Tamara Braun is starring in a new series, see what the writer/director is saying about the future of the show here--->>
The dark comedy series Kombucha Cure premiered last week on Popstar! TV with soap opera fans buzzing about Emmy Award-worthy performances by two-time Emmy® winner Tamara Braun (Days of Our Lives, General Hospital), Denise Boutte (The Young & The Restless, Bronx SIU), and multiple Emmy nominee® Jennifer Bassey (All My Children). Masterfully written by Cecilia Choi and Michael R. Snell with inspiration from their respective careers in medicine – Kombucha Cure is set in the fictional town of Verdigris Lake, where doctors and their cancer patients' have taken on the healthcare insurance industry in the spirit of Robin Hood. The series is a springboard for long overdue conversations about our country's broken healthcare system -- viewers are compelled to evaluate how costs for quality healthcare impact their lives. Jasper Cole (Fall, MacGruber), Robert Craighead (Ruthless), Angie Kim (Extracurricular), and Jermel Nakia (This is Us) also star in season one of the comedy series, with Choi directing all six episodes.
Kombucha Cure streams at 8:00 pm ET (5:00 pm on Popstar! TV. Season two of the overnight hit series has been picked up and begins filming in late Spring.
Follow @KombuchaCureTV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Soap Opera News caught up with Kombucha Cure's Choi and Snell for an exclusive chat:
* Your new series, Kombucha Cure, is set in Lake Verdigris -- tell us about this location.
Verdigris Lake is a fictitious, small rural town near Lake Tahoe in Northern California. Once, it was a small copper mining town. Still, when the economy tanked in the 1980s, the company switched its production line to a more lucrative copper sulfate-containing fungicide, which then leaked into the town's water supply. The cancer rate exploded, and all insurance companies pulled out except for Doctor's Own Healthcare. This one company monopolized the local businesses and placed onerous requirements on the town. The town fights back using any means necessary to survive.
* Your work is being recognized for spotlighting our country's healthcare crisis -- why is this significant?
As a cancer survivor and a cancer doctor, I saw firsthand how illnesses like cancer impact entirely the patient and their family's livelihood, mental health, and even sense of identity. I hope our web series will serve as a catalyst for discussion and change, inspiring viewers to begin the dialogue examining how we treat the most vulnerable or marginalized.
* Kombucha Cure is celebrated as a creative milestone for the AAPI community -- what was your reaction to hearing about the response from viewers?
The presence of AAPIs in writing, directing and producing spaces and in front of the camera added powerful firsthand cultural experiences that enriched the storytelling process. It was an honor to be approached by AAPI community members, sharing pride, excitement, and gratitude for featuring their stories in this web series.
* What inspired you to co-write this series with Cecilia?
As a physician who practiced in many different settings, including large academic centers to small community hospitals, I wanted to shed light on the healthcare disparity in the United States. As doctors, some of the scenarios were cathartic to write about because we also experienced frustration and helplessness with the current healthcare practices and policies. Many relate to how healthcare is treated like a business rather than meeting the patients and their community's needs.
* Kombucha Cure stars an impressive list of soap stars -- Tamara, Jennifer, Denise, and others -- who are fantastic in their roles! Did you write the storylines and characters with them in mind? Which character will surprise Daytime fans the most?
Their performances were nothing short of extraordinary, bringing to life the characters that are relatable to everyday Americans. I am deeply grateful for their commitment during the production and, even now, for using their talents and skills to highlight critical social issues. They were perfect for their roles, and your viewers will see them in a whole different light!
* What can soap fans expect in Season 2?
This is under tight wraps, but we can share that the Kombucha Cure Team, while struggling with their demons and insecurities, will continue to find the lost and neglected communities to bring hope. As Mara says in Kombucha Cure, "Compassion doesn't come from profit. It has to be nurtured, open, and vulnerable. That's how everything starts to make sense."
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