On Tuesday nights, Lincoln Heights returns to ABC Family for its third season. After two acclaimed seasons that saw the Sutton family hit their stride and come into their own as characters, Lincoln Heights is expanding on the drama as Eddie and Jenn meet new people who can enhance the community while Cassie and Charles take their relationship to a new level, Tay explores his music, and Lizzie makes it into private school.

The day of the season three premiere, which turned the Sutton house upside down thanks to a home invasion, The Deadbolt's Troy Rogers got his own inside glimpse into the upcoming season when he spoke to actors Russell Hornsby and Niki Micheaux on a conference call with others from the press.

THE DEADBOLT: We know that Ruben killed Eddie’s mom, but how will that affect Eddie and his father this season?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I really feel that that is a wait and see dynamic. We address some of those issues and many others, but it ties so specifically into the storyline I really don’t want to give it away.

THE DEADBOLT: Would the two of you choose to raise a family in a neighborhood like Lincoln Heights, even if it was dangerous?

HORNSBY: I would have to respectfully say yes. And the reason why I can say that, Troy, specifically, is because I have two uncles who live in the Roxbury section of Boston. One is a judge and the other is a constable. They were born and raised in Roxbury and they have chosen all of their lives to live in that community. We’re talking about my uncle, who is a judge, who sends his people to jail and the other who is a constable, who removes people from their home. But they’re still garnered and looked at with a sense of respect and dignity. So I think as long as you treat people with respect, then respect comes back. And of course it’s going to be rough at times, initially.

But I think once people really understand and know where you’re coming from, you know where your humanity lies. Then I don’t think it tends to be an issue after that. Every situation is going to be difficult when you first enter into it. But I think again, once you garner that respect, over time it’s something you don’t have to worry about. You just have to be willing, and I would be willing to do this, to take that rough road in the beginning. I personally would not have a problem with it, because I’ve seen the model. I’ve seen it work out, I’ve seen it work, therefore I know that it can.

NICKI MICHEAUX: I think that what you don’t want to get lost is the message of Lincoln Heights is community involvement. And I think no matter what neighborhood you live in, we can all take steps to get to know our neighbors, to be more involved in our community, and to actually do something to make whatever is going on in our neighborhood better for the whole. Education is a failing system because of lack of parental involvement, and it’s when parents get involved in the education system is when you can actual start to improve your schools.

So I think the message is, no matter where you are you have a community, you have a neighborhood and what can you do to reach out and build a bond with that community? I think that is the thing I find to be so exciting about it, because so often you come home, you pull in the garage, you close the door or whatever, and you don’t really interact with your neighbors unless you have to. And it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and being an active part of your community.

THE DEADBOLT: Can you talk about the guest stars you have lined up for this season?

MICHEAUX: Oh, you know, we’ve got Junita Bynum coming this season and she was really exciting and was very excited to come in and act. She was really great on the show and had a great time. And [to have] A.J. Holiday come and sing, which was cool.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you think it’s easier or harder for the Suttons to have a cop for a father?

HORNSBY: I think as they get older it’s becoming a little bit more difficult. I think just by - and I don’t know because I don’t have children - but I would imagine... The nature of children is just to get into a little bit of mischief. And I think what happens as kids go, they think that they’re constantly being watched or constantly being guarded, or what have you, and it sort of strains on their freedom, if you will, as young people. So I would say it’s more difficult to have a father as a police officer. But as they get a little older though, it will become easier because they’re causing less and less trouble, I hope.

Other Conference Call Highlights:

Niki Micheaux and Russell Hornsby on playing these characters well into the future:

NICKI MICHEAUX: You never know. I mean the thing about Lincoln Heights is that when people sit down to watch the show, they tend to fall in love with the family and want to follow the family. It’s like a source of comfort, you know, almost like sitting around the fire. So it is something I could see going on because it has such a popular ground level support and there’s not a lot of massive advertising for the show. A lot of it is word of mouth and little things as opposed to giant buses and billboards everywhere. The show survives on just people who love it, so I do think it has a possibility to keep going.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I think just now in our third season we’re starting to hit our stride. I think people are just now becoming aware of the show in its third season. So I think people will really latch onto some of the stories and what we’re trying to do. So I think after this season is over people will be looking for Lincoln Heights to come back for definitely a few more years.

Micheaux and Hornsby on whether they have a favorite scene or episode:

NICKI MICHEAUX: I think probably my favorite was in the opener when we get a chance to have a romantic getaway and go to the beach. We shot that in Malibu and that was really really fun. And how often do you get to see a loving black couple at the beach?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: And to piggyback on Nicki, I think almost just about every intimate moment that the couple has together, whether it be on the beach or in the bedroom, because again, as Nicki stated, where do you get a chance to see a loving black couple in intimate moments? We’re not talking about in a lustful moment or sexual moment, we’re talking about just intimate moments where people are able to look in each other’s eyes and think about the issues of the day or just to simply say that I love you. That’s rare, if at all.

On why they think so many networks are lacking positive programs starring African American casts:

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I think that it starts with us. You know, this is a very critical time right now. We can’t talk about what happened in the past, let’s talk about what’s happening right here in the present today. We have to start with eight o’clock tonight on ABC Family. Our people in black, our culture and minorities in large, we have to support this show to let the networks know, to let studios know, and also to let America know that this show is a viable option. And once we do that then I think networks and studios will start to catch on and there’s a place for that type of programming. And so I think it has to start with today.

NICKI MICHEAUX: Absolutely, because if you get the audience, studios will follow and make more positive programs [and] put more black people in from of the camera. That’s what they do, they’ll support what people support.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: The bottom is this is a numbers game. It’s about money and we have to also see that - This is my fifth series and I didn’t think when we set out to do Lincoln Heights we would go past the first season. So that itself says, in effect, Lincoln Heights is in its third season speaks volumes to those who are out there watching it, to whom the show is speaking to, and how the audiences are responding to the show. So we’re moving. This train is bound for glory. It‘s slowly moving and it’s catching on and picking up steam. I think it’s going to be just a wonderful option as we move forward.