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TV Show Reviews
Review of "Ambitions"
6/20/18 by
Suzanne
airs Tuesdays 10/9c on OWN
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This is a fun new primetime soap opera on Oprah's network. It's
definitely a guilty pleasure because it features beautiful people having lots of
sex, holding guns to each other's heads, cheating on their spouses, exposing
corruption and racism, and, of course, being very ambitious.
Creator Jamey Giddens grew up watching daytime
and primetime soaps, and that influence is all over
this series. Also, many of the writers are from
daytime soaps. You can see many soap opera
archetypes, and some stories similar to shows like
"Dynasty" and "Knots Landing." This show takes
place in modern-day Atlanta and has a multicultural
cast feature some excellent veteran actors such as
Robin Givens, who shines as Stephanie Carlisle; and
handsome Brian White, who plays her husband, Mayor Evan
Lancaster. Although the show is heavily influenced
by the soaps, it pushes the envelope much more in
terms of sexy scenes and the way it credibly weaves
in social issues like sexism, dishonest
pharmaceutical companies, racism, eminent domain,
and political corruption.
Like any good primetime soap, it has a few core
families. Besides the Lancasters, there is the
Hughes family, the Trujillos and the Purefoys. All
of the actors are outstanding. So far, Rondell is my
favorite because she's very real and reminds me of
some real women that I know here in the south.
There are some not-so-great soap operas on OWN,
but this one is just as good as "Greenleaf."
Another good one you should watch is "Queen
Sugar." However, that one can move a bit
slowly. I appreciate the faster pace of "Ambitions." The only fault I find in
it is
that the dialogue in the first episode was a little
uneven. It's gotten better since then, though.
Otherwise, the writing is very good. The
characters do things that you won't expect. You may
watch it thinking that these characters are some
sort of stereotyped soap characters, but they're
not. They're unpredictable, like real people.
There are many shocking moments that make it worth
watching.
This
is entertaining summer viewing that you won't want
to miss.
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MORE INFORMATION:
OWN’S NEW FAMILY SAGA “AMBITIONS,” FROM WILL PACKER,
JAMEY GIDDENS, LIONSGATE AND DEBMAR-MERCURY, STARTS
PRODUCTION IN ATLANTA
Award-Winning Writer/EP Kevin Arkadie Named Showrunner
November 13, 2018
Los Angeles – OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today
the start of production in Atlanta of the new
multigenerational family saga “Ambitions,”
produced by Will Packer Media in association with
Lionsgate and Lionsgate-owned distributor Debmar-Mercury,
and starring Robin Givens (“Riverdale,” “The Fix,” “The Bold
and the Beautiful”), Essence Atkins (“Marlon,” “Half and
Half”), Brian White (“Ray Donovan,” “Scandal”), Kendrick
Cross (“Acrimony,”) Brely Evans (“Being Mary Jane”) and
Erica Page (“Ozark,” “Bad Dad Rehab”). Multiple
award-winning writer/EP Kevin Arkadie (“The Quad,” “New York
Undercover”) has joined as showrunner. Created by executive
producer/writer Jamey Giddens (“The Rich and The Ruthless”)
from an original idea by Packer, “Ambitions”
will debut on OWN in 2019, with the pilot episode directed
by Benny Boom (“All Eyez on Me,” “Black Lightning”).
“Ambitions” is a multigenerational
family saga centered around one woman who, having recently
relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds
herself going head to head with some of the most powerful
and deceitful players in the city.
Robin Givens stars as ‘Stephanie Carlisle,’ the wife of
Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian White), whose true
loyalty is to her own family's prestigious law firm, where
she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers.
Stephanie desperately wants to be in charge of the Carlisle
family law firm and quietly fumes about her father Stephen's
condescending assertion that she's simply not ready yet.
Givens is represented by PANTHEON.
Essence Atkins plays the role of ‘Amara,’ a lawyer in
U.S. Attorney's Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with
her husband, Titus (Kendrick Cross). Originally from
Texas, she is quickly gaining attention from the U.S.
Attorney’s Office as a diligent prosecutor but disappoints
her supervisor by turning down the offer to run point on a
major local case. Atkins is represented by Buchwald
and Kathy McComb Management.
Brian White has been cast as ‘Evan Lancaster,’ the Mayor
of Atlanta, who is married to attorney Stephanie Carlisle
(Robin Givens). Evan’s political ambitions seem to
cloud his judgement as he is willing to do anything to get
to the next level in his career. White is represented by
Paradigm Talent Agency, Zero Gravity Management and attorney
Eric Feig.
Kendrick Cross stars as ‘Titus,’ an attorney who recently
moved with his wife Amara (Essence Atkins) to Atlanta.
Titus has been hired as in-house counsel for a big pharma
company run by Hunter Purifoy, who is fighting a class
action suit brought by the powerful Carlisle family. Cross
is represented by Houghton Talent.
Brely Evans plays the role of ‘Rondell,’ Atlanta Mayor
Evan Lancaster’s (Brian White) sister, who runs a
not-quite-profitable restaurant called Thelma's Place. Evans
is represented by J Pervis Talent.
Erica Page plays the role of ‘Bella,’ a fashion designer
in Atlanta who designs all of Stephanie Carlisle's (Robin
Givens) dresses for her. Page is represented by
Houghton Talent.
Benny Boom is represented by Artists First Inc., Del Shaw
Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano and ICM Partners.
Kevin Arkadie is the co-creator of the series “New York
Undercover.” Last season, he Co-Executive Produced season
two of “The Quad.” Previously, he was a Producer on
“Chicago Hope”; Supervising Producer on “NYPD Blue”;
Co-Executive Producer on “The Shield”; and Executive
Producer on “Soul Food: The Series” and “Rescue 77.”
Arkadie scripted the Emmy®-winning miniseries “The
Temptations” and is the recipient of the Golden Globe®
Award, Writers Guild Award, Image Award and the Christopher
Award as well as a nominee for multiple Emmy® and Humanitas
Prizes. He is the Writer/Producer/Director of the
documentary “FESPACO.” He began his writing career on the
much-acclaimed series “I’ll Fly Away” as a story editor.
Jamey Giddens is an award-winning writer, producer,
entertainment journalist, publicist, and podcast
personality. He is the co-owner of the wildly popular soap
opera-themed website DaytimeConfidential.com. Giddens
co-wrote the first season of Urban Movie Channel's breakout
summer hit dramedy "The Rich and The Ruthless." Giddens
worked for 10 years as a communications specialist for the
Centers For Disease Control and Protection (CDC), helping to
create social media messages alerting the public to such
major health events as the H1N1, Zika Virus and Ebola
outbreaks.
Situated in Atlanta, the award-winning writing staff
includes Jamey Giddens (“The Rich and The Ruthless”), Susan
Dansby (“As The World Turns,” “The Young and The Restless”),
Michele Val Jean (“General Hospital,” “The Bold and the
Beautiful”), Trey Anthony (“da Kink in my Hair,” “How Black
Mothers Say I Love You”) and Jazmen Darnell Brown (“The
Citizen,” “Saints & Sinners”).
“Ambitions” is produced for OWN by Will
Packer Media in association with Lionsgate and its
producer-distributor Debmar-Mercury. Will Packer is
executive producer. Kevin Arkadie is executive
producer/showrunner. Writer Jamey Giddens and Will Packer
Media’s Sheila Ducksworth also serve as executive
producers. Benny Boom directs the pilot episode.
About Will Packer Media
Led by Hollywood producer Will Packer, Will Packer Media
is a first-of-its-kind production and branded content
company focused on the New American Mainstream audience,
with an urban millennial core. In partnership with
Discovery, Inc. and Universal Pictures, the company produces
episodic scripted and unscripted series across television
and digital platforms, compelling content for brand clients,
and short-form digital content for millennial audiences.
Will Packer’s films have earned more than $1 billion, with
nine opening at number one at the box office.
About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network
named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah
Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand and
the magnetism of the channel. OWN is a leading destination
for premium scripted and unscripted programming from today's
most innovative storytellers. OWN’s original scripted series
include popular dramas “Queen Sugar,” “Greenleaf,” “Love Is
__,” “The Have and Have Nots, “If Loving You is Wrong,”
popular sitcom “The Paynes,” and upcoming drama series
“David Makes Man” from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin
McCraney and family saga “Ambitions” from box office
hit-maker Will Packer. OWN’s Saturday night unscripted
programming lineup includes “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” “Book of
John Gray,” “Black Love,” “Chad Loves Michelle” and the new
dating series “Ready to Love.” OWN connects with its
audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a
global community of like-minded viewers on social media and
beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint
venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery, Inc. The venture
also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. Access
OWN anytime, anywhere on
WatchOWN.tv
or across mobile devices and connected TVs. For more
information, please visit www.oprah.com/own and https://press.discovery.com/us/own/.
About Lionsgate
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a
global content leader whose films, television series,
digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach
next generation audiences around the world. In
addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate
content drives a growing presence in interactive and
location-based entertainment, video games, esports and other
new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate’s content
initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and
television library and delivered through a global sales and
distribution infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is
synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content
created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and
diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer
base.
About Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in
syndication, network, cable and ancillary
markets, produces and distributes The Wendy Williams
Show and, with co-producer Citylife Productions,
Caught in Providence, debuting nationally in September
2018. It has U.S. distribution rights to FremantleMedia
North America’s Steve Harvey-hosted Family Feud;
off-Netflix episodes of BoJack Horseman from
Michael Eisner’s privately held media and entertainment
company, The Tornante Company; as well as U.S. distribution
rights to Schitt’s Creek, the critically acclaimed
half-hour, single-camera scripted comedy created by Eugene
Levy and Daniel Levy that ranks as the No. 1 original series
on Pop TV; the 10/90 sitcoms Debmar-Mercury pioneered
including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and spinoff
Meet the Browns; Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We
There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and the Debmar-Mercury
/ Lionsgate Television comedy Anger Management
(starring Charlie Sheen). Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), a global
content platform whose films, television series, digital
products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach
next-generation audiences around the world.
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