YVETTE NICOLE BROWN and MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER Interview
Yvette stars as “Shirley” and Malcolm guest stars as “Andre”
“Asian Population Studies” Airing January 20
Watch COMMUNITY, All New Episodes Thursday, January 20 at 8 PM EST on NBC
January 13, 2011
By Lena Lamoray
THE STUDY GROUP DEBATES WHETHER TO ADD NEW MEMBERS - SHIRLEY REUNITES WITH HER ERRANT EX HUSBAND AND HAS SOME IMPORTANT NEWS - MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER GUEST STARS AND JOHN OLIVER REPRISES HIS ROLE AS PROFESSOR DUNCAN -- Annie (Alison Brie) returns from spring break to find that her crush "Rich" (Greg Cromer “Justified”), the Dr., has enrolled at Greendale Community College, sparking a heated debate about whether to add Rich and/or Senor Chang to the study group. Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) ex-husband Andre (Malcolm Jamal Warner, “True Blue”) is back in the picture and Shirley has some big news for everyone. Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover and Ken Jeong also star.
I spoke with YVETTE NICOLE BROWN and MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER about their roles on COMMUNITY on NBC and they were so amazing, clever and courteous. Yvette is just the sweetest person and she doesn’t take anything for granted. What can I say about Malcolm other than that I got a chance to speak with the one and only, Theo Huxtable. What a delight he was, too. The chemistry between Yvette and Malcolm was so endearing on the phone that I can’t wait to see them interact in the new episode of COMMUNITY. Don’t miss Yvette and Malcolm together in COMMUNITY and of course the incredible JOEL McHALE. Who doesn’t love Joel especially after seeing his pool playing skills and attire, the man is not bashful and way hotter than Ryan Seacrest. Watch COMMUNITY on Thursday nights only on NBC.
Lena Lamoray: This season we got to see Shirley’s wild side so how did it feel to be able to let loose and Malcolm, what did you think of her wild side?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Excuse me. I think some of the most fun I’ve had on set was the day, or the night, that I shot all of the drunk photos. I have never - I don’t drink. It’s nothing against those that do, it’s not that kind of thing, it’s just I am silly enough and crazy enough without it. When I drink it really becomes a whole other story. So it was fun to portray the version of me that the world does not get to see because I don’t drink. And it was really insane. I mean, there was tabletop dancing, there were lampshades involved, it was a whole other...Yes Malcolm. It was a whole other thing. So it was like a flashback to my old days in college. So it was nice to get to revisit that for a second in a safe environment. No animals were harmed, no people were harmed and, you know, it was funny. And people got a kick out of seeing it so it was cool.
Lena Lamoray: Malcolm, what did you think of it?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I thought it was a great character turn. Especially because, you know, you see Shirley so prim and proper, priss and it was, I felt, a brilliant turn to actually see that she’s capable of this wild side. And it kind of makes you understand, see the prim and proper, as probably more of a self-protective...I think it was just a great character revelation.
Lena Lamoray: Now, what is a typical work day like on the set of community and which cast member takes the longest to get ready?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Longest to get ready? I mean, it just seems only right that I say Joel McHale. It’s not true but I just wanted to say that. All of the girls take a really long time just because we’re girls and we like to look pretty. A typical day on the show is like on a Monday we get there at like 5:30 in the morning, the girls do, and like yesterday I didn’t get home until 9:00. So that’s what, 15, 16 hours a day? So that’s usually what the day is. And, you know, if it’s a study room scene we’re probably around that table for like 8 or 9 hours for like a three minute scene. So whenever we see study room on the schedule we all go, oh yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, it’s a long day but it’s a good day because we have a great cast and a great crew so we just have fun as we work. So it’s good.
More Conference Call Interview Highlights:
Q: Yvette, Community’s becoming a growing success. What is it like for you being a part of this series?
Yvette Nicole Brown: You know what, it’s been a great experience. We work so many hours that I don’t know that any of us are aware that it’s become a growing success because all we do is work with each other. But we’re very grateful that when we do get to go to the grocery store that we see people that are very excited about the show. So it’s been a surprise and a blessing.
Q: Now that you know who Shirley’s ex-husband is, what do you think of him and are you pleased?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Yeah, this is my - Malcolm mute the call so you can’t hear what I’m about to say about you. This is like my childhood dream come true. When I was like 13 years old I’m like, I’m going to marry Theo and I’ve essentially married Theo so that’s awesome. And actually I was campaigning for Malcolm to be my ex-husband from the very first day of the show. I’ve always said, if she reconciles with her ex-husband I hope it is Malcolm Jamal Warner and I think the producers and writers got sick of me saying his name. So it’s kind of like, shut up Yvette, we hear you.
Q: Malcolm, you’re playing the ex. How do you feel about that?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, I know - I feel like I owe Yvette a commission check. No, it’s actually been a good time because I watched the show and, you know, all the actors have such a great report off camera that it’s a really cool place to come to work. We’re having a good time.
Yvette Nicole Brown: And he fits right in.. It was like a seamless transition for him to be on set.
Q: So tell me a little bit about the reunion between Andre and Shirley?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I’ll start. You know, there’s been a lot of things that Andre has taken Shirley through that we’ve heard through Shirley’s eyes, really horrible things. And it’s really funny that his resurgence, or his first appearance on the show, it’s almost like Shirley has amnesia. And I think it’s because Shirley, as a character, tries really hard to always paint a perfect picture. So there’s a lot going on between them but I don’t know if in his first appearance you’re going to be able to see the seething underbelly of pain that is coursing between the two of them. How about that, that’s good?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: There you go. You can guarantee that Andre is not necessarily very welcomed by the rest of the gang.
Yvette Nicole Brown: Oh, you felt that? Could you tell by their looks and their little comments when they saw you? Yeah, the rest of the study group is not - they have not forgotten what Andre has done.
Q: One of the things I absolutely love about this show is that Dave Harmon (& Company) they’re so brave when it comes to kind of putting you guys in so many different wacky situations that are, at the same time, very real in between, you know, the zombie infestation and Claymation we saw this Christmas. So, from your perspective, what is the feeling like kind of waking up every morning and thinking, okay, I could be inside a giant blanket or they’re doing some of these other crazy things every episode?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Well, we say every time we - when we talk about the cast members we’re always amazed that we are not just on a sitcom. We’ve been on a film noir set. We’ve been on a cartoon set. Like every - this show has morphed into so many different things, and you get to be a thousand different characters even though you’re playing the same one. So that’s been a great gift. And Malcolm actually said something interesting yesterday about the show. He said, it straddles the line, correct me if I say it incorrectly Malcolm, it straddles the line between brilliant and absurd. So, at some moments it’s totally like a lucid straightforward comedy and then other moments it’s like Bizarro Land. But it kind of works in its craziness. And I think that’s, you know, what is great as an actor to play. Did I say it right Malcolm?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Yeah, that’s right. That’s right.
Yvette Nicole Brown: Good, good. Yeah, so it’s been a great ride for us.
Q: Do you think we could see Andre coming back in some other capacity and how could you see him potentially fitting in with the Greendale kind of landscape long-term?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, we’re definitely going to see him in, at the very least, a few more episodes. So, you know, I think - I mean, what you see is obviously you’ve heard all these despicable things about this guy but here he is really making...And he’s learned some things, he’s really making an honest and genuine attempt at coming back and being a better man than what he has been in the past. So I think a lot of the turmoil and tension we’re going to feel, again, is really from the rest of the gang. You know, Shirley definitely wants to give him another shot but no one else is as easily swayed as of yet.
Yvette Nicole Brown: When you - when they draw in this character he’s done all these horrible things. I think that it was brilliant, they were brilliant, to cast Malcolm because his face instantly rehabilitates the character. Like as soon as he walks on the set it’s like that’s Andre, oh Shirley’s crazy. There’s nothing wrong with Andre. He completely evens out the playing field. No seriously. It evens out the playing field so that he can now appear and now have all of that - the entire audience upset instantly. You know, we’re going to actually, they’re going to actually, give him a chance because he’s embodied by Malcolm. So I think it was a genius casting move and then even if he is, you know, still not that great of a guy it’s not as hard of a blow because it’s coming through him. So I think it was a brilliant casting idea. Not to mention that it was your casting idea.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: It’s importantly brilliant.
Yvette Nicole Brown: You owe me money Malcolm.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I know.
Q: I was wondering what Malcolm thought about coming back to the same timeslot, NBC at 8:00?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: That’s funny. Everybody keeps making a big deal of that. I keep forgetting. I mean, I don’t know what to say. It’s cool. I guess you look at the progress of time, the progression of time, from 20 something years ago to now I think it’s kind of...Personally it’s great to have a career that stands long enough to be able to - you know, 25 years later, come back to a show in the same great timeslot. But to add to that I’m glad I’m coming back to a very funny show.
Q: And how has Community compared to your past experience on half-hour shows?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, I mean, it’s a whole different...You know, its apples and oranges really because it’s a completely different format. You know the half-hours that I’ve been doing have been traditional, four camera, in front of a live audience situation comedy format. So they’re very different. And, again, I think it speaks to the progression of time and the evolution of - or a continual evolving of the sitcoms out there.
Q: Yvette, how the other characters react to her having her ex-husband back in her life?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Well, the person that is the most upset about it is Britta. And I think if anyone watches the show they’re aware that Britta and Shirley - Britta has been Shirley’s greatest supporter as she’s struggled with everything that Andre has done over the last year. And so I think for Britta it’s kind of like, what are you doing? Like, we’ve finally got you to a place where you’re not crying at night and whatever and now he just comes back and it’s okay. So I think Britta’s having the hardest time with it. Everyone else is a little concerned but based on their regular personalities on the show you can pretty much figure out where everybody will fall on that spectrum where I don’t believe Pierce is even aware that Andre is in the room. You know what I mean? It’s like a whole spectrum. So that’s pretty much how they all react.
Q: Malcolm, when you began working with the cast of Community, did you find you fit in seamlessly with them?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Yeah, it kind of - I think it helped to have watched the show and kind of know who the characters are but what was really great was to walk in and just see how great a report everyone had with each other. And I tend to thrive best in those kinds of situations where everybody vibes well. So from the first day everybody was very welcoming and very inclusive in the work process.
Q: Yvette, you guys have such great chemistry as a cast. How do you guys continue to maintain that throughout the seasons?
Yvette Nicole Brown: You know, I think it sounds corny and I think everybody says this but we really do like each other as people. And I think when you like each other you tend to have fun with each other no matter what you’re doing even if it’s 16 hours around a table, in a room. A lot of the stuff that you see on air, a lot of it is a byproduct of the fun that we’re having and we always laugh because a lot of the little jokes that make it on the show, it’s not that we’re not performing for the audience, because we are, but a lot of that stuff comes from ten hours around the table trying to make each other laugh. So once you say the line 50,000 times, now this ones for Danny. You know what I mean? Because I know if I do this one and Danny cracks up then the world will be happy because Danny is - if he finds it funny the world will find it funny. So it gets - I think our silliness kind of translates and that’s what the audience sees hopefully.
Q: And is that why you think people continue to tune in to see Community?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I think so because if anyone’s seen us taking the show on the road like the (Common Conner). Wherever we all go as a group - you’re kind of watching the show live. We’re all pretty much our characters. There’s really - I can’t even pretend anymore that I’m not almost exactly like Shirley. So it’s like all of us - it’s a heightened version of us but we’re all pretty much the same character. So what you see is what you get on screen and off.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: And that’s what’s really funny when you come into that kind of working environment. And like I said, when you watch the show and you’re familiar with who the characters are, it’s almost kind of surreal when you see there’s that same report and there’s that same dynamic offstage, off camera, as well. So kind of like, okay, the writers must hang out with them, you know, because it’s like the writers have to be picking up on what their personal dynamics are.
Yvette Nicole Brown: True there, yeah.
Q: Malcolm, when you were in school did you have any classmates that resembled some of the characters on Community?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: That’s funny. Not that I can say off hand.
Yvette Nicole Brown: And that’s a good thing probably.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: (Probably years ago). Yeah, right. I’m proud to say no.
Q: Can you talk about your character Andre and what fans can expect to see from him?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, we know in the episodes coming up that despite all of the horrific things we’ve heard about Andre we do see that Andre is making a genuine attempt at coming back to the relationship as a good guy. And he’s doing the best he can to make up for all of the horrible things that he’s done. And, of course as we’ve said earlier, Shirley is definitely ready to take him back and ready to give the relationship another shot. Everybody else in the gang isn’t as easily swayed just yet.
Q: Yvette, you mentioned that Malcolm will be returning for a few episodes. Has there been any talk of you and Malcolm doing a duet?
Yvette Nicole Brown: A duet? Because he’s such an amazing musician? I mean, what’s up with that Malcolm. Why haven’t you asked me to sing on any of your wonderful music?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: In due time darling. In due time.
Yvette Nicole Brown: Thank you dear. You know what would be - I’m a huge fan of Miles Long and I think Malcolm is amazing at what he does. I don’t know anything that he does that he’s not amazing at. So, if I was ever asked I would be honored to perform with him. But I haven’t been asked yet so I have to wait in due time.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Wow, that would be dope. I like that...
Yvette Nicole Brown: No, I’m sorry. I’m having my own personal moment about Malcolm. It’s not a (call) for the show but, you know, they always find a way to use our little quirks and talents on the show so my hope is that he will be with us for a long time and that could come up.
Q: I’d love to hear from both of you, about some of your favorite moments from filming these upcoming episodes that we’re about to see.
Yvette Nicole Brown: Okay my - okay, look, I haven’t been very open an honest about my just ridiculous affection for Malcolm as a human being and as an actor. My best times with him have been just the great talks that we’ve had in between takes. I believe that by the time he leaves the show we will have solved every problem in the world. Don’t you feel it Malcolm? We’re really close? We’re really close to (having this thing) completely? I mean we really will have it all figured out and we’re going to draw it up and share it with everybody once we’re done but we really have our heads together on this. So for me that has been the best part for me of having him on set.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: That’s...I would actually really have to agree because I think between shots and between scenes it really seems like Yvette and Malcolm do more relating to each other than Shirley and I do at this point because we have been spending...so much time together. It’s really been awesome. But in terms of - so I would have to agree with you Yvette in terms of the best times are times that we have exchanged dialogue as individuals. But I have to say with regard to the show, I think a lot of my best moments are watching episodes that I’m not in and sitting on my living room couch laughing out loud by myself
Q: Malcolm, I was wondering what did you like most about portraying Andre?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, you know - because I’m, for the most part, typecast as the nice guy. It’s kind of cool being able to come in and play a guy who, even though he’s nice now, you know the horrific things that he’s capable of. So it’s always kind of fun to play someone who’s not necessarily as - whose hands are not necessarily as clean as I’m normally cast as.
Q: Do you have any favorite moment from memory from portraying Andre?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Well, I’m not done yet so we’re just working on, you know, Andre’s second episode now. So I think it’s a little too early to start recollecting.
Q: Yvette, could you speak on how working with the cast of Community has helped to refine your acting skills and hone your comedic (timing)?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I’m glad that you have been honed. I appreciate that, thank you. You never know (till someone) says it. No, this is a well-oiled machine that I’m working with. These people are gifted comedically in every possible way. Like each person has a strength, a physical comedy or Joel’s the smartest guy in the room kind of comedy. And Alison Brie is, I don’t know what she can’t do well. Donald - I mean, everybody is so uniquely gifted in a different type of comedy that just sitting around that table I get to see, oh, that’s a good way to do reactions or that’s a good way to, you know, double take or roll off a chair. Chevy Chase is the one to look for that. Like it would be impossible for me to be around this level of talent and not steal as much as I possible can. So, that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been stealing and honing, thank you.
Q: Who inspired you growing up in terms of people who were working at the entertainment industry when you were younger?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I loved Bea Arthur, Carol Burnett, Betty White, Phylicia Rashad, people like that. I love people that comedically who are grounded. Like Bea Arthur and Phylicia had this thing in common where they could give you a look and comedy would come just from their look. They would walk in a room and before they said anything you knew exactly what Clair Huxtable and Dorothy on Golden Girls was thinking. Now that’s just (grubby talk). So I loved that. And then you had Betty White who can play a nymphomaniac and an innocent and you believe it. And then Carol Burnett is just everything. She is just life to me. So I hope to one day, you know before I leave this earth, to have accomplished something that one of those wonderful women I mentioned have accomplished. And I also love Sandra Bullock and people like that comedically as well. So it kind of runs across the board.
Q: Malcolm, you’ve done acting, you’ve done directing and I’m wondering what you found to be more challenging and rewarding; acting or directing?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: That’s interesting. I definitely have a great passion for both and I think the challenges are definitely different. I think the directing, because your vision goes beyond just one character, you’re looking at the overall picture. There’s definitely a lot more work involved, a lot more preparation involved, a lot more responsibility involved. And I can definitely say that after doing a couple of directing gigs back to back I do love to just be an actor and just have to worry about my character and I can say I’ll be in my trailer when you need me.
Q: Do you have any desire to eventually come back to television full-time either as a serious regular or even a show that might center around you?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Yes. Yes, and there are actually some things I’m kind of working on. Nothing I can actually talk about now but, yeah, I’m very close to doing something pretty much like that.
Q: You said that Shirley is quite keen to get back with Andre, why is that when he’s been so horrible to her?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Okay, Shirley I think is someone that believes when you pick your horse you ride it. You just ride it out whether it wins the race or not you just stay on that horse. And I think that’s also the reason why she’s always been very pro Britta and Jeff getting together. It’s not that she thinks they’re perfect together it’s just that’s the horse he picked, ride your horse. So, I think that was probably a lot of what her frustration was also when Andre left the marriage because I don’t know that Shirley - he cheated on her but I don’t know that Shirley was going anywhere. I think she was thinking of the Christian mindset, for better or for worse, all of that, she believed the vows. So I think that’s what it is. But then, again, they cast Malcolm Jamal Warner, wouldn’t you be keen to get back with him too? I mean, seriously, she’s only human, what can she do?
Q: Malcolm, do you think Andre genuinely wants to change and why?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I think so. I think, to me, my - I’ve not talked to the writers about this but kind of my assumption is the women he left Shirley for, you know, it turned out that that was more of a temporary kind of relationship not something that she could really have some - build something substantial. And I think that there’s a very human aspect of him that knows that he really did mess up a good thing. And I think after, as a guy, you’ve been dogged it kind of wakes you up to look at your own behavior. So I really believe that Andre definitely is back coming from a very genuine place and wanting to do right by Shirley.
Q: In real life, how do you each feel you’re most like Shirley and Andre and how are you most different?
Yvette Nicole Brown: In real life me and Shirley are both Christians and I do call people pumpkin and sweetie. So I think that’s where the main similarities are. I hope I’m not as judgmental as she is. I think that’s where - there’s things that Shirley has said and done in the name of Jesus that has made me go, oh no Shirley. No. So I’m hoping that I’m not that level of, you know, self-righteousness I would say. And I think that we’re both very loving. I think she tries to do things from a (place) of love at all times and, you know, fails miserably most of the time but I think that that is always her goal. So that’s how we’re alike and differ.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: And I think Malcolm and Andre are alike in - I mean, obviously we’re both nice guys. I think that the huge difference is their approach to how they treat women. I am definitely proud to say that, in that regard, Malcolm is 180 degrees different from Andre.
Q: How did you develop the persona and the voice of (Coraleen)?
Yvette Nicole Brown: You know what’s so funny, I have a cold right...Me and Malcolm both actually have colds. That’s why we both sound like men right now. But my natural voice is a little bit higher than this like I do actually sound like a girl usually. But the Shirley high-pitched voice I kind of love her dual nature and I kind of thought because she’s so presentational in nature and she always wants to put out such a pretty picture with her clothing and her hair and everything is always just so, my thought was that this type of women would talk like this and, oh my goodness, what do you think? You know and so, it’s not real. Shirley knows that it’s not real and the audience knows it’s not real because whenever Shirley gets upset you see the sister girl come out. So I don’t think that she’s the high-pitched person or the sister girl. I think it’s somewhere in the middle kind of like me is where she really is. And I’ve talked to the writers about it and we toyed with the idea of at some point having me speak in my own voice maybe when Shirley’s in a place where she feels completely safe because I don’t know that she completely trusts the study group just yet to show who she really is. It’ll be great for me if it comes through an interaction with Andre. It will be great if Andre called her on it or something. So, yeah, my regular voice is somewhere in the middle.
Q: One of my favorite episodes is when Shirley and Annie are both trying to be the badass cops. Are there any more plans for the both of you to have like storylines together, like one-on-one storylines?
Yvette Nicole Brown: You know, that was one of my favorite episodes as well; to shoot and to watch. So far this season we have not had a Shirley/Annie pairing yet. There’s still a few episodes to go and I’m hoping that they do something like that because I have so much fun working...She’s so - she’s just delightful as you guys all know. I’m sure a lot of you have interviewed her or seen her in interviews. She’s so delightful to work with and so silly and fun. So I hope that something like that comes up for us.
Q: Are there any plans also to touch upon Shirley’s (stop) drinking days?
Yvette Nicole Brown: You know what, there was a very long explanation in that episode that got cut for time and, you know, sorry to keep throwing Malcolm’s character under the bus but it stemmed from something that Andre did. But it really was a great explanation. I would give it now but I don’t know if the writers are going to touch on it later and I don’t want to spoil things for you guys. But there was a very real reason how she fell into that. And Shirley doesn’t do anything halfway so that’s why when she becomes a, you know she’s like the one that has the picture saying, if you look this bad, it’s time to leave. So, yes, hopefully we’ll find out a little more about the dark little stretch of time Shirley had after her breakup.
Q: Now that obviously we know that Andre’s going to be in more episodes, do you think there’s a possibility of seeing anything regarding what happened with Chang?
Yvette Nicole Brown: As with our show, everything is always addressed so there will be some scenes and some episodes that deal with it. And Andre’s a part of that. So they’ll be - there’s a couple of episodes coming up you guys will be very excited to see, I think.
Q: Other than watching the show yourself, and Yvette campaigning for you to be on there, was there anything else that attracted you to this role?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I think those are really the two of the main things. Having seen the show and found it a funny show, there definitely was an attraction. And, you know, I was obviously quite flattered and honored that Yvette, you know, wanted me to be on the show, the second job Yvette has gotten me for...
Yvette Nicole Brown: Yeah, I’m thinking about opening an agency just for you Malcolm. You’re my only client.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Yeah, just for me. Just for me. I know, right?
Q: Going back to the big news that Shirley’s going to be sharing. Does that have anything to do with her (possible) pregnancy and how does Andre potentially feel about that?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Well, we don’t know if Shirley’s pregnant or not. Shirley’s had a pregnancy scare. So we don’t yet if she’s pregnant or not. If she is pregnant, I do believe that Andre would have something to do with that. In some way or another I think that he would.
So, we’re going to find out in the next couple of weeks what’s going on and Shirley’s little uterus and if there’s a cause to send cigars or not. So...
Q: We talked about how the study group has reacted to Andre’s appearance, does he have any actual one-on-one interactions with anyone else in the group?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Not as of yet. Well, no, actually in the end of the first scene there’s actually a scene between Andre and Joel’s character. And Andre, you know, does kind of (talk to) that at the end of the day Shirley is indeed pregnant. Whoever’s child it is, Andre is still going to step up to the plate and be a father.
Q: When you guys are both on set, either on Community or something else, do you still get nervous?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I - nervous in the sense of...Let me see...Oh yeah. If I have a big scene and it’s something that like is very dramatic or something or a lot of lines, I can get my self nervous with just about anything. I can get in my car and get nervous about driving so...Yeah, I definitely still get nervous.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I think that’s always still kind of part of the process especially if you are, you know, coming in to a show that’s already established. Sometimes there’s that kind of apprehension in terms of trying to do - finding your place to fit in. And I think, as you mentioned, a lot of times if there’s a big scene where there are a lot of lines or a scene maybe very emotional, nerves come into play quite often.
Yvette Nicole Brown: I had someone say once one of the first (that comes up to me) it was Girlfriends, and one of the actors on there, Golden Brooks said that she sees nervousness as fuel. So you’re not really afraid or nervous you have your energy. That’s your fuel that you use to make that scene great. So instead of saying I’m really nervous, she says, I’m really excited. I’ve got my gas I’m ready to go. So I think that’s the way I use it when it comes up because, like I said, it always comes up and it probably should.
Q: What’s your advice to actors?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I would say know who you are and what you will and won’t do before you begin this industry because this industry can be full of compromise and you’ll find yourself going down a path that maybe you never intended for yourself if you’re not aware of where your boundary lines are. So I would say before you do anything figure out what type of career you want to have, what type of performer you are and what you will and won’t do to bring that to fruition. And I think if you stay in line with that you’ll have a good career.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: Yeah, I think kind of, on some level, kind of in line, my first piece of advice is always to keep your soul intact because this is an industry where a person’s soul tends to be the very first thing that they will compromise.
Yvette Nicole Brown: That’s true. That’s true.
Q: Malcolm, Shirley’s about to make a big announcement, is there any announcement that you’d like to share with us in regards to you and Regina? Is it possible (for marriage)?
Malcolm Jamal Warner: No, unfortunately what - there was a rumor that National Enquirer and Yahoo.com kind of ran away with. But that was something that was basically was very definitively rumored.
Q: Yvette, will you get back into the music industry?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Go back fully, I doubt it because acting’s been really good to me. I do love to sing and I probably should be doing more of it even just for my own enjoyment but a full-fledged like I’m going to be a singer, here’s my album...Music is very personal and it - I feel very vulnerable as a singer. Way more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt as an actor and I feel like if someone doesn’t like my acting performance, that’s fine, they didn’t like the character. But if they don’t like my music it’s almost like they don’t like me. So that feels really, really personal. So, for me to be able to get over my feelings about that enough to be brave enough to present something to the world musically, I don’t know. That’s why I applaud Malcolm for what he’s doing because he’s a great musician and he’s brave enough to give it to the world. Like, that’s the next step. You can be amazing but if you’re not brave enough to give it to the world then, you know, what’s the point? You know? So I’m toying with the idea but I stop short of saying for sure that I would do that.
Q: Did you guys, either of you, make any New Years resolutions?
Yvette Nicole Brown: I didn’t make a resolution but I did decide that I just want to be better in general. So it’s not like I’m going to be better because I’m going to get on my treadmill for an hour a day because we know I’m not going to do that. So that’s not the way. It’s more about just living my life coming from a place of love and happiness and kindness which is what I strive to do anyway. I want to be better at even that. So that was my non-resolution.
Malcolm Jamal Warner: I didn’t necessarily set out to make any resolutions but I have kind of automatically working on being a little better organized and being more balanced within all the areas of my life.
