'All of Us' blends real-life fiction
Mon Sep 8, 6:51 AM ET Add Entertainment - USA TODAY to My Yahoo!


By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

"Here we go, baby. Energy, everybody, it's gonna be on TV," the executive producer exhorts the cast of UPN's All of Us in a booming voice. "Let's wake it up."

With the actors and crew focused on him, he breaks out in baritone, singing Great Day in Bethlehem. The musical interlude may have been meant to relax everyone before taping. Or maybe he just wanted to sing.

Either way, it's an unorthodox performance for the executive producer of a TV show. Then again, how many executive producers are Will Smith (news)?


The 34-year-old A-list movie star/rapper and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, are the high-profile executive producers of the new comedy about a blended family, a series UPN describes as "inspired by the domestic adventures" of the Smiths.


As Will Smith's charismatic presence illustrates, big stars draw attention even in behind-the-scene roles. The Smiths' involvement means publicity that's likely to juice ratings, but they don't want that to overshadow the series itself. Passion for the concept is the reason Pinkett Smith pitched All of Us (premiering Sept. 16, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT).


"I thought, 'Wow, there's nothing anywhere that reflects anything that deals with divorce, nothing for kids to be able to watch that they could say, 'That's how I feel,' or 'I could relate to that' or 'Thank God, I'm not the only person who feels that way,' " says the actress, who starred in summer's The Matrix Reloaded and returns in The Matrix Revolutions in November.


In All of Us, Robert (Duane Martin), fiancée Tia (Elise Neal (news)) and ex-wife Neesee (LisaRaye) all try to keep the peace in a way that will be best for Robert and Neesee's 5-year-old son, Robert Jr. (Khamani Griffin). In real life, the Smiths and Will Smith's ex-wife, Sheree Zampino, have worked out a cooperative relationship that's in the interest of Will and Sheree's son, Trey.


But that's where the parallels end, says Pinkett Smith, 31, who has a son, 5-year-old Jaden, and daughter, 2-year-old Willow, with Smith and calls Trey, 10, her "bonus son."


"There's nothing in the show that is specific to what we experienced," she says. With Robert a TV entertainment reporter and Tia a teacher, the characters "don't reflect any of us."


The producers have relied on therapists and a focus group to come up with story ideas, she says.


"We would never put our own personal experiences in a TV show. It's too private," Pinkett Smith says.


If the stars' involvement brings people to the show, that's great, saysBetsy Borns, the Smiths' fellow executive producer who has day-to-day responsibility for the show. But she doesn't want them expecting to see the Smiths, because they'll be disappointed.


Although the show may not reflect the Smiths' lives directly, it can be a family affair. On a recent shooting day, Trey and Jaden guest-starred in an episode about Robert Jr.'s birthday party. Except for occasional consultations with his wife or the actors, Will Smith sat in the bleachers with Zampino as Pinkett Smith attended to details, watching scenes on a monitor and talking to actors and crew members.


The Smiths have been more hands-on than many star producers, UPN entertainment president Dawn Ostroff says. Pinkett Smith has been looking at everything from character portrayals to furniture to wardrobes. Her husband has flown in on days off from shooting I, Robot in Vancouver. A video link in Canada lets him watch rehearsals.


"You'll be rehearsing and then a cell phone will ring" with Will Smith calling his wife with a suggestion, says Neal, who appreciates their perspective.


With her own acting schedule, Pinkett Smith won't be able to be on the set every day, but she says she and her husband will be there as much as possible. She already has the show's structure envisioned through the fourth season, although she won't give out details.

For her, it's crucial that All of Us contains some serious and even sad moments that reflect real life. A shift away from that would be a deal breaker, but she says UPN has been supportive.

"There's the balance of the drama and the comedy, of making the story relatable yet keeping it funny," Pinkett Smith says. "It takes a lot more thought than just having to think, 'Oh, we've got to make a funny episode this week.' "

All of us
 

I think I'll check it out. I love Duane Martin. I have followed his career and think he is talented as well as handsome. Lisa Raye and Elise Neal are somewhat suspect, but I figure the plot seems positive and should be supported. Blended families are the norm and from what I can see from the previews it is presented in a positive way so I'll be checking it out.

I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

:confused:
LisaRaye :confused:
Elise Neal :confused: Didn't it seem like there is MORE of her up top? :confused:

Re: I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

I was on the phone but Elise's weave was looking a little OFF!!!
Hmmm Elise -- boob job?!?!?!?

Did not get to thoroughly survey Lisa Raye's acting skills this week.

Re: I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

Soror, she did look like she was plugged into the helium tank for a few minutes too long. . . :eek:

Re: Re: I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

While some people who shall remain nameless was on the phone me and my TiVO recorded the show and LisaRaye can act...they definitely picked the right one for her part because she as the right baby mama 'tude"
Elise.....Hated her and not just because her boobs bigger than mine!!!(Heck, I achieve the same look daily with my Victoria Secrets water wonder bra for half the prices she paid)

Nameless, sorry you missed it:D
Please accept this as the official update from me.

Re: I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

Yep, yep. I was sitting there thinking, I don't remember her being that big on the Hughleys. And, I kept thinking she was going to topple over.

i wasn't too impressed. the script, i thought, was a bit dry. i would have thought that by now, lisaraye would've enrolled in some acting classes or something. maybe by episode 3, they'll be working with something.
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actually, who am i kidding, that show was HORRIBLE!!! it was rather painful to watch. i wanted to cry but didn't because (in my best impersonation of lisaraye in the wood..)"i paid too much for this DAYum MAKEup

Ok, Soror, I really have to co-sign on this. I wasn't feeling it at all, but I will give it chance to grow on me. I was the first one that didn't like My Wife and Kids, and now that show has really grown on me. I didn't notice the new look that Elise had, but I will be watching for them next week.

What I didn't like about LisaRaye were the clothes they were putting her in, I just really wasn't feeling them at all.

I'm not feeling Elise Neal. I mean she JUST got off of the Hughleys. Why wasn't another actress chosen? I'm still thinking she is going to say "Darryl.....". Then I'm waiting to see DL and the kids and the neighbors and Overton. :confused:

I was not feeling her from the get go. Her voice is too whiny.

As I read these postings, I am so glad that I didn't watch it. I am not a Jada fan, or a LisaRaye fan, or an Elise Neal fan, or a Duane Martin fan . . . I guess I won't be watching the show. http://www.1-2-3-gaestebuch.de/smilies/179.gif

Re: Re: Re: I didn't pay too much attention, but....
 

Yeah, she surely has the "baby momma 'tude". The pilot was a bit dry, but at least they laid the foundation for the premise of the show.

I'll give this show the benefit of the doubt b/c I really like Duane Martin. Now both he and wife Tisha have tv shows. :)

i slept on it and now i have MORE to say...
 

i thought the outfits were rather fly, but to say she had just dropped her son off at school, the 'fits were a tad inappropriate to me.

also, before this show, i thought elise neal and duane mar tin were decent actors but it appears that this show has sucked the talent out of them.

and who is the broke-down chris rock character? or the new millenium white hired hand (a la sean on martin)?

also, how old is this kid? 3 or 4 years old? i'm asking because he was able to understand his father say "let's get the basic structure then work out the details later?"

Re: i slept on it and now i have MORE to say...
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MeezDiscreet
i thought the outfits were rather fly, but to say she had just dropped her son off at school, the 'fits were a tad inappropriate to me.

This is what is was, it wasn't that I didn't like the clothes....it was I thought they were a bit inappropriate for what she was wearing them to..i.e. dropping the son off at school


also, how old is this kid? 3 or 4 years old? i'm asking because he was able to understand his father say "let's get the basic structure then work out the details later?"

Ok, good I wasn't the only one. When Duane said this, I was like you mean to tell me that this kid understands what he just said....

and who is the broke-down chris rock character?

Chris Rock's brother Tony Rock. :)