Mon. May 4, 2026
By Jerry Nunn
The Chi has been shining a light on the South Side of Chicago for many years on TV and now it closes with its final eighth season
It took the brilliance of a queer storyteller named Lena Waithe to create such an impactful television series with real staying power. The show can be streamed on Paramount+ with Showtime and past episodes can be found on several platforms such as Apple TV, Hulu and Prime Video.
The Chi's storyline revolves around events in Chicago with a wide range of characters living in the Windy City. The show has grown from its early roots of crime and murder to celebrating a neighborhood's spirit. Important diversity depicted on The Chi has included the LGBTQ+ community in varying degrees throughout the long run, such as trans actress Jasmine Davis, who played Imani and lesbian Da Brat as LaPorsha.
Celebrity appearances have included rapper Common and songwriter Kandi Burruss, among others. The production not only brought in out-of-town guest stars but it also has joined other shows like The Bear and Chicago franchises Fire, Med and P.D. to create a major hub for filming.
Season eight covered the cold winter and the repercussions of turbulent times.
Now that things are drawing to a close, the cast has time for public appearances to add to their calendars.
On May 3, several ensemble members joined together for a festive brunch at Oak and Honey, 3124 North Broadway in Chicago. The group was pregaming just south of Wrigley Stadium before the Chicago Cubs played the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jason Weaver's hometown is Chicago and he was proudly decked out in Cubbie merchandise at Oak & Honey.
Other attending fashionistas were Birgundi Baker, who plays Keisha Williams, and Hannaha Hall, who portrays Tiffany on The Chi.
Michael V. Epps, who plays Jake Taylor on the series, chatted about making plans for more music in the future and Luke James brought his wife and young child to the savory event that Sunday.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin native, Jacob Latimore calmed his nerves with a mimosa at the popular restaurant before throwing out the first pitch.
He must have brought the team luck as the Cubbies won eight to four after Michael Busch's three-run triple. See The Chi for its eight-year run on Paramount Plus Premium for the last 10 episodes beginning on May 22, 2026.
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