CBS has announced the pickup of three new series for the upcoming 2023/24 season, including a Wayans family comedy, Poppa’s House,’ Matlock reboot, and a Good Wife spinoff, Elsbeth.
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The Wayans family comedy was previously titled Poppa’s House, and stars Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. Wayans Sr. plays the role of Poppa, a legendary talk radio host who faces challenges both at work and at home when a new female co-host is hired and his adult son, played by Wayans Jr., still needs his parenting. Essence Atkins plays the female co-host, while Tetona Jackson stars as Poppa’s daughter-in-law. The multi-camera comedy is produced by CBS Studios, with Kevin Hench serving as executive producer and Wayans and Wayans Jr. as co-executive producers.
In addition to the pickups, CBS recently canceled East New York and True Lies, while bringing back S.W.A.T. for a seventh and final season. JumpStart, another comedy pilot starring Terry Crews, was also not picked up by the network. CBS will reveal its full schedule tomorrow, following the cancellation of its traditional New York upfront.
Update from previous news post in March 2023:
Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson have been cast as leads in the upcoming untitled CBS comedy pilot alongside Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., according to Variety. The pilot, which was announced in February, will be directed by Andy Ackerman.
The show will be a multi-cam comedy centered around “Poppa” (played by Wayans), a legendary talk radio host who is happily divorced and parenting his adult son Junior (played by Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer trying to balance his passion and his responsibilities as a father and husband. Atkins will play Dr. Ivy Reed, Poppa’s new co-host, who challenges his point of view. Jackson will portray Junior’s wife, Nina, who is described as loving, real, and detail-oriented.
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Atkins has worked with the Wayans family before, having previously starred in the NBC comedy series “Marlon.” She currently appears in the BET+ series “First Wives Club” and the ABC drama “The Company You Keep,” among other notable TV roles. Jackson most recently appeared in The CW series “Dynasty” and has a recurring role in the ABC comedy “Home Economics.”
The pilot was written by Kevin Hench and Wayans Jr., who will also serve as executive producers alongside Wayans and Ackerman. CBS Studios will produce the show.
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This is one of only two comedy pilots that CBS has ordered this season, with the other being based on the comic strip “JumpStart,” starring Terry Crews.