There’s nothing average about Average Joe. Deon Cole may have a hit on his hands with his brand new BET+ series, Average Joe, and it’s something you’ve never seen before.

The series is a dark comedy inspired by the life of creator Robb Cullen, with Cole starring as a blue-collar plumber named Joe Washington who “discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died,” according to the synopsis.

The show also stars Tammy Townsend, Malcolm Barrett, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Michael Trucco, Ashley Olivia Fisher, Pasha Lychnikoff, and Ashani Perkins.

In a fun conversation with BET, the cast chats about the series, shows that would make them leave the function early, their favorite weird snacks, and whether being average is good.

BET.com: Can you tell us what your new series is about?

Trucco: At its heart, [Average Joe] is about a family and is a darkly, comedic intense one hour drama about ordinary average people being thrust into extraordinary circumstances – that is what you’ll get from the 10-episodes out the gate as our foots are right on the gas and we do not let up. In the first episode, we set the tone, you get the idea of where we’re going, and you’re in for a ride. You’ll see a show that straddles the ride of intense drama with moments of brevity where you question whether you’re supposed to be laughing at some of the scenes, which is a beautiful balance.

Townsend: The script drew us in– we read it and visualized it. When something comes off the page like that, it’s a no brainer [laughs].

BET.com: In the show, Cynthia’s character, Cathy, wants to leave an event to get home to watch the Investigation channel. What show would make you leave a function early?

Cole: Average Joe, especially if there’s a new episode [laughs]. I would also say the news, Family Feud, and the I.D. channel – I watch a lot of murder because I’m always telling jokes so I need to even out because I joke too much on stage [laughs].

Trucco: I’ll let you in on a secret – my wife and I can’t miss an episode of American Idol on Sundays [laughs].

McWilliams: Succession – I love me some Succession. I used to love me some Handmaid’s Tale as I couldn’t get enough.

Fisher: I’m into Fantasy series – I’m a Harry Potter fan and I know they are coming out with a series, so I would definitely leave to watch that.

Barrett: I’d leave to see anything I’m in [laughs]. I’d also leave to see The Ms. Pat Show, too.

McWilliams: Let’s say all the BET+ shows [laughs].

BET: There are so many different and heavy themes in the series — which were you most happy to see be included in the script, and what’s your hope for the audience's reaction to it?

McWilliams: I’m happy that we’re telling a dynamic story – these writers and the multiple directors on the series are producing a show that allows us to be in our own lane. We’re not a family drama, family show, or a broad comedy – it’s making its own lane and all of those elements are a part of telling a story truthfully. We’re unlocking a question of when unexpected life events enter your life, what would you do for yourself and for the people you love?

Cole: The family dynamic and the friend dynamic is something I’m most excited for fans to see – to see how down we are, trusting we are, and how we help each other when we need each other while some people aren’t there and being able to pinpoint that when they watch. I also want people to see themselves in these characters, which would be great.

BET: You miss all the shots you don’t take, but in this series, many shots are taken literally. Let BET know a time when you didn’t “shoot” your shot in your career, life, etc., and the lesson you learned from it now.

Cole: I’ve learned to embrace what I bring to the table – take the person with me in the mirror everywhere I go. Many people leave that person at home, but you have to take that person with you everywhere you go because that’s what makes you unique and rare. It was one point in time when I was trying to fit during my beginning days of writing for The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien and Conan, but the moment I stopped trying to fit in, I began to blow up because I became myself – I knew I was about to quit so I began not to care and say what was on my mind, which catapulted me into being a staple in late night and with Conan O’Brien. I reflected and realized it would’ve been a lot easier if I had been myself from the beginning.

BET: Cathy is snacking down on some peanut butter out of the jar — what’s a weird snack that you enjoy that may have people side-eye you?

Townsend: I was in Downtown LA and walked by this store – they had these glazed donuts in this display case with bacon on it. Savory and sweet [laughs]. Ya’ll don’t know until you try it.

Fisher: I put hot sauce on everything and people may find this a bit strange but I like hot sauce in my soup and my eggs [laughs].

BET: Would you say being average is good sometimes or not?

Cole: We need everybody – we need average people and people who aren’t average which makes the world go around. Everybody can’t be everything but everyone is needed.

Grab your hot sauce, your glazed donuts and bacon bits, and make sure you watch Average Joe on BET Plus on June 26th, with episodes releasing weekly.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Ty Cole is a New York-based entertainment reporter and writer for BET.com who covers all things pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle. Follow his latest musings on Twitter @IamTyCole.