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WEEK IN WOMEN: Mo’Nique’s deal to develop unscripted TV projects – Brandy McDonnell reports

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Endemol Shine North America is teaming with Academy Award-winning actor, producer, comedian and author Mo’Nique to develop unscripted TV projects.

Endemol Shine North America, a Banijay Company, and Hicks Media, Mo’Nique and her manager/husband Sidney Hicks’ production label, are developing unscripted series for Mo’Nique to both host and star in, as well as to develop and produce as projects for other performers.

The deal reunites Cris Abrego – chairman of the Americas, Banijay and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings – with Mo’Nique, whom he originally cast in the unscripted hit series Charm School 15 years ago for VH1.

Abrego, who originally co-founded 51 Minds, the production company behind the hit series, now oversees eight different production studios in the U.S. and across Latin America for Banijay, including Los Angeles-based Endemol Shine North America.

“It is an honor for Hicks Media Inc. to be forming a partnership with such a creative force in the industry as Endemol Shine, and it is an exciting opportunity to have an ally with the fearlessness, integrity and vision of its CEO, Cris Abrego,” said Mo’Nique and Hicks in a statement.

The new partnership with Mo’Nique and Hicks was solidified as a result of a call Abrego made to the duo during the pandemic inquiring about potential unscripted collaborations.

Mo’Nique has captivated audiences across stand-up comedy, television, film and literature. Her portrayal of Mary Jones, a mentally disturbed and abusive mother in the film “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire,” landed her an Academy Award, the Special Jury Prize for Acting at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, as well as Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and NAACP Image Awards for Best Supporting Actress, amongst others. Continue reading on THE WEEK IN WOMEN.

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Brandy McDonnell

Brandy McDonnell writes features and reviews movies, music, events and the arts for The Oklahoman, Oklahoma's statewide newspaper, and NewsOK.com, the state's largest news Web site. Raised on a farm near Lindsay, Okla., she started her journalism career in seventh grade, when she was elected reporter for her school's 4-H Club. Taking her duties seriously, she began submitting stories to The Lindsay News, and worked for the local weekly through high school. She attended Oklahoma State University, where she worked for The Daily O'Collegian and earned her journalism degree with honors. She worked for three years at small Oklahoma dailies The Edmond Sun and Shawnee News-Star. In 2002, she joined The Oklahoman as a features reporter, writing about movies, the arts, events, families and nonprofits. She moved to The Oklahoman's entertainment desk in 2007. In 2004, she won a prestigious Journalism Fellowship in Child & Family Policy from the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Along with her membership in AWFJ, she also is a founding member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle. Brandy writes The Week In Women blog for AWFJ.org.