Tatyana Ali Returns to TV With New Sitcom

Tatyana Ali is teaming up with Martin Lawrence and leaving the character of Ashley Banks behind her for an all-new TV role.

The former Fresh Prince of Bel Air star just finished filming a new TV One comedy called Love That Girl! The show is executive produced by Lawrence and will begin airing in January 2011. It is the network’s very first sitcom.

Love That Girl!, which was created by former Martin producer Bentley Kyle Evans is about a young divorcee named Tyana Jones (played by Ali) who basically goes from her father’s house to having a husband, and decides to strike out on her own for the first time. Actor Phil Morris best known for role on Seinfeld plays Ali’s dad on the show.

Ali, who recently starred on BET’s first webseries, Buppies, is excited about returning to the sitcom world full-time. “I’ve done pilots and episodic stuff over the years, but I haven’t been a regular on a show since The Fresh Prince. It’s amazing to be back on a sitcom,” she says. And this time Ali is following in the footsteps of former older TV cousin Will Smith and is wearing a few hats on the set.

“The production company I run with my sister Anastasia, HazraH Entertainment is also doing the show," says Ali. "Because of the schedule and being in every scene it’s a really different experience this time around. I look at what Will did in a totally different way now.”—Ronke Idowu Reeves