Sitcom Stars Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Anna Maria Horsford (Amen) and Jackée Harry (227) appeared together — for the first time ever — in a special episode of FX’s drama Pose.
Pose is strutting into the third season. The episode “Take Me To Church” follows an HIV-positive Pray Tell (Billy Porter) as he returns to his hometown in western Pennsylvania after more than two decades away. This all for an emotional reconnection with his teenage lover and his estranged mother Charlene (Horsford), his aunts, Latrice (Hubert) and a more supportive Jada (Harry).
According to the New York Post, all three actresses were shocked to discover Porter still felt a connection to their early sitcom work.
“He said, ‘You all had a part of my life. You all had a part of my world. You were all part of my world, going through all of what I’ve been through. You all held a spot in my life,’ ” Hubert said. “And we were so touched … We were on a Zoom read, and we were crying because he was so sincere in saying, ‘You all held a place for me’ at a time where he needed something.”
Since their sitcom glory days, all three actresses have led busy lives. Hubert has reconciled with her former nemesis Will Smith, Horsford has kept love in her heart for Amen co-star Sherman Hemsley and Harry has ditched comedy for drama throughout the years.
Related Story: FX’s Pose To Be Honored With Award At The Human Rights Campaign’s “Time For Equality” Virtual Event
Jane Hubert: The Aunt
Hubert has a sense of humor about her long-standing and public feud with series star Smith coining the term “Joan of Dark.” Hubert played Aunt Viv for the first three seasons of the sitcom before departing the show in 1993. She’s recently opened up about this time in her life where she was in an unhappy, abusive marriage, which she kept from her castmates.
During the special, Hubert said she “lost everything,” including her “reputation,” because of what happened. “And I understand you were able to move forward, but you know those words calling a black woman ‘difficult’ in Hollywood is the kiss of death. It’s the kiss of death, and it’s hard enough being a dark-skinned black woman in this business.”
But now, she seems to be doing well and staying far from the “bullsh* t of Hollywood.”
Hubert will enter a recurring role in Season 4 of Tracy Morgan’s TBS comedy “The Last O.G.” — which also stars her new “Pose” BFF, Horsford.
Anna Maria Horsford: The Mother
Joining this particular episode of Pose meant a lot to Horsford, who witnessed firsthand the devastation of the early AIDS pandemic.
“I personally have lost more than a hundred friends,” she said. “It was a very hard time — and doing ‘Pose’ brought all of that back. And that’s why it was really hard for me, without telling everybody, ‘Oh, I lost this one. I lost [that one].’ It’s still in your heart. Totally personal. Totally personal. And you become the witness to all of their lives.”
However, even though the sitcom Amen aired parallel track to the AIDS devastation, she said working on the show was “the best time,” and she managed to stay in touch with other cast members over the years.
With this Pose special episode, Horsford hopes that this show will also have its own effect on future generations.
“I was glad that I got a chance to do this because this is gonna stand for something years from now, you know?” she said.
Jackée Harry: The Support
The 64-year-old starred in a string of comedies, including Amen, Sister, Sister, Everybody Hates Chris and 227, which launched her trademark “Maaaarrrry” when her character greeted neighbor Mary Jenkins.
Harry recently revealed she was not initially thrilled for the role of adoptive mother in one of her
biggest hit sitcoms Sister, Sister that starred twins Tia and Tamera Mowry.
Harry tweeted, “I absolutely did NOT want to play Lisa Landry – I was too young and sexy to be anybody’s MOTHER! But my sister eventually convinced me to take the part, and I’m glad I did because it helped me realize how fulfilling it is to mentor younger women.”
🧵 I absolutely did NOT want to play Lisa Landry – I was too young and sexy to be anybody’s MOTHER!
But my sister eventually convinced me to take the part and I’m glad I did because it helped me realize how fulfilling it is to mentor younger women. pic.twitter.com/rxEFzTisf2
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) May 9, 2021
These days the Emmy-winning Harry has been starring in special dramatic projects, including the 2019 Lifetime film Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta and NBC’s Days of Our Lives. Harry was excited for this role to connect with fans and viewers and show them they are not alone.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to sink my teeth into some drama. It made me feel like all the years I’ve been putting in as an actor have come to fruition,” Harry told The Post.
If you haven’t seen the special episode yet, tune in and let us know what you think.
