Essence Atkins, Coby Bell. Robert Voets/CBS
Poppa’s House is staging a reunion between Essence Atkins and her Half and Half costar Coby Bell — who is now playing her ex-husband.
In Us Weekly‘s exclusive sneak peek from the Monday, March 3, episode of CBS’ hit sitcom, Ivy (Atkins) is joined by Poppa (Damon Wayans Sr.) at a graduation celebration where they have a surprise run-in with her ex.
“You are a successful woman. What are you running for?” Poppa asked Ivy, who replied, “You don’t understand! When I see him, I just get all nervous and I start to stutter and turn back into that little naive girl.”
Poppa wants to know why Ivy is being “so nutty” until he spots her former husband — and screams.
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“Diamond Dave — he is an NFL champ!” Poppa says while visibly freaking out. It becomes Ivy’s turn to remind Poppa to “pull yourself together” in front of her ex.
The man from Ivy’s past might look familiar for fans of Atkins’ career. She previously shared the screen with Bell, 49, on Smart Guy before he joined her sitcom Half & Half, which aired on UPN from 2002 to 2006.
Half & Half focused on the lives of two paternal half-sisters — Atkins’ Dee Dee and Rachel True’s Mona — in their early adulthood who were estranged throughout their childhood before finally developing a close relationship. Bell, for his part, played a firefighter who was originally set up on a date with Mona before falling for her mother (Telma Hopkins).
Atkins, 53, teased to Us about how her onscreen ex-husband would be a “nod” to her sitcom past. She also weighed in on whether Ivy and Poppa would get together any time soon after spending the entire first season setting up their electric chemistry.
“Initially, when we were beginning the series, we thought it would happen sooner. But I think that there’s something really beautiful about them becoming friends first and that they really grow in respect for one another and admiration for one another,” Atkins shared with Us earlier this month. “Also, in being able to see behind the curtain of one another, they have a little bit more trepidation and a little bit more caution about leaping forward.”
Atkins pointed out how Ivy and Poppa were becoming aware of their connection, adding, “He’s gaining an awareness of like, ‘Well, what do I get? It looks good, but what does the inspection report say when you buy a home?’ That’s wisdom, and I think that that leads to a much more satisfying take when it actually happens. It won’t feel so jumped or rushed.”
But the actress wasn’t in a rush to see them get together.
“These characters have earned this closeness. We’ve seen them grow on each other. We’ve seen them get on each other’s nerves,” she added. “I like the pace that we’re continuing at. As far as how long it will take, I don’t know. I definitely think that there will be moments this season where you’ll be rooting for it to happen.”
Poppa’s House airs on CBS Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.
