[videowaywire video_id=”PCYPB108RV3JMN9C”]
*Part of last night’s Randall-focused episode of “This is Us” took place on the campus of Howard University, with the Pearsons’ adopted African American son choosing to visit the historically black college over one of his other choices, Harvard.
The episode, titled Number Three, focused in part on teen Randall’s struggle to reconcile his upbringing in an all white environment with his desire to connect with his blackness.
Randall looks so happy and we’re like ???. #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/arHSvul0FN
— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) November 29, 2017
Is anybody yelling “HU-YOU KNOW” while still intently watching @NBCThisisUs #ThisIsUs #HowardU? ??
— Howard University (@HowardU) November 29, 2017
Sterling K. Brown, who plays the adult Randall, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about his personal connection with last night’s fall finale, and what to expect when the show returns from its winter hiatus in January.
THR: In the episode, teen Randall visits Howard University and seems to find a place where he belongs for the first time. What does that mean for Randall in all eras of his life?
BROWN: Susan Kelechi [who plays Randall’s wife] actually attended Howard University, so she was very excited to see her alma mater portrayed on our show. Howard University was one of the schools that I applied to when I was going to college and I remember visiting the campus. I remember it like yesterday, and so Niles [Fitch, who plays teen Randall] did something in the episode when he saw a young lady walk by and his jaw literally slammed to the ground. I went to St. Louis Country Day High School … where I was one of the handful of black dudes in class. I remember thinking I didn’t want to duplicate that high school experience in college, I wanted something different and I was yearning to be surrounded by more faces that looked like my own.
When I went to Howard I felt two things. I felt like, wow, what an amazing feeling to not be the minority, and to know there’s probably just as many kids who came from predominantly white schools as I did so it wasn’t a situation where I had to be like, well maybe no one will like me. What I love about [Randall] and what Niles does and what I do and what Lonnie [Chavis, who plays young Randall] does, is that we don’t have to be — I can be dorky. I say corny things quite frequently, but it’s apparent he’s still rooted in his culture. His life, his wife, his experience has led him to a knowledge of his people and a pride for blackness. I think that that is something that young Randall is discovering and being on that campus may have been one of the beginning processes for him to have that experience of pride for his culture.
THR: What else can you tease about the upcoming episodes?
BROWN: Right now we are shooting episode 214, our Super Bowl episode. It is highly confidential. We have no sides on set. We’ve been instructed as a cast to bring our scripts to set and then don’t let them out of our sights. It is written by [showrunner/series creator] Dan Fogelman. It is the best episode of the season. I can’t wait for everyone to see it because it’s probably one of the most cinematic pieces of television that I’ve ever read. I think Dan Fogelman wrote an hourlong movie for NBC and I think he’s going to win some stuff for it.
This Is Us returns Tuesday, Jan. 2 on NBC.
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