ENSTARZ EXCLUSIVE: The Cast Of ‘Mind Your Business’ Love Each Other: ‘They Don’t Call Me Rolonda, They Call Me Aunty'
Bentley Evans is once again at the helm as executive producer, this time urging everyone to "Mind Your Business."
In the beloved series "Mind Your Business," Rolonda Watts brings to life the resilient Lucille Williams, whose journey unfolds amidst the ups and downs of her treasured establishment, Lucille's Place. Facing challenges head-on, Lucille's brother Henry (Bebe Winans) enlists the help of his twins, Aaliyah (Drew Sidora) and Alfonso (Columbus Short), to breathe new life into the family business.
With Lucille leading the charge and her family by her side, the series explores the intersection of personal and professional life, highlighting the complex dynamics and challenges the Williams family faces.
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In our latest interview, Enstarz had the pleasure of diving deeper into the show with showbiz legend Rolonda Watts. This time, we discussed the challenges on set and the chemistry between castmates, offering new insights into the beloved series and its impact.
(Photo credit: Steven Williams)
Can you share any memorable moments or challenges you faced while filming "Mind Your Business"?
Rolonda credited the writers for their exceptional creation of Lucille, noting her role in bringing the character to life based on the script's direction. Additionally, she praised Bentley Evans for his direction, mentioning that this marks her fifth comedic role under his guidance.
She further noted his skill in ensuring the cast delivers their best performances, working closely with punch-up writers to enhance the script's humor and spontaneity on set.
"I think it's like being on your game, really knowing your character, knowing where those little asides can come from," Rolonda explained. "Like in the last episode, one of my nemeses came to town. I told my brother, 'It's getting dark outside; why don't you take this old bat?' Well, that wasn't in the script. That was just fun stuff we punched up. So, I think really, the challenge is being on your game, knowing your character, what they would say that's not on the script, which only makes the show more funny, spontaneous, and organic."
"But we have a great time," she added. "There are times when you hear the audience laugh, and there are people on the set just laughing because we have such a great time. It's so funny. Listen, working with Bentley and working with Bounce has been a breeze. It's hard work, don't get me twisted. It's hard work. But have there been any issues? I can't say. I think the toughest challenge is being on your game, knowing your character, your comedic timing, and what's appropriate. But yeah, that's it."
How has the chemistry among the cast members contributed to the success of "Mind Your Business"?
"And I gotta say that goes back to, you know, the fish smell from the head. That's what we say," Rolonda explained. "It starts with great casting that Phaedra did. We've got great leadership with Bentley, wonderful writers, the creators, and then executives and publicity doing their marketing."
"The fact that the audience is responding-two million households-is amazing," she continued. "Being on something that America wants to see, I think good family comedy that incorporates family drama, and it's about a family in Chicago. Chicago is going to be another character for us too. There's so much to explore there."
"What has happened is we had such well-developed scripts and characters, but we really liked each other. And like I said, the work is very hard. There are times we're working, you know, like really working," Rolonda noted. "You have to like the people. You don't have to, but it sure helps that we really are like a family. I'm not just saying it; it's for real. They don't even call me Rolonda, they call me Auntie."
"We're on hiatus now, but we still hang out," she added. "We call each other. 'Hey, Auntie, I heard you just got the Silver Circle honor on the Emmys.' 'Hey, Auntie, want to go have some sushi?' We still hang out. We're still a family. I feel like I'm Bebe Winans' sister. Big sister, by the way."
On June 1st, the debut season premiered at 8 pm EST / 7 pm CST on BounceTV.com. Get ready to be delighted by the Williams family's infectious humor and captivating charm!
