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Prime Video and IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, today announced a licensing deal with Sony Pictures Television which will provide both streaming services a suite of classic television series from legendary producer Norman Lear. This collection marks the largest volume of Norman Lear complete series content ever available to stream.

227 and Diff’rent Strokes will launch on Prime Video on Thursday, July 15, and will be available to Prime members at no additional cost to their membership. Additional titles including The Jeffersons, Sanford & Son, and Sanford will launch on Prime Video later in 2021.

All in the Family, Good Times, Maude, and One Day at a Time will launch Thursday, July 15, on IMDb TV. This will be the first time that episodes of Maude and all seasons of All in the Family are available to stream. 

“Life is a collaboration. Writing, directing and producing films and television is perhaps the most collaborative work of all. In 2018, our Act III Productions sat with the team at Sony Pictures Television and formed a partnership to not only produce new content, but to bring a new awareness to my former Embassy library. That Sony found a home for that library with Prime Video/IMDb TV where new generations could find it, is the best present a man entering his 100th year can have,” said Norman Lear.

At nearly 99 years of age, Norman Lear’s dynamic career in Hollywood has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era. Lear and his team have captivated hundreds of millions of viewers with their television shows. At one point, Lear was responsible for seven of the top 10 shows in America. Most recently, Lear executive produces and co-hosts LIVE in Front of a Studio Audience…, alongside Jimmy Kimmel. The series set record ratings for ABC and won the Emmy award for Outstanding Variety Special for two consecutive years. 

Lear has enjoyed a successful career writing and producing programs like The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Martha Raye Show, which ultimately lead him to captivating 120 million viewers per week with his iconic shows of the 1970s and 1980s including All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Lear is a 2017 Kennedy Center Honoree, a recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1999, a winner of the Peabody Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and a proud member of the inaugural group of inductees into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984. He has won six Primetime Emmy awards. Lear is a father to six, a grandfather to four, and the husband of Lyn Davis Lear.

San Diego Comic Con International is dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and multi-genre entertainment. Now 51 years strong being the organizer of the annual pop culture celebration. Creator/Writer Kayden Phoenix, having been a long-time full pass attendee herself, is proud to see herself on the other side of the table. Her publishing company, Phoenix Studios, created a universe of Latina Superhero graphic novels called A La Brava.

Always inspired by Comic Con’s grandeur, Kayden Phoenix wanted to create Latina superheroes that empower and invigorate. “I want to create a superhero mindset for all marginalized individuals, particularly Latine.” Support from national news channels like Disney/ABC Eyewitness News 7, Spectrum News 1, and international Spanish station, Univision, have broadcasted Phoenix’s comics echoing the importance of diverse representation.

Combine Phoenix’s vision with a fresh-eyed Latina artist team like acclaimed GLAAD and Eisner-nominated illustrator, Eva Cabrera (SANTA, LOQUITA) and newcomer Amanda Julina Gonzalez (JALISCO, RUCA), an uprooted New Mexican who recently graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design in Animation, and you get beautiful and inspiring crafted pieces of art.

JALISCO, a blade-wielding folklorico dancer that uses her culture as her weapon. SANTA, a brawler that takes down the ICE detention centers. LOQUITA, a teen detective in the supernatural world. RUCA, a vigilante taking justice. BANDITA, the gunslinger in modern day New York.

Though a relatively new Universe, only the first three Latina superhero books are out, ComicCon@Home asked A La Brava to return after her WonderCon panel earlier this year. Kayden Phoenix and Amanda Julina Gonzalez are grateful to be in ‘Abolishing Traditional Ideas of Latinas through Latina Superheroes’ panel (Fri July 23rd at 5pm PST) with industry experts Dr. Drea Letamendi (clinical psychologist and host of Arkham Sessions podcast) and Frederick Luis Aldama (Eisner-Awarded professor).

“Comic book superheroes give kids something to look up to and it helps if those heroes look something like the kids.” – ABC Eyewitness News 7

“Everyone needs a superhero, but if you’re a woman or a person of color, chances are you won’t find yourself reflected on the big screen, much less a comic book.” – Spectrum News 1

“Su mission es que haya mas representacion de mujeres Latinas en la television y las peliculas estados unidense/Her mission is to have more representation of Latinas in television and movies in the US.” – Univision

You can see more of Kayden Phoenix and her expanding universe of Latina Superheroes at SDCC, book signings, school lectures, and at www.LatinaSuperheroes.com.
IG @LatinaSuperheroes

The post FIRST LATINA SUPERHERO UNIVERSE BREAKS GROUNDS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON@HOME appeared first on The Nerd Element.

By Donna M. Owens ·July 13, 2021July 13, 2021

Beginning this week, millions of families with kids will receive extra money thanks to Child Tax Credit payments.

The expanded Child Tax Credit is among the provisions of the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan. The economic stimulus bill providing Covid-19 relief was passed by Democrats in Congress (citing its $1.9 trillion price tag, no Republicans voted for the measure) and signed into law by the president in March. 

Families may qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers; $112,000 for individuals filing as head of household, or $150,000 for those who are married and filing jointly. For every child 6-17 years old, qualifying families can receive $250 each month, and for every child under 6 years old, $300 each month.

“Parents, you don’t have to overcome this pandemic alone,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) in a tweet. “The advanced child tax cuts are on the way!”

According to the White House, families who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020 or signed up for a stimulus check from the IRS will receive the tax relief automatically with no further action required. The Child Tax Credit will come monthly via direct deposit or mail until December 2021. 

Families who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 and didn’t use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to sign up for Economic Impact Payments can sign up online.

According to IRS.gov, the agency is urging people “to be on the lookout for scams” using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be aware that the IRS says it never sends unsolicited electronic communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit unauthorized non-government websites.

TOPICS:  Child Tax Credit

The post More Money for Families—Child Tax Credits Begin Arriving July 15 appeared first on Essence.

31 years ago, McGruff the Crime Dog was introduced to encourage kids to “take a bite out of crime.” The anthropomorphic cartoon dog’s ad campaigns were a staple of 1980s & ’90s TV and were mostly centered on personal safety (locking your doors, stranger danger, etc) and community action (like joining a neighborhood watch and asking your neighbors to keep an eye on your home when you’re on vacation).

Another big element of McGruff’s campaign was getting kids to trust and work with police, as well as using the cute character to soften the police’s public image. Even today, police departments across the country use McGruff costumes for outreach programs.

NYPD pup goes crazy after spotting man dressed in McGruff the Crime Dog costume https://t.co/3cMQGGDBK1 pic.twitter.com/kMCGc6r6Gf

— New York Post (@nypost) June 17, 2019

Adorable, right? Of course it is. That’s the whole point.

A worker-owned streaming service called Means TV has updated McGruff with some more helpful advice for kids (or anyone) when dealing with the police, starting with “don’t.”

remember, kids pic.twitter.com/KfeaKOdX3M

— MEANS TV (@means_tv) July 11, 2021

The digital flyer is full of great ACLU-approved advice like talking with a lawyer before talking to the police and consulting the National Lawyers Guild. There are also really important reminders like the fact that you have the right not to talk to police and also, remember, “cops are allowed to lie!”

This truly is the McGruff we need.

(via BoingBoing, image: NCPC)

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