Taye Diggs, 51, the Rent, Private Practice, and All American star is reprising his role as Harper Stewart when the Best Man franchise begins streaming the eight-episode The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Dec. 22 on Peacock). The limited series will explore the dynamics of the midlife relationships between Harper, Lance (Morris Chestnut), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Jordan (Nia Long), Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), Candace (Regina Hall) and Murch (Harold Perrineau), and how past grievances resurface as these best friends enter this new stage in their lives.
What is it about Harper that made you want to tell more of his story?
Oh, it’s simple, it started with the first film. It’s like I was bit, and once you’re bit, you have that blood in you. When I read that first script for The Best Man [1999], I had never read a script that showed African Americans in all of these different ways. I could see myself in that movie, and up until then, I had never been able to see myself in a film with Black people in it. Not only could I see myself, I saw my friends, I saw my sister, I saw my aunt. So, that’s where the bond was created.
How will the third installment move the story?
The writers have done a really great job at progressing the storylines of all these characters in a very real, a very accurate and a very human way. Unfortunately, that’s not seen much when it comes to African-American art, so I don’t think any of us balked at being a part of this third installment. And I can say after having done it, I’m very, very proud and I’m looking forward to hearing what people’s reactions are going to be.
Is the storytelling for eight episodes different from a two-hour movie?
I think people will enjoy that they can now delve into these characters more intensely, more deeply. I think it’s a wonderful way to wrap up this franchise by letting people really know each character and each story line.
You starred in Rent on Broadway and in the film, so we know you can sing, but your jobs lately have been straight acting jobs. Do you miss music?
Yes, yes, yes. I miss it. I’m going to act on stage until the day I die. It’s just a matter of finding the time and the right projects. But I’m a song and dance man, that’s how I started and that’s how I plan to finish, so I’m looking forward to the next opportunity.
You’re also an author of four children’s books. You have a son, was he the inspiration?
One of my best friends, Shane W. Evans, took a poem that I wrote in college and said, “This would make an amazing children’s book.” Shane was a children’s book author and illustrator in his own right, so I trusted him and we came up with Chocolate Me!, a book that talks about people with chocolate skin being proud of what they are. It gives readers a positive way of looking at their complexion, giving it the name of chocolate, that’s sweet and delicious—calling back to just having healthy self-esteem. And then once that came out, I had had a child (Walker, now 13), so it became about introducing books like this to my kid; books that I didn’t have growing up.
Shonda Rhimes is talking about bringing back Private Practice.
Don’t you tease me. I might have to call her.
What was it like to have the gang back together? Or maybe you see each other when you aren’t doing these films?
No, it’s like a blessing and a curse. We’re all working. We’re all very busy, which is a blessing. The curse is we don’t have much free time to hang out when we’re not working. So, these moments are treasured because it’s almost like we’re forced to be with each other and to catch up and do all of those things that are done in a social setting but while we’re working. So, it was great on both counts.
It was great because we’re all friends in real life, so it’s great to catch up to see how we’re all doing. But then as the characters, it’s instantaneous because we all know each other, we all feel safe. We’re all comfortable enough with each other that we can pop into these characters and give you, hopefully, what you’re going to enjoy.
This is called The Best Man, so it was initially about this group of male friends, but because there are eight hours now, it seems like there are more of the women’s stories. What do you think that adds?
What’s great is that they’re more than just wives or girlfriends, these are characters that are independent, and strong, and have opinions. You add the African-American element as well, we’re not used to seeing characters portrayed in this manner. I feel proud. I feel proud that I’m a part of a franchise, a part of a movement that has given as much as we can to the culture from which we’ve come.
This has a movie within the movie because Harper’s book, Unfinished Business, is being made into a film. Even though this is an ensemble, it sort of makes Harper the central character because we’re dealing with everybody’s reactions to what’s going to happen with this movie. What’s the fallout that results from the fact that his book is being made into a movie?
This was fun, and once again I have to tip my hat to the writers. They revisit the vibe of the first movie. Where normally in regular life you would think that that chapter has occurred, and it’s done, but because of this blessing, which is really great writing because there’s a double-edged sword, the blessing is we can take this book that caused so much trouble—but then it was a success—and now not only is it a success but it’s so much of a success that they want it to be a movie. I have to go back and kind of relive what transpired in the first film. So once again, I credit the writers. It was great to revisit all of those vibes.
You’re also doing a game show for Hulu called Back in the Groove. It sounds as if the idea came from when you played Winston in How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
Oh, 100 percent. [Producer] Michael Krupat had the genius idea of taking advantage of the fact that that movie was very much appreciated. And in this day and age with the dating shows and whatnot, he thought it would make a great premise to take three women that were past their 20s, had life experience, and expose them to these younger men and give them the space to have fun.
Unlike some of the other dating shows, not having the bar be getting married or finding love, but literally just having a good time and getting their groove back. Once he introduced that to me, I said I wanted to be a part of it, help executive produce it, and host it. And it was a great time.
Your day job is playing coach Billy Baker in All American, which turned out to be a surprise hit. It started on The CW but the numbers grew when reruns began airing on Netflix and it built this huge audience. What is it about the themes or the elements of that show that you’re most proud?
I’m proud of the cast, and the writing, and the crew. I have no idea why something is as successful as it is, but I love the people with whom I work and we’re all very supportive. I have a young cast and I’m surprised every day at how talented they are, as actors and as human beings. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had in my life.
We have a wonderful, wonderful showrunner with NK (Nkechi Okoro Carroll). Yeah, I just feel I’m grateful. It’s funny that you mention that because with the scheduling of All American and Best Man, they both had to work together. I remember the phone call I had with NK saying, “Listen, they’re going to do a third installment of The Best Man, and the only way they can do it is if All American works in conjunction.” And she said, “Absolutely. Whatever you need we’re going to do the best we can.” So that is a testament to the energy that is around All American and how it lends itself to the energy that could be The Best Man: The Final Chapters.
