Hip-hop mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has already scored a TV hit with Power, and Nicki Minaj has been historically known as a ratings drawer. Both of these entertainers are adding to their TV portfolios to take things up a notch with recent deals to appear on the small screen in ways that are based on elements of their personal lives.
Jackson, who is already gearing up for Season 3 of Power, is teaming up with executive producer Will Packer for a single-camera comedy titled My Friend 50,
which has been picked up by Fox, Variety reports.Jackson’s series centers around character Amanda Kramer, a misguided young woman who believes joining 50 Cent’s entourage will be the life-saving effort to solve all her problems. Her eclectic journey with 50’s crew has the feel of a first-person documentary with Kramer serving as narrator.
Nicki Minaj is executive-producing a TV comedy
that is already in its closing deal stages with ABC Family. Tim Story will serve as director of the show, which centers around the story of Minaj’s childhood experience growing up as an immigrant from Trinidad in Queens, NY.“This is one of the more unique adventures I’ve ever embarked on,” Minaj told reporters. “I couldn’t be more proud and excited to team up with an amazing group of people to give the world something really special.”
“Nicki Minaj is a force to be reckoned with at everything she touches,” Karey Burke, executive vice president of programming and development at ABC Family, said in a statement. “We’re beyond thrilled to bring her one-of-a-kind story to our channel. Nicki is an international superstar, yet not everyone knows how inspiring and hilarious her true story is, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”
The network recently announced an open casting call for a tween girl to play a younger version of Minaj, according to reports, and Story has had a hand in casting the project and scouting locations.
Her comedy joins the roster of ABC shows that seek to offer a diverse voice to TV, as Sean “Diddy” Combs inked a deal in October with the network for single-camera comedy The Hustle, a show following the exploits of the assistant to a street-wise billionaire based on the experience of his real-life right-hand woman, Sarah Snedeker.