*Comedy legend Tommy Davidson is busier than ever, and we caught up with him for an exclusive interview ahead of his guest-starring role on “Poppa’s House,” airing Monday, Feb. 3, to kick off February Sweeps.
As described by CBS, “Poppa’s House” is about a “legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” (Damon Wayans) [who] has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Damon Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.”
Here’s the synopsis for this week’s episode “Elevator Friend” – When Poppa has an extra baseball ticket and no friend to invite, he decides to reconnect with Jarnold (Tommy Davidson), an old acquaintance from the radio station. Meanwhile, Junior’s old friend Preston (Lamorne Morris) comes to visit
In our conversation with the iconic comedian/actor/singer, Davidson opened up about his decades-long friendship with Damon and his fond memories of working with the Wayans family on “In Living Color. He praised both Damon and his son, Damon Wayans Jr. for their work on “Poppa’s House,” calling them “brilliant creators” who continue to make a lasting impact in comedy.
“They know I’m really sensitive and once we got on a roll and I got in the practice of being there, man, we were we were off to the races,” Davidson explained of his experience on set, admitting he was “really nervous” during the first few days of rehearsal.
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“They knew what I was capable of… I don’t want to step on nobody’s toes because I could be a little overbearing sometimes and we’re all scene stealers, so we got to stop that propensity and serve the material,” the “Strictly Business” star said.
When it comes to his guest-starring role, Davidson believes viewers will be especially entertained by the unique energy he brings to the role.
“He’s he’s sort of unpredictable, but he ain’t… because, you know, it’s me,” said Tommy about his character Jarnold. “You don’t know what to expect. But then again, you do. And what you’re expecting is the unexpected. He ain’t nothing like Varnell Hill. He ain’t nothing like the uncle that was on Bernie. He pretty much shows up and becomes what he is.”
One of the most impressive things about Davidson’s performances is his ability to create completely distinct and memorable characters every time. With each new role, he brings a fresh energy and unique voice, but does he find it challenging to ensure no two characters feel the same?
“Yeah, yeah,” he admitted. “It’s a very worked-for skill. It’s a discipline. It’s like a singer running scales before the show,” Tommy explained.
“Kenny G used to go in the bathroom when I was on tour with him and he would do his own sound check in the bathroom for like two hours and then he rehearsed for another hour with the band. It’s almost like, once you get the script, you start to see what you can apply. You have to watch everything that you’ve learned,” Davidson said. “…it’s all the things that you learn as you go. Once you’ve got it down, you can apply it in different scenarios,” he continued.
“I just happen to be crazy. I got a lot to draw from, and it’s a million characters circling around me because a million people have influenced who I am. I’ve had a variety of experiences in my life where I retain certain information. I always say, I don’t play basketball and I don’t play football, but I sure play this.”
Beyond TV, Davidson is also making waves in music with a new collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire, and giving back—his recent one-night show at the Ice House in Pasadena, California donated a portion of proceeds to victims of the Altadena/Eaton fire. And when the weekends roll around, he’s lighting up massive arenas on tour with Katt Williams. Davidson spoke about the joy and inspiration he gets from touring with Katt, admiring his ability to captivate audiences and create a powerful connection through his performances.
“Everybody’s just glad to see me, but it’s watching him. I’ve been doing this for 36 years, and he’s arrived at who he is,” Tommy said, calling Katt a “unique voice.”
“I’m fortunate to be a part of it because I’m not the audience. The audience chooses what they want and they want him… the ideas that he talks about, and the subject matter he talks about pertain to everybody. He’s got his own sermon. He’s got his own truth to share, and it’s helping people. It’s helping people cope. He’s helping people cope with all this craziness because he’s cutting through it,” said Davidson.
“I’m just fortunate. It’s so good to be with him,” he added.
Watch our full candid conversation with Tommy in the clip below and tune in to his guest-starring episode on Feb. 4, when “Poppa’s House” airs on CBS.
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