Red Bluff Daily News - Select TV
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July 31 - August 6, 2021 The Daily News and North Valley Community Papers 5 By Kyla Brewer TV Media T elevision can be a great medium for storytelling, and the industry is finally embracing a more diverse range of subject matter. Some pro- grams have even transcended en- tertainment to educate viewers on life realities for various underrepre- sented communities. One such se- ries, chronicling the lives of several people living in Chicago's South Side, is about to wrap up for the season. Neighbors in the primarily Afri- can American community have struggled to cope in the aftermath of an act of police brutality in the fourth season of "The Chi," which takes its final bow on Sunday, Aug. 1, on Showtime. The one-hour dra - ma was created by Lena Waithe, an Emmy-winning performer, writer and producer who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Waithe was the first Black wom- an to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her work on Netflix's "Master of None" in 2017, but "The Chi" marks a departure from comedy. The first three seasons of the drama have attracted a loyal fol- lowing and performed decently in the ratings. In fact, Season 3 dou- bled its audience on streaming platforms, so it came as no surprise when Showtime announced the Season 4 pickup in September 2020. Showtime executive Gary Levine praised Waithe and fellow writer/ executive producer Justin Hillian ("Snowfall"), who also serves as showrunner for the series, saying, "Each season, 'The Chi's' authentic storytelling resonates more deeply with its devoted and growing audi - ences. Lena Waithe, together with Justin Hillian, explore[s] the joys and the heartbreak of life on the South Side in a way that is unique on television." Those stories of joy and heart- break range from romantic entan- glements and family ties to vio- lence and a series of difficult choic- es. It's a formula that has worked well for "The Chi" so far. "For us, we're never chasing a story, we're always just making sure to tell one," Waithe explained in a May interview with Deadline. com. Of course, a part of what makes those stories so compelling is the characters and the actors who play in them. Season 4 has featured a talented core cast who bring the tales to life. Jacob Latimore portrays Emmett Washington, a young father who tries to provide for his son. Lati- more started out in the music in- dustry before jumping into acting. Hailed as one of the Sundance Film Festival's most talented emerging artists after his appearance in the movie "Sleight" (2016), his other credits include "Black Nativity" (2014) and "The Maze Runner" (2014). Hannaha Hall plays Tiff, the mother of Emmett's baby. The ac- tress has appeared in "Chicago Med" and previously worked with Waithe on an untitled TV movie project. Yolonda Ross stars as Emmett's mother, Jada, who encourages her son to do the right thing for himself and his child. Ross started her ca- reer in television in shows such as "New York Undercover" and "Third Watch" before landing the lead in the indie film "Stranger Inside" (2001). She went on to appear in "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Treme." Young actor Alex Hibbert plays Kevin, a character who witnesses an act of police brutality involving one of his friends in Season 4. The performer made his film debut in the Oscar-winning film "Moon- light" (2016) and also had a role in the 2018 blockbuster Marvel hit "Black Panther." Michael Epps portrays Kevin's friend Jake, who is involved in an altercation with police this season. A relative newcomer to the indus- try, he's appeared in "Chicago Fire" and "Empire." Epps also re- leased his debut album, "Drip," in 2019. Shamon Brown Jr. is known as Papa in "The Chi," a confident young man who loves food and hanging out with his best friends, Kevin and Jake. A Chicago native, Brown began his career as a child actor and has appeared in "Chica- go Fire" as well as the Plain White T's music video for "American Nights." Birgundi Baker stars as Kiesha, Kevin's sister, who has been strug- gling with the decision to keep the baby that resulted from her kidnap- ping and rape last season. Baker is known for her work in TV series such as "Black Lightning," "Em- pire," "Station 19" and "Chicago P.D." Luke James and Curtiss Cook were both promoted to series regu- lars for Season 4. James, who portrays Jake's older brother and local gang leader, Trig, can be seen in "Star," "Insecure" and "Unsolved: The Murders of Tu- pac and the Notorious B.I.G.," while Cook, who plays Otis "Dou- da" Perry, the crooked mayor in "The Chi," has appeared on Broad- way in "The Lion King" and "Miss Saigon." His television credits in- clude "Narcos," "Mayans, M.C." and "House of Cards." To add to the authentic feel of the show, the actors get to tell their stories in the Windy City as, true to the show's title, the series is shot entirely in Chicago — all 40 epi- sodes. Aside from a slight delay in March 2021 when production was paused due to a positive COVID-19 test, the cast and crew forged ahead with Season 4. 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