By Ahmed Rahma
It was an exciting moment for kids on Monday, December 14, 2020, when the first scripted kid’s series by a popular Hollywood filmmaker and actor, Tyler Perry, premiered on Nickelodeon Africa.
The new live-action series, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, which was executive produced, directed and written by the actor, centres on a family whose world turned upside down when their nephew, Young Dylan, an aspiring hip-hop star, moves in unannounced, a character played by Dylan Glimer.
Commenting on Nickelodeon’s partnership with Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager at ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Monde Twala, said “Festive season kids viewing has never been more entertaining and exciting these holidays.
“We are thrilled to bring, Tyler Perry’s first kids scripted series to our channel and parents can rest assured their kids will be happily entertained this festive season. Our young viewers can look forward to a hilarious, relatable and street smart Dylan Wilson.”
Nickelodeon’s partnership with Tyler Perry is part of his long-term pact with ViacomCBS, producing original series for BET Networks (The Oval and Sistas) and other ViacomCBS channels, with exclusive licensing rights on this programming.
Additionally, Perry recently announced his joint venture with BET Networks for the new streaming video-on-demand service BET+.
The production of Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan for Nickelodeon is overseen by Shauna Phelan, Senior Vice President, Live-Action Scripted Content. Brian Banks, serves as Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production for the series.
In Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, Dylan’s grandmother, Viola, realises that raising her grandson is too much to take on. So, she decides to send him to live indefinitely with her affluent son Myles, his wife Yasmine and their two kids Rebecca and Charlie.
Suddenly, the Wilson family household needs to adapt as lifestyles clash between rising hip-hop star Young Dylan and his straight-laced cousins.
From Dylan giving Rebecca and Charlie lessons in “swag” and street smarts, to learning that even rappers have rules in the Wilson house. The series follows the hilarious hijinks this family faces as they try to get on the same beat.