Stand-up comedian Gary Owen became the first white person to star in a BET series when “The Gary Owen Show” premiered on the network back in October, but it’s not something the comic thinks of as a big deal.
“You don’t think about it when you get the show, though,” the comic told TheWrap’s Stuart Brazell. “You’re just happy to have a show … As a comic, any network you’re excited. I always say, if I had known Spanish, I would have gone to Telemundo with it, but I don’t.”
“I guess it’s like Jackie Robinson,” Owen joked, summing up his reaction to being the first white star in BET’s 36-year history.
The 30-minute reality series follows Owen — who previously became the first white person to host BET’s “Comic View” and has appeared in movies including “Think Like A Man,” “Ride Along” and “Meet the Blacks” — as well as his wife and three kids.
“The show’s just an extension of my stand-up,” he said. “In my stand-up, I’m always talking about my wife and kids, so the show is almost like bringing my stand-up to life.”
But Owen also said the show is a fun opportunity to show his fans a different side of the comedian they see on stage.
“On stage, I’m in the control,” he said. “When I’m doing stand up, people probably think that’s how I am in life. But that’s so not the case. When I go home, my wife runs everything.”
“The Gary Owen Show” is executive produced by Owen alongside Bunim/Murray Productions’ Gil Goldschein, Jeff Jenkins and Andrea Metz. Stella Bulochnikov, Brian Sher and Clifford Joseph Harris (T.I.) also executive produce.
“The Gary Owen Show” airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on BET.