The Soul Man
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes54 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Cedric the Entertainer
  • Eric Rhone
  • Keith Cox
  • Larry W. Jones
  • Sean Hayes
  • Suzanne Martin
  • Todd Milliner
  • Lynda Obst
Camera setupMultiple
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTV Land
ReleaseJune 20, 2012 (2012-06-20) –
June 22, 2016 (2016-06-22)
Related
Hot in Cleveland

The Soul Man is an American sitcom created by Suzanne Martin and Cedric the Entertainer. The series is a spin-off from Hot in Cleveland, in which Cedric guest starred in the 2011 episode "Bridezelka", the backdoor pilot for The Soul Man.[1] The series premiered on TV Land on June 20, 2012 with a 12-episode order.[2]

On December 13, 2012, TV Land picked up The Soul Man for a second season of 10 episodes with Yvette Lee Bowser replacing Phoef Sutton as showrunner.[3] The second season premiered on June 19, 2013.[4] On December 4, 2013, The Soul Man was renewed for a third season that consisted of eight episodes.[5] Season 3 premiered on March 26, 2014 with a special live episode.[6] On August 4, 2014, TV Land renewed The Soul Man for a 12-episode fourth season.[7] The fourth season debuted on March 18, 2015 with the series' second live episode.[8] On July 28, 2015, The Soul Man was renewed for a 12-episode fifth and final season,[9] which premiered on March 30, 2016 at 10:30 PM ET/PT.[10] The series aired its final episode on June 22, 2016.

Synopsis

The series follows R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballantine (Cedric the Entertainer), who was living the high life in Las Vegas at the top of the music charts when he got "the calling" and decided to relocate to St. Louis with his family to become a preacher in his father's church. However, his family members — including wife Lolli (Niecy Nash), daughter Lyric (Jazz Raycole) and younger brother Stamps (Wesley Jonathan) — are not exactly eager to give up the fabulous superstar life for their new humble one.

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Cedric the Entertainer as Reverend Sherman Boyce Ballentine, a former R&B singer turned minister. "Boyce" was the maiden name of Cedric's real-life mother.
  • Niecy Nash as Lolli Ballentine, Boyce's wife, a beauty salon owner
  • Wesley Jonathan as Fletcher Emmanuel "Stamps" Ballentine, Boyce's carefree younger brother. He was Boyce's tour manager in the music business, but now struggles to find employment.
  • Jazz Raycole as Lyric Ballentine (main cast season 1, recurring seasons 2–3), Boyce's daughter, who is adjusting to her father's new lifestyle[11]
  • John Beasley as Barton Moses Ballentine (main cast season 1, recurring seasons 2–5), Boyce's and Stamps' father, a retired minister who now serves on the church Board of Elders, often to Boyce's annoyance[11]

Recurring cast

  • Gary Anthony Williams as Lester, member of the Ballentines' church who serves the church in various capacities, including choir director
  • Hattie Winston as Sister Coriann Pearly (seasons 1–4), member of the Ballentines' church
  • Kim Coles as Wanda (season 1), member of the Ballentines' church
  • Cedric Yarbrough and Yvette Nicole Brown as Paul and Robyn (seasons 1–3, 5), the Ballentines' bickering former neighbors from Las Vegas
  • Kellee Stewart as Kim (seasons 1–4), Lolli's younger sister who is an anesthesiologist; she later becomes Stamps' girlfriend
  • Malcolm Barrett as Bird (season 2), co-owner (with Boyce) of Bird's, a bar & grill that the Ballentines frequent
  • Malik S as Curtis (seasons 2–5), Stamps' friend who has spent time in prison
  • Sherri Shepherd as Nikki (seasons 1 & 4), Boyce's irritating cousin from Chicago, who later becomes the new church treasurer
  • Nyima Funk as Terri (season 4), a church member and Lolli's friend
  • Aloma Wright as Shirley (seasons 4–5), a church member who serves as the church secretary
  • Missi Pyle as Alicia (season 5), Boyce's campaign manager in his run for Mayor of St. Louis

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
112June 20, 2012 (2012-06-20)September 5, 2012 (2012-09-05)
210June 19, 2013 (2013-06-19)August 28, 2013 (2013-08-28)
38March 26, 2014 (2014-03-26)May 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)
412March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18)May 27, 2015 (2015-05-27)
512March 30, 2016 (2016-03-30)June 22, 2016 (2016-06-22)

Syndication

The Soul Man aired on NickMom from August 17, to September 27, 2015 and aired on BET Her for a period of time

Home media

Shout! Factory (under license from Paramount) released the complete first season on DVD in Region 1 on July 8, 2014.[12] Season 2 was released on October 21, 2014.[13]

Development and production

On April 18, 2011, it was announced that Cedric the Entertainer would guest star in a season 2 episode of Hot in Cleveland, as a minister that gets caught up in the girls' problems.[14] The episode served as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series to star Cedric. The episode entitled "Bridezelka"[1] was written by Hot in Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin[15] and aired on August 24, 2011.[16]

In November 2011, it was that announced that Niecy Nash was cast the female lead opposite Cedric. The two had previously worked together in the 2007 film Code Name: The Cleaner. John Beasley, Wesley Jonathan, and Jazz Raycole, were then cast, with Beasley playing Boyce's father; Jonathan playing Boyce's brother; and Raycole playing Boyce's daughter.[17] Suzanne Martin and Cedric wrote the pilot and are executive producing with Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner. The pilot was filmed on December 2, 2011.[18]

On January 12, 2012, TV Land officially picked up the pilot to series, under the title Have Faith, and set the first season at 12 episodes.[19] On March 11, 2012 it was announced that the series' title was changed from Have Faith to The Soul Man.[20]

For the first season, former Cheers writer/producer Phoef Sutton was hired as the showrunner. Stan Lathan, who previously directed Cedric in every episode of The Steve Harvey Show, served as the director of the first season.[21] Anthony Anderson, Tamar Braxton, Trina Braxton, Robert Forster, Cee Lo Green, Tim Reid and Sherri Shepherd all guest starred during the show's first season.[21]

Reception

The series has received generally positive reviews from critics, with an initial score 65 out of 100 on Metacritic.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hot in Cleveland: Episode Info - "Bridezelka"". MSN TV. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  2. ↑ Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com (April 23, 2012). "TV Land Brings Back I Love Lucy in June 2012; Good Morning America's TV Reunion Blowout: One Day at a Time, Laverne & Shirley, and More - SitcomsOnline.com News Blog". Blog.sitcomsonline.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ Bibel, Sara (December 13, 2012). "'The Soul Man' & 'The Exes' Renewed by TV Land". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ TV Land June 19, 2013 Schedule Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine locatetv.com, retrieved June 14, 2013
  5. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 4, 2013). "'The Soul Man' Renewed for Third Season by TV Land". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ TV Land’s ‘Hot In Cleveland’ & ‘The Soul Man’ Starting New Seasons With Live Episodes deadline.com on 23 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Miller, Thomas. "TV Land Renews The Soul Man". Seat42F. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Sherri Shepherd Returns to 'The Soul Man,' Applauds Diversity Increase on TV". eurweb.com. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2015-07-28). "'The Soul Man' Picked Up For Fifth & Final Season By TV Land". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  10. ↑ "The Soul Man season 5 to premiere on March 30, 2016". when-will.net. March 12, 2016. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Soul Man Wesley Jonathan Talks Race and Network Politics". The Burton Wire. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  12. ↑ Press Release for Next Week's Shout! DVD for 'The Complete 1st Season' Archived 2014-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ 'The Complete 2nd Season' with Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Hinckley, David (April 18, 2011). "Cedric's so hot in Cleveland that he's got a spinoff before he's on the show". Daily News. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  15. ↑ Maerz, Melissa (April 18, 2011). "Cedric the Entertainer to develop 'Hot in Cleveland' spinoff". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  16. ↑ "TV Land July 2011 Highlights; MeTV Network Honors James Arnes". SitcomsOnline.com. June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2011). "Joel Gretsch, Gillian Vigman And Todd Stashwick Among Latest Cable Castings –". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  18. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (November 1, 2011). "Niecy Nash To Star In TV Land's Cedric Pilot, Summer Glau Joins TNT's 'Scent'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Official: TV Land Picks Up "Have Faith" Starring Cedric "The Entertainer"; Renews Hot in Cleveland - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  20. ↑ "TV Land Changes Cedric Sitcom Name To The Soul Man, Schedules Retired at 35; Just My Show Talks To Bill Kirchenbauer About Kirk Cameron's Comments". SitcomsOnline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  21. 1 2 "Breaking News - Anthony Anderson, Tamar Braxton, Trina Braxton, Kim Coles, Robert Forster and Sherri Shepherd to Guest Star on TV Land's "The Soul Man"". TheFutonCritic.com. May 24, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  22. ↑ The Soul Man: Season 1
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