New episodes post every Wednesday. Under the stewardship of playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (. Known for her frank, funny conversations about sensitive issues, especially race, Ziwe prepares for her next act: shaking up hidebound, male-dominated late-night TV. Duration: 03:09 3/16/2021. Music, Film, TV and Political News Coverage. Updated 1422 GMT (2222 HKT) March 19, 2021. Listen to “The Envelope” to hear the rest of our interview with Erivo, including how her work on “Genius” fueled her as she made her own record and her thoughts on why it’s not a problem that the the series doesn’t feature one of Franklin’s most iconic songs, “Respect.” Plus: Hear reaction to the 2021 Academy Awards from L.A. Times columnists Glenn Whipp and Mary McNamara. A homeless L.A. musician helped create a Daft Punk classic. Franklin died in 2018, and another version of her life, the movie "Respect" starring Jennifer Hudson, is still to come. Cynthia Erivo is—finally—stepping into the Queen of Soul’s heels. So why hasn’t he seen a dime? See the first look of Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin in Genius Cynthia Erivo has found the next historical figure for her to play: Aretha Franklin on Genius Genius (2016 film) Cynthia Erivo confirmed the rumor that she is indeed singing live on set for “Genius: Aretha.”. SHARE. Cynthia Erivo (foreground) stars as Aretha Franklin in 'Genius: Aretha' from National Geographic (National Geographic/Richard DuCree). "I hope that's clear.". What to watch Friday, May 7: “Great Performances: Uncle Vanya” on PBS; “Charmed” on the CW; the Dodgers visit the Angels in a Freeway Series and more. March 21, 2021 Channel Guide Staff TV Best Bets Comments Off on Sunday, March 21: Cynthia Erivo Brings the Genius of Aretha Franklin to Life … (CNN)After Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, "Genius: Aretha" is both the most commercial and the best installment of this National Geographic anthology series, powered by Cynthia Erivo's "give her all the awards now" performance as the Queen of Soul. 5 Things To Know About Cynthia Erivo's Aretha Franklin in Genius "Aretha," the third season of the National Geographic series, chronicles the Queen of Soul's musical development and life. And Tom Ford’s Noir was the perfume that helped her find a way into the legendary singer. ‘Best Shape of My Life,’ a six-part YouTube series starring Will Smith, will document the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ actor’s journey to get fit. She is an actress, known for Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Harriet (2019) and Widows (2018). The interviewer asks her about whether or not she — it was a tongue-in-cheek, ironic question like, ‘Are you a star?’ And she goes, ‘Well ... yes.’ There’s just this demure, come-hither way of speaking to people that makes you come in because she doesn’t have to project. Daft Punk sampled Eddie Johns’ “More Spell on You” on their hit “One More Time.” Johns, who has struggled with homelessness, was never paid or credited. Email us at awards@latimes.com. Franklin (Courtney B. Vance), a philanderer who, an associate notes wryly, loves Saturday night as well as Sunday morning. ... Judging by the trailers it looks like Cynthia’s movie will tell the true story of Aretha. Fittingly, in her most recent role, the 34-year-old portrays a woman on a similar quest to fulfill her own dreams. Flitting around in time and covering a great deal of ground, the production earns a big helping of R-E-S-P-E-C-T to all concerned. She makes you come towards her.”. As an actor and singer, Cynthia Erivo knows how to command a stage. “But it’s really about how she says a yes or a no. But it will remind you of it. Erivo didn’t stop with the look and sound of Franklin. But to do so as someone else — someone like Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul — can be a … Cynthia takes on the role of Aretha Franklin in ‘Genius: Aretha’ Cynthia plays the iconic singer Aretha … And of course she listened to Franklin’s music, finding particular resonance in “Aretha Live at Fillmore West,” released in 1971, which featured a guest duet with Ray Charles; as well as Franklin’s 1972 album, “Young, Gifted and Black.”. “I know this may sound very, very strange and airy fairy, but it feels like they sort of step into the room for a second,” Erivo says in the latest episode of the L.A. Times podcast “The Envelope.”. Cynthia Erivo transforms into Aretha Franklin in the new trailer for "Genius: Aretha." ... That movie, which stars Jennifer Hudson in the lead role, is also due out this year. “Genius: Aretha” is a complex tale, messily told. Deriving its episodic subtitles from Franklin songs, "Genius: Aretha" is a testament to that hard work. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin in “Genius: Aretha.”, Aretha Franklin circa 1960, left, and Cynthia Erivo as Franklin in National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha.”, (RB / Redferns; Richard DuCree / National Geographic), Cynthia Erivo knows how to command a stage. Starring Cynthia Erivo, the new season of National Geographic’s anthology doesn’t quite ‘explain’ Franklin’s genius. “And then towards the ’80s and the ’90s, she started having more fun. 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