Showtime preems 'Soul Food' series

Appetites, Edmonds satisfied with cabler

By GREG REIFSTECK

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Tracey and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds at 'Soul Food' series preem.

 

Trying to find good soul food on Sunset Boulevard can be as hard as finding a black drama series on television. But cabler Showtime satisfied both appetites with the preem of its new series "Soul Food" at the House of Blues Thursday.

The series, exec produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Tracey Edmonds, is based on the hit 1997 movie of the same name produced by George Tillman Jr. and Robert Teitel, who are also exec producing the skein.

"People that were fans of the movie sent us letters and wanted to see more of the characters," said Tracey, who added that she's glad the show will be on cable instead of a major network. "We can show the good, the bad and the ugly. Keep it real."

The co-stars' taste in soul food varied: "Macaroni and cheese, it's all about momma's cooking," said Darrin Dewitt Henson. Co-star Vanessa Williams said, "I used to love mac and cheese, until I went vegetarian and cut out dairy."

Other tasty talent on hand included cast members Rockmond Dunbar, Aaron Meeks and Isaiah Washington; Showtime execs Jerry Offsay, president of programming, and Mark Zakarin, exec veep original programming, as well as guests Levar Burton, Coolio, Todd Bridges, Mo'Nique and Blair Underwood.