‘We’re Among the Few Like Us’

Ex-couple Wayne Brady and Mandie Taketa, who remain close friends, co-parents, and producing partners, understand their family is unique—so unique, in fact, that they’ve decided to share their story on reality television.

“There’s a reason why our show is on TV, because we’re one of the only ones like us,” Brady explained to TheWrap regarding their new Freeform series. “The family that inspired me is us and the hard work that it took to get here.”

The series titled “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,” which premiered on Wednesday, offers viewers an inside look at the unconventional family dynamic between Brady, Taketa, their 21-year-old daughter Maile, and Taketa’s life partner, Jason Michael Fordham. They affectionately call themselves the “core four.”

Initially, the idea for the show came about after they were approached with proposals for a scripted series several times. Ultimately, Brady and Taketa felt an unscripted format would more authentically capture their lives. “It was hard to get it on the page and have it be really real,” Brady recalled.

“You can’t make up what’s actually happening in our lives. It can’t be more exciting than the real thing,” Taketa added, noting that it’s challenging for writers to authentically portray voices from Asian and Black households. This is why they opted for a reality format, believing it to be a way to inspire others by simply being themselves.

Brady admits he’s accustomed to a certain level of scrutiny, a sentiment Taketa shares due to their past marriage. However, their main concern was whether their daughter Maile, who is pursuing a career in music and acting while studying at Loyola Marymount University, would be comfortable with the exposure.

“As a mom, I’m nervous—I want to protect her and keep her safe,” said Taketa. “But I also know Maile, and she’s probably healthier than Wayne and I when it comes to processing information and her emotional intellect. I hope we’ve given her the tools to handle this healthily.”

Both Brady and Taketa serve as executive producers of the series through their company, A Wayne & Mandie Creative, alongside Fremantle. Including Maile in the series was crucial for them from both a parental and a producing perspective. “The life that we live is reflected in this young lady, and she has her own point of view on this entire upbringing,” Brady said. “If she didn’t have a voice in the show, it would have been incredibly skewed and dishonest.”

The series also delves into Brady’s personal journey of coming out as pansexual, which he shared publicly in August last year. He emphasized the importance of moving at a comfortable pace, choosing introspection over rushing into new relationships. “I navigated it by not letting anyone tell me how to navigate it,” Brady said. “I focused on being with myself first before deciding to be with someone else.”

Since coming out, Brady noted that the queer community has been “incredibly welcoming,” describing the new dynamic as evolving from “next door neighbor to cousin.”

From the get-go, the family committed to transparency, with nothing off-limits. For instance, Brady and Fordham address their initial discomfort regarding Taketa and Fordham’s relationship—a conversation that might not have occurred without the show.

These on-screen conversations have reinforced the strength of their family. Brady and Taketa, who were married from 1999 to 2007, emphasize the importance of facing challenges together. “Every time we go through challenging times and come out stronger, it’s pretty cool,” Taketa said. “I’m proud of us.”

Although the show follows the “core four” through various pursuits and challenges at this particular point in their lives, Brady and Taketa are open to continuing the series if it feels right for their family. “We want it to go on as long as everyone is having fun and the viewers want it,” Brady said. “As long as life keeps ‘life-ing,’ we’ll have something to share.”

Taketa added, “We need to stay healthy as a family. That’s the most important thing. Can we do this again in a healthy way?”

“Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” premiered on Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET on Freeform. New episodes air on Wednesdays and stream the next day on Hulu.

Source: TheWrap