This Behind-the-Scenes Happy’s Place Moment Is So Sweet: “This Is Between Takes”

This Behind-the-Scenes Happy’s Place Moment Is So Sweet: “This Is Between Takes”

Happy’s Place has been applauded for serving up humor and heart on NBC, so it should come as no surprise that Reba McEntire and the crew are dishing up cherished memories behind the scenes of the hit sitcom.

Between the workplace shenanigans and endless rotation of guest stars, the Happy’s Place crew is all about delivering a delicious experience at the Knoxville tavern. During an interview with NBC Insider, Happy’s Place star Pablo Castelblanco, the Colombian actor stealing the show as tavern accountant Steve, opened up about some of his favorite memories that have happened on set so far.

Back in Season 1, for example, the Happy’s Place producers asked Castelblanco what he missed most from Colombia as they filmed an episode that dove into Steve’s own Colombian backstory. After getting some intel, the crew pulled some strings to bring a small taste of home to Happy’s Place — and it was a gesture that Castelblanco will never forget.

“They came up to me, and they asked me what do I love, what do I miss the most, so I think they wanted to make it very authentic to me,” Castelblanco shared, giving some behind-the-scenes scoop on one of his favorite moments from Season 1 of Happy’s Place.

The behind-the-scenes Happy’s Place moment that made Pablo Castelblanco “so happy”

The cast of Happy’s Place gathers around a bar on Episode 208.

While recalling the fuzzy on-set moment, Castelblanco revealed that the Happy’s Place crew tracked down a Colombian restaurant several miles away to get one of his favorite dishes. The quest was to find ajiaco, a traditional Colombian soup.

Hunting down the comforting dish paid off. Ajiaco wasn’t just a beloved behind-the-scenes snack; the dish was also featured in Happy’s Place Season 1’s “Mama Drama,” when Emmett (Rex Linn) and Takoda (Tokala Black Elk) spent some time investigating why Steve wouldn’t return to Colombia. Once the soup was retrieved, it was a hit among the cast and crew.

“They brought it into the set, and then we’re having it on the show. Everyone was having it,” Castelblanco recalled fondly, revealing that one of his most cherished moments was when he got to see McEntire and Linn slurping on the dish together.

“My favorite thing was Reba and Rex were having the soup and really enjoying it, and this is between takes,” Castelblanco told NBC Insider. “Not only did they ask me and try to find an authentic thing, but really took the effort on finding it in L.A., and getting it, and then us enjoying it, and then the crew enjoying it. I was so happy when they did that.”

Happy’s Place Season 2

Ready for another round? Happy’s Place Season 2 has been serving up heart and humor, with new episodes airing Fridays at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.

The romance between Bobbie and Emmett has been full of “fireworks,” as the two shared their first kiss and even defined their relationship. But, while love is in the air, Emmett is carrying a long-buried secret on Happy’s Place Season 2.

Takoda, Steve, Emmett, Gabby, and Bobbie standing around the bar in Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 11.

The Season 1 inclusion of ajiaco isn’t the only time Happy’s Place has brought nostalgic tastes from home into the Knoxville tavern. McEntire and Linn are known foodies, and they know that food tastes better when it comes from the heart. The couple relished the opportunity to feature a cherished Texan appetizer armadillo eggs in a Season 2 episode of the sitcom.

“We had armadillo eggs! It’s a Texas thing with stuffed jalapeños with sausage and bacon, and I used to do it all the time,” Linn shared in an interview with NBC Insider, gleefully adding that he was excited to make them for the entire Happy’s Place cast to enjoy. “We had an armadillo egg [in Episode 7]… we got to cook them and eat them, and that was a lot of fun.”

What delicious meal will the Happy’s Place crew serve up next? Find out by watching Happy’s Place on Fridays at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.