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Walking theEmmys red carpetlast month, Ayo Edebiribriefly lost her coolat the sight of two of her fellow actresses.
Literally, my legs are shaking, a slack-jawedThe Bearstar told the duo.
Ive truly spent so many hours of my life with the both of you.
The stars in question?
(Yes, shes got a show with the web link coming up, too.)
Ive got lifelong friends from it.
Reba and I were talking about this just the other day I was so young.
It was my first job as a series regular.
I just wanted to do a good job and keep my head down.
Everything felt very new and different, and I was really observing and watching how things worked.
Then it went into syndication and onto streaming, and its legacy seems to grow every year.
In some way, its now bigger than it was when it was on the air.
Is that how you see it?Oh, absolutely.
It did well for them, and people really liked it, but it was absolutely bigger in syndication.
And now that were on Netflix, I see a whole other giant wave of it.
Reba and I were lucky enough to be present at the Emmys not too long ago.
And the theme song is a giant thing on TikTok.
Is therean extended friends-of-Reba universe?
She does music, she does reality TV, she does acting.
Its so fun because she knows DollyandSnoop.
Ive got to do something.
So Vince Gill walked in and I was just losing it.
I said, it’s crucial that you warn people!
To you thats no big deal, but it usually is a big deal.
Lets talk aboutHappys Place.
We always knew we wanted to work together again.
The dream was a multi-cam because we want that camaraderie and that collaboration with our cast.
A few projects would come up, but they didnt work out.
Years go by and you think,Well, is it going to happen?
So I didnt allow myself to get disappointed.
They pitched it and I thought it was a great concept.
Reba did, too.
Then they wrote the pilot, then NBC liked the pilot, then we were going tomakethe pilot.
At every step, Id get a little more like, Oh my God, could it happen?
And thats where we are now.
And I think thats right, because shes perfect for it.
Id imagine the writers ofHappys Placeare trying to capture the chemistry you and Reba had on the first show.
Its a different relationship.
Gabby is a friend, but a friend who always wants to be closer.
My character is definitely a little bit quirky, but shes more savvy than Barbra Jean.
Its almost like repertory theater, where were characters in a new play.
Were like eight episodes into taping, and I feel like Im getting to know Gabby now.
Sometimes it was about who owned the show or what cast members were available.
But it didnt really pan out.
WithRebaandBaby Daddy, youve been a regular on two shows that lasted 100 or more episodes.
Then you were in like three dozen episodes ofYoung Sheldon.
Thats a lot of success for a TV actor, and certainly a rarity.
But in all of those shows, you carved out a role as a No.
2 or a supporting player versus the lead.
Theres a superpower in being the supporting person, and its a skill.
They should be like, Oh, weallgot the longest laugh ever.
No ones counting the laughs.
Also, Im drawn to that kind of supporting character.
When youre not the lead, you get to be a little crazier.
At least thats what I tell myself.
They were all huge in their own way.Exactly.
When you have great writing and you have a great cast, everyone is a star at some point.
She brought me in to audition for the Coen brothers.
I believe I went in for a different role first I think theotherlady of the evening.
I got called back in weeks later and they started pairing me with other actors.
I got it from taking a class in college, really.
That must have been insane for someone just starting out.The audition was very surreal.
I remember I asked Joel Coen for change for the vending machine.
I didnt know who he was when he walked in right before the audition.
Obviously, I knew who the Coen brothers were, but it wasnt like now with social media.
You didnt know peoples faces very well, so I didnt recognize them.
He gave me change for a dollar so I could get a Mountain Dew before my audition.
It has become one of my favorite things on TV.
I got asked to do the first season of25 Wordsin 2019, and I just clicked with Meredith.
We had such a fun time.
We think youre a great player.
Im so grateful they did because that show saved my brain during COVID.
Just getting out of the house and getting to use my mind was wonderful.
And then to watch somebody win money made me feel better during that awful time.
And Merediths like my big sister.
She gives me great advice all the time.
A lot of it is improv.
If you let the players talk and youre in the moment and present, something funny will just happen.
The other part is, I love giving away other peoples money.
Thats joyful to me.
As a player, Im probably not as enjoyable because Im very competitive.
But I dont have to compete as a host.
The other fun thing youve done recently is appear in theHaul Out the HollyChristmas movies for Hallmark.
It obviously wont be this Christmas season.
But that was a magical cast.
I got to improvise a line with Stephen Tobolowsky, which was a dream come true.
Hes the funniest human ever.
But next I am a judge onFinding Mr. Christmas, which is on Hallmark+.
Jonathan Bennett is the host, and its ten guys competing to be the next Hallmark leading man.
Its really, really fun.
What about the Melissa Peterman Hallmark Christmas movie?
When are we getting your Christmas romance?Im thinking about that.
Im probably not the typical romantic lead, but it would be fun.
I am always thinking about what I want to do with them.
