Interview with Mo’Nique for her new BET talk show, shot at Turner Studios
CREDIT: Ben Rose
Atlanta is home to sitcoms (“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”), dramas (“Vampire Diaries”), cooking shows (“Good Eats”), reality shows (“Real Housewives of Atlanta”) and a well-known worldwide news operation (you know what it is.)
Now, the city is about to welcome a new nightly talk show on BET starring TV actress and comedienne Mo’Nique. She has worked standup, scripted sitcoms (“The Parkers” on the now-defunct UPN network) and reality shows (VH1’s “Charm School”).
This talk show, which debuts tonight at 11 p.m., has already taped more than a dozen boisterous episodes at Turner Studios and will air 150 fresh episodes this coming season.
Mo’Nique, who tends to talk in exclamation points, said she chose Atlanta because of its lively African-American population. “Have you ever been to a taping in Los Angeles?” she asked. “That’s why we chose Atlanta. It’s the unity of the community!”
The first episode tonight, which was taped two weeks earlier, will feature local celebs Steve Harvey and Monica, as well as appearances by Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin and local civil rights legend Xernona Clayton, founder of the Trumpet Awards.
I asked Mo’Nique last week to give us five reasons why the show is worth watching:
1. The set, which features two sizable stages, a live band, opulent chandeliers, a night-time cityscape backdrop and seating for 135 audience members. “We wanted to make the place warm, inviting and comfortable but where you can kick off your shoes. It’s a penthouse, baby! We’re going to party!”
2. Love. “We’re in a place where we need to feel love. We need to have a good time. That’s what this show is.”
3. No judgments. “You won’t hear gossip. We aren’t going to make fun of anybody, except ourselves. It’s a feel-good show. We don’t get off on somebody being bad.”
4. The guests. “This is Black Entertainment Television. We’ll have Queen Latifah. A Parkers reunion. [Jazz singer] Lalah Hathaway. [Actor] Hill Harper. [Actor]. Morris Chestnut. We’re going to have a lot of guests the others shows won’t have.”
5. The Big Girl Dancers. Mo’Nique, who has embraced her larger physique with her TV pageants for plus-sized women, brings in four backup dancers who have a bit of booty to shake. “It’s a brand of mine. It’s how I was introduced on BET [during the 2004 BET Awards] when they did Beyoncé.”
On TV
“The Mo’Nique Show,” BET, 11 p.m. weekdays, starti ng October 5
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
36 comments Add your comment
Al
October 2nd, 2009
4:33 pm
Good luck to you Monique! The trailer for “Precious” looks amazing, so I hope this will be the beginning of an amazing year for you. I only watch BET once a year for the “BET Awards”, but I’ll check out your show next week. Throwing some ATL love your way….
Jaye
October 2nd, 2009
5:28 pm
Rodney, you may want to check the airdate. You said it premieres tonight but radio ads say that it doesn’t start until October 5. I doubt if Monique’s new show would start at the end of the week so I’ll look forward to seeing it on Monday.
Mr. Roc
October 2nd, 2009
9:45 pm
Can’t wait for it! Hope Mo’Nique fairs well with the BET audience. I WILL be watching October 5th.
Name (required)
October 4th, 2009
10:22 am
No idea who she is, but really….do we need another talk show?
Sara Jackson
October 4th, 2009
11:52 am
I have seen many of the tapings, and believe me when I tell you that it is a great show! You don’t want to miss it! Monique is warm, friendly, and beyond funny!
Cynthia
October 4th, 2009
12:06 pm
Best wishes to Mo’Nique on her new talk show. She is very funny and down to earth. Too bad I had to cut back to “basic” cable so no longer have access to BET. Oh well!
cwilli
October 4th, 2009
1:07 pm
Mo I want my tickets!!!!.
Daryl-Atlanta
October 4th, 2009
1:30 pm
Mr. Ho who wrote this article forgot to mention that “Drop Dead Diva” also films here in Atlanta and Peachtree City.
Candy
October 4th, 2009
2:04 pm
Don’t really like Monique. She not funny @ all. And why do she always have something negative to say about women who sizes range from 0 to 10.? Some women are small like that. Just b/c we’re that small we don’t judge (well I don’t judge) women who are on the plus size. But wait, now she is losing weight. LOL. Will she still be judging women who are smaller than she is. Anyway, back to the basic, she just isn’t funny, not at all. Hope I didn’t offend anybody. If I did, get over it.
leegill
October 4th, 2009
2:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Good to see Monique doing her thing. I’m relocationg back to Atlanta next month and will most definitely get tickets to her show!
Dawn Sellers
October 4th, 2009
2:20 pm
She filmed the trailer for the show in my neighborhood, Tributary. Met her and she seemed very nice and down to earth. Hope she does well!
GG
October 4th, 2009
3:03 pm
I am proud of you Monique. Good job, keep on keeping on!
zoe smith
October 4th, 2009
4:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Another fat lady who thinks it is funny to say unkind things about normal sized women. She has “embraced” her super size until now; suddenly there is less of her. Did her advisors suggest that less is more, and fat is out? In any case, that’s just what Atlanta needs, another show by a loud mouthed megalomaniac. Good going!
Dee
October 4th, 2009
9:24 pm
I’ve been to a couple of tapings too! I think she will do well….she will be the black women to have her own talk show late night. Everybody deserves a second chance . I think she has grown and knows it’s better for her to be healthy.0
Dee
October 4th, 2009
9:26 pm
Sorry the first black women!
Atl Resident
October 4th, 2009
11:29 pm
If someone forced me to pick, I would have to watch Mo’nique than that daytime Wendy show.
shilohmecq
October 5th, 2009
12:57 am
If ATL Resident is referring to Wendy Williams I concur. Trashy & sleazy.!! Monique, on the other hand is a REAL Sistah with style, grace, determination, and a wicked sense of humor. The fact that she chooses not to denegrade and judge others to get a laugh sets her apart which will ultimatley insure her show is a success. Break a Big Leg Girlfriend…!!!!!!!
blkshepherd
October 5th, 2009
8:00 am
Funny how tv just repeats it self going through these these different fads. As a child in the sixtes tv was a lot more about entertainment rather than sex and scandal. One thing I did agree with what Mo Nique said, get off on somebody being bad. I concur to that. Theres enough trash on the daily news to read do we Need to be reminded while we are just relaxing wanting to be entertained?
But in reality, do we really Need another talk shop showing women of color with an attitude?
But I guess if I had to choose between Wendy Williams and Mo Nique. guess I will have to choose Ms Parker. If your daughter wants to pattern herself after Ms Williams then I am sorry for you. The womans attitude is a turn off, but I will hand it to her, she does represent many a sister I see on the street. drag queens included. She just gets paid to be ghetto with an attitude, and just be herself no matter how offensive and insulting she can be to others. Way to go Wendy, Paid because of your Attitude, no matter how tacky.LoL.
Marcus Graham
October 5th, 2009
8:49 am
Her skinny jokes are old…nothing wrong with being larger but she needs to preach the risks that come associated with being obese. She often talks about loving yourself and having a good image of ones self but she rarely talks about the health risks! That is very irresponsible behavior in my opinion.
PEACE
October 5th, 2009
9:16 am
I do wish Monique well, but I too have never appreciated how she always seem to put down women with less than plus sizes. That is just as offensive to them as is to calling a plus size woman fat or heavy. All of us have our faults and should embrace the way we are but not at the expense of insulting others.
HPW
October 5th, 2009
9:34 am
Everyone seems so sensitive! Good Monday morning! Mo’Nique is comedienne! That is what they do…why do so many take it personally? Funny is funny and if her platform is picking on smaller people, then so be it. There are smaller comediennes that may pick on the larger one’s…it’s just JOKES! Mo is losing weight because of health reasons and she doesn’t plan to be a size 10. I’m a 6, I’m not offended at all because I realize, she is an ‘actor’, that is what they do! Most of those people’s ‘persona’s’ are completely different when they step off the stage…too many folk think ‘fantasy’ is real life. Wow, that is kind of sad right there…maybe some of you need to find their purpose in life?!
Kar
October 5th, 2009
10:36 am
Never really a fan until I saw her on “Charm School.” Forget Sharon Osborne and Ricki Lake, this lady pulled that show above the standard vh1 cr*pfest. She could take down the worst and then coddle ‘em to tears.
Good luck!
Kar
October 5th, 2009
10:37 am
And be believably sincere the entire time.
BigboomNY
October 5th, 2009
11:00 am
this show appears that it is gonna be real stupid. i never really thought monique was funny.
Marcus Jones
October 5th, 2009
3:06 pm
I love Mo’Nique!!!…in my opinion her show is gonna be a success!…& its so funny how people are so critical of what someone else is doing..NEWSFLASH..look in the mirror people & i guarantee you’ll see something you dont like…so for all u people with the negative comments…FALL BACK & make a difference in something!!!
sheila
October 6th, 2009
12:03 am
The show was awful. She said baby to many times, its just tacky. She looked a mess. Im glad she lost weight, i think it went to her head cause all that so called dancing she was doing.Her makeup was bad her face was like red or pink lookin and her body was lighter. She talk to much and she a fake like the girls said on charm school. She is another wendy williams. Steve looked like he wanted to leave.
victoria
October 6th, 2009
1:25 am
if nebody knew aboutbein on Television w a show that was on a network you would know the person hosting the show has no input on thier makeup PERIOD. the have artists and the producers ETC.. hav the say so in what they want them to look like..Im sure Mo’Nique could care less what her color was the POINT OF IT ALL is that she has made it thus far and is still goin. PEOPLE LIKE U make it hard because you depict EVERYTHING!! Keep it going Mo’Nique a sister from Baltimore..my second home Philly first. So if you arent from the inner city and know whats it like to come out the hood, keep your negative comments to yourself!!!!
baltimorenative
October 6th, 2009
3:22 pm
I hope Mo’Nique show does okay…..but I truly do not think she is funny at all and I also disagree with people saying that she has not used other people to make fun of, after all most of her jokes, when she did stand up, were geared at her family members and friends, even her own children as well as skinny women. I not talking about just general things about them, but very personal things, that the public did not need to know…..now she has kicked her family to the curb after using them to make money and has absolutely nothing to do with them anymore….what kind of person would let fame go to their head like that….and Victoria just FYI Mo’Nique is not from the hood….I am not sure why someone would want to let her host a show, but maybe the network is just hard up for something and would hope her show would catch on….it did not work when she had a radio show so I don’t see much that would make a difference now…maybe she will prove me wrong….good luck Mo’Ni
sonj
October 8th, 2009
9:09 pm
I loved the nikki parker show, but this time it’s a talk show. MO turn the voice down, take a breath & calm down. LUVV U.
Ms Eboni
October 9th, 2009
12:33 am
I’m happy for Monique but I think she is super LOUD in everyone she introduced out to the show. I cringed each time she said “baby” & “shuga”, it was just to loud!! It’s just a little over the top and she needs to tone it down several notches!!
MARGO
October 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
Mo Nique looks fabulous…congrats……good line up, but we have come too far for you to still be saying “You was”…….You can speak correct English and still be themselves.
Kayla
October 14th, 2009
11:55 pm
I’ve always been a Mo’Nique fan, so I made sure I set my DVR to record her new show on BET She looks good and I congratulate her on finally losing weight………but I JUST DON’T LIKE HER SHOW!!! I think the transition from comedian to talk show host is too much for her. Yeah, we all know Mo’Nique’s a VERY LOUD woman, but I just can’t watch her screaming through interviews. It’s almost like she’s unprepared for the interview and she is trying to make up something. It’s just horrible!
I thought the show would grow on me, but honestly I would rather watch the Wendy Williams show. How you doing?
Pamela Jackson
October 16th, 2009
4:37 am
Thank you for this marvelous show, you literally saved my life. I was lying in my bed contemplating sucide, thinking of ways to do it without any expense to my family as I have been a complete idiot and find myself at age 59 completely broke, jobless and on the cuff of being homeless with no hope for the future. When the spirit lead me to watch the recorded Mo’Nique Show. Mo’Nique is so down to earth and reminds us of her beginnings and is so humble and kind to everyone she encounters, it made me think that God didn’t bring me this far to leave me. I still don’t have an idea of what I will be doing in the future but, I know I will have a future. Again, thank you and please don’t change a thing about yourself, God loves you and so do I.
thierry aworet
October 29th, 2009
12:54 am
hi,
i would like to know how to be a guest to monique show .
sally503
November 1st, 2009
11:16 pm
I like monique on the parkers and have seen her on various shows and movies and I’am looking forward to seeing the movie percious,when it airs in my city. I think monique would do a better job as a talk show host by turning down the volume of her voice. It takes away from the format of the show and the guest. Please monique not so loud or you are going to lose viewers.
NH
November 7th, 2009
3:22 pm
What ever happened to common sense and if you dont have anything nice to say dont say anything at all? She’s a comedian–they are just jokes. It’s not personal. And since when does someone’s make up or appearance have anything to do with their ability to do a great job as a talk show host. She has obviously done something right–we’re talking……and a Major network gave her a chance! Congrats Mo-may God continue to be with you.