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‘The Browns’ Are Back in Town with a Second Season

‘The Browns’ Are Back in Town with a Second Season

The Browns

The Browns, a hilarious television series that initially began as two-minute improvised comedic sketches on Instagram in 2018, returned for a second season November 5 on OUTtv and Amazon Prime. New episodes air on Fridays.

Starring drag duo Tammie Brown and Kelly Mantle, Brown as a semi-retired singer and homemaker and Mantle as her delightfully dipsomaniac manager and best friend, the show steadily grew an online presence.

“Tammie called me up one day and said, ‘what are you doing tomorrow?’ Mantle exclusively told OFM. “I said, ‘it depends.’ She said, ‘come over because I’m working with this up-and-coming director, and we are going to shoot some videos.’ I asked what it was for, and Tammie was like, ‘I don’t know.’ So, I literally showed up with a wig and a bottle of wine, and I became Sheila right on the spot. It all happened so organically. It was just these little Instagram videos, and it was very Curb Your Enthusiasm-style. Nothing was scripted. Our characters kept evolving, and now, here we are with Season Two.”

Reimagining the stereotypical family sitcom, The Browns adds a more vulgar and outrageous take.

“I grew up on shows like Step by StepFull House, and Family Matters,” series creator John Mark, who also plays Brown’s son, says. “I wanted to make a show that implemented traditional, 90s, family sitcom tropes into a queer space.”

The Browns

The first season of The Browns consisted of three episodes with content built from Instagram sketches. The new season includes five 30-minute scripted episodes, which allowed the creative team to weave a more complex storyline.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s out there,” Brown explains. “There’s a lot of those morbid things that people like to hear from me, and people are in love with Sheila. So, why not check it out?”

“It’s absolute mayhem,” Mantle adds. “You never know what’s going to happen. We usually never know what’s going to happen until the camera starts rolling. That’s what makes it fun for us, and I think that translates well onto the screen for the audience.”

“We hope this show cures cancer with laughter,” Brown concludes.

When Mark decided to scale The Browns into something bigger, Producer Entertainment Group (PEG) signed on as executive producers and helped him successfully pitch the series to OUTtv. The first season included several guest stars including RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Mrs. Kasha Davis, Laganja Estranja, Raja, and drag icon Coco Peru.

Audiences can expect just as many this season with appearances by Katya, Mariah Balenciaga, and Sherry Vine, as well as non-drag notables Cazwell and Jen Kober.

Brown and Mantle also competed on their respective seasons of Drag Race, but the queens met each other long before sashaying down the main stage.

“We met in 1492 when we were co-signed to MGM Studios,” Mantle jokes.

“I think it was pre-MGM,” Brown responds. “When Hollywood Boulevard was just a gravel street.”

The Browns

Actually, it was on the set of a show called When Queens Collide over 10 years ago.

“That is when we met, but I had seen Tammie before when she appeared on The Surreal Life,” Mantle recalls. “She made a little appearance at this Tammy Faye Bakker thing, and I thought, what a kooky little queen. I love her. Then we did When Queens Collide, which never saw the light of day, but I was just lurking around backstage because I was done performing. I heard this little voice singing a folky song, I peered into the dressing room, and I thought it was the ghost of Édith Piaf sitting there playing with little troll dolls and dancing in the mirror, but it was Tammie Brown. I was like, that’s the kind of batshit craziness I need in my life!”

Since sashaying away, on Drag Race’s debut season and All Stars 1, Brown regularly performs around the world and has released four music albums including the popular hit singles “Port-A-Potty Prostitute” and “Love Pinata.” Mantle, who was the first contestant to be eliminated on season six, made Oscar’s history by being the first openly non-binary person ever to be approved and considered by The Academy for both Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress for their roles in the feature film, Confessions of a Womanizer.

Both say they would consider competing again under certain conditions. Brown will do it for the fans, but Mantle will go on only if she is promised to be sent home first again.

Overall, they are both grateful for their time on the show.

“I have been able to connect with my fans, and I have a huge global success now,” Brown says. “I have been able to take that and use my platform for other projects, like The Browns, and work with amazing people like Kelly and other colleagues. That has been the coolest thing about it. Drag Race has also kept me at the forefront and shows that I am able to stay relevant no matter what.”

“I thought the way it worked out for me was hilarious, and I honestly would not have had it work out any other way,” Mantle says. “It was one episode of a TV show for me, kind of like how I have been in one episode of many other shows, so Drag Race is kind of right there in the middle of my resume. It has not impacted my life much, but it has connected me with all the fans, which I am super grateful for because they are fucking awesome. I am very happy about that.”

As for the rest of 2021, Brown and Mantle have a lot in store.

“I just got back from shooting a wonderful film in New York,” Mantle says. “It was a wonderful role, and I fell in love with my character so much. I am sad to say bye to her, but we are going to be working in post-production for that. Then, in addition to the new season of The Browns, in December, I am going into the studio and recording some new songs because it has been a while since I have released any new music.”

“I just got back from recording two new singles that will come out next year,” Brown adds. “’Summer Angels’ and ‘Pumpkin Blaster,’ which was released during Halloween. Then I am going to go down to Mexico this coming month to do some prospecting and see if I would like to move to Guadalajara. My goal is to move down there by the time I turn 45. I will also be going out on tour for Holiday Sparkle, and I am working on a new single with Markaholic as well. There is a lot going on.”

Connect and stay up-to-date with Brown by following her on Instagram, TikTok, or visit her official website. Mantle can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New episodes of The Browns air Friday on OUTtv and Amazon Prime.

Photos Courtesy of OUTtv

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