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| Category | Details |
| Originally Aired | December 16, 2024 |
| Network | CBS |
| Director(s) | Robert Townsend |
| Writer(s) | Phil Beauman, Shawn Wayans |
| Character | ACTOR’S NAME |
| Poppa Damon | Damon Wayans |
| Damon Jr. | Damon Wayans Jr. |
| Ivy | Essence Atkins |
| Nina | Tetona Jackson |
| *Lola | Adriyan Rae |
New Characters Have An Asterisk *
Storyline Recap
Death Is A Traumatic Event – Poppa Damon, Damon Jr, Ivy, Nina, Lola
With the death of his childhood best friend, Leon, who was like an uncle to Damon Jr., both men are incapable of crying and truly processing their feelings, which is worrisome to Nina and Ivy. It especially becomes an issue for Ivy as Poppa Damon not only starts dressing like he is trying to keep up with people half his age, but he also starts wearing a wig and dates a 20—or 30-something-year-old named Lola.
The way Poppa explains it, his best friend died with no wife and no girlfriend (or sidepiece), and though Poppa may have his family, this doesn’t mean he doesn’t get lonely sometimes. So, in comes Lola and he was moving fast. Within a week, there was talk of moving her in and more until Nina came up with the idea of having Poppa Damon read a book at his granddaughter’s school, which happens to be “Charlotte’s Web.”
In reading that book, with Junior and his granddaughter in the audience, Poppa Damon breaks down, and Junior is close behind for while Leon saved Poppa Damon’s life and was a lifelong friend, Leon also taught Damon Jr. how to play basketball, ride a bike, tie his shoes, and had a notable impact on his life too. And once all the tears are shed, Poppa Damon seems to be back to his old self, but not looking at Ivy any differently, despite assuming she wouldn’t mind exploring a relationship with him, beyond what they have.
New Character Descriptions
Lola
Lola is a young woman who enjoys skydiving, driving with the top down, and many things men with wigs should not do.
Review
Trajectory (83/100): Climbing
Like with any show, “Poppa’s House” needs time. It is a comedy updating a classic formula or style for the Wayans, and while Marlon has been keeping consistent within comedy, between sitcoms and comedy specials, Damon was exploring other options, like with “Lethal Weapon.” So, there was some rust to shake off, and it seems, after another episode focusing on Poppa over Damon Jr., you’re getting a reminder of why shows like “My Wife and Kids” went on for over 100 episodes.
Highlights
The Balance Of Humor And Realness Is Getting There
It appears the writing behind this episode is based on someone who actually died in Damon’s or another person’s life, and with that, you get to see the expected comedy, in terms of the inability to cry, but also that undercurrent of the issue of the act being a challenge. Balancing the funny with the real has been a trial and error thus far for “Poppa’s House,” but with this episode, it seems the right mix was achieved.
Now, realistically, hitting it once doesn’t mean we should expect things like this for now on because the show is likely still in the experimental stage. However, oftentimes, if you do things once, you can do them again, so we hope as the show tries to balance its humor and drama, as well as Damon Jr. and Damon Sr.’s roles, everyone will have their next 100+ episode show.
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