OWN will air this summer a new documentary series from Essence magazine that looks at Black America over the past 50 years. 

The five-part series, Time of Essence, will explore a different decade from the 1970s through today and show how the magazine has informed and reflected Black culture through first-hand commentary from the icons, trailblazers, Essence staffers and leaders who lived and defined them, said the network.

The documentary will feature such celebrities as Regina Hall, Halle Berry, Whoopi Goldberg, Taye Diggs and Sheryl Lee Ralph, as well as longtime Essence Editor and Chief Susan L. Taylor and current Essence magazine editor Mikki Taylor. 

“In 1970, Essence recognized that Black women’s contributions to society were being undervalued, and set a new standard as the first publications to reflect Black womanhood, affirming her strength, style and achievements and provoking industry reform and change," OWN President Tina Perry said. “This series will be a testament to what Essence has been historically and how it continues to shape the culture at large today.”

Time of Essence is executive produced by Christian Sarabia and Nicole Elliott, Raymond Garcia, Emmet Dennis, Sidra Smith, Stephanie “NöNe'' Dunivan and Barkue Tubman-Zawolo.■ 

Actress Halle Berry and Lena Waithe will serve as executive producers for BET’s new original series Boomerang, the network announced Monday.

The series, based on the 1992 American romantic comedy film of the same name, starred Berry, Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens as high-powered advertising executives. The series will follow the offspring of the movie’s main characters as they look the step out of their parents’ shadows and make a legacy of their own, according to network officials.

The 10-episode series will premiere in 2019 on BET, with Berry, Waithe, Rishi Rajani and Ben Cory Jones serving as executive producers.

“Partnering an icon such as Halle with a disruptor like Lena is a perfect blend for the creation of a project that tells a classic tale in a relevant voice,” said Scott Mills, President, BET Networks in a statement. “This partnership demonstrates BET’s commitment to the continued elevation of the brand, collective creativity and authentic storytelling.”