'Second Time Around': new TV comedy stars real-life fiances Boris Kodjoe & Nicole Parker portraying divorced couple who remarry

Jet, Sept 27, 2004

"Second Time Around" is one of those rare prime-time television sitcoms that actually mixes reality with art.

The show features Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Parker, real-life fiances who play a couple who divorced but managed to find true love again--in each other--and remarried. And now, they're newlyweds all over again.

In the UPN series, Jackson Muse (Kodjoe) is a handsome and earnest architect and his wife is Ryan (Parker), a beautiful, free-spirited artist. They're giving it a second go several years after their first marriage ended.

The two are determined to bring what they see as their newfound maturity to their marriage this time. Yet, the two find themselves in humorous, often awkward situations when their former lovers, old arguments and questions about old division of property resurface.

It's not just those factors that contribute to the humor and angst. There's also the influence of family and friends who never want to stop giving out advice.

Jackson's younger brother Nigel (Brian White), a dentist whose lavish lifestyle keeps him on the brink of bankruptcy, and his snooty fiancee Paula (Danielle Nicolet), a real-estate agent, are thoroughly convinced that the twice-married couple needs to join their therapy sessions.

Then there's Coco (Melissa De Sousa), who portrays Ryan's best friend and is equally skeptical about the reunion. Her theory is that "leftovers shouldn't be reheated."

Kodjoe and Parker met while cast members on the hit Showtime drama "Soul Food," which recently wrapped up its five-year run. That series was about Chicago sisters and their families. During that run, Kodjoe and Parker had tremendous on-screen chemistry that developed into a personal relationship. The two plan to marry next year.

Kodjoe said he had no reservations about being a real-life couple playing a couple on television. "I had no reservations at all," he said. "It's like working with your best friend. That's what I always compare it to. We're best friends. There's no better circumstance to be in than to be able to be creative with your best friend."

Parker felt the same.

"We met working together," she reminded. "We met as working actors on the same show playing love interests. So, in a way, that's the only thing we know. Our whole friendship developed in that 16-hour, one-hour drama. So, sitcom life is nothing."

Kodjoe thinks having a personal history makes the work much easier. He pointed out that a number of their conversations inspire comedy.

Producer Ralph Farquhar said the off-screen chemistry is proving very beneficial for the show. "I developed a deep admiration for their relationship while shooting the pilot and seeing that connection between the two of them, how they supported each other. In one scene where Ryan tells Jackson: 'I love you' and as he says it back to her, you cannot pay for that chemistry. It would take a season or more to work up to that with actors who weren't connected."

The other couple--Paula and Nigel -also will have some issues to deal with.

Farquhar said: "Their characters are engaged and it's going to be like the world's longest engagement. There are going to always be challenges to them in terms of maintaining that relationship because Paula is a very difficult lady to love, but he does love her. In addition, we examine the dynamics between the two brothers. Brian's character is a dentist. And, as we discover, he makes more money than his brother. There's a lot of tension. His older brother doesn't exactly cotton to that. So, there are a lot of dynamics."

And, in another example of art imitating life, Farquhar pointed out that the brothers' family will show that their mother is White and the father is Black. That mirrors Kodjoe's parentage.

Actor Brian White had nothing but praise for the way the characters are written and evolve. And he loves the contrasts between life and art.

"Nigel couldn't be farther away from me as a person, but I understand him. I understand that everything he does and the way he acts comes out of his love for this woman, for Paula. I can respect that. When you see the relationship develop between me and Boris as brothers, you'll learn and understand the back story that Nigel was a completely different way before he met this woman."

And that woman, who has attracted all that negative attention, finds it interesting knowing that she's being labeled as very bitchy.

With a laugh, Nicolet said: "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time over the next few years swearing to people that I'm a very nice person? I don't think she's difficult to love if you love the same things that she does."

All the stories will be explored in the context of comedy, Farquhar assured. And he hopes the themes will be universal and applicable to lots of fun-loving married couples and families.