♪ MUSIC ♪ >>GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES.

FROM OUR HOME STUDIOS, I'M DAVID DUMKE.

>>AND I'M KATIE CORONADO.

WELCOME.

>>TODAY, WE ARE JOINED BY A SPECIAL GUEST.

AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER, AND PRODUCER OF A VARIETY OF TELEVISION SITCOMS, INCLUDING THE NETFLIX SHOW, FAMILY REUNION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY RUNNING.

WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE MEG DELOATCH.

WELCOME.

>>THANK YOU.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>SO, LET ME START THE QUESTIONS BY ASKING, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN HOLLYWOOD?

>>WOW.

MORE YEARS AGO THAN I'D LIKE TO ADMIT, BUT OVER 20, I WENT TO SCHOOL AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, AND I KNEW I WANTED TO WRITE IN TELEVISION.

AND SO, I DROVE ACROSS COUNTRY WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING A SOUL.

AND I LANDED A JOB AS A PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO KEENEN IVORY WAYANS.

IN LIVING COLOR WAS THE HOT SHOW THEN.

AND THAT WAS SORT OF MY ENTREE IN MEETING PEOPLE, ASKING QUESTIONS, LEARNING WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, WHAT KIND OF SCRIPTS I NEEDED TO WRITE.

BUT IT KIND OF JUST STARTED WITH THE ATTITUDE THAT, "WHY CAN'T I DO IT?

SOMEBODY IS DOING IT."

AND HAVING PARENTS WHO REALLY THOUGHT I'D BE HOME IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT TOLD ME, "OF COURSE YOU CAN DO IT."

I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'VE NEVER LEFT.

>>MEG, WE KNOW THAT YOUR SHOW IS ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED COMEDIES ON NETFLIX CURRENTLY.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN HOLLYWOOD, IN GENERAL.

CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>>IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE FACT THAT THERE JUST ISN'T THE DIVERSITY THAT I THINK THAT THE WORLD CRAVES TO WATCH.

AND I THINK NETFLIX IS REALLY GOOD AT SORT OF TRYING TO SERVE ALL THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WATCH THEM, AND ALL SEGMENTS OF THEM.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SO-CALLED TARGETING, PER SE, BUT THEY LOVE THE SHOW.

AND THE WHOLE POINT IS, ANY FAMILY COMEDY SHOULD BE UNIVERSAL.

EVEN IF WE'RE FOCUSING IN ON A BLACK FAMILY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BLACK, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE A FAMILY, AND THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOUR AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU SERVE THAT UP TO A DIVERSE AUDIENCE, I THINK THAT PEOPLE ... ONE, THEY ENJOY IT, AND THEY'RE ENTERTAINED.

AND TWO, SOMETIMES THEY GET A WINDOW INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.

AND THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING, AND A RECOGNITION OF HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN COMMON INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE DIFFERENCES, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO DO.

>>MEG, I'M WONDERING HOW DID THIS PARTICULAR SHOW COME ABOUT?

DID NETFLIX APPROACH YOU?

DID YOU MAKE A PITCH TO THEM?

>>IN THIS CASE, NETFLIX APPROACHED ME.

I SAT DOWN WITH AN EXECUTIVE, ROBERT PRINCE, WHO'S A REALLY SMART GUY.

AND HE'D BEEN STUDYING THEIR VARIOUS AUDIENCES.

AND HE FELT LIKE THE BLACK AUDIENCE WOULD BE REALLY WELL-SERVED WITH A FAMILY SHOW.

AND THE ONLY THING HE SAID TO ME IS, "I'D LOVE TO HAVE A SHOW ABOUT A BLACK FAMILY, AND I WANT THEM TO GO TO CHURCH."

AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, THAT'S HOW I GREW UP, SO I COULD DO THAT IN MY SLEEP."

AND SO, WE SORT OF SAT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A WHILE, AND WE SORT OF PUT IT TOGETHER.

I BORROWED HEAVILY FROM THE LIFE OF A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS MARRIED TO A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

AND SHE WAS A VERY SERIOUS CHURCH GIRL WHEN SHE MET HIM, AND I SORT OF MOVED SOME OF THE ELEMENTS AROUND.

AND I WANTED TO ALSO FOLD IN THE FACT THAT I HAD GONE HOME FOR A FAMILY REUNION IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE I SAT DOWN FOR THIS PITCH.

AND I JUST REMEMBERED HOW GOOD IT FELT TO BE THERE, AND TO BE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW I COULDN'T FATHOM LIVING IN SUCH A SMALL TOWN, BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFERENT FROM THE LIFE I LED.

AND SO, WE SORT OF MARRIED ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, AND FAMILY REUNION WAS BORN.

>>THAT'S EXCELLENT, MEG.

AND CAN YOU TOUCH ON SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT WITH YOUR WRITERS, THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND?

WHAT KIND OF TOPICS ARE YOU ABLE TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITIES, TO EVERYONE WHO WATCHES NETFLIX?

>>WELL, SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY.

SO MUCH WAS TAKEN FROM US, THOSE OF US WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL TO ME.

I HAVE MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S CHINA.

THEY ARE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.

MOST OF US DON'T GET THINGS LIKE THAT HANDED DOWN IN OUR FAMILIES.

AND SO, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME FOR THE MCKELLAN FAMILY THAT I CREATE A HISTORY FOR THEM, THAT THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORY, THAT THE MATRIARCH OF THE FAMILY, M'DEAR, TELLS THE CHILDREN, WHEN SHE REALIZES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THE FAMILY HISTORY.

SHE SITS THEM DOWN, AND WALKS THEM THROUGH THE INTRICACIES OF HOW THEY CAME TO BE.

THIS SEASON THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, I DID A DIFFERENT HISTORY EPISODE.

IT'S CALLED, WHEN M'DEAR CHANGED HISTORY.

AND NOW, I'M OFFERING UP VERY WELL-KNOWN HISTORICAL EVENTS.

AND I'M ADDING THE COMEDY OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE THIS SLIGHTLY MAGICAL GRANDMOTHER WHO HAS INSERTED HERSELF INTO THESE EVENTS, AND HELP TO SHAPE THEM.

AND I THINK WHILE PEOPLE WILL BE ENTERTAINED, THEY'LL LAUGH, AND I THINK, BE MOVED BY IT.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL WALK AWAY AND GO, "OH, WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN ASPECT OF BLACK HISTORY I NEVER REALLY KNEW, OR WAS EXPOSED TO."

>>YOU HAVE A VERY HIGH PROFILE LINEUP OF ACTORS.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW THAT WORKED?

>>WHEN I WROTE THE SHOW, I WROTE IT WITH LORETTA DEVINE'S VOICE IN MY HEAD, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD ACTUALLY READ THE SCRIPT, LET ALONE, AGREE TO DO THE SHOW.

IT WAS SUCH A LONG SHOT WHEN THEY SAID, "WELL, WHO DO YOU WANT TO GO OUT TO?"

I WAS STARTING NAMING OTHER ACTRESSES.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "WELL, WHAT ABOUT LORETTA?"

AND I'M LIKE, "LORETTA?

WELL, SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO THIS."

SO, THAT WAS REALLY A DREAM COMES TRUE.

AND THEN, FROM THERE, TO GET TIA MOWRY, WHO ...

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.

SHE'S BEEN ON SO MANY HIT SHOWS.

I THINK FOUR, OR FIVE.

HER RECORD'S AMAZING.

AND TO SIT DOWN WITH HER, AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THE SHOW RESONATED WITH HER.

SHE WAS RAISED BY A VERY DEVOUT MOTHER.

AND TO SORT OF START THE CAST FROM THERE, WE GOT SOME REALLY WONDERFUL UP AND COMING NEW TALENT.

AND THEN, TO ROUND IT OUT WITH RICHARD ROUNDTREE AS GRANDPA ...

IT WAS AN AMAZING THING.

AND THEN, FOR THEM TO GEL TOGETHER THE WAY THEY HAVE IT'S BEEN A REALLY HEARTWARMING EXPERIENCE.

WE WERE SO, SO SAD AT THE END OF OUR FIRST SEASON TO LEAVE EACH OTHER.

BUT COVID, WE WERE JUST SHELL SHOCKED.

AND WE WOULD ZOOM ONCE A WEEK UNTIL IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WE CAN ZOOM ONCE A MONTH."

BUT WE'RE REALLY QUITE ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER.

>>SO, MEG, YOU'RE MENTIONING HOW THE CAST GELLED, AND CAME TOGETHER.

YOU ALSO HAVE A VERY UNIQUE WRITING TEAM, WHICH IS AN ALL-BLACK TEAM.

HOW UNIQUE IS THAT?

AND IS THIS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD WITH A TEAM THAT'S ENTIRELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

>>WELL, IT'S VERY UNUSUAL.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT.

I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN A VERY SMALL ALL-BLACK WRITER'S ROOM FOR A BLACK NETWORK LIKE BET, BUT NEVER FOR A MAJOR NETWORK, OR STREAMER.

AND THE FACT THAT NETFLIX NOT ONLY WELCOMED IT, THEY ENCOURAGED, WAS JUST PHENOMENAL.

I HAVE HAD SO MANY FIGHTS WITH STUDIO, AND NETWORK EXECUTIVES OVER THE MAKE UP OF MY WRITERS' ROOMS OVER THE YEARS.

AND INVARIABLY, I'VE BEEN TOLD STORIES, ANECDOTALLY, OF HOW MANY TIMES I'VE NOT BEEN PUT IN SOMEBODY'S WRITER'S ROOM, BECAUSE THEY WANTED SOME OTHER WRITER, USUALLY NEVER ANOTHER WRITER WHO WAS A WRITER OF COLOR.

SO, IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY GRATIFYING.

THE KEY THING FOR US IS, WE WANTED A DIVERSE, ALL-BLACK ROOM.

SO, I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY WHO WAS RAISED JUST LIKE I WAS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, FROM ALL DIFFERENT SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS, ALL DIFFERENT AGES.

IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE WANT TO SORT OF WEAVE TOGETHER SORT OF THIS TAPESTRY OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WILL IDENTIFY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THREADS OF MAYBE THIS PERSON'S FAMILY HISTORY, OR CHUNKS OF THIS PERSON'S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, AND HOW THEY WERE RAISED.

AND SO, WE SORT OF KIND OF ENDED UP SEAMLESSLY PUTTING IT TOGETHER, BUT NONE OF US ARE ALL THE SAME.

>>MEG, SPEAKING OF DIFFERENCES, AND SIMILARITIES, AND THE NEED FOR DIVERSIFYING YOUR SHOW IS WATCHED ALL OVER THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S DUBBED IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, RIGHT?

>>WELL, IT'S DUBBED INTO 24 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

WE KNOW THAT WE SEEM TO PARTICULARLY RESONATE IN LATIN AMERICA, AND AFRICA, AND GREAT BRITAIN.

THOSE ARE THE COUNTRIES THAT I REMEMBER.

THEY SORT OF POINT IT OUT, IN PARTICULAR.

I FEEL LIKE IF PEOPLE DISCOVER US ... OFTEN, WE DO QUITE WELL.

COMEDY SOMETIMES ISN'T SOMETHING ...

IT CAN BE VERY SUBJECTIVE, AND CULTURAL.

BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR CULTURE THAT WE'RE OFFERING UP, THAT I THINK PEOPLE FIND KIND OF INTRIGUING.

SO, IT'S BEEN REALLY GRATIFYING HEARING FROM PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT A FACEBOOK FRIEND FROM INDIA WHO FOUND THE SHOW.

SO, IT'S JUST REALLY COOL TO KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER SORT OF WHERE YOU WERE RAISED, AND WHAT DISHES YOU EAT AT YOUR HOLIDAYS, THAT YOU CAN ENJOY FAMILY REUNION.

>>OF COURSE, YOU'RE USING COMEDY AS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE.

BUT YOU'RE TALKING, OFTEN, ABOUT SERIOUS ISSUES AT A VERY SERIOUS TIME FOR OUR NATION.

AND ACTUALLY, BEYOND OUR NATION.

BUT DIVISION IS VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS, DISCUSSION OF RACIAL DIALOGUE HAS BEEN HIGHER IN RECENT YEARS THAN BEFORE.

WHERE DOES YOUR SHOW FIT IN, IN THIS CONTEXT?

>>WE REALLY TRY TO BE HONEST, AND DIRECT WHEN WE DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE RACE.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN UTILIZE THE SHOW, TO TALK TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY VERY EASY TO APPROACH, OR TO EXPLAIN.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE DID DO AN EPISODE DEALING WITH RACIAL PROFILING, AND IT'S SOMETHING ...

I HAVE A ALMOST SEVEN-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING I'VE REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WITH HIM IN DEPTH.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AT WHAT AGE ARE YOUR CHILDREN GOING TO BE ABLE TO INTERNALIZE THIS MESSAGE?

AND NOT FIND IT HARMFUL.

BUT I THINK THAT THE WAY WE DID IT ON THIS PARTICULAR EPISODE ... WE JUST SHOWED THAT PEOPLE CAN SOMETIMES MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT YOU SIMPLY BY THE WAY YOU LOOK.

BUT THAT THE REPERCUSSIONS FROM THAT SOMETIMES CAN BE REALLY FRIGHTENING.

AND I JUST THINK THAT IF WE COULD TALK MORE FRANKLY WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THIS, AND ABOUT RACE ...

I MEAN, WE DID AN EPISODE WHERE JADE HAS AN INTEREST IN A WHITE BOY, AND HE RECIPROCATES.

BUT SHE LETS OTHER PEOPLE GET IN HER HEAD ABOUT INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND SHE ENDS UP TURNING THIS GUY DOWN FOR A DATE, AND BITTERLY REGRETTING IT.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE LEARN TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE.

ALSO, ABOUT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS WITH.

AND THAT THE ONLY WAY KIDS CAN DO THAT IS IF YOU TALK WITH THEM REALLY FRANKLY ABOUT IT.

AND SORT OF JUST PRESENT IT TO THEM AND GO, "WELL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE?"

>>AND MEG, THESE ARE VERY DELICATE TOPICS FOR AND SOMETIMES, THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE TOPICS SOME PEOPLE TO DISCUSS, FAMILIES TO DISCUSS.

SO, TO TRANSITION FROM THAT, GOING TO THE WRITERS' ROOM, HOW DO THESE IDEAS HAPPEN?

AND HOW ARE THEY GENERATED?

DO THEY SOMETIMES CLASH WITH ONE ANOTHER?

BECAUSE YOU SAID YOUR WRITERS ARE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THEY WERE BROUGHT UP DIFFERENTLY.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT IDEA-MAKING FACTORY.

>>CONFLICTS LIKE THAT IN THE WRITER'S ROOM CAN BE SO EXCITING.

GENERALLY, THEY GET REALLY OUTRAGEOUS.

MAYBE A LITTLE VULGAR.

AND OFTEN, VERY FUNNY.

AND SO, I THINK THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SUBJECT MATTER IS, YOU CAN DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF CONFLICT IN, "I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD EVER SAY THAT, " KIND OF A THING.

BUT THEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF SUBJECTS LIKE WHEN WE DEALT WITH RACIAL PROFILING.

THAT EPISODE CAME ABOUT, BECAUSE ONE MORNING, I SAW VIDEO OF POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTING YOUNG BLACK BOYS.

SOMEBODY HAD SAID THEY HAD SEEN SOME KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A GUN.

AND THIS LITTLE BOY, IN PARTICULAR, WHO I THINK WAS ABOUT 11, WAS JUST SOBBING INCONSOLABLY.

AND THE COP WAS TRYING TO BE NICE.

"HEY, BUDDY.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.

KNEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BUDDY.

LAY DOWN, BUDDY.

OKAY, BUDDY.

LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS."

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THEY'RE HOLDING GUNS ON THEM THE WHOLE TIME, AND HE'S CRYING.

AND OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUNS.

AND IT WAS TRAUMATIZING.

AND I CAME INTO THE ROOM, AND I SHARED THE VIDEO.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND OF COURSE IN, AN ALL-BLACK WRITER'S ROOM, WE TEND TO HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEFINITELY AGREE ON.

AND THIS WAS NOT A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

IF ANYTHING, WHAT BECAME CONTROVERSIAL SOMETIMES IS, HOW EARLY DO YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN?

HOW FORCEFULLY DO YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN?

THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT WE HAVE A UNIVERSALITY, SOMETIMES, WITH BEING PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WE'RE GOING TO ALL HAVE OUR OWN STORIES, OR STORIES OF PEOPLE WE KNOW, AND LOVE, WHO'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION.

>>SO, YOUR SHOW, MEG, HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY QUITE POPULAR.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE AUDIENCE?

AND WHO'S WATCHING FAMILY REUNION?

>>THE AUDIENCE IS ...

IT'S SO WONDERFUL.

IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL SO GOOD WHEN YOU CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE.

I GET A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE WATCHING IT OVER, AND OVER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING COVID DISCOVERED THE SHOW, AND IT WAS A FEEL GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY GRATIFYING.

I THINK THAT I'VE GOT A PRETTY DIVERSE AUDIENCE.

AGAIN, BASED ON THE PEOPLE WHO REACH OUT TO ME, OR TO THE ACTORS, AND SO FORTH, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK THAT LUCKILY FOR US, WE SEEM TO HAVE SORT OF CONNECTED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE MULTI-CAMERA FORMAT IS A LITTLE OLD FASHIONED, BUT IT'S GOT A COMFORT TO THE FAMILIARITY OF IT.

AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, SEEK THIS KIND OF COMFORT FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT.

>>MEG, AND THIS TYPE OF SHOW WHERE YOU HAVE AN ALL-BLACK FAMILY, AND YOU WERE ACTUALLY PICKED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IS THAT A UNIQUE IN HOLLYWOOD RIGHT NOW?

ARE YOU SEEING MORE OF THIS TREND?

THE MORE I TRY TO FIND SHOWS LIKE THIS, THEY'RE SPRINKLED, BUT IT'S NOT AS EASY TO FIND.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU FIND AS WELL FROM THE PRODUCER PERSPECTIVE?

>>IT'S STILL NOT, I THINK, WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE.

I WILL SAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROMISES MADE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IN THE MIDST OF THIS AWAKENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND SOME PLEDGES HAVE BEEN MADE.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO HOLD THESE LARGE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT THEY'VE PROMISED TO DO, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE MORE DIVERSE PROGRAMMING, AND ALLOWING MORE DIVERSE VOICES TO BE HEARD.

I JUST THINK IT'S CRITICAL.

I LOVE WATCHING, AND CONSUMING ENTERTAINMENT BY ASIAN WOMEN, BY EAST INDIAN WOMEN.

I'M FASCINATED BY THE CULTURE.

AND WHY WOULDN'T I BE?

AND WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE VICE VERSA ABOUT BLACK WOMEN, OR LATIN WOMEN?

I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE SO SMART TO TAP INTO THAT, AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A GLOBAL AUDIENCE.

I THINK THAT THE NETWORKS WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

NETFLIX HAS SEEMED TO FIGURE IT, OUT AND WITH ...

I DON'T KNOW, WHAT?

TWO, OR 300 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, IT'S WORKING.

>>WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A GLOBAL AUDIENCE I GUESS, A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

ONE IS, HOW DIFFERENT IS IT FOR YOU, AS A WRITER, AND PRODUCER, TO APPROACH A SHOW THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT AS GOING TO BE A GLOBAL AUDIENCE, AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT WAS ALMOST STRICTLY DOMESTIC.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN LIVING COLOR, WHICH WAS A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL SHOW, BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA.

>>YEAH.

AND A LOT OF THEIR COMEDY WAS VERY SPECIFIC TO AMERICAN POP CULTURE.

SOMETIMES, THAT CAN'T EXPORT, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND.

I THINK THAT OUR COMEDY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE UNIVERSAL, BECAUSE IT'S MORE FAMILY-BASED.

IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY ADULTS.

AND SO, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR OTHER CULTURES TO GET WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.

I DON'T FOCUS OVER MUCH ON A GLOBAL AUDIENCE.

I TRY TO STAY VERY SPECIFIC TO MY FAMILY, AND TO THE CULTURE I'M TRYING TO PRESENT.

BUT IT IS STILL IMPORTANT TO ME.

IN PRESENTING DIFFERENT FACETS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIFE, I TRY TO BRING IN GLOBAL BLACK PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S A BLACK GIRL WHO WAS RAISED IN BRITAIN, OR ONE THAT'S FROM NIGERIA, ET CETERA.

I'M REALLY SEEKING TO SORT OF OPEN UP GLOBALLY, THAT WAY, BUT NOT TO CHANGE THE SHOW IN ANY WAY TOWARD IT.

I JUST THINK THAT WHAT IT IS, PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE IT, BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECIFIC TO THIS ONE FAMILY, AND CULTURE.

>>MEG, SPEAKING OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT BRING IN THE AUDIENCE BASED ON THE PLOT THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT FAMILIES, OR AUDIENCE MEMBERS THAT ARE POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS TO FAMILY REUNION WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THE SHOW?

BASICALLY, MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO EVERYBODY OTHER THAN THE FAMILY PORTION?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT APPEALS TO EVERYBODY FROM THE SHOW?

>>I THINK PART OF THE MAGIC IS M'DEAR.

I'VE REFERRED TO THIS WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER CHARACTER AS ALMOST A SUPERHERO.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, SHE'S THE GRANDMOTHER EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE.

WHILE SHE IS VERY STRICT, AND VERY DISCIPLINED, SHE'S INCREDIBLY LOVING.

SHE'S QUICK TO FEED YOU, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN OUT IN THE WORLD IF YOU NEED THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT, THAT IS UNIVERSAL.

I THINK THAT COCO'S RELATIONSHIP TO M'DEAR, LIVING IN YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOUSE IS PRETTY UNIVERSAL.

ALL OF US CAN GET HOW THAT'S NOT AN EASY THING.

THE FACT THAT MOSE IS A MAMA'S BOY ... AGAIN, THEY MAY BE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY UNIVERSAL CONCEPTS THAT ARE KIND OF BURIED WITHIN IT.

EVEN JUST THE SIBLING DYNAMICS.

THESE ARE NICE KIDS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS NICE TO EACH OTHER, WHICH IS MOST KIDS, RIGHT?

>>YES.

AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE OUR AUDIENCE WITH?

>>I GUESS, I SAY THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT MY SHOW, TO KNOW THAT I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY, AND IT WOULD LIKELY SPEAK TO THEM.

IT'S NOT JUST A BLACK SHOW.

I'M NOT JUST A BLACK WRITER.

I'VE WRITTEN MANY KINDS OF CHARACTERS IN SHOWS, AND HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.

BUT THERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA IN THIS ONE, BECAUSE I'M TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT A WORLD IN WHICH I LIVE, AND HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN.

>>SO, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE FUTURE SEASONS OF FAMILY REUNION?

>>WE HAVE SOME REAL FUN COMING UP.

I'M SUPER EXCITED.

RIGHT BEFORE WE HAD TO BREAK FOR COVID, ANIKA NONI ROSE GUEST STARRED AS MOZI'S MUSIC TEACHER, WITH WHOM HE HAS A SERIOUS CRUSH ON.

WE'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS EPISODES.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECTS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN, WE HAVE SOME VERY LIGHTHEARTED, MORE FAMILY FUN STUFF.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING YEAR.

I REALLY DO.

ONCE WE MAKE IT TO AIR, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT'LL BE IN MARCH, IF WE CAN STAY ON SCHEDULE.

>>SO, IS LAUGHTER THE BEST WAY TO PROVOKE A DISCUSSION?

>>I THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY.

I THINK WHEN YOU LAUGH, YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, MAYBE OPEN YOUR HEART A LITTLE BIT.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN END THE LAUGHING, MAYBE RECOGNIZE A LITTLE BIT OF MAYBE WHERE YOU WERE WRONG, OR MISUNDERSTOOD SOMETHING, OR JUST WEREN'T OPEN TO SOMETHING.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY.

IF I CAN ADD REALLY QUICKLY, I SAW A BLOGGER WHO COMPLAINED BITTERLY ABOUT FAMILY REUNION.

SHE LOVED THE SHOW UP UNTIL EPISODE 10, WHEN WE DID DO THE RACIAL PROFILING EPISODE.

AND SHE JUST FELT LIKE WE POLITICIZED A SHOW THAT WAS IN EVERY OTHER WAY, SO WONDERFUL TO HER.

AND I THOUGHT, "I THINK I DID SOMETHING RIGHT.

I THINK I MADE YOU LOVE SOME CHARACTERS.

AND THEN, IT REALLY UPSETS YOU THAT THEY WERE BEING MISTREATED, AND LABELED A CERTAIN WAY."

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE ...

I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.

I WANT YOU TO LOVE MY SHOW, AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES, THE LIVES THAT WE LIVE AS PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>>MEG DELOATCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, AND FAMILY REUNION, AS WE GO FORWARD.

>>THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>>AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON ANOTHER EPISODE OF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES.