The entertainment world is buzzing about Nick Cannon’s latest venture that’s got celebrities sweating over card tables and audiences completely hooked. “We Playin’ Spades” isn’t your typical talk show – it’s a cultural phenomenon that’s turning the simple game of spades into must-watch television. With Season 3 dropping on July 7 on Wondery+, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts, we sat down with Nick Cannon and his co-host Courtney Bee to get the inside scoop on what makes this show so addictive. From celebrity meltdowns to unexpected partnerships, here’s everything you need to know about the show that’s redefining entertainment one hand at a time.
Introduce yourselves to our readers.
Nick Cannon: I am Nick Cannon, aka Mr. Lot of Kids.
Courtney Bee: I’m your girl Courtney B — and the “B” stands for “beat your ass,” because that’s exactly what we do when we play spades.
What inspired you to create a show centered around spades, and how does the game dynamic enhance conversations with your guests?
Cannon: See, I can’t take the credit for creating this process and this platform because it was already happening. We got to let Wondery have that right there. We were actually just fans of the show and obviously fans of the game, and we felt like we could bring something to the culture. So, here we are.
Bee: Yeah, and we always have great conversations that make people laugh. We’re really light-hearted. We don’t do too much deep talk because a lot of times people are going through so much. Society is so tense, so what we want to do here in the backyard is give people space to kind of just relax their mind, let their conscience be free.
What makes spades the perfect backdrop for unfiltered conversations?
Cannon: I mean, this is what we do when you think about our culture. We play cards, we get around the table, we talk that stuff to each other, and it’s a perfect opportunity to have a higher level of conversation and a higher level of comedic energy. A spades table always provides a space for just unfiltered conversation. If you have ever gone to anybody’s barbecue, cookout, or reunion, you know they’re talking that stuff.
How has hosting the show changed your appreciation for spades’ cultural significance?
Cannon: Courtney didn’t play spades. She’s from Detroit and didn’t know how to play spades. But you know what, now she is an expert.
Bee: I am, I’m really good. She gets down with it, and so I think it’s enhanced both of our lives in that way to where we have fun with each other. You see our real relationship, you see that we are spades partners. We celebrate when we’re excited and happy for one another, you see when we’re mad, and it’s real. But we get to have fun with each other, and I think at the end of the day, we look forward to what they call “work,” but it ain’t work. We just get to come together and enjoy one another.
How does your show differ from other podcasts?
Cannon: I mean, that’s the thing — everybody got a podcast now, but ain’t nobody playing no spades. But I think ours is a different entry point. It’s a platform where you gonna hear something that you would normally hear on any other podcast, and it’s gonna be rooted in comedy, it’s gonna be rooted in competition, and it’s gonna be rooted in fun for the culture.
How do you select your celebrity guests?
Bee: Whoever wants to come get their ass whooped, that’s it. That’s just the prerequisite. You talk that tall, you think you know how to play, pull up to the turquoise table. Anybody. I don’t care who you are, where we at, we whooping ass, that’s right.
What has surprised you most about celebrities’ approaches to the game?
Cannon: Their partners. Who they bring to the table to let you know. Some people bringing their sisters, their aunties, their cousins, co-workers, their bodyguards. That’s how you can really tell who gonna play and if we gotta put our real game on, or we just can BS through the whole thing. Somebody brought a partner who’d been in jail for 20 years. We were like, “Yeah, we’re not winning this one.” You brought the incarceration system up in here, it’s over.
Who’s been your favorite guest so far?
Cannon: I’ll say Miss Pat was hilarious. She threatened to go to her pocketbook and get her a knife.
Bee: Definitely for sure. I’m gonna go with I love Kirk Franklin — “No cheeks, no cheeks!” — that’s what he said. Him and The-Dream came through and blessed the table. Kevin Hart is always a fool because you know him and Kevin Hart go back, and then you know he’s a shark when it comes to playing. He is pristine. He could tell me what exactly I was gonna put down, that’s how good he is. He plays cards, he plays for real.
What can fans expect from Season 3?
Bee: Season 3 is all about good energy and people from all walks of life. I think people have seen the first two seasons, and even when we’re out in the streets it’s something like, “Oh I want to play, I can beat y’all.” So we’re giving everybody that opportunity now. You gonna see all your favorite Black celebrities on this show having a good time, and we’re bringing it to you. We’re more seasoned now. I feel like we really got our rhythm, man. We’re ready to get to it, we get to it now.
“We Playin’ Spades” proves that sometimes the best entertainment comes from the simplest concepts executed with authentic passion. As Nick and Courtney continue to shuffle the deck and deal out laughs, one thing’s for certain – this isn’t just a card game, it’s a cultural movement that’s dealing out entertainment gold. Season 3 premieres July 7th, and if you’re not already hooked, you’re about to be. Pull up to that turquoise table and see what all the fuss is about – just don’t say we didn’t warn you about getting your cards pulled.
Watch We Playin’ Spades on YouTube.
