Filed under: Television, Interviews, Celeb Updates
In January, Essence Atkins and Terry Crews are returning to TV as the Kingston-Person family with all new episodes of the TBS comedy series 'Are We There Yet?'
Featuring a couple whose blended family faces the challenges of everyday life, 'Are We There Yet?' will launch with back-to-back episodes Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Produced by Revolution Studios and Ice Cube's Cube Vision, the show follows Crews and Atkins, who play Nick and Suzanne, a couple adjusting to life as newlyweds and the complexities of raising children, while also dealing with the everyday challenges of romance, friendship and the drama of extended family.
Teala Dunn and Coy Stewart co-star as Nick and Suzanne's children, Lindsey and Kevin. Keesha Sharp is Suzanne's best friend and coworker, Gigi, who has a taste for men and the finer things in life. Special guest star Ice Cube will return as Suzanne's brother, Terrence. Recurring characters include Nick's best friend, Martin, played by comedian Christian Finnegan, and Suzanne's mother, Marilyn, played by Telma Hopkins.
The series premiered last June, as part of TBS's enormously popular Wednesday lineup of original sitcoms. It went on to rank among ad-supported cable's Top 10 new series for the quarter, averaging 2.8 million viewers and 1.5 million adults 18 to 49. 'Are We There Yet?' was also the number-one show on television in prime-time delivery of African American adults 18 to 34 and 18 to 49 for the second quarter. After its successful first season, TBS ordered an additional 90 episodes.
BlackVoices.com caught up with Atkins, who previously starred on the UPN sitcom 'Half & Half,' about the new gig.
After doing a few independent films, what's it like to come back to TV in a different role than the ones you've played before?
Essence Atkins: Exactly. Let's clear up the misnomer. We are not movie stars. We are working actors. There's a big difference in the pay scale. You still have bills even if the show ends. You still have that note. You still have that car.
How is the show different from the movie?
EA: The romance has been consummated and you're married. Now the reality sets in. The representatives have left the building and you are stuck with the actual person. I'm a newlywed myself, and these are conversations and issues that we are dealing with in real life. That's the reason the show has legs. That's the reason people can relate to it. It deals with things like credit and ex-husbands and children playing one parent against the other. He wants one child to like what he likes and the kid likes something completely different. It's all of those things.
How's playing a mom?
EA: This is a natural transition. At this point in my life, I'm not a mother yet, but I hope to be someday. I'm in my mid-to-late thirties, so this make sense to me. I didn't have an issue in playing a mother. I'm welcoming and relishing the opportunity.
Not only are you playing a lead in the TV series, but you also had a lead role opposite Elise Neal and Lamman Rucker in the independent film 'N-Secure.' How challenging was that for you?
EA: It was daunting. I was excited and then I was scared. There's a responsibility that comes with the role. You're leading the way on this project. People have put their blood, sweat and tears on this. Julius Lewis, who's the executive producer on this project, raised the money to get it done and put all the pieces in place for two years. He also co-wrote the script, and David Matthews, who was a producer on 'Half & Half', directed the film. I felt and knew that I would be in great hands, but at the same time, there was this overwhelming sense of responsibility. There's a lot of riding on this, not just for me, but for everyone involved.