# The Ms. Pat Show

The Ms. Pat Show is an American television sitcom created by Jordan E. Cooper and Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams that premiered on the streaming service BET+ on August 12, 2021. The show is based on the comedy and life story of comedian Ms. Pat as a convicted felon from the streets of Atlanta turned reluctant suburban mother.
On September 2, 2021, BET+ renewed the series for a second season which premiered on August 11, 2022. On July 6, 2022, BET+ renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on February 23, 2023. On May 30, 2023, BET+ renewed the series for a fourth season, which premiered on May 23, 2024. On October 31, 2024, BET+ renewed the series for a fifth season, which started filming on early February, 2025.
The show was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2023 and the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024.

## Premise

Set in Plainfield, Indiana, the series follows Ms. Pat's fictional family, the Carsons: Pat (Ms. Pat); her husband Terry (J. Bernard Calloway);her sister Denise (Tami Roman); and Pat's children Ashley (Brittany Inge); Brandon (Vince Swann); Janelle (Briyana Guadalupe); and Junebug (Theodore John Barnes).
A modern day Roseanne, Pat sometimes struggles to adjust with the changing times and ways of her conservative Indiana town after moving there from her Atlanta, Georgia, hometown. Although blunt and sometimes hardheaded, Pat loves her family and her open-mindedness helps her succeed as a Black woman in a suburban white neighborhood.

## Cast
### Main

* Ms. Pat as Patricia "Pat" Ford Carson, the matriarch of the Carson household. She, like Ms. Pat in real life, grew up in rough conditions in Atlanta, had two children when she was a teenager, and moved to Plainfield with her husband with whom she has two more children. While her older kids' father abused her and provided her with little to no support, her husband Terry loves her and acts as the loving partner she never had with her older kids' father. Patricia has four children: Ashley and Brandon, from her first relationship with Lloyd; and Janelle and Junebug, from her marriage to Terry.
* J. Bernard Calloway as Terry Carson, Patricia's well-meaning husband. He is based on Ms. Pat's husband, Garrett. Though his wife grew up with a lack of a strong support system, he provides her with the real love and stability that she never had during her turbulent childhood.
* Tami Roman as Denise Ford, Patricia's free-loading sister who lives with the family. Often a source of comedic tension between Ms. Pat and Terry, she struggles to keep a job.
* Vince Swann as Brandon James, Patricia's sweet, but dimwitted son from a previous relationship with Patricia's ex-boyfriend from Atlanta. He is based on Ms. Pat's son, Nikia.
* Briyana Guadalupe as Janelle Carson, Terry and Patricia's sour and intellectual daughter who is almost 17 years old. She is based on Ms. Pat's daughter, Garrianna.
* Theodore John Barnes as Junebug Carson, Terry and Patricia's cheerful youngest child, who is 14 years old and obsessed with social media. He is based on Ms. Pat's son Garrett "Junebug," Jr.

### Recurring

* Brittany Inge as Ashley James, Patricia's eldest child from her previous relationship as a teenager who is a therapist. She and her mother have a rocky relationship toward the beginning of the show due to their disagreement over Ashley being a lesbian, but Pat grows to accept her identity. Her relationship with Brandon is jeopardized in the season four finale when she and Brandon have a huge fight, and both walk out of the house. She is based on Ms. Pat's daughter Ashley.
* Reagan Pasternak as Elizabeth Patterson, the PTO chair and best friend to Pat and Denise. Well-to-do with a past of her own, she is also Ryan’s mom. Elizabeth is initially portrayed as the straight-laced opposite of her new neighbor Pat, but she soon becomes Pat and Denise's closest friend in the neighborhood and enthusiastically helps them in a few schemes.
* Robert Curtis Brown as Principal Horner, the principal at Ridgewood High School. He becomes at odds with Pat and Janelle when he makes racist assumptions during a meeting with them. Denise recognizes him at a PTO meeting from when he offered her a threesome on Christian Mingle.
* Lindsey Pearlman as Martha, Principal Horner's assistant at Ridgewood High School. She struggles to adapt to black culture and mistakes Janelle's name as "Janeesha" and "Janiqua." At a PTO meeting, fellow participant Elizabeth reveals that Martha has a criminal record. Martha was one of actress Lindsey Pearlman's last roles before her death in 2022.
* Gavin Bedell as Ryan Patterson, one of Junebug's friends. He is the son of the PTO chair and first appears on the scene when enlisted to help Junebug with one of Ms. Pat’s schemes.
* Nicholas Ryan Hernandez as Sergio, another of Junebug's friends. He learns a very important lesson about using the n-word.
* Josh Dunn as Jesse, Janelle's non-binary friend from the debate team who butts heads with their religious and unaccepting mother, Jackie. Jesse helps Pat to learn how to address people with more political correctness.
* Jonathan Horne as Lee Grazer, Janelle's debate teacher. Denise and Lee develop an unexpected mutual attraction for each other after Denise’s frustrations attempting to use dating apps.
* Shawn Harrison as William K., manager of the comedy club where Pat performs. At first, he tries to stop Pat from performing because he doesn't like her rough style of humor. After seeing how much the crowd loves her act, William K has a change of heart and decides to make her the club's headliner.
* Tommy Davidson as Marcus, Pat and Denise's cousin. He shows up to help the family go through their problems and is known to come whenever the wind blows. He often says "Look what the wind blew the fuck in" when he enters.
* Miya Golden as Tanika, Ashley's girlfriend, a chef who shares an apartment with Ashley in Chicago who turned out to be cheating on her. The two revealed to have broken up in the season two finale, when Ashley shows up at Pat's door.
* Ebony Marshall-Oliver as Mildred Ford, Pat and Denise's mother. After Mildred's death in the first episode of season two, Pat reflects on the toxic relationship that she had with her mother. Pat imagines at Mildred's funeral that she has a spirited discussion with her when Mildred pops out of her coffin. Pat later flashes back to a traumatic incident when her mother verbally abused her for having "nappy" hair, unlike Denise. Mildred returns in season four as a ghost to haunt Pat and Denise, and jeopardizes Pat's relationship with her daughter Janelle.
* Richard Lawson as Major Carson, Terry's non-biological father. He and Terry struggle to fix their relationship because of Major's history of cheating on Terry's mother. In season two, he reveals a family secret to Terry that severely damages the relationship between Terry and Terry's mother.
* Janet Hubert as Jewell Carson, Terry's mother who looks down on Pat for her past as a drug dealer.

### Guest

* Ts Madison as Shirley (season 1)
* Don Curry as Tony Free (season 3)
* Syleena Johnson as Naomi (season 3)
* Jaleel White as Max Jefferson (season 3)
* Lisa Vidal as Michelle (season 3)
* Essence Atkins as Charnelle (season 3)
* Marla Gibbs as Miss Pearl (season 3)
* Debra Wilson as Veronica (season 4)
* Flex Alexander as Pastor Jenkins (season 4)
* Golden Brooks as Tanya (season 4)
* Kellie Williams as Lisa (season 4)

## Episodes

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) |
| 2 | 10 | 10 | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) |
| 3 | 10 | 10 | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | November 23, 2023 (2023-11-23) |
| 4 | 8 | 8 | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) |

### Season 1 (2021)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot: Duck" | Debbie Allen | Teleplay by : Jordan E. Cooper Story by : Jordan E. Cooper & Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | March 23, 2022 | 0.65 |
| Meet the Carsons: Pat, a comedian who works hard to provide for her family. Terry, Pat's husband, who works equally hard, and continuously shows his love for Pat. Brandon, Pat's oldest son, who is not the brightest, but he has good intentions Janelle, Pat's second daughter, who is intellectually gifted. Junebug, Pat's youngest child, who often rebels, but tries to find his way in the world. Denise, Pat's older sister, who is having trouble finding employment, and moves in with Pat, who provides for her. Pat and Terry move from Atlanta to Indiana after the factory Terry works in shuts down. Pat worries about her children after a school shooting occurs, Junebug posts a Snapchat that concerns Pat and Terry, Denise tries to find a job, Brandon spends too much time gaming and is not worried about a job, and Janelle gets into a fight, which lands her in hot water. ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Slangin' Coupons" | Robbie Countryman | Randi Barnes | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | March 30, 2022 | 0.52 |
| 3 | 3 | "Surprise!" | Mary Lou Belli | Jordan E. Cooper | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | April 6, 2022 | 0.57 |
| When Pat's daughter Ashley comes over for her birthday, she comes out as lesbian, and she and Pat have a dispute, which causes Pat to leave. Pat does her stand-up routine, and Ashley shows up and Pat tries to apologize to her, but it sparks yet another fight. ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Sticks and Stones" | Mary Lou Belli | Garrianna P. Lee & Tom Simmons | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | April 13, 2022 | 0.55 |
| 5 | 5 | "Baby Daddy Groundhog Day" | Mary Lou Belli | Anthony C. Hill | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | April 20, 2022 | 0.47 |
| 6 | 6 | "Bitch... I'm Funny" | Mary Lou Belli | Desia Gore | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | April 27, 2022 | 0.48 |
| Guest Star: Shawn Harrison as William K. ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Lights Out" | Leonard R. Garner Jr. | Loy A. Webb | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | May 4, 2022 | 0.53 |
| 8 | 8 | "Brotha Poppins" | Leonard R. Garner Jr. | Vincent B. Bryant Jr. | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | May 11, 2022 | 0.38 |
| 9 | 9 | "Girls Night Out" | Kim Fields | Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams & Jordan E. Cooper | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | May 18, 2022 | 0.50 |
| 10 | 10 | "Don't Eat That Shit" | Kim Fields | Farhan Arshad | August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12) | May 25, 2022 | 0.53 |
| When Janelle eats a brownie and gets high, Pat and Denise have a fallout, which ends with Pat putting Denise out on the street. ||||||||

### Season 2 (2022)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 11 | 1 | "Ding-Dong, The Bitch is Dead" | Tasha Smith | Jordan E. Cooper & Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | March 22, 2023 | 0.57 |
| After several months, Pat and Denise still have not resolved their fight over the pot brownie. Meanwhile, the family gets a call that Pat and Denise's mother, Mildred, has died, leading the Carsons to travel to Atlanta for the funeral. ||||||||
| 12 | 2 | "Judge Miss Sophia" | Mary Lou Belli | Brian Rubenstein | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | March 29, 2023 | 0.48 |
| Denise, still upset at Pat for kicking her out of the house, tries to sue her for damages on a courtroom show run by a drag queen. ||||||||
| 13 | 3 | "Don't Touch My Hair" | Mary Lou Belli | Desia Gore | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | April 5, 2023 | 0.45 |
| Terry makes an insensitive remark about Pat's hair, bringing up painful memories from her childhood about her mother's abuse. Denise's latest entrepreneurial venture making hair care products goes awry when she tests the substance on Janelle live on social media. ||||||||
| 14 | 4 | "Gots To Be More Careful" | Mary Lou Belli | Larry Powell & Stevie Walker-Webb | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | April 12, 2023 | 0.46 |
| When Terry is suspected of burglarizing several houses in the neighborhood, Pat, Denise, and Elizabeth hatch an absurd scheme to prove that the neighborhood watch committee has their eyes set on the wrong person. ||||||||
| 15 | 5 | "Parents Just Don't Understand" | Debbie Allen | Antonia March & Jacqueline McKinley | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | April 19, 2023 | 0.44 |
| Terry's parents, Major and Jewell, come to visit the Carsons. Jewell disapproves of Pat's profession, so Pat and Denise bring Jewell to one of Pat's standup shows to change her mind. Terry is angry that his father has continued to cheat on his mother, so Terry and Major try to work out their father-son relationship with the help of Terry's therapist, Cheryl. Major reveals that Terry is the product of Jewell's affair with another man, tarnishing Terry's trust in his mother. ||||||||
| 16 | 6 | "Rent-A-N!gg@" | Henry Chan | Vincent B. Bryant Jr. | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | April 26, 2023 | 0.47 |
| Since Janelle doesn't have a date for the prom, Pat sets up a dating app profile for her and finds her a comparatively intellectual date named Trey'Quan. Meanwhile, Junebug's high school is overjoyed to have a black player on their basketball team... until they find out he plays terribly. ||||||||
| 17 | 7 | "Trigger Warning" | Henry Chan | Teleplay by : Brian Rubenstein & Patrick Walsh Story by : Jordan E. Cooper | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | May 3, 2023 | 0.45 |
| The family becomes alarmed when Pat tries to make a comedic bit out of Mr. John, the man who sexually abused her and Denise as children. Janelle and Junebug find a mystery thong in the laundry and become convinced that Terry has a mistress. Denise's past trauma with Mr. John leads her to a breaking point in her relationship with Lee, and then to a strip club where Brandon happens to be one of the dancers. Guest Star: Shawn Harrison as William K. ||||||||
| 18 | 8 | "The Roommate" | Mary Lou Belli | Garrianna P. Lee | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | May 10, 2023 | 0.39 |
| While in Chicago for her biggest comedy gig yet, Pat stays with Ashley and her girlfriend, Tanika. Just as she is getting adjusted to the idea of her daughter living with another woman, Pat discovers that Tanika has been cheating on Ashley, causing a huge fight that sends Pat and Tanika to jail. Back in Indiana, Terry keeps a watchful eye on Denise and her drinking habits at home and on a hunting trip. ||||||||
| 19 | 9 | "Teach Me" | Mary Lou Belli | Gary Anderson | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | May 17, 2023 | 0.42 |
| Pat and Terry check out a "rage kintsugi" class that Denise is taking as a fun way to treat her mental health. Janelle and Brandon have opposing reactions when they find out that 15-year-old Junebug is seeing a 29-year-old woman who works at the mall. ||||||||
| 20 | 10 | "Stormy Weather" | Mary Lou Belli | Teleplay by : Jordan E. Cooper & Brian Rubenstein & Patrick Walsh Story by : Jordan E. Cooper | August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11) | May 24, 2023 | 0.55 |
| A casual trip to the doctor's office leads to Pat finding out that she is pregnant. Ashley comes home after breaking up with Tanika and finds out that someone in the house is pregnant after answering a call from an abortion clinic. She and her siblings think that Denise is the pregnant one, so Denise covers for Pat until everyone eventually finds out the truth. When Terry hears the news, he is thrilled until Pat reveals that she wants to have an abortion. After she gets the abortion, the couple has a dramatic fight and cliffhanger for the beginning of season three. ||||||||

### Season 3 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 21 | 1 | "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" | Jordan E. Cooper | Brian Rubenstein | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | February 22, 2023 | 0.63 |
| Three days after her abortion revelation, tension has strengthened between Pat and Terry, but both are forced to put their separation aside as Janelle's college rep comes over for dinner, but their reunion quickly backfires. ||||||||
| 22 | 2 | "Pat On Tour" | Mary Lou Belli | Patrick Walsh | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | February 22, 2023 | 0.55 |
| 23 | 3 | "Down With The King" | Mary Lou Belli | Loy A. Webb | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | August 30, 2023 | 0.44 |
| 24 | 4 | "Ain't No Party..." | Mary Lou Belli | Devon Shepard | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | September 6, 2023 | 0.49 |
| 25 | 5 | "Da Baddest Trip" | Jordan E. Cooper & Kelly Park | Larry Powell | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | September 13, 2023 | 0.39 |
| 26 | 6 | "Nudes & Dudes" | Mary Lou Belli | Vincent B. Bryant Jr. | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | September 20, 2023 | 0.40 |
| 27 | 7 | "Body Aches and Booty Shakes" | Mary Lou Belli | Garrianna P. Lee | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | September 27, 2023 | 0.35 |
| Brandon lands a job as a teacher, but his past soon comes back to haunt him when a former customer of his shows up. Meanwhile, Terry meets a colleague, Michelle, who saves meals for him, and Pat seems cool with it. When Michelle invites him to happy hour, he tries to get Pat to come with him, but she has a show, so she allows Terry to go by himself. At happy hour, only Michelle is there, and she gives him a shirt signed by NBA star Dominique Wilkins, which he turns down. Michelle tries to get Terry to stay, but Terry hurts his ankle, which he lies to Pat, saying that he slipped on some oil at his job. When Terry goes to sleep, Pat sees texts from Michelle, who keeps calling him and texting him. ||||||||
| 28 | 8 | "Twenty Seven Side Pieces" | Kelly Park | Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams & Tom Simmons | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | October 4, 2023 | 0.45 |
| Pat is recording a podcast, but Terry's needs get in the way of her recording. Denise gets a job at a hair salon, whose workers trash about her behind her back, and she calls Pat to go undercover, which confirms Denise's suspicions, and Pat allows Denise to open up a business in her home. Meanwhile, Michelle comes to the house, and takes care of Terry, and assumes that Pat left him alone. However, when Pat comes home, she catches Terry and Michelle together, and forces Terry to sleep on the couch. ||||||||
| 29 | 9 | "Pills & Chills" | Jordan E. Cooper | Allison Bosma & Jon DeWalt | February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) | November 17, 2023 | N/A |
| 30 | 10 | "Father Christmas" | Debbie Allen | Patrick Walsh | November 23, 2023 (2023-11-23) | TBA | N/A |

### Season 4 (2024)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 31 | 1 | "I’m the Pappy" | Mary Lou Belli | Patrick Walsh | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| After things seem to finally settle down in the Carson family home, Junebug's pregnant girlfriend Allison comes to the house needing a place to stay and Pat finally finds out about her which cause her to kick her out but Junebug tries to defend her. Denise talks with Junebug in his room saying how the baby will change is life forever if he goes all in, but he is persistent his is ready. After Pat and Junebug go back and forth again, Allison's water suddenly breaks and can't get to the hospital, so the family decides to deliver the baby over the phone. Denises comforts Allison about causing drama to the family and after delivering the baby, Junebug faints and Pat tells Allison to stay away from Junebug. However, Junebug refuses which cause her to kick him out too. ||||||||
| 32 | 2 | "The Book of Denise" | Jordan E. Cooper | Loy A. Webb | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| Denise and Junebug continue to be misled in their romantic endeavors. First, Denise gets the family to start going to church with her where she becomes smitten with the new pastor and invites him to dinner; however, Terry thinks something isn't right about him and enlists Pat's help to expose him. Meanwhile, Junebug and Allison sneak back in the house to take care of the baby, but when she leaves to go talk to the baby's father, Junebug becomes concerned if she is being loyal when she is gone for three days. ||||||||
| 33 | 3 | "Boo, Bitch!" | Mary Lou Belli | Desia Gore | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| Denise has a new client named Veronica who is a psychic and starts to freak her and Pat out. A fed-up Pat kicks her out after saying her mother's spirit is coming. Soon after, Pat and Denise seem to be getting haunted and soon their mother's ghost appears and won't leave them alone. Meanwhile, Janelle's ex Trey 'Quan climbs up her window to apologize but Pat comes up and thinks she snuck him in. Mildred starts to influence Pat into yelling at Janelle and soon slaps her. Mildred soon leaves and crying Pat says she hates her. ||||||||
| 34 | 4 | "The Guilt Trip" | Mary Lou Belli | Garrianna P. Lee & Safiya Azaunce | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| 35 | 5 | "Pick Up Your Feelings" | Sheldon Epps | Larry Powell | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| 36 | 6 | "Blast From the Past" | Raven-Symoné | Allison Bosma & Jon DeWalt | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| 37 | 7 | "A Hard Day’s Work" | Mary Lou Belli | Vincent B. Bryant, Jr. | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| 38 | 8 | "The Graduation Party" | Mary Lou Belli | Karynrose Bruyning & Avon Haughton | May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) | TBA | N/A |
| It's Janelle's big graduation day and Brandon plans to travel back to Atlanta to save his father, who needs a kidney, which Pat and Ashley disapprove of. Janelle still hasn't told the family she didn't get into Howard, and is afraid to tell them, but Brandon spills the beans about it, and Janelle spills the beans about Brandon in retaliation. Janelle decides to not go to the graduation, feeling like she's the one everyone counts on to have their back, and she has no one help her when she needs it, but Pat reminds her that she'll always have her daughter's back, no matter what happens. The graduation party starts, and Brandon tries to sneak away, but Ashley catches him, and they get into a fight, which ends up in Brandon and Ashley leaving, leaving the family in shock. ||||||||

## Accolades

| Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Episode: "Baby Daddy Groundhog Day") | Mary Lou Belli | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Episode: "Don't Touch My Hair") | Mary Lou Belli | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Episode: "I'm the Pappy") | Mary Lou Belli | Nominated |