WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:02.759
<v Speaker 1>Imagine the Whitehead sounded so good. I can let that

2
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:05.440
<v Speaker 1>thing ride. I love the long version.

3
00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:08.000
<v Speaker 2>It goes like twelve minutes. I just let it ride

4
00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:11.519
<v Speaker 2>and to ride, they sound so good. As you know

5
00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:14.199
<v Speaker 2>around here, when we have a guest in studio, we

6
00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:16.800
<v Speaker 2>let them choose their walk on song, and this is

7
00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:20.359
<v Speaker 2>the song chosen by mister Ernest Harden Junior.

8
00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:23.120
<v Speaker 1>And when he walked in the studio, we gave each

9
00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:25.320
<v Speaker 1>other the biggest and longest hug.

10
00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:28.679
<v Speaker 2>I have not seen this brother in years, but we

11
00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:30.800
<v Speaker 2>used to hang out many, many years ago. And when

12
00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:34.359
<v Speaker 2>I saw the news that he'd been Emmy nominated for

13
00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:36.039
<v Speaker 2>his role on the Pit, I'll tell you more about

14
00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.640
<v Speaker 2>it in just a second, I just smiled ear to

15
00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:40.799
<v Speaker 2>ear and I am so grateful. I told my staff.

16
00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.799
<v Speaker 2>They get surprised. I've been at this for so long.

17
00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:45.600
<v Speaker 2>My staff gets tickled. All the folk I know, all

18
00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:48.320
<v Speaker 2>the places I've done, all the things I have been

19
00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:51.079
<v Speaker 2>exposed to. But I've been at this for thirty five years, right,

20
00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:54.039
<v Speaker 2>and so I've just met so many people, and sometimes

21
00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:57.159
<v Speaker 2>I run into people. We just just grinted each other

22
00:00:57.320 --> 00:00:59.960
<v Speaker 2>at the ways that we've been blessed over the decade.

23
00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:01.320
<v Speaker 1>And Ernest Harden Jr.

24
00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:04.680
<v Speaker 2>Has stayed with this acting thing for all these years,

25
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:08.239
<v Speaker 2>and I am so just thrilled that he is now

26
00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:12.599
<v Speaker 2>an Emmy nominee. He is Immy nominated for his Outstanding

27
00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:16.200
<v Speaker 2>guest appearance on the HBO Max hit medical drama The Pit.

28
00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.519
<v Speaker 2>And before I get into the conversation with him, let

29
00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:21.799
<v Speaker 2>me give you a little taste of this role for

30
00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:23.159
<v Speaker 2>which he's Immy nominated.

31
00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:24.680
<v Speaker 3>What's up with you, tooth lily?

32
00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.120
<v Speaker 4>That's been going on for a while, but it got

33
00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:34.239
<v Speaker 4>bad last night, layd left side.

34
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:36.480
<v Speaker 5>Ah h ah.

35
00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:40.680
<v Speaker 3>It could be an infection at the room. We can

36
00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:45.480
<v Speaker 3>drain it, but then you're your breathing kind of fast.

37
00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:51.200
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I've been well. I've been h walking more, trying

38
00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.439
<v Speaker 4>to get in shape. Sometimes like I get a little

39
00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:55.040
<v Speaker 4>short of breath.

40
00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:57.239
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you need to walk past the liquor store, not

41
00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:00.640
<v Speaker 3>into it. Well shape your getting it's for liver transplant.

42
00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:02.959
<v Speaker 5>I don't need a new liver. Just get rid of

43
00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:04.239
<v Speaker 5>this Tuesday deep.

44
00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.800
<v Speaker 2>First of all, The Pit is one of the hottest

45
00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.759
<v Speaker 2>shows on television. I'm a brag for a second. I

46
00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:15.639
<v Speaker 2>have a barber. My barber in LA's got naim d.

47
00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:19.039
<v Speaker 2>We call him d the barber. D the barber is

48
00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:23.159
<v Speaker 2>the hair guy on the TV show The Pit, So

49
00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:26.159
<v Speaker 2>shout out to my barber d Uh for his amazing

50
00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:29.639
<v Speaker 2>work on that particular show. But everybody's watching this show,

51
00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:31.039
<v Speaker 2>everybody's talking about it.

52
00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:32.000
<v Speaker 1>Ernest Harden Jr.

53
00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:34.280
<v Speaker 2>You are no an Emmy nominee for your outstanding guest

54
00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:37.479
<v Speaker 2>appearance on the show. So first of all, congratulations, man,

55
00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:37.800
<v Speaker 2>I'm so.

56
00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:38.240
<v Speaker 1>Happy for you.

57
00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:41.520
<v Speaker 5>Oh, thank you so much. Man. You know it's myove

58
00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:42.360
<v Speaker 5>to be here. Man.

59
00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.280
<v Speaker 4>We just man, I've been watching you and doing your

60
00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:47.680
<v Speaker 4>thing for years, and I'm just so proud of you

61
00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:48.159
<v Speaker 4>every time.

62
00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:49.639
<v Speaker 5>You know, I'm just your biggest fan.

63
00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:52.919
<v Speaker 2>Man. That's it's a mutual admiration society. Then tell me

64
00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:54.879
<v Speaker 2>about this particular role. How it came to be.

65
00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.199
<v Speaker 4>Well, I tell you, you know, I auditioned for it,

66
00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:01.680
<v Speaker 4>like so many actitudes nowadays since COVID they have to

67
00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:05.439
<v Speaker 4>send in your audition tape. They seem to like me,

68
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:08.639
<v Speaker 4>and they called me in to read and I read

69
00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.840
<v Speaker 4>for another role and I thought.

70
00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:12.520
<v Speaker 5>It was a nice role.

71
00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:14.479
<v Speaker 4>It was the role of a black man talking to

72
00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:19.319
<v Speaker 4>a young white doctor and giving him an encouragement and

73
00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.240
<v Speaker 4>telling him because he's the first doctor in their family.

74
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.360
<v Speaker 4>How proud he was of him, and how proud this

75
00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:29.000
<v Speaker 4>parent parents should be. Well, I thought that role was great,

76
00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:32.560
<v Speaker 4>and they they When I got home, my manager called

77
00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.240
<v Speaker 4>me and said, they love you. I said, oh, fantastic. Yeah,

78
00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:38.280
<v Speaker 4>they want you to play a different role than they

79
00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:42.159
<v Speaker 4>want you to be the drunk. I said, oh, man,

80
00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:48.520
<v Speaker 4>another drunk black man, here we go. But then they

81
00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:51.400
<v Speaker 4>said that, but this guy is going to be like

82
00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:54.039
<v Speaker 4>a semi regular. I said, so give me something to drink,

83
00:03:54.120 --> 00:04:00.400
<v Speaker 4>you know. But the thing is the way I approached though.

84
00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.120
<v Speaker 4>I'm a member of the Actress Studio and they're renowned.

85
00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:08.039
<v Speaker 4>Albertino runs it in New York. Martin Landau before it died,

86
00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:10.759
<v Speaker 4>was ahead of it out here, and we go deep.

87
00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.159
<v Speaker 4>We some of us feel that, I mean a lot

88
00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.240
<v Speaker 4>of us feel that we're the best actors.

89
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:15.439
<v Speaker 1>In the world.

90
00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:19.160
<v Speaker 4>We go beyond what everybody else does. And I mean

91
00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:27.399
<v Speaker 4>some of the members I start with Martin Landau, Sally Fields,

92
00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:33.480
<v Speaker 4>Robert de Niro, Albatino, these are people, remember, and I'm

93
00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:37.720
<v Speaker 4>a lifetime member. So I said, let me make this

94
00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:39.240
<v Speaker 4>role as real as possible.

95
00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:40.040
<v Speaker 5>Let me just.

96
00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.240
<v Speaker 4>Try to be because alcoholism is serious. A lot of

97
00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.879
<v Speaker 4>people are addicted to it, and so I came with

98
00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.839
<v Speaker 4>that approach and they allowed me to do it. It

99
00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:51.800
<v Speaker 4>wasn't just the yeah, you got a good smile or something.

100
00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:54.879
<v Speaker 4>Let's just be the comic relief. No, I want you.

101
00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.360
<v Speaker 4>I wanted to be real, and that's what happened, and

102
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:02.600
<v Speaker 4>it took off that way. I appreciate them for like,

103
00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:05.000
<v Speaker 4>just give me that space to work and do what

104
00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:05.560
<v Speaker 4>I wanted.

105
00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.519
<v Speaker 5>And I don't know you want to.

106
00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:09.120
<v Speaker 1>No, no, no no.

107
00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:12.639
<v Speaker 2>I wanted to ask you right quick here when you

108
00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.920
<v Speaker 2>mentioned and I've heard the story from many other actors

109
00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:16.399
<v Speaker 2>that you know certainly in the COVID era you had

110
00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.560
<v Speaker 2>to send in your audition tapes, right, that's when it

111
00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:20.839
<v Speaker 2>starts exactly. So let me just tell you this. This

112
00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:23.360
<v Speaker 2>won't surprise you. I'm in this studio every day for

113
00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:27.360
<v Speaker 2>three hours doing my national radio show, and I always

114
00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.160
<v Speaker 2>always prefer that you come in studio if you can.

115
00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:33.680
<v Speaker 2>It just makes a difference when you in my face

116
00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:36.319
<v Speaker 2>and you and I are friends from way back, wins.

117
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.839
<v Speaker 6>I just want to see your face and give you

118
00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:39.279
<v Speaker 6>a hug. I'm glad you came here.

119
00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.120
<v Speaker 2>But even if we want friends, I prefer people coming

120
00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:45.319
<v Speaker 2>in studio for all the obvious reasons.

121
00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:46.560
<v Speaker 1>I can't imagine.

122
00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:48.199
<v Speaker 2>Again, I've done TV my whole career, as you know,

123
00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:49.759
<v Speaker 2>so I know how to do satellite interviews.

124
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:51.399
<v Speaker 1>I've done more than that, more than that, more of

125
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:52.160
<v Speaker 1>that than I can count.

126
00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.199
<v Speaker 2>But I prefer in studio. What is it like trying

127
00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:57.480
<v Speaker 2>to win an audition when you got to record yourself

128
00:05:57.480 --> 00:05:57.839
<v Speaker 2>at home?

129
00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.519
<v Speaker 1>That seems so weird. I understand why they do it,

130
00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:01.519
<v Speaker 1>but it just seems.

131
00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:04.040
<v Speaker 2>Like so impersonal to me that you can't lean in,

132
00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:06.800
<v Speaker 2>look somebody in the eye and show them how gifted

133
00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:07.319
<v Speaker 2>you really are.

134
00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:12.079
<v Speaker 4>And that is actually an advantage to have us come in.

135
00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:15.600
<v Speaker 4>But what happened is once they started submitting these tapes

136
00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.560
<v Speaker 4>and the people didn't really even have to get off

137
00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:19.040
<v Speaker 4>the space.

138
00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:20.600
<v Speaker 5>They just set up there and looked at TV. It

139
00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:22.040
<v Speaker 5>was a lot cheaper for them.

140
00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:27.279
<v Speaker 4>Sure, but you're right, that's why, Like after they looked

141
00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:29.920
<v Speaker 4>at my tape, the tape moved them that they brought

142
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.399
<v Speaker 4>me in to audition in front of people, and it

143
00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.680
<v Speaker 4>was and that's when they connected.

144
00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:39.079
<v Speaker 1>But but but now you've got to be creative on tape.

145
00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:43.839
<v Speaker 5>You know what? The advantage there's a bit disadvantage and

146
00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.399
<v Speaker 5>an advantage.

147
00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:51.199
<v Speaker 4>Disadvantage is right, you don't have that personal connection with them,

148
00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:55.240
<v Speaker 4>but the advantages you get to try it and do

149
00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:00.000
<v Speaker 4>it to you feel that is wrong, So it's it's

150
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.160
<v Speaker 4>it's a two it's a twofold thing.

151
00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:04.800
<v Speaker 1>So as many takes as you need, and it takes

152
00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.160
<v Speaker 1>you need.

153
00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:09.800
<v Speaker 4>But you know what, I go to a studio that

154
00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:13.519
<v Speaker 4>does it and uh and she's charging.

155
00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.720
<v Speaker 5>So like I tried to get mine right.

156
00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.160
<v Speaker 1>But that's that's another discivent.

157
00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.639
<v Speaker 6>Not you got you gotta pay for your auditions.

158
00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.959
<v Speaker 4>Well not everybody does it. Some people do it at home.

159
00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:26.399
<v Speaker 4>But you know, I really want him to make sure

160
00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:29.759
<v Speaker 4>his quality. Yeah, yeah, so you know I am hard

161
00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:32.480
<v Speaker 4>and right man. He is Ernest Hart Jr.

162
00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.519
<v Speaker 2>Now he's Ernest hard junior Emmy nominee that will follow

163
00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:40.040
<v Speaker 2>him hopefully Emmy Wimmer, Emmy winner, but Emmy nominee will

164
00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:42.000
<v Speaker 2>follow him. That's why I love get nominated. It follows

165
00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.680
<v Speaker 2>you the rest of your life. Emmy nominee Ernest Harden Jr.

166
00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.439
<v Speaker 2>I was watching The Jeffersons the other night and all,

167
00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:51.839
<v Speaker 2>and I love seeing Ernest Harden Jr. On those episodes

168
00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:53.600
<v Speaker 2>of the Jeffersons. We're talking about his career a bit

169
00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:56.319
<v Speaker 2>more than we come forward here on Tavis Smiley, Ernest

170
00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:57.839
<v Speaker 2>Hard and Jr. He and I just catching up on

171
00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.000
<v Speaker 2>old times again. Life just in the way sometimes, and

172
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.800
<v Speaker 2>I've been off doing my thing and he's been doing

173
00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:04.639
<v Speaker 2>his thing, and I've been watching him on the screen,

174
00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:08.199
<v Speaker 2>big screen, in small screen for years now. He's watching

175
00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:10.720
<v Speaker 2>me on television, listening on the radio. So it's just

176
00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.040
<v Speaker 2>somebody said it was an easter ray. I'm rooting for

177
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.639
<v Speaker 2>everybody black. I'm rooting for everybody black. And it's just

178
00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:20.160
<v Speaker 2>good when your friends get the respect and honor that

179
00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:20.680
<v Speaker 2>they deserve.

180
00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:20.879
<v Speaker 5>You.

181
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:22.800
<v Speaker 2>You've been a long distance runner at this man. I

182
00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.120
<v Speaker 2>was just teasing you earlier saying I still watched The

183
00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:27.240
<v Speaker 2>Jeffersons and I love seeing you on The Jeffersons. And

184
00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.079
<v Speaker 2>when I saw again that you had received the semi

185
00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:33.240
<v Speaker 2>nomination for your role on the Pit, it was just

186
00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:35.639
<v Speaker 2>a just a feeling of joy.

187
00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:35.879
<v Speaker 1>Man.

188
00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.240
<v Speaker 4>I appreciate that, man, you know. Yeah, the Jeffersons was

189
00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:43.639
<v Speaker 4>I started doing The Jeffersons nineteen seventy six, so how

190
00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.240
<v Speaker 4>long does.

191
00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:46.039
<v Speaker 5>Ago was that? And before that?

192
00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:49.000
<v Speaker 4>I actually started when I got out of Biscus State

193
00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.080
<v Speaker 4>Misigan State University.

194
00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:54.559
<v Speaker 5>I got out with a degree in theater the Spartans Spartans,

195
00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:56.960
<v Speaker 5>and we went to New York. I went to New York.

196
00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:00.519
<v Speaker 4>I was tough in it in New York, you know,

197
00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:04.080
<v Speaker 4>doing just everything I could stand on people's flow words,

198
00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:07.120
<v Speaker 4>and I got to And then I finally got a

199
00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:10.600
<v Speaker 4>break in a movie called Three Days at the Condor,

200
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:14.200
<v Speaker 4>which became a classic with Robert Redford and Fate Dunaway.

201
00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:19.720
<v Speaker 4>And that that movie gave me my sad card. And

202
00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:22.440
<v Speaker 4>I got to be kind of cool with Robert Redford too.

203
00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:22.960
<v Speaker 5>After that.

204
00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:24.480
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, legendary.

205
00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.960
<v Speaker 5>I made that. It's funny.

206
00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.279
<v Speaker 4>I didn't understand at the time how big that movie

207
00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:32.360
<v Speaker 4>was gonna get, but it became a classic. My name

208
00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:37.720
<v Speaker 4>is the last name on the credits teenager. So yeah,

209
00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.600
<v Speaker 4>so I've been then from there, I was in UH.

210
00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:44.039
<v Speaker 4>I got a screen test for to make things quick.

211
00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:47.559
<v Speaker 4>I got a screen test for a show, a movie

212
00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.919
<v Speaker 4>called Apocalypse Now which flew ball and and the two

213
00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.039
<v Speaker 4>guys were on the plane that were up for the roll.

214
00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.919
<v Speaker 5>He got it. I didn't. And this name is Lawrence

215
00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:00.039
<v Speaker 5>Fishburne the rest of his history. But but I I

216
00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.039
<v Speaker 5>stayed out.

217
00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:02.879
<v Speaker 4>I said, let me go to LA and get a

218
00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:05.519
<v Speaker 4>little film of myself, more film so I can do

219
00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:09.919
<v Speaker 4>rolls in on theater in the theater a little bit,

220
00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.440
<v Speaker 4>you know, they weren't just having me in the back

221
00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:13.240
<v Speaker 4>round or something.

222
00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.320
<v Speaker 5>Maybe be a little bit more recognized.

223
00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.039
<v Speaker 4>And I got a co commercial and then I got

224
00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:23.799
<v Speaker 4>a role called on The Jeffersons as Jason King, not

225
00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.799
<v Speaker 4>Marcus Henderson, Jason King and I did that and they

226
00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.519
<v Speaker 4>liked me so much because they liked the chemistry between

227
00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.960
<v Speaker 4>me and Sherman Sherman Himsley that they called me before

228
00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:36.720
<v Speaker 4>it even aired to say, we want to give you

229
00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.120
<v Speaker 4>a series, but we're going to give it to you

230
00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:40.600
<v Speaker 4>on air, and come in look at the script. I

231
00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.960
<v Speaker 4>looked at the script and I was in the producers

232
00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.679
<v Speaker 4>off and he says, wow, how you like the script?

233
00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.159
<v Speaker 4>I didn't see Jason anywhere. I said, gosh, if I

234
00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.200
<v Speaker 4>guess they started me off really small.

235
00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.960
<v Speaker 5>I was happy to be there, though, you know they

236
00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.360
<v Speaker 5>changed the characters. Yeah, but they changed. I didn't realize.

237
00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:57.639
<v Speaker 4>They said, well, Marcus, you got your work cut out

238
00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:01.000
<v Speaker 4>for you. And I said, Marcus and marks on every page.

239
00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:05.240
<v Speaker 4>I said, oh my god, be careful what you asked for, you.

240
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:06.200
<v Speaker 1>Might get it. And that's whe we know you as

241
00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:06.879
<v Speaker 1>Marcus on the gym.

242
00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.240
<v Speaker 5>I did.

243
00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.159
<v Speaker 4>Hey, the rest is history because I didn't go to

244
00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:12.360
<v Speaker 4>sleep that week. I thought the sleep was overrated. I

245
00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.759
<v Speaker 4>studied and hey, are you right? The rest is history.

246
00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:17.000
<v Speaker 2>I'm just laughing because everybody remembers what they got their

247
00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.679
<v Speaker 2>sad card for.

248
00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.519
<v Speaker 1>I don't care what after you talk to how long.

249
00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:21.679
<v Speaker 2>Have you been in the business, everybody remembers that thing

250
00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.759
<v Speaker 2>that got them their SATs.

251
00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:24.679
<v Speaker 5>Right, that is right, It's a great story.

252
00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.679
<v Speaker 1>Ernest Harden Jr. For more minutes with him.

253
00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.320
<v Speaker 2>He is Emmy nominated now for his outstanding against appearance

254
00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.039
<v Speaker 2>on the hit HBO Max medical drama The Pit, starring

255
00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.759
<v Speaker 2>Noah Wiley. The Pit has like what twenty five or

256
00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:40.759
<v Speaker 2>twenty six Emmy nominations this time around. It's a big deal.

257
00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:42.679
<v Speaker 2>And Ernest Harden Junior's one up and I ain't mad

258
00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.399
<v Speaker 2>at him. You're listening to Tavis smile and Ernest Harden Jr.

259
00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.399
<v Speaker 2>Emmy nominated for his role on The Pit. I only

260
00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:50.360
<v Speaker 2>got four minutes left here, but I know this story

261
00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.200
<v Speaker 2>because I read about it in advance of your coming

262
00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.080
<v Speaker 2>in you went off your maage.

263
00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.960
<v Speaker 1>I'll let you tell the story right quick.

264
00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:01.080
<v Speaker 4>Oh well, what happened was be being a member of

265
00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:04.080
<v Speaker 4>the Actors Studio like people like Marlon Brand, knowing everybody

266
00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:08.879
<v Speaker 4>we don't play Dustin Hoffman, and I knew that there

267
00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.559
<v Speaker 4>was a ten month span between the first season and

268
00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.360
<v Speaker 4>the second season, and so what would this brother be

269
00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:17.399
<v Speaker 4>like on the street with no medical attention for ten months.

270
00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:22.480
<v Speaker 4>So instead of trying to get better shape and all that,

271
00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:24.679
<v Speaker 4>I just let myself go and went off my meds.

272
00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:28.159
<v Speaker 4>And I had a doctor's name is Eugene Allen who

273
00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.879
<v Speaker 4>was kind of monitoring me throughout the process, but the

274
00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.759
<v Speaker 4>company didn't know, and so I was using all of that.

275
00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:38.080
<v Speaker 4>I started feeling I was having a tough time breathing

276
00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.519
<v Speaker 4>in the morning, a lot of stuff, and I used

277
00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:42.279
<v Speaker 4>every bit of it in this care.

278
00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.559
<v Speaker 1>You take your acting really seriously.

279
00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:47.240
<v Speaker 4>Right, Well, like I said, actor stereo, people go deep,

280
00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.759
<v Speaker 4>and I went deep, but I know it was dangerously deep,

281
00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.519
<v Speaker 4>and I don't think I ever do that again.

282
00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:56.399
<v Speaker 5>But you used all of that to use all that.

283
00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.840
<v Speaker 4>As a matter of fact, someone said that they taught

284
00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:04.919
<v Speaker 4>medical students and they used clips of me to show

285
00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.039
<v Speaker 4>what it would be like if they got they had

286
00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.960
<v Speaker 4>similar conditions.

287
00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.600
<v Speaker 5>So I was very proud of that.

288
00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.000
<v Speaker 2>You know, how, how does I got a couple minute left?

289
00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:17.320
<v Speaker 2>He How does it feel to be a journeyman actor?

290
00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.279
<v Speaker 1>I can call you that.

291
00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.960
<v Speaker 2>You've done so many things big screen, small screen, a

292
00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.600
<v Speaker 2>journeyman actor, and at this point of your career you

293
00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:24.600
<v Speaker 2>get an Emmy nomination.

294
00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:29.600
<v Speaker 4>You know it's the Emmy is Like I said before,

295
00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:33.000
<v Speaker 4>I never thought about Emmy in the forefront of my mind.

296
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.759
<v Speaker 5>I always thought I.

297
00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.960
<v Speaker 4>Would hold up something in Oscar for the mean eventually,

298
00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:42.679
<v Speaker 4>but just to see the the respect and the just

299
00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:46.960
<v Speaker 4>how people just revere having an Emmy nomination.

300
00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.960
<v Speaker 6>Everybody's calling you. I'm sure your phone's from.

301
00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.080
<v Speaker 5>Blowing up the head of Warner Brothers to the head

302
00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:53.120
<v Speaker 5>of hb Old, I.

303
00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.879
<v Speaker 4>Mean, the head of the pit. Everybody's called House of

304
00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:00.320
<v Speaker 4>the what. Okay, But it's been phenomenal and it's spend

305
00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:04.759
<v Speaker 4>such a tidal wave and a jobeyush ride and hopefully

306
00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.679
<v Speaker 4>I can ride it out to a win.

307
00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.840
<v Speaker 5>We're just having a ball.

308
00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.720
<v Speaker 2>No, you deserve it, man, you deserve it. You have

309
00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:14.120
<v Speaker 2>earned it. You're part of a great cast on a

310
00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.759
<v Speaker 2>great show.

311
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.320
<v Speaker 4>They're my family, especially WI. That's I just wanted to

312
00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:22.159
<v Speaker 4>put it out. He's not only just a great actor,

313
00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.360
<v Speaker 4>he's a great human being.

314
00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.799
<v Speaker 2>Yeah he's I've only met him once, but he's an

315
00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:29.039
<v Speaker 2>amazing actor in this series especially, And they are blessed

316
00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.799
<v Speaker 2>to have you. You're blessed to be a part of

317
00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:33.240
<v Speaker 2>this series. They're gonna get They're gonna wrack up some wins.

318
00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.519
<v Speaker 2>I can guarantee you. They got twenty six nominations. They're

319
00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.360
<v Speaker 2>gonna wrack up a few wins on the night of

320
00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:37.759
<v Speaker 2>the show.

321
00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:39.320
<v Speaker 1>But one of those.

322
00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.840
<v Speaker 2>Nominees is my friend and brother who I'm glad to

323
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.440
<v Speaker 2>be reacquainted with, Ernest Harden Jr. I said at the

324
00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:46.200
<v Speaker 2>top in the middle, and I said it again at

325
00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.039
<v Speaker 2>the end. I am proud of him. I am happy

326
00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.320
<v Speaker 2>for him. He has earned it, he deserves it. He

327
00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:53.519
<v Speaker 2>is Emmy nominated for his Outstanding Guest Appearance on the

328
00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.639
<v Speaker 2>HBO Max hit.

329
00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.440
<v Speaker 1>Medical drama The Pit.

330
00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:57.919
<v Speaker 2>And we'll be watching the Emmy's areas on September the

331
00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.919
<v Speaker 2>fourteenth on NBC Streaming Live.

332
00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.600
<v Speaker 1>I'm on peacock.

333
00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.799
<v Speaker 6>I'm gonna be watching for show for show this year

334
00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.799
<v Speaker 6>to see how this all works out.

335
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.879
<v Speaker 1>For Ernest, but whatever happens, you a winner.

336
00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.799
<v Speaker 5>Brother. Thank you so much and I love you. I

337
00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.360
<v Speaker 5>love you too.

338
00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.080
<v Speaker 2>Good to see you just like that three hours ago,

339
00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.039
<v Speaker 2>and we're back here tomorrow. Little wouldn't to do it

340
00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.480
<v Speaker 2>all over again until tomorrow. Thanks for listening to Tavis

341
00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:17.080
<v Speaker 2>Smiley and as always, keep the faith