Bresha Webb Talks New NBC Comedy 'Truth Be Told,' Explains Why America Needs Another 'Groundbreaking' Show

NBC's new primetime comedy "Truth Be Told" will push the envelope when it comes to discussing topics often labeled taboo and controversial. In the few promos already released, viewers see the couples -- played by Bresha Webb, Tone Bell, Vanessa Lachey and Mark-Paul Gosselaar -- tackle scenarios like hiring a hot babysitter (who may also be a porn star) and what to do if your white friend accidentally raps the N-word in a song.

International Business Times caught up with Webb, who plays Angie, to chat about the upcoming premiere and why she thinks it's time for a show where no topic is off-limits.

International Business Times: In 2013 you made headlines when you auditioned for "Saturday Night Live" and now you're on a new NBC series. Can you describe what the past few years have been like and what's it like to get to this point in your career?

Bresha Webb: Look at God, look at God. It's just been a lot of hard work and lot of auditions. A lot of ups and downs, but a lot of ups and I'm really happy for my downs too. I'm really thankful. I'm just really happy to be a part of a show that to me is groundbreaking. The show is hilarious. I love everyone that's attached to it. My whole cast is amazing. I love doing scenes with them… and our producer Will Packer is also amazing and so is the creator of our show DJ Nash. He really gives us some really great material to work with and it's just really fun. I can't wait to share it with everyone.

IBT: What attracted you to the role of Angie?

Webb: I go in usually for a lot of things but when I read the script I loved Angie. And DJ Nash has written the women in this show so strong and so opinionated and so funny and so fearless, and they can stand up to their husbands and they can have their opinions. He really writes Tracy (Vanessa Lachey) and Angie to be the strongest and the matriarch of these families.

IBT: Can you describe your character Angie a little more?

Webb: Yeah, she's a pediatrician and I also love that too, that [Nash] made her pediatrician. He firmly stood by that, he said no Angie works hard. He made her from Baltimore and I'm from Baltimore. The more he got to know me he wanted to incorporate that more into Angie. She's hilarious. Angie always has to play everything by the book [and] she's very traditional in her values. She's a Christian just like myself and she's very strong-minded... and she keeps Russell (Tone Bell) together pretty much. Their relationship a lot of people will be able to relate to… they've only been married for nine months and she moved into his bachelor pad so there comes a lot of comedy from that. She has a good job [as a] pediatrician but he also has his own so they both can stand firmly on what they have together.

IBT: Can you talk a little more about Russell and Angie's dynamic. I know you said they're newlyweds so what will they tackle together throughout the show?

Webb: I don't want to give away the plot but we have this one episode coming up where I find out Russell has dated outside of his race and I was very taken aback because that was never told to me. I really admire NBC and our Creator DJ Nash to have the courage to actually say this on national television because it's definitely something the black community actually deals with and black women already talk about. We discuss it on a show with our neighbors and are best friends who are a multiracial couple. I have to describe to them my angst with it. It's just a little uncomfortability because it's like you know what do you do with that information, you accept it but do I have to worry about now I know that he likes all women and not just black women. We go there… and we make it funny.

IBT: How has it been to be a part of a show that's not afraid to tackle these topics?

Webb: I feel amazing. I feel like that is actually the conversations America should be having in 2015. I feel honored to be part of something that's moving us into the direction that we're supposed to be moving into.

IBT: Are people ready for a TV show like that, and how do you think viewers will react to "Truth Be Told"?

Webb: My whole thing as a performer is to affect people, whether I make you cry or I make you laugh. I would love to make you think. That's my mission, to make you feel something. Just to be a part of something like that is really dope but I think people are ready, I know people are ready. I remember watching television when I was younger and I felt like there were things TV tackled first and then it would happen to me in real life and I felt prepared. When I watched "Martin" or "Seinfeld" or "Friends" or any show like that, even "Family Matters," "The Jeffersons," "All In the Family"… people weren't ready for it, but they were blown away and that's what we want to do. We want to start that conversation. I feel like America needs it.

IBT: What can viewers expect from Friday's premiere?

Webb: Lots of laughs, lots of LOL moments. We're going there and we're not apologizing for it.

IBT: Are there any other projects you are working on besides "Truth Be Told?"

Webb: Right now that's been my main focus but I do have another show coming out on HBO called "Brothers In Atlanta." I think that's going to be out in the spring. I did a horror comedy film with Mike Epps, I play his crazy daughter [and] it's based off "The Purge." I think that might be out next Halloween [and it's] called "Meet The Blacks." I'm also in "Ride Along 2." I can't tell [you] who I am but it's going to be funny.

Be sure to check out Bresha Webb in NBC's new series "Truth Be Told," premiering Oct. 16 at 8:30 EDT.