By Valder Beebe
Oprah’s Network OWN presents “Love Is,” a new romantic drama that explores the magic of love against the backdrop of Black Hollywood in the 90’s. Stars Michele Weaver and Will Catlett are in the Valder Beebe Show studio talk with me about “Love Is.”
A one-hour new and original scripted romantic drama. It is inspired by the real-life love story of executive producers Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, Girlfriends) and Salim Akil (Black Lightning). “Love Is ” revives the classic 1990’s romantic comedy, complete with a sweet nostalgia for the decade including the iconic fashion, music, and stars like Kadeem Hardison and Loretta Devine. The series follows Nuri (Weaver) and Yasir (Catlett), a couple from seemingly opposite worlds, as they chase their dreams and learn to follow their hearts. Told from the perspective of the couple’s present-day selves. “Love Is ” is presented as one big, epic story with the pacing of a feature film.
Will Catlett and Michele Weaver from “Love Is”
VBS: “Love Is” on OWN, congratulations. Let’s just jump into the questions I have from Facebook for you two. What’s in it for the women viewing “Love Is?” Whether it is stated or not the viewing audience of OWN Network is predominately African American and female. So what’s in it for single women and the professional single women who will be watching “Love Is?”
WC: What I am thinking, what’s in it for them is giving women a chance to say “hey let me take a step back and look at the character in a man” not look for how much money a man has or how much he does not have. How is this man’s character? From there you can decide if you want to be with a person or not.
VBS: We’ll let Michele speak on the men who will watch “Love Is.” What is their take away?
MW: I am hoping that the men are encouraged to go after the women, they feel that they can go after. Be confident in who they are and to be truthful. On the big screen, Michele Weaver most recently shot the thriller “Nighthawks,” with Chace Crawford. She also starred in “Illicit,” with Vivica A. Fox; “Sister Code”, with Amber Rose, Drew Sidora, and Eva Marcille; and Syfy’s “2 Lava 2 Lantula!” Her other tele- vision credits include ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth” and FOX’s Cooper Barrett’s “Guide to Surviving Life,” among many others.
Most recently, Will Catlett appeared as a recurring guest star on “Black Lightning” for The CW Network. Prior to that, Catlett also appeared in CBS’s “The Mentalist,” HBO’s “Insecure” and “Brothers in Atlanta.” Catlett gained popularity in lead roles on the streaming YouTube series “First,” and “That Guy.” Behind the camera, he has lent his talents to “Giants” for Issa Rae Presents, the feature film “Griffin,” the brilliant short film “Stages” in which he also stars, and the television series “Garden.”
View the complete “Love Is” interview at Val- derBeebeShow.com. Find more THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW; valderbeebeshow.com, youtube.com/user/valderbeebeshow, 411radionetwork.com and VBS affiliate broadcasters.
