Viewers certainly won’t complain of the latest dosage of chocolate slated to take over your Wednesday nights. In a refreshing new Fall lineup, FOX debuts a new series starring Morris Chestnut in the medical drama, Rosewood. The Todd Harthan created series is a hybrid of comedy, drama, and real-life situations with a gorgeous Miami backdrop, as The Best Man actor plays the title character, Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, or “Rosie.”
Fresh off The Perfect Guy success, who’s number one in the box office for two consecutive weeks, September is shaping up to be a successful one for the California native. Debuting his first leading role in a TV series, Chestnut plays the cocky, charming and uber-suave pathologist-for-hire, solving crimes with Miami P.D along side the fiesty Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gabrielle Dennis (The Game.)
At the Chicago VIP screening of the drama, co-star Lorraine Toussant, who plays Chestnut’s mother, blushed about the new series, calling it, “a complex story and procedural. It’s Miami; it’s hot, it’s sexy, it’s Morris Chestnut! And it’s smart. My ten year old refers to the character Rosewood as “the smart guy.” It’s intellectually stimulating, sexy, very funny and even heartbreaking. The family aspect of it is very real, we get very real, we’re a modern black family and we have those modern black family issues- my daughter’s a lesbian and she’s getting married, I’m getting divorced from my husband, it’s real life.”
Premiering just before the FOX juggernaut second season premiere of Empire, this Wednesday at 8:00pm, Rosewood is sure to become a Wednesday night staple.
The Source caught up with the 46-year-old as he got candid about his new show, what he’d be if he wasn’t an actor and more. – Angela Wilson (@SheisAngela)
The Source: Congratulations on your new FOX show, Rosewood. What makes this show different from other medical dramas?
Morris Chestnut: Thank you, I’m really excited about it. With this particular show we’re doing a little bit of everything. You’re going to get comedy and drama in each episode; they’re either all straight comedy or straight drama. What separates our show is we shift and mix tones and we have a lot of different characters that bring a lot of different things to the show.
Are there any similarities between you and your character?
Yes, there’s a bit, I think I’m very optimistic and we use a bit of wit and humor in our everyday life. And he likes to stay in shape.
How do you handle all the love you receive from your female fans?
I appreciate that [support] – they’ve come out and supported me throughout my career. I just try to give back whenever I can and try to get better as an actor and bring better quality projects for them to be entertained.
See Also: Morris Chestnut To Star In New Show ‘Rosewood’
You’ve been in the game for over 20 years, from Ricky (Boyz n The Hood, 1991), to Keith (Two Can Play That Game, 2001) to Lance (The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday) do you have a favorite character?
I think all [the characters] bring different things; Ricky was fun and when I look back on that I reflect back because then I was just starting out and I compare it to who I am now as an actor and a person.
What is something about you that can’t be found on Google?
Well I haven’t Googled myself lately, so I’m not really sure but I think what people don’t know is that I’m some what of a quiet, shy person.
Fill in the Blank: If I weren’t an actor, I would be…
I would want to be an athlete or a financial manager.
So you’re good with numbers?
I try to be!
What’s your sport of choice?
Football’s my favorite, that’s my first love. Rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles!
<strong>Rosewood premieres Wednesday, September 23 on FOX at 8/7c.
Photo credit: FOX, Getty Images
