Exclusive: Wanda Sykes, Kim Fields and Mike Epps talk The Upshaws
Premiering on Netflix on Wednesday, May 12 is The Upshaws, the omedy series co-created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes, who serve as executive producers alongside Mike Epps, Page Hurwitz and Niles Kirchner.
The 10-episode series stars Sykes, Mike Epps, Kim Fields, Page Kennedy, Diamond Lyons, Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Jermelle Simon, Gabrielle Dennis, and Journey Christine.
Bennie Upshaw (Mike Epps), the head of a Black working class family in Indianapolis, is a charming, well-intentioned mechanic and lifelong mess just trying his best to step up and care for his family — wife Regina (Kim Fields), their two young daughters (Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Journey Christine) and firstborn son (Jermelle Simon), the teenage son (Diamond Lyons) he fathered with another woman (Gabrielle Dennis) -- and tolerate his sardonic sister-in-law (Wanda Sykes), all without a blueprint for success. But the Upshaws are determined to make it work, and make it to the next level, together.
Last seen in the film Breaking News in Yuba County, and although she’s had a Netflix special (Wanda Sykes: Not Normal) and appeared in guest roles in various shows, this is Sykes’ first non-animated series role since she starred in The New Adventures of Old Christine. For Fields, this is her first series role as a regular since she starred in Living Single with Queen Latifah and Erika Alexander over 20 years. In between that time, she’s done numerous guest roles and directed over 60 episodes on various shows such as Kenan & Kel, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and Tyler Perry's Young Dylan. As for Epps, this is first regular TV role since he starred in the first two seasons of Survivor's Remorse. In speaking with BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales, the trio talked about what motivated them to get back in the sitcom world for a series.
