Malcolm Pryor Serves as Character Designer on 'Middlemost Post'

Character designer Malcolm Pryor has revealed in his Twitter bio that he worked on Nickelodeon's upcoming animated series, Middlemost Post! According to his LinkedIn profile, Pryor finalized character turnarounds and expression cycles for the series.

Announced in June 2020, Middlemost Post (working title) is an all new animated series which combines quirky characters with hilarious adventures and unwavering friendship. The series is slated to premiere in July 2021 on Nickelodeon.

Created and co-executive produced by John Trabbic III (SpongeBob SquarePants, storyboard director), the 20-episode 2D-animated series follows a former rain cloud, a brawny mailman and their magical pet walrus as they deliver packages to the unusual inhabitants of Mount Middlemost.

Middlemost Post is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, with Dave Johnson serving as co-executive producer and story editor, and Chris Battle (Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, The Mighty B!, Duckman) serving as a character designer. Additional casting news and premiere date will be announced in the coming months.

“Middlemost Post captures everything we look for in a new series--an imaginative and truly unique world, lovable characters who care deeply about each other and big comedic moments to drive the story,” said Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation. “The series is created by our very own John Trabbic, with writing partner Dave Johnson, and we can’t wait to bring to life the characters and places in this artist-driven series for our global audience.”

In Middlemost Post, Parker J. Cloud, an exuberant raincloud, lives and works in the Middlemost Post Office with Angus, a burly, rule-abiding mailman who cherishes his solitude and values efficiency, and Russell, their magical pet walrus whose stomach is so big that it doubles as a storage room. Together they journey through Mount Middlemost and the six territories of Somewhere to deliver the mail, while meeting some exceptionally quirky and peculiar people along the way. But as this loving and unconventional trio grows closer, they remain blissfully unaware that they have been brought together by one fateful stormy event.

“This show, when [Trabbic] first pitched it to us, just was so unique,” Naito said in a separate statement. “It had all the qualities we look for. It was character driven. It had an ensemble that illustrated a really comedic relationship, with a backdrop that was fun and exciting. [And] it really feels original.”

“It’s a chance for us to just let our imaginations go wild,” Trabbic says.

Adds Johnson: “Parker is just a kid who’s learning life, but he [wears his] emotions on his sleeve, and because he’s a cloud, he’s pliable and can transform.”

Middlemost Post's greenlight comes on the heels of recent announcements for Big Nate, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, and a third season of The Casagrandes. The original series exemplifies Nickelodeon’s commitment to bringing fresh innovative content to kids and families around the world.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces 2021-22 Content Slate | Nick Upfront 2021!

Original source: Anime Superhero Forum /@SweetShop209.

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Lee High School Theatre in Huntsville, AL Presents 'The SpongeBob Musical'

Huntsville, AL. - Head down to Bikini Bottom with the Lee High School Theatre for The SpongeBob Musical!

The SpongeBob Musical is an adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. The SHOW features an eclectic score of music, each song having been written by a different musical artist with the purposes of recreating the type of musical hodgepodge exhibited by the original television series.

Featuring Joey Smith as SpongeBob.

The stakes are higher than ever in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!

Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg

Book by Kyle Jarrow

Original Songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I.

And Songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley

Additional Lyrics by Jonathan Coulton

Additional Music by Tom Kitt

Musical Production Conceived by Tina Landau

*This is a streaming event.*

Streaming:

May 6: 7pm

May 7: 7pm

May 8: 2pm and 7pm

Purchase tickets at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/48029

More Nick: Concord Theatricals Acquires Licensing Rights for Nickelodeon's Broadway Hit 'The SpongeBob Musical'!

Original source: Rocket City Mom.

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Nickelodeon Animation Pres Ramsey Naito Named in Gold House’s 2021 Most Influential Asians List

Gold House, the nonprofit collective of Asian and Pacific Islander founders, creative voices and leaders, has unveiled its annual A100 List, honoring the most impactful Asians and Asian American & Pacific Islanders in culture.

Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Naito (pictured above), Vice President Kamala Harris, newly minted multiple Oscar winner Chloé Zhao and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu and director Destin Daniel Cretton are among the names on the list that is revealed every May as part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Honorees span the globe in fields including Activism, Advocacy & Politics, Business & Finance, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Media & Journalism, Sports & Health and Technology & Innovation.

Other big names in the entertainment and media fields to make the list unveiled Monday are Netflix’s Head of Global TV Bela Bajaria, Zoom founder Eric S Yuan, tennis champ Naomi Osaka, CBS News’ White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, Grammy winners H.E.R. and Anderson .Paak and K-pop phenoms Blackpink, actors Riz Ahmed, Auli’i Cravalho, Gemma Chan, Kelly Marie Tran and Olivia Munn, SNL‘s Bowen Yang and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to name a few.

The A100 honorees — individuals who have had the single most impact within their respective industry over the last year — are sourced through a public nomination process driving by other Asian nonprofits and Gold House’s member base, with spots determined by a vote.

The nonprofit, which seeks to elevate Asian voices and their cultural impact on society, is working to reshape public opinion through affirming media portrayals. Bob Iger, Daniel Dae Kim, George Takei (Supah Ninjas), Lea Salonga, Lisa Ling, Michael B. Jordan and Michelle Yeoh served as the judges this year.

Here’s a video that dropped today unveiling the list. Congratulations to all of this year's A100 honorees!

Bing Chen, president and co-founder of Gold House said, “Our leaders can no longer just be great — they must be good. They can’t just represent us in celebration — they must also elevate us when we’re in pain. That’s why this year’s Gold House A100 List spotlights leaders who were excellent in achievement and eminent in activism. This is, in so many ways, the fight for our lives — and we need fighters who see that.”

Simu Liu, star of the upcoming “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and an impact list honoree, said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by my community. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked on a number of definitive projects within the Asian diaspora, and have been a direct benefactor of the efforts of organizations like Gold House. I’m fiercely proud of my Asian American/Canadian heritage, and I’m extremely excited to continue showing the world what it means to be unapologetically Asian.”

He added, “I want an Asian American movie to break a billion dollars at the global box office. But just one is not enough. I want to see more; I want to see seconds, and thirds, and fourths, and fifths. We cannot settle for just ‘firsts.'”

Liu stressed the importance of uplifting BIPOC voices and artists in front of and behind the camera. The actor, who penned a guest column for Variety about AAPI hate crimes, reiterated the need to teach Asian history in classrooms. He said, “We need to raise awareness and help educate the world about the roots of anti-AAPI racism. From the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Internment of Japanese Americans to the Rock Springs massacre and the murder of Vincent Chin, important moments in Asian American history have been completely ignored in classroom curriculums and as a result many Americans (including those who identify as AAPI) simply don’t know about all of the injustices we have faced. When we look at what is happening to our community in the present day in the wake of COVID, the relationship is clear; we have been marginalized and discriminated against for over 150 years, and we must stand together if we are to affect change. Those in the public eye must lead the charge, but also learn to use their platforms to shed a spotlight on activists and community leaders working at a grassroots level.”

Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed said, “It feels great to be part of this list alongside all these incredible people. I’m excited to play my part alongside them in helping to stretch culture and take audiences with us to new places, both as an artist and through my company Lefthanded.”

See the full list below:

Activism, Advocacy & Politics

Andy Kim – U.S. Representative

Cathy Park Hong – Author, “Minor Feelings” finalist for the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Awards

Christine Chen – Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote APIAVote

Connie Wun – PhD Co-Founder, AAPI Women Lead

Cynthia Choi – Manjusha Kulkarni Dr. Russell Jeung – Co-Founders, Stop AAPI Hate

K-Pop Fandom – K-Pop fans who have mass mobilized for social and political activism

Kamala Harris – U.S. Vice President first female, Asian, and Black Vice President

Business & Finance

Alfred Lin – Partner, Sequoia Capital

Amrita Ahuja – Chief Financial Officer, Square

Anne Chow – CEO, AT&T Business

Baiju Bhatt – Co-Founder, Robinhood

Benjamin Ling – Founder & General Partner, Bling Capital

Christine Tsai – CEO and Founding Partner, 500 Startups

Dhivya Suryadevara – Chief Financial Officer, Stripe

Eric Kim & Chi-Hua Chien – Co-Founders, Goodwater Capital

Garry Tan – Managing Partner, Initialized Capital

George Ruan – Co-Founder, Honey – acquired by Paypal in 2020

Kenneth Lin – Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Credit Karma

Manny Maceda – Worldwide Managing Partner, Bain & Company

Maya Chorengel – Co-Managing Partner, The Rise Fund | TPG

Minjae Ormes & Miguel Quiroga – CMO & CEO, Visible

Rick Yang – General Partner, New Enterprise Associates

Wesley Chan – Managing Director, Felicis Ventures

Entertainment

Alice Wu – Writer, Director, Producer

Ally Maki – Actress & Founder of Asian American Girl Club

Anderson .Paak – Grammy Award-winning Artist and 2021 Grammy Nominee

Auli’i Cravalho – Actress

Bao Nguyen – Director

Bela Bajaria – Head of Global TV, Netflix

Blackpink – K-Pop Artists – highest-charting female K-pop act on both Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200

Bowen Yang – Comedian, Writer, & Actor

Caroline Yim – Partner and Co-Head of Hip-Hop/R&B, WME

Chloé Zhao – Director and Writer, “Nomadland” – Oscar-winning director

Christina Oh – Producer

Derek Hsu and Sean Miyashiro- CEO and COO, 88Rising

Destin Daniel Cretton- Director

Eric Wong – President & CMO, Warner Recorded Music

Gemma Chan – Actress

H.E.R. – Grammy Award-winning Artist, Oscar winner.

Ian Alexander – Actor

Jeannie Mai – Emmy-Award Winning Host & Activist

Joji – Musician

Kelly Marie Tran – Actor & Producer

Lee Isaac Chung – Writer & Director

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani – Actors

Olivia Munn – Actress & Activist

Olivia Rodrigo – Singer/Songwriter

Phillip Sun – Co-Founder & Managing Partner, M88

Ramsey Naito- President, Nickelodeon Animation

Riz Ahmed – Actor

Ronny Chieng – Comedian, Actor and Writer

Ryan Kaji – Highest-paid YouTuber at 9-years-old

Saweetie – Rapper/Songwriter, Actress, & Entrepreneur

Simu Liu – Actor, Author, & Activist

Theresa Kang-Lowe – Founder & CEO, Blue Marble Pictures

Vivek J. Tiwary- Producer, Author, and Founder of Tiwary Entertainment Group

Wendy Ong – President, TaP Music

Lifestyle

Andrew Toy – President & Chief Technology Officer, Clover Health

Chetan Pungaliya, Gautam Golwala, Manish Chandra, Tracy Sun – Co-Founders, Poshmark

Christine Ha – Chef, Author, and Restaurateur

Dariush Ajami and Sanjay C. Shah – Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Beyond Meat

Jim Kwik – CEO Kwik Brain & New York Times Best-Selling Author

Joanne Kwong – President, Pearl River Mart

Kruti Patel – Goyal Chief Product Officer, Etsy

Padma Lakshmi – Author, Host, and Executive Producer

Patrick Starr – Beauty Guru, YouTube Personality, & ONE/SIZE Beauty Founder

Satish Mehta and Sumit Singh – CEO and Chief Technology Officer, Chewy.com

Shailesh G. Jejurikar – CEO, P&G Fabric and Home Care

Sonia Syngal – CEO, Gap Inc.

Vincent Kitirattragarn – Founder & CEO, Dang Foods

Media & Journalism

Benny Luo – Founder & CEO, NextShark

Carlo L. Katigbak – President & CEO, ABS-CBN Corporation

CeFaan Kim – Reporter, ABC7NY

Dion Lim – Anchor & Reporter, ABC7 KGO-TV

Helen Lin – Chief Digital Officer, Publicis Groupe

Kimmy Yam – Reporter, NBC Asian America

Michelle Ye Hee Lee – “Reporter, The Washington Post, President, Asian American Journalists Association”

Weijia Jiang – Senior White House Correspondent, CBS News

Sports & Health

Angela Hwang – Group President, Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group

Collin Morikawa – PGA Champion 2020 – One of the youngest PGA Champions in history at age 23

Dave Roberts – Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dr. Shi Zhengli and Yong-Zhen Zhang – Senior Scientist & Professor, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Shanghai Public Health Clinic Center, Adjunct Professor of School of Life Sciences of Fudan University”

Erik Spoelstra – Head Coach, NBA’s Miami Heat

Hisao Kushi and Yony Feng – Co-Founder & Chief Legal Officer, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer

Kim Ng – General Manager, Miami Marlins – first female manager in MLB history

Naomi Osaka – Tennis Champion

Weili Zhang – UFC Strawweight World Champion

Younghoe Koo Kicker – Atlanta Falcons – NFL’s leading scorer following Week 13 and selected to Pro Bowl in 2020

Technology & Innovation

Allen Shim – Chief Financial Officer, Slack

Andy Fang, Stanley Tang, Tony Xu – Co-Founders, Doordash

Anjali Sud – CEO, Vimeo

Deborah Liu – CEO, Ancestry

Eric S. Yuan – Founder & CEO Zoom

Eric Wu – CEO & Co-Founder, Opendoor

Jen Wong – COO, Reddit

Marvin Chow – VP Global Marketing, Google

Melanie Perkins – CEO & Co-Founder, Canva

Miriam Warren and Vivek Patel – “Chief Diversity Officer, Yelp, Chief Product Officer, Yelp”

Nick Tran – Head of Global Marketing, TikTok

Peter Tsai – Creator of N95 Mask

More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces 2021-22 Content Slate | Nick Upfront 2021!

Sources: Deadline, Variety.

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Nickelodeon Greenlights All-New Comedy Series Starring Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High

NICKELODEON GREENLIGHTS ALL-NEW COMEDY SERIES

STARRING TEEN SENSATION ALAYA “THAT GIRL LAY LAY” HIGH

Will Packer Media Set to Produce First Project from Overall Talent Deal

with That Girl Lay Lay

Share it: @Nickelodeon @thatgirllaylay #thatgirllaylay

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.–March 18, 2021–Nickelodeon today announced the greenlight of That Girl Lay Lay (working title), a new comedy series starring teen sensation and hip-hop artist Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High. The series (13 episodes) marks Nickelodeon’s first project under an overall deal with That Girl Lay Lay to develop original multiform programming and music initiatives, and build a cross-category consumer products business. Produced by record-breaking producer Will Packer (Little, Ride Along) and Will Packer Media (Bigger), the series is set to begin production this spring, with a premiere slated for this summer on Nickelodeon.

Created by David A. Arnold (Side Hustle, Fuller House, Bigger), That Girl Lay Lay follows Lay Lay (That Girl Lay Lay), an avatar from a personal affirmation app that magically comes to life, and her best friend Sadie as they navigate life as teenagers and discover who they truly are.

“We’re so excited to have That Girl Lay Lay star in a series that’s just as fierce and funny as she is,” said Zack Olin, Senior Vice President, Live Action. “At its heart, the show David A. Arnold created is about staying true to yourself, and with the immensely talented Will Packer producing, we just know that viewers are going to immediately fall in love with this series.”

“That Girl Lay Lay is a multitalented force of nature destined for mega stardom. I’m so excited about what she represents as a talented African-American girl with her own platform to showcase her unique abilities,” said Will Packer. “David A. Arnold has crafted the right show at the right time and Nickelodeon is the perfect partner.”

In That Girl Lay Lay, phone avatar Lay Lay is the perfect hype girl and best friend that anyone could ever want from their personal affirmation app.  Struggling to make her mark at school and needing a best friend to talk to, Sadie wishes upon a star that Lay Lay was real and could help teach her how to stand out.  When her wish comes true and Lay Lay is magically brought to life, the two friends learn that when they are together, they can accomplish anything.  

In addition to her new comedy series, Nickelodeon’s comprehensive strategy for That Girl Lay Lay includes supporting her music career and an exclusive line of consumer products, with merchandising agreements spanning categories such as fashion, accessories, publishing and more.

That Girl Lay Lay is a social media star and hip-hop prodigy who has taken the world by storm with her infectious energy and sharp rhymes.  She has been writing, producing, rapping and singing since the age of five, and at age 11 became the youngest female rapper to sign a recording deal and create her own imprint, Fresh Rebel Muzik/EMPIRE.  Her music videos garner millions of views, with her smash hits “Mama” and “Supersize XL” having amassed close to 90 million views on YouTube to date between the two.  

That Girl Lay Lay is produced by Will Packer Media (Bigger), with Will Packer (Little, Ride Along) and Carolyn Newman serving as executive producers and Toy Monique Hawkins overseeing.  The series is created and executive produced by David A. Arnold (Side Hustle, Fuller House, Bigger), who also serves as showrunner.  John Beck & Ron Hart (Side Hustle, Fuller House, Liv and Maddie) serve as executive producers.  Production of That Girl Lay Lay for Nickelodeon is overseen by Zack Olin, Senior Vice President, Live Action, and Shauna Phelan, Senior Vice President, Live-Action Scripted Content.

About Will Packer Media

Led by Hollywood producer Will Packer, Will Packer Media is a first-of-its-kind production and branded content company focused on the New American Mainstream audience. In partnership with Discovery, Inc. and Universal Pictures, the company produces episodic scripted and unscripted series across television and digital platforms, compelling content for brand clients, and short-form digital content for millennial audiences. Will Packer’s films have earned more than $1 billion, with ten openings at number one at the box office.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).

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Update (4/21) - Alaya has revealed a first look at the logo of her brand new Nickelodeon show, That Girl Lay Lay on Instagram! According to the script Alaya is holding, one episode will be titled "Out The App":

From Houstonia Magazine:

Nickelodeon’s Next Superstar is a Houstonian

Here’s what you need to know about 13-year-old rapper Alaya “Lay Lay” High.

Image: Nickelodeon/Shutterstock

FROM THE PIONEERING SOUNDS OF Geto Boys and DJ Screw to current superstars like Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion, H-Town has gifted many-a-successful rappers to the world.

These days, it’s 13-year-old rapper and Pearland native Alaya High, better known as Lay Lay, rather, who youngsters are gravitating towards. And they just may be onto something.

Sure, Bayou City rappers of old have their share of Grammys, Gold and Platinum RIAA records—oh, and literally every aspect of Beyoncé’s career—but none, to our knowledge, had a TV show with Nickelodeon. 

That’s right. Earlier this summer, Lay Lay landed an overall deal with the children’s cable network to develop original content, and just a few weeks ago we learned that deal will include her very own show.

“When I first learned about my deal with Nickelodeon, I celebrated with donuts and Welch’s sparkling grape juice,” Lay Lay tells Houstonia, with so much enthusiasm you can’t help but share in her excitement. “I was just really excited because I always loved the shows on Nickelodeon.”

Called That Girl Lay Lay, the 13-episode comedy from Fuller House writer-producer David A. Arnold features our teenage viral sensation as an avatar from a “personal affirmation app” who manifests in the flesh after character Sadie wishes on a shooting star.

“It means a lot to me because I’m happy a bunch of young Black girls get to see another Black girl killing it in the industry,” Lay Lay shares. 

In addition to the show, Lay Lay, who now lives in Atlanta, will also release new merchandise and music through Nickelodeon. But this isn’t her first foray into the music biz.

A rapper through and through, the teenager has been creating music since the age of 5, when her father, rapper Acie High, inspired her to start creating everything from witty freestyles to catchy original songs. In 2018, she made her way onto the big stage when she inked a deal with Empire—becoming the youngest female rapper ever to sign with a label at the age of 11—and dropped her debut project, Tha Cheat Code, later that year.

Soon after, came the love from celebrities like 50 Cent and Mindy Kaling, a viral appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and even an impressive performance on MTV’s Wild ’N Out that left DC Young Fly speechless.

Through all of the fame and high praise from the industry, Lay Lay is a Houstonian at heart.

“I represent Houston in my work by always talking about it, and you can definitely hear the little bit of country in me in a lot of my songs,” Lay Lay says. “Anytime anybody hears me talk they’re like, ‘You’re from the south, aren’t you?’ and I’m like, ‘Yup, H-Town for life.’”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by That Girl Lay Lay (@thatgirllaylay)

And H-Town loves her back.

No, seriously, many Bayou City legends have shown their affection for the up-and-coming star over the years. She recently partnered with “Uncle″ Bun B for a ssong and they filmed the music video outside the popular Turkey Leg Hut, where she was visited by then-Houston Rockets superstar James Harden.

Doesn’t that sound like the most iconically Houston thing that could happen? We can’t disagree.

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From CHRON.:

Houston rapper That Girl Lay Lay to star in new Nickelodeon comedy series

Houston's viral star and rapper That Girl Lay Lay is taking her talents to the big screen. The freestyle rapping sensation will have a new comedy series coming to Nickelodeon.

The self-titled "That Girl Lay Lay" will consist of 13 episodes, according to Peter White at Deadline.

The show was created by David A. Arnold, a writer-producer on Netflix’s "Fuller House." The new series follows Lay Lay, an avatar from an affirmation app that comes to life and helps her best friend Sadie navigate through the world.

"We’re so excited to have That Girl Lay Lay star in a series that's just as fierce and funny as she is. At its heart, the show David A. Arnold created is about staying true to yourself, and with the immensely talented Will Packer producing, we just know that viewers are going to immediately fall in love with this series," Zach Olin, senior vice president at Live Action and Nickelodeon, said in a statement.

Lay Lay is also excited to be moving into television. In a statement, she said that the opportunity is a dream come true and is excited to join the network she grew up watching.

"I have the best fans in the world, and I can’t wait to take them on this journey with me," Lay Lay said.

The new show marks another accomplishment for Lay Lay, who became the youngest female rapper to sign a record deal via her own label, Fresh Rebel Muzik/EMPIRE, at the age of 11. She released her debut album "Tha Cheat Code"  in 2018.

Packer also sang Lay Lay's praises, calling her a "multitalented force of nature" and "destined for mega-stardom."

"I’m so excited about what she represents as a talented African-American girl with her own platform to showcase her unique abilities," Packer said in a statement.

Deadline reports that the show will begin production in the spring to premiere in the summer.

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From Datebook:

Teenage Houston rapper That Girl Lay Lay becomes a multimedia sensation

The viral rapper signed a huge deal with Nickelodeon that includes a sitcom, music and merchandising.

Alaya High — known to her rapidly expanding fan base as rapper That Girl Lay Lay — has seen her image plastered on backpacks, party supplies and hoodies. She has her own line of lip gloss. She’s appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and long-running improv comedy series “Wild ’n Out.”

It’s all been a warmup for Lay Lay’s next act. The Houston native will star in her own Nickelodeon series, “That Girl Lay Lay,” set for a 13-episode summer run. She’ll also perform the theme song. It’s the first part of a larger deal that includes music and merchandise.

“I was just a regular girl, going to school, playing with my friends. Now, I’m very popular. I’m very famous. I can’t even go certain places by myself anymore,” Lay Lay says with a slight Southern drawl.

Oh, to have the confidence of a teenager. Lay Lay turned 14 in January and now lives in Atlanta. But she’s frequently back home.

“I’m very, very happy,” she says. “I’m just a Houston girl who took her dreams and went somewhere with it.”

Though she doesn’t remember it, Lay Lay started rapping at the age of 4. There are grainy YouTube videos of her freestyling about having no food in the refrigerator, vibing to the beat in her head. She recorded her first song at 5.

“I had, like, eight teeth in my mouth,” Lay Lay says. She giggles frequently between questions. “I literally was just rapping off the dome.”

She calls her parents her biggest influences because of their work ethic and positive attitudes. Lay Lay’s father is Acie High of rap duo Aqualeo, who made national headlines after a 2018 airport brawl with Tekashi 6ix9ine. Her mother, Antanique Landry, owns Fenixx Fitness in the Bellaire area.

Lay Lay would accompany her dad to the studio, often for hours, and kept a close watch on what he was doing. She eventually took over the microphone and, at age 11, convinced him to record her freestyling in the car and upload it to social media.

Two weeks later, the clips exploded on Instagram, racking up more than half a million views.

“I was at my friend’s house. We went outside to go play. I came back, and I looked at my phone, and I was like, ‘Why does my phone say 3,000 notifications? I was like, ‘Girl, I’m famous!’” Lay Lay recalls.

She was being reposted by everyone from 50 Cent to the entertainment site The Shade Room. Talk shows came calling. Major label were interested in meetings. Lay Lay eventually ended up at Empire Records, where she could have creative control, among other things.

“A lot of them weren’t trying to pay up. They were just trying to use me for my talent,” Lay Lay says. “I was like, ‘Oh, no, no, no.’”

She released her first album, “The Cheat Code,” in 2017; followed by 2019’s “All the Way Lit Up,” a holiday album; and last year’s “Recess Is Over.” Her music videos earn millions of views, and she’s collaborated with Lil Tr33zy, Young Dolph and Lil Duval. Her latest, with Bun B, called “Rich,” drops next month.

She’d like to work with female rappers but says one has yet to agree to collaborate with her. Maybe they can’t handle that Lay Lay fire.

“I do not know what it is. I hope that changes when I get older,” Lay Lay says. “But once I get to the top, I’m there. They better take it while they can.”

The window is quickly closing. (Megan Thee Stallion, if you’re reading this, here’s your chance.) Lay Lay’s Nickelodeon series is already in production. “That Girl Lay Lay” was created by David A. Arnold, a writer-producer on Netflix’s “Fuller House.” It follows Lay Lay, an avatar from a personal affirmation app that comes to life, and her best friend Sadie as they navigate life as teenagers.

Producer Will Packer, whose credits include “Girls Trip” and “Little,” calls his young star “a multitalented force of nature destined for mega stardom.” And she’s something of a rarity — a Black teenager headlining her own live-action series.

It doesn’t leave much time for hanging out with friends or watching movies at home. But Lay Lay knows all too well the grind doesn’t stop.

“I’m always tired. But I can’t really say, ‘Oh, I wish I could (rest),’ because this is what I wish for,” she says. “I wish I was this popular girl. I wish I was an inspiration for everyone. That’s what I manifested. I said I would do it, and I have it now.”

More Lay Lay

Must-see TV: My favorite show “SpongeBob” is on Nickelodeon. My favorite show “The Loud House” is on Nickelodeon. I used to always say, “I wish I was on Nickelodeon.”

Least favorite school subject: Social studies. They’re always like, “What did the Aztecs do in 1345?” Why do I have to know what they did? I wasn’t there!

H-town forever: “The Houston culture has inspired a lot of things that I do. I definitely learned most of the things I know how to do now from Houston. Bun B, Pimp C, Big Pokey, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion. There’s something in the Houston water, I tell you.”

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More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces 2021-22 Content Slate | Nick Upfront 2021!

Originally published: Thursday, March 18, 2021.

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ViacomCBS Poland Taps First PR

Nick News Brief: ViacomCBS Poland (Polska) has tapped the services of First PR:

From Wirtualnemedia:

ViacomCBS w Polsce współpracuje z First PR

Polski oddział koncernu medialnego ViacomCBS nawiązał współpracę z agencją First PR.

Współpraca obejmuje komunikację w obszarze marek ViacomCBS w Polsce.

- Bardzo się cieszymy z nawiązanej współpracy, gdży First PR należy bez wątpienia do najlepszych agencji PR na polskim rynku, z ogromnym dorobkiem i doświadczeniem nie tylko w branży mediowo-rozrywkowej - mówi nam, Agnieszka Odachowska PR manager ViacomCBS w Polsce.

Agencję wybrano w ramach konkursu ofert na najbliższy rok.

ViacomCBS ma w portfolio takie kanały jak MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Comedy Central Family, CBS Reality, VH1, Paramount Channel.

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Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Poland News and Highlights!