Let’s talk about Black men, vulnerability and love. When you see black men portrayed on screen in television or film it’s usually a tough guy who’s emotionally unavailable. It’s not often that we see vulnerability and healthy dialogue between black men and women about their feelings and unguarded perspectives about love.
This is why we are so excited about Bounce TV’s newest dramedy series, Johnson. It’s giving us a fresh and honest view of the Black male experience. Centering on four life-long friends in Atlanta, all of whom share the same last name (Johnson), the series revolves around what happens when the four guys find themselves in vastly different places in their lives and it begins to threaten their bond.
The series features D.L. Hughley and spotlight an ensemble cast that includes Deji LaRay (Bosch,Greenleaf), Thomas Q.Jones (P- Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched At Birth, The Rookie), and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First). Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood), Angela Yee (Breakfast Club), Earthquake (Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All-Star Comedy Jam), and Rodney Perry (Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family) are guest stars this season.
Johnson is produced in partnership between Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment and Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones’ Midnight Train Productions, and Reesha L. Archibald serves as one of the executive producers on the series.
Been Worthy sat down with the cast and producers to discuss the series and to dispel some of the myths about Black men and love. Take a look.
Johnson premiered Sunday, August 1st. New episodes will be available on Bounce’s streaming service Brown Sugar on Sundays at 5pm. Visit BrownSugar.com for more info.