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LOS ANGELES – Kenya Barris, the author of the blacklist and producer behind the comedy "black-ish", will separate from ABC Studios in August – three years before the expiry of his contract – following creative differences. [19659002] million. Barris, who also has a hot film career as co-screenwriter of the "Girls Trip" screenplay, is expected to move to Netflix.
He thanked ABC Studios, owned by the Walt Disney Company, and said, "The race was amazing, with a Peabody and Golden Globe win, Emmy nominations and many other awards," said Barris in a statement. "They've helped me realize my dream of creating my own shows, and I'm so proud of the work we've done together."
His frustration over creative issues involved the studio's ABC network, which was led by Channing Dungey, and moved on to the pilot programs Mr. Barris created.
Last year, the network moved "black-ish" out of a desirable time-time niche after the "modern family". the breaking point came in February, when ABC fired an episode of "black-ish" that examined racial relations in the United States in a sharp way, airing a coverup instead.
A critical success, "black-ish" follows the Johnsons, a middle-class upper-class family living in a predominantly white suburb. The series became known for race-centered storytelling stories, plunging into police brutality, the fallout from President Trump's election and the use of the N word in children.
Freeform, a Disney-owned cable network, operates the "cultured" spin-off, which focuses on the daughter of Johnsons University. A third comedy of Mr. Barris and his collaborators, "Besties", will join the Freeform program in the months to come.
Barris' departure was expected, but it is another setback for the Disney-ABC Television group, which is led by Ben Sherwood. Last year, Netflix poached Shonda Rhimes, the creator of ABC, as "Gray's Anatomy" and "Scandal". This spring, "Roseanne" was canceled after her star, Roseanne Barr, was fired for publishing a racist tweet. . Sherwood is expected to be replaced when Disney closes its $ 19.3 billion asset purchase from 21st Century Fox, which has one of Hollywood's most popular television studios. (Netflix declined to comment)
A spokesman for ABC Studios said Friday night that Barris "remains committed" to "black-ish", "grown" and the next "Besties", with of other projects that he has in development. Still, "black-ish" will now be led by Jonathan Groff, an executive producer, and Kenny Smith, who has recently been an executive producer.
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