I received an all expense paid trip from Disney to attend the #ThorRagnarokEvent. The opinions expressed here are my own and I received no monetary compensation. #TheMayor #ABCTVEvent
While on the #ThorRagnarokEvent press trip, we had the opportunity to screen an episode of “The Mayor” (airs on Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC). It’s hilarious, make sure to tune in on Tuesdays! In this new ABC TV show, young rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall) needs his big break. For years, he’s toiled away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet. Tired of waiting for opportunity, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century: Running for mayor of his hometown in California to generate buzz for his music career. Unfortunately for Courtney, his master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: An election victory. With the help of his mother (Yvette Nicole Brown, “Community”) and friends, including Valentina (“Glee’s” Lea Michele), Courtney will have to overcome his hubris if he wants to transform the struggling city he loves.
We had the privilege of participating in a Q&A session with Bernard David Jones (“Jermaine Leforge”) and Marcel Spears (“T.K. Clifton”) from ABC’s “The Mayor”. It was so much fun to see how much they genuinely loved the show and how excited they were for us to watch it, it was infectious! Their off screen friendship was apparent and they had a lot of love for their castmates. Jones and Spears both see Yvette Nicole Brown as their mentor or on set “big sister”, who advised them to “just be yourself and have a heart for people”. They both praised Brandon Micheal Hall’s leadership and acting abilities. Spears mentioned that Lea Michele is like the sister of the group and that she has “three new brothers that she loves, but also doesn’t know if she wanted”. The on screen chemistry for this cast is apparent and it seems like one big family on the film set!
photo credit: ABC/Paul Hebert
I’m a huge Glee fan and I just adore Lea Michele, so I had to ask if we’d see her musical talents in any of the future episodes. Apparently most of the cast has a musical background, so we might just see Michele using those vocal chords again. Spears stated, “I feel like it’s coming. [We have to first] establish the world and then hit them with the musical. We can’t just jump off with it”. Don’t worry Glee fans, while not a musical, this show is still very musically inclined. In fact, Sub Pop will release music from “The Mayor” with songs that will be available every Friday, preceding each Tuesday night episode throughout the season. Hall is a Juilliard trained actor with incredible musical talent. Crossing my fingers that we’ll see Michele join in on the musical side of the show.
photo credit: ABC/Bob D’Amico
With so many shoes not being appropriate for kids, I appreciate that this show takes a family friendly stance. Jones stated, “It’s definitely a family show and I think that’s what’s important about our show and is special is that you can gather the family together, sit down and watch a show and then maybe discuss some of the issues that are happening”. Spears mentioned how important it was for him to be part of a show “where Black men are lifting each other up and are thriving” instead of constantly seeing images in the media of “people who look like me getting in trouble”. Jones mentioned that a different kind of family dynamic can be seen on this show, with Brown’s character being a sort of “den mother” for the community. Huge props to ABC for thinking outside of the box!
photo credit: ABC/Bob D’Amico
Watch “The Mayor” trailer and make sure to tune in on Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC. You can also catch it on On Demand or on the ABC App. Follow “The Mayor” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information.
