tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, and look at the new series >> every community has a martin -- it appeared to strong ratings and positive reviews with cedric playing a character that he first introduced to the public on "hot in cleveland." >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your you. thank you.

tavis: please welcome cedric and niecy nash. the two have teamed up on a program called "the soul man," and here is a scene from it. >> pastor, are you getting fresh with me? >> not fresh. freaky. i will get the whipped cream. [laughter] now, god, you are going to hear your name quite a bit. [laughter] we are not asking for help. we are just saying thank you. tavis: what kind of preacher

man? >> you know. right, yes, yes. take a look. tavis: first of all, congratulations to both of you. >> thank you. >> i was telling me earlier that it this show does not work, it will not be for lack of promotion. this thing is everywhere. >> yes, they have already got the lunch boxes out. it is like bill hall "$6 million man" days. tavis: how does it feel so far? >> we are having a good time. speaking of promotion, they put a likeness of ourselves up on sunset. i did not see it. when i went to go see it, i was

trying to take a picture of it, and then the hollywood tourist van pulls up, and they were like, "hey." i was out there trying to get the picture. it is so surreal. tavis: you first introduced this character. >> yes, "hot in cleveland." we were trying to develop the show, and we met with the person who developed that. we had an idea of doing this, a character who was already flawed, so we had these songs that were kind of sexually charged, and he became a minister, so we developed the character on "hot in cleveland", and it was a fun process. tavis: were you hesitant about doing this character? because that character of a black preacher has been mimed

over and over again. you are an expert comedian. you are a start. with that type of material, sometimes you see the joke coming a mile away, because we know these black preacher troops. were you hesitant >> i was telling the story more as a family and a journey, the preacher ended up being the job he was doing, and i thought it was great in the sense that it was communal in that you have a number of stories come out of this environment. not just about sunday. the church is open all week. he counsels. weddings, funerals. there are some of the reasons for a story line to come out, so where there was that workplace and barnett, and then the journey that this guy would go on after being known for something else. it would not be so much about being in the pulpit and telling

preacher jokes and church jokes, about this person and what he is going through. tavis: showing them as they really are. >> speaking as a former first lady myself, no, i used to be married to a pastor. pastors are men, too, with a different job descriptions and others. we are all called to bear one another's burdens and to pray for a six -- pray for the sick. a lot of women do not think that. trust me, i know. tavis: so in the casting process, how did this work? >> this profession? tavis: how did this happen? >> during the process of casting, there were a lot of names of great actresses, and

when her name came up, you wanted someone who was one to be funny, professional, able to hold their own, beautiful, and be able to control the scenes, so it is not always about you, right? and then to stretch into this role. we know her from her shows, "reno 911!," and as a step, live, we have not seen her, and at the same time, she is somebody i know. so we met. took her out to a really classy dinner. i went all out. raspberry and lemonade. you do not have to get regular lemonade. tavis: when the call comes for

you to do this, the true story, you had been a first lady. talk about synergy. >> well, it was almost a role that was not. i had another job. and then it finally stopped. tavis: you passed on cedric the entertainer? >> yes. but it wasn't personal. it is called show business and not show friends. i had another project, but then who could turn down ceddy there. can i finish? >> yes, yes, yes. >> so anyway, when i found out that she was married to an r&b

singer and left the stage to become a pastor, i was like i was married to a man who left the stage to become a pastor. he is from st. louis. my old -- my whole family is from st. louis. and when i sat down with a raspberry and lemonade, i knew. tavis: it sounds like divine intervention. >> so much of the story parallel her real life. i could not believe it. you stole my story. it was on the point, but it was perfect. it was a perfect storm in a sense that energy wise, and again, she is just like that. really funny, creative, unique, some it feels special. there is that by. we were talking about this backstage. chemistry is not something you

expect. you cast people for their professionalism, but then the chemistry happens, and it is something that makes coming to work fine. tavis: but to your point, if that does not happen, everything else can be right, but if there is no chemistry -- >> here is the thing i love about it, and we talked about this early on. what kind of husband and wife do you plan in this thing? a lot of times, the husband and wife are the butt of each other's jokes. she says something snappy, and he walks out of the door, and i am all things love right now. i am a lover, not a fighter. can we show black glove on television? that is what interests me. can we show my children that on television? tavis: to your mind, has that been it, the notion of black glove on television? >> yes.

when you think about it right now, where do you see it? i am saying a lot of our kids are watching reality. that is not love. you know what i mean? that is arguing and fighting and being slapped around, and i do not care if the show has got a wife or married in it, if you do not see the wife and the husband co-laboring -- tavis: it works for ratings. the has been walking down. >> i tell you what. i just want to give you an option on the dial. just in case you do not feel like getting somebody slaps. right here. tavis: how do you all get through a scene what all of this? >> i just jump in.

>> really? tavis: the outtakes. >> the outtakes are fun. >> you are from st. louis. i have an intern this summer is from st. louis. it is amazing how a television show, just the opening scene, the arts, it is amazing what that does for a town when they are featured in a television series. st. louis, they must be delighted that you decided to write this and do it in st. louis. >> people were very excited. people have family there. then to represent the city like that, ever since i have been doing stand-up, whenever i walk out, it is like from st. louis. because we introduced the show on "cleveland," the question is, do you want to base the show on

cleveland? i had to say as far as the episode, let's take it to my home town. you do the tweeds. you get the kind of pride. we start naming streets and locations and stuff like that. it is really special. there is going to be some little kid out there. it will be like this. it means a lot. just have the opportunity to do it is important, and i think from the producer side, to be able to show it, so that even though we shoot the show in los angeles, it feels real to people that it represents their world. that is great. tavis: any hesitation or intimidation about playing a sitcom wife? >> no, not if i want to eat.

tavis: you already had a job already. you could have eaten doing something else. >> i am on my second marriage, and being married again for the second time, i am just in a place where i am in love with love, so i am glad that i get to have it in my real life and display it when i go to work. i did not have a doubt about it at all. tavis: you never know what the answer is going to be, so i'm going to ask this anyway. where is this material coming from? where are you mining it? >> you just start with the premise of this guy is flawed and is trying to be better, so we can go anywhere with our story line. we have a great writing staff. we will pick out anything. we are doing stories about having an ex-girlfriend of mine show up.

and now i am supposed to counsel her. we did an episode on alcoholism. for me being a person that was in the clubs, how do you stop somebody from drinking and these kinds of things, so we play with these areas where we run up to the mines. in the community, some of this stuff we talk about, kind of controversial. her dress style. we want to show that this is what the cristian plight is really about. changing, it getting better. it takes a little time. stop judging. tavis: the sisters at the church? >> in the series, yes. people at home? i hope so. because, you know, a lot of times there is a lot of

judgment, especially from the church community. i am sorry, we should be the ones that in braise them and have the most, but sometimes we are the most critical, and what does my character think of the transition? big hair, a tight dresses, eyelashes, yes. and now she is back in st. louis being a pastor's wife, and it is all brand new. making the transition together though. tavis: we were talking about the fans in st. louis, who obviously would love it in st. louis, but what are we hearing from the tweeters? >> we ran into a bishop, who gave us all sorts of accolades. a bishop text messaged me that he was supporting us, so i think so far, so good. >> would she wear that to

church? we introduce some language in the show from time to time, and it is that kind of thing. you gave a great answer to this. we want to show what it is really like. kind of like the movie "barbershop." in that movie, we went inside. it is controversial. it is not that everyone says the thing that is right for the next person. inside a church is the same. it is not like everyone is walking around holier than thou. tavis: i am sure glad you went there. there was a line he muttered into a barbershop." but people loved it, or they hated it. mostly, they laughed at it.

barbershop made a whole bunch of money. but you pushed the envelope in that. so might you push the envelope a little bit in a series like this that might cause some of that controversy? >> definitely. i am one of those, as a comedian, in general, i want people to have a good time, but i pride myself on saying things that have some truth in it. whether you like it or not, it is truthful. the most genuine laughs -- tavis: or the biggest controversy. >> but like i say, into a certain degree, controversy in its proper context, if it is built on the origin of truth, then i can handle the controversy, like that situation. i was kind of able to give them my treat. there were people mad at me,

saying, "we are going to boycott you." tavis: we were talking before you got here, niecy, it is a rare thing to see african- americans in this business do that. we do not have enough time in this show for me to start naming the names of people who we saw on one show, and it might have been a huge success, but that is the only thing that we recall that they ever did, and you have had said, after said, , movie after movie. it is a rare thing, but it is a beautiful thing to see people reinventing themselves and keep getting opportunities to do that. what do you say? >> i say i am grateful. i say god is kind. there are so many people out there that want to do what we do

for a living. i do not take all of the credit, but i do know that i love what i do, and i see it as a gift, so in that respect, color me crazy, but i expect the door to be open. i expect the answer to be yes, and i believe it to be so because it is the call of my life. if i did not have the is shop, i would be, like, what am i going to go and do now? i will not be fearful because i know that is part of my journey. tavis: have you always been the spiritual a being proof people could look at you if they did not see you in an interview setting like this when you talk about who you really are, they could look at you and not know that you are the spiritual a person, but i hear it when i talk to you person or person. >> always. i enjoy church by myself in a

borrowed suit at 13. i had my neighbors bible, you know, so my walk and my faith have always been very real. and that is what i say with this show, when we had gone out to promote it, people say, "your character dresses to a sexy." and," ny-your character dress like this?" go to church every sunday, and you will see women looking like i did. you understand what i am saying? remember that this is a process. the process will take some people longer than others. tavis: yes. >> i do not wear my faith on my sleeve, but i do walk with it every day in my heart. tavis: how do you justify that you have been given so many, and i say so, because there are a

bunch of people that look like this, many more opportunities than you have had. a couple of shots for the basket. i definitely try to operate in a positive light. gibbs, gives and receives. i have always been that way. my lane. i have a good time with it. i try to enjoy my life and treat others with respect, in return, i think god blesses that, and it comes back threefold. a lot of times i do not worry about it. i feel blessed that i get to do my career. there are ups and downs of any carrier. in those down cycles, i have never really gotten to the point where i was stressed.

thinking i am never going to do this again. i just enjoy the moments as we are going on. have a good time with it. it has been charged. it has been a nice life so far. people who really love what they do. love what you do, because it is not always going to be defined by who you are. your good name walks in the door before you do. if someone is in the studio, the networks got talking about now they want, they say my name, and brings them a smile, or a not so good name. >> might counter to that, in we were talking about that this weekend, and i told him i thought it was better to see a sermon lived then it is to see one preached. if you live your life in such a way, people will be drawn to that energy.

good things will manifest from that. tavis: the movie, this is a funny show, and i am glad you are doing it. you did that role so well in "talk to me." i thought you were going to take it at some point. the directive that made that maybe, the character does says some funny things. she knew it was just a great dramatic role and had not seen me like that. i just love the opportunity. you look for those kinds of roles. where you do stuff as a comedian. hollywood sees you as a comedian. a funny movie or something like that. >> people who can make you laugh

can make you cry. >> i just keep looking for the right thing. tavis: my time is up. i know that is not costume jewelry. >> that is not. that is from my new husband. tavis: that is a nice ring. i do not know who it is. show that one more time. god is good. cedric, good to see you. niecy, good to see you. "the soul man" is a hit, and i think it will be around for a long time. that is our show tonight. as always, thanks for watching, and keep the faith. i want to see that clothing hit the floor ♪ to have sex with you

♪ >> you think, scarface sits at home singing? >> back with a long as dinner of my life. what ever happened to that toward jacket they gave me? >> the one with the big wings on it? lost in the move. about that sweet 16 show. >> she is not going to do it. i watched that show. they are spoilt monsters. >> i say we played good cat -- good cop, bad cop. i will play good cop. >> this time, we both played bad cop, and i am talking to a training day." at pbs.org. tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with -- the former secretary of state colin powell. that is next time.

we will see you then. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. thank you.

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