CBS announced today ON TV: A BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL, a new ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT production, to air Monday, February 17 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs)*.
The one-hour news special is hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the first Black co-hosting team for ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT. Filmed on location from the sets of CBS programs, the special guides viewers through a celebration of Black excellence in television. The hosts shine a spotlight on Black actors who are forging a path in daytime and primetime television. CBS stars share their personal stories and reflections on their time in the entertainment industry.
The special features new interviews with CBS Network stars, including:
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)
Wendell Pierce (ELSBETH)
Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley (BEYOND THE GATES)
The special also celebrates historic milestones, honoring trailblazers of the past, present and future, such as:
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)
STAR TREK’s groundbreaking moment with the first interracial kiss on television (1968)
Harold Walker, the first Black network news correspondent (1969)
ALL IN THE FAMILY featured the first interracial married couple on television (1971).
Michele Clark, the first Black female network news correspondent (1972)
Additionally, the show spotlights Black comedians who have shaped the industry, highlighting their cultural impact, including:
The Wayans family, known for their comedic legacy and impact across various entertainment platforms
Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, who have brought laughter to millions through their roles on THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Wayne Brady, celebrating 15 years of hosting LET’S MAKE A DEAL