ABC Family’s new comedy series STATE OF GEORGIA takes viewers into the wacky world of Georgia and Jo, two best Marafiki who have moved to New York City to pursue their dreams. Sharing in their zany adventures is Aunt Honey, who keeps a curious eye on her young tenants to see if she can share and offer advice to the young women embarking on their lives in the big city.
Majandra Delfino and Raven Symone
What can wewe say about your characters?
Majandra: I play Jo, and she’s an aspiring physicist who moves in with her best friend Georgia.
Raven: I play Georgia and I want to be an actress, and we songesha into my Aunt Honey’s apartment in New York — played kwa Loretta Devine — and I just want to be the most amazing actress in the world. So it’s a lovely little accident that happens. I honestly think that Georgia is in upendo with the thought of fame. But when she acts, it is just not quite there. So I think she is in upendo with that — which is definitely in touch with Generation X, since right now it is all about creating your own personal five dakika of fame. So living with her best friend and her aunt, it kind of shows what she goes through trying to make it out in the world.
Does the comedy derive from the scene choices?
Raven: There will be. Right now, we’re just getting up to speed since it is the beginning of the season. We’re solidifying the characters a lot more. Most of the time we’re trying to find an understanding between her, Jo and Honey and their different worlds.
Majandra: We’ll get into [Jo's science world].
What kind of research did wewe need to do to portray a science geek?
Majandra: Well, there’s only so much research one can do. Some of the science is really confusing. I really didn’t research too much. I mean, right now she’s at a basic physics level. She just started her program, so it’s not too crazy.
So it has a BIG BANG THEORY-type humor to it?
Majandra: Definitely. In Jo’s world.
Do wewe feel zaidi comfortable with drama au comedy?
Majandra: Well, I’ve worked on a lot of comedy. It feels like a very natural thing for me.
What do wewe upendo best about your character?
Raven: I upendo that she always brings her best. She isn’t tough. It’s about love. It’s not about trying to control the situation. She wants to get what she wants — out of upendo — but she doesn’t want to get there kwa herself. Like for Georgia, she’s like, ‘I want wewe to come with me. I want wewe to reach your goal. But mine’s first.’
Majandra: It’s very sweet. I like the dynamic between them. I just upendo their friendship. It’s my inayopendelewa part.
Because your characters are from Georgia, will they have southern accents?
Raven: I tried it in the pilot, but they didn’t want that. So, no. But in this part, it doesn’t need it.
Do wewe think multi-cam sitcoms are making a comeback?
Raven: I think maybe they are.
Majandra: I see a difference in the pilots right now. People want to have the sort of old school sitcom feeling that brings. So I really think it is coming back. They want to have that nostalgic feeling.
Raven: Disney really kept the multi-camera alive and that’s where I come from.
What is the message that wewe would want your mashabiki to get out of the show?
Raven: Have fun. Follow your dreams and know that your Marafiki and family are there for you.
What is it like working with Loretta Devine?
Raven: Heaven. She always sings!
Majandra: Yeah.
Raven: She hums.
Majandra: She has such a pretty voice. . . She is so good. She is one of those people who crosses genres.
Would wewe want to sing with Loretta on the show?
Majandra: Can wewe talk to the writers and make that happen please?!
Majandra Delfino and Raven Symone
What can wewe say about your characters?
Majandra: I play Jo, and she’s an aspiring physicist who moves in with her best friend Georgia.
Raven: I play Georgia and I want to be an actress, and we songesha into my Aunt Honey’s apartment in New York — played kwa Loretta Devine — and I just want to be the most amazing actress in the world. So it’s a lovely little accident that happens. I honestly think that Georgia is in upendo with the thought of fame. But when she acts, it is just not quite there. So I think she is in upendo with that — which is definitely in touch with Generation X, since right now it is all about creating your own personal five dakika of fame. So living with her best friend and her aunt, it kind of shows what she goes through trying to make it out in the world.
Does the comedy derive from the scene choices?
Raven: There will be. Right now, we’re just getting up to speed since it is the beginning of the season. We’re solidifying the characters a lot more. Most of the time we’re trying to find an understanding between her, Jo and Honey and their different worlds.
Majandra: We’ll get into [Jo's science world].
What kind of research did wewe need to do to portray a science geek?
Majandra: Well, there’s only so much research one can do. Some of the science is really confusing. I really didn’t research too much. I mean, right now she’s at a basic physics level. She just started her program, so it’s not too crazy.
So it has a BIG BANG THEORY-type humor to it?
Majandra: Definitely. In Jo’s world.
Do wewe feel zaidi comfortable with drama au comedy?
Majandra: Well, I’ve worked on a lot of comedy. It feels like a very natural thing for me.
What do wewe upendo best about your character?
Raven: I upendo that she always brings her best. She isn’t tough. It’s about love. It’s not about trying to control the situation. She wants to get what she wants — out of upendo — but she doesn’t want to get there kwa herself. Like for Georgia, she’s like, ‘I want wewe to come with me. I want wewe to reach your goal. But mine’s first.’
Majandra: It’s very sweet. I like the dynamic between them. I just upendo their friendship. It’s my inayopendelewa part.
Because your characters are from Georgia, will they have southern accents?
Raven: I tried it in the pilot, but they didn’t want that. So, no. But in this part, it doesn’t need it.
Do wewe think multi-cam sitcoms are making a comeback?
Raven: I think maybe they are.
Majandra: I see a difference in the pilots right now. People want to have the sort of old school sitcom feeling that brings. So I really think it is coming back. They want to have that nostalgic feeling.
Raven: Disney really kept the multi-camera alive and that’s where I come from.
What is the message that wewe would want your mashabiki to get out of the show?
Raven: Have fun. Follow your dreams and know that your Marafiki and family are there for you.
What is it like working with Loretta Devine?
Raven: Heaven. She always sings!
Majandra: Yeah.
Raven: She hums.
Majandra: She has such a pretty voice. . . She is so good. She is one of those people who crosses genres.
Would wewe want to sing with Loretta on the show?
Majandra: Can wewe talk to the writers and make that happen please?!