On Monday, February 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, CBS will air an all-new primetime special produced by the team at “Entertainment Tonight,” titled “On TV: A Black History Month Special,” hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the first ever Black co-hosting team for “Entertainment Tonight.”
The primetime special, which will also be available to stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+*, will feature interviews with several CBS stars, including the cast of “Beyond the Gates,” the first new network television soap opera to premiere in over 25 years.
Filmed on location from the sets of the CBS shows, the special will guide viewers through a celebration of Black excellence in television as the hosts shine a spotlight on Black actors who are forging a path in daytime and primetime television.
Quantrell Colbert/CBS
Those set to appear in the special include Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley (“Beyond the Gates”), Cedric The Entertainer and Tichina Arnold (“The Neighborhood”), Rocky Carroll (“NCIS”), Shemar Moore (“S.W.A.T.”), Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make a Deal”), Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson (“Poppa’s House”), Morris Chestnut (“Watson”) and Wendell Pierce (“Elsbeth”).
Viewers can look forward to the CBS stars sharing personal stories and reflections on their time in the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, the special will also celebrate several historical milestones while honoring the trailblazers of the past, present and future.
Those set to be featured include Isabel Sanford, the first Black actress to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy (1981); Cicely Tyson, the first Black actress to star as a regular in a TV drama series (1963); Sidney Poitier, the first Black actor to win a Best Actor Oscar (1964); the groundbreaking moment “Star Trek” aired the first interracial kiss on television (1968); Harold Walker, the first Black network news correspondent (1969); the moment “All in the Family” aired the first interracial married couple on television (1971); and Michele Clark, the first Black female network news correspondent (1972).
The one-hour news special will also spotlight Black comedians who have shaped the industry with highlights of their cultural impact, including The Wayans family, known for their comedic legacy and impact across various entertainment platforms; Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, both of whom have brought laughter to millions with their starring roles on “The Neighborhood; and Wayne Brady, who is celebrating 15 years as host of “Let’s Make a Deal.”
Produced and distributed by CBS Media Ventures, “Entertainment Tonight” is co-hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner with Rachel Smith, Cassie DiLaura and Denny Directo as correspondents. Erin Johnson serves as executive producer. Whitney Wallace and Leslie Kawaguchi are co-executive producers.
*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream Live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as On Demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream Live but will have access to On Demand the day after the series airs.