BET has renewed two of its freshman series for a second season, the Viacom network announced on Tuesday.
“Boomerang,” Lena Waithe’s TV sequel to the 1992 film of the same name, and the period drama “American Soul” have both been renewed for another outing at the network ahead of their respective season finales this week and next.
Executive produced by Waithe and original star Halle Berry, “Boomerang” is set 25 years after the events of the Eddie Murphy-Robin Givens romantic comedy. The sequel series, which centers on the original casts’ children as young marketing professionals trying to step out of their parents’ shadows, is set to wrap its 10-episode first season on Tuesday, April 9.
“Making Boomerang has been one of the highlights of my career and the positive feedback we’ve gotten from fans and critics has been so validating. I’m beyond excited to dive even deeper into these characters’ lives in season two,” Waithe said in a statement.
The ’70s period drama “American Soul” stars “Power” alum Sinqua Walls as a young Don Cornelius as he sets out to launch “Soul Train,” the first nationally-syndicated black music show. Kelly Price, Jason Dirden, Iantha Richardson, Christopher Jefferson, Katlyn Nichol and Jelani Winston also star in the drama, executive produced by Jesse Collins. The Season 1 finale airs Tuesday, April 2.
“We are incredibly grateful to continue to tell the American Soul story. Season one was so well received by the culture and we feel that season two will be even more fun and exciting,” said Collins.
“Boomerang” and “American Soul” have proved successful for BET, launching as the top scripted comedy and drama, respectively, among the network’s core audience of African American adults under 50, according to Nielsen.
“BET Networks is so proud to be the television home for the compelling scripted series ‘Boomerang’ and ‘American Soul,’” BET Networks president Scott Mills said in a statement. “Our continued partnership demonstrates BET’s commitment to the elevation of creative and authentic storytelling that viewers expect from the brand.”