‘I Don’t Know If She Sleeps’: How Reba McEntire’s The Voice Schedule Complicated Filming Her New Sitcom Happy’s Place, According To The Showrunner

‘I Don’t Know If She Sleeps’: How Reba McEntire’s The Voice Schedule Complicated Filming Her New Sitcom Happy’s Place, According To The Showrunner

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I find myself in awe of Reba McEntire’s unparalleled dedication and energy. The woman is a force to be reckoned with, juggling not one but two series on NBC’s Fall TV schedule while still holding down the fort on “The Voice.” It’s enough to make even the most hardcore gamers question their own commitment levels!


For over 50 years, Reba McEntire has been a beloved figure in entertainment, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Currently, she’s juggling two main roles on NBC’s autumn TV lineup. In her third season as part of The Voice’s coaching team, McEntire is also the star of the bar-themed sitcom, Happy’s Place. This family-friendly comedy brings her together once again with Melissa Peterman and their past employer Kevin Abbott, who recently discussed with TopMob how skillfully McEntire managed the challenging filming schedule.

Given that “The Voice” films most of its season ahead of time, from auditions to quarterfinals, followed by two weeks of live episodes, this production timeline can be demanding and taxing for everyone involved. It’s astonishing then, that Reba McEntire agreed to take on another series while simultaneously managing the singing competition. When I inquired about potential scheduling conflicts with “Happy’s Place” creator Kevin Abbott, he gave me a look as if I had just asked if water was wet, casually stating: “Of course there are!

In essence, Reba is available for us half of the time, while the rest of the time we interact with a robotic version of her. Given her hectic schedule, she’s arguably the busiest person on earth. Recently, I tried to share a story with her backstage, and I joked, ‘The irony is that you’re the one person I can’t vent about my own busy life to.’ It didn’t seem to resonate. I wonder if she even finds time to rest, such is her energy and productivity. She truly is a whirlwind of activity.

It strikes me that spending lengthy periods in a chair for The Voice might spark a desire for activities with more movement, such as taking on a new comedic TV series role. However, that’s quite an extreme contrast, especially considering I don’t possess the same level of enthusiasm and commitment as Reba McEntire does. Yet, if I were to have my own show…

Regardless of the situation, a significant factor that eased things for everyone was that both shows fell under the NBCUniversal corporation. This meant that Abbott & Co. could leverage shared resources like sets and filming locations. In his own words, this allowed them to “capitalize on the advantages offered by being part of the NBCUniversal family.

They placed their stage next to ours on the filming location, which means we were neighbors on set. They’ve been incredibly cooperative in trying to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Anyone who works on producing 2.5 hours of TV content weekly understands that each second saved is just as precious as every cent spared. Therefore, not needing to travel long distances between different projects must be a significant relief for McEntire, who used to have to fly from one coast to another to manage her concert schedule with her role in ABC’s Big Sky.

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According to Kevin Abbott, every sacrifice is valuable if it means working alongside a Grammy-winning legend. Moreover, it appears that he is genuinely amazed by her ability to carry on day after day without collapsing under pressure. In his own words:

As a gamer, let me tell you, sometimes we need to think outside the box. It’s not your everyday routine. There are times when we adjust our play schedule to fit Reba’s. But guess what? It’s totally worth it. If you ever find yourself needing to adapt to someone else’s timetable, Reba is the one you want on your team. She’s simply incredible. I can’t even fathom where she finds her endless energy.

So far, opinions on Happy’s Place have been somewhat divided, but there’s no denying that it’s a sitcom suitable for all ages, even though it takes place in a bar. Plus, it boasts one of the most dedicated entertainers in the industry as its star. Here’s to it!

On Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, you can catch the latest episodes of “Happy’s Place” on CBS. If you miss it, don’t worry! You can stream it the very next day with a Peacock subscription.

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2024-10-21 04:07