TV Land
Did You Know? Before Fresh Prince Janet Hubert Was On Broadway
Most people may remember Janet Hubert as the beloved “Aunt Viv“ #1 on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” starring Will Smith before she was unceremoniously let go from the show after three seasons. What most people don’t know is that long before she was the bougie aunt of the street-wise teenage Will, Hubert was an original cast member of one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats in 1982
The musical, based upon Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, tells the story of the Jellicle Cats and the one special night of the year that they come out to play – the night of the Jellicle Ball. On this night, each cat tells their story to their leader “Old Deuteronomy,” who must choose one of the Cats to “ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.”
Hubert was cast as “Tantomile” who, along with her twin brother, “Coricopat,” is believed to be psychic. The twins are often the first to sense changes, such as the approach of “Old Deuteronomy.” “Tantomile” is mysterious and quiet, staying mostly with Coricopat.
In addition to her roles in Cats and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Hubert also has appeared in several television shows, including Tyler Perry’s “House of Pain,” ” One Live to Live”, “NYPD Blue,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Friends”. Unfortunately, her career after “The Fresh Prince” has often been overshadowed by her 25-year old beef with Smith whom she believes got her fired from the show. Clearly, Hubert is a talented actress and if it’s true that Webber’s Cats will return to Broadway, maybe she can reprise her role as “Tantomile.”
Now we know why she was so fierce in this classic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air scene!
The Live From Lincoln Center broadcast of Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline, will debut February 8 at 9 PM ET. The LCT production opened in July 2017 was directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz and starred Karen Pittman as Nya.
The cast also includes Tasha Lawrence, Morocco Omari, Namir Smallwood, Jaime Lincoln Smith, and Heather Velazquez.
Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher, is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son Omari opportunities they’ll never have. When a controversial incident at his upstate private school threatens to get him expelled, Nya must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent. But will she be able to reach him before a world beyond her control pulls him away?
With profound compassion and lyricism, PIPELINE brings an urgent conversation powerfully to the fore. Don’t miss this deeply moving story of a mother’s fight to give her son a future — without turning her back on the community that made him who he is.
“We Were There” Check out our review of the 2017 production
Not too long ago, NBC announced that the musical “Hair Live!” would have life on the network and air May 19 with Broadway director Diane Paulus at the helm, reprising her position from the 2009 Tony-winning revival.
According to Variety, NBC is longer moving forward with the project. This announcement comes a week after “RENT Live” on Fox reported having the lowest ratings of any networks live musical.
NBC previously announced a live version of “A Few Good Men” with Alec Baldwin and a live production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” starring Jennifer Lopez, but the productions were both pushed back multiple times. Both projects remain in limbo.
Paul Telegdy and George Cheeks, co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment said in a statement:
“Live musicals are a part of this network’s DNA, and we are committed to continuing that tradition with the right show at the right time. Since these shows are such enormous undertakings, we need titles that have a wide appeal, and we’re in the process of acquiring the rights to a couple of new shows that we’re really excited about,”
So it is said that NBC “won’t be completely abandoning live musicals” According to an individual with knowledge of the decision, but will no longer plan on airing them as regularly as they have in the past with” The Sound of Music Live!” “Peter Pan Live!,” “The Wiz Live!,” & “Hairspray Live!”