*This weekend, GMC premieres its latest televised gospel play, “Sugar Mommas,” only this play was never a traditional production for live audiences. It was produced by GMC as a play specifically for broadcast – and the network is producing seven more gospel plays set to air throughout 2012.
Terri J. Vaughn, who stars in “Sugar Mommas” alongside Vanessa Williams, is also a co-producer on the project and says that crafting the story as a televised play (as opposed to a traditional made-for-TV film) was a natural fit.
“My first acting job was a touring stage play, one of these gospel type plays,” Vaughn told the Television Critics Association at its annual press tour last week. “And that’s how I got bit by the acting bug, from touring with that play for two years. And maybe that’s why I feel so comfortable with doing them. It feels great. I love bringing comedy and the whole gospel spectrum, too, and be able to bring it into your home now in this way – it’s a beautiful thing.
Premiering Saturday (Jan. 21) at 7 p.m. ET (with encores at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.) “Sugar Mommas” finds the pair playing sisters Sheila (Vaughn) and Lynn (Williams)—two very different individuals who have lived very different lives.
With Sheila widowed and Lynn recently divorced with a daughter in college, both women have time on their hands and decide to start a business together. Having always loved sweets, a bakery seems a natural choice for them, and they invite close friend Tommi (Rachel True) to join them as their specialty pie maker.
The three women’s personalities are as distinct as the cupcake flavors they invent: Lynn is sassy and bold; Sheila is sweet and enduring, often to her own detriment; and Tommi is extremely practical. Together, their story is a celebration of womanhood after 40, the good and the bad, as each learns new lessons about maturing, love and romance, and entrepreneurship.
Also part of the ensemble cast: Lamman Rucker and Grammy nominated gospel artist Vashawn Mitchell, who was Billboard’s No. 1 Gospel Song Artist of 2011. [Click here to go behind the scenes of “Sugar Mommas.”]
In the audio below, Vaughn (with Williams co-signing) explains how the slow erosion of black sitcoms forced her to move into producing.
Sugar Mommas starsTerri J Vaughn, Vanessa Williams on expanding beyond acting by CherieNic
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(yawn)..ok.. let me figure this out.. another popeyes chicken circuit play on TV?.. Depicting three black women with the typical angry black woman’s attitude of which no one wants to be around but other ANGRY BLACK women who hate and bash blackmen.. is this what this play is about? If so.. When are we going to EXPECT more from the black community with regard to entertainment? The message is wrong and its been repeated FAR to LONG in film and plays. Its getting BORING people..WE’VE seen it before and can tell you how the play is going to END. Will not be watching.
Just saw parts of this and so far it was not bad. I’m surprised to see ‘Mona Thorne’ doing this type of work but after she spoke against the CW/UPN thing a few yrs. ago, I guess it’s to be expected.
There are some programs that do deal with life issues and not stereotypes. EBT is trying to get out of that mold and TVOne is enjoyable to most. I never assume that because a show has a Black female cast that it is going to be about old stereotypes. For one, it’s tired and I say this as a woman.
I watched most of this play on GMC and it is NOT a good look for any of the actors. Poor acting, the material is predictable and not interesting at all. I hope this is not the “new sitcom”. If so, TV watchers are doomed. Surely there are more interesting screenplays out there in the world of creativity!