Q. Were you nervous trying out for the part?
A. I didn't have to try out. How cool is that? They called me and asked
me if I wanted to do it.
Q. Do you like your character?
A. I like him very much. He is a good guy, and I should be more like
him. But I am not an angel.
Q. When TBAA came out, critics didn't like it. Did you want to back
out?
A. You are being very kind. The critics slammed it. They thought it was
a silly thing. It inspired me. I believed in the show. I believed in
Della and Roma. I knew we said yes to the show for all the right
reasons. I took a huge pay cut to do this show, and I love being able
to
prove the critics wrong.
Q. Are any of your siblings in the business?
A. My youngest brother, Jerre, is. He is a writer and director.
Q. Did your parents support you?
A. My first year of college, I went to Mississippi State. I was going
to
law school. For the first time in a couple of years I wasn't acting,
and
I missed it. The second semester I did a play. I went to my father and
said "I want to go to acting school". He said OK. I was surprised he
was
supportive.
Q. What was your favorite episode of the show?
A. Probably the ones that come from the true stories, or the ones where
the writers pull it from the newspapers and events.
Q. How was it workin on your show with boxer Muhammad Ali?
A. It was great. My grandfather has Parkinson's Disease, which is what
he has. So I have ben personally affected by the disease. He was like
Michael Jordan for me, he was just the coolest athlete. He shows just
as
much bravery now being out in the public eye with the disease.
Q. What was the most touching story you've done with the show?
A. I was in the airport, and a woman came up to me with her 2 kids and
asked for my autograph. I gave them an autograph. She came back and
brought her husband. He was really sick. He grabbed my hand and said "I
have cancer. It was in remission, and now it is back. I am not going to
live till Christmas. We saw an episode, and it really helped my family
get closer and helped me be the best dad I can be for my boys." It was
really touching. You realize you have the ability to affect people's
lives. It is a very humbling experience.
Q. What is the message of the show?
A. God loves you.
Write to him c/o CBS-TV, 51W. 52nd St., New York, NY 10019
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