Comedy Legend Damon Wayans returns to primetime television with who else, his Wayans family. But this time around, it’s not with his brothers, but his son, Damon Jr.
Damon Wayans Sr was born Sep 4, 1960 in New York City. He is the fourth born out of ten children. Damon followed in the footsteps of his older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans. Keenen made a name for himself in stand-up comedy, first in New York, and then in Hollywood. Damon created his own path in the comedy world by joining the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1985, replacing family friend Eddie Murphy as the “Token Black Guy.” But it was the sketch comedy show “In Living Color”, where his family of comics (now consisting of sister Kim and youngest brothers Shawn and Marlon) would finally come to prominence.
Damon Jr. was born November 18, 1982, the same year his father began his stand-up journey. Damon Jr, like his father followed family as well. Cousin Damien was the first of the second generation of the Wayans family to embark on a career in entertainment and Damon Jr followed.
Damon Sr and Damon Jr will star in the CBS comedy, Poppa’s House. Damon Sr plays who else, Poppa. His character is a recently and happily divorced legendary talk radio host. He is joined by Dr. Ivy Reed, a new female podcaster turned radio co-host to shake things up on air. Wayans family mainstay Essence Atkins plays Dr. Ivy Reed.
Damon Jr’s character is a dreamer whose artistic filmmaking is his true passion. However, he hates his day-to-day job while trying to balance raising two children with his wife, plus, his boss is his father-in-law. Throughout Damon Jr’s hectic life, his father still finds himself occasionally parenting his adult son. Damon Jr’s wife Nina is played by Tetona Jackson and the kids, River Blossom and Ayla Rae Neal. Wendy Raquel Robinson plays mother and ex-wife to Poppa.
Poppa’s House came together as Damon Sr wanted to work on a project with his son. The series is loosely based on their lives.
This is not the first time the father-son duo has worked together. In Damon Sr’s first stand up special on HBO, 1989’s One Night Stand, a young Damon Jr appears briefly in the opening credits. The film Blankman, staring Damon Sr featured Damon Jr as young Kevin Walker, Blankman’s brother. In the television series My Wife and Kids, Damon Jr had a recurring role alongside his father. Showtime’s short-lived sketch series, The Underground was created by Damon Sr and Damon Jr was a featured performer. In recent years, Damon Sr has played who else, dad on a few of Damon Jr’s series. These include ABC’s Happy Endings and CBS’s Happy Together.
Some familiar faces will guest stars on Poppa’s House including Damon Sr’s In Living Color pal Tommy Davidson, and Damon Jr’s New Girl co-star Lamorne Morris. In the writer’s room, it’s like a Wayans family reunion. Kim & Shawn Wayans are joined by another son of Damon Sr, Michael Wayans. Dwayne Wayans Jr (son of the eldest Wayans family sibling) scored the music.
Poppa’s House is a CBS Production. Dean LeRoy, who’s worked with Damon Sr on Major Payne, 413 Hope St,, and My Wife and Kids, is executive producer alongside the two Wayans and Michael Petok. Wayans Jr Two Sakes Entertainment also produces and overseas the project.
Poppa’s House premiers on CBS Monday, October 21st at 8:30PM and streams the next night on Paramount +.
