Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Kyla Brewer TV Media T elevision can be a powerful medium, so much so that art- ists often use TV to prompt con- versations about real-world injus- tices, and that is exactly what a new drama aspires to do. When a promising, young Black athlete finds himself impli- cated in a drug deal gone wrong on Chicago's South Side, a pas- sionate public defender takes the case in "61st Street," premiering Sunday, April 10, on AMC and AMC+. Tosin Cole ("Doctor Who") takes the lead as Moses Johnson, a high school track star headed to college thanks to an athletic scholarship. His life is upended when he is targeted by police, who claim he is a cop-kill- ing gang member due to his alleged involvement in a botched drug bust. Enter Courtney B. Vance ("Lovecraft Country") as Franklin Roberts, a public defender who sees the case as an opportunity to expose the institutional racism and corruption of the Chicago judicial system. Despite a recent cancer diagnosis, Roberts is determined to take the case and defend Moses, even if it's the last thing he does. While the story is fictional, the premise of "61st Street" is all too familiar in the wake of cases that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, including the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. According to Deadline. com, series executive producer and writer J. David Shanks ("The Chi") talked during this summer's Television Critics Association press tour about the potential for the series to continue the conver- sation about systemic injustices and police brutality. "We want to have a healthy discussion in a safe environ- ment," Shanks said at an August 2021 TCA panel. "Nothing changes if we don't continue to talk about it." While the Black community is often underrepresented in writers rooms and behind the scenes, "61st Street" is an exception. Having grown up on the South Side of Chicago, actor, writer and producer Shanks has firsthand knowledge of life in the area and has admitted that he used to run from the police himself. Shanks later became a Chicago police officer before getting into the entertainment business, all expe- riences that give him unique insight into the issues tackled in "61st Street." Shanks serves as an executive producer alongside Michael B. Jordan ("Blank Panther," 2018), Alana Mayo ("Without Remorse," 2021), Hilary Salmon ("Silk"), leading star Vance and series creator Peter Moffat ("Criminal Justice"). The show has been in the works since 2019 when AMC executive David Madden described it in an official release as "a murder mystery, courtroom drama and an exami- nation of race in America." That's a tall order for any cast, but producers have assembled a talented group of performers to bring the story to life. Cole starred in the British teen drama "The Cut" and also had roles in "EastEnders: E20" and "Hollyhoaks" before landing the part of Ryan Sinclair in "Doctor Who." He also had a small role as an X-wing pilot in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015). Television viewers may also recognize Vance from his role as another lawyer, Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." After tak- ing home the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his starring turn as Johnnie Cochran in FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," he has appeared in National Geographic's "Genius: Aretha" and HBO's "Lovecraft Country," the latter earning him another Primetime Emmy, this time for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Vance's on-screen wife from "Lovecraft Country," Aunjanue Ellis, is by his side once again in "61st Street." Ellis portrays Martha Roberts, Franklin's wife, a politician deter- mined to balance the scales of justice. Ellis has appeared in numerous television series, including "The Mentalist," "True Blood" and "The Practice." She earned a Critic's Choice Television Award nomination for her work in the miniseries "The Book of Negroes," and her work in the film "King Richard" (2021) earned her nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe among other awards. The ensemble cast also includes Canadian actor Mark O'Brien ("Halt and Catch Fire") as Logan, a Chicago police officer who questions his commitment to the department after the death of his fellow officer, and Andrene Ward-Hammond ("Loving," 2016) as Moses' mother, Norma, a cleaning lady who works at the courthouse. Moses' younger brother, Joshua, is played by up-and-com - er Bentley Green. Since first wowing audiences with his hip- hop skills at the age of 6 on "Ellen," the young performer has appeared in such television series as "Snowfall," "The Good Doctor" and "Sweet Magnolias," as well as in the YouTube series "Epic Rap Battles of History." Schwering Realty 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Mark O'Brien and Patrick Mulvey star in "61st Street" Lawyer defends young Black athlete in '61st Street' Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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