‘Learned Everything From…’: Reba McEntire On Her Comeback In Sitcom With Happy’s Place

As a long-time fan of Reba McEntire, it’s truly heartwarming to see her return to the small screen after 17 years. Her journey from country music icon to primetime sitcom star is nothing short of inspiring. It seems she’s learned a thing or two from her time on “Reba,” as evidenced by her wise words for her real-life boyfriend, Rex Linn, who’s venturing into the world of sitcoms for the first time.


In the year 2001, when Reba McEntire made her debut as the lead in a primetime comedy series for the first time, she was clueless about what to do. However, the show moved from The WB to The CW, and remarkably, it became an enormous success, lasting six seasons, and leaving audiences with a memorable theme song.

Although McEntire is busy with her music career, appearances on The Voice, and helping small towns, she’s planning a return to sitcoms after 17 years, this time on NBC’s Happy’s Place. This Country icon will play Bobbie, the feisty owner of the named bar, which was passed down from her late father, Happy.

Later on, she finds herself needing to adapt to a different situation when she discovers that Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) has been granted half ownership of the bar through Happy’s will. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, McEntire described her character as straightforward and unpretentious.

The country singer mentioned that she was married but unfortunately lost her husband. She has a daughter serving in the military, leaving her mostly alone. Consequently, she spends much of her time at a local tavern. Bobbie, the character she portrays, will be surrounded by a team of employees, including Melissa Peterman as the overly affectionate bartender Gabby, Pablo Castelblanco as the meticulous accountant Steve, Rex Linn as the hot-tempered cook Emmett, and several others.

In an interview, the performer who sang “I’m a Survivor” acknowledged that her show Reba was instrumental in teaching her all about sitcoms. She exclaimed, “Wow, I learned everything from [Reba], including rehearsal techniques and how to adapt to situations.

McEntire offers guidance to her new boyfriend in sitcom acting, sharing insights gained from years of experience. She explained, “Rex is working on his first sitcom, so I let him know that might change. I suggested, ‘Don’t commit lines from the initial script to memory because they often alter it for the better every day.’ Instead, I advised focusing on blocking and technical aspects, particularly during the early episodes. That’s just what a helpful girlfriend does!

Happy’s Place premieres Friday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on NBC. 

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2024-09-17 23:37