On Friday night, Oprah Winfrey hosted a swanky celebration for “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” executive producer and star David Oyelowo at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood.
Photographers lined the driveway of the iconic hotel while a who’s who of Hollywood — including Gayle King, Lupita Nyong’o, Niecy Nash-Betts and the cast of the hit Paramount+ series — posed in front of a black and gold backdrop. Inside the luxurious venue, even more stars — like Macro chief Charles D. King, Yvonne Orji, O-T Fagbenle, Anna Diop, Edwina Findley, Mykelti Williamson, Mo McRae, Eugene Ashe, Deon and Roxanne Taylor — mixed and mingled as the party took over the whole of the bar and pool area on a windy, yet starry night in Los Angeles. The affair felt more like a family reunion than an industry function, with Oyelowo was joined by his wife (and Yoruba Saxon producing partner) Jessica Oyelowo and their children Asher, Zoe and Penuel.
The only wrinkle was that it all could’ve happened at Winfrey’s house.
About a month and a half ago, Oyelowo called Winfrey — his co-star in “The Butler” and “Selma,” turned close friend — to ask a favor. When “Bass Reeves” debuted on Paramount+ on Nov. 5, the SAG-AFTRA strike was still four days away from ending. This meant that Oyelowo (who stars as the legendary lawman who escaped enslavement to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi) and the ensemble cast (including Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Tosin Morohunfola, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley and Shea Whigham) were still marching the picket lines instead of walking the red carpet.
There hadn’t been a proper chance to celebrate, not even to “raise a glass,” Winfrey said, slipping into a version of Oyelowo’s British accent as she recounted the conversation. “Mum O,” Oyelowo had said, using a name that only he (her “son child”) is allowed to call her. “Would it be okay if a few friends came to your house?”
“To my house, did you say?” Winfrey replied. “Actually, I would’ve loved to have you all at my house. But I said, ‘David, nobody wants to drive all the way to Santa Barbara to my house.’” (The crowd disagreed, breaking into cries of “I would’ve.”)
While Winfrey might’ve underestimated the miles guests would be willing drive, she was adamant that Oyelowo not shortchange the achievement. “If you’re going to ‘raise a glass,’ let’s raise lots of glasses,” Winfrey said. “So, we’re all here to raise a few glasses in honor of David, Yoruba Saxon and the vision this man has held for a decade for ‘Bass Reeves.’ It has come to fruition and it is the number one premiering series on Paramount+!”
In a matter of fortuitous timing, the cocktail party was held just hours after Paramount Global reported that the anthology series had become the streamer’s most-watched series premiere globally. According to Nielsen, the first two episodes attracted a collected 7.5 million viewers in its first 7 days across Paramount+ and a special CBS airing on Nov. 12, following an episode of “Yellowstone.” (“Bass Reeves” is executive produced by “Yellowstone” universe titan Taylor Sheridan.)
As the crowd cheered the ratings news, Winfrey concluded her remarks, praising Oyelowo as a “lovely person, lovely human being, such a giving, gracious human being. I am so glad that he is receiving the rewards of his labor.”
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