May 7, 2025 • 34 mins
ICYMI: Hour Two of ‘Later, with Mo’Kelly’ Presents – An in-depth conversation with friend of the program, Emmy Award-Winning Actor/Director Obba Babatundé, who returns to the program with wonderful stories gleaned from his life in TV and film PLUS a preview of the series finale of CBS' ‘S.W.A.T.’ with a very special episode in store for his character "Pops"/Daniel Harrelson, Sr. (father of "Hondo"/Shemar Moore) scheduled to air Friday, May 9, 9 PM ET/PT on CBS - KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app & YouTube @MrMoKelly
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Kelly on.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Sixth Friday.
Speaker 4 (00:16):
We are live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app and on YouTube.
Let's talk with our latest guest, Oh, Bob Bubbatunde. He
is a friend of the show. He has been on
the show a number of times. You may know him
as Pop's Daniel har Harrelson, Sr. Father of Hondo Shamar
Moore on CBS's SWAT, which is scheduled to air Friday,
(00:38):
May ninth at nine pm. But it's also a somewhat
sad time because SWATT is coming to an end. But
I'm quite sure Obi Bubbatunde has some words of wisdom,
not only about that experience, but also the industry more broadly.
So let me welcome to welcome you to the show,
Boba olbatun Day. It is great to see you again,
my friend. What a joy to be here with you again.
(00:59):
Mose ohs A pleasure to see you last time I
saw you, Yes, we were talking about SWAT and this
is one of the many TV shows and movies that
you've been on. I'm quite sure if people are watching
our YouTube stream right now, they've seen you in any
number of shows. I'm just thinking off the top of
my head, like Boston Legal, Gray's Anatomy, Criminal Minds. You've
had a long, extensive career, specifically on television, but you've
(01:22):
also done voiceovers for video games and movies. I think
it was Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence's Life. I'm just thinking,
off the top of my head. What has this business
shown year you over these many years.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Well, you know what, Thank you so much. It's a
great question and deserves a great answer. I'll do my best.
You know, the thing that I have identified as that
it is your do is not necessarily your who. Now
let me show you with that, okay, by that, okay,
Your do, as I have discovered, is what affects change
in your life. But you who is how you have
(01:58):
affected change in someone else.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh wait, wait wait, I think I know where you're
going with this. The way I say it is my
vocation versus my invocation.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
That's exactly correct, absolutely absolutely, And you know what. You know,
the beauty of that is when you identify that you're
due is not necessarily your who. Like for somebody that's
a bus driver when their term of driving that bus
at the end of the day when they get off
that bus or they just a bus driver, know they
are human being. There's somebody who has a life experience.
(02:29):
And So to answer your question specifically about the industry
of entertainment through the journey of this which has been
a half a century, I just found out that I've
got over two hundred IMDb credits. That's you've showing off now, No, no,
I just found this out. And that doesn't include theater,
right and the no paying, low paying that's earning a
(02:50):
living at it, you know what I mean. And again,
I have been able to identify that the relationships and
the experience of dealing with human beings and creating something
that we were talking about before we went on air,
family family being a different between family and relative relative
you had no choice in family is how one treats one.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Relatives are the ones you want to go home worldly
some dinner, and I know what you mean. Family can stay,
relatives gotta go.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
So that's one of the things that I would identify
that I would answer the question with is that I've
been able to see how life is through the characters
that I've played and through the people that I've got
a chance to interact with in those in the off camera.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
In those circumstances, I would say that you are an
elder statesman in the television industry. Specifically, You've talked about
your on camera and off camera relationship with Shamar Moore
you play his father on the show, But I'm quite
sure you're a mentor off the show.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Well, listen, you know, I never set out to try
to do anything but be an honest human being, and
I come to every situation to give, not to get,
And so I've done the same thing with Shamar, and
we I do believe have what is actually sort of
a mama surrogate dad in some sort of way, you know,
we and that relationship translates on screen. People have said,
(04:16):
you know, it seems like you guys are really father
and son. Well, that's because we are committed to telling
the truth to one another off screen and on screen.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
What does that truth seem like, sound like feel like
when you are dealing with the professional relationship of actor
and actor versus the personal relationship of I'll say brother
the brother.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Okay, great question. Again, it's no different than what you
and I have. You know, when we see each other
through the years that we've been able to interact with
each other. We interact with each other on a human level,
you see. And so that is the deal, is that, Yes,
you're a great host, and I hopefully I'm a good guest,
you know what I mean. But what happens is that
(04:58):
through our before we get on air, we're talking to
each other as two human beings. Yes, two people. You see,
every character that I've ever portrayed when I only interested
in playing fully realized human beings, I think that that's
been a key to to mine.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Let me jump in there.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
You want to play fully developed characters in human beings,
But is that something that you're bringing to the role,
because it may not always be written.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Into the role.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Absolutely, And that was where I was going with this, okay.
And what I do is I write a backstory to
every character that I portray, okay, so that whether it
shows up in the in the script or not, it
informs everything that that character does because I'm bringing to
the to the to the to the project a fully
realized human being.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Wow, that's deep. That's deep.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Now do you ever get pushedback from directors who may
say no, no, no, no, No, that's not the motivation for
this character.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That's not their backstory. That's not in the script.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
Well, they don't know the backstory. I don't give them
the backstory. See, it informs the work that I do.
I don't tell the director or the producer or anything.
I'll I respect the writing that they've done. Now, if
it seems like I'm not bringing forth exactly what they want,
then I asked them, respectfully, can you help me because
I'm not really understanding why my character feels like that
(06:16):
in this situation. And they can say, as a director, well,
but this is what we're trying to get out of this.
You know, there's been in situations where I've been you know,
a director will come over to me and say, hey, listen,
you know what in this particular scene, just ignore you
know that person? And I say, excuse me, why am
I ignoring them? If if in actuality I in this
(06:38):
scene am trying to accomplish this, And they go, well,
you know what, honestly I'm trying to get so And
so I said, oh, stop, and you got to direct
that person. Please don't direct my character who I'm living
this character's life to be able to bring forth what
you want from another actor or actress.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I'm curious because you've had some eight seasons to play
Daniel Harrelson's sor that that character may occupy a larger
space in your consciousness than maybe other characters.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
It is so in tune. Let me explain something to
an actuality that the producers of the show came to
me at one point and said, oh, well, you know
what we've heard from everybody. I want to ask you.
Do you have anything in your life experience that you'd
like to share with us? And I was able to
give them that and we ended up creating one of
the episodes with using that information. They said, can we
(07:26):
use that? And I said absolutely. So again, you know,
I'm not acting. I'm living when but I'm living the
character in which I'm portraying, so that when that action starts,
Oba is left in the trailer, or if it's on stage,
he's left in the dressing room. And now I am
Daniel Harrilson Senior and Darryl Herringson SR has a history
(07:50):
and in this production he was a former panther. Okay,
well I have some of that experience because I grew
up in South Jamaica Queens and they had there was
a place where the panthers actually worked out of So
I have that in my in my history. I've been
on the planet for quite some time. Okay, you're only
(08:12):
thirty two, so no brother, No brother. Next time I
see thirty anything, it'll have a one. And I'm planning
on that as well.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Come on now.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
So yes, I try to make sure that I incorporate
all of those things, you know, you know I I'm
so blessed in so many ways. It's not a day
that I've walked down the street any day where if
it's a gas station or a supermarket where somebody goes, hey, amen,
you aren't you?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Aren't you?
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Or do you know who you are? But it's always
with a sense of a warmth and a smile, you
know what I mean. And it's genuine and it's because
I've been able to hopefully bring something to their life,
whether it was something that was a try tumultuous situation
that helped them get through, or whether it was something
that made them smile and laugh. And so you know,
(09:07):
I made a choice at the onset of my career
and I always tell people that don't know it was
arrogance or confidence, I guess you will be busking you
know a little of each. But the deal was that
I was going to go forth and I was going
to realize. I realized the power, the potential power of
the industry that that industry, those images that I project
and others that do the same thing that I do
(09:28):
project on that small or large screen have the potential
of going around the world and suggesting to someone else
who has never met you, what because we resemble in
a hue who you might be? And so why would
I go forward and misrepresent you when you don't deserve that.
So that was what I intended to do in my career,
(09:50):
and I hope I've been able to scratch the surface
of that.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
My guess is Oh, Bob Babatunde, we're talking about the
winding down. I'll call it the winding down of the
series SWAT. They have actually a season and series finale
coming up in the next week. We're gonna get that
with Oba Babatunde front of the show. I would say,
I would like to call you my friend friend now
as well. It's later with mo Kelly Cafi am six
forty and also Live on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
You can watch this conversation.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
I AM six forty. It's Later with mo Kelly. We're
live on YouTube right now. You can see this conversation
and of course on the iHeartRadio app. And I'm continuing
my conversation with guests. Oh Bah Bubbatunde. You know him
from such films as Life, Miss Evers, Boys Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,
The Temptations, John Q, I remember that with Denzel Washington,
and of course TV shows like Chicago Med, The Bold
(10:48):
and the Beautiful, The Good Fight, n CIS and more.
He was showing off last segment, telling us some two
hundred I am dB credits and they're all earned. And obah,
let me remind people why we're talking specifically on this evening. You,
of course, you play Pops Daniel Harrelson Senior on CBS's SWAT.
(11:09):
There's a very special episode coming up on Friday this Friday,
May ninth, as the show winds down. It is both
a season finale and a series finale. Let's start right there.
What does it mean for you when you see the
end of a show and you've had some eight seasons
inhabiting a character. Is a degree is there a degree
(11:29):
of not regret but just almost like I'll miss this person? Yes,
quitdn't turn your mic correct to put that there?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
You go? Is it on?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Though?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (11:41):
So yes, no, absolutely. You know, when you've been breathing
life into a human being, you know, and creating as
I've done with Pops, of course there is a reminisce
sadness that comes with that, you know, But I also
miss the interaction with my crew, with the cast members,
you know what I mean. But you know I've been
doing it for so many years that that everything has
(12:04):
a conclusion now. I'd also like to say, as opposed
to an end as the point I'm making, you know,
there's a possibility, you know, that we could be picked
up by somebody else and we could keep right on going.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Let me jump in there, because there have been a
number of TV shows which may have started on broadcast
television and they've segued either to another network or they've
gone to a streaming platform. Talk to me about how
streaming has impacted what you know as the television landscape.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Yes, well, you know, been doing it so long that
I've been able to have watch the maturation of how
things have evolved. You know, we used to have what
was called must watch TV.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yes you know what I.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Mean on Friday Night. You know that's my show that
you know what I mean? And now we've identified that
with streaming that has changed. You know, everything has a
sense of evolution. That's what I've been able to identify.
And I'd known that because of my career, I've been
able to make adjustments and continue to do what it
is that I do in the evolutionary stage. So I
(13:04):
am not saying that, oh my goodness, you got to
hold on. We got to make sure that this thing.
But we have to identify if I've got something to
say or if I'm on a project that has something
to say that speaks to the human heart source, Okay,
that somebody's going to tune it in and we're going
to watch it evolve. Yes, I'm going to miss that crew,
(13:27):
I'm going to miss that cast. I'm going to miss
that interaction. And Darren Daniel Harraldson Senior is as much
a part of me in certain ways as I am
a part of myself. So that part is not going
to go away. Oh bah Babatunda is still going to
be obah babatunday.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
You and I are both old enough. I think I'm
about me maybe twenty years older than you. But you
and I are both old enough to remember Swat the
TV show.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
Well, I was being serious.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
You and I are both are old enough to remember
Swat the TV show of nineteen seventy three, nineteen seven, Yes,
old enough to remember the movie, yes, in early two thousands,
and now you have the SWAT TV Show CBS. Why
do you think SWAT that brand has such an enduring.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Appeal one that's perfectly stated, you know, the deal is
And that was when I was made leading toward when
I said that when there's something that people are desirous
of seeing, right, there's an energy. And what did I'd
like to say about our Swat is that you get
an opportunity in this character with Pomps and the relationship
(14:33):
between you know, Daniel Hanrilson Senior and Junior, right, is
the family aspect of it, you see, because we don't
we forget that the men and women in uniform, be
they military, be they police, be they whatever, you know,
the first responders, that they're also human beings and that
they have a life and an experience outside of the
(14:55):
job that they do. And I think one of the
things that was so successful about this particular production is
that it gave us an opportunity, us being the world population,
being able to see who these people aren't when they
take that uniform off.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I've always liked the dynamic you hinted at it last segment,
because you talk about Senior's history connected to the Panthers
and he was not too big on his son become
a member of LAPD. Absolutely talk about how that intra
storyline evolved over the years and seasons.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Oh yes, yes, yes, because again, as Daniel Harrilson came
back in, he had at that time a particular an illness,
and so Hondo had to come back and he had
to bring him into the city to live with him
to look after him. Right, And so it was rough.
It was not just the fact that it was this,
It was this is what the double deal was. It
(15:54):
wasn't just the fact that he had an issue with him,
that Daniel Harrison Senior had an issue with him, because
here he is a a swat guy, not ahead of
a swat team, right, but also Daniel Harrison Senior had
left the family for another relationship. So here you had
these two dynamics coming together. What he felt as a
(16:15):
child and what Daniel felt about him now in his profession.
So we had these two things and that caused a fury.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
An energy screen tension.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Yes, yes, great on screen tension. And it also helped
us to graduate not just play just that business. We
were able to play that which was the human experience
between a father and a son, a man and a man,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
It was just perfect Before we go to this next break,
I'm also curious, what did you hear from actual members
of law enforcement? Of course, you had your advisors on
set to make sure it was as accurate as possible.
But I'm quite sure because you say, and I understand
you probably recognize any number of places you make go
and you're associated and connected to the Spot TV show.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
What did you hear from law enforcement?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I got? You know what, you guys do a good
job over there, man. We really appreciate the fact that
you show more than just what we do on a
daily basis. You guys are really, in a way helping
us to be able to live our lives. Both on
the job and off the job, because we are able
(17:26):
to be able to be identified in our humanity as
well as what we do as work. So that was
a high praise, and I really appreciated the fact.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
We have the May ninth episode coming up on Friday.
What should we expect with that?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Let me tell you something, all right, Pops is getting
busy on this episode. Don't you take your eyes off
the screen, because y'all know Pops don't take no mess.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
No James Brown sense, Pop it don't take no mess.
That's right.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
And so they have given me an opportunity to cut
loose and to do something which I've always wanted to
do as Pops, and I am appreciative of that opportunity.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
When we come back, I just want to riff with
you and I want to hear from you.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
I only give you time to think about it. I'm
going to preview this.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I want to hear about some of your favorite roles
beyond Darryl Harrelson's senior and the ones that still live
with you, even though you may not inhabit them anymore.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Can you do that for me?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
If we got enough time, we got a whole lot
of them.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Baby, all right, did I like it? Oh Blah Blabba
today you know him from Swat. He's joining me in
studio as the series of SWAT winds down, not only
for the season, but as the series as a whole.
It's Later with mo Kelly, CAFI AM six forty live
on YouTube and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
You're listening to Later with mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
It's Later with mo Kelly.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
We're live on YouTube app mister mo Kelly, and also
on the iHeartRadio app. And if you've been tuning in tonight,
you've probably been enjoying this conversation as much as I
have with actor Oh bab Babba Tonday. You know him
from SWAT. He plays Daniel Harrison Harrelson Senior. And I
would say a thirty five hundred other roles, and let
(19:11):
me use that as eliteed because before the break, I
was asking, Oh, Bah, some of the roles which you've
inhabited over the years, which still stay with you or
you are most proud of, or most more most meaningful
to you, what would they be?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know what?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
I've had the great opportunity to portray some living human beings.
I mean, I got an opportunity to play Berry Gordy,
I got an opportunity to play Harold Nicholas. I did
a musical where I played Semi Davis Junior. Miss Evers
Boys is a movie that I did. Was my first,
(19:49):
you know, Primetime Emmy nomination, and to tell that story
about the life of those men and women and the
challenges that they had that was put upon them by
the country. For those of you who have not had
an opportunity to see it, I would respectfully suggest that
(20:09):
you go forward and see Miss Evers Boys was an
HBO production at Great Alfred Woodard, Joe Morton, the Great
Ossie Davis, I mean, a host of just brilliant, brilliant actors,
Lawrence Fishburne, you know, and we got a chance to
tell this story about these men and women and what
was going on that actually went on mo in our lifetime. Yes,
(20:32):
this is not something that's antiquated likes you know they're
talking about like Wolves of Slave movie. No, no, no, no, no.
This went on during our lifetime where there was a
it was called we had to identify the effects of
untreated syphilis and the African American male. This is actual
(20:54):
Tuskegee experiment, right, And so that character for me is
something that's very very special because it crossed a period
of time and and and was not just while it
was I didn't play a particular individual. I played a
copulation of all of those men and women's lives and
(21:17):
what was going on in their lives at that time.
And so that would be one of the ones that
I would say that I was extremely proud of. I mean,
I've gotten an opportunity, you know, I mean in Philadelphia,
in the movie Philadelphia.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
You know that I forgot there's just so many yeah, yeah,
but I mean, you know, here here it was giving
the opportunity to have people to be identified not by
their illness, but by their humanity who happened to be
inflicted with.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
An illness, you know. So I mean, I mean each one,
I have had so many great opportunities to portray human beings.
You know, as I talked about the fact that with
with Sammy Davis Junior, who you know was my entertain
mentor you know, and to be able to get to
meet him, he was a person that I saw growing
up on that black and white television in my in
(22:06):
my family's living room, you know me about that little
black and white philm co Yes, yes, And then to
be able to see a man who who was identified
as one of the greatest entertainers in the world, and
then to later meet him and for him and I
to become friends, you know, And if I can give
you a quick story about you know, I was co
starring in a world tour with Eliza Minelli, and you know,
(22:29):
he was going to be doing his world tour at
the same time we were doing ours. So we would
proceed or follow one another into the different venues around
the world. And so he had come. We was our
last closing night and his was the next opening night
at the Lake Tahoe inherits, And so Eliza knew I
was a big fan. And she says, oh, Sammy's here
and he wants to meet you. And I said, well,
can he see me after he's seen me work. I
(22:51):
don't know that was an active thing, but whatever, you know,
she says, no, he's not going to stay for the show.
So anyway, I go on and I do the show
and afterwards, well, I come off for a costume change
and Eliza's dresser, Helen says Alba Eliza said, to tell
you that Sammy stayed so great. All right, I would
have done my show anyway. Afterwards, there's a knock on
(23:11):
the door and I said, yes, uh, oh, it's oh sorry.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
If you know Sammy sounded.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Like he says, oh, listen, man, it's sam I opened
the door and there he stood right even did the
eye and he says, he said. He looked at me
and he says, you, my man, are a bitch on wheels,
A bitch on wheels. I got to tell you you're marvelous.
And he paid me a lot of nice compliments. And
(23:39):
I invited him in and I said to him, because
remember we were at Lake Tahoe at Harris, Yes, and
I said to him, I looked at him in his
eye and I said, mister d because I could never
call him Sammy, I said, mister d. I want to
thank you, sir for coming in through the kitchen so
I could come in through the front door.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
For those who don't know, when Sammy Davis was at
the height of his fame, he was not allowed like
the club Cocoacabana, if I'm not mistaken, who is not
allowed to actually enter where anyone else other performer.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Would he have to go come in and lead through
the kitchen. Absolutely, just want to give context.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Absolutely, tear ran down his face and he said, I said,
I'm sure you've heard this enough. You know many times
he says, I could never hear it enough. And we
became fast friends from that point nineteen seventy eight until
this passing in ninety you know, and I still try
to keep that legacy alive.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Before I let you go, and it's unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
We were talking about how SWAT is winding down his
final two episodes May ninth and also May sixteenth at
nine pm on CBS. That is important, but I also
want people to know you beyond that, you also have
an affinity for Lando cal Rissian, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Yes, yes, well you know I was. I was doing
some voice over at one point, and so I played
Lando Coracian in most of those the game shows that
you you know, the game video of things, as you say,
And I was in the studio and they said, hey, hey,
you know, miss Williams, he doesn't want to do it
anymore as a Billy D Williams. He said, do you
(25:09):
think that that you could do, and I said, well,
what is it that you want me to do? Are
you trying to explain to me? I said, well, let
me tell you one sing if you want me, maybe
I'll just say I want my arm to fall off.
And they said, you got the jobs.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I don't know what to say. You probably have a
million stories like that. And I always say, at the
end of it all, we only have our stories. It's
not about the money, it's not about the titles, it's
not even about the IMDb credits. It's about the stories
that we can tell for the future generations. Give me
one more story of your choice before we part.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
A beautiful story, is that? And I want to share
with everybody that's listening and watching that understand that everything
that you do, nothing in your life, is wasted nothing.
You throw the ball against the Walmot, it's coming back.
I throw it, It's coming back. Everybody in the studio,
that ball's coming back. Don't worry about when is coming back,
just know that it is. Okay, So I'm going to
(26:14):
give you an example of that. All right, nineteen seventy eight,
as I mentioned, I was doing a world toward Eliza Minelli. Okay,
there the fourth show we would do four shows and
then we would have a breakof and go somewhere else.
And the fourth show, there was a young lady, a
young girl. She was at the stage door. She had
been there every night and I and she was. I walked.
He said hi, Almah, said you here again tonight. She
(26:34):
said yes, but it's sold out. And I jokingly said, listen,
you've been here long enough. You could be in the show.
And I went inside and what I decided would be
nothing other than a random act of kindness. I went
out and I said to security, Hey, she's with me.
Let her in. I put her in a chair in
the wings, and I said, stay out of everybody's way,
enjoy the show.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Twenty years later, I'm trying to get into this movie Life,
starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. For whatever reason, I
don't know what it was, but the casting director would
not allow me to come in in audition, and we
tried everything we could. Two weeks later, after we gave up,
they said, hey, Ober, we got a call. We you know,
they want to see you. So I said great, So
I go in and there's the casting director. Bless her heart,
(27:19):
she was sitting with her. I guess she didn't think
I was right anyway. So she was sitting where her
legs crossing, her arms folded, and she said, we gotta
put you on tape. I said, okay. The director he
was on the phone. I said, hey, make good to
see we can put you on tape. So I go
on tape. Two days later, we get a call you
booked a roll. Right, great. I go to work. Okay.
I'm on my way the first day on set, going
to the thing, and this woman comes out and she says,
(27:41):
how do you do. My name's Tina Fortenberry. I said,
it was nice to meet you. She says, I've met
you twice before. She said, I met you you did
the movie Philadelphia. I said yes. She said, I was
a PA on that movie. I am now the unit
production the assistant of the unit production manager, Jim Brubacker
on this production. I said, oh, it's great. She said,
but I also met you many years ago. You did
something very nice for me. I was a fan of
(28:02):
Liza Minille. I said, wait a minute. You and that
young girl that I put in the chair. She said yes,
And I didn't know why they wouldn't bring you in,
But I would go in every day and stand and say,
oh blah bah ba Tunday, Oh blah bae batundey, he's good.
You should bring him in. I think they brought you in,
so I wouldn't come in and say that anymore, but
I would like to think. She says, Now, what happened
was you went on tape and and Brian Grazer saw
(28:23):
you and said, that's the was Vivian Brazer all right, right,
imagine pictures said that's that's that's the guy I want.
So the point that I'm making is that I had
no idea at that moment that's something, that random act
of kindness, something that I was going to do, was
going to pay dividends in my life some twenty years later.
(28:43):
So identify that has happened to me time and time again.
And I suggest to everyone that is watching and listening
know that about your life that there is nothing wasted.
What you invest will return, and if it's garbage, garbage
is coming back. And if it's greatness, greatness is coming
back in.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
The church and say you preach it. Now you preach it,
and I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Oh bob Upatunde, We've talked any number of times over
the years, and it's always like the first time I
got to talk to you because I learned something new
and I love that you get to share it with
not only me, but everyone listening and now watching. Please,
this is not gonna be the last time we have
this conversation all.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
With not at all. Man, invite me back anytime. I'm
happy to come, and always I always enjoy you know,
and thank you for what you do. And thank you
for all of those who are watching who have supported
my career throughout the years. I couldn't have done it
without that love and connection. Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (29:38):
Now I am going to ask the next time you
come back, you stop trying to show me up with
that baritone, silky smooth voice.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
All right, listen, man, I can't help the way I speak.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
And he got deeper. Did you know he got deeper
before he left?
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Listen. I could say it like this and that might
make someone very happy.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Just showing off. Oh bab ba, but Tunday always great.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
To see my Thank you, my brother, Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
It's later with Mo Kelly k IF. I am six
forty live everywhere the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Kf I AM six forty. It's Later with Mo Kelly.
We're live on YouTube and the iHeartRadio app. And let
me just take you behind the scenes for a second.
There are times where I have to be really, really present,
and I would say, blessed, be aware of the blessing
of having the opportunity to have certain conversations with people
(30:33):
that just hit a little deeper and mean a little
bit more than other conversations. It's it's great to talk
to anyone on the show, but when you have conversations
like that with Obab Babatunde, who's dropping pearls of wisdom
not only on air, but off the air, to have
him go into Sammy Davis Junior and Billy D Williams
(30:55):
on the fly, and also we have we have the
opportunity to show it to you.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
All of this came together and it was a wonderful,
wonderful moment.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
And during the break, Oh bab Opportunity was telling us
just to remember that we don't need to ask permission
to be great. That's something that I'm gonna take with me.
You don't need anyone's permission to be great. And he
had so many just tidbits of wisdom that get to
(31:25):
live on because not only did you hear them, we got.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
The podcast, we have the video podcasts. And it makes
doing this job all the sweeter. And I don't take
it for granted.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
And I wish you could have seen Mark Ronner's face
and Sam Zia's face during the conversation. You can I
could tell when a guest owns the room, and when
you're talking about radio, when a guest owns the room,
we're talking about thousands and thousands of people who happen
to also be listening. I hope you enjoyed that conversation
(31:58):
as much as we did in this studio. Yes, you
may recognize them from this, that and the other, but
it's another thing when you have someone who has something
to say of value. There are a lot of folks
who may come in this studio and they only want
to talk about their project. I'm here to the hawk
this book, I'm here to promote this movie. Let's talk
(32:19):
about my TV show, and there's not much more to them.
There's not a lot of depth. And then you have
people like Gobib Baba Tunde, who have this wealth and
expanse of knowledge which can be meaningful in your life
regardless of age. And I just absolutely loved it.
Speaker 6 (32:37):
Please, if you didn't hear all that conversation, check it
out on the podcast that Ta Wallas putting together. Right now, Sam,
we got you on camera right now very quickly. What
did you take away from that conversation?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Really?
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I wish people were able to hear the off air
stuff because there were some life changing gems that he
was dropping. You don't need permission to you don't need
anybody's permission to be great. That's something that I'm gonna ed.
I felt a weight come off me as soon as
I heard him say that. There was like it's almost
(33:13):
like he gave me permission to give myself permission.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
That felt empowering. It was really cool.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Gary Hoffman just hit me on text and he said
that was a fun interview. Yeah, it was very fun.
And someone who sits in his chair knows what it's
like to be able to be in those moments where you're.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Really in it. You have a great guess and it
just makes it so much easier. Mark.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I know he broke you up at one point with
those impressions, Well, it's the Sammy story, of course.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
I mean, I'm keyed into all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
And I watched Sammy clips and pass them around to
my friends to this day, and so I love hearing
about that stuff.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
And as I was saying, as we get older, all
we have of value are the stories that we can tell.
And he has a thousand won great stories beyond himself,
and I'm glad that he could share them with not
only us, but with all of you. K IF I
am six forty and you two, we're live everywhere in
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
If it doesn't affect you were not interested, k f
I M.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
KOST HD two Los Angeles, Orange County Live
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Everywhere on the Ehart Radio app
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Kelly on.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Sixth Friday.
Speaker 4 (00:16):
We are live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app and on YouTube.
Let's talk with our latest guest, Oh, Bob Bubbatunde. He
is a friend of the show. He has been on
the show a number of times. You may know him
as Pop's Daniel har Harrelson, Sr. Father of Hondo Shamar
Moore on CBS's SWAT, which is scheduled to air Friday,
(00:38):
May ninth at nine pm. But it's also a somewhat
sad time because SWATT is coming to an end. But
I'm quite sure Obi Bubbatunde has some words of wisdom,
not only about that experience, but also the industry more broadly.
So let me welcome to welcome you to the show,
Boba olbatun Day. It is great to see you again,
my friend. What a joy to be here with you again.
(00:59):
Mose ohs A pleasure to see you last time I
saw you, Yes, we were talking about SWAT and this
is one of the many TV shows and movies that
you've been on. I'm quite sure if people are watching
our YouTube stream right now, they've seen you in any
number of shows. I'm just thinking off the top of
my head, like Boston Legal, Gray's Anatomy, Criminal Minds. You've
had a long, extensive career, specifically on television, but you've
(01:22):
also done voiceovers for video games and movies. I think
it was Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence's Life. I'm just thinking,
off the top of my head. What has this business
shown year you over these many years.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Well, you know what, Thank you so much. It's a
great question and deserves a great answer. I'll do my best.
You know, the thing that I have identified as that
it is your do is not necessarily your who. Now
let me show you with that, okay, by that, okay,
Your do, as I have discovered, is what affects change
in your life. But you who is how you have
(01:58):
affected change in someone else.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh wait, wait wait, I think I know where you're
going with this. The way I say it is my
vocation versus my invocation.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
That's exactly correct, absolutely absolutely, And you know what. You know,
the beauty of that is when you identify that you're
due is not necessarily your who. Like for somebody that's
a bus driver when their term of driving that bus
at the end of the day when they get off
that bus or they just a bus driver, know they
are human being. There's somebody who has a life experience.
(02:29):
And So to answer your question specifically about the industry
of entertainment through the journey of this which has been
a half a century, I just found out that I've
got over two hundred IMDb credits. That's you've showing off now, No, no,
I just found this out. And that doesn't include theater,
right and the no paying, low paying that's earning a
(02:50):
living at it, you know what I mean. And again,
I have been able to identify that the relationships and
the experience of dealing with human beings and creating something
that we were talking about before we went on air,
family family being a different between family and relative relative
you had no choice in family is how one treats one.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Relatives are the ones you want to go home worldly
some dinner, and I know what you mean. Family can stay,
relatives gotta go.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
So that's one of the things that I would identify
that I would answer the question with is that I've
been able to see how life is through the characters
that I've played and through the people that I've got
a chance to interact with in those in the off camera.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
In those circumstances, I would say that you are an
elder statesman in the television industry. Specifically, You've talked about
your on camera and off camera relationship with Shamar Moore
you play his father on the show, But I'm quite
sure you're a mentor off the show.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Well, listen, you know, I never set out to try
to do anything but be an honest human being, and
I come to every situation to give, not to get,
And so I've done the same thing with Shamar, and
we I do believe have what is actually sort of
a mama surrogate dad in some sort of way, you know,
we and that relationship translates on screen. People have said,
(04:16):
you know, it seems like you guys are really father
and son. Well, that's because we are committed to telling
the truth to one another off screen and on screen.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
What does that truth seem like, sound like feel like
when you are dealing with the professional relationship of actor
and actor versus the personal relationship of I'll say brother
the brother.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Okay, great question. Again, it's no different than what you
and I have. You know, when we see each other
through the years that we've been able to interact with
each other. We interact with each other on a human level,
you see. And so that is the deal, is that, Yes,
you're a great host, and I hopefully I'm a good guest,
you know what I mean. But what happens is that
(04:58):
through our before we get on air, we're talking to
each other as two human beings. Yes, two people. You see,
every character that I've ever portrayed when I only interested
in playing fully realized human beings, I think that that's
been a key to to mine.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Let me jump in there.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
You want to play fully developed characters in human beings,
But is that something that you're bringing to the role,
because it may not always be written.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Into the role.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Absolutely, And that was where I was going with this, okay.
And what I do is I write a backstory to
every character that I portray, okay, so that whether it
shows up in the in the script or not, it
informs everything that that character does because I'm bringing to
the to the to the to the project a fully
realized human being.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Wow, that's deep. That's deep.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Now do you ever get pushedback from directors who may
say no, no, no, no, No, that's not the motivation for
this character.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That's not their backstory. That's not in the script.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
Well, they don't know the backstory. I don't give them
the backstory. See, it informs the work that I do.
I don't tell the director or the producer or anything.
I'll I respect the writing that they've done. Now, if
it seems like I'm not bringing forth exactly what they want,
then I asked them, respectfully, can you help me because
I'm not really understanding why my character feels like that
(06:16):
in this situation. And they can say, as a director, well,
but this is what we're trying to get out of this.
You know, there's been in situations where I've been you know,
a director will come over to me and say, hey, listen,
you know what in this particular scene, just ignore you
know that person? And I say, excuse me, why am
I ignoring them? If if in actuality I in this
(06:38):
scene am trying to accomplish this, And they go, well,
you know what, honestly I'm trying to get so And
so I said, oh, stop, and you got to direct
that person. Please don't direct my character who I'm living
this character's life to be able to bring forth what
you want from another actor or actress.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I'm curious because you've had some eight seasons to play
Daniel Harrelson's sor that that character may occupy a larger
space in your consciousness than maybe other characters.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
It is so in tune. Let me explain something to
an actuality that the producers of the show came to
me at one point and said, oh, well, you know
what we've heard from everybody. I want to ask you.
Do you have anything in your life experience that you'd
like to share with us? And I was able to
give them that and we ended up creating one of
the episodes with using that information. They said, can we
(07:26):
use that? And I said absolutely. So again, you know,
I'm not acting. I'm living when but I'm living the
character in which I'm portraying, so that when that action starts,
Oba is left in the trailer, or if it's on stage,
he's left in the dressing room. And now I am
Daniel Harrilson Senior and Darryl Herringson SR has a history
(07:50):
and in this production he was a former panther. Okay,
well I have some of that experience because I grew
up in South Jamaica Queens and they had there was
a place where the panthers actually worked out of So
I have that in my in my history. I've been
on the planet for quite some time. Okay, you're only
(08:12):
thirty two, so no brother, No brother. Next time I
see thirty anything, it'll have a one. And I'm planning
on that as well.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Come on now.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
So yes, I try to make sure that I incorporate
all of those things, you know, you know I I'm
so blessed in so many ways. It's not a day
that I've walked down the street any day where if
it's a gas station or a supermarket where somebody goes, hey, amen,
you aren't you?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Aren't you?
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Or do you know who you are? But it's always
with a sense of a warmth and a smile, you
know what I mean. And it's genuine and it's because
I've been able to hopefully bring something to their life,
whether it was something that was a try tumultuous situation
that helped them get through, or whether it was something
that made them smile and laugh. And so you know,
(09:07):
I made a choice at the onset of my career
and I always tell people that don't know it was
arrogance or confidence, I guess you will be busking you
know a little of each. But the deal was that
I was going to go forth and I was going
to realize. I realized the power, the potential power of
the industry that that industry, those images that I project
and others that do the same thing that I do
(09:28):
project on that small or large screen have the potential
of going around the world and suggesting to someone else
who has never met you, what because we resemble in
a hue who you might be? And so why would
I go forward and misrepresent you when you don't deserve that.
So that was what I intended to do in my career,
(09:50):
and I hope I've been able to scratch the surface
of that.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
My guess is Oh, Bob Babatunde, we're talking about the
winding down. I'll call it the winding down of the
series SWAT. They have actually a season and series finale
coming up in the next week. We're gonna get that
with Oba Babatunde front of the show. I would say,
I would like to call you my friend friend now
as well. It's later with mo Kelly Cafi am six
forty and also Live on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
You can watch this conversation.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
I AM six forty. It's Later with mo Kelly. We're
live on YouTube right now. You can see this conversation
and of course on the iHeartRadio app. And I'm continuing
my conversation with guests. Oh Bah Bubbatunde. You know him
from such films as Life, Miss Evers, Boys Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,
The Temptations, John Q, I remember that with Denzel Washington,
and of course TV shows like Chicago Med, The Bold
(10:48):
and the Beautiful, The Good Fight, n CIS and more.
He was showing off last segment, telling us some two
hundred I am dB credits and they're all earned. And obah,
let me remind people why we're talking specifically on this evening. You,
of course, you play Pops Daniel Harrelson Senior on CBS's SWAT.
(11:09):
There's a very special episode coming up on Friday this Friday,
May ninth, as the show winds down. It is both
a season finale and a series finale. Let's start right there.
What does it mean for you when you see the
end of a show and you've had some eight seasons
inhabiting a character. Is a degree is there a degree
(11:29):
of not regret but just almost like I'll miss this person? Yes,
quitdn't turn your mic correct to put that there?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
You go? Is it on?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Though?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (11:41):
So yes, no, absolutely. You know, when you've been breathing
life into a human being, you know, and creating as
I've done with Pops, of course there is a reminisce
sadness that comes with that, you know, But I also
miss the interaction with my crew, with the cast members,
you know what I mean. But you know I've been
doing it for so many years that that everything has
(12:04):
a conclusion now. I'd also like to say, as opposed
to an end as the point I'm making, you know,
there's a possibility, you know, that we could be picked
up by somebody else and we could keep right on going.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Let me jump in there, because there have been a
number of TV shows which may have started on broadcast
television and they've segued either to another network or they've
gone to a streaming platform. Talk to me about how
streaming has impacted what you know as the television landscape.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Yes, well, you know, been doing it so long that
I've been able to have watch the maturation of how
things have evolved. You know, we used to have what
was called must watch TV.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yes you know what I.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Mean on Friday Night. You know that's my show that
you know what I mean? And now we've identified that
with streaming that has changed. You know, everything has a
sense of evolution. That's what I've been able to identify.
And I'd known that because of my career, I've been
able to make adjustments and continue to do what it
is that I do in the evolutionary stage. So I
(13:04):
am not saying that, oh my goodness, you got to
hold on. We got to make sure that this thing.
But we have to identify if I've got something to
say or if I'm on a project that has something
to say that speaks to the human heart source, Okay,
that somebody's going to tune it in and we're going
to watch it evolve. Yes, I'm going to miss that crew,
(13:27):
I'm going to miss that cast. I'm going to miss
that interaction. And Darren Daniel Harraldson Senior is as much
a part of me in certain ways as I am
a part of myself. So that part is not going
to go away. Oh bah Babatunda is still going to
be obah babatunday.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
You and I are both old enough. I think I'm
about me maybe twenty years older than you. But you
and I are both old enough to remember Swat the
TV show.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
Well, I was being serious.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
You and I are both are old enough to remember
Swat the TV show of nineteen seventy three, nineteen seven, Yes,
old enough to remember the movie, yes, in early two thousands,
and now you have the SWAT TV Show CBS. Why
do you think SWAT that brand has such an enduring.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Appeal one that's perfectly stated, you know, the deal is
And that was when I was made leading toward when
I said that when there's something that people are desirous
of seeing, right, there's an energy. And what did I'd
like to say about our Swat is that you get
an opportunity in this character with Pomps and the relationship
(14:33):
between you know, Daniel Hanrilson Senior and Junior, right, is
the family aspect of it, you see, because we don't
we forget that the men and women in uniform, be
they military, be they police, be they whatever, you know,
the first responders, that they're also human beings and that
they have a life and an experience outside of the
(14:55):
job that they do. And I think one of the
things that was so successful about this particular production is
that it gave us an opportunity, us being the world population,
being able to see who these people aren't when they
take that uniform off.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I've always liked the dynamic you hinted at it last segment,
because you talk about Senior's history connected to the Panthers
and he was not too big on his son become
a member of LAPD. Absolutely talk about how that intra
storyline evolved over the years and seasons.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Oh yes, yes, yes, because again, as Daniel Harrilson came
back in, he had at that time a particular an illness,
and so Hondo had to come back and he had
to bring him into the city to live with him
to look after him. Right, And so it was rough.
It was not just the fact that it was this,
It was this is what the double deal was. It
(15:54):
wasn't just the fact that he had an issue with him,
that Daniel Harrison Senior had an issue with him, because
here he is a a swat guy, not ahead of
a swat team, right, but also Daniel Harrison Senior had
left the family for another relationship. So here you had
these two dynamics coming together. What he felt as a
(16:15):
child and what Daniel felt about him now in his profession.
So we had these two things and that caused a fury.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
An energy screen tension.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Yes, yes, great on screen tension. And it also helped
us to graduate not just play just that business. We
were able to play that which was the human experience
between a father and a son, a man and a man,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
It was just perfect Before we go to this next break,
I'm also curious, what did you hear from actual members
of law enforcement? Of course, you had your advisors on
set to make sure it was as accurate as possible.
But I'm quite sure because you say, and I understand
you probably recognize any number of places you make go
and you're associated and connected to the Spot TV show.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
What did you hear from law enforcement?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I got? You know what, you guys do a good
job over there, man. We really appreciate the fact that
you show more than just what we do on a
daily basis. You guys are really, in a way helping
us to be able to live our lives. Both on
the job and off the job, because we are able
(17:26):
to be able to be identified in our humanity as
well as what we do as work. So that was
a high praise, and I really appreciated the fact.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
We have the May ninth episode coming up on Friday.
What should we expect with that?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Let me tell you something, all right, Pops is getting
busy on this episode. Don't you take your eyes off
the screen, because y'all know Pops don't take no mess.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
No James Brown sense, Pop it don't take no mess.
That's right.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
And so they have given me an opportunity to cut
loose and to do something which I've always wanted to
do as Pops, and I am appreciative of that opportunity.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
When we come back, I just want to riff with
you and I want to hear from you.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
I only give you time to think about it. I'm
going to preview this.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I want to hear about some of your favorite roles
beyond Darryl Harrelson's senior and the ones that still live
with you, even though you may not inhabit them anymore.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Can you do that for me?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
If we got enough time, we got a whole lot
of them.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Baby, all right, did I like it? Oh Blah Blabba
today you know him from Swat. He's joining me in
studio as the series of SWAT winds down, not only
for the season, but as the series as a whole.
It's Later with mo Kelly, CAFI AM six forty live
on YouTube and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
You're listening to Later with mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
It's Later with mo Kelly.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
We're live on YouTube app mister mo Kelly, and also
on the iHeartRadio app. And if you've been tuning in tonight,
you've probably been enjoying this conversation as much as I
have with actor Oh bab Babba Tonday. You know him
from SWAT. He plays Daniel Harrison Harrelson Senior. And I
would say a thirty five hundred other roles, and let
(19:11):
me use that as eliteed because before the break, I
was asking, Oh, Bah, some of the roles which you've
inhabited over the years, which still stay with you or
you are most proud of, or most more most meaningful
to you, what would they be?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know what?
Speaker 5 (19:29):
I've had the great opportunity to portray some living human beings.
I mean, I got an opportunity to play Berry Gordy,
I got an opportunity to play Harold Nicholas. I did
a musical where I played Semi Davis Junior. Miss Evers
Boys is a movie that I did. Was my first,
(19:49):
you know, Primetime Emmy nomination, and to tell that story
about the life of those men and women and the
challenges that they had that was put upon them by
the country. For those of you who have not had
an opportunity to see it, I would respectfully suggest that
(20:09):
you go forward and see Miss Evers Boys was an
HBO production at Great Alfred Woodard, Joe Morton, the Great
Ossie Davis, I mean, a host of just brilliant, brilliant actors,
Lawrence Fishburne, you know, and we got a chance to
tell this story about these men and women and what
was going on that actually went on mo in our lifetime. Yes,
(20:32):
this is not something that's antiquated likes you know they're
talking about like Wolves of Slave movie. No, no, no, no, no.
This went on during our lifetime where there was a
it was called we had to identify the effects of
untreated syphilis and the African American male. This is actual
(20:54):
Tuskegee experiment, right, And so that character for me is
something that's very very special because it crossed a period
of time and and and was not just while it
was I didn't play a particular individual. I played a
copulation of all of those men and women's lives and
(21:17):
what was going on in their lives at that time.
And so that would be one of the ones that
I would say that I was extremely proud of. I mean,
I've gotten an opportunity, you know, I mean in Philadelphia,
in the movie Philadelphia.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
You know that I forgot there's just so many yeah, yeah,
but I mean, you know, here here it was giving
the opportunity to have people to be identified not by
their illness, but by their humanity who happened to be
inflicted with.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
An illness, you know. So I mean, I mean each one,
I have had so many great opportunities to portray human beings.
You know, as I talked about the fact that with
with Sammy Davis Junior, who you know was my entertain
mentor you know, and to be able to get to
meet him, he was a person that I saw growing
up on that black and white television in my in
(22:06):
my family's living room, you know me about that little
black and white philm co Yes, yes, And then to
be able to see a man who who was identified
as one of the greatest entertainers in the world, and
then to later meet him and for him and I
to become friends, you know, And if I can give
you a quick story about you know, I was co
starring in a world tour with Eliza Minelli, and you know,
(22:29):
he was going to be doing his world tour at
the same time we were doing ours. So we would
proceed or follow one another into the different venues around
the world. And so he had come. We was our
last closing night and his was the next opening night
at the Lake Tahoe inherits, And so Eliza knew I
was a big fan. And she says, oh, Sammy's here
and he wants to meet you. And I said, well,
can he see me after he's seen me work. I
(22:51):
don't know that was an active thing, but whatever, you know,
she says, no, he's not going to stay for the show.
So anyway, I go on and I do the show
and afterwards, well, I come off for a costume change
and Eliza's dresser, Helen says Alba Eliza said, to tell
you that Sammy stayed so great. All right, I would
have done my show anyway. Afterwards, there's a knock on
(23:11):
the door and I said, yes, uh, oh, it's oh sorry.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
If you know Sammy sounded.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
Like he says, oh, listen, man, it's sam I opened
the door and there he stood right even did the
eye and he says, he said. He looked at me
and he says, you, my man, are a bitch on wheels,
A bitch on wheels. I got to tell you you're marvelous.
And he paid me a lot of nice compliments. And
(23:39):
I invited him in and I said to him, because
remember we were at Lake Tahoe at Harris, Yes, and
I said to him, I looked at him in his
eye and I said, mister d because I could never
call him Sammy, I said, mister d. I want to
thank you, sir for coming in through the kitchen so
I could come in through the front door.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
For those who don't know, when Sammy Davis was at
the height of his fame, he was not allowed like
the club Cocoacabana, if I'm not mistaken, who is not
allowed to actually enter where anyone else other performer.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Would he have to go come in and lead through
the kitchen. Absolutely, just want to give context.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Absolutely, tear ran down his face and he said, I said,
I'm sure you've heard this enough. You know many times
he says, I could never hear it enough. And we
became fast friends from that point nineteen seventy eight until
this passing in ninety you know, and I still try
to keep that legacy alive.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Before I let you go, and it's unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
We were talking about how SWAT is winding down his
final two episodes May ninth and also May sixteenth at
nine pm on CBS. That is important, but I also
want people to know you beyond that, you also have
an affinity for Lando cal Rissian, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Yes, yes, well you know I was. I was doing
some voice over at one point, and so I played
Lando Coracian in most of those the game shows that
you you know, the game video of things, as you say,
And I was in the studio and they said, hey, hey,
you know, miss Williams, he doesn't want to do it
anymore as a Billy D Williams. He said, do you
(25:09):
think that that you could do, and I said, well,
what is it that you want me to do? Are
you trying to explain to me? I said, well, let
me tell you one sing if you want me, maybe
I'll just say I want my arm to fall off.
And they said, you got the jobs.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I don't know what to say. You probably have a
million stories like that. And I always say, at the
end of it all, we only have our stories. It's
not about the money, it's not about the titles, it's
not even about the IMDb credits. It's about the stories
that we can tell for the future generations. Give me
one more story of your choice before we part.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
A beautiful story, is that? And I want to share
with everybody that's listening and watching that understand that everything
that you do, nothing in your life, is wasted nothing.
You throw the ball against the Walmot, it's coming back.
I throw it, It's coming back. Everybody in the studio,
that ball's coming back. Don't worry about when is coming back,
just know that it is. Okay, So I'm going to
(26:14):
give you an example of that. All right, nineteen seventy eight,
as I mentioned, I was doing a world toward Eliza Minelli. Okay,
there the fourth show we would do four shows and
then we would have a breakof and go somewhere else.
And the fourth show, there was a young lady, a
young girl. She was at the stage door. She had
been there every night and I and she was. I walked.
He said hi, Almah, said you here again tonight. She
(26:34):
said yes, but it's sold out. And I jokingly said, listen,
you've been here long enough. You could be in the show.
And I went inside and what I decided would be
nothing other than a random act of kindness. I went
out and I said to security, Hey, she's with me.
Let her in. I put her in a chair in
the wings, and I said, stay out of everybody's way,
enjoy the show.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Twenty years later, I'm trying to get into this movie Life,
starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. For whatever reason, I
don't know what it was, but the casting director would
not allow me to come in in audition, and we
tried everything we could. Two weeks later, after we gave up,
they said, hey, Ober, we got a call. We you know,
they want to see you. So I said great, So
I go in and there's the casting director. Bless her heart,
(27:19):
she was sitting with her. I guess she didn't think
I was right anyway. So she was sitting where her
legs crossing, her arms folded, and she said, we gotta
put you on tape. I said, okay. The director he
was on the phone. I said, hey, make good to
see we can put you on tape. So I go
on tape. Two days later, we get a call you
booked a roll. Right, great. I go to work. Okay.
I'm on my way the first day on set, going
to the thing, and this woman comes out and she says,
(27:41):
how do you do. My name's Tina Fortenberry. I said,
it was nice to meet you. She says, I've met
you twice before. She said, I met you you did
the movie Philadelphia. I said yes. She said, I was
a PA on that movie. I am now the unit
production the assistant of the unit production manager, Jim Brubacker
on this production. I said, oh, it's great. She said,
but I also met you many years ago. You did
something very nice for me. I was a fan of
(28:02):
Liza Minille. I said, wait a minute. You and that
young girl that I put in the chair. She said yes,
And I didn't know why they wouldn't bring you in,
But I would go in every day and stand and say,
oh blah bah ba Tunday, Oh blah bae batundey, he's good.
You should bring him in. I think they brought you in,
so I wouldn't come in and say that anymore, but
I would like to think. She says, Now, what happened
was you went on tape and and Brian Grazer saw
(28:23):
you and said, that's the was Vivian Brazer all right, right,
imagine pictures said that's that's that's the guy I want.
So the point that I'm making is that I had
no idea at that moment that's something, that random act
of kindness, something that I was going to do, was
going to pay dividends in my life some twenty years later.
(28:43):
So identify that has happened to me time and time again.
And I suggest to everyone that is watching and listening
know that about your life that there is nothing wasted.
What you invest will return, and if it's garbage, garbage
is coming back. And if it's greatness, greatness is coming
back in.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
The church and say you preach it. Now you preach it,
and I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Oh bob Upatunde, We've talked any number of times over
the years, and it's always like the first time I
got to talk to you because I learned something new
and I love that you get to share it with
not only me, but everyone listening and now watching. Please,
this is not gonna be the last time we have
this conversation all.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
With not at all. Man, invite me back anytime. I'm
happy to come, and always I always enjoy you know,
and thank you for what you do. And thank you
for all of those who are watching who have supported
my career throughout the years. I couldn't have done it
without that love and connection. Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (29:38):
Now I am going to ask the next time you
come back, you stop trying to show me up with
that baritone, silky smooth voice.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
All right, listen, man, I can't help the way I speak.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
And he got deeper. Did you know he got deeper
before he left?
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Listen. I could say it like this and that might
make someone very happy.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Just showing off. Oh bab ba, but Tunday always great.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
To see my Thank you, my brother, Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
It's later with Mo Kelly k IF. I am six
forty live everywhere the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Kf I AM six forty. It's Later with Mo Kelly.
We're live on YouTube and the iHeartRadio app. And let
me just take you behind the scenes for a second.
There are times where I have to be really, really present,
and I would say, blessed, be aware of the blessing
of having the opportunity to have certain conversations with people
(30:33):
that just hit a little deeper and mean a little
bit more than other conversations. It's it's great to talk
to anyone on the show, but when you have conversations
like that with Obab Babatunde, who's dropping pearls of wisdom
not only on air, but off the air, to have
him go into Sammy Davis Junior and Billy D Williams
(30:55):
on the fly, and also we have we have the
opportunity to show it to you.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
All of this came together and it was a wonderful,
wonderful moment.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
And during the break, Oh bab Opportunity was telling us
just to remember that we don't need to ask permission
to be great. That's something that I'm gonna take with me.
You don't need anyone's permission to be great. And he
had so many just tidbits of wisdom that get to
(31:25):
live on because not only did you hear them, we got.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
The podcast, we have the video podcasts. And it makes
doing this job all the sweeter. And I don't take
it for granted.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
And I wish you could have seen Mark Ronner's face
and Sam Zia's face during the conversation. You can I
could tell when a guest owns the room, and when
you're talking about radio, when a guest owns the room,
we're talking about thousands and thousands of people who happen
to also be listening. I hope you enjoyed that conversation
(31:58):
as much as we did in this studio. Yes, you
may recognize them from this, that and the other, but
it's another thing when you have someone who has something
to say of value. There are a lot of folks
who may come in this studio and they only want
to talk about their project. I'm here to the hawk
this book, I'm here to promote this movie. Let's talk
(32:19):
about my TV show, and there's not much more to them.
There's not a lot of depth. And then you have
people like Gobib Baba Tunde, who have this wealth and
expanse of knowledge which can be meaningful in your life
regardless of age. And I just absolutely loved it.
Speaker 6 (32:37):
Please, if you didn't hear all that conversation, check it
out on the podcast that Ta Wallas putting together. Right now, Sam,
we got you on camera right now very quickly. What
did you take away from that conversation?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Really?
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I wish people were able to hear the off air
stuff because there were some life changing gems that he
was dropping. You don't need permission to you don't need
anybody's permission to be great. That's something that I'm gonna ed.
I felt a weight come off me as soon as
I heard him say that. There was like it's almost
(33:13):
like he gave me permission to give myself permission.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
That felt empowering. It was really cool.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Gary Hoffman just hit me on text and he said
that was a fun interview. Yeah, it was very fun.
And someone who sits in his chair knows what it's
like to be able to be in those moments where you're.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Really in it. You have a great guess and it
just makes it so much easier. Mark.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I know he broke you up at one point with
those impressions, Well, it's the Sammy story, of course.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
I mean, I'm keyed into all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
And I watched Sammy clips and pass them around to
my friends to this day, and so I love hearing
about that stuff.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
And as I was saying, as we get older, all
we have of value are the stories that we can tell.
And he has a thousand won great stories beyond himself,
and I'm glad that he could share them with not
only us, but with all of you. K IF I
am six forty and you two, we're live everywhere in
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
If it doesn't affect you were not interested, k f
I M.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
KOST HD two Los Angeles, Orange County Live
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Everywhere on the Ehart Radio app
Later, with Mo'Kelly News
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