*Flex Alexander and his wife Shanice return to prime time this weekend with new episodes of their reality show “Flex &Â Shanice.”
The series follows the lives of husband and wife duo, actor/comedian Flex (“One on One”), Grammy-nominated, ’90s pop singer Shanice (“I Love Your Smile”) and their extended family all living together under one roof. Season 1 saw the couple facing the challenges of their 5-year long financial hardship. As the new season begins, they’re both moving forward in their careers.
The show is providing the couple with an opportunity to revitalize their careers and the family is trying to hold it together long enough to capture that one big break that could turn their luck around.
We chatted with Flex and Shanice ahead of the Season 2 premiere and asked them what has been most rewarding so far from doing the show.
“Definitely being able to provide for your family is always number one,” Flex said. “But being able to share our story is the most rewarding.”
Shanice co-signed her husband’s comments, adding “We’re getting so many messages on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and people are saying, ‘Your show blessed me. I’m going through a hard time right now and just watching your show is helping me during my hardest times.’ So that’s more rewarding than anything.”
So viewers have been able to relate to your family and struggle?
“Yeah, I think 90% of this country has gone through what we went through,” Flex explained. “Everybody has a family or someone where they can go to like Big Momma’s house and lean on each other and so I think that’s why people gravitate towards us and the realness we give them.”
What have you learned about each other as you continue to work together on the show?
“I’ve learned that my wife is stronger than she thinks she is,” said Flex. “I’ve seen a major growth in her and it’s great to see her as a business woman, as a mother, as a wife – her voice. I was so used to speaking for her.”
“I’m so shy,” Shanice said. “I used to be terrified to do interviews. I’m coming out of my shell.”
The show is bringing out the best in you?
“Yes, and watching this show I realize how gorgeous my husband is,” Shanice laughed.
In what ways has the show helped you grow as a couple?
“I think we’ve gotten stronger and we’ve looked back and I’m like, ‘Babe, yo, high-five! We got through that!,'” Flex said.
He continued with, “Its allowed me to see the mistakes that I’ve made financially. I feel responsible in the sense that I just thought it was all going to keep flowing. And she’s frugal franny, she’s more practical – and it’s not like we lived crazy but, ya know – you learn. And now it’s like, I know better, so I do better.”
How are you hoping couples will be inspired by your family this season?
“I think last season was like, okay, here’s our issue-here’s what we’re going through, and we’re trying to figure it out,” Flex said. “And I think this season is, hey – we got passed that now we’re showing you where we’re going.”
“I think this season people are going to say, ‘Wow, I remember last season they talked about how they lost their house and this season I see the light at the end of the tunnel now,'” said Shanice. “You see us working on our dreams and I’m in the studio recording and Flex is on stage doing stand up and I think people are going to say, ‘If they can do it, I can get my butt up and do it too!'”
While Shanice is busy in the studio recording new music, Flex told us that he continues at his first love of comedy. He’s also working on a graphic novel called “The Joshua Run.”
“I’m doing a special called The Comedy Underground Series, shooting July 17 in Glendale at the Alex Theater. My dream is to go back home to New York and shoot a comedy special there,” he said.
Season 2 of “Flex & Shanice” premieres tonight, Saturday, July 11 at 10PM ET/PTÂ on OWN. Check out a preview below.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
