Guys With Kids

Season 1 SABC3 (*193) 19:30 Comedy

Babies and their mamas mean drama for three young fathers in 17- episode comedy Guys With Kids (2012-2013). “We’re not sugar- coating fatherhood and that’s what makes our show stand out,” says Anthony Anderson. He plays dad-of-four Gary alongside Jesse Bradford as Chris and Zach Creggor as Nick. “If you like babies, poop and pee, you will like our show,” adds Anthony with a laugh. But in all seriousness, there are good reasons to tune in.

“We teach lessons in-between the laughs,” explains Jesse. “Being a parent isn’t something that you learn because there is no right and wrong. There are guidelines and that’s the type of lesson we teach, especially for new dads. It is one of the things that fathers worry about but don’t speak about because they worry that it will make them look less manly.” Zach adds that it’s not all about the laughs: “There is an episode where we focus on wills. You don’t think about that as a parent and then you get a health scare and immediately ask yourself: what would happen to my kids if I’m not here?”

Guys With Kids isn’t only for fathers, says Tempestt Bledsoe, who plays Gary’s wife Marny. “You look at single mothers raising families, how many women lose their husbands to death or prison or to whatever. They take over that dad role and have to do double duty.” Her sisterwife Jamie-Lynn Sigler (as Nick’s wife Emily) adds that it’s refreshing to play moms – Jamie-Lynn was angsty teen Meadow on The Sopranos (1999-2007), while Tempestt was Vanessa on The Cosby Show (1982-1992): “This is a fun new chapter and it’s a departure from those roles. It’s also a lot of fun watching the boys handle dirty diapers, even if it’s just runny chocolate mousse.”