So Help Me Todd Casts Jenifer Lewis as Lyle’s (Allegedly) Murderous Mother — Exclusive First Look

Andy Swift
·2 min read
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So many words come to mind when one thinks about Jenifer Lewis: Diva. Icon. Legend. But killer? That’s a new one.

Lewis will take center stage in the April 11 episode of CBS’ So Help Me Todd (9/8c), TVLine has learned, playing the role of an international opera star known simply as “Jacqueline!” Plot twist: She’s also the estranged mother of Lyle (Tristen J. Winger), whose decision to give up music in favor of a legal career never sat well with her.

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“Leaving no moment untouched by her outrageous sense of drama, Jacqueline blows through Lyle’s life, leaving a trail of emotional explosions,” according to CBS. “And when she is accused of accidentally (or not) murdering someone, Jacqueline milks the attention and publicity down to the very last drop. She is a true diva, and as Lyle says, ‘The only thing that could kill that woman is flying economy.'”

Enjoy another shot of Lewis’ legendary “Jacqueline!” below:

Since wrapping her eight-season run as black-ish‘s Ruby Johnson in 2022, Lewis went on to grace shows like Apple TV+’s Central Park, Netflix’s The Upshaws and NBC’s Night Court with her presence. She was also a series regular on Showtime’s I Love That For You.

Created by Scott Prendergast, So Help Me Todd stars Skylar Astin as the show’s titular detective and Marcia Gay Harden as his defense-attorney mother Margaret. The cast also includes Madeline Wise as Allison, as lyle, Inga Schlingmann as Susan, Tristen J. Winger as Lyle and Rosa Evangelina Arredondo as Francey.

Your thoughts on So Help Me Todd Season 2 thus far? Drop ’em in a comment below.

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