Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton Show Appreciation for Melissa Peterman’s Baby Daddy Sitcom
Melissa Peterman continues to connect with new fans of Baby Daddy, years after the show wrapped up, including Kieran Culkin and his wife Jazz Charton.
In a recent exclusive chat with Us Weekly, Peterman reminisced about a flight they shared after Culkin scored the Best Supporting Actor trophy at the Oscars.
“We were deplaning [after] I swapped seats so he could sit beside his wife. They are just the cutest couple. As we were stepping off the plane, they expressed their gratitude, saying, ‘Thank you for switching.’ Then they both exclaimed, ‘You were in Baby Daddy! We adore that show!’” Peterman shared with Us. “He was probably clutching the Oscar in his duffel bag while telling me how much they enjoyed Baby Daddy.”
Peterman was genuinely touched by their enthusiasm. “I thought to myself, ‘You have no idea how much that just brightened my day.’ It was incredible. He’s so lovely, she’s wonderful, and they both watched Baby Daddy. Roman Roy from Succession watched Baby Daddy!”
When reflecting on her standout performances, Peterman admitted to occasionally feeling “like an imposter.”
“However, I always know what show people recognize me from when they approach [me],” she remarked. “Occasionally, I’m mistaken. Often, I am, because I think folks have found [new shows] via Netflix and Hulu. Regardless, it’s always a surprise, and I will never tire of it because I feel incredibly fortunate to pursue my passion.”
ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Throughout her career, Peterman has delivered memorable performances, from Barbra Jean in Reba to Bonnie in Baby Daddy and Brenda in The Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon. She is currently featured in NBC’s Happy’s Place — and this marks a reunion with her former co-star Reba McEntire, but her past roles remain close to her heart.
The actress spoke with Us about how her television worlds collided when Baby Daddy co-stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau and Derek Theler visited her during a live taping of Happy’s Place.
“I adore those guys. I love them all. I love Chelsea [Kane] and I love Tahj [Mowry],” she gushed. “It’s another instance where I think, ‘How fortunate am I to have worked on shows where I genuinely enjoyed the cast?’ I made sure to introduce Jean-Luc and Derek to the creative team behind Happy’s Place.”
Baby Daddy aired on Freeform from 2012 to 2017 and told the story of a man navigating fatherhood after a one-night stand, supported by his friends, brother, and mother. After its conclusion, Peterman transitioned to new endeavors, including Happy’s Place.
“It would be fantastic to see Jean-Luc and Derek make guest appearances on Happy’s Place. They are both exceptionally talented and funny,” she beamed. “I was brainstorming how that could be really fun. It’s one of the joys of collaborating with so many amazing people; you just want to involve all your friends again.”
Peterman emphasized that everyone is welcome on the set of Happy’s Place — particularly following the show’s renewal for a second season.
“I’m thrilled about season 2 because that’s when a show truly begins to expand. We can start asking questions like, ‘Who is Takoda’s wife? Who is Gabby’s mom?’ There are so many exciting elements we can explore now in season 2 that aren’t always possible in the first season,” she explained to Us. “Happy’s Place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.”
