ENSTARZ EXCLUSIVE: 'Mind Your Business' Rolonda Watts Talks How The Series Uplifts The Black Family And Hilarious Moment On Set
Don't "mind your business" when it comes to Bounce's new hit series Mind Your Business!
The star-studded series "follows Lucille Williams whose once-thriving 30s-and-older lounge, Lucille's Place, faced a downturn and was nearly lost" until Lucille's brother "rallied his fraternal twins to keep the business in the family."
Legendary actress Rolonda Watts embodies the resilient Lucille Williams, whose journey unfolds amid the highs and lows of her cherished establishment. With Lucille at the helm and her family by her side, the series delves deep into the intersection of personal and professional relationships, showcasing the intricate dynamics and challenges the Williams family navigates.
Watts' portrayal of Lucille brings both depth and authenticity to the character, offering viewers a glimpse into the complexities of entrepreneurship and the Black family.
ENSTARZ caught up with Watts as she revealed her most embarrassing moment on set, her favorite Black sitcoms, and more.
ENSTARZ: What's the craziest or most embarrassing moment on set of Mind Your Business?
Rolonda Watts: "Well, my embarrassing moment! I was about to shoot a scene, and all of a sudden they go, 'Stop!' The makeup artist runs over with a bottle of lotion. Columbus Short is over there saying, 'Go put some lotion on her heels. Them ashy heels!' Columbus was like, 'Aunty, how are you walking out there with ashy skin!?' "
"I thought I would scream! And I have kept that lotion in my purse. I looked at my feet all the time. I thought, 'Ain't nobody gon see that.' Columbus was back there, he said, 'Uh-uh, no makeup! Aunty needs some ash stuff!' Black aunties always say, 'Don't go out there with that ashy skin!' And I should have known better. So that was kind of embarrassing for me."
ENSTARZ: What are your top three must-watch Black family sitcoms?
Rolonda Watts: "Well, 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' was a great one. 'The Cosby Show' — say what you want about Cosby, but the show was great. 'Family Matters,' and then you've got 'The Upshaws,' but there's none like 'Mind Your Business,' the Williams Family."
"But I do think that — Columbus [Short] said it best. He said that our show is like an ode to the Black family comedy that we want to see come back. It's delightful to see a Black family with a mom, aunties, and everybody together, whether they always get along or not. They know who they are, who the Williams are. I think that's important to see."
"What has also touched me so much about this piece is how often people apologize and say, 'I was wrong, I overstepped my bounds.' Lucille was always overstepping her boundaries, but one thing I like about the character and the show is there's a point of come to Jesus where I say, 'I made a mistake, I'm sorry, and I love you.' "
"In my own family, we don't apologize or talk about anything — we just talk about each other and go on about our business. I think there's something to learn from that. We have people and families that don't speak to each other anymore, or they don't know how to say, 'I'm sorry' or 'I made a mistake.' I hope our show — as crazy as it gets — also brings value to those relationships."
Mind Your Business premiered on June 1st on Bounce TV. New episodes premiere on Saturdays.
