FilmTVDiversity - 2016 Summer TV Series to Watch For
a FilmTVDiversity curated list of notable summer TV series to watch for because of Great or noteworthy casting, Diversity in front of the Screen or impressive Award wins/nominations or accolades.
NOTE: Some shows though widely praised by critics and maybe even liked on a personal individual level didn't make the cut because their prior seasons or trailers as reviewed, failed to deliver any convincing narrative that they excelled in fulfilling our underlining desire to see greater on-screen Diversity from the typical fair on Television.
One thing that most of our picks have in common is they feature a multi-cultural cast and those with prior seasons we have viewed did not feed into the familiar "sidekick" person of color with little screen time or character development
Leave your comments/convincing arguments on personal favorites for ones you think we should reconsider adding or may have missed and we may just include it, if it meets what we're looking for. KEEP IT POSITIVE.
NOTE: Some shows though widely praised by critics and maybe even liked on a personal individual level didn't make the cut because their prior seasons or trailers as reviewed, failed to deliver any convincing narrative that they excelled in fulfilling our underlining desire to see greater on-screen Diversity from the typical fair on Television.
One thing that most of our picks have in common is they feature a multi-cultural cast and those with prior seasons we have viewed did not feed into the familiar "sidekick" person of color with little screen time or character development
Leave your comments/convincing arguments on personal favorites for ones you think we should reconsider adding or may have missed and we may just include it, if it meets what we're looking for. KEEP IT POSITIVE.
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- CreatorStephen LevinsonStarsDwayne JohnsonJohn David WashingtonDonovan W. CarterA series centered around a group of football players and their families, friends and handlers.HBO's breakout ratings series returns for its second season July 17, 2016 It's Executive Produced and stars Dwayne The Rock Johnson, also of note Exec Prod. Mark Wahlberg
Cast including Denzel Washington's Son John David Washington | Omar Benson Miller | Jazmyn Simon | Donovan W. Carter | Dule Hill | Rob Corddry | Troy Garity and new cast member Andy Garcia - CreatorJeff JudahGabe SachsStarsEoin MackenJill FlintBrendan FehrA group of doctors from the Army return to work the night shift at a hospital in San Antonio.NBC's Medical drama with a multi-cultural diverse cast from Co-Creator and Co-Writer Gabe Sachs returns for it's 3rd season June 1st, 2016.
Series cast includes Eoin Macken | Jill Flint | Ken Leung | Brendan Fehr | Robert Bailey Jr. | Jeananne Goossen | JR Lemon | Freddy Rodríguez | Scott Wolf
(one of 14 series FilmTVDiversity on Twitter celebrated for its Diversity in our best of 2014 year end list, and also was a top favorite by a longshot among our followers in a random poll of several series we conducted in 2015 with our Followers on Twitter.) - CreatorMike O'MalleyStarsRonReaco LeeJessie T. UsherErica AshCam Calloway and Reggie Vaughn gained fame and fortune that no one could have imagined growing up in one of Boston''s most infamous neighborhoods.Starz comedic series about navigating the good and bad of sudden Athletic stardom with a very well put together cast and realistic relatable element well intertwined in its story. returns for it's 3rd season,
late summer 2016 date TBA, Executive Produced by Basketball Legend Lebron James who has also appeared in a few episodes and starring Jessie Usher | Ron Reaco Lee | Erica Ash | Teyonah Parris | Tichina Arnold | Mike Epps
(one of 14 series FilmTVDiversity on Twitter celebrated for its Diversity in our best of 2014 year end list) - CreatorCourtney A. KempStarsOmari HardwickLela LorenNaturi NaughtonJames "Ghost" St. Patrick, a wealthy New York nightclub owner who has it all; dreaming big, catering to the city's elite, and living a double life as a drug kingpin.Before ratings and Music Powerhouse Empire from Fox came, this well crafted and casted multi-cultural series from Executive Producer Curtis 50 cent Jackson (who also stars) and Creator Courtney Kemp Agboh premiered on Starz in 2014, it returns for its 3rd season in July 2016, date TBA on STARZ
with cast incl Omari Hardwick | Joseph Sikora | Natauri Naughton | Lela Loren | J.R. Ramirez | Luis Antonio Ramos | Adam Huss | Lucy Walters | Franky G | La La Anthony
(one of 14 series FilmTVDiversity on Twitter celebrated for its Diversity in our best of 2014 year end list) - StarsAdrian HolmesJared KeesoMylène Dinh-RobicThe day to day of two unwilling patrol officers affected by troubled pasts.Canada's Critically acclaimed and Award winning series returns for 3rd season in Canada on VeryBravo on TBA date in June 2016 with stars Adrian Holmes and Jareed Keeso both of whom have won awards for their roles in the series. Season 1 and 2 are available on streaming service AcornTV for US audiences, with the latter set to be available May 16, 2016
- CreatorMarc CherryStarsAna OrtizDania RamirezRoselyn SanchezFour Latina maids with ambition and dreams of their own work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills.Season 4 Premiere Date: June 6, 2016 on LIFETIME. Notable cast additions in Season 3, Executive Producer Eva Longoria joins cast as guest, former General Hospital alumni and 2016 Emmy Award winner Sean Blakemore to appear as guest,
Returning Cast Ana Ortiz | Dania Ramirez | Judy Reyes | Roselyn Sanchez | Edy Ganem | Rebecca Wisocky | Grant Show | Susan Lucci
[Picked as one of FilmTVDiversity's on Twitter - 13 Best shows for Diversity in our 2013 year end list] - CreatorMarti NoxonSarah Gertrude ShapiroStarsShiri ApplebyCraig BierkoJeffrey Bowyer-ChapmanA behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.A 2016 Peabody Award winning series with a behind the scenes scripted take on Reality TV dating shows. Of special note the second season of the series premiering June 6, 2016 on LIFETIME
will feature an African American lead in the Bachelor character role, played by BET's Being Mary Jane series co-star BJ Britt, plus returning and new cast members including Constance Zimmer | Shiri Appleby | Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman | Gentry White | Meagan Tandy | Denée Benton - CreatorCraig WrightStarsMerle DandridgeKim HawthorneDesiree RossThe unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch, dark secrets, and lies.OWNTV's newest scripted dramatic series Executive Produced and also with Oprah Winfrey in recurring role, who makes her return to TV. The series premieres June 21, 2016 is set in a predominantly African-American Mega Church in Memphis and well worth tuning into according to word on the street after its 2016 Tribeca Film Festival special screening of a teaser.
Among the Cast are Merle Dandridge | Kim Hawthorne | Lamman Rucker | Tye White | Deborah Joy Winans | Desiree Ross | Keith David | Lynn Whitfield | Benjamin Patterson | Gregory Allan Williams
It's the first of two forthcoming series on OWN not helmed/created by Tyler Perry who helped launched OWN's foray into scripted drama/soaps and comedy for the network.
The other series coming soon to OWN is Queen Sugar helmed by Ava Duvernay and features a virtual whose who of both on-screen and behind the camera Diversity which the industry should take cues from. - CreatorSteven BochcoEric LodalStarsTaye DiggsKathleen RobertsonIan Anthony DaleA single murder case is dissected from the committing of the crime through to the investigation, arrest and trial.TNT's Crime Procedural focused on solving a single crime returns for its 3rd season on June 19, 2016
returning and lead cast members Taye Diggs | Kathleen Robinson | Ian Anthony Dale | Raphael Sabarge | Currie Graham and newcomer Michael Gaston joins as a series regular - CreatorRyan GriffenJon BellJonathan GavinStarsHunter Page-LochardRob CollinsTasma WaltonIn the very near future, creatures from ancient mythology must live among humans and battle for survival in a world that wants to silence, exploit, and destroy them.Sundance and Australian Broadcast TV and Original concept Creator Ryan Griffen's new sci-fi/superhero limited series premiering June 1, 2016 on SUNDANCETV
featuring an Aboriginal Superhero with Hunter Page- Lochard in a leading role and additional cast including Tysan Towney | Tony Briggs | Frances O'Connor
Checkout two Photo Galleries and feature stories below: 1) Zap2it : [link]http://zap2it.com/2016/05/cleverman-iain-glen-frances-oconnor-sundance-series/[/link] 2) Crave : [link]http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/983589-exclusive-photo-gallery-sundancetvs-cleverman#/slide/1[/link] - StarsJonathan Rhys MeyersMalachi KirbyForest WhitakerAn adaptation of Alex Haley's "Roots." Chronicles the history of an African man and his descendants sold into slavery in America.History Channel's Roots mini-series based off of Author Alex Haley's acclaimed book and the TV Mini-Series: Roots. Set to premiere May 30, 2016.
Featuring Laurence Fishburne portraying Author Alex Haley and Cast including Roman Armstrong | Emayatzy Corinealdi | Malachi Kirby | Regé-Jean Page | Jonathan Rhys Meyers | Mekhi Phifer | Anika Noni Rose | T.I. | Forest Whitaker | Chad L. Coleman | Michael James Shaw(CBS's Limitless)
See Character Profiles/Pictures & Watch Video Teasers at: [link]https://roots.history.com[/link] - CreatorK.J. SteinbergStarsAlyssa MilanoJes MacallanRochelle AytesFollows the scandalous lives of a group of four girlfriends, each on her own path to self-discovery as they brave the turbulent journey together.Season 4 set to Premiere May 30, 2016 on ABC with
returning cast of Note: Yunjin Kim | Rochelle Aytes | Jes Macallan + Guest/recurring Cast including Ary Katz| Tabrett Bethel | Ella Thomas | Jerry O'Connell
[Picked as one of FilmTVDiversity's on Twitter - 13 Best shows for Diversity in our 2013 year end list] - CreatorChad HodgeStarsSiobhan Fallon HoganToby JonesShannyn SossamonA Secret Service agent goes to Wayward Pines, Idaho in search of two federal agents who have gone missing in the bucolic town. He soon learns that he might never get out of Wayward Pines alive.Season 2 set to premiere May 25, 2016 on FOX
with NEW cast including Jason Patric | Christopher Meyer | Nimrat Kaur | Djimon Hounsou who join Returning cast Greta Lee | Terrence Howard | Carla Gugino | Hope Davis - CreatorM.A. FortinJoshua John MillerStarsAlice BragaHemky MaderaPeter GadiotTeresa flees Mexico after her drug-runner boyfriend is murdered. Settling in Dallas she looks to become the country's reigning drug smuggler and to avenge her lover's murder.USA Network new Series set to Premiere June 21, 2016 with cast/guests including Alice Braga | Justina Machado | Hemky Madera | Veronica Falcón | MarK Consuelos
- CreatorJohn FuscoStarsLorenzo RichelmyBenedict WongJoan ChenIn a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, "Marco Polo" is based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in 13th century Mongolia.Netflix original series returning for 2nd season, July 1, 2016 with cast/guests including: Lorenzo Richelmy | Rick Yune | Leonard Wu | Olivia Cheng | Benedict Wong | Michelle Yeoh | Ron Yuan
- CreatorJoseph MallozziPaul MullieStarsMelissa O'NeilAnthony LemkeAlex Mallari Jr.In the dystopian 27th century, six people wake up on a deserted spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they're doing there. They reluctantly team up and set off to find answers with the help of a female android.Well casted SYFY series returns July 1, 2016 for 2nd season, with Original cast members: Alex Mallari Jr. | Roger Cross | Melissa O'Neil |Marc Bendavid | Anthony Lemke | Jodelle Ferland |Zoie Palmer + New cast member Shaun Sipos
- CreatorSam EsmailStarsRami MalekChristian SlaterCarly ChaikinElliot, a brilliant but unstable cyber-security engineer and vigilante hacker, becomes a key figure in a complex game of global chaos when he and his shadowy allies try to take down the corrupt corporation his company is paid to protect.Notable Golden Globe and Peabody Award winning Series returns for its 2nd season July 13, 2016 on USA Network, starring Critics Choice Award winner Rami Malek
- CreatorAaron KorshStarsGabriel MachtPatrick J. AdamsMeghan MarkleOn the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers.USA Network's Legal dramatic series returns July 13, 2016 with Gina Torres and all of its original top billed cast intact thus far. It's hard to imagine this series working without her in the fold.
- StarsDanielle VegaGabriel ChavarriaAlicia SixtosA group of friends at East Los High face the trials and tribulations of teenagers growing up in East Los Angeles.Hulu's Latino Teen Series, which was a 2016 Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Digital Drama Series returns for its 4th season July 15, 2016
- CreatorStephen Adly GuirgisBaz LuhrmannStarsJustice SmithShameik MooreHerizen F. GuardiolaA ragtag group of teenagers run wild in the streets of the Bronx in the late 1970s.The first six episodes premiere on Netflix on August 12,2016
Its infectious Trailer is a pick by many for one of the summer's most highly anticipated.
According to Rolling Stone:
"a lightly fictionalized account of the birth of hip-hop among kids in the South Bronx, backlit by the turmoil of a nearly-bankrupt city."
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/7-things-we-learned-at-baz-luhrmanns-get-down-talk-20160425#ixzz48MTUOZzs - CreatorCarlo BernardChris BrancatoDoug MiroStarsPedro PascalWagner MouraBoyd HolbrookA chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.Netflix Original. Golden Globe Nominated series is an engaging well crafted and compelling story with great cast chemistry delivering excellent performances. The series is set to return for its 2nd Season in a yet TBA date in August 2016.
Catch Season 1 on Netflix now - CreatorHoward GordonGideon RaffCraig WrightStarsAdam RaynerJennifer FinniganAshraf BarhomAn unassuming American family is drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation.Returns for 3rd Season July 6, 2016 on FX Network
(one of 14 series FilmTVDiversity on Twitter celebrated for its Diversity in our best of 2014 year end list) - CreatorBradley BredewegPeter PaigeStarsTeri PoloSherri SaumHayden ByerlyTeenager Callie Jacob is placed in a foster home with a lesbian couple and their blend of biological, adoptive, and foster children.Returns for Season 4 June 20, 2016 on FREEFORM
[Picked as one of FilmTVDiversity's on Twitter - 13 Best shows for Diversity in our 2013 year end list] - CreatorJames DuffStarsMary McDonnellG.W. BaileyTony DenisonThe Closer (2005) spin-off series, which follows Captain Raydor of the Los Angeles Police Department.TNT's 'The Closer' spinoff series returns for its 5th season June 13, 2016 with cast including: Michael Paul Chan | Raymond Cruz | Kearran Giovanni | Ransford Doherty
- StarsMike EppsJames LesureIman BensonAn unreliable man-child takes care of his brother's kids.TV adaption of Movie Classic of same name with an African American Family, Movie Super Producer Will Packer is one of the Executive Producers. Series is set to premiere on ABC June 14, 2016
Mike Epps stars in Title role | joined by Nia Long | James Lesure as the parents of the children caught in his madness