Actress Tichina Arnold said she was amazed to see how involved series creator Chris Rock is in the day-to-day operations of "Everybody Hates Chris."

The television comedy, in its second season and airing on the CW Monday nights, is loosely based on Rock's childhood in New York.

The actor/stand-up comedian does not appear in the show, but narrates it through voice-over.

"When I walked through the door and Chris Rock was sitting there in my first audition, I knew it was going to be something," Arnold told UPI in a recent phone interview. "'Celebrities' don't do that! Chris really is an active part of this production. He is in the writers' room with the writers until 3 o'clock in the morning. Chris is really doing it."

Arnold said she also appreciates how much freedom Rock and series co-creator Ali LeRoi allow her in portraying young Chris' mom.

"I love ad-libbing and kind of going off the cuff, so they give me room for that all the time. ... I'm happy that Chris and Ali trust my abilities to be able to do that."