“Poppa’s House,” populated by father and son Wayans

Casting children on a family television show can be a challenge. The actors playing the offspring must be talented enough to make the role work, but not be so different from the adult parents that the children look adopted.

The team behind the new CBS comedy “Poppa’s House” has both a talented actor and someone who looks so much like the person who plays his father that he might actually be related. And they are.

Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. star as father and son in the series, which is scheduled to debut October 21 at 8:30 p.m. It airs weekly this Monday, with episodes available on streaming service Paramount+.

The senior Wayans plays legendary talk radio host and recently divorced Poppa, whose position at work is challenged when a new co-host is hired. When he returns home, Poppa is still caring for his adult son, a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.

It is in parents’ nature to want to help their children. What the elder Wayans have learned over the years is that there is a time to help and a time to let yourself be helped.

“I’m a coach, but I’m also coachable because he can do things that I can’t do. And we kind of play off each other and are on equal footing as we move forward,” says Wayans. “He will have things in his hip pocket to surprise me and make me laugh. And I’ll have stuff in my back pocket that makes him laugh too.

“But as long as we do that, we will win, because the family formula is: You make me laugh and the world will laugh with you.”

Wayans brings decades of experience to the role of a multi-talented actor, comedian, writer and producer. His TV credits range from “In Living Color,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Underground” and “413 Hope Street.” On the big screen, Wayans starred in “Bamboozled,” “Major Payne,” “Blankman” and “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.”

Damon Wayans Jr. is an actor, comedian and writer who made his screen debut in his father’s film Blankman and the sitcom My Wife and Kids, for which he eventually became a staff writer. His big break came when he was cast in Happy Endings and New Girl.

Wayans Jr. sees himself as a very different artist than the one who first collaborated with his father more than two decades ago. He believes the journey he took on projects without his father gave him an education that is invaluable today.

“After that, I did several TV shows. I went and learned a lot. I had my own journey. So when I came back, I came back with a lot more knowledge. I know how to write. I basically gained confidence,” Wayans Jr. said.

Both actors have a common goal that goes beyond making the new TV show as good as possible. Everyone does their best to make the other laugh while filming a scene. Wayans points out that this trust in his son is part of what he has learned on his journey away from family.

The key for both is figuring out how to find the smallest things funny. This could be something as simple as drinking a cup of tea, with one or the other using that moment to make the other break character.

This approach is why Wayans is sure now is the right time for him and his son to star in the same television series.

“I saw the hard work he did. I know he can do it and he’s proven he can do it,” Wayans said. “I don’t know how many shows I have left or if I have the desire to do more, but I would love it if this was the last one I did. I would be very happy because I know it will be great with him. and she and she.”

The two “hers” Wayans is referring to are co-stars Tetona Jackson and Essence Atkins. The show also features more Wayans than the father-son team. Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Michael Wayans are all part of the writing team.

Executive producer Dean Lorey says having all the Wayans on the team created a fun, family atmosphere. This was important because the family element is so important to the structure of the sitcom.

Lorey adds: “We also try to bring things from our real lives into the show. And we have a lot of help from children and grandchildren, from different perspectives.”

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