Ice Cube Turns Are We There Yet Into TV Sitcom

Westcoast hip-hop legend Ice Cube has partnered with TBS to premier the TV version of Are We There Yet?

TBS secured the 10 episode contract after a bidding war with USA and BET. The network also retains the option to order 90 more episodes. Ali LeRoi, writer of the acclaimed Everybody Hates Chris sitcom, will handle scripting duties. Executive producer credits are split between Cube, LeRoi, and Matt Alvarez. Debmar-Mercury, which backs the Tyle Perry sitcoms (House of Payne, Meet the Browns), will distribute the series.

“When we set out to expand on the television model that Tyler Perry has turned into a runaway success at TBS, we knew we had to be in business with Ice Cube,” explained Debmar-Mercury representative Mort Marcus.

Although Cube has confirmed that he’ll make sporadic appearances on the show, it won’t be in his movie role as Nick, the protagonist father from the films. Replacing him will be Terry Crew, who received kudos from critics and fans for his breakout role as the father on Everybody Hates Chris.

“Terry Crews is the perfect person to replace me as Nick,” Ice Cube disclosed in a statement. “His physical comedy is undeniable and no one runs a show like Ali. We are dedicated to creating a new template for family comedy.”

The first 2005 installment of Are We There Yet? grossed $82 million in theaters. The new show will mark the third movie to TV adaption for partners Matt Alvarez and Ice Cube, following Barbershop: The Series and the animated version of Friday. At press time, TBS’ Are We There Yet is slated to launch in June 2010.

Additionally, Ice Cube is preparing for the release of the comedic film Janky Promoters, which also stars Mike Epps and Young Jeezy.

Ice Cube To Produce Televison Sitcom

Westside hoo-rider, rapper Ice Cube, who once urged N.W.A. fans to "F--- Tha Police," is now set to create a cop comedy show on series for the NBC television network. The hip-hop star-turned-actor has been hired to write and produce the sitcom.

Studio chairman Ben Silverman confirms the network aggressively pursued the star to fill the role - and hopes he will make a cameo appearance on his own show.

Silverman says: "As we continue to expand our roster of diverse talent both on camera and behind the camera, a guy like Ice Cube, who's multi-talented, is someone we really wanted to be in business with. He's had an amazing career, to have gone from (hip-hop group) N.W.A. to this. We really want to capture his voice and his eye for talent, and his producing acumen. If he appeared in the pilot or series, we'd be really excited about that."