television Critics Association event.
“We got a #HeToo episode,” joked Lil Rel. Hmm...tread carefully.
So, how political will "Rel" get? It seems as much (or as little) as they want it to get.
“I don’t think anything is too sensitive to be analyzed or explored, especially when you approached it like a human being," Jerrod explained.
It sounds like this show is going to have folks talking once it premieres.
Sinbad, who will star on the show as Lil Rel's dad, revealed the show will be touching on several controversial topics that many of us can relate to.
“We talk about age and skin color,” said Sinbad. “It’s the duty of comedy to touch about those things that people don’t want to talk about. You can sneak a punch in through comedy — I’m going to have you deal with it — and the conversation opens up.”
He's right. Let's hope FOX doesn't censor them like ABC tried to do with Kenya Barris and his NFL/national anthem protest episode for "black-ish."
A special preview of "Rel" will debut on Sunday, September 9th after NFL on FOX. Y'all ready? This could get interesting.
After sitting on a panel for the show, Rel linked up with "Snowfall" actor Damson Idris at the FOX Summer TCA All-Star Party held at SoHo House in West Hollywood:
Season 2 of "Snowfall" is currently airing on FX (which is owned by FOX).
Yes curls!
Hollywood queen Angela Bassett served up melanin goodness when she hit the carpet before making her rounds at the party.
Her show "9-1-1" was renewed and season 2 will kick off Sunday, September 23rd on FOX.
We'll be seeing more of Jussie Smollett on Lee Daniels' "Empire" as it has been renewed for season 5. He came out to party, snapping it up with "The Four" host Fergie.
British actress Caroline Chikezie is gearing up to play a series regular on FOX's "The Passage." And she's playing a doctor. Woot!
Jamie Foxx's daughter/model Corinne Foxx, who co-hosts FOX's "Beat Shazam" with her pops, rocked a LDB by Elizabeth and James on the carpet. A new episode premieres next Tuesday at 8pm EST.
"Lethal Weapon" actress Keesha Sharp, who celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary recently, showed up and showed off on the carpet.
A new season of "Lethal Weapon" premieres Tuesday, September 25th at 9pm EST.
Keesha's co-star Damon Wayans showed up in an interesting look. For season 3, he'll be leading the show with a new co-star (Seann William Scott) after his former-co-star Clayne Crawford was fired.
Malcolm Jamal Warner will be starring on season 2 of FOX's medical drama "The Resident." Yep, another black doctor!
Trans activist Janet Mock made her way on the carpet after making history. She's the first trans woman of color to ever direct a television show. She lent her talents for Ryan Murphy's "Pose" series about the New York trans community in the ’80s. The show is currently airing on FX.
Photos: MEGA/Getty
