Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, December 15, 2024 75° Today's Paper


Features

‘Orange Is the New Black’ returns this summer to wrap up series

NETFLIX

Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) was released from prison at the end of the sixth season of the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.”

Question: Is “Orange Is the New Black” coming back with a new season? There are plenty of loose ends that could be tied up.

Answer: The Netflix series will be back in summer 2019 for a seventh season, which will also be its last. The end of the sixth season saw central character Piper Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling) getting early release from prison and the seventh will include a look at her life on the outside. Executive producer Tara Herrman told the Hollywood Reporter her release will be in contrast to what nonwhite, less privileged inmates on the series will experience.

Q: I watch “The Honeymooners” all the time. One of the episodes is “Mama Loves Mambo.” It’s about a mambo instructor who moves into the building. Can you tell me the actor’s name?

A: Charles Korvin played Carlos the mambo instructor. He was an actor who “made a career playing gentleman thieves and philandering husbands,” the New York Times said after Korvin died in 1998 at the age of 90. Born in Hungary, and educated in France, he was also a documentary maker and had a steady movie-acting career from 1945 until about 1951, costarring with Merle Oberon in three movies, before he was caught up in the Hollywood blacklist. He then worked in TV, including on “The Honeymooners” and on “Zorro,” returning to the big screen in 1965.

Q: It’s not fair that OWN canceled “Love Is —” because of the executive producer. His wife is the producer! Please explain. It’s not fair to the actors.

A: As you know, executive producer Salim Akil has been accused of assaulting actress Amber Dixon Brenner along with the claim they had a long affair; Akil is married to Mara Brock Akil, producer on “Love Is.” Salim Akil reportedly called Brenner’s accusations “totally untrue” while acknowledging a past relationship with Brenner. Still, OWN decided not to go ahead with a previous plan for a second season of the show. The announcement of the cancellation noted that the series was “inspired by the real-life love story” of the Akils, which made some observers believe that the off-camera events tainted how people would view the characters on the show. As for the actors, Ebony.com noted that “cast and producers will still be paid for Season 2 due to contractual obligations established during the show’s initial renewal.”

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.