P-Valley Inspired Series “Down In The Valley” Spotlights Black Culture In The Deep South
Written by Brooke McMurray
If you’re anything like me, then hearing the innocent adolescent voice of a southern child belting out “Down in the valley where the girls get naked, if you throwin’ bands then you know she gon’ shake it…” makes all your senses stand at attention and joy course through your veins! P- Valley burst into our hearts and homes 4 years ago in July of 2020, leaving a permanent mark on our culture and this generation. From the WRITING….. I mean, let's be honest, who saw Mississippi’s boyfriend coming?! And who among us thought that Lil’ Murda could have EVER had our beloved Uncle Clifford trembling in passion at the knees?! Then There was the breathtaking acting and performances from the cast of P-Valley. Did you know that Ms. Brandee Evans, better known as the leading star Mercedes, started her career as an English Teacher? I’m sure that if you could only catch a couple of glimpses of “Ms. Mercedes” on stage at the Pynk, you would understand the desire to give this woman her flowers every time she was in your presence!
Down in the Valley First Look From STARZ© Provided by Vital Thrills
While I could go on for hours about my affection towards P-Valley, it is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I let you all in on the new docuseries from the star of P-Valley, Nicco Annan, and creator Katori Hall, Down in the Valley. Down in the Valley will air on the STRAZ network on July 5th and will be hosted by none other than our beloved Uncle Clifford, aka Mr. Nicco Annan, aka Your Favorite Uncle. I had the absolute pleasure to not only meet Mr. Annan in the flesh but was able to preview the new series and first episode at the American Black Film Festival ( ABFF), which was held in May of this year in Miami Beach, FL. Mr. Nicco Annan is truly everything you’d hope he’d be and more! He was tall, handsome, charismatic, funny, and insightful. He was as firm and as loving as his character, Uncle Clifford. Mr. Nicco, in the same look and breath, made you feel seen and inspired all while making his boundaries clear and reminding you that HE is the reason for the celebration. And he was! Mr. Nicco was engaging and selfless with his fans and truly brought the good vibes wherever he went. This encounter alone lets me know that we are in for the time of our lives with his new show, Down in the Valley.
Writer Brooke McMurray with Nicco Annan at the American Black Film Festival screening of STARZ Down In The Valley.
Imagine the intellectual yet comforting conversational style of the late and great Anthony Bourdain coupled with the real-life representation of the characters from P-Valley. I know, it would be a sight to see! Luckily for us, Down in the Valley takes you on a road trip with our best friend, Nicco Annan, through the heart of the American Deep South to find these amazing people and allows us to hear their stories firsthand. You can look forward to joining Mr. Nicco Annan on his adventures visiting some of our country's most eccentric, exciting, loving, enduring, and multi-faceted people. Without giving too much away, you can fully expect to be clutching your pearls and blushing throughout the entire 30-minute run of each of the 6 episodes slated for the 1st season airing June 28th on the STARZ network. The people that you will encounter through your travels Down in the Valley will surely tug at your heartstrings and make you feel like family. You will share laughs and tears while listening to their stories of tribulations and triumphs, from setbacks to seeing no way out of dire situations, to public and family scrutiny, and to then find new meaning, purpose, and joy in your life.
Down in the Valley highlights everyday people who chose to live extraordinary lives regardless of what life handed them. This docuseries shows us the power of perseverance and self-love. It shows the importance of giving grace to others as well as giving grace to yourself. Down in the Valley is as equally entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It challenges you to think outside of your everyday norm, not only in society but also regarding age, sex, religion, and family structure all while keeping a smile on your face through Nicco’s narrations. Down in the Valley will absolutely stand proudly in its own lane but it has truly done its predecessor, P-Valley, the utmost justice. It was also beautiful to see the range in Mr. Nicco Annan from playing the character, Uncle Clifford, to portraying himself in Down in the Valley. While you can always see the consistency of Nicco’s true personality throughout his roles, it’s like he lets you in a little more and you feel more of a bond to the real Nicco Annan. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be seeing even more creative and highly entertaining work from Nicco Annan and Katori Hall in the future. Please, don’t be scared of a good time and catch Down in the Valley when it premieres June 28th on the STARZ network.