Hey PLUMS!
Fox concluded their 10-city ‘Rosewood’ Screening Tour this week in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York which I had the pleasure of attending the at the Schomberg theater in Harlem, New York.
Attendees included the lead star Morris Chestnut, and the incomparable actress, Lorraine Toussaint who plays Chestnut’s mother in the upcoming series ‘Rosewood; a Miami based investigative series about a private pathologist named Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr. [played by Chestnut] who is in high demand with law enforcement.
Photo Credit: Johnny Nunez
Press and industry influencer’s were privy to never before seen footage of Fox’s star studded line-up of new dramas, new mysteries, and new thrills this fall on FOX which also included Q&A sessions with cast of ‘Empire’, Keke Palmers ‘Scream Queens’, and futuristic crime drama ‘Minority Report’ starring Meagan Good, and a live Q&A session with Morris Chestnut and the audience on their review of the show.
The red carpet was filled with celebrities who came out to show their support of Chestnut’s new tv series. ‘Orange is The New Black’ and ‘Rosewood’ star, Gabrielle Dennis, Demetria Lucas of vh1’s ‘Blood Sweat & Heels’ CBS ‘Young & The Restless’ and ‘Family Time’ star, Angell Conwell and co-star of ‘Family Time’, and ‘Baby Boy’, Omar Gooding, vh1’s ‘Hit The Floor’ star, Robert Christopher Riley, REVOLT TV /vh1’s The ‘Gossip Game’, Sharen Carpenter, ‘POWER’ star, Sherville Jarvis Celebrity Blogger /Media Correspondent, Kaye Plum ‘She Got Game’ star, Priscilla Rainey, and ‘Love & Hip Hop NY’ star, Kaiyln Garcia ,
At first glance of the first episode, I wasn’t sold entirely on the show and Morris new role, but midway through the hour long series, I became more ingulfed into the storyline which is vital to the premise of the show and message. Overall, I think its watch worthy. Like many people, I enjoy drama-filled shows with a mix of ‘ratchetness’ and ‘reality’ but I also appreciate positive based television shows with a diverse cast.
Check out some of the outtakes from our Q&A session with the lead star of the show below:
About Dr. Beaumont Rosewood:
Morris Chestnut: ” This character is definitely flawed from a health standpoint to where he can’t do certain things due to his health and that’s what I love about the character; nobody’s perfect, he’s not a superhero, and he tries to do right by people and by women. ”
On The Character’s Closeness To Death:
Morris Chestnut: ” That’s also what I love about the character. He knows his days are numbered but he tries to instill optimism in everyone he touches and he comes across on a daily basis. He’s enjoying life and he wants everyone to do the same. You know he has to savour every moment, and don’t take things for granted. “
On Working With Lorraine Toussaint:
Morris Chestnut: ” She’s a great actress, she came in late on the show, but she’s definitely a welcoming addition, she’s incredible. I love doing scenes with her because we get so emotional and it adds alot of depth in the show! “
Preference In Television Vs. Film & Its Reception To African Americans
Morris Chestnut: ” I think television is more receptive now, but I think just overall in general your going to see actors who would normally only do films do television because that where alot of the great material is. But the film industry has changed in a sense where they’re making less mid-level films a year. There either making huge blockbuster films or low budget films. ”
On The Controversial Title ‘Rosewood’ Given It’s Historical Significance:
Morris Chestnut: ” It’s no relation whatsoever. Our show does take place in Miami, Florida but its strictly the name of the character as you can see in the pilot. It’s not like the writer thought of Rosewood and that one situation and decided that he wanted to name the show Rosewood…. To me I like to have every project to be in it of itself. That is a moment in history that will not be forgotten but I’m doing this project ‘Rosewood’ and hopefully people will not forget and not relate it to the show either. ”
On Working With His Co-Star Jaina Lee Ortiz [who plays Det. Annalise Villa]:
Morris Chestnut: “When we started working together it was like riding a bike. Our chemistry was just there from the beginning. She’s a very talented actress. ”
On His Decision To Take Up This New Role:
” With this role I wanted to do something different. I’ve done the best man holiday and I recently did a film out in NOLA [New Orleans] where I was crying an doing all this emotional stuff so when they presented this role to me and they said I can have fun I said wow! I wanted get back to having fun because I haven’t had crazy fun in a role in like 10 years since I starred in ‘Two Can Play That Game’ and I’ll go back and forth and do more serious stuff but with acting its really about versatility. ”
Rosewood debuts On Wednesday September 23rd on FOX. One Love PLUMS!