Susan Kelechi Watson

Greetings and salutations. That was us, subscribers, listeners, watchers. It's your boy, Sterling K. Brown. I hope you guys are having a wonderful holiday season. And I'm going to give you a little treat. Got a little re-watch podcast, re-listen podcast coming your way. One of my favorite episodes up to date. And that was the episode with my TV wife, Susan Kelechi Watson.

And it's like, I've been approached so many times, and I'm curious from your perspective, where people will talk about Jack and Rebecca, but they will talk about R&B like, you guys, that was something to watch. I'm curious, what kind of things do you hear about it?

And what were those conversations? She always talked about Martin and Gina.

So this is interesting because I remember talking to you about the pilot and it's like, well, Beth didn't have a whole lot to do in the pilot or what have you. And then like episode two, you have this conversation with William about your man and what he's gone through.

So I'm curious for you because you kind of take a leap of faith, trusting that like there's going to be something for me to eat in the show, like after you do the pilot or whatnot. So what was it like for you to go from the pilot to that 102 and have that meet?

We'll see.

I spoke to that a little bit because we did, we were rewatching episode 105 and I remember the writers, and maybe even Dan came up to us, like after we took our trip to the drugstore to get the birth test and he was like, oh, like I can do comedy with these guys.

Because I think in his mind, like he always saw us as like the stable couple, like that everybody sort of, we're the nucleus that everybody sort of satellites around or what have you. But we also are prone to our own shenanigans as well, because we were just watching 106. And it's, we have, 106 is career day.

Take it up. It's like, as Randall was trying to channel Maxwell, He's trying to figure out the head voice. Anyway, but we have this scene where I'm trying to explain to you, and I'm looking for my index cards about what it is, and you're like, oh, all I can think about is pizza, right? And then I said, you're making fun of me.

And you're like, I'm not making fun of you, but you're doing it with the smile. I was like, why are you smiling? She's like, I don't know. I'm smiling. And I throw you on the bed, and we just start being silly. It was sort of like...

The beginning of like, for me, like when I saw it, I was like, oh, we are, we're dumb and we are so in love that like whatever happens, like she's going to allow me to be stupid. And this is what I realized in the course of the show, in terms of performance that I almost single-handedly owe to you. And I mean, this is sincere.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're back. That was us, your host, Mandy Moore, Christopher Sullivan, myself, Sterling Brown. And we have a special guest in the house today.

Stop watching the show. Yeah, I lied. So for those who haven't got to season three. Oh, am I jumping? No, no, you're fine. You're totally fine because we're just talking about you. For those who haven't gotten to season three, take a break.

So we get to season three and a lot of our through line over that time is sort of like, Randall has these political aspirations. Beth is rediscovering what it is that she wants to do with her life with regards to dance, et cetera. And they're happening at the same time. Right.

And if he pursues this thing, which is like, he has to drive to Philadelphia and we're still living in New Jersey at the time. Like, how does that impact what she wants to do in terms of moving forward with her own personal aspirations that she has put on hold for such a long time? And so there's a riff that occurs in R&B.

I can remember my wife saying to me, hey, if Lucius and Cookie can figure it out, then I know Randall and Beth better get their stuff together.

But what was it like during that season or whatnot? Because I think we both cherished it a lot because we didn't want people to think that we were just, it was easy. Yeah, that's right. It was like Sunday morning and you just wake up and like, hey girl, hey girl.

You know what I'm saying? Like you have to go through some stuff in order for like what really would last to be valued, right? So I think we were both eager to see what would happen. Yeah.

But it was interesting because, okay. So just fast forward a little bit. Some people did. There was a moment. where I needed you to come to this, to meet up with these other council members.

And I was like, hey, listen, I left you a message on your phone. Not a big deal. Just ignore it. And then she's like, oh, you mean the one where you cursed me out for not showing up? And I was like, oh, that's not going to go well. It's not going to go well.

And I don't know if it was the same episode or later where I said, Hey, look, I know you want to do some stuff, but like, if you could just put a pin in that for now. And as soon as, as soon as I read the line on the page, I was like, I'm telling this woman to put a pin in it.

Yeah, we knew. We knew. Okay. We knew. I mean, Dan had stated from the beginning, like this couple will be together, but we needed to make people feel.

You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. We knew somebody was going to have to get divorced.

Listen, we're lucky to have her right now. First of all, tell folks why you in L.A. right now. Sue lives in New York full time, but she's in L.A. What you working on? What you doing? What you got?

You know what I'm saying? That's a good point.

Come on now.

Who has two fingers? And points like this. Who has two hands? Who has two hands?

I was like- A little loss of anonymity. Yeah.

Let me ask this question, because you just brought this up, and I can open this to everybody. We'll start with Sue. What is your picture protocol slash philosophy when requested? Is there a time and place in which you will? Is there a time and place in which you won't? Is it vary by case? Sterling, just ask. She'll take a picture with you. You guys are old friends.

I'm just curious, because it's something that we all sort of have to figure out. What's your protocol? If you want to get a selfie. Stop! After, okay.

Okay.

Yeah. What is the response when they come with the approach?

I hate to bother you.

Doing The Residence.

Netflix and Shondaland. That's right. That's right. You want to tell them a little bit about your part and what the show is about?

I want everybody to answer this one. And I'm gonna chime in on this a little bit. Mandy Moore, do you have a perfect pocket? Do you have a protocol when it comes to the photo?

Or is there secrets? Do you have to keep it a secret?

I was actually just about to ask. What do you do early morning at the airport?

I'm not keeping no more secrets. We know a little something about keeping secrets.

So case by case, but like not at the airport, they're trying not to do the bathroom, not with the family when you're eating.

So?

So sorry. They're shooting their shot. It's like, this is my opportunity. Let me take advantage of what I can.

I've gotten to a place where I have a whole thing with the kids where I don't take pictures when I'm with my kids because they deserve to be the center of attention. And it's a weird thing for them to have to navigate being like, why is everybody always trying to be around my dad type of thing. Most of the other ones are case by case scenarios. But what I have learned, I was like, listen,

Can't do a picture right now, but I do appreciate the fandom. Can I give you a hug? And usually people are pretty cool with that. Because the thing about the picture is, if it doesn't come out the way they want it the first time, they'll be like, oh, sorry, it's a little, can I get an, and they're like, can we move into this light?

And they don't know, they think it's just their turn, but like that happens a lot or whatever. So I'm never discourteous in the whole process because I understand that. I try to be gracious, but I also recognize that I need to be present to whatever it was that I was doing that they didn't know that I was doing.

I'm asking other questions. You guys...

South Africa.

I will say, cause I would go home to visit family in St. Louis and I was like, oh, this hit different in the Midwest. It was like L.A. would be something like, you know, people would say, hey, Randall. Oh, yeah. And then and then I go home and like I could not go to the Galleria.

Like it was I was like, I can't actually shop. And that's the first time in my life that I'd ever experienced.

Wow.

It was weird. Do you remember when we were shooting downtown, Sue?

This dude comes up to us. I think we were together and he goes, Hey, I just want to let you guys know that your show saved my life or saved my life and my brother's life or something.

And he's just like, Can I get a hug or whatnot? I don't even know if he wanted a hug. He just wanted to let us know that the show had saved his brother's life.

And we were like, Right on, man.

And like those sorts of things, while it like at the moment felt sort of strange, it's like The show hit people.

Beth in the house for a whole episode, just catching up on all things Beth and Randall and Sue. We had a wonderful conversation. We had a lot of laughs during this whole thing. We talked a little bit about how Sue and I knew each other before the show started, because we both went to NYU.

It is kind of an upstairs.

Just so you know, I used to dance if you guys ever.

Oh, no, I do.

Well, because as we flashed forward... We would start to see different people.

I was like the first person to show up.

Here's a question about that because you said a little bit bohemian and what have you. I'm wondering... This is a hair sort of thing and decisions that you chose with hair, which I think were absolutely humongous. And I don't know what kind of feedback you got from it, but from the outside looking in, I was like, this is almost like revolutionary in a really powerful way.

Can you speak to this at all?

It's a little more, but I don't think it's... On the number one TV show six years in a row, you have a sister front and center who is natural.

Wow. Is law enforcement coming to it or are you guys sort of figuring it out?

We had a few conversations about this in the trailer.

You happy? You feeling good? You're pleased with the work?

It is also a testimony to the environment in which we work that you could talk to Dan and Jess and Michael and be heard.

Oh my goodness.

Gang. Wow. This is Susan Kelechi Watson. We ended on a hair note. In the house.

You want to say that? I don't hide anything.

That Was Us is filmed at The Crow and produced by Rabbit Grin Productions and Sarah Warehunt. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.

All right, this is a good transition because you want to talk about somebody taking something and lifting it off the page and elevating it into something that we didn't even know it could be. Talking about you. Talking about you. Talking about you. You've told this story a few times, just for everybody. How did the audition, how did this job of Beth Pearson come into your lap?

We talked about how we were able to build on that knowledge and turn that relationship into the wonderful relationship that you see on screen with Randall and Beth. She talked a lot about representing Black women on screen, talked about her hair and how sort of awesome and inspiring it was for her to be able to wear her natural hair. and change it up week in, week out on the episodes.

I didn't get a script.

I only got my two scenes. Okay.

Oh, so that is to say that Danai is one of your best friends too. Like you guys are homies. And so the excitement of working with your homie. Yes.

You're doing a dress? Are we in a dress?

And I'm like crazy stupid. Let me back up one thing. At this point in time in your career, how many pilots had you booked?

You didn't spend, you didn't have a history of spending your time holding your breath for pilots. Exactly. Like waiting to see. Exactly.

New York is a harder place to book them out. Okay. Yeah. So, okay, they put a pin in you that turns into you coming out to L.A. Was there any other step before you came out to L.A.? There was.

Okay.

And then, so there's three people there. There's a girl, Angel Parker, who was in OJ with me. Sue was there. Tracy Toms, who's from New York, who graduated from Juilliard, same year I graduated from NYU. And then I think Marsha Stephanie decided just to use her tape.

Right? Yeah. And so... This is like, this is the part where, the part of the story that was awesome was like, I knew it was Sue all along or whatnot. But the part is, I know all these sisters, man. Like, it's like, when you get to this place in your career where you're privileged enough or whatnot, and you know, like, people are going to come in, it's like, I know everybody.

Thank you.

And so they'd ask me, like, who, who? I was like, man, I'm not taking a job away from a sister. Yeah. Like that's the last thing that you can put on your board. But like, it was so much fun to read in the room. And when they, cause I think John and Glenn, even more than Dan, like, they're like, I think it's Sue. And I was like, I think you're right. I think you're right.

And I was, and was so, when we got to set and we got a chance to hang out, cause we knew each other from school. Yeah, I was gonna say, you guys have a history. We know each other from school, but we're in different classes. So you spend most of your time with your classmates while you're at school. I'd seen your work. And then I come back, actually. I remember I was still living in New York.

I remember you guys were doing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. And I couldn't see the play, so I came to rehearsal one day. So I was like, Sue's a wonderful, incredible actor. And knew her to be a beautiful human being. But when we got on set and just got a chance to talk and vibe, I was like, and I came home one day and I told you this, I said, Rye, told my wife, I said, I love Susan Kelechi Watson.

Doesn't take anything that I have away from you because you're my wife and I love you and we're going to be together. You know, I just wanted to let you know also that I have room in my heart to love this woman too. No problems, no qualms at all whatsoever.

Whether I'm tackling the chaos of life as a new parent yet again or juggling a packed schedule on set, it's Peloton that helps keep me balanced. Peloton has everything you need to keep on track with your goals no matter what season of life you're in.

I love that even if you have 10, 15, 20 minutes or something, you can get an incredible workout in. You can get on the bike, on the tread. You could do a floor workout. Like it sort of covers the gambit and Peloton always keeps you on track.

Mm-hmm.

The Pearson schedule was always packed with the big threes activities. So whether you're reminiscing about the pre-kids sports meditation era or you're in a full parent-on-the-go mode, Peloton has the classes and support to keep you moving forward. Take some time for yourself, again, whether it's 10, 20, 45 minutes, and explore everything you've ever wanted to try. It's all at your fingertips.

I'm great, guys. I'm so happy to see your faces. I missed you.

Oh, you're so kind.