O’Brien, Ice-T to host murder probe special on Biggie-Tupac
Discovery OK’s NYPD detective series
LOS ANGELES, Aug 26, (RTRS): Soledad O’Brien and Ice-T are set to host an investigative special for Fox that will explore the deaths of legendary rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, the network announced Friday.
Titled “Who Shot Biggie & Tupac?,” the two-hour special will explore the details surrounding the cases of the rap rivals and former friends who were gunned down within months of each other in the late 1990s. Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 13, 1996. Smalls, born Christopher George Latore Wallace, was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. It has been 20 years since their murders, and no one has been held accountable.
The special, produced by “The Case Of: JonBenet Ramsey” producers Critical Content, will lead viewers through an investigation re-examining the homicides by uncovering new details and revealing never-before-heard accounts. The special will feature interviews with former private investigators, police officers, informants and hip-hop insiders, including Doug E Fresh, Funkmaster Flex and former Death Row Records executive Suge Knight. For the first time ever, the best friends of Tupac and Biggie — Lil’ Cease and E.D.I. Mean — will reunite on camera to talk about the friendship between the two rappers, their untimely deaths and the East Coast/West Coast fallout. Additionally, an exclusive, never-before-released audio recording of Biggie talking about the shooting of Tupac will be unveiled. It is set to air on Sept 24 at 8 pm ET/PT on Fox.
The special is produced by Critical Content. Tom Forman, Ice-T, O’Brien, David Metzler, Jon Beyer, Brad Bishop and Jorge Hinojosa will serve as executive producers.
This is the latest recent TV project to explore the lives and deaths of Smalls and Shakur. A&E is set to air “Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G.” in September. Meanwhile, USA Network is prepping “Unsolved,” a scripted true crime series that is based on the experiences of former LAPD Detective Greg Kading, who led multiple law-enforcement task forces investigating the murders. In addition, Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker are currently attached to star in the film “LAbyrinth,” which will also follow the police investigations.
The Discovery Channel is set to air a new docu-series about a highly-renowned NYPD detective, Variety has learned exclusively.
Titled “Street Justice: The Bronx,” the series will tell the true story of Ralph Friedman, the most decorated detective in NYPD history with over 2,000 arrests to his name. Friedman began his police career in the 41st Precinct during the turbulent 1970’s. He was promoted to detective after five years on the job and extraordinary career has been commemorated with 219 awards, including the departments second-highest honor: The Police Combat Cross.
New York City’s infamous 41st precinct, dubbed “Ft Apache” was home to every type of violent crime imaginable during the city’s most violent years. From seemingly unsolvable murder cases, to undercover busts and deadly shootouts in broad daylight, Detective Friedman was involved in some of the most intense, life threatening cases ever seen on the streets of New York. From an illegal weapons sting that devolved into a deadly shootout, to a manhunt for a ruthless serial rapist targeting women in Williamsbridge, Friedman repeatedly put his life on the line to bring justice to The Bronx. The series is produced for Discovery by Jupiter Entertainment. Todd Moss and Erich Sturm serve as executive producers for Jupiter Entertainment. For Discovery Channel, Matthew Vafiadis will executive produce. For Investigation Discovery, the executive producer is Thomas Cutler.
Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees, the Oscar-winning makers of “Amy,” are to make a new three-part documentary series for the BBC about the investigation into one of Britain’s most famous murder cases, the killing of teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. The commission was announced Thursday by Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, at the Edinburgh Intl. Television Festival.
“The Stephen Lawrence Story” (working title) will be directed by James Rogan and produced by On the Corner Films. Gay-Rees and Kapadia serve as executive producers, with Victoria Musguin-Rowe as series producer.
The series for flagship channel BBC One will examine the racially motivated murder of 18-year-old Lawrence in April 1993, the killing’s aftermath, investigation and ramifications.