The third season of
Everybody Hates Chris premieres tonight on The CW, with executive producer Chris Rock making his first ever appearance on the show as the school guidance counselor, Mr. Abbott. He meets Chris when the latter is sent to his office after failing his eighth-grade exams. Instead of helping Chris, Mr. Abbott subjects him to several mental evaluations before finally concluding that he needs to take a remedial course.
Chris Rock told
TV Guide the character is his own sweet revenge on all the less-than-helpful advisers who refused to keep the budding comedian past the 10th grade. “I've always found most guidance counselors kind of have one foot in and one foot out of the school," he said. "Yeah, if there's a troubled kid, I'll talk to him. Otherwise, I'm going to sit here and smoke.'"
Apart from getting a dose of Rock's misguidance, Chris, played by
Tyler James Williams, will also be receiving his first kiss.
Everybody Hates Chris is a comedy series loosely based on Rock's life. The show follows the teenage Chris as he goes through his formative years in a Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn with his family and friends. The cast includes
Terry Crews as Julius,
Tichina Arnold as Rochelle,
Tequan Richmond as Drew,
Imani Hakim as Tonya and
Vincent Martella as Chris' best friend, Greg.
Aside from Chris Rock, other names slated to guest appear this season include
Shar Jackson (
Celebrity Rap Superstar) and retired National League Hockey (NHL) player Willie O'Ree. According to the
Black Athlete Sports Network, O'Ree's episode, entitled “Everybody Hates Gretzky,” will have Chris and Drew ditching school in order to meet his hockey idol, Wayne Gretzky, when the Edmonton Oilers visit the New York Islanders. When the two truants realize they are lost, they approach an older man, played by O'Ree, for help. However, they get more than directions, as O'Ree's character also gives the boys a lesson on hockey history.
Additionally, AOL Sports has reported that New Jersey Devils goaltender Kevin Weekes will appear as an extra on the same episode.
Tune in to the return of
Everybody Hates Chris tonight at 8pm.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide, AOL Sports, Black Athlete Sports Network
(Image Courtesy of The CW)