Vault: Mekhi Phifer Joins The Show!

0:00The bird show Hello, hello, Mackay Good. How are you today? Man, thanks a lot for taking the time to join us Let me go right around the room and this is gonna take a walk as we have 19 people on the show Umbert and this is Jan hello Good and this is Wendy here. Hi, and this and Melissa. Hey Mackay Good and Brittany's not part of the show, but she thinks you're hot so she's What's happening? Well, man before we go forward we got to go backwards a little bit and talk ER here for a second Yes, I'm really curious. I guess it's in 2008 that the producers slash writers of NBC decide okay We're probably done with your character here. Was that a was that a contractual thing? Or is that something they tell you about beforehand and actually yeah, I actually had a lot to do with that. I Was it it was it was kind of a thing where I feel like it was time to go I don't mean I've done the character for a long time and

1:03You know it was just time ago. So it wasn't like a thing when it went okay Well, we're trying to talk about that. Right. Hey, I just want to I just felt like it was time to go Yeah, how that must have been a very difficult decision to make is I mean what from what we've heard as actors I mean always a little bit insecure that you're not gonna get like a really meaty juicy part to continue to play and here You have one on one of the greatest shows in TV history and you're saying, you know what? I'm just sort of done with it Well, yeah, well, you know the thing is that's that's the best business that we've chosen, you know what I mean It is very of a passion. You don't know what's coming up next, but That's the nature the beast, you know what I mean and Got to be confident in yourself as you little look in real and work again one day and Do more great things is there is there a fine line between Being too, you know, being on a show too long. I mean stereotype type cast rather than or and knowing when to leave Yeah, I think so, you know, I mean, you know, you know, you don't

2:06The beautiful thing about television is that you do get a chance to really be in people's homes every week and they really do get to grow with you The bad thing is that you can't get locked into a particular chapter in my case I don't really feel like that was going to be the case, you know, like I had started out I'm already doing films and other things like that wasn't like This show was my first parade But you know, you know Just want to keep it fresh, you know what I mean? You know That time McCuy five for joining the bird show on Q100 this morning now McCuy you could start opposite M&M in eight mile. I'm just curious about M&M taking this step away from his career and coming back. You think he can make a comeback? Oh, definitely. I think that, you know, M&M was one of those rappers that when he wasn't here Um, you know, I think his presence was definitely missed. I don't think that is the boy that That he that he had when he wasn't Rapping anymore filled. So I think that his presence

3:11I think we read this morning that you started out and the rap industry Were you rapping before M&M was rapping? I don't know if I was rapping before him, you know, um, I was definitely Doing it years ago. I don't know how long it took him to actually make it I'm pretty sure he did just wake up one day and said I want to wrap Pretty sure that's true. So I'm pretty sure We are about the same age. So you know, I'm pretty sure we are probably You know, stepping into the arena around the same time. When you work with somebody like him Is that some of you get close to on the set? Do you become friends with your co-stars? Oh, definitely. I mean, we definitely have a good time And we hit it off We got a hell of a lot of fun, you know, we took us both five to six months to shoot the film And um, that's the best time and you know, I don't know. I love Detroit, you know what I mean So it was just a lot of fun. Would you ever go back to rapping? Ah, that's not right now

4:15I'm already in my thirties and you know, those days over having rapping years. What about a movie with rapping? Um, that probably wouldn't be that bad. I mean, it just depends on what it is and what the role is and You know, what it is that we're doing You know, before we get into light of me here, you know, Ashton Kutcher is in Atlanta right now And he's filming a movie. Is there anything that you haven't said to him yet about Your punked episode that you would like to say to him No, it's funny because I bumped into that Ashton a couple of guys, but No, you know, it's all good. There's nothing no ill will no, uh, no harm or any, uh, any bad feeling After something like that happens, you got to be sort of like a little bit curious at anything out of the ordinary that happens on any given day You're like looking over your shoulder. Is that an Ashton Kutcher thing or is this really happening to me? Um, well, you know, it's so funny because they really didn't good job with that show because you really don't expect it as much as As you want to say that you're on point, you know, and I'm in New York, so I always feel like I'm in New York

5:19So I know what's going on But you know, you just never know they do they really look a great job with that Well talk to us about light of me. I mean, you've got the benefit of being on a TV show that is It's gonna go down in history as one of the greatest TV shows ever And here here now you sign up to do light of me There's got to be a lot of pressure on the people around you right now Well, yeah, it's actually a lot of fun, you know, um, I just thought it was a great opportunity, um, you know, Tim Ross is great and You know, um, I still love Brian Graven and all the work he's done it. I know Brian Um, so you know, I just felt like you know, and the thing about he was I really got in on the ninth season So, you know, it already got all the vacillates and you know, it was already a well-wheel machine It's nice to sort of give something around up It'll be a part of the show for around And you've been doing a lot more producing and directing lately. It seems like you're maybe moving behind the scenes a little bit more in the industry Yeah, well, you know, I you know, I do love all of both sides. I love both facets

6:22Um, you know, I have directed it, but you know, I really love to do sit and I love acting um, you know, so I'm definitely Always But we think that you're hot so we want you in front of the camera Not not behind the camera. Okay, I think that love and you know, I'll get you to do so more face time for you, please Hey, thanks a lot for your time. I kind of appreciate it. Oh, thank you guys. Good luck with lie to me. Bye. Bye. Thank you The bird show