Ava DuVernay OWN Series ‘Cherish The Day’ Season 2 Casts Richard Roundtree, Terri J. Vaughn (TV News Roundup)

Richard Roundtree Terri J Vaughn Cherish the Day
Courtesy of OWN

OWN announced Richard Roundtree and Terri J. Vaughn have joined the second season of romantic anthology drama, “Cherish The Day.”

Roundtree and Vaughn will be joining the cast in recurring roles. Roundtree is set to occur as Mandeville “MV” St. James, a proud, loving, wry-humored former judge and widowed father of Sunday, played by Joy Bryant. Vaughn will recur as Anastasia, Ellis’ (Henry Simmons) soon-to-be ex-wife and the mother of their children.

“Cherish The Day” is an anthology series that chronicles the relationship of one couple, with each episode spanning a single day.

The first season of “Cherish The Day” starred Xosha Roquemmore, Alano Miller and Cicely Tyson, and debuted in Feb. 2020. During its seven-week first season, the series ranked No. 1 in its time period across all cable networks with Black women, households and total viewers.

While being led by Ava DuVernay, “Cherish The Day” achieved full gender parity with a production crew of more than 50 percent women, including 18 female department heads, an initiative DuVernay will continue in Season 2.

Popular on Variety

Created and produced by DuVernay, “Cherish The Day” is produced for OWN by Array Filmworks and Harpo Films in association with Warner Bros. Television. DuVernay, Paul Garnes, Raynelle Swilling, Teri Schaffer and Oprah Winfrey serve as executive producers. Swilling and Schaffer are co-showrunners of Season 2.

Additionally, Sheldon Candis, Angel Kristi Williams and Merawi Gerima will direct episodes this season.

Also in today’s TV news roundup…

DATES

HBO Max released a trailer for Marlon Wayans’ comedy special, “You Know What It Is,” debuting Aug. 19 on the streamer. In the trailer, Wayans speaks on his biggest fear, which are people with “outie belly buttons,” along with other fears including raising a daughter and dealing with a rebellious teenage son. “When you’re a parent, there’s no proper formula. Did I spoil them? I knew I should’ve never told them kids I had money; I should have raised them in the projects,” says Wayans to his Miami crowd. “You Know What It Is” is produced by Ugly Baby Productions and Dakota Pictures. Marlon Wayans, Rick Alvarez, Troy Miller, Michael Rotenberg and Steve Harris serve as executive producers. This marks the first project to debut through Wayans’ overall deal with HBO Max. Watch the trailer below.

Disney Plus released a trailer for Season 2 of “Diary of a Future President,” premiering on Aug. 18. The series stars Tess Romero, Charlie Bushnell, Selenis Leyva, Michael Weaver and Gina Rodriguez. Season 2 continues the origin story of Cuban American and future leader, Elena Cañero-Reed, played by Romero, as she enters the seventh grade. Recounted through excerpts from 13-year-old Elena’s diary, this coming-of-age series follows her through the ups and downs of middle school which sets her on the path to becoming the President of the United States. “I had such high expectations for this year, now I feel so lost,” says Elena in the trailer. Watch the trailer below.

DEVELOPMENT

Boat Rocker Media is developing and producing Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author Colson Whitehead’s novel “Sag Harbor” as a television series with HBO Max. The story chronicles Benji Cooper, the only Black student at an elite prep school in Manhattan, who escapes to Sag Harbor to connect with other African Americans where they’ve built a world of their own. Daniel “Koa” Beaty and Whitehead will executive produce alongside Katie O’Connell Marsh for Boat Rocker, and Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland for Cinema Gypsy Productions. Beaty will be the writer for the pilot episode.

PROGRAMMING

Roku announced that Josh Groban will be the new host of “Eye Candy,” a competition series based on the hit Japanese game show, “Sokkuri Sweets.” The show puts celebrities and civilians together as they attempt to identify outrageous edible creations that look like everyday objects. “Eye Candy” is executive produced by Jimmy Fox, Linda Lea, Soichiro Shimanda, Tom Miyauchi, Chrissy Teigen and Luke Dillon. The series is co-executive produced by Stephanie Valentin, Amy Stanford, Charlie Van Vleet and produced by Main Event Media, an All3Media America company, Huntley Productions and Good Egg Entertainment. The 10-episode series is set to debut in August on the Roku Channel, with the premiere date yet to be announced.

GREENLIGHTS

Syfy has ordered the dramedy series “Reginald the Vampire,” with Jacob Batalon starring in the lead role. The series takes place in a world populated by beautiful, fit and vain vampires. Reginald Baskin navigates the challenges of undead life, including a girl he loves and can’t be with, a bully manager and a vampire chieftain who wants him dead. Based on the “Fat Vampire” series by Johnny B. Truant, the series is produced by Great Pacific Media and Modern Story Company, with Harley Peyton serving as showrunner. Director Jeremiah Clark executive produces with Todd Berger and Lindsay Macadam, while Julie DiCresce serves as co-executive producer.