Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Ms. Pat Show’s Theodore Barnes

At just nineteen, rising star Theodore Barnes has left his mark on the entertainment industry. He’s brought dynamic characters to life on the screen in projects like The Goldbergs, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Prince of Peoria, Back in the Game, and more.

This August, he’ll be seen starring opposite Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, J. Bernard Calloway, and Tami Roman in BET+’s The Ms. Pat Show.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Theodore about his career, how setbacks fueled his drive, and his new series, The Ms. Pat Show.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Theodore: I’ve been doing it for a long time. I started young and didn’t really develop a passion for acting until recently. When I first started, it was more of a hobby and something to do. There were times when it did get tough. But I would say a couple of years ago was when I really developed my love for acting and for the therapy that comes with it.

PC: Who or what had the biggest influence, either personally or professionally?
Theodore: Personally, I would say my mom and dad because they have always encouraged and supported me in everything that I do, from sports to school. Professionally, I would say my acting coach, Jeff Dockweiler. I can’t even imagine where I would be without him. He really shaped me. He’s been a huge part of the process. Since day one, he’s been treating me like his own child and his only client. So definitely mom, dad, and coach Jeff.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Theodore: I did a show called Bad Judge with Kate Walsh. When I booked the job, I was going to be on every episode. Somewhere along the process, they received a new showrunner and decided to make changes. One of the changes was that they didn’t want to have a kid on the show. A whole season of work went into one episode. Going back to what I was saying earlier about being young, that was a little demoralizing. I was like, “I just got cut from a show.” But that’s how things go. I will always remember that because it added fuel to my tank. You never know what will happen with any job. Even though I was bummed out, it definitely built character.

PC: You’ve got a new series coming out soon. Can you tell us about The Ms. Pat Show and your character?
Theodore: The Ms. Pat Show is going to bring a lot of laughs. We’re going to bring a lot of real moments to households. We have so many incredible lessons and examples for viewers to take away. You’re going to either love it or not. It’s a really raw show.

I brought that rawness to my character as well. He brings a lot of laughs and relatable moments for people my age.

PC: What was it about this particular script and character that stood out to you and made you want to be a part of this project?
Theodore: It’s funny because when I got the audition and saw Ms. Pat was involved, I already knew about her stand-up comedy. When I came in that day to read the sides, she looked at me and said, “You look like my Junebug.” Going into that audition process, I had a great feeling about it.

With most auditions, you’ll be lucky if you get a reader that’s going to read with feeling, like they’re auditioning too. When I came in, I got to read with Ms. Pat straight off the rip. That gave me such a warm feeling to get to play off of her in my first audition. That’s rare. We got to go back and forth. That’s the best thing you can get in an audition. I would say that moment when I got to read with and bounce off of Ms. Pat is when I was like, “I feel great about this.”

PC: With this being a comedy, did you and the rest of the cast have the opportunity to improvise when you were filming? Is there a scene that’s improvised that you’re really excited for your fans to see?
Theodore: If anything, we probably improvised more than we followed what was on the page. Ms. Pat included us in a lot of the decisions that were made. She always asked us what we thought about saying a certain line. Even if we weren’t in the scene or it didn’t necessarily pertain to us, she would come to us and we’d talk about it. It felt like everybody’s weight was the same, no matter who it was. Every episode, every day was improv.

PC: If you had to summarize the first season in one sentence, what would it be?
Theodore: That’s a great question. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Theodore: Martin. I watch it all the time.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Theodore: Paid in Full.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Theodore: Fences.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Theodore: Luke Combs.

PC: Dream role?
Theodore: I don’t really have a dream role because I don’t want to put myself in a box. I would say my next role that I hope to book would be a lead role in a feature film. End of 2021, that’s my goal. But as far as my goals overall, I want to do it all—drama, comedy, anything that comes my way and is interesting. I’m going to go for it for sure.

To keep up with Theodore, follow him on Instagram. Watch The Ms. Pat Show on BET+ on August 12.

Photo Credit: Storm Santos