Steve Howey, known for his role as Van on the beloved sitcom Reba, recently made a guest appearance on Happy’s Place, a new NBC sitcom starring Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman. This reunion, though brief, delighted fans and offered a nostalgic nod to the classic sitcom. Howey’s character, Danny, delivered a line referencing a group of people he knew in Houston 20 years prior, a clear wink to the audience familiar with Reba. Howey appreciated this subtle acknowledgment of his past role and praised the show for incorporating this Easter egg. He considered it a classic sitcom move, a clever way to engage the audience while still establishing the new series and its characters.
Happy’s Place follows Bobbie, played by McEntire, as she navigates the inheritance of her father’s restaurant and the discovery of a long-lost half-sister. Peterman portrays a bartender at the establishment, and McEntire’s real-life partner, Rex Linn, appears as the cook. This sitcom reunites McEntire and Peterman almost two decades after Reba concluded its six-season run. The original show also featured Christopher Rich and JoAnna Garcia Swisher. Howey’s guest spot reignited fan interest in the possibility of further reunions with the original cast.
While filming his scenes for Happy’s Place, Howey incorporated subtle tributes to his previous character, Van. One such instance involved a playful exchange with McEntire regarding a mustache drawn on Peterman’s character’s picture, a line that was Howey’s suggestion and readily accepted by McEntire. This improvisation showcased the camaraderie between the actors and the collaborative atmosphere on set. It also highlighted Howey’s pride in his own mustache, which made its television debut on the show. These subtle references, combined with the presence of familiar faces, created a sense of continuity while still maintaining the distinct identity of the new sitcom.
The connection between Reba and Happy’s Place extends beyond the actors to the showrunner, Kevin Abbott, who was an executive producer on Reba. Abbott envisioned Howey’s character and saw his inclusion as a catalyst for a mini-reunion. Howey, whose character fit the description, readily accepted the offer, attributing the collaboration to serendipitous timing. This alignment created an opportunity to leverage the existing chemistry and fanbase while exploring new dynamics and storylines. The show effectively utilizes nostalgia without relying solely on mimicking the previous series.
Howey’s character, Danny, exemplifies Happy’s Place‘s approach to incorporating familiar elements while forging its own path. Danny, a successful business owner, contrasts significantly with Howey’s younger, more naive character, Van, in Reba. This reflects both the character development and Howey’s personal growth as an actor over the past two decades. The relationships between the characters in Happy’s Place also differ from those in Reba, even though some of the actors are the same. Bobbie, Gabby (played by Belissa Escobedo), and Danny are distinctly different from their Reba counterparts. This allows Happy’s Place to stand on its own merits while benefiting from the pre-existing audience affection for its stars.
While Howey’s appearance generated excitement and speculation about future cameos, he expressed no immediate plans to become a series regular on Happy’s Place. He also expressed a preference for former Reba cast members to make individual guest appearances rather than sharing scenes together. Specifically addressing the possibility of JoAnna Garcia Swisher, his former onscreen love interest, appearing on the show, Howey advocated for separate appearances, suggesting that each actor should have their own moment to shine. He highlighted the continued communication and strong bond between the Reba cast members. While he enjoyed revisiting the sitcom format, Howey found the experience challenging after years of working on single-camera shows like Shameless and True Lies. This renewed appreciation for the sitcom genre sparked his interest in pursuing his own sitcom project in the future.
