Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar has been confirmed to be replacing Anders Holms in ABC’s black-ish spinoff mixed-ish. Originally the role starred the Champions and Workaholics actor as Paul (Rainbow’s father) in the original pilot, but since then the comedian has been let go from the project.
Gosselarr is known most widely for his role as Zack Morris in Saved By the Bell (1989 – 1994), while his other works include his portrayal of Detective John Clark Jr. in NYPD Blue, and Peter Bash in Franklin & Bash. He was also the lead in 2016’s TV series Pitch and the recently cancelled, The Passage.
Although originating as a one off episode (“Becoming Bow”) from the original series, Mixed-ish was given an almost immediate straight to series order from the network, while the original episode was withheld from air, while negotiations took place for other actors to be considered for the recast of Paul.
Mixed-ish is written by Peter Saji and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, and follows “Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) as she recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s and the constant dilemmas they had to face over whether to assimilate or stay true to themselves.”
The children’s parents Paul and Alicia (Tika Sumpter) decide to make the move to suburban life, in an attempt to secure better financial support for their family. As they struggle with the challenges brought on by their new surroundings, Bow and her siblings navigate public school, where they find themselves not fitting in with either of the black and white crowds.
Newcomer Arica Himmel will star as young Bow Johnson, with Christina Anthony as Denise, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson; and Ethan Childress as Johan Johnson. Saji and Barris will executive produce Mixed-ish with Ross, Randall Winston, and actor Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy in partnership with ABC Studios.