BILL VAUGHAN'S TASTY CLIPS: HBO To Adapt Ta-Nehisi Coates’ 'Between The World And Me'

HBO will adapt the critically acclaimed stage show, "Between The World And Me," based on the #1 New York Times bestseller of the same name by author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, as a special event to air this fall. 

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including powerful readings from Coates’ book, and will once again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes.

Coates and Susan Kelechi Watson ("This Is Us") are also executive producers. Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams ("Music by Prudence") is producing.

It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation. The special will be produced under COVID-19 guidelines. 

The source material is a New York Times Bestseller, National Book Award winner, and Pulitzer Prize finalist. First published in 2015, it is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The narrative explores Coates’ bold notion that American society structurally supports white supremacy. 

Coates’ other written works, which include "The Beautiful Struggle," "We Were Eight Years in Power," and "The Water Dancer," explore similar themes of race in America. He currently serves as the Apollo’s inaugural master artist in residence and a distinguished writer in residence at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. He is also a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and current author of the Marvel comics "The Black Panther" and "Captain America."

In addition to producing this special, HBO will be making a charitable donation to Howard University and the Apollo Theater. 

WATCH NOW: In honor of the recent passing of two of the original Freedom Riders, longtime Georgia congressman John Lewis and the Reverend C.T. Vivian, “American Experience” is streaming Stanley Nelson’s “Freedom Riders” on PBS.org and the PBS Video App.

The winner of three Primetime Emmy Awards, the 2011 documentary tells the powerful, harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months that transformed America.

From May until November 1961, more than 400 Black and white Americans risked their lives — and many endured imprisonment and savage beatings — by traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws in order to test and challenge a segregated interstate travel system, the Freedom Riders met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism.

The film features testimony from government officials, journalists who witnessed the rides firsthand, and an extraordinary gathering of the Riders themselves who recount their experiences.

“During the making of ‘Freedom Riders,’ I had the honor and the pleasure to get to know and interview John Lewis and C. T. Vivian,” said Nelson. “They were true heroes who put their lives on the line to create positive change in the world. The lives of so many, including mine, were forever altered by their heroism. It is important for all of us in this moment to take up their legacy and push for real systemic change. May they Rest In Peace and Power.”

TASTY QUIP: “What WE NOT gon do is slander nor disrespect the legacy of our heroic Queen Harriet Tubman by telling falsities in an attempt to discredit the contributions she made to LIBERATE OUR PEOPLE?? Cuzz U BUGGIN?? THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TOO FAR?? I truly hope you either have a logical explanation for all this... or get the medical attention you so desperately need Bro. I say this with love and sincerity." – T.I. on Instagram to Kanye West after his statement that Tubman didn’t free enslaved people. 

CLIPPETTES: Tony, Emmy and Oscar Award winner Viola Davis is leading a Virtual Town Hall, “Our Voices. Our Votes. Our Time,” July 24 at 4 p.m. The featured guests will be Leader Stacey Abrams, Founder of Fair Fight & Fair Count, and Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, Vice President of Fair Count. You can register for the free event at www.BlackTheatreUnited.com …

Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts are re-teaming for the first time since 1993’s “The Pelican Brief” for “Mr. Robot” and “Homecoming” creator Sam Esmail’s upcoming Netflix film, “Leave The World Behind” …  

The Cookers, an all-star jazz combo featuring vets Billy Harper, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, George Cables, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart are inviting audiences to view their live recording sessions July 24 – 26 from Baltimore’s Keystone Korner. Visit www.instantseats.com/ for details …

Walking back on his talk about retirement post “Empire,” Terrence Howard will make his directorial debut and play a featured role in the TV pilot “Delta Blues,” a period drama series with Evan Ross (“Star”) …

The 2020 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival has been reinvented as a highly immersive two-day virtual experience taking place July 25 and 26 at 5 p.m. across digital platforms, such as YouTube and Facebook, and on BRIC’s TV channels. Michelle Buteau (“The First Wives Club”) hosts with performances by Common with Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, DJ Questlove, Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Angelique Kidjo and more …

Prof. Angela Davis; actresses Jurnee Smollett, AJ Johnson and Angelica Ross; recording artists Keri Hilson and Syleena Johnson; TV personalities Cynthia Bailey, Egypt Sherrod, Eboni K. Williams and Erica Cobb; and a host of health professionals, community activists and non-profit leaders are participating in the free virtual Black Women’s Health Initiative Anniversary Week (July 26-Aug. 1). Register at: www.anniversary.bwhi.org ...

Spike Lee’s filmed version of David Byrne’s hit Broadway show, American Utopia,” will open the 2020 Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10 as it premieres on HBO.

TASTY QUIP: “I think it’s important to have somebody who looks like you, who can empathize with what you feel. For the most part, white Americans have traditionally been very trusting of the police. The police are Barney Fife. They’re your friend. They get your cat out of a tree. I’m a law-abiding citizen. I’ve never been arrested or committed a crime. But when I see those blue lights, I feel sick. I feel my heart racing. Even though I know I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m afraid of the police. I’m successful. I work at a great company. I have health benefits. And I’m afraid of the police.” – JOY REID, host of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut,” to Vogue

TC ON TV: July 24 – “The Talk” (CBS): D.L. Hughley, Chef Tanya Holland (“Brown Sugar Kitchen”)

July 25 – “MLB Special” (FOX): Baseball is back on its official broadcast network kicking off a pandemic delayed short season of 60 games with the Giants vs. Dodgers; Brewers vs. Cubs; and Yankees vs. Nationals. “NBA Countdown” (ABC): Host Maria Taylor and analysts Paul Pierce, Jalen Rose and Jay Williams go live to preview “NBA Restart” from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida - home of the NBA season. “Girlfriends Check In” (OWN): Kierra Sheard

July 26 – “Oprah Winfrey Presents: Legends Who Paved The Way” (OWN): In memory of Congressman John Lewis, the network is re-airing a 2015 special honoring him and fellow civil rights leaders Andrew Young, Berry Gordy, Jr., Rev. C.T. Vivian, Diane Nash, Dick Gregory, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Rev. Joseph Lowery, Juanita Jones Abernathy, Julian Bond, Marian Wright Edelman, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Quincy Jones, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. “United Shades of America” (CNN): W. Kamau Bell looks at “All-American Family Farms.” “NOS4A2” (AMC/BBCA): Norm Lewis (“Da 5 Bloods”) is featured in this week’s episode of primetime’s creepiest series. 

July 27 – “Don’t Look Deeper” (Quibi): Helena Howard (pictured) and Don Cheadle star in this short form series about a California high school senior with a dark secret from the director of “Twilight.” “Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On” (Hulu): The first season of Chef Jamie Oliver’s UK series premieres with his inventive tips for home cooks on making dishes from simple ingredients and freezer staples. “The Good Fight” (BET): Six select afro-centric episodes of the remarkable CBS All Access series starring Delroy Lindo, Audra McDonald and Cush Jumbo will air here on two consecutive evenings. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Mike Tyson, Adam Devine, Chronixx “Late Night” (NBC): Sen. Kamala Harris, Pete Carroll

July 28 – “Stockton On My Mind” (HBO): The multi-layered story of millennial mayor Michael Tubbs, whose own experience growing up amid poverty and violence inspired him to create innovative change in his beleaguered hometown of Stockton, California.

July 29 – “No Limit Chronicles” (BET): A five-part docu-series telling the story of Master P and No Limit Records with archival footage and remarks from Romeo Miller, Snoop Dogg, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Mystikal, Fiend and Mr. Serv-On, among others. 

July 30 – “NBA On TNT”: The restart begins with Jazz vs. Pelicans and Clippers vs. Lakers. “The Song – Recorded Live @TGL Farms” (AXS): All-4-One “Get Ya Life” (WE): The docu-series centers on Tamar Braxton, whose roller coaster life was chronicled in the net’s “Braxton Family Values” and who will now deal with a new boyfriend, a relaunched music career and co-parenting with her ex. It is rumored the release of this show led to her alleged suicide attempt from which she is recovering.

TASTY QUIP: “I think the shift that may have happened with Mr. [George] Floyd and watching his murder was that we had to sit home and sit with it, we had to watch it, and there is no discernible argument that you can make against what happened. It’s not just our conversation anymore, because, honestly, [Black people] felt like this with Trayvon Martin, with Philando Castile, with Mr. Eric Garner. In terms of change, I feel like we see a different movement, a different energy. But, let’s be honest, we’ve been here before in the ‘60s, we’ve been here before in the ‘90s, we’ve been here before in the 1800s. Change to me has nothing to do with a momentary event. Change has to do with consistency.” – ALDIS HODGE (“Clemency,” “The Invisible Man”) to Variety

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at [email protected], via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.