Backtalk with Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric the Entertainer is bringing soul to TV Land. Since earning critical acclaim as a comedy king and appearing in some 25 films, the St. Louis native returns to television with The Soul Man. The sitcom, which premieres June 13, follows a chart-topping R&B singer turned preacher and his dysfunctional congregation. Black Enterprise caught up with the comedian to find out why cable TV is good for black folks and how he’s building a brand outside of comedy.

The Soul Man is based on your Hot in Cleveland character Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine. What inspired his creation?
As we began developing the show I thought about R&B singers and rappers like Al Green and Mase who lived secular lives and then became religious. Al went from singing soul to saving souls! Then I had this character in my head and I thought, “What would it be like if R. Kelly had a church and became a preacher? Would you go to that church?”

How do you enjoy serving as both the show’s leading man and executive producer?
I love it because it’s a natural growth. People never really give comedians credit for their talents. If you think about it, we write jokes all the time and it’s our true point of view. It’s important when you spend

years nurturing your brand to have that power and control, and to be able to define and shape what you’ve created. It’s always funny to me when I meet people and they say, “I watched your comedy special and I know what it is you do.” I’m thinking, “I’ve evolved since The Original Kings of Comedy, so do you really know me?”

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Many African American sitcoms rejected by major networks
have found a home on cable. Why do you think that is?
Economics is the bottom line for major networks–not creativity. African American shows are immediately marginalized. If a TV show or movie is all

black, the belief is that it is only designed for black viewers, but that doesn’t happen with a white show or film. The only way to [defeat] those things is to become bigger than your ethnic identity while staying true to it. Think of The Cosby Show or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At this time, cable is the best place for us because we have the latitude to develop a show and grow its success. I can take my time and create the show I want and push the envelope a little.

This fall you’ll be pushing the hat collection you started last year, Who Ced? Is it true that Sean “Diddy” Combs gave you some pretty sound advice?

Yes, I met with Sean and he told me that when he launched Sean John all he sold was velour sweatsuits and [not] anything else for a long time. So, he advised that I focus on one thing and then build out. He said, “Do your hats, everybody knows you for your hats.” In my personal collection I own about 200 hats. My line will offer fedoras, newsboys, baseball caps, and scullies, and will be sold in Saks Fifth Avenue this fall, and at Macy’s and Kohl’s next spring. In the meantime, check them out at www.whoced.com.