words: Nichelle Dailey photos: Naomi Harris
With the police constantly bumbling their public image, it might feel like a kick in the teeth that their fictional television counterparts are acting inept and foolish for
yucks. But even if the people don’t respect their authori-tay, the five-oh can relish in
the fact that folks don’t cower in fear at the mention of at least one real-sounding
branch of their force—the Reno Sheriffs Department.
Niecy Nash isn’t a cop, she just plays one on TV. Known as Officer Raineesha
Williams on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!”, Nash was born in Crenshaw but reps St.
Louis as her home. She did her first stand up routine there; her mom and grandma
were her audience, but she still knew that humor was her gift. She has taken that
talent to the next level and illustrated her diversity, from bustin’ perps as a member
of the fake cop ensemble on “911!” and in the upcoming movie, Reno 911!: Miami,
to even serving as a correspondent to the family-friendly “Tonight Show with Jay
Leno.” And one of her favorite things to do is put you and your dirty ass house on
blast hosting “Clean House” on the Style Network.
She is one of the hardest-working women in the biz right now and has the
paychecks and flowers to prove it. And while she may not be a real copper, that
doesn’t mean she can’t serve and protect—Nash also helps run the organization
Mothers Against Violence in Schools. So sit back and relax as this 30-something
momma of mischief chats with Mass Appeal about her career, her three kids, baby
hair and that booty.
How did you get cast on “Reno 911!”?
Originally it was going to be a sketch show, like “SNL” or “Mad TV.” They
said, “Can you come in and do some characters?” I had never even done
that before, but I went in and I did it, and I think I got hired because of my
personality. I knocked on the door ’cause they were running late for the
audition, and said, “Are ya’ll ready to get this party started?” And I didn’t
even know who was in the room. And they were like, “Well, why? Are you
in a hurry?” I said, “Actually I am, I gotta get my kids to Chuck E. Cheese
by seven o’ clock.” And they were like, “What?” And I ended up doing like
10 or 15 minutes on my children, which wasn’t my plan. So when I made
it to the call back, I was like, Okay I’m ready, I got my characters, and I
walked in the door and they were like, “So what happened at Chuck E.
Cheese?” So, I think we just got along right from the beginning. And they
were like; Hey this is somebody we think we want to work with.
You used to take your kids to auditions with you?
Oh yeah! In the beginning I had to. You gotta do what you gotta do. They
got used to the process real quick—Sit there don’t move and if the director
come out and look at you, smile pretty.
Ok, how was Raineesha born?
They let us create the character, so Raineesha is a culmination of a lot of
women that I know and every black woman that has worked at the DMV.
Most people want to look smaller in Hollywood and they say, “Why do you
play a character where you put on a big booty and big hips?” That was my
idea, and you know, gotta give ’em a little bit of Crenshaw with the baby
hair. What!
How did your role of host on “Clean House” come about?
I walked into the Style Network and said, “I have a concept for a show that
I think is fabulous.” They were like, “Um, we don’t want your little idea, but
we want you for a show that’s already been green lit.” They told me the
concept of the show and I was like, Lets go make a TV show, and now it’s
their number one show, which I’m really happy about because they don’t
have any other, um, brown people hosting any show on that network.
Are you a clean freak now because of the show?
I have three children and the reason why I stay on top of keeping my house
clean is not because I’m a neat freak, but because I live in fear. Fear that
one day my show is gonna knock on the door and be like, Surprise, it’s
“Clean House”! And I’ll be like, Uh, uh uh… So because I’m fearful, I keep it
clean, that’s all. I’m fearful, not fabulous when it comes to that.
You’re doing so many projects right now, but what’s up with “The
Tonight Show”?
One of their staff was a fan of “Reno 911!” and she said, “You have to meet
this girl, Niecy Nash.” I walked into the writers’ room and was there maybe
15 minutes and they hired me in the room and they were like, “Can you go
to wardrobe, we want to send you to Boston to cover the Boston Marathon”
I said, “When is the flight?” It’s been a good time, Jay is very giving, and
he’s so unselfish.
What character do you love to get into?
T.T. [of “Reno 911!”], she’s the character with the buckteeth and the big
breasts and she is always wild’n out. Once I put on the teeth and the boobs
and the wig, I can completely get lost in it and it doesn’t matter what I do, what
I say. T.T. is too many things and you can never go wrong in her world. The more
you go towards what’s wrong it’s really right. And I love it.
What are some crazy things people have said to you on the street?
A lot of people who are fans of “Reno” think my booty is real. They come up to
me and say, “Oh my God, you lost weight!” And most guys are disappointed,
like, “Aww, what happened to you?!” I’m like, “Well, it’s in the trailer.”
What does Officer Raineesha have to say about her new movie?
[As Raineesha] Although these people have come in and done a documentary
following us all around, I always knew that I was celebrity. See, I’ve been a
celebrity for a long time and people are just now gonna recognize it. I’m
feeling a little sad about the other people on the force ’cause they probably
won’t get as much attention as I will, but I’m used to it and they’ll be alright,
they’ll get used to it. Denzel, get ready, I’m on my way to Hollywood!
