From SOHH.com:
Exclusive: That Girl Lay Lay “How I Made It” Conversation
Houston rap newcomer Alaya "That Girl Lay Lay" High is the definition of hard work and determination becoming the youngest female rapper to sign a record deal via her very own Fresh Rebel Muzik/EMPIRE imprint at 11, dropping standout songs like "Breezy" with Memphis rapper Young Dolph and "Rich" with UGK's Bun B. Did we mention she's only 14 years old?
The hip-hop star – who signed an overall talent deal with iconic kids powerhouse Nickelodeon in June 2020 – is gearing up for her “That Girl Lay Lay” series to kick off, the much-anticipated release of her third official album and other major entertainment ventures lined up.
In celebration of her success, That Girl Lay Lay exclusively talks to SOHH live about how she turned her dreams into reality, her Houston roots and much more.
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From Entertainment Tonight:
That Girl Lay Lay on Her New Nickelodeon Series and Her Big Plans for the Future (Exclusive)
[Watch video: https://www.etonline.com/that-girl-lay-lay-on-her-new-nickelodeon-series-and-her-big-plans-for-the-future-exclusive-168514]
That Girl Lay Lay is making her dreams come true. The 14-year-old rapper, whose real name is Alaya High, spoke with ET's Melicia Johnson about starring in her own Nickelodeon series and where her passion for rapping started.
"It's a dream come true, it's amazing. It's really fun, everybody here is very sweet. I've made friends with the whole cast, it's amazing," Lay Lay said of That Girl Lay Lay, which she's in the process of filming.
While she couldn't say too much about the series, she explained that it's about a motivational avatar who comes to life, thanks to the wish of one shy girl who was in need of a best friend.
"I'm a motivational avatar who ends up coming out of a phone based on the person I'm the avatar for. Her wish was for me to come out of the phone, and I'm a motivational avatar, just helping her go through high school, and through life. She's a very shy girl. So, I'm just helping her as the motivational avatar, and one night, this shooting star comes, and she makes a wish. She's like, 'Oh I wish you were real,' and I ended up coming out of the phone and I ended up becoming real," she explained of her role on the Nickelodeon series.
Being an avatar comes with its perks, like the ability to freeze time.
"I have some superpowers, I can freeze time, I can disappear. So, that's some of the powers I have, and basically it's just us going through our daily life now that I'm her best friend," Lay Lay continued. "Nobody knows I came out of the phone. Everybody thinks I'm just her friend, she's the only one who knows, so it's hard keeping it a secret because I'm a little new here, so I don't know what I'm doing."
It was actually through her rap career that Lay Lay ended up on Nickelodeon.
"Well, I started off rapping when I was five and from rapping, I knew I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry," Lay Lay said of her start in the industry. "I started off with the rapping and then I kind of moved into acting. But I just took off, I had did a video when I was 11 of me rapping in the car in Atlanta, and it went viral, and from then on, I was getting calls from different labels. Empire, Def Jam, Warner Brothers, I was getting calls from everybody. It has always been my dream to be with Nickelodeon, I've always watched Nickelodeon since I was little. So, it has always been my dream to be signed with them, so I honestly feel like I manifested it."
"When I used to watch TV shows on Nickelodeon when I was little, I used to say, 'I wish I was on there. I wish I performed at the Kids' Choice Awards. I wish I had my own TV show. I want to see what the set looks like. I want to do this, do this.' And now I'm here, so I think just me saying it when I was younger, I just manifested it to be true," she added.
The 14-year-old is one busy girl, in addition to her TV show, the rapper has teamed up with the LOL Surprise Dolls for their 707 Day Concert, streaming July 7.
"I'm actually very excited for that show, it was very fun filming with everybody," she said of the concert. It's going to be on 707 which is LOL upside down, so be prepared for that. Parents can register for free tickets at lolsurprise.com/lolday. It's going to be amazing and you don't want to miss it."
The LOL 707 Day concert streams July 7, here.
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From Houston Chronicle:
Houston’s That Girl Lay Lay comes to life on Nickelodeon
Lay Lay, whose real name is Alaya High, plays an avatar inside an app who magically comes to life.
That Girl Lay Lay is the Houston teen rapper with more than 1 million Instagram followers. It also refers to her rapidly expanding brand that includes unicorn pendants, track suits and lip gloss.
And now, it’s the name of her Nickelodeon series.
Lay Lay, whose real name is Alaya High, makes her sitcom debut at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on “That Girl Lay Lay.” She plays an avatar inside a motivational app who magically comes to life after high school student Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) wishes on a star. Broad comedy high jinks ensue.
Despite the striking confidence Lay Lay displays in her music videos, the thought of TV stardom made her nervous.
“My anxiety was through the roof,” she says. “There’s a bunch of great actresses and actors in the world. Everyone is gonna want to give you criticism.”
Connecting with her character, however, was the easy part.
‘That Girl Lay Lay’
Premieres 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Nickelodeon
Anything for Selena
When Lay Lay posed for a Houston Chronicle photographer last year, she brandished a T-shirt featuring the late Selena. It wasn't just for show. Lay Lay says she's a huge fan and cites "Como la Flor" as her favorite Selena song.
"I tell everybody that she's my godmom, and some people believe me," Lay Lay says. She loves the 1997 film starring Jennifer Lopez.
"I have a video of when I was nine or eight, having a cookie and dancing to a Selena song from the movie. I watch it, and I cry every single time at the ending. I love Selena. She stood out. Even though she didn't know Spanish, they still loved her, and she tried to learn it to be better. And I love that when she did learn Spanish, she was able to do an English-language song."
-JG
“It’s the same. She is no different from how I talk, how I act, what dance moves I do, how I move my hands, my neck. It’s all the same. Lay Lay is not scared to step up to certain people in the show,” she says.
That sass is evident in the first episode. Lay Lay breaks out of Sadie’s phone and immediately launches into a rap. Once the literal smoke settles, she is intent on experiencing life as a teenager — in her own Lay Lay way, of course.
“Wanna make friendship bracelets? Make pizza bagels? Challenge crosstown rivals to a double dutch contest?” she asks Sadie. “I wanna prank call a convent. I wanna play dress up. I wanna eat cheese out of a can., Hey, how old do you have to be to work a bulldozer?”
Lay Lay’s ultimate mission is to to motivate, and she soon convinces Sadie to run for freshman class president. As an actress, Lay Lay has a natural sense of comedic timing with a keen edge that makes her a standout among sitcom kids.
She likens the show to some of her favorite sitcoms, including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “That’s So Raven” and “Sister, Sister.” But there’s a unique quality on display, something she shares with Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion.
“You can ask (production) how many times they had to tell me how to say certain words because of my Houston twang. It just wasn’t working, and they would be like, ‘You’re country, for sure’,” Lay Lay says. “They would be like, ‘Just let her say it how she wants to say it.’ They don’t get that it’s hard to not talk like I’m from Houston.”
“That Girl Lay Lay” was created and executive produced by David A. Arnold (“Fuller House”). The first season runs for 13 episodes and is the first part of a larger deal that includes Lay Lay music and merchandise.
"To have had the opportunity to create an amazing show like 'That Girl Lay Lay' with two young girls of color has been an honor," Arnold says. "I can't wait for the world to meet 'That Girl Lay Lay'."
Lay Lay also performs the show’s theme song. This is her first big acting gig, though she appeared on a recent episode of the superhero sitcom “Danger Force.”
“It was like four words, so it wasn’t that much,” she says. “I definitely still count it.”
“That Girl Lay Lay,” then, is the big payoff after past rejections that left her discouraged.
“I put so much time, I put so much effort into it. To get nothing out of it — oh, it crushed me,” she says. “What’s so funny is when I was on set, my TV show was (filming) next to something I auditioned for that I didn’t get.”
Her own music is still in play. She recently collaborated with Bun B and is working on a song with Jermaine Dupri and Young Dylan, fellow Nickelodeon star.
Lay Lay recently saw the first episode and plans to host a watch party in Houston for the premiere. And she hopes it resonates with viewers like so many of her classic faves.
“I was trying not to cry ‘cause I do not like to cry around people. It’s amazing to just see the hard work that you put into it. When you film it, you don’t know if it’s bad, so when you finally see it, it’s amazing,” she says. “When I watch my TV show, I want to feel the same way I feel when I watch ‘Sister, Sister’.”
That Girl Lay Lay follows Houston rapper Lay Lay (Alaya High), an avatar from a personal affirmation app that magically comes to life, and her best friend Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) as they navigate life as teenagers.
PhotoS: Nickelodeon, STR / Nickelodeon
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From WTKR Coast Live:
The stars of "That Girl Lay Lay" on Coast Live
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Life in a new school can be hard, but lucky for Sadie, she has Lay Lay, an avatar from a personal affirmation app who magically comes to life to become Sadie’s best friend and ultimate hype girl. Stars That Girl Lay Lay and Gabrielle Nevaeh Green join us to talk about the new series and what to expect from the show!
"That Girl Lay Lay" premieres on Thursday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon.
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Star of ‘That Girl Lay Lay’ Performs Original Rap & Reveals Details Behind Nickelodeon’s New Series! | J-14 Magazine
Alaya High, star of Nickelodeon's new series, ‘That Girl Lay Lay’ performs an original rap, on-the-fly, and gives us the inside scoop and magical insight behind the new series, in which she essentially gets to play herself!
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From Visalia Times-Delta:
Visalia teen Caleb Brown lands role on Nickelodeon's 'That Girl Lay Lay'
Once upon a time, Caleb Brown giggled along with Nickelodeon hit shows like “Victorious” and “iCarly.”
Now the 15-year-old Visalian stars in one himself.
“Sometimes I still have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that it’s real,” Brown said.
“That Girl Lay Lay” debuts at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 on Nickelodeon. Those who’d like to celebrate another impressive step in Brown’s Hollywood career can join the free watch party from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 23 at Visalia Rawhide Stadium.
“I think the true meaning of the show is the power of friendship,” Brown said of his new series.
It stars Alaya High, a 14-year-old rapper from Houston with the stage name That Girl Lay Lay. She’s known for riding her social media presence to a major record deal.
On the show, Lay Lay plays an avatar from a positive-affirmation app — who magically comes to life to help the main character struggling with high school.
Meanwhile, Brown plays Jeremy Miller, a fun-and-friendly teen whose personality is like … well … the real Caleb Brown.
“We’re the same person,” Brown said, “except he’s good at science, and I’m not the brightest bulb in the bunch.” (Brown, who’s also prepping himself for stand-up comedy on the side for fun, said this with a laugh.)
“Jeremy is that super-fun friend everyone wants to have, just that go-with-the-flow kind of guy,” Brown said.
In other terms, Jeremy Miller is a glue guy on the team. He links all the characters on the show through his laughs and adventures.
Along with the fun, Brown says “Lay Lay” as a show also delivers positive messages parents, and kids will enjoy alike.
“Lay Lay” preaches to kids the power of accepting who you are and loving what makes you unique, Brown said.
“You have to embrace it and use it as your biggest superpower,” Brown said.
Great advice from a teenager who’s already found success in his chosen field of entertainment.
Brown’s career has already had him starring alongside Jennifer Aniston and Olivia Rodrigo in movies and TV.
Yet, in a phone interview this week, he was excited about the Visalia watch party as a way to thank his home community of Visalia for all of its support.
His education has included homeschooling and time at George McCann, Annie R. Mitchell, and El Diamante schools. All the while, he’s been back and forth between Southern California and Visalia on sets, auditions, and more.
“Since I started 7 years ago, I don’t think I’ve had such a fun environment each and every day on set as [the Lay Lay show],” he said.
It took about four months to film the 13-episode season in Southern California. There’s already a family-like bond with his castmates on and off-screen, he said.
And the final product feels like those beloved Nickelodeon shows he loved growing up.
“It feels very Nickelodeon, but the way our producers and writers have put it together, it’s something we haven’t seen on the network before. It’s very unpredictable.”
Highly predictable, however, is that Brown’s Hollywood career will keep going. He’s predicted that and plans to add writing, directing, and stand-up comedy to the mix for a while.
“There’s a video of me, at age 8 or 9, telling my family: My retirement party is going to be my funeral,” he said. “Acting is one of those things I can give up. I do it just because I love it.”
Watch party
Join the free watch party for Visalian Caleb Brown’s new TV show from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 23 (Thursday) at Visalia Rawhide Stadium, 300 N. Giddings St. The show, “That Girl Lay Lay,” debuts at 7:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon.
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From BCK Online:
EXCLUSIVE: GABRIELLE NEVAEH GREEN, PEYTON PERRINE III, AND CALEB BROWN WEIGH-IN ON THIER NEW SERIES, “THAT GIRL LAY LAY”
That Girl Lay Lay is destined to become a true Nickelodeon hit. Stars Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Peyton Perrine III and Caleb Brown weigh-in on their new show, exclusively with BCKOnline. Take a look below at what the stars had to say to us about their characters on the show and a little bit more.
Make sure to tune-in tonight at 7:30 ET/PT to That Girl Lay Lay, This is one series premiere that you don’t want to miss!
But, before the stars of the show weigh-in on their particular characters, if you haven’t heard about this upcoming series, here’s a brief synopsis of the show below.
The new series will follow Lay Lay, an avatar from a personal affirmation app that magically comes to life, and her best friend Sadie, portrayed by Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, as they navigate life as teenagers and discover who they truly are. In the premier episode, Sadie wishes upon a star that her hype-girl avatar, Lay Lay, were real, causing Lay Lay to magically come to life. Now that she is in the real world with Sadie, Lay Lay decides that she wants a teenage experience herself and enrolls in the local school. Using her innate charm, Lay Lay convinces Sadie that she needs to come out of her shell and the best way for her to stand out is to run for student council.
BCKONLINE: Can you tell us a little bit about your character?
Gabrielle Nevaeh Green: I play Sadie on That Girl Lay Lay. She’s a bit of a wallflower. She doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She doesn’t like speaking to people, public speaking really makes her anxious, and gives her a lot of anxiety. That’s where Lay Lay comes in. Lay Lay is her positive affirmation app that boosts your confidence and gives her all the positivity that she needs throughout the day to conquer whatever tasks she’s handling at the moment. And of course, one night, Sadie has a really bad day at school, she wishes that Lay Lay could become a real person. She wishes to have that positivity and that love and that encouragement all the time. And of course, through Nickelodeon magic, Lay Lay becomes real and they have the best time together.
BCKONLINE: What would you want viewers to take away from the show?
Gabrielle Nevaeh Green: I really want viewers to take away that it’s okay, if you’re not that person that’s confident all the time, that really huge personality or that big extrovert. You can still make your mark in the world without being everything that other people want you to be. It’s okay not to be at the forefront all the time or not to be the center of attention or the person that’s always going to be in the front lines. It’s okay to just be in the back sometimes and make your mark that way.
BCKONLINE: Would you say that you are different or a like the character that you play?
Gabrielle Nevaeh Green: I’m so different from Sadie. The opposite, we’re polar opposites. And that was really difficult for me at first because Sadie, throughout the first few episodes, she’s really insecure, she’s really shy, and she doesn’t like to talk to people. But, I love talking to people. I love performing and things like that. So, that was something that I had to adjust myself with. Because at first, I was playing the character way too confident. And I had to dial it back, a lot. But that’s really how we’re different. But we’re both similar, because we all have those awkward moments. We’re both insecure sometimes. And that’s just life that’s just being human. So, I think that’s what people are gonna really relate to relate to with this character on September 23.
BCKONLINE: Peyton, can you tell us a little bit about your character on That Girl Lay Lay?
Peyton Perrine III: My character’s name is Marky Alexander. He’s Sadie’s younger brother. And he will do anything to get money. I mean, literally anything. He ropes in Jeremy and the family to help in his business.
BCKONLINE: Would you say that you are kind of like Marky or a little different?
Peyton Perrine III: I’m not that much like Marky, but we do have one thing in common and that is we both love money. I mean, I don’t like it, I love it. Where we’re different is that Marky can’t do any sports. I do Muay Thai and he doesn’t.
BCKONLINE: Caleb, can you tell us a little bit about your character on That Girl Lay Lay?
Caleb Brown: I play Jeremy Miller. He is the oddball out of the group. I’d say he’s not the coolest kid at school. He’s very aware that he’s not the coolest kid at school. He is mostly focused on what makes him happy other than fitting in with everybody else. He is Sadie’s best friend from childhood, he calls himself her ride or die, and he’ll just go through anything for his friends. He’s a go with the flow kind of guy, so he gets dragged into some crazy stuff over the season.
BCKONLINE: What do you think you will bring to the character?
Caleb Brown: I think the easiest part about playing Jeremy is I am very similar to him. I was never the cool guy. I was the oddball. I was kind of the one that nobody paid the most attention to. And I feel like if I’m able to take my own characteristics and me and put him into Jeremy, and try and make the character in the show as funny as I possibly can, I think I think we’re in for a good ride.
Are you excited as we are to see these talented teens in action? Tune-in tonight at 7:30 pm ET/PT and catch these three and the entire cast on Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay!
Note: Content has been edited for clarity.
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Q&A: Nickelodeon launches new series ‘That Girl Lay Lay’
Friends can be found in unlikely places, and in the upcoming Nickelodeon series “That Girl Lay Lay,” this can be especially true. The series follows Lay Lay, an avatar from a phone app, and Sadie, a girl who is struggling to make her mark in school and in need of a best friend to talk…
Friends can be found in unlikely places, and in the upcoming Nickelodeon series “That Girl Lay Lay,” this can be especially true.
The series follows Lay Lay, an avatar from a phone app, and Sadie, a girl who is struggling to make her mark in school and in need of a best friend to talk to. After Sadie wishes upon a star that her hype-girl avatar Lay Lay was real, she magically comes to life, and the two friends learn that when they are together, they can accomplish anything. “That Girl Lay Lay” also stars Peyton Perrine III as Sadie’s brother, Marky; Tiffany Daniels as Sadie’s mom, Trish; Thomas Hobson as Sadie’s dad, Bryce; and Caleb Brown as Lay Lay and Sadie’s classmate, Jeremy.
I spoke with Alaya High (That Girl Lay Lay), Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Peyton Perrine III and Caleb Brown about their work and excitement for the series.
That Girl Lay Lay:
HSI: What does it feel like to have put so much work into the show and finally getting to see it being released to the public?
It feels amazing.
Lay Lay: It’s something I’ve always wanted and something I’ve wished for for a long time. And it feels really good to be watching one of my favorite TV shows on television, SpongeBob, and see my commercial come on after!
HSI: How did you find out that you would be doing a show?
Lay Lay: I found out a month or two before we started filming and it was like, wow, this is happening so quick! I can’t believe I’m doing this. I was nervous because this is my first big acting gig, but in the end it was amazing and I want to keep doing it.
HSI: Going into music, did you ever find yourself wanting to act?
Lay Lay: I’ve wanted to act for a long time but when I was first coming into the acting world, I would do a lot of auditions, but I wouldn’t get them. So I would start to get a little discouraged and after a while, I felt like I don’t want to do it anymore. I would put so much time and effort into it but nothing would come out of it. So, having my first acting gig be my own Nickelodeon show is pretty epic.
HSI: What did you like most about acting in a TV show?
Lay Lay: The part I love acting the most in my show is that I get to be myself. I love the outfits. Oh, I love the outfits! I cannot wait for everyone to see them. They kept me blinged out! The character really is me, I don’t see much of a difference.
HSI: What has this experience filming for the show taught you?
Lay Lay: I love acting and I can’t wait for people to see the show! I was nervous at first but it came naturally.
HSI: What is it like working with your castmates for the show?
Lay Lay: I can’t wait for everyone to see how we all interact in the show. They’re so awesome and without them, the show wouldn’t work, because it takes a team. It takes a crew, it takes everybody to cooperate to make something work. So, I’m so glad that we all meshed very well together.
HSI: How much is music incorporated into the show?
Lay Lay: Music is incorporated in the show. There’s a bunch of dancing, a bunch of rapping, and every song you hear is recorded by me. Including the dance songs! Being able to bring my music to the acting world was on 10!
HSI: Have you always felt that music is something you’ve wanted to make?
Lay Lay: I first started rapping when I was about 5. My dad is a music artist as well so I’ve always picked up music here and there from him.
HSI: What made you want to start making music and posting YouTube videos for it?
Lay Lay: One day I just wanted to do a freestyle video. He recorded it and posted it and then it ended up going viral! It led to me becoming the youngest female signed to a rap label.
Gabrielle Nevaeh Green:
HSI: How is this experience different from All That?
Green: This experience is different in quite a few ways. I mean, on All That you know me for a myriad of characters, but with “That Girl Lay Lay” you guys get to know me through Sadie throughout each episode. So that’s really the biggest thing that’s different because I’m playing one continuous character throughout the entire duration of the show. But the other reason it’s different is that we have an amazing, amazing cast and this is one of the few shows that stars two female African-American leads. It’s a huge honor and feels amazing to be a part of such an incredible project.
HSI: Can you briefly describe your characters?
Green: I play Sadie on our show. She’s an environmentalist, she loves school but she also has anxiety. She likes to be in the back, she’s a little bit of a wallflower, which is why she needs Lay Lay to boost her confidence and get her out of her comfort zone.
HSI: What has been your favorite thing about shooting the series?
Green: My favorite thing about shooting the series is definitely seeing how all the special effects come together. Because Lay Lay definitely has superpowers in the series, and it’s interesting to see how we freeze time and how we go invisible. I can’t wait for you all to see all the hard work that the visual effects team put into making this final product for you guys.
HSI: Why should people tune in and watch the show?
Green: People should tune in to watch the show because they’ll see a wonderful story of friendship, a wonderful story about growth. It’s a fantastic coming-of-age story. You see these two characters really push and pull against each other in a really hilarious way. We all hope that viewers will see a little bit about themselves in each of our characters and we hope that you’ll be able to grow along with us.
HSI: What do you love most about the show?
Green: I would say that I love the friendship dynamic between Sadie and Lay Lay. And then I love all the music that’s implemented throughout the show. I love the different dynamics musically with Sadie and the rest of her family and with Lay Lay. Sadie becomes Lay Lay’s DJ, which is how it all gets tied together. And eventually Lay Lay is able to boost Sadie’s confidence enough to get her to perform with her later in the season.
HSI: What do you hope fans take away from the series?
Green: Specifically for Sadie, I hope that fans can take away that even if you’re on the shy side, or if you’re in the background, you can still achieve what you want to achieve and do a great job in school and become the person you want to be.
Peyton Perrine III:
HSI: Congrats on the show! What is it like being on a Nickelodeon series?
Perrine: It’s pretty cool being on the show. I mean, working with Nickelodeon… I was a huge Nickelodeon fan when I was little, and I still am today. “PAW Patrol,” “The Fresh Beat Band,” which Tommy, who plays our dad, is also on. “SpongeBob…” It’s just amazing working on a Nickelodeon show.
HSI: Can you briefly describe your character?
Perrine: My character, Marky, is the younger brother. He’s a 10-year-old businessman who will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing, to get his money. He ropes his family and Jeremy into his plans, but they always have a good time.
HSI: What has been your favorite thing about shooting the series?
Perrine: My favorite part would have to be the stunts. The stunts are top-notch. Like it’s been so much fun!
HSI: Why should people tune in and watch the show?
Perrine: The friendship story on the show is very powerful and I hope people also love that the characters are so funny together. The chemistry is there, and it doesn’t come across as fake. It comes across like we’re actually family which is really cool!
HSI: What do you love most about the show?
Perrine: My favorite part of the show would have to be the cast. The chemistry is amazing. We’re like best friends and family. And then also I just love Trish’s nicknames and the jingles. I can’t get over them! It’s just been an overall great experience.
HSI: What do you hope fans take away from the series?
Perrine: The message that I want fans to take away from the show is that having friendships is so important because you’d be lonely if you didn’t have them. Also, I hope they get the lessons out of this story. And also that they just love the show.
Caleb Brown:
HSI: Congrats on the show! What is it like being on a Nickelodeon series?
Brown: It’s a dream come true! I grew up watching Nickelodeon, like me and my sister grew up watching “iCarly,” “Drake & Josh” and all of it. It’s like a dream.
HSI: Can you briefly describe your character?
Brown: Jeremy Miller is Sadie’s friend from childhood. He calls her his “Ride or Die.” He’s kind of the oddball out in school. He’s the smart one, he’s good with science, he’s very aware that he’s not the coolest guy but he’s into doing what makes him happy instead of just fitting in with everybody else. And he’ll do anything for his best friends!
HSI: What has been your favorite thing about shooting the series?
Brown: I think my favorite part is that it’s so unpredictable. We come to work every day not knowing what we’re going to do… whether it’s a stunt, or we’re on a stage, or what environment. It’s always something different and it gets my adrenaline pumping. I love it.
HSI: Why should people tune in and watch the show?
Brown: I hope this show is an outlet for kids, for teenagers, and for people in general because we all need that outlet and I think “That Girl Lay Lay” is going to be that escape for everybody. It’ll give them that boost that they need. It’s a powerful story for sure.
HSI: What do you love most about the show?
Brown: I would say my favorite part about the show is the character chemistry. The comedy is amazing and that just brings the comedy to a whole other level. Sadie and Jeremy have the funniest moments I think, and Marky and Jeremy are always on crazy adventures that I’d never expect them to be doing. So I think just the characters and how they go together is my favorite part.
HSI: What do you hope fans take away from the series?
Brown: I think that we’re all so different from each other in so many different ways, yet we all fit in together so well. I hope people take away that no matter who you are, or who you have around you, you can make your life be what you want it to be. I think that’s what Lay Lay did for Sadie, and she was able to come out of her shell and become the person that she wanted to be, which I think is amazing. I hope that’s the message that spreads.
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Taylor chats with the stars of the new Nickelodeon show "That Girl Lay Lay" | CBS Austin
The new series That Girl Lay Lay follows a girl who is struggling to make her mark in school, and in need of a best friend to talk to, and Lay Lay, an avatar from a personal affirmation app that magically comes to life! The two friends navigate life as teenagers and discover who they truly are. Today we're chatting with two of the stars, Peyton Perrine III & Caleb Brown!
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From TV Fanatic:
That Girl Lay Lay Interview: The Cast of the New Nickelodeon Comedy Share Their Excitement
Nickelodeon has a new Fantasy Buddy Comedy series coming to its lineup, and TV Fanatic got to sit down with the cast about their excitement for the show!
Staring Alaya "Lay Lay" High and Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, the sitcom follows Sadie (Green) as she wishes upon a star that her hype-girl avatar Lay Lay (High) came to life.
Lay Lay magically comes to life and suddenly gets thrust into the real world, right by Sadie's side.
Also starring in the show are Caleb Brown as Jeremy Miller (Sadie's classmate and friend), Thomas Hobson as Bryce Alexander (Sadie's dad), Tiffany Daniels as Trish Alexander (Sadie's mom), and Peyton R. Perrine III (Sadie's Brother).
Once she comes to life, Lay Lay wants to experience everything the natural world has to offer for a kid her age, so she enrolls in Sadie's school.
Lay Lay convinces Sadie to come out of her shell and stand out, and the best way to do that in her eyes is for Sadie to run for student council.
The series starts Alaya "That Girl Lay Lay" High's overall content deal with Nickelodeon. She will continue to explore her already successful music career at the network and gain merchandising and publishing opportunities.
The show, however magical its plot, grounds itself in friendship and coming of age. Both Sadie and Lay Lay are teenagers and discovering who they are every day.
The magical aspect makes things more fun, as the show introduces many different fantastical elements for viewers to enjoy.
That Girl Lay Lay's excitement for the series stems from different aspects of the show; from showcasing her musical ability differently to playing a fictionalized version of herself (yet, as she emphasizes, once her character comes out of the phone, the character is 100% her: "it was just me").
Check out our interview with Lay Lay below!
TV Fanatic also got to sit down with Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Caleb Brown, and Peyton R. Perrine III.
Green, Perrine, and Brown also expressed their excitement for audiences to see their show.
They all agreed that they are looking forward to audiences seeing their hard work come to life and for audiences of young and old alike to see a show that may provide emotional connection as well as laughs.
They all expressed their love for the magical aspects of the show but also highlighted the elements of friendship and strong emotions.
Nickelodeon is bringing magic to life with That Girl Lay Lay.
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From J-14:
Exclusive: The Cast of Nickelodeon’s New Show ‘That Girl Lay Lay’ Gush Over ‘Meshing’ Well Together
The cast of Nickelodeon’s new show That Girl Lay Lay are already a family!
“I can’t wait for you all to see me interact with my other castmates,” the show’s star, rapper Lay Lay, whose real name is Alaya High, tells J-14 exclusively ahead of the premiere. “They’re so awesome, and without them, the show wouldn’t have worked because it takes a team. It takes a crew. It takes everybody to cooperate to make something work. So, I’m so glad that we all mesh very well and work very well together.”
The show, which stars the 14-year-old musician, follows the story of a high school student named Sadie (played by Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) who wishes upon a star and brings her virtual avatar to life.
“I’m an avatar from her phone and I give her positive affirmations, and I give her confidence. I’m just her only friend because in school she doesn’t have that many friends. She’s kind of the introvert,” Lay Lay shares. “So, I’m her only friend, and then, one day, she wishes on a star that I come to life and I do. I come out of the phone, and it’s just me and her in our high school life, and we’re just living life. Her parents don’t know that I came out of a phone. Everybody can see me. Everybody knows me. But they don’t know where I came from. I also have superpowers — I can turn invisible and I can freeze time.”
When it comes to the character she plays on screen, Lay Lay explains that it’s not just their name that they have in common! “My character is really just me,” she tells J-14. “To be honest, I don’t really see a difference.”
Gabrielle, for her part, teases that Sadie and Lay Lay “go on a bunch of hilarious adventures” together throughout the series.
“[Sadie] is an introvert. She likes to be behind the scenes. She gets really nervous talking in front of people. She’s having trouble making her mark in the world, so she has her positive affirmation app that’s played by That Girl Lay Lay. She gives her confidence. She gives her positive advice. She tries to get her to be out in the world and conquer it, but sometimes it doesn’t always work,” the actress explains. “I hope you guys enjoy watching Sadie’s growth with her family and her friends, and watch her become more confident.”
Gabrielle also shares that the biggest message viewers will take away from the series is that “it’s OK for you to be a little anxious.”
“You can still stand out, and you can still make your mark in the world,” she adds. “And it’s great to have a fantastic best friend that is going to get you out of your comfort zone and try new things.”
That Girl Lay Lay premieres on Nickelodeon on Thursday, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
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From Black Girl Nerds:
Young, Gifted, and Funny, Peyton Perrine III’s Star Is on the Rise
Peyton Perrine III is busy. This young actor plays Lil Bro in the upcoming Netflix biopic limited series about Colin Kaepernick’s childhood, Colin in Black & White. He also plays the self-assured natural entrepreneur Marky in Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay, a new sitcom about a teenage girl whose imaginary friend from her mental health app comes to life. He started his career acting with his parents on their hit comedic web series, Funny Married Stuff.
BGN spoke with Peyton via Zoom about these projects and his love for acting.
Your character in That Girl Lay Lay, Marky, is the lead character’s younger brother and is also a budding businessman. What’s your favorite part about playing this hilarious character?
Playing something different. Most of the time I don’t get to play a Black young businessman who’s gonna make all the money he wants to, which is really cool because I like money! And he [Marky] likes money too, which is really funny.
What is it that you and Marky like the most about money?
Just saving it. Because if you save a lot of money, you can end up buying something good. I’m saving my money for college. I don’t know what Marky is saving his money for yet, but I hope it’s good and worthwhile.
That’s a very smart answer, my friend. What are the biggest differences between working on a hit web series with your parents, doing a Netflix limited series, and working on a Nickelodeon show?
That Girl Lay Lay is a sitcom, which uses three cameras and is shot on a soundstage. The other shows I’ve done are one-camera shows, and they weren’t on a sound stage. One-camera shows are all location filming. That Girl Lay Lay is way different than anything I’ve ever done, but I eventually got used to it, and it’s been awesome.
What’s been the coolest part about being on set on a sitcom?
I’m like my idols, like Will Smith on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — it was a sitcom. It was really cool to be on a sitcom, too.
Out of all of the projects you’ve done, which was your favorite?
That Girl Lay Lay, because I get to be more energetic and just happier. I’ve done dramas, and it’s like more [of] a serious tone. [With] this one, I’m more energetic and all over the place and stuff.
It’s a fun show, and you do a great job on That Girl Lay Lay. Let’s talk a little bit about your Netflix series. In Colin in Black & White, you play Lil Bro. What’s he like?
Lil Bro is a class clown. He tells jokes in the middle of class. He gets in trouble for it, though, which sometimes backfires on him. He just wants to be a comedian, and he likes telling jokes, which is why he’s just always a joke teller and the comedian of the class.
And you’ve got such a vibrant personality so this role suits that aspect of your acting skills well. Did you get to work with Ava DuVernay on your episode?
Yes, she was so nice. She told me a lot about different positioning and stuff while on location. I didn’t know a lot about that before. She was just a really nice person to work with. My mom was freaking out when she met her. She is such a big fan. Oh, I see my mom over there, smiling right now as we talk about it. It was a great experience.
It’s as if you got MasterClasses with one of the best minds of our time. Do you also take acting classes?
I don’t take acting classes. I learned from my mom, and I’ve just been learning from the experiences I’m having, and I’ve been learning from a lot of the people on set, which has been really good for me.
If you had a magic casting wand, what would your next role be?
I always wanted to work with Will Smith. I definitely would want to work with him, and he’s my idol. I can’t wait to meet him, and I hope to meet him soon because I like his shows.
If that magic wand could transport you onto any TV show from the past, what show would you pick?
I’d want to be in Fresh Prince.
What’s your favorite thing to do that makes you the happiest these days?
I like to act. I also love to play video games. You can call me a true gamer. I also enjoy coding, which is kind of a nerd part of me. Watching movies, YouTube, playing basketball, and hikes with my family. Also, there’s this game that I just learned about in school, called spike ball. It’s kind of a version of volleyball but instead of hitting it over the net, you hit it on the net. I’ve been enjoying that in school. It’s so much fun. All of that just brings me a lot of joy and happiness.
Check out Peyton on Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay, Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET, and on Netflix’s limited series Colin in Black & White, which streams Friday, Oct. 29
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Originally published: June 13, 2021.
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