Brittani Nichols

Last updated
Brittani Nichols
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Education Yale University (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, producer
Years active2012–present
Notable workSuicide Kale (2016)

Brittani Nichols (born June 20, 1988) [1] is an American producer, actress, comedian, and writer. [2] In 2016, Nichols wrote, produced, and starred in the film Suicide Kale, which won the Audience Award for Best U.S. Dramatic Feature at 2016 Outfest. She has written for the television programs A Black Lady Sketch Show , Take My Wife , Strangers , and Drop the Mic. [3] Nichols is a writer and producer for Abbott Elementary and won the Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series award at the 54th NAACP Image Awards for the episode "Student Transfer". [4] [5] As part of the producing team of Abbott Elementary, Nichols was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2023. [6]

Contents

Career

Television and film

Nichols moved to Los Angeles after college and developed the web series Words With Girls (2012), which she later rewrote as a full-length pilot that was produced by Issa Rae and Deniese Davis's initiative ColorCreative.tv. [7] [8] [9] The series centered a group of queer twenty-something roommates in LA and starred Nichols, Corbin Reid, Hannah Hart, Alex Sturman, and Lauren Neal. [9] In 2016, Nichols wrote, produced, and starred in Suicide Kale, a dark comedy with an all queer-woman cast. [10] Nichols stated in an interview that she set out to make a lesbian movie that "wasn’t about coming out, sleeping with a man, or a character death at the end". [11] Both Words with Girls and Suicide Kale draw on Nichols' own experiences as a lesbian, and she has stated repeatedly in interviews that she is committed to increasing LGBTQ and African-American representation in media. [12] Suicide Kale won the Audience Award for Best U.S. Dramatic Feature at Outfest. [3]

She has appeared in several television programs including A Black Lady Sketch Show , Take My Wife , and Transparent . [13] [10] Nichols was a writer for season one of the HBO series A Black Lady Sketch Show . [14] She has also written for Strangers , Drop the Mic, and Take My Wife. [15] She served as Consulting Producer for The Circle and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness .

In 2020, it was announced that Nichols would produce a dramedy, Toothbrush, for Quibi through ColorCreative; however Quibi went out of business before the show was created. [16] [17]

She is a writer and producer for the ABC comedy Abbott Elementary and is represented by CAA. [18] [19] [20]

Other work

In 2016, she released a five-track EP, Brittani Nichols Likes You. [2] Nichols previously co-hosted two podcasts, Brand New Podcast with Ariana Lenarsky, and Hamilton the Podcast with Khalehla Rixon. [21] Nichols also is Writers Guild of America West Captain. [22]

Personal life

Nichols was born in Chicago. [23] After attending Thornwood High School, she attended Yale University, where she played on the women's basketball team and women's rugby team. [24]

She is gay and genderqueer. [25] She supported Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez during the 2022 Los Angeles elections. [26] [27]

Filmography

Acting

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012 Words with GirlsBrittani5 episodes
2013 Unicorn Plan-ItRandom SleeperEpisode: "Across the YOUniverse"
2015 Transparent Nicol3 episodes
2016 Suicide Kale Jasmine RawlingsAlso writer
2016 The Fat OneReeseEpisode: "Not Hungry"
2017 Rad LandsFarmer KnoxEpisode: "Big"
2018 Take My Wife Bethani2 episodes
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Barbecue Daddy #2 / Ex2 episodes

Writer

YearTitleNotes
2012 Words with Girls6 episodes
2015 The Xperiment26 episodes
2016 Suicide Kale Also actress
2017 Drop the Mic 6 episodes
2018 Take My Wife 5 episodes
2018 Strangers Episode: "First Skate"
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show 6 episodes
2022-24 Abbott Elementary 3 episodes

See also

Related Research Articles

Polly Carey Draper is an American actress, writer, producer, and director. Draper has received several awards, including a Writers Guild of America Award (WGA), and is noted for speaking in a "trademark throaty voice." She gained recognition for her starring role in the ABC drama television series Thirtysomething (1987–91).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenni Olson</span> American filmmaker

Jenni Olson is a writer, archivist, historian, consultant, and non-fiction filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. She co-founded the pioneering LGBT website PlanetOut.com. Her two feature-length essay films — The Joy of Life (2005) and The Royal Road (2015) — premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her work as an experimental filmmaker and her expansive personal collection of LGBTQ film prints and memorabilia were acquired in April 2020 by the Harvard Film Archive, and her reflection on the last 30 years of LGBT film history was published as a chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Queer Cinema from Oxford University Press in 2021. In 2020, she was named to the Out Magazine Out 100 list. In 2021, she was recognized with the prestigious Special TEDDY Award at the Berlin Film Festival. She also campaigned to have a barrier erected on the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent suicides.

Autostraddle is a queer and trans-owned online magazine and social network for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, as well as non-binary people and trans people of all genders. The website is a "politically progressive queer feminist media source" that features content covering LGBTQ and feminist news, politics, opinion, culture, arts and entertainment as well as lifestyle content such as DIY crafting, sex, relationships, fashion, food and technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortune Feimster</span> American comedian

Emily Fortune Feimster is an American writer, comedian, and actress. Having made her television debut on NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2010, she starred as Colette on The Mindy Project (2015–2017). In July 2019, she began hosting the hit radio show What a Joke with Papa and Fortune with Tom Papa, interviewing comedians and celebrities, the first live programming on the Sirius XM channel Netflix is a Joke. She played Heather in The L Word: Generation Q, a reboot of The L Word.

Almost Adults is a 2016 Canadian comedy film directed by Sarah Rotella starring Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis. The film is a platonic love story about two lifelong best friends struggling to keep their friendship together as their lives head in different directions. It was written by Adrianna DiLonardo.

Gabby Rivera is an American writer and storyteller. She is the author of the 2016 young adult novel Juliet Takes a Breath, and wrote the 2017–2018 Marvel comic book America, about superhero America Chavez. Her work often addresses issues of identity and representation for people of color and the queer community, within American popular culture. Rivera is Puerto Rican and from the Bronx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinta Brunson</span> American actress, writer, comedian and producer (b. 1989)

Quinta Brunson is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing and starring as second-grade teacher Janine Teagues in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She went on to produce and act in videos for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures.

<i>Suicide Kale</i> 2016 film by Carly Usdin

Suicide Kale is a 2016 American dark comedy film, directed by Carly Usdin and written by Brittani Nichols. The film centers on Jasmine and Penn, a lesbian couple who unexpectedly find a hidden suicide note in the home of their friends Billie and Jordan. The film premiered at the Queer Hippo International LGBT Film Festival in Houston, Texas on April 3, 2016. Usdin won the Audience Award for Best First U.S. Dramatic Feature at 2016 Outfest.

Marie Lyn Bernard, known professionally as Riese Bernard, is an American writer and digital media executive. She is best known as the CEO and co-founder of the lesbian and queer women's interest website Autostraddle. Bernard received a 2017 GLAAD Media Award nomination for her article, “105 Trans Women On American TV: A History and Analysis”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitra Jouhari</span> Iranian-American comedian, actress, and writer

Mitra Jouhari is an Iranian-American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for starring in the television series Three Busy Debras, based on the sketch comedy group she co-founded, and voicing Cleopatra "Cleo" Smith in the second and third seasons of Clone High. Jouhari has written for the television series Big Mouth, High Maintenance, and Miracle Workers.

Carly Usdin is an American director, writer, and producer. Usdin is best known for directing the 2016 film Suicide Kale and co-creating the comic book series Heavy Vinyl with Nina Vakueva. In 2019, they received the Jury Prize for Best Director for the short film Misdirection at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

<i>A Black Lady Sketch Show</i> American sketch comedy series

A Black Lady Sketch Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by Robin Thede for HBO. The show consists of comedy sketches performed by a main cast of Black women, consisting of producer and creator Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Skye Townsend. Alumni cast members include Quinta Brunson, Laci Mosley, and Ashley Nicole Black. The show has featured guest stars such as Issa Rae, Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, Laverne Cox, Nicole Byer, Amber Riley, Miguel, Omarion, Raven-Symoné, Kelly Rowland, Tia Mowry, Tahj Mowry, Gabrielle Union, Kyla Pratt, Wanda Sykes, Yvette Nicole Brown and Patti LaBelle.

Claire Elizabeth Scanlon is an American editor and director. She has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, winning one, for editing work on The Office and The Apprentice. She won an American Cinema Editors Award in 2014 and was nominated in 2016. She has directed for numerous television shows, including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Good Place, Fresh off the Boat, Glow, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She made her directorial debut with the Netflix film Set It Up. Scanlon directed the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt interactive special for Netflix. She also directed the comedy-mystery series Mapleworth Murders for Quibi.

Melanie Field is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Heather Chandler on the reboot series of Heathers, Kaitlin on Florida Girls, Sunrise on You, and Jo Deluca on the Amazon series A League of Their Own.

<i>Dummy</i> (TV series) 2020 American streaming television series

Dummy is an American comedy television series created by Cody Heller that debuted on Quibi on April 20, 2020. The series is based on a real life experience between Heller and her partner Dan Harmon, in which she discovered that he had a sex doll. The series was originally developed as a television pilot, but the script was rewritten as a film and then split into less than 10-minute episodes to fit into the concept of Quibi.

<i>Tender</i> (film) 2020 American film

Tender is a 2020 debut short drama film written and directed by Felicia Pride. It follows two generation X Black women who have to deal with the morning after a one-night stand. The film premiered at 2020 Outfest Fusion and was released online on May 4, 2020.Tender received the Lionsgate/STARZ Short Film Award at the BlackStar Film Festival.

<i>Tahara</i> (film) 2020 American film

Tahara is a 2020 American drama film directed by Olivia Peace and written by Jess Zeidman. It premiered at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival and was released to wide audiences on June 10, 2022. Tahara received awards from Outfest, Newfest, and the Denver International Film Festival.

Kimia Behpoornia is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for her performances in Unicorn Store, Abby's, Reboot, and Abbott Elementary.

References

  1. ↑ "Yale". Yale. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  2. 1 2 "Brittani Nichols Likes You And She's Proving It With Her New EP". Autostraddle. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  3. 1 2 "Outfest Award Winners Revealed as Andrew Ahn's 'Spa Night' Takes Grand Jury Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  4. ↑ "'Abbott Elementary' Writer Brittani Nichols On What To Expect From Tonight's Episode". HuffPost. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  5. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (2023-02-24). "NAACP Image Awards: 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Atlanta,' 'Better Call Saul' Among Night Four's Non-Televised Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2023-07-12). "'Abbott Elementary' Writer-Producer's Reaction To Nomination Spotlights Somber Reality Of Emmy Celebration Amid WGA Strike". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  7. ↑ "Words With Girls: Brittani Nichols is on a Mission with New Pilot" . Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  8. ↑ "Brittani Nichols - 2007-08 - Women's Basketball". Yale University. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  9. 1 2 Bernard, Riese (2014-09-23). ""Words With Girls" Episode One Recap: Pilot This Pilot Into Your Heart This Minute". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  10. 1 2 Nelson, Carrie (2016-10-21). "'Suicide Kale' Is a Hilarious Film About Queerness and Suicidal Feelings". Vice. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  11. ↑ Brown, Keah (2016-10-15). "Lunch with a Side of 'Suicide Kale'". Digital Fashion Magazine | Free Fashion Magazine | Fashion Magazine Online. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  12. ↑ "Q&A: The "Suicide Kale" Cast on Making Film More Inclusive". 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  13. ↑ "Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher on making 'Take My Wife' season 2". The Daily Dot. 2018-06-08. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  14. ↑ "Mini Q+A with Brittani Nichols". GOLD Comedy. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  15. ↑ Harris, Lynn (2019-03-12). "Pro tip from Brittani Nichols: Say no". GOLD Comedy. Archived from the original on 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  16. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2020-09-14). "Issa Rae's ColorCreative to Develop Dramedy Series 'Toothbrush' With Brittani Nichols at Quibi (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  17. ↑ "My worst moment: 'Abbott Elementary' writer Brittani Nichols wishes she knew about the spit bucket". Chicago Tribune. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  18. ↑ "Heartthrob B. Nichols on Writing for Abbott Elementary and the Quest for More Black Queer Stories". Autostraddle. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  19. ↑ Hailu, Selome (2022-11-11). "'Abbott Elementary' Writer Brittani Nichols Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  20. ↑ "'Abbott Elementary' writer on Jacob's crisis, finally letting Sheryl Lee Ralph sing". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  21. ↑ "18 LGBTQ women in entertainment to celebrate this Women's History Month". GLAAD. 2018-03-22. Archived from the original on 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  22. ↑ Rosenbloom, Alli (2023-05-02). "Brittani Nichols, 'Abbott Elementary' writer and WGA captain, says studios are 'running over the workers of this industry'". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  23. ↑ "Comedy Crush: Everything Brittani Nichols Touches Turns to Hilarious". Autostraddle. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  24. ↑ "Yale". Yale. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  25. ↑ "Words With Girls: Brittani Nichols is on a Mission with New Pilot" . Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  26. ↑ @BisHilarious (April 19, 2022). "Eunisses is the shit. A community organizer with policy experience who still lives in the neighborhood she grew up in. She has seen the effects of gentrification and over-policing firsthand. And she grew up in a union household. Couldn't design a better candidate" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ↑ @BisHilarious (February 20, 2022). "I'm hosting a fundraiser for Measure J architect @EunissesH & labor organizer @HugoForCD13 Monday at 7 pm. If you wanna hop on, DM me! You can also DONATE NOW! We gotta defeat the incumbents who together make up an evil sentient jumbo Jenga set" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.