The self-proclaimed “Brady Brunch” will join together for season two of Bravo’s Thicker than Water. Premiering this Sunday, January 4th, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT, The Tankard family will expose the trials and tribulations of family feuds, secrets, healing bonds, gaining new family, and showing the true essence of instilling family values.
For those who are new to the Tankard crew, Ben (father) is a former NBA player, Gospel Jazz Musician, pastor and head of the family. Jewel (wife) is an author, Detroit native, founder of the Millionaires Club, pastor, and business mogul. Together, they pastor The Destiny Center, a growing, multi-cultural, non-denominational, church located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Their children; Brooklyn, Britney, Benji, and Cyrene, add a variety of personality, differences, and good-ole sibling love to the mix. Also joining the ‘Tankard Palace’ this season, Ben’s oldest son, Marcus returns with his wife, Tish.
I had the opportunity to chat with Ben and Jewel before their season premiere about the success, challenges, and values of the Tankard family, and what we can expect in season two.
Michigan Chronicle: As you’re preparing for season two premiere, what are some lessons you’ve learned from season one as a mother, father, husband and wife?
Jewel: I learn that our family is really not so different than other families. This really helped me open up, when we first started airing, it’s just natural to want to put you best foot forward, showing all your strengths and how amazing you are. You realize that’s just not real, people are going to see your vulnerabilities, and being ok with them seeing that. For me, I grew emotionally and physically. So many people were able to relate to our issues, which made me be ok with exposing our weakest moments.
Ben: I’ve learned that one thing that makes a great dad a great dad, is knowing when to be a friend and a listener, as oppose to making every situation a learning environment. Sometimes your child just wants you to be there, it’s cool to just sit with the kids and say nothing. I learned that from season one.
Michigan Chronicle: What is one value you want viewers to gather about the Tankard family from this season?
Ben: God first, family second. I believe that we all have a construction sign on our forehead. God is not done with any of us. Don’t give up on each other for one infraction, find something good and positive to build on, and support each other, even if you don’t agree with anything.
Michigan Chronicle: Marcus and his wife, Tish will be returning this season, right?
Ben: Yes, I don’t want to spoil anything. We have some great surprises. Marcus and Tish are going to surprise you this season.
Michigan Chronicle: Sounds exciting. Are we going to see how well he gets along with his siblings in this season?
Ben: Yes ma’am, that’s going to be very good.
Michigan Chronicle: I know you don’t want to say much. With your daughter Brooklyn, are we going to see some behavior changes this season?
Jewel: Yes, you’re going to see Brooklyn evolve and grow. It’s going to be good.
Michigan Chronicle: Ben you mentioned in the season premiere, that one thing that hurts families is having secrets. Do you think season two will open a lot of family wounds which would not have been exposed otherwise?
Ben: What makes a family reality show successful is that you’re transparent. We’re doing it to be a blessing, people don’t do what you say they do what you do. Our very nature is to help and motivate people. This season opens up a lot more of that transparency. When you talk about family it’s not real to wake up looking like a movie star. So you may see some edge control with my wife, you may see some the guys waking up needed to watch their face, but it’s real. No one is perfect and have it together all the time.
Michigan Chronicle: I don’t want to spoil anything. But I know Benji is itching to start his own family. As parents what advice would you give him in particular in holding a family together?
Jewel: We definitely try to encourage our children to put God first. We live in such a society where people just run to and from, and it’s easy to not make your relationship with God a priority. Also to respect each other, and respect each other’s differences. You’re going to have different opinions and to talk things through, and stay close to your family. It really helps to make a good marriage when there is a good support system there.
Michigan Chronicle: We know last season you guys had a hard time of letting go of your daughter Cyrene, who recently graduated from high school. Will we see more about how that panned out in this season?
Jewel: yes, you will see more of that. Cyrene is going to Howard next year. You will see us talking to her about her decision making. I think it’s going to be very relatable to parents. I think one of the things people love about the show is some parents say what they feel, and some parents don’t. I think our show gives parents a platform to say, “I knew I wasn’t the only one, I knew I wasn’t old-fashioned.”
Michigan Chronicle: What is one thing you learned about how people perceive your family?
Ben: This show has forced us to talk about some things we may not have talked about otherwise, and in doing so we have gotten a lot of things resolved. You tape 100 hours for an one hour show, something is not going to air. Sometimes things get aired and people pull a perception out of it because they don’t have the entire picture. For instance, one show I said, “I’ve been poor, now I’m rich, rich is better.” Viewers heard this statement and made judgment, I wasn’t saying rich people is better than poor people. I was speaking to how I grew up. I was raised in poverty and almost starved as a child, now I am successful I can give to other people. Viewers didn’t get the two hour testimony, they only saw what was shown.
Jewel: You hate being misunderstood of course. But during press, people had a chance to see how hardworking we are. They get to see the enduring process as well, we’re both business people, we don’t take a salary from our church as pastors. His success is from music, my success is from business. They understood we’re hardworking people.
Michigan Chronicle: Ben you’re being reaching a couple of milestones on this season. Turning the big 50 and your 25th anniversary in music.
Ben: Yes, turning 50 makes the light turn on in your head, especially longevity, and taking life more seriously in terms of exercise, and weight loss. I lost 40 pounds this season. Also, spending more precious moments with the kids, knowing time spent is better than money spent. The camera’s actually caught me recording my 20th record for album that will be coming out in February.
Michigan Chronicle: What would you say to viewers who never watched your show. What would be a reason your show may be beneficial to them.
Jewel: There are core values that some of us has gotten away from. I think it’s refreshing to see a black man love his black wife and they’re not perfect but working it out. We discuss entrepreneurship, raising children, and the everyday success, grind and daily activities and perseverance. Our show has good strong valuable lessons, such as forgiveness that every viewer can learn from. There are a lot of life skills we discuss, plus its super funny too.
Ben: Everybody came from a family or part of a family. So are show is very relatable.
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