Steve Howey Compares Sperm Donor Story Lines in Happy, Shameless

Steve Howey I didn’t expect to play the story of a sperm donor This is Happy’s place after recording the same thing Shameless – but he’s having fun with it.

During a special interview with Us WeeklyHowey, 47, explained why he didn’t think it would make sense for them to get back together This is Happy’s place and his first Reba the costar JoAnna Garcia Swisher. (Howey, who made his own This is Happy’s place Debuting on Friday, December 6, he has already shared the screen with his former costars Reba McEntire again Melissa Peterman.)

“I like the idea that we all come back in different ways. I had my one guest episode, and JoAnna should have her one guest episode,” he noted. “Because we don’t play Van or Cheyenne [from Reba]. And I think there is some kind of relationship between [Peterman’s character] Gabby and Danny.”

Howey said it would be great to have Garcia Swisher, 45, as his scene partner and when Danny and Gabby are investigating something.

Related: ‘Reba’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Reba McEntire proved she’s more than just a country star when she hosted her own TV show – aptly named Reba. The sitcom ran for six seasons from October 2001 to February 2007. McEntire played a single mother raising her three children – played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. […]

“Melissa is like a sister to me,” he added. “So it’s surprising if they get into a romantic relationship, but we’ll see.”

Earlier this season This is Happy’s placeGabby expressed her interest in having a child of her own. A runner Kevin Abbottwho is also the executive producer at Reba when it aired on The WB between 2001 and 2007, it previously revealed that Howey’s character would end up donating Gabby’s sperm down the line.

“I think that a person who donates sperm can be part of a romantic relationship. If that’s the way Kevin wants to go, that’s love, right?” he laughed. “It’s weird to be honest. It’s weird, but I don’t know what they planned. I mean, I’ve been called a sperm donor before.”

Howey first gained fame playing Van on Rebafollowed by “single mom who works two jobs, loves her kids and doesn’t give up,” famous Reba, played by McEntire, now 69. Since then, Howey found success as Kevin. Shameless. The Showtime series featured several creative story lines including Kevin’s wife, Veronica (Shanola Hampton), inability to conceive. His mother became their lawyer while Kevin was a sperm donor.

This is Happy’s place will never introduce such story lines, but the NBC sitcom still found creative ways to include Howey in the show. Before her first appearance, Peterman, 53, talked about their on-screen encounter.

“We hope it will work for everyone [from Reba] and they can [all appear on the show]. We would love it. And being with Steve, it was so much fun and he’s another person that we continued to be in our lives,” said Peterman. Us in October. “We have a history. We shared something that not everyone else did. That was our first priority. We just knew each other forever. It was so much fun, and no one makes me laugh harder than Steve Howey. “

In the meantime, Howey has been enjoying himself with his much-anticipated guest role.

“Obviously, Van is different because I was very different. I was too young, too naive and too young. It was my first series of regular work so it was very new. Now after 20 years, I am able to bring different experiences to the players I play,” explained Howey. “And the actor’s relationship – because This is Happy’s place it is something new – they are different. Yes, it’s Reba [and] Melissa, but the letters are different. Bobbie is very different from Reba. Gabby is very different from Barbara Jean and Danny is obviously different.”

He continued: “This boy has his own business. You have money and you play this game. Like you said, Danny always saw them. … They have something special [with Happy’s Place] that makes sense, and Reba has another lightning-in-a-bottle show.”

This is Happy’s place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 pm ET.