Damon Wayans Sr.’s Guest Appearance On This Damon Wayans Jr. Sitcom 13 Years Ago Paved The Way For Poppa’s House

Damon Wayans Jr. was part of the ensemble cast of Happy Endings, and his real-life father, Damon Wayans Sr., had a one-episode guest appearance on the show. Wayans Sr. played Brad’s father, a veteran in town for some medical tests in season 1, episode 5, “Like Father, Like Gun.” From their stilted early interactions to their tender heart-to-heart at the end, the Wayans father and son stole the episode from the Happy Endings' best characters.

Over a decade later, the Wayans are reprising their roles as a father-son pair in Poppa’s House, a show Wayans Sr. co-created. Poppa’s House is built around the comedic chemistry the Wayans naturally share, given the Wayans family's long history in show business. Given how talented they are separately and together, it is surprising it took over a decade since their Happy Endings episode for Damon Wayans Sr. and Damon Wayans Jr. to get their own sitcom where their dynamic can play out every week.

Damon Wayans Sr.’s Appearance On Happy Endings As Brad’s Father Has Similarities To Their Dynamic On Poppa’s House

Damon Wayans Jr.’s Sitcom Wives Push Father And Son To Have Closer Relationships

Wayans Sr. is probably more similar to his radio DJ character Poppa than he was to the uptight veteran he played in Happy Endings, but both characters have a similar relationship with their sons. Like many men in the best sitcoms, Poppa from Poppa's House and Francis Williams from Happy Endings share a resistance to vulnerability, putting up an emotional wall that keeps them from having the deepest relationships they could with their sons. In Poppa’s House, season 1, episode 8, “Wig,” Poppa’s best friend dies and Poppa dresses and behaves erratically in his attempts to avoid grieving or crying.

Poppa’s House has other Wayans family members writing for the show. Damon Wayan Sr.’s sister Kim Wayans directed two episodes and wrote another; brother Shawn Wayans wrote an episode; and son Michael Wayans wrote an episode.

Wayans Jr.’s characters in Happy Endings and Poppa’s House would prefer more emotionally honest relationships with their fathers, but they are forced to take action about it at the insistence of their wives. In Happy Endings, Brad’s wife Jane (Eliza Coupe) orchestrates the right opportunity for them to say "I love you" for the first time. Nina (Tetona Jackson), Junior’s wife in Poppa’s House, is constantly a mediator between father and son, helping them build a closer relationship over time.

Why It Took So Long For The Wayans To Do A Sitcom Together

The Wayans Were Busy With Television And Other Projects

Damon Wayans Sr. and Damon Wayans Jr. in Happy Endings touching heads

The Wayans had fantastic chemistry playing a father-son duo in Happy Endings, but it would take 13 years for them to share the screen again. Until recently, both of the Wayans, especially Wayans Jr., had been committed to other projects that prevented them from having a reunion sooner. Damon Wayans Jr. starred in hit sitcoms Happy Endings, New Girl, and Happy Together from 2011-2019. Because he was so busy, Wayans Jr.'s Coach had to be replaced in New Girl. At the same time, Wayans Sr. was in the TV series adaptation of Lethal Weapon.

Major Roles Of Damon Wayans Sr. And Damon Wayans Jr. From Happy Endings To Poppa’s House
	Project	Medium	Year(s)	Role
Damon Wayans Sr.
	Happy Endings	TV Series	2011	Francis Williams (1 Episode)
	Lethal Weapon	TV Series	2016-2019	Roger Mortgage (55 Episodes)
	Cinnamon	TV Movie	2023	Wally
	Poppa's House	TV Series	2024-	Poppa (8 Episodes)
Damon Wayans Jr.
	Happy Endings	TV Series	2011-2013	Brad Williams (57 Episodes)
	New Girl	TV Series	2011-2018	Coach (44 Episodes)
	Let's Be Cops	Movie	2014	Justin
	Happy Together	TV Series	2018-2019	Jake (13 Episodes)
	Poppa's House	TV Series	2024-	Junior (8 Episodes)
	Shrinking	TV Series	2024-	Derrick #2 (5 Episodes)

The Poppa’s House pilot, co-written by Wayans Sr., was ordered by CBS in February 2023, so perhaps Wayans Sr. was inspired to write a project for himself with all production shut down during Covid, and he had time to think about what he would like to do next. With the Happy Ending episode as proof of concept, the Wayans had to create a project that would bring them back together, playing a father and son team. With the full season pickup of Poppa’s House in November 2024 (per Deadline) there will be more of the Wayans coming to screens soon.

Source: Deadline