Tika Sumpter, Chris “Comedian CP” Powell and Isha Blaaker have been cast in recurring roles in Season 2 of Starz’s “Run the World” while Cree Summer and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins will guest star, Variety has learned exclusively.

The series follows a group of smart, funny and vibrant 30-something Black women who live, work and play in Harlem.

Sumpter plays Naomi, the biological mother of Amari (Ellie Reine) who has returned home from the Navy. With the assertiveness of a military officer, she immediately reclaims her position in Amari’s life, leaving Sondi (Corbin Reid) to question her place in this new family dynamic.

Comedian CP plays Preston Thurgood, the multi-millionaire creator of Prestify, who has no need to put on airs. His hilarious, down-to-earth personality is plenty to get Renee’s (Bresha Webb) attention; however, his lavish lifestyle certainly won’t hurt his case. Preston could give Renee everything she’s ever wanted, but she’s unsure if he’s the love of her life.

Run the World’s Andrea Bordeaux Addresses Exit Ahead of Season 2 Over Vaccine Mandate: ‘I Was Fired’

Blaaker plays Phillip Houston, Whitney’s (Amber Stevens West) business school rival who has returned from London fresh off a breakup of his own. His sexy British arrogance has Whitney flustered and their chemistry runs high. Now that they’re both single, Phillip is certainly interested.

Summer will play Dr. Monica Mitchell, the ladies’ wise and trusting new therapist. She allows Whitney, Renee and Sondi to pick up right where they left off with their retired therapist, Dr. Nancy. Dr. Monica’s direct, honest and personal approach allows the ladies to open up and navigate their relationship woes, as well as admit that they were kind of over getting advice from a white woman.

Featherson-Jenkins will guest star as India Blue, a beautiful, confident, cool and incredibly successful singer/songwriter/producer. India has been working closely with Jason (Jay Walker) and is now looking to move this “collaboration” into something more, despite Renee and Jason’s prior relationship.

Rachelle Williams-BenAry serves as showrunner and executive producer for Season 2. Lionsgate Television produces. Overseeing the series for Starz is senior vice president of original programming Kathryn Tyus-Adair, while senior vice president of television Jocelyn Sabo and director of television Maggie Leung oversee for Lionsgate.

Via Variety

Andrea Bordeaux, who starred as Ella in Season 1 of the Starz comedy Run the World, is speaking out following her departure over the show’s COVID-19 protocols.

Bordeaux reportedly failed to comply with Run the World production company Lionsgate Television’s vaccine mandate, which requires that cast and crew members who work in Zone A be fully vaccinated.

Addressing her exit from the series ahead of Season 2 on Instagram, the actress denied reports that she chose to leave, saying that “Lionsgate made no efforts to find a workable solution. I was fired.”

“My heart is with all of the people around the world who feel that they are losing so much due to their choice to stand in their convictions and to honor their deepest core beliefs,” she added.

The actress also reflected on her time with the Starz series: “Getting the opportunity to play Ella on Run the World was an absolute dream come true. I would have loved to continue to grow with this delightful character and having to come to terms with this sharp turn in my life, my dream, and career these past several weeks has been heartbreaking beyond words. I have so much love for the cast and crew of Run the World and will miss them. I wish you all the best.” she said.

Run the World centers on a group of thirtysomething Black women — played by Bordeaux, Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb and Corbin Reid — who juggle friendship, love and busy careers while living in Harlem.

Bordeaux portrayed Ella, a journalist-turned-novelist who struggled throughout Season 1 to bounce back from her ill-received second book. The finale saw her sneaking away from her friends to start writing the first chapter of her new book.

The role of Ella is not expected to be recast, and it’s unclear how the show plans to write her out of Season 2.

Via TVLine

ABC launched it’s latest Primetime TV show, “Queens“. The show stars Brandy, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and my favorite female rapper, Eve.

The show starts out giving you a brief look back at where the group started at and where they are present day. The writers do a good job with exploring each ladies personal journey, without putting too much in the first episode. However, comparing the show to other hot shows out right now, the acting leaves a bit to be crazy over. It kinda falls into the category of… “if there’s nothing on“, which right now isn’t the case, as the show is on the same time as the long awaited “Impeachment“.