ABC/Ron Tom(NEW YORK) — Black-ish star Anthony Anderson is keeping busy during the show’s hiatus. In fact, he’s hosting another ABC show — the reboot of the 1950s game show To Tell the Truth, debuting Tuesday night.
The all-new version takes the excitement to another level, featuring fun characters from pop culture, with Anderson presiding over panelists including legend Betty White — who has appeared on previous versions of the show — reality TV diva NeNe Leakes,and NBA star turned ESPN/ABC analyst Jalen Rose.
Anderson’s mother, Doris Hancox, served as a scorekeeper throughout the game. Anderson goes the extra mile to include her in his projects, because doing what he does was actually her dream.
“My mother is a failed actress. And a horrible, horrible actress,” Anderson told ABC Radio. “And you would ask her why and she’d say, ‘because I gave all my talent to you,’ which she probably did.”
Anderson says there were a lot of big egos on set while recording the shows, egos Anderson didn’t mind checking.
“Between NeNe and my mother, both of them thinking the show is about them…I have to remind them, ‘Actually I’m the guy with the mic. I do the opening monologue and I close the show. So technically it is my show. But I appreciate both of you being here. But NeNe, mom, it’s not about you.’”
The game show genre remain special for Anderson, who shared that it meant family time when he was a kid.
“I grew up watching The Newlywed Game, The Price is Right, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune. Anything that was competitive on television we watched as a family because we’re a competitive family.”
To Tell the Truth airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
