CNN Picks Up ‘United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell’ For Second Season

RELATED: W. Kamau Bell discusses his CNN series (VIDEO)

CNN has picked up a second season of its unscripted original series United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, the network said Wednesday.

The series, which follows comedian Bell as he uses comedy to start a conversation about race and how our differences unite and divide us, will return for an eight-episodes second season next spring, said network officials.

United Shades of America ranked as the most watched show among adults 25-54 across cable news in its time period and attracted the youngest audience. 

“We are beyond thrilled with the positive response United Shades of America received in its freshman season,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of Talent and content development for CNN Worldwide in a statement. “Kamau has an unparalleled ability to use his natural curiosity and sense of humor to ignite necessary and sometimes tough conversations around race and society in this country.” 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.