Written by | Ray Cornelius
TV One is gearing up to debut its new original drama “Bad Dad Rehab” this Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. and your truly, RayCornelius.com, got an opportunity to chat exclusively with two of the film’s stars—Wesley Jonathan and Kandi Burruss—while they were filming the movie in Atlanta this past April.
“Bad Dad Rehab” follows the lives of four men who are in denial of their poor parenting skills. After turbulence with their respective baby mamas and ex-wives force them to take definitive action, each one must attend a rehab for deadbeat dads that uses unusual methods to help them become true fathers. Through all the hilarity, hijinks, drama and soul-searching, the men discover fatherhood is less about making babies, and more about making men.
Jonathan plays ‘Shawn Wallace,’ a divorced and out of work father who desperately wants to be a part of his children’s lives but is being penalized by his ex-wife who won’t allow him to see them because he’s behind on child support. Burruss plays Shawn’s sister, Tanya, who tries to support her brother during his dramatic tug of war.
For both actors, “Bad Dad Rehab,” is a story about various fathers—good and bad—that need to be told and features “characters” that audiences should be very familiar with.
“This character [Shawn Wallace] is important because there are a lot of men in this world who really want to be a part of their kids’ lives but aren’t often seen or heard or talked about,” says Jonathan, who is the father to a two-year-old daughter. Hopefully this character can be a face or voice for those men who desperately want to be a part of their children’s lives.”
Burruss, who recently had a little boy with producer husband, Todd Tucker, says she automatically knew she wanted to be involved with the project after reading the script. “I definitely felt that this was a story that a lot of people can relate to,” said the multi-Grammy winning reality star. “Usually, those are the one that hit home and make people want to watch. So, I thought it was pretty cool to be a part of that.”
When asked what they thought the take away message was of the film, Jonathan says its a wake up call to all fathers that need to take responsibility for their actions.
“For men, in particular the fathers, for whatever reasons that are hindering you from being with your children, take responsibility for your actions. Mend relationships as best as you can because the clock is ticking and we’re not getting any younger. Also, do your part to be ‘OK’ with you. If apologies have to be addressed and the child or the mother of your child doesn’t accept it, then you have done your part.”
Burruss also feels this movie is a call for women to do their part and not keep men from having productive relationships with their children just because the relationship didn’t work out between them and the child’s father.”For those women that are trying to stop a good dad from doing his thing, please let’s stop it.”
“Bad Dad Rehab” airs Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. EST on TV One.
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com