Tia Mowry Stars in the New Netflix Comedy ‘Family Reunion’
Tia Mowry is starring in a very special new Netflix Comedy sitcom, Family Reunion, and it features an all-Black writer’s room. The creator, Meg DeLoatch, has worked as a producer and writer on shows such as Family Matters, Here We Go Again, and Raven’s Home. Here We Go Again had a handful of Black writers, but DeLoatch describes Family Reunion as the largest crew of African-American writers of any project she has worked on.
Family Reunion is about a black family in Atlanta and will star Tia Mowry-Hardrict (Cocoa), Loretta Devine (M’Dear), Richard Roundtree (Jebediah), Anthony Alabi (Moses “Moz” McKellen), Telma Hopkins (Maybelle), and Warren Burke (Daniel). The point of having an all-Black writer’s room is important here because DeLoatch is striving for true authenticity. She wanted to have a sitcom that was relatable, thus having people who are really immersed in the nuances and culture of African-American life in the south is very much necessary. This is unique for American sitcoms. DeLoatch referenced Family Matters as an example, a show that she worked on; it had an all-Black cast but not an all-Black writer team, and the end result was that “it didn’t necessarily have a Black point of view or deal with Black storylines. It was loved, but there was a perception in the community about it not really being a Black show.”
DeLoatch elaborated, “Most of us are, at the most two generations, and a lot of us are one generation away from the south in terms of how we live and there’s great diversity in it. I just really wanted to highlight some of the similarities and common experiences that make somebody start laughing and going, you know, my mom does that all the time!” She got the idea after a real family reunion in Columbus, Georgia, and said that the combined life experience gives the show a special edge in that it “weaves together the tapestry of all our experiences.”
DeLoatch also said that the cast and crew had a blast making the show, partaking in dance breaks like the Electric Slide. “It really became a family behind the scenes. People cried at the taping of the last show, which was filmed in front of a live studio audience. We enjoyed each other and we didn’t want to see it come to an end.”
Family Reunion premiered on July 10th on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.
