Categories: In the Bleachers

Niecy Nash & “Rookie:FEDS” Creators Talk Niecy’s Real Life Impact on Simone

Niecy Nash-Betts, Alexi Hawley, and Terence Paul Winter discuss the creation of the new ABC spinoff series, “Rookie:FEDS” and how Nash-Bett’s real life inspired the character of Simone.

I asked Winter and Hawley what their inspiration was in creating the series, especially in creating the character of Simone, a middle-aged black woman in these particular circumstances. There are many ways this series could have gone, but the choice per Hawley and Winter was deliberate, especially coming off of 2020 and the racial reckoning.

Hawley explained that you couldn’t do a police show in 2022 without addressing the injustice that can accompany this line of work.

“I just think that as a police show today, we’re just trying to be as self-aware as we can. This started back on “The Rookie,” from its inception, but after George Floyd was killed, we took a hard look at ourselves and the stories we had told. We actually tasked a few writers with doing a report card, like going back through all our episodes. And asking, how did we do? For the most part, we did really well because we had always tried to be aspirational about cops doing things the right way. But at the same time, we were also portraying a version of policing that is alien to a big part of the population.”

Hawley provided more details, “and so that was sort of our mission starting in season three, how do we talk about policing? How do we have our characters grounded more in the real world of policing and the issues from systemic injustice to police union issues and all that kind of stuff? So it was a natural progression for us going into FEDS, especially with Niecey as our star, to lean into that. I mean, the FBI has a long history of injustice and intemperance, so how do we bring a character like Niecey into that world and put her in a special unit that is trying to shake things up? And just have her be a woman who’s used to being her own advocate because she had to be. How do you put her in that world and have her navigate through that? And at the same time, be a show that people look forward to watching it and having fun with. It’s an escapist, and it’s sort of a lot to carry. But I feel like we can’t be a police show in this day and age without being self-aware.”

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com

Share
Published by
Jill Munroe

Recent Posts

‘Reasonable Doubt’ Season 2 Hulu Tackles Friendship, Power & Secrets | Exclusive with Raamla Mohamed & Emayatzy Corinealdi

Hulu's *Reasonable Doubt* highly anticipated second season delivers a complex mix of courtroom drama, personal…

1 month ago

Frasier Reboot Season 2: How Olivia, Eve, and Roz Redefine Strong Female Characters | Watch on Peacock

The *Frasier* reboot on Peacock returns for its second season, bringing back the beloved character…

1 month ago

Puff Daddy, Hugh Hefner, and 70s Rock Icons: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

The lifestyles of music and media moguls, from rock stars of the 1970s to hip-hop…

2 months ago

Zoë Kravitz on Directing ‘Blink Twice’: Exploring Paradise, Danger, and Feminist Themes

Zoë Kravitz on Directing 'Blink Twice': Crafting Tension in Paradise Zoë Kravitz has stepped behind…

2 months ago

Diddy’s Explosive New Lawsuits: Drugging, Assault, and Voodoo Tattoo Connection

Sean "Diddy" Combs has found himself at the center of a storm, with new allegations…

2 months ago

“Seeking Mavis Beacon:” A Cultural Icon Who Was Never Real

The mystery behind Mavis Beacon, the face of the beloved 1980s typing software, has intrigued…

2 months ago

This website uses cookies.