7 Questions With Anthony Anderson of ABC’s “black-ish”

Anthony Anderson black-ish

ABC’s new comedy black-ish (Wednesdays) is about a wealthy black family in Los Angeles dealing with cultural and racial identities in America. Anthony Anderson stars as Dre, an advertising executive and father trying to keep it real without knowing what real is anymore. Anderson took a few moments to anwer our “7 Questions.”

1) What has been your strangest fan encounter?
You! Right now!Anthony Anderson black-ish

2) Who said I was a fan?
[Laughs] You’d better be!

3) Tell us about a time when you were starstruck.
I was at [PR entrepreneur] Ron Berkowitz’s house for a birthday party for [film producer and executive] Mike Medavoy and President Bill Clinton. It was years ago. And I was starstruck by Kevin Spacey. It was before he won the Oscar, and I was like, “He’s going to win the Oscar this year.” And we were at the same party and I talked to him for 30 minutes before I said “hello.”

4) If your TV carried just three shows or networks, what would they be?
House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black and anything on the Golf Channel.

5) What’s a movie you can watch over and over again?
Cooley High. Going way back. And The Five Heartbeats.

6) What are three things you have to have in your fridge or pantry?
Alkaline water, fruit and olive oil.

7) Did you really throw a bro mitzvah for your son?
He said, “OK, Dad. For my 13th birthday, I want a bar mitzvah.” So we had a compromise. I told him, I was like, “Well, you know, that’s not our culture. That’s not who we are and what we do. But I will throw you a hip‑hop bro mitzvah.” And that’s what we did. I trademarked the name bro mitzvah, and I threw him a party. And till this day — he’s 14 now — to this day, all of his Jewish friends say that was the best bar mitzvah they’ve been to.”

Photo: © 2014 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Credit: Craig Sjodin.

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.