HOUSTON – It took about two years until the River Oaks Theatre announced back up to Houston residents; likewise, fans of “Mo” had to wait about the same amount of time for its second season release date, so it was more than appropriate to have its premiere held at the historic theatre.
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The semi-autobiographical series’ second season starring Alief’s own Mo Amer officially drops Thursday on Netflix, but lucky recipients first got a sneak preview of the first two episodes during a red-carpet opportunity with cast members making an appearance.
Among the star-studded group included Amer himself, local legends like music icon Bun B, former Astros player Jeff Bagwell, and even contemporary fan favorites like rapper Maxo Kream.
Perhaps the most surprising appearance was comedian Dave Chappelle, who politely declined to take questions at the red carpet but posed for photos and extended the Islamic “peace” greeting.
Bun B, whose small, but screen-grabbing presence as a priest in the first season was the perfect opportunity to ask him about his thoughts on the series and overall mentorship to young up-and-comers as an O.G.
“The reality is that wisdom doesn’t come from knowing a lot of things,” he told me. “Wisdom comes from making a lot of mistakes and learning from them. So, with that kind of knowledge, I try to make sure that I can help upcoming talent avoid as many obstacles as possible. Everybody is going to have some kind of journey and certain things that they’re going to have to go through to get to where they’re trying to go, but if there’s anything general that I can help these guys navigate, keep them out of trouble, I’m always trying to give them some game.”
Enter rappers like Maxo Kream, who was also on the come-up in Houston (and raised in Alief, where Amer was also from).
To be a part of the series—after initially, albeit facetiously, not getting invited—where his song “Meet Again” is featured in the second season, talked about how their respective hard work, but shared experiences, offered them a full circle opportunity.
“It’s not just Houston you’re coming up in, but Alief, because that particular hood where I’m from is very international,” Maxo explained. “We have a lot of Nigerians, we have a lot of Asians—it’s a melting pot, but it’s still a struggle, and then to come out of that place, it’s beautiful to grow up and bloom in and come from that place and have Netflix bring it into Houston.”
For Amer, who visibly looked exhausted from press tours and taking photos, the premiere allowed him to reflect on how far he’s come as a stand-up comedian and never forget where he came from, especially when sharing the experience at the historic River Oaks Theatre.
“They’ve done just extraordinary work in film,” he said. “They own and run many theaters here in the Houston area, and to breathe new life into River Oaks Theatre, this historic venue, if you think about it—like for me, the first like, pro-stand-up gig I ever did was across the street at The Laff Spot, which is no longer here, but that’s where I started, so it’s a huge, huge blessing.”
Because “Mo” is the story of a man soul-searching and navigating through a journey as a Palestinian immigrant in Houston, much like Amer’s own personal story, it’s hard to deny how expressive he is in telling this story in a way other than in his stand-up specials. In other words, by allowing himself to be vulnerable in such a different capacity (as a comedian turned actor) one might wonder how cathartic this process was for Amer.
“I‘m minding my own life and existence in this whole second season, and it required a tremendous amount of focus,” Amer noted. “And it also required me to just tap in and not be afraid to get into my emotion...just recreating certain scenarios of my life was very, very difficult and it was rewarding. And in the moment it wasn’t so cathartic; It felt very heavy and almost too much to bear. But it felt good. And I’m so blessed that I actually did it and didn’t shy away from it.”
REVIEW: Mo Amer’s ‘Mo’ is a love letter to his heritage and hometown
Admittedly, Amer’s relentless energy comes from his parents, especially his mother, who initially didn’t understand his journey into becoming a comedian.
His mom actually offered to match the money Amer would make performing at certain comedy clubs, just so he wouldn’t go. She eventually came around, and Amer of course credits her for his “failure is not an option” attitude and his success “through her sacrifices.”
“My mom and I, we were going out to lunch—this was a couple of years ago,” Amer recalled. “I was driving, and she’s, like, ‘Remember when you used to sneak out in the middle of the night and go do stand up?’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ ‘And then I would be so mad at you,’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ ‘And then you’d come back and I was yelling at you and you would laugh,’ I said, ‘Yes, I remember,’ She goes, ‘I was always shocked that you would laugh, but I think you were laughing because you had this whole vision for yourself and I couldn’t see it,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, that’s true,’ she said, ‘I was so proud of you and it’s incredible what you’ve done.’”
Personal reflection
For someone like me, born and raised in Houston, faced with his own identity complex, I resonated a lot with Amer’s story and the ability to carry on that representative responsibility is not something he takes lightly. Instead, he is constantly reminded of how other icons and mentors he had as a child and in his current atmosphere, continue to inspire.
“When I was coming up, I didn’t really have any American, you know, mainstream heroes or people who looked like me either — Hakeem Olajuwon was there for me, so it’s all about building and continuing to build and inspire the younger generation, so that’s what it’s about—It’s a beautiful thing.”
The last piece of advice he gave to me as another up-and-comer in my own field was the following, that I will carry on for the rest of my formative years: “Wu-Tang Forever!”
Season 2 of ‘Mo’ premieres on Netflix January 30, 2025. Screening of ‘Mo’ season 2 (episodes 1 & 2) at the River Oaks Theatre on Wednesday, January 29th, seats are first come first serve—and can be downloaded at theriveroakstheatre.com.