Yes, Average Joe on BET is based on a true story. The comedy-drama is inspired by the life of creator Robb Cullen.
The dark comedy follows a blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington, who learns his recently deceased father lived a double life and stole millions of dollars from some dangerous people.
Joe was attacked by these shady people looking for the lost funds and was imposed to kill in self-defense.
Now it’s a race against time to unwrap the truth about his late father and find the lost money before the others come after him.
The first two episodes of the wildly entertaining series, now streaming on BET+, waste no time in turning the plumber’s life upside down.
Average Joe BET True Story
Average Joe BET is based on a true story loosely inspired by the life of creator Robb Cullen. Cullen also serves as the executive producer.
The darkly comedic, intense one-hour drama series is set in “The Hill” district of Pittsburgh. The series centers on a regular guy pulled into the criminal world under strenuous circumstances.
Cullen started working on the drama inspired by events and series from his life in early 2022.
BET Plus teamed with him and McG on the comedy-drama. The casting started in February 2022, with a writers’ room beginning in the same month.
Cullen is a well-known writer, producer, and actor, most notable for his writing credits for Kevin Smith’s 2010 film Cop Out, starring Bruce Willis, Seann William Scott, and Tracy Morgan.
He has created multiple primetime TV series, including Lucky for FX, Gary The Rat for SpikeTV, Hitz for UPN, and Heist for NBC, alongside his brother Mark Cullen.
The Cullen brothers co-create and executive produced Mr. Robinson for NBC and Back in the Gane for ABC. They have written and produced multiple pilots for ABC, NBC, Fox, HBO, and Showtime.
The Primetime Emmy Award-nominated writer was thrilled to document his life events on BET’s Average Joe, marking another milestone in his career.
“Based on a true story by the brilliant Robb Cullen, Average Joe is a TV show that deserves acclaim from both critics and audiences alike,” said American television director Eric Dean Seaton on Twitter.
Average Joe BET 2023 Cast
Average Joe BET 2023 cast includes Deon Cole and Pasha D. Lychnikoff in the lead role. Tammy Townsend, Ashani Roberts, and Malcolm Barrett also star in the comedy-drama.
Deon Cole as Joe Washington
Cole plays the role of the title character in BET’s Average Joe. The drama shows a more serious side of the comedian and network.
The actor built his career in comedy, appearing in Angie Tribeca, Barbershop, and the late-night talk show Conan. He is best known for his role in the popular sitcom ‘Black-ish (2014-2022).
In 2021, he appeared in Jeymes Samuel’s Western film, The Harder They Fall, as the double-crossing outlaw Wiley Escoe.
The role opened the door for Average Joe, which the actor says was an opportunity to thrive in something different.
“I don’t want to be just a comedic actor. I want to be an actor,” Cole said to TVLine.
“So acting was always something that I wanted to branch out and really just show that I can do different sides. Since The Harder They Fall, I was given that opportunity,” he added.
Tammy Townsend as Angela Washington
Tammy Townsend portrays Angela Washington in the newest BET comedy drama. She is among the main cast of the series.
The American actor and singer is notable for her roles as Greta McClure on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1995-98) and Wendy Reardon on the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives (1994-96).
In 1997, she landed the leading female role in the comedy movie, The Pest, starring John Leguizamo. From 2003 to 2004, she was a regular cast on the short-lived sitcom Rock Me, Baby.
From 2015 to early 2018, Townsend started as the mother of K.C. Cooper, Kira Cooper, on the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover.
Malcolm Barrett as Leon Montgomery
Malcolm Barett appears as a helpless hardware store owner Leon Montgomery in Average Joe. He is one of Joe’s best friends.
The actor says Leon is one of the dumbest characters he has ever played and he likes that.
“Okay, he’s not dumb, but I’ve often made a career out of playing geniuses, or the smartest guy in the room, from EVP specialist to inventor and pilot of a Time Machine,” he told to The Nerds Color.
The American actor is notable for playing time traveler Rufus Carlin on NBC’s science fiction television series Timeless.
He has appeared as a series regular for Fox’s Luis and The Sketch Show. He played Dr. Len Hewitt on ABC’s Better Off Ted and landed a supporting role in the Academy Award-winning The Hurt Locker.
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams As Cathy Montgomery
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams portrays Cathy Montgomery in Average Joe. Cathy is the ball-busting wife of one of Joe’s best friends, Leon.
Cathy seems to have a strong dislike for Leon and is planning on divorcing him. She is known for being obsessed with crime shows.
Her obsession proves life-saving when she saves her husband after a Russian mobster attempts to kill him.
McWilliams is known for her appearances on the television series Nashville, Prison Break, and Real Husband of Hollywood.
Born in Berlin, Germany, and primarily raised in Kansas City, Kansas, the actress began her acting career after booking a role as Kacee Franklin in the Fox drama series Prison Break in 2005.
When Does Average Joe Come On?
Average Joe comes on every Thursday at 11:30 pm ET. The next episode, Episode 3 titled “Donutd & Whiskey?” will be released on June 29, 2023.
BET’s newest drama settles into one episode a week, concluding with a two-part season finale on August 10.
The series premiered on Sunday at 11:30 pm ET on June 25, 2023, on BET. The first two episodes of the series are now streaming on BET+.
The screening of the first episode was held at the American ‘Black Film Festival on June 16 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Based on the life of Cullen, this grim yet comical series focuses on a son’s entanglement in his deceased father’s lawbreaking legacy.
As for the rest of the season, lead actor Deon teases an even more chaotic journey ahead. He said, “It’s crazy how it goes off the rails.”
“The last episode is going to have people talking. Like, it’s going to blow people’s minds. All of them are insane, but the last episode is going to flip your head back,” Deon Cole added.