The Executive Producer of the Nigerian TV series 'The Johnsons', Rogers Ofime, has explained the rationale behind concluding the drama series after 13 years.
Actor Charles Inojie, known for his role as Lucky Johnson, recently announced the series' end, which aired on Africa Magic.
The show depicted the daily lives of an average Nigerian family facing various challenges in Lagos, Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Ofime stated that the decision to end the show was based on the belief that it had achieved its purpose.
He acknowledged that despite the challenges, the show had brought laughter to viewers for the past 13 years. However, like all things, it had to come to an end.
Mr. Ofime said, "When you embark on a project, you hope for success, but the extent of that success is uncertain. We feel that the show has accomplished its goals, as we have covered nearly all aspects of a typical household."
He continued, "We listen to feedback from viewers every season and strive to improve. It's important to create what viewers want. As an executive producer, I don't see myself as the sole contributor to the show's success. Everyone involved plays a role, and their contributions are vital."
Mr. Ofime emphasized the importance of envisioning the end goal when starting a project, as it provides motivation. He also highlighted the significance of recognizing the contributions of all involved, as it helps maintain drive and perseverance.
Mr. Ofime clarified that the conclusion of the show was not due to the passing of Ada Ameh, the lead female cast member, or the departure of Samuel Ajibola, known as Spiff, one of the lead cast members, who exited the production in May 2021.
Despite Ameh's death, the series continued, as did the production after Spiff's departure, according to Mr. Ofime, a renowned producer of several notable Nigerian television soap operas, including 'Tinsel'.
He emphasized that while Ameh's passing was a significant loss for the show and everyone involved, the decision not to recast her character was made as a mark of respect towards her.
He explained, "We incorporated her death into our storyline. In one of the episodes, you see the family attending her burial, and then they return. For us, that marks the end of that character. We have no plans to recast. It would be a monumental task to replace her, and we didn't want to attempt it.
"The decision to conclude the show now has no correlation with cast members leaving, as people come and go."
Regarding potential spin-offs, Mr. Ofime, a pioneer in producing Nigeria's first multi-cam studio-based daily drama series, stated that 'The Johnsons' fans deserve more and they intend to deliver just that.
As the series wraps up, he emphasized the need to celebrate the achievements, the actors, and their commitment, acknowledging the challenge of generating ideas and performing daily.
He said, "Sometimes it's challenging; sometimes you're trying to create laughter. You're not even in the mood, but you have to come on set and make people happy. It's not easy.
"We can't just end the show abruptly and then immediately consider a spin-off. From the start, Aki and Pawpaw were actors we identified as perfect for specific roles while writing the series.
"We crafted the story around them. However, it was Chinedu Ikedieze we focused on; he's the shortest in the family, and every other actor had to go through rigorous auditions."
The drama series captivated audiences for 14 remarkable years, spanning 14 seasons and featuring 1830 episodes.
Screenwriter Ike Umeadi conceived the concept behind 'The Johnsons', which premiered in 2012 in English and Hausa.
In 2023, it won the Best Original Comedy Series award at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA).
