Townsend Entertainment

Townsend Entertainment (also known as The Townsend Entertainment Company and officially, Townsend Entertainment Corporation[1]) is an American entertainment company, involved primarily in the production of films and television programs. Townsend Entertainment was founded by actor, producer, director and writer Robert Townsend.[2] Its headquarters are located in Beverly Hills, California.

Townsend Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
FounderRobert Townsend
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California, United States
ProductsFilms television

Overview

Townsend Entertainment was founded by Robert Townsend in July 1995. It is just one of several entertainment companies that Townsend has founded. His others include Tinsel Townsend Productions, Inc. which produced The Meteor Man (1993)[3] and Townsend Television (1993), Conquering Unicorn Inc. producing Hollywood Shuffle in 1987,[4] and more.

History

In 1995, Townsend Entertainment partnered with Warner Bros. for the production of The Parent 'Hood,[5] a family sitcom starring Townsend as Robert Peterson. The show was first released on January 18, 1995 and aired until July 25, 1999.[6] In the show's earlier seasons, it was revered as "the 'Cosby Show' of the '90's" intertwining family morals and values with comedy.[7]

Townsend Entertainment collaborated with V Studio to produce In the Hive (2012), a drama film starring Jonathan McDaniel, Michael Clarke Duncan, Vivica A. Fox and Loretta Devine. The film was written by Cheryl West and directed and produced by Robert Townsend.[8][9]

In more recent years, Townsend Entertainment released Playin' for Love,[10] a romantic comedy about a high school basketball coach and his star player's mother.[11] Starring Robert Townsend and Salli Richardson, the film was released on January 16, 2015.[12] The film made its debut at the 17th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami Beach, Florida in 2013 at the Colony Theatre.[13][14] The screening was a red carpet event featuring a live mural by MLK Mural.[15] Townsend was awarded a grant from the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency for the film and employed students from the University of Miami to assist in the making of the final product.[16]

Films

Television Shows

Awards and Nominations

The Parent 'Hood

  • American Cinema Foundation, 1997[21]
    • E Pluribus Unum Award – Television Series Comedy
  • NCLR Bravo Awards Nominations, 1996[22]
  • Young Artist Award Nominations, 1996[23]
    • Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten – Television, Kylie Erica Mar
  • Young Artist Award Winners, 1997[24]
    • Best Performance in a TV Comedy/Drama – Supporting Young Actress Age Ten or Under, Ashli Adams
    • Best Performance in a TV Comedy/Drama – Supporting Young Actor Age Ten or Under, Curtis Williams
    • Young Artist Award Nominations, 1998[25]
      • Best Family TV Comedy Series
      • Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Young Actress Age Ten or Under, Ashli Adams
      • Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Young Actor Age Ten or Under, Curtis Williams
      • Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Guest Starring Young Actor, Billee Thomas
      • Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Guest Starring Young Actor, Cody McMains[26]

    In the Hive

    See also
    • Robert Townsend
    • Tinsel Townsend
    • Conquering Unicorn
    • Making the Five Heartbeats

    References
    1. "Townsend Entertainment – IMDbPro". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    2. "Robert Townsend". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    3. Townsend, Robert (August 6, 1993), The Meteor Man, Robert Townsend, Marla Gibbs, Eddie Griffin, retrieved February 28, 2018
    4. Townsend, Robert (March 20, 1987), Hollywood Shuffle, Robert Townsend, Craigus R. Johnson, Helen Martin, retrieved February 28, 2018
    5. The Parent 'Hood (TV Series 1995–1999), retrieved February 28, 2018
    6. The Parent 'Hood (TV Series 1995–1999), retrieved February 28, 2018
    7. Company, Johnson Publishing (January 29, 1996). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 24.
    8. "In the Hive on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    9. In the Hive (2012), retrieved February 28, 2018
    10. Playin' for Love (2013), retrieved February 28, 2018
    11. "Playin' For Love". Black Cinema Connection. November 5, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    12. Townsend, Robert; Wells, Elijah Nathaniel (January 16, 2015), Playin' for Love, Esai Morales, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Jenifer Lewis, retrieved February 28, 2018
    13. "The 17th Annual American Black Film Festival Closes Weeklong Film Retreat with Films Over Miami Showcase and World Premiere Red Carpet Screening of "Playin' for Love" Directed by Robert Townsend". trinijunglejuice.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    14. "Miami lines up American Black Film Festival | South Florida Times". www.sfltimes.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    15. "ABFF and MLK Mural Red Carpet Event for "Playin' for Love"". MLK Community Mural Project. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    16. Caplan, B. (June 19, 2013). "American Black Film Festival Returns with Murder, Tiny Comedians, and Basketball Smooches". Miami New Times. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    17. Townsend, Robert (2010), Why we laugh, Codeblack Entertainment : Vivendi Entertainment, retrieved February 28, 2018
    18. Townsend, Robert (2013). In the hive. Port Washington, New York: Entertainment One. ISBN 1417238399.
    19. Townsend, Robert (October 25, 2009), Musical Theater of Hope, Howard Hewett, Jamie Lynn Blair, Charles Black, retrieved February 28, 2018
    20. Diary of a single mom, One Village Entertainment, 2012, retrieved February 28, 2018
    21. "American Cinema Foundation – Archive: 1996–2000". cinemafoundation.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    22. "NCLR Bravo Awards (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    23. "Young Artist Awards (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    24. "Young Artist Awards (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    25. "Young Artist Awards (1998)". IMDb. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
    26. The Parent 'Hood, retrieved February 28, 2018
    27. "NAACP | 2013 Image Awards Nominations". NAACP. December 11, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
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