Watch My Show: ‘Truth Be Told’ Producer Wants Everyone But His Wife to Tune In
Truth be told, NBC’s Truth Be Told has struggled in its tough Friday timeslot.
Originally titled People Are Talking, the comedy, averaging 2.8 million viewers (after seven days’ worth of DVR and VOD use), eventually saw its episodic order reduced from 13 to 10. But viewers can still catch the show, which revolves around two couples who obsessively tackle hot topics and life’s various relationship obstacles. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tone Bell, Vanessa Lachey and Bresha Webb star in the series, which comes from executive producers DJ Nash and Will Packer. Nash filled out our “Watch My Show!” showrunner survey to explain why people should be talking about Truth Be Told.
I’ve got room in my life to watch just one more show. Tell me why it should be yours.
Nash: What’s going on in your life that you only have time for one show? Should we spend a minute on that? But give Truth Be Told a shot because, you know all those thoughts you have about sex, politics, race and religion that you’re afraid to say out loud? Well, we’re saying them on network TV.
Who should be watching?
Nash: Black people. White people. Pretty much everyone. Probably not your kids. Unless your kids are grown-ups. Definitely not my wife, because I’ve got some personal stuff about her in there. And Nielsen families.
What happens if we don’t watch your show?
Nash: If you don’t watch Truth Be Told, you’ll have nothing to talk about with your friends and family. You’ll be lost in water cooler conversations at work, won’t be able to connect with loved ones while waiting in line to see Spiderman 18, and little by little, your purpose in life will diminish until you are nothing but a speck of dust floating through space and time. But good news, you can DVR it.
What’s the best thing anyone has said or written about your show?
Nash: It’s the best new comedy on NBC.
What’s the worst thing?
Nash: It’s the only new comedy on NBC.
Who was right?
Nash: My wife. Sorry, default response.
What’s an alternate title for your show?
Nash: Saved by the Bell: The Best Friends With A Black Couple Years
Give us an equation for your show.
Nash: Friends plus Curb Your Enthusiasm, minus the Enthusiasm, times Modern Family, with a sprinkle of black-ish, divided by Seinfeld with a side of How I Met Your Mother, minus the narration. And the mother.
Come up with a premise for the spin-off.
Nash: Russell (played by Tone Bell) moves to Seattle to host a radio show. Sings the theme song himself.
What credit of yours would you prefer we forget?
Nash: Kenickie in Grease. Ninth grade. Me and my adolescent vocal cords had no business being on stage.
Tell me one thing about your cast.
Nash: They’re hot. I would do any of them. And my wife would understand.
What other series would you most like to be an executive producer on?
Nash: Naked and Afraid. It’s how I feel on the inside.
Let’s scare the network. Tell us an idea that didn’t make it on to the screen.
Nash: No. We’re doing all the episodes they’re afraid of.
Finish this sentence: “If you like _______, you’ll love our show.”
Nash: Mad Libs.
Pick another show, any show, to start a fake feud with.
Nash: Undateable. They think they’re so live.
What other show would you like to do a cross-over episode with—and how would that go?
Nash: I would imagine it’s only a couple weeks before we’re asked to do one with Undateable. So, guys, I was just kidding about my last answer.
How will your show change the face of TV as we know it?
Nash: A show adults would want to watch will be on Friday nights on NBC. And we’re on right after. (Feud ended.)
