Special Guest

Family is about those that show up for you and those that accept you. And so I'm really grateful that Thanksgiving, that episode could just mean something to people because... I never would have thought it would become what it did. But I was just grateful to be working with Melina Mitsoukas, who directed that episode and did a beautiful job.

Family is about those that show up for you and those that accept you. And so I'm really grateful that Thanksgiving, that episode could just mean something to people because... I never would have thought it would become what it did. But I was just grateful to be working with Melina Mitsoukas, who directed that episode and did a beautiful job.

Family is about those that show up for you and those that accept you. And so I'm really grateful that Thanksgiving, that episode could just mean something to people because... I never would have thought it would become what it did. But I was just grateful to be working with Melina Mitsoukas, who directed that episode and did a beautiful job.

You know, Kim Whitley, who pulled up and played, you know, my aunt. And obviously Angela Bassett, who is someone I just, you know, I'm forever grateful for before I got to work with her. But now, and she is like a mother. We feel like mother-daughter because after that, come on, it's forever bonded.

You know, Kim Whitley, who pulled up and played, you know, my aunt. And obviously Angela Bassett, who is someone I just, you know, I'm forever grateful for before I got to work with her. But now, and she is like a mother. We feel like mother-daughter because after that, come on, it's forever bonded.

You know, Kim Whitley, who pulled up and played, you know, my aunt. And obviously Angela Bassett, who is someone I just, you know, I'm forever grateful for before I got to work with her. But now, and she is like a mother. We feel like mother-daughter because after that, come on, it's forever bonded.

My homie was writing on the show. She thought of me for it. Because she was writing on it. I did not know that. Yeah, and I definitely knew about the show. Because I'm such a TV... head. I did the documentary about Mary Tyler Moore because I studied Dick Van Dyke Show. When I went to college, I studied writing, producing, and television. So we had to watch Dick Van Dyke Show.

My homie was writing on the show. She thought of me for it. Because she was writing on it. I did not know that. Yeah, and I definitely knew about the show. Because I'm such a TV... head. I did the documentary about Mary Tyler Moore because I studied Dick Van Dyke Show. When I went to college, I studied writing, producing, and television. So we had to watch Dick Van Dyke Show.

My homie was writing on the show. She thought of me for it. Because she was writing on it. I did not know that. Yeah, and I definitely knew about the show. Because I'm such a TV... head. I did the documentary about Mary Tyler Moore because I studied Dick Van Dyke Show. When I went to college, I studied writing, producing, and television. So we had to watch Dick Van Dyke Show.

We had to watch All in the Family and really study these shows, but also coming up on ER and the practice. And I came up during a really cool time, obviously getting a chance to watch West Wing in real time and all that kind of stuff and Mad Men in real time. And Sopranos, I'm very blessed.

We had to watch All in the Family and really study these shows, but also coming up on ER and the practice. And I came up during a really cool time, obviously getting a chance to watch West Wing in real time and all that kind of stuff and Mad Men in real time. And Sopranos, I'm very blessed.

We had to watch All in the Family and really study these shows, but also coming up on ER and the practice. And I came up during a really cool time, obviously getting a chance to watch West Wing in real time and all that kind of stuff and Mad Men in real time. And Sopranos, I'm very blessed.

And so when This Is Us came about, I remember just being in the industry and sort of hearing about it and hearing about the concept and hearing about the cast and just sort of thinking, if that works... what a miracle and what a joy it would be in terms of what we need to see on television.

And so when This Is Us came about, I remember just being in the industry and sort of hearing about it and hearing about the concept and hearing about the cast and just sort of thinking, if that works... what a miracle and what a joy it would be in terms of what we need to see on television.

And so when This Is Us came about, I remember just being in the industry and sort of hearing about it and hearing about the concept and hearing about the cast and just sort of thinking, if that works... what a miracle and what a joy it would be in terms of what we need to see on television.

And it could have been hokey, but because of you all, and I think the chemistry and the lack of fear to go into really complicated places, people really, especially your father's story, I mean, people I think really,

And it could have been hokey, but because of you all, and I think the chemistry and the lack of fear to go into really complicated places, people really, especially your father's story, I mean, people I think really,

And it could have been hokey, but because of you all, and I think the chemistry and the lack of fear to go into really complicated places, people really, especially your father's story, I mean, people I think really,

kind of were like moved in a way that they were with Grey's Anatomy, like network television that was giving us something that wasn't, you know, you just fold your laundry and let it play in the background. It's always exciting when something comes along that just grabs everybody. And so when I got the opportunity, I was like, yeah,

kind of were like moved in a way that they were with Grey's Anatomy, like network television that was giving us something that wasn't, you know, you just fold your laundry and let it play in the background. It's always exciting when something comes along that just grabs everybody. And so when I got the opportunity, I was like, yeah,