Following a five-year run in the 1990s, the ABC-TV show ‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ may see a return in the form of a reboot. And co-stars, according to Holly Robinson Peete, are all for it. The series focused on PE coach and former NBA star Mark Cooper, played by Mark Curry, who lived with his roommate Vanessa, the character Peete portrayed, and cousin Nicole, played by Raven-Symoné. During an interview with HollywoodLife, Peete shared that her co-stars were completely down for a ‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ reboot.
“He wants to do it,” she said earlier this week, speaking of Curry. “Raven Symoné said she would do it, so we’re just waiting on Warner Brothers to give us a green light. I hang out with Mark Curry all of the time in real life. I still hang with Mr. Cooper very often and we are buddies ’til we die. I love it.”
Peete starred on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” which aired for five seasons from 1992 to 1997. Nicole, who was raised as Cooper’s daughter, stayed in the home with Mark and Vanessa. Eventually, Mark and Vanessa dated and got engaged. When asked her were character would be today if the show were still airing, Peete responded, “I think Vanessa would’ve married very rich.”
“She’d be well taken care of and lots of Louboutins. Maybe she’d be on her third or fourth marriage now. Who knows,” she joked. “She was so much fun to play because she was so ditzy and loud and wrong all of the time, but she was so fearless and fun and I love the physical comedy. For me, her character was a total dream to play.”
Peete said she also misses her character’s stunts, including jumping in trash cans, adding that, “I’m ready to put my Loubs and my knee pads [on] and do my stunts.”
During a time of ’90s reboot specials such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” starring Will Smith and a reimagined “Wonder Years,” Peete revealed this isn’t the first discussion of doing a “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” reboot.
“We’ve been talking about it over the years for so many years, and with so many reboots come and gone, it’s like, “Where’s Cooper?” she shared. “I feel like it’s the natural progression of things. My fingers are crossed that we’ll be able to do it. There’s not a script yet, but we’re going to keep trying.”
Until then, the mother of four will direct her attention to promoting her Hallmark film, “Our Christmas Journey,” which arrives Saturday, Dec. 4. The holiday film is loosely based on her autistic son, RJ, and her 24-year-old daughter, Ryan Peete. Together, Holly and Ryan partnered with More to ADHD to raise awareness for ADHD Awareness Month.
“I’m always that person looking in hindsight, but by the same token, I’m also someone who’s proactive and looking to pivot and support someone who’s dealing with what I’m dealing with, who maybe had less access to resources and information,” she adds.
Mark Curry has been busy since starring on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.” The comedian, whose resume includes appearances on shows like “Living Single,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and the Netflix comedy “Family Reunion,” even went viral in video in May 2021 after a news reporter failed to recognize him during an interview with two lesser-known individuals about Los Angeles gas prices.
