Alright, real talk. Ever since Tyler Perry’s The Oval premiered in the fall of 2019, we’ve been hooked. The one-hour drama is everything we never knew we needed, as it features secrets, power, and revenge while giving viewers an “inside look” at the personal lives of the “First Family” and its staff in the White House.
It seems as if millions of other people agree with us, as The Oval is ranked one of the most popular dramas among the Black community, racking in over 1.5 million viewers in its season two debut last Tuesday (February 16). Earlier this week, Deadline reported that BET picked up the drama for a third season, along with Tyler Perry’s Sistas, and will begin production at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta later this year.
“It’s the drama; It’s the surprises every single episode,” actor Vaughn Hebron, who plays “Barry” on the show, tells Celeb Secrets over a Zoom call. “Tyler [Perry] is very good at throwing throwing fans for a loop with surprises. He does it with the actors as well, because sometimes he changes things while we’re on set and it throws us for a loop. I think that’s the most enticing part of the show because you just never know what’s going to happen.”
He continues, “I’m starting to realize that after the first season, whole families watch this show and they’re very, involved in it. They’re very attached to it. Not only the plot and the story, but the characters as well. They’re yelling at us, crying with us, cheering us on and even criticizing us. They’re very engaged with what the act is and what the characters are doing, and that’s why they can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry, “The Oval” is a political drama series on BET. It tells the story of U.S President Hunter Franklin and first lady Victoria Franklin, a power-hungry interracial couple, who present a perfect facade to the world while indulging in wildly scandalous behavior behind closed doors. Not to be outdone, their children — Gayle and Jason — bring their own brands of volatility and excess to the Executive Residence. The soap opera-style series also tells the stories of White House staff members whose lives become intertwined with those of the first family.
Season two lifts the veil of what can happen when the leader of the free world, his wife and family are crazed maniacs. It also highlights the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run the inner workings of the nation’s most iconic residence.
Celeb Secrets sits down with Vaughn to learn more about what to come from season two of Tyler Perry’s The Oval, his favorite memories from set, and what it’s really like playing a character like Barry.
To learn more about Tyler Perry’s The Oval, watch our full interview with Vaughn below and don’t forget to leave a reaction at the bottom of the post if you really enjoy it.
New episodes of Tyler Perry’s The Oval air every Tuesday at 9PM ET/PT on BET and you can keep up with Vaughn by giving him a follow on Instagram at @vheb_official.
