*The explosive season finale of “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” airs TONIGHT in back-to-back episodes, and we caught up with series stars Javon Johnson and Ptosha Storey to get a tease of what to expect.
Johnson and Storey have taken viewers on a wild journey as Richard and Nancy Hallsen — the butler and butler’s wife who are in service to President Hunter Franklin (Ed Quinn) and First Lady Victoria Franklin (Kron Moore).
Before they head into production on season two, we dished with Storey and Johnson about their season one experience. They also share a glimpse into the method of Tyler Perry’s (creative) madness.
Check out our Q&A below.
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The Franklins truly brought the House down‼
TONIGHT 9/8c, see what they do next on the EPIC 2-HOUR SEASON FINALE of @TylerPerry’s THE OVAL. #TheOvalOnBET pic.twitter.com/l3RPZFMomZ
— Tyler Perry’s THE OVAL (@TheOvalOnBET) July 22, 2020
Each episode I’m left clutching my pearls, like… “Oh my God! How does Tyler Perry think up this craziness?” What’s the vibe like after you film? Are you just as surprised about some of the twists and turns?
JAVON: We’re moving so fast we don’t really have time to consider it. I know watching the season air there are some things I totally forgot because Tyler works so fast that it’s all about keeping up, keeping pace and and staying ready for the next thing that’s coming. So we don’t have a lot of time with real camaraderie and your leisure chat about what’s happening. A lot of times, when we’re watching on TV, I feel the same way because I’m like, “wow, I didn’t remember we shot that”, you know. And then we get to see the totality of the whole story and all the other characters evolve.
PTOSHA: It is riveting even when we get the script, I mean just the ride and the journey and it’s like a page-turner, you’re going, “oh my God, this is happening.” So as actors, we have to really rise to the occasion because Tyler’s brilliant and he’s brilliant in his writing and he knows how to craft the story where it keeps you on the edge of your seat. And so as actors when we get the script and we’re going through this journey, it’s just as riveting as when we watch it. It’s amazing.
If Richard and Nancy were your friends, what advice would you give them?
PTOSHA: Well, I would say, one of the things I love about this journey and the characters as they continue to evolve – everybody’s human. And if we look into the closet of most people’s lives, we’re going to see some stuff and so I think that their journey is kind of a reflection of some of the things that are happening in real life.
Looking at that couple and the love that I think they have for each other, I would say “fight,” you fight because they’ve been together for many many years. Things happened but if the love still resides then you have something to fight for but if the love goes then I say let It go. But I think that Richard and Nancy still have the love and I think that’s worth fighting for.
JAVON: Absolutely. They’ve put their time in, they’re invested in the relationship. I think there’s something there to indeed fight for. One time Richard told Barry that he suggested he needs to go to church and he needs to go talk to the pastor. Well, I don’t think the Hallsens have been to church in awhile. I think the family needs to be in the church a little bit. Get that Spirit back into their families. I believe the Hallsens are very rooted in family and spirit and God and I think a little more presence of that will help them get through it. I would tell Richard, “Take some PTO, old man. Get away from that White House.”
PTOSHA: My mom used to say that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future and I think that’s indicative of Nancy and Richard but just also relationships and people in general, so you know you’re better than your last sin and I think that that’s worth fighting for.
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You’re invited to the @TylerPerry’s THE OVAL Twitter Watch Party, this Wednesday 9PM ET / 6PM PT!
Grab your snacks and drinks, get ready, and live tweet the season finale with BET and the cast of THE OVAL using #TheOvalOnBET.
To RSVP, reply with a ?! pic.twitter.com/9Mtg0Ouz9U
— Tyler Perry’s THE OVAL (@TheOvalOnBET) July 19, 2020
Do you have a favorite episode from this season, one that highlights the Hallsens dynamic within the White House and how they help drive the narrative?
PTOSHA: That’s a great question. Javon alluded earlier to how we shoot and so it’s a whole life, like season one happens in five days. Our perspective is not necessarily about episodes but about the situations. There are several highlights, one is the relationship that Richard and Nancy are building. I think the best is yet to come in terms of our relationship. I’m hopeful, anyway. It’s just an overall picture of fighting for our family that makes me feel that.
JAVON: I agree with Ptosha. I think the Hallsens are on a journey of being tested so we haven’t seen yet the diligence of them. They’re in the midst of the test. Hopefully, as we continue with the show, we have those moments that are really defining who that family is and the strength of that family. But in terms of Richard specifically, one of the highlights for me, was when Richard fought off the thugs and saved the President’s daughter from being raped. The reason why it highlights for me is because it shows Richard’s character; he didn’t know who it was, he just knew somebody was in danger and they needed help. He was putting his life on the line for someone who he thought was a stranger and that speaks volumes to me about Richard’s character and who he is.
With the Hallsens being a work in progress and being tested, is it safe to say we’re going to see the results of that test…next season, maybe?
JAVON: I don’t think there’s anything safe to say when it comes to The Oval. (Laughter)
PTOSHA: This is what we can guarantee. That this is going to be an absolute page turner. If you think this journey of season one is good then season two, you better hold on. That’s what I know is safe to say.
The season finale airs tonight, so give us a tease of what we can expect.
JAVON: I don’t know about Ptosha but I’ll be honest with you. I don’t remember. I really don’t. I’m waiting to see just to refresh my memory of what the end of the season was.
PTOSHA: You don’t remember Richard double-downing on deciding if Nancy could stay or not? We already saw in the last episode, Victoria’s dealing with Ellie. Something’s gotta happen with that because Victoria is no joke when it comes to the women dealing with her man even though she don’t want it. We’ll continue to see how Richard fares with this new news and how nasty will come out at the end of it. I hope.
Going back to the high drama on this show, is there one specific twist that you were completely blown away by this season?
PTOSHA: Nancy being a Christian and having a son while being married to Richard was a shock. As the actress, I had to make peace with that. We’re most shocked when we read it as opposed to when we’re doing it. We have to process it so that we can make it come to life.
JAVON: I agree with that, the Nancy thing, it would seem to be so out of character for her in terms of what we’re set up to believe about her. So that was definitely shocking. Anything between Hunter and Victoria is just – I’m shocked every time. The stuff that they go through.
PTOSHA: The introduction of the cult thing and now there’s a spinoff and really indulging in that was really shocking. That they would actually take a child and we have to look that hard to try to find her. The whole show is not bereft of craziness and trials and tribulations and I think that speaks of the brilliance of Tyler Perry and his writing.
To get you ready for the 2-Hour Season Finale of #TheOvalOnBET… Let’s spend a bit of mother/daughter time with Victoria and Gayle AND some father/son time with Richard and Barry! | ? features @KronMoore, @PAMH, @JavonJohnson, and @vheb_official pic.twitter.com/y0aqW3htiV
— Tyler Perry’s THE OVAL (@TheOvalOnBET) July 22, 2020
How would you describe the creative energy on the set with your co-stars and Mr. Perry?
PTOSHA: I’ve had the opportunity to work with Tyler Perry on several occasions and the love you feel when you walk on the lot of that studio is not lost on anyone. It starts from the head. I’m not saying this because he’s my boss, I’m saying it because it’s true. Tyler Perry is an amazing man and beyond being an amazing creative. It continues with Mark and Michelle and the producers and it trickles down. When we come on, that love is already permeating through the building. It’s just a beautiful thing to be able to work with such wonderful and creative people. Javon and I have worked together a lot and he is so giving as an artist and actor. It’s a blessing. And that’s mostly how it is throughout the process. I’m just grateful to be a part of this Tyler Perry journey. It really is the epitome of a pleasant environment.
JAVON: I agree with everything Ptosha just said. Any one thing is only as good as its leader and Tyler sets the precedent and the tone and the temperature. It’s kind of hard to do anything other than fall in line with how Tyler is moving. And it’s so family oriented and so about the work and it’s also about having a good time and taking care of each other. It’s one of the best places I’ve had to work in. To be able to have that type of energy in the midst of one of the most demanding processes is amazing to me.
I could be on another show that takes a week to shoot one episode and it could be a stressful scenario. Here we are at TTS and we’re shooting the equivalent of one episode per day and yet we find a way to not be stressed in that process because Tyler has a system and a way of taking care of his people. To be able to pull off what he does and take care of people at the same time takes brilliance and care and he executes that very well. It’s a pleasure for me.
Don’t miss the season finale of Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” on Wednesday, July 22, at 9 PM ET on OWN: Oprah Winfrey’s Network.
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