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a14 people & arts
Thursday 1 december 2022
New frothy TV drama series ‘Riches’ mixes money and blood

By MARK KENNEDY ing her pace and the im-
AP Entertainment Writer portance of turning points.
NEW YORK (AP) — There’s She grew up in London
a new TV drama about the to a family of Nigerian im-
exploits of a stylish, privi- migrants and recalls her
leged and super-success- aunts loving frothy night-
ful fictional family whose time soap operas like
scheming members are at “Dallas” and “Dynasty.”
each others’ throats. They “Riches” shows her keen
make the folks at “Suc- ability to mix laughter and
cession” look almost func- substance. “Nobody walks
tional. “Riches,” which pre- through their life saying,
mieres Dec. 2 on Amazon ‘I’m in a drama’ or ‘I’m in a
Prime Video is set in the comedy.’ You kind of have
corporate suites of a Black- elements of both in every
owned cosmetic giant in day,” she says.
England whose patriarch “Riches” was dreamed up
leaves behind turmoil after and written by Ajayi during
dying in the first episode. As the pandemic, a way for her
the business hangs in the to escape into a gorgeous
balance, his different sets world of couture, bottle ser-
of children collide as they vice at exclusive clubs and
vie for control. sleek ultra-modern offices
“I thought it was a great This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Deborah Ayorinde in a scene from “Riches.” in gleaming skyscrapers.
opportunity to write some- Associated Press “There was a kind of wish
thing that was fun and fulfillment, absolutely,” she
frothy and entertaining, from her father’s first mar- an independence that our experiences. And I just says, laughing. Ajayi, often
but also had a bedrock of riage, both of whom have the British characters don’t feel like that’s something clad in yoga pants during
something more substan- established themselves in have. And so they’re going that might bridge the gap,” lockdown, would surf Mc-
tive to say about Black business in America. But to learn from each other. I she says. Ajayi has created Mansions on British property
ownership, Black ambition their father in his final days think it’s more a seesaw of messy but understandable sites for inspiration. “I defi-
and power structures,” says seemed to trust them more the different experiences roles. “I think it’s good to nitely did start very much
Abby Ajayi, the show’s cre- than his English children which mirror a lot of the ex- explore Black characters from character. I think with
ator and writer. and shockingly leaves the perience I took back in my who are flawed,” she says. this show, what I want is to
The result is an enthrall- empire in their hands. own life with my peers who “Black characters get to be relatable and hook-y for
ing mix of high-end soap That adds a trans-Atlantic move between the States be the cop or the robber, the audience,” she says.
opera and dynastic legal element to the show as and the UK and sometimes but they don’t have any of “You might not have that
backstabbing with social Nina and her brother Simon back to West Africa.” the variation in between.” money, but you have sib-
commentary about every- (Emmanuel Imani) have to It was the portrayal of the Ajayi graduated from Ox- lings, you have stepmoth-
thing from police racism to navigate a hostile set of African diaspora that at- ford University before be- ers, you have mothers you
journalistic discrimination siblings and an angry step- tracted Ayorinde to the ing nurtured by Shonda have relationships and the
and corporate ethics. Deb- mother (Sarah Niles, the script, a way to celebrate Rhimes, working as a writer- complexities of blended
orah Ayorinde, one of its therapist from “Ted Lasso”) some parts of the Black producer on ABC’s “How families.”
stars, has a shortcut when from their dad’s second experience in different cul- to Get Away With Mur- Ajayi says she’s always
she describes it to friends: marriage. They enjoy the tures. der,” the Hulu adaptation been fascinated by fam-
“Beautiful rich people be- good life and had expect- “What I love about it is it of “Four Weddings and a ily businesses, the way in
having badly.” ed to coast with control of respects the differences Funeral” and the Netflix se- which conflicts spill from
Ayorinde plays Nina, one the firm. that we have, but it also ries “Inventing Anna.” She the boardroom to the sit-
of two estranged children “There’s a self-sufficiency, highlights the similarities of credits Rhimes with teach- ting room and visa versa.q

Rolling Stones to release star-

stuffed 2012 live recording

By The Associated Press sey’s Prudential Center. otherwise been available
NEW YORK (AP) — The Roll- That night saw guest ap- to fans until now. It also fea-
ing Stones plan to release pearances by The Black tures some of the band’s
what they’re calling their Keys (“Who Do You greatest hits, including “It’s
“ultimate live greatest hits Love?”), Clark and John Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like
album,” with appearanc- Mayer (“Going Down”), It),” “Honky Tonk Women,”
es by Lady Gaga, Bruce Lady Gaga (“Gimme Shel- “Start Me Up,” “Sympathy
Springsteen, Gary Clark Jr. ter”), Mick Taylor (“Midnight For the Devil” and “(I Can’t
and The Black Keys, early Rambler”) and hometown Get No) Satisfaction.”The
next year. hero Bruce Springsteen 24-track collection will be
“GRRR Live!” contains songs (“Tumbling Dice”). released on Feb. 10 in vinyl, Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones, performs during the band’s
recorded live on Dec. 15, Shown on pay-per-view in CD, DVD, digital and Blu- “No Filter” tour on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit.
2012, at Newark, New Jer- 2012, the concert has not ray formats.q Associated Press