Hulu & Onyx Collective Unveils Premiere Date for New Comedy Series ‘Deli Boys’ & More

Written by John Edward Betancourt

All Photos from ‘Deli Boys’ & ‘SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)’ Courtesy of Hulu & Onyx Collective.

If there is one particular phrase that’s been spoken often regarding television as of late, it would be that representation matters, and it makes sense as to why we keep hearing that. Simply because television is in the midst of a revolutionary new age for the format, one where new shows continue to crop up on every network and streamer out there and that affords an amazing opportunity. Wherein, people from all walks of life can be properly represented and be seen and heard on the television screen, and slowly but surely… we are starting to see that happen on the small screen, and it’s glorious. Because it is long overdue and important and that’s why the recent announcement from Hulu and Onyx Collective is of note.
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For they recently announced their winter programming lineup, which will indeed aid in representation. Since February 13, will see the debut of SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a fascinating documentary that explores the career of Sly Stone. Not to mention on March 6, Deli Boys, will debut. A new comedy about a pair of brothers who make some wild discoveries when they inherit their late father’s business. All of which offers up original programming that represents African and Pakistani Americans and well, to properly celebrate this news, here are some first look photos from both projects, some rapid-fire details, and a teaser from Sly Lives! for all of you to enjoy, courtesy of Hulu and Onyx Collective.

‘Onyx Collective announces the winter 2025 programming slate for the highly anticipated documentary film “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” and the half-hour comedy series “Deli Boys” from 20th Television.
 

• Original Documentary “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” premieres Thursday, Feb. 13, on Hulu.  
  • From the creatives behind Onyx Collective’s Academy®, BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award-winning documentary “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, producer Joseph Patel and editor Josh Pearson.
  • The film features notable guests such as Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland and Clive Davis. 
  • Additional guests include those closest to Sly, including his band members Jerry Martini, Greg Errico, Larry Graham and Cynthia Robinson and family Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel and Sylvester Stewart Jr., who offer the best insights into Sly’s life by sharing anecdotes from their time together.
  • “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. The film captures the band’s rise, reign and subsequent fadeout while shedding light on the unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.  
  • The film hails from MRC, Network Entertainment Inc., Two One Five Entertainment Inc., RadicalMedia, Stardust Films LLC and ID8 Multimedia, Inc., in association with Sony Music Entertainment.
  • The film is produced by Joseph Patel and Derik Murray (Network Entertainment Inc.) and directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Two One Five Entertainment Inc.).
  • Executive producers are Amit Dey, Brian Gersh (Network Entertainment Inc.), Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Two One Five Entertainment Inc.), Shawn Gee (Two One Five Entertainment Inc.), Zarah Zohlman (Two One Five Entertainment Inc.), Common (Stardust Films LLC), Derek Dudley (ID8 Multimedia, Inc.), Shelby Stone (ID8 Multimedia, Inc.), Ron Weisner, Paul Gertz (Network Entertainment Inc.), Kent Wingerak (Network Entertainment Inc.), Ali Pejman (Network Entertainment Inc.),  Jon Kamen (RadicalMedia) and Dave Sirulnick (RadicalMedia). 
  • As previously announced, “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” has been officially selected to debut its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

• Original Scripted Comedy “Deli Boys” premieres Thursday, March 6, on Hulu. 
  • When their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.
  • The series stars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller and Brian George.
  • The half-hour, 10-episode series was created by Abdullah Saeed and developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver under Jenni Konner Productions. Michelle Nader, who also serves as showrunner, is an executive producer alongside Saeed, Konner and Silver. Nisha Ganatra is executive producer and director on the pilot, with Vali Chandrasekaran also serving as executive producer on the pilot.

 
ABOUT ONYX COLLECTIVE
Onyx Collective is a premium content brand under Disney Entertainment Television, with programming exclusively available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. Onyx Collective curates globally entertaining stories by creators of color and underrepresented voices, all with a culturally specific point of view, including Oscar®-winning documentary film “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” Emmy® Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning documentary “Aftershock,” Emmy Award-winning docuseries “The 1619 Project,” “Reasonable Doubt,” “Black Twitter: A People’s History,” “How to Die Alone,” “Queenie,” and the upcoming series “Deli Boys” and documentary “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius).”
 
The brand’s roster of prolific creators also includes Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media (“Black Panther,” “Judas and the Black Messiah”); Manolo Caro (“The House of Flowers”) and Woo Films; Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) and his production company, Hisako; Jason Kim (“Barry,” “KPOP”); Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Joseph Patel (“Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”); Prentice Penny’s Penny for Your Thoughts; Natasha Rothwell (“Insecure,” “SNL”); Yara Shahidi with her production company, 7th Sun Productions; and Erika Green Swafford and her production company, Chocolate Girl Wonder.
 
Follow @OnyxCollective on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.’

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First Look Photos

Teaser for ‘SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)’