After months of campaigning for a very special man to play the role of Shirley’s ex-husband on NBC’s comedy series, Commuinty, Yvette Nicole Brown’s (Shirley) wish was granted. Her childhood dream has come true. Ever since she was a young girl she had hopes of marrying Theo of the Cosby Show. In the premiere of Community, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) will be reunited with her ex-husband, Andre played by Malcolm Jamal Warner (formerly Theo of The Cosby Show).
COMMUNITY
“Asian Population Studies”
Airdate: 1/20/11
THE STUDY GROUP DEBATES WHETHER TO ADD NEW MEMBERS – SHIRLEY REUNITES WITH HER ERRANT EX HUSBAND AND HAS SOME IMPORTANT NEWS – MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER GUEST STARS AND JOHN OLIVER REPRISES HIS ROLE AS PROFESSOR DUNCAN — Annie (Alison Brie) returns from spring break to find that her crush “Rich” (Greg Cromer “Justified”), the Dr., has enrolled at Greendale Community College, sparking a heated debate about whether to add Rich and/or Senor Chang to the study group. Shirley’s (Yvette Nicole Brown) ex-husband Andre (Malcolm Jamal Warner, “True Blue”) is back in the picture and Shirley has some big news for everyone. Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover and Ken Jeong also star.
Yvette, Community is becoming a growing success, what is it like for you being a part of this series?
Yvette Nicole Brown: It’s been a great experience. We work so many hours that I don’t know that any of us are aware that it’s become a growing success because all we do is work and have fun with each other. But we’re very grateful that when we do get to go to the grocery store that we see people that are very excited about the show. So it’s been a surprise and a blessing.
Now that you know who Shirley’s ex-husband is, what do you think of him and are you pleased?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Yeah. This is like my childhood dream come true. When I was like 13 years old I’m like, I’m going to marry Theo and I’ve essentially married Theo so that’s awesome. And actually I was campaigning for Malcolm to be my ex-husband from the very first day of the show. I’ve always said, if she reconciles with her ex-husband I hope it is Malcolm Jamal Warner and I think the producers and writers got sick of me saying his name. So it’s kind of like, shut up Yvette, we hear you. and he fits right in. It was like a seamless transition for him to be on set.
So tell me a little bit about the reunion between Andre and Shirley?
Yvette Nicole Brown: There’s been a lot of things that Andre has taken Shirley through that we’ve heard through Shirley’s eyes, really horrible things. And it’s really funny that his resurgence, or his first appearance on the show, it’s almost like Shirley has amnesia. And I think it’s because Shirley, as a character, tries really hard to always paint a perfect picture. So there’s a lot going on between them but I don’t know if in his first appearance you’re going to be able to see the seething underbelly of pain that is coursing between the two of them. How about that, that’s good? You can guarantee that Andre is not necessarily very welcomed by the rest of the gang. You could tell by their looks and their little comments when they saw him. Yeah, the rest of the study group is not – they have not forgotten what Andre has done.
Yvette, will you get back into the music industry?
Yvette Nicole Brown: Go back fully, I doubt it because acting’s been really good to me. I do love to sing and I probably should be doing more of it even just for my own enjoyment but a full-fledged like I’m going to be a singer, here’s my album…Music is very personal and it – I feel very vulnerable as a singer. Way more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt as an actor and I feel like if someone doesn’t like my acting performance, that’s fine, they didn’t like the character. But if they don’t like my music it’s almost like they don’t like me. So that feels really, really personal. So, for me to be able to get over my feelings about that enough to be brave enough to present something to the world musically, I don’t know. That’s why I applaud Malcolm for what he’s doing because he’s a great musician and he’s brave enough to give it to the world. Like, that’s the next step. You can be amazing but if you’re not brave enough to give it to the world then, you know, what’s the point? You know? So I’m toying with the idea but I stop short of saying for sure that I would do that.
****Brown was featured on the Motown album “The East Coast Family Vol.1,” which included the Top 20 single, “1-4-All-4-1.” As a part of the East Coast Family, Brown appeared on MTV, “Showtime at the Apollo,” VH1 and BET, while simultaneously completing coursework that led to a Bachelor of Fine & Applied Arts degree from the University of Akron. Upon graduation she packed her bags and followed her dreams to Los Angeles.
Brown has emerged as one of the most active character actresses in Hollywood, highlighted by memorable appearances on numerous hit TV shows, including “House,” “Entourage,” NBC’s “The Office,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “7th Heaven,” “Fat Actress,” “Til Death,” “That’s So Raven,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Privileged” and “That ‘70s Show.” In addition, she has had recurring roles on “Boston Legal,” “Girlfriends,” “Sleeper Cell,” “Half & Half” and “Drake & Josh.” She also was a series regular on “The Big House.”