rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt
The first season is yet to wrap on CNC3, but The Ro’dey Show is already set for a second season filled with new talent, new locations and more celebrity appearances. That’s the promise from comedian Rodell “Ro’dey” Cumberbatch, who said bringing new talent on-board is important for the show.
“I always say, it’s not just about Ro’dey, Ro’dey and Ro’dey. The country that we living in... is a lot of talented people here that just want the opportunity to do something that they’re passionate about and really reach their fullest potential,” he said,
“The show is definitely about opening the gates to new talent, writers, actors, and we definitely have the people who have the passion and who have the drive to create a platform for those things to actually come into existence.”
Cumberbatch said new episodes will explore, not only T&T but the Caribbean and there are plans to feature regional talent.
“We very heavy on advertising our culture, our people, our environment, our locations. We have a lot of history here. It’s not just about the laughter, you’ll also learn something,” he said.
To achieve this, the show’s producers will be venturing to more outdoor locations, seeking out places that “people who living here for 40 something years never ever see before.”
Cumberbatch began doing short comedic videos for an online platform some years ago. In these videos, he portrayed some 18 characters, pitting them against each other in hilarious storylines. However, while these characters remain part of his act, in the transition from an online platform to mainstream television, it’s no longer a one-man-show.
“Being able to take the characters now and actually let them interact with people—the transition has been very smooth. I really enjoy it. Now that you have another element, you have another person, you could bounce off that energy,” he said.
Among those interacting with these characters in the first season were, apart from other actors, celebrities such as soca stars Nessa Preppy and Preddy. Cumberbatch promises this element will continue in the new season but will be extended to include from”athletes to people who are entrepreneurs in their own light.”
“We want to try and involve anybody who has their own brand to create something and to be a part of it.”
Cumberbatch said there are plans to go as far as a season 5, but the format of the show can change as necessary. He believes the show will continue “as long as the people want the show and they ain’t start to say, ‘Oh god! We fed up! How much times we go see you?’ We will keep going.”
There will be live tapings of some segments of the programme at CNC3’s newly opened GMLabs. Ro’dey’s manager, Sharon Cumberbatch, said this will allow fans an opportunity to be a part of the show.
The Ro’dey Show first aired on October 1. Season two begins filming in January and will air in April 2020.
The show is a collaboration between Ro’dey Entertainment Limited, Star Studios and CNC3. CNC3 set out on the collaboration to be the leading local content broadcaster in T&T and believes the show was the perfect pilot show for this local content drive.
