Yvette Nicole Brown on Community: "This Is Like My Childhood Dream Come True — I've Essentially Married Theo"

Yvette Nicole Brown — who plays Shirley on NBC's critically acclaimed comedy Community — had been campaigning since day one of the show for Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo Huxtable of The Cosby Show) to play her character's ex-husband Andre. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

Yvette Nicole Brown — who plays Shirley on NBC's critically acclaimed comedy Community — had been campaigning since the very first day of the show for Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo Huxtable of The Cosby Show) to play her character's ex-husband Andre. In the episode "Asian Population Studies" (airdate January 20, 2011), her wish was finally granted. Brown was featured on the Motown album "The East Coast Family Vol. 1," which included the Top 20 single "1-4-All-4-1." She has had memorable appearances on House, Entourage, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Two and a Half Men, and recurring roles on Boston Legal, Girlfriends, and Drake & Josh.

On being part of Community's growing success: "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."

On Malcolm-Jamal Warner joining the cast as Andre: "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 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."

On the reunion between Shirley and Andre: "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, his first appearance on the show, it's almost like Shirley has amnesia. 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. You can guarantee that Andre is not necessarily very welcomed by the rest of the gang."

On whether she would return to music: "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. Music is very personal and I feel very vulnerable as a singer. Way more vulnerable than I've ever felt as an actor. 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. 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. You can be amazing but if you're not brave enough to give it to the world, what's the point?"

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