As of late, tons of our veteran stage actors are taking to the small screen. We’ve cried out for more faces of color on our tv screens and the television Gods have been listening. The latest addition to this circle are the 2004 Tony Award winning pair, Anika Noni Rose (Caroline, Or Change) and Phylicia Rashad. (A Raisin In The Sun)
The new CBS pilot called “For Justice” is based on James Patterson’s debut crime novel, The Thomas Berryman Number. It centers on Special Agent Natalia “Nat” Chappel (Rose), a cool, laser-focused, tough as nails FBI agent who works in the Criminal Section of the Department of Civil Rights Division and finds herself caught between the radical family she was born into and the professional family she has chosen.
Rashad, best known as Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show, will take on a very different type of role for her. She is set as a series regular, a gay black woman by the name of Georgina Howe. The character is described has a savvy Washington player who has faced discrimination for her race and sexual orientation, and fights to protect the independence and integrity of her high-profile Civil Rights Division.
The pilot episode is set to be directed by “Selma’s” Ava DuVernay.
With all of this greatness attached to this project we know it’s bound to be amongst the list of our favorites this coming season. Especially since we’ve just come to the end of “How To Get Away With Murder” with Viola Davis, and almost to the end of “Scandal” with Kerry Washington, and top rated show “Empire”. with Howard University Theatre Arts graduate Tariji P. Henson. Get ready TV just got even better.
