Joy Bryant brings tears to our eyes every week on Parenthood, but with her new webseries, Across The Board, she aims to turn that frown upside down!
Across the Board features interviews with celebrity guests who not only share Bryant's joie de vivre, but also her passion for board sports like surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. ETonline caught up with the actress (who straps in under the name The Shreddy Negress) to find out how Across The Board came to be, which sport is on her "no-no" list and what's coming up for Jasmine on Parenthood!
ETonline: Where did the idea for this show stem from?
Joy Bryant: This was an idea that I had been thinking about for a few years. I figured it would be cool to do a show where it was me and a pro – snowboarder, surfer – and they'd be coaching me. Basically, it was me trying to get free lessons [laughs]. That was really my original point, but when I met Kevin Law [network co-chairman] and told him the idea, he liked it but wanted to open it up to more than just professionals. That's how it started.
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ETonline: How did you get involved with boarding to start?
Bryant: It started with snowboarding ... but I don't know why I stuck with it as much as I did because I was busting my ass left and right when I was first learning, as you will. It felt like I got run over by two trucks, then someone kicked me in the stomach and spit on me, but I was ready to go again the next day. I just loved it. When I learned how to snowboard, that year, my instructor told me that in the off-season I should take up skateboarding so I could be a better snowboarder, so I got a longboard skateboard. Then, I met a hot surfer in Mexico and he asked me if I wanted to learn how to surf, and I was in. There's nothing like a hot person asking to make you want to learn how to do something. "Wanna jump out of a plane?" Sure!
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ETonline: Would you jump out of a plane?
Bryant: I would not do that. I almost got talked into skydiving once and I just booked it left. I have no desire to jump out of a plane, at all. Same with bungee jumping. I won't be space diving any time soon.
ETonline: Well, I'm sure that's a relief to NBC's insurance teams since having one of their stars actively space diving probably isn't high on the list of approved activies. Personally, I've been loving this season. What's your take?
Bryant: It's just been so intense. I love what they've given me to do this year. Especially The Talk episode with Jabbar. That was one of my favorite episodes ever. I love where they're about to take the storyline. Hopefully we come back for a fourth season so we can continue down the path they're taking us on.
ETonline: What can you tease about Jasmine and Crosby's future?
Bryant: There's some really good drama coming up this season. I don't want to spoil anything, but just because you're married, that doesn't mean the drama stops. One type of drama stopped for them, but there's a whole other host of issues that occur which you'll never experience as a single person. It's not like you get a fairytale once you're married; marriage and family is work. Plus, now that you're together and bonded, you gotta ride through the storm. You can't walk away. The drama definitely doesn't end, it only gets richer and deeper.
For more information on Across the Board, click here and Parenthood airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Joy Bryant Parenthood Interview Across The Board
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