Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones Named Showrunners & Leads Of Bounce TV’s Dramedy Series ‘Johnson’

The Hollywood Reporter is stating that Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones will be the showrunners and stars of Bounce TV’s new dramedy series Johnson.

The show follows life-long best friends — all with the same last name of Johnson — as they navigate love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth.

Along with Jones and Deji LaRay, the cast includes D.L Hughley, Philip Smithey, Derrex Brady, Khalilah Joi, Terri Abney and Rosa Acosta.

Johnson has begun filming in Atlanta, where the show also takes place. The dramedy is set to premiere in the summer of 2021.

Created by LaRay, Johnson is produced by Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, along with LaRay and Jones’ Midnight Train Productions. Along with Jones and LaRay, Cedric the Entertainer and Rhone and Reesha L. Archibald will also executive produce. Knoko Chapple is producer.

"Black people are not monolithic and we as Black men can be very complex. We want to peel back those layers on the show and give women an inside look at why men do and say the things we do," said LaRay. "While our lead characters are specifically speaking from the Black man's point of view, they truly represent all men. Our goal is for men and women to have a better understanding of each other when they watch the show."

Added Jones, "We created this series because we weren’t seeing anything like it on television. Insecure and Sex and the City and other shows capture the beautiful essence of friendship among women, but it’s harder to distill that for men."

Jones, a former NFL running back, has appeared in film and television shows such as Straight Outta Compton, P-Valley, Luke Cage, Shameless, Being Mary Jane, Runaway Island and A Violent Man, which he also executive produced.

Bounce, a broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network that targets African Americans, is owned by Scripps.