The Press Box - Ep. 198: 'Atlanta' Talk With Brian Tyree Henry and Micah Peters

Episode Date: October 26, 2016

The Ringer's Micah Peters is joined by 'Atlanta' star Brian Tyree Henry to discuss his roots in Broadway, working with 'South Park' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Donald Glover's genius, the familial vibe on the set of 'Atlanta,' and why he refers to his character as “Alfred” and not “Paper Boi.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Welcome to a very special edition of the Channel 33 podcast. I'm Micah Peters. I'm a staff writer at The Ringer, and I'm here with Brian Tyree Henry, who plays Paperboy or the hit FX show Atlanta. What's up, man? Nothing much, man.

How are you doing today? You got some stuff to talk about, man. We do have some stuff to talk about. So you went to Morehouse. You got your MFA at Yale. Mm-hmm. And you were in Puerto Ricans and Paris. I did see it

Playing an African vendor with a damn snake, man That was insane Threatening to flood the market with fake handbags Hey man, that's what you got to do You're also on boardwalk empire Vice Principles But I remember In the winter of 2011

Or was it the beginning of 2012 What? Yeah, I went to Eugene O'Neill Theater and saw the Book of Mormon Yeah, man. And you made an appearance on stage as General But Fucking Naked. No general butt, General BFN, man. That was me, yeah.

How did you land that part? You know, it's very interesting. At that time, I was doing this really great play, The Public Theater in New York, written by Torell, Alvin McCraney. It was a great friend of mine and classmate. And my agency at the time was like, you should audition for Shrek the musical.

And I was like, wait, coming from this play to... Oh, yeah. that's a natural progression I guess so I went in with all intentions of bombing this audition I was like I do not want to play donkey I don't want to do I don't want to do a musical there's no way but then I went in and one of my fellow classmates was my reader I was like I can't bomb this now because like my home girl's sitting right there so I got to like really try to do something and so

the director at the time was Jason Moore who you know was the original director of Book of Mormon and I left there being like yeah I totally bombed that totally bombed that shit we're good and I got a call from my agency and they were like, so yeah, you didn't get struck, but there's this workshop happening for this play called The Mormon Musical. It's written by Trey Parker and Matt. And before she could even say, finish Matt Stone's name, I was like, yep, mm-hmm, because I've been the biggest soft park fan since it premiered, man.

I mean, I remember being in front of my television Wednesdays at 10 o'clock and watching, perfecting my cartman, you know, just like trying to be chef, you know what I mean? So to get that opportunity to work with the two guys who I feel are complete, like, influences on my humor in my life, I was like, I got to do it. Absolutely. And then when I saw what the part was, I was like, bed it up. Like, okay, I get to do what? And I'm general, because there's a real general but naked.

I don't know if you know that. Like, there's a real dude that's general but naked, and he was a warlord that would go around circumcising women, killing people, but naked, or sometimes dressed as a woman, which I was like, wait, how does, I guess that's scary, I guess? And so, yeah, no, seriously. And now he's like, He's an evangelist, like he's a Christian, so he spreads the word of Christianity.

There's a documentary about him, and I was like, he's not coming to the show at all, right? Like, we're good because I don't want him to see what I'm doing. What is the name of that documentary, just for the record? I think it's butt naked, General Butt naked. It's literally just called General But Nogia. Yeah, and there was just a day that I was allowed to improv and Trey. No, don't look it up now. No, serious, it's real.

It's really real. Okay. And there was just one day that Trey was like, Brian, why don't you have fuck to everything you say? And so I ended up saying general about fucking naked and it's It's stuck, man. Wow. Yeah, General Butt-Naked, man. He's real.

I think we kind of look alike, too, actually. Wow. This is... Yeah. The redemption of General Bulletin. Yeah, man. Okay, so how do you go from General But fucking naked?

That's a good question. To landing the role in Atlanta. How did that come together? You know, I have one of the best managers in the world, Gen Wiley Stockton. And when we started working together, she really cared to know what I wanted to do. And so she came across this script called Atlanta. And I was like, you got to be kidding.

And there's a show called Atlanta. And like, nah. Because Atlanta's my favorite city in the world. It's literally where I became who I am today. Like, that's where I discovered that I wanted to be an actor. And some of my best friends are still there. And I just love that city. And so she's like, there's a part I think you'd be great for Alfred.

And so I opened it. And instantly, I was like, yeah. Like, I got, like, yeah, I know this dude, man. I know exactly who Alfred is. I just smoked with him yesterday. Like, you know, like, I have to do this. Like, I have to do it. And I went in and auditioned, and, you know, it was kind of, you know, in and out.

And then by the time I got home, I found out that I was called back to test. Like, not to the callback, but to test. And so at this time, I was filming vice principals. So I flew back to Charles, South Carolina. And they were like, yeah, you got to come back to test. So I flew in that morning. And they were like, yeah, Donald's going to be in the room. And I was like, I'm sorry, like Gambino, Donald?

Like, Donald, like Donald, not that Donald, but like Donald who? And he was there, man, and Hero was there. And we just read the scenes together, and it was like, next to family. I mean, it was instantaneous because, I mean, I've been a fan of Childish Gambinos forever. And I'm a big fan of his movie Mystery Team. I just think it's the funniest thing ever. And we just played with each other.

man, we just talked and we just tripped and we ad-libbed. And then by the time I finished that, I had to get on the plane, fly back to finish filming and vice principals. And by the time the plane landed, they were like, so yeah, you got the pilot. And I screamed on this plane like a crazy person. I'm surprised I didn't get escorted off.

Those poor white people were terrified. Like, it's a new show. It's called Atlanta. Will you guys watch it? I don't know. I don't think it's for you guys. But it was great. And we filmed the pilot short after.

And it was just, the pilot took six days, I think. And it was just the most fun ever. You know, I always say that I'm not going to work. I'm going to go play with my friends. And it's really real. Like, just because they all cut, it doesn't mean that we were done, like, hanging out. Like, you could tell the environment of that set, but from, like, costume designers and hair and makeup and even people at craft service.

Like, we were family. And you show up to work, ready to have fun. Like, we shared music. and, you know, did all this thing. Like, that's how Tame and Pollack came into the commercial. Donald decided to play this song while we were filming this commercial on. New person, same old mistakes.

Yeah, man. And we share music together and all that stuff. And it just reflects in the show. And they're just family. I couldn't have asked to be in a better place, seriously. And speaking of music. Ah. Don't stun on me right now.

I'm not going to start on me right now. I'm not going to stunts me right now. I'm not going to stun me right now. I'm just going to ask. Okay. How did the record? the actual record, the paperboard record, come together.

You know, man, that was actually the first thing we shot. That was the first thing we shot, because when I landed to film the pilot, they were like, so music videos first. And I was like, wait, what? And they sent me the song, I'd say, like, four or five days before. And I was just like, this is fire, dude. I was like, this song is fine.

It was so, and so I would sit there and memorize it, and then they're like, all right, we were going to shoot the music video. And we went to Bankhead, man. We went to Bankhead, Georgia. to the Towson Projects there, and there were all these extras coming out and, like, seven-inch stilettos, and we're, like, on people's porches,

and I'm just, like, rapping this thing because the actual person rapping the song is Steven Glover, his brother, who's the homie, like, I mean, Donald and Stephen, and that brotherhood is unparalleled to any, I mean, they're great, I love them. Fun fact, we have the same barber. No, you don't, really?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, actually, okay, yeah. Okay, yeah. No, man, Steve, I mean, just watching those two's, but like, because the thing that's so great about Donald and Stephen is that they're so educated and so smart, but they can make each other laugh, like, you know, and I was like, that's a badge of honor.

If I can make Stephen and Donald laugh, then I'm good, man. Because they're just so, that love is real. You can see it, and it's the symbiosis where you can see if Donald is thinking about this, Stephen can come in and hitch. And that goes through the whole writing team. Like, all the writing team is so fantastic, man. and then Stephanie, like, they're all great. They're all great.

And you can just see that there's this kind of, this glue that keeps them together. Like, their humor is right on par with, like, how we felt on set and things that we say. And Donald's just really good at streamlining that and figuring out how to tell that story. And it's so great. I love being on the set, man.

So I remember reading in, I believe it was an interview with Vulture, the Guardian. I can't remember. But you were talking about creating the paper boy character and citing, like, Chance the rapper, Donald himself and Anderson Park as, like, character studies. But, like, how did you get into the, like, how did you get in, like, what did you pull in to make the character?

Because it seems like you focus more on, like, his traits or his habits. Yeah, I wanted to, I didn't really necessarily want to model him after any hip hop artist, because that would have played, that would have gotten old really quick, because that's, That's the great thing about hip hop is that you come in as an individual. Whatever your story is, whatever, you know, you can be anybody, come from any walk of life. As long as you have a story to tell, then, you know, it's fire.

But I didn't want to model him after anybody because I don't think that when hip hop artists become stars, that they think they'd ever become models of anything. They just came as they were. So what I really wanted to do was really focus on who Alfred was, like, because I really believe that we all have an Alfred, man. Like, everyone has an Alfred. I don't care what, everyone has an Alfred. And I just really thought about the outfits I have in my life, you know,

and that some of those influences are my best friend, Kenny Thomason that I went to college with. And he also ended up going to yell as well, and my homeboy Will and my father especially, because my father used to throw these dope, dope-ass parties at our house when I was the kid. You know, everyone's smoking and drinking, playing cards, and just like, you know, but they would turn up.

like real hard. Like a regular kickback. And I just wanted to be that dude that people could see and really relate to and be like, oh yeah, I know that dude. Oh, that's my cousin. And yeah, yo, I just said that yesterday, you know what I mean? So I didn't really want to model him after anybody. I just really wanted him to not be stereotyped and to be labeled because throughout the show

you see that happening to him anyway in this world. Like the end of the Black Vibber episode when she says you're the rapper. Everybody wants you to be that. And I'm like, wait what though? Like, wait a minute. So I really just wanted him to be a guy that. people could relate to and also there's not a lot of representations of Alfred's out there and if there are representations of Alfred's it usually ends the

same way he's dead or goes to jail or stays in that life but with Alfred I really wanted him to have some levity to have some sense of humor to be cultured to be intelligent to be petty as fuck you know what I mean like which I think is really showing because I mean pettiness is the greatest thing pettiness 2016 campaign right here so the scene where you are First of all, let's just back up the talk. Let's talk about the fact that you introduce Justin Bieber as a straight up black character.

With no apologies. No apologies, no explanations. No, man, I don't think it's necessary because it's like, you know, Atlanta is its own universe. I feel like Atlanta is a mecca, it's a black mecca, and it has created so much culture and created so many trends and it's constantly always evolving. Largest black metal class.

You know what I mean? And, you know, the place of civil rights. and HBCUs, you know what I mean? So what I think was great about that episode is you get to watch Alfred kind of give into this fame a little bit, kind of give into the fact like, yo, I'm MVP, bro. Like, I'm about to kill this, and you're playing with Jalil White and Lloyd, you know,

and Lil Zane. He's like, I've come up, I've come up in the world. And then all of a sudden, you know, Justin Bieber comes in, and, you know, and he's a dick. But also making him black kind of removed, it kind of removed any kind of whatever notions we thought about the Justin Bieber that we know in real life. It allowed it to play out in a way,

and gave me a lot of room and that actor, Austin Crew, who played Justin Bieber, a lot of space to really do and say the things we want to do and say to Justin. Like, because Justin Bieber's crazy, which is fine. Fame, but this is, I mean, I think he's the best prototype of what fame does. you know what I mean.

Been in the public eye for seven straight years. You know what I mean? And you're this young white boy that has like a soulful voice and people are dying over you. But at the same time, you know that you're white and you know your privilege. And you're like, I'm going to just do this. Say people are going to like, like put me on your shoulders and carry him up the great wall. Like, wait, what? It's like there's actually like the best episode of this is stay with me.

I'm with you. I'm holding this. Okay, look, do this dude. Get me in the world. No, what I'm talking about is that there's this episode of Twilight Zone where this guy, I basically dies and goes to purgatory, but purgatory is this casino where he can't lose at any game. Oh, wow.

And initially he thinks he's in heaven, but then realizes through the monotony that this is literally the darkest timeline. Do you watch Black Mirror? Yeah, I do. Are you into this season right now? I just started. Me too.

But I'm not like, I'm only the first, I've only one episode. Okay, like that, I think that that's kind of what we wanted to do. Like, we wanted to make it very twice. Well, Donald used to describe it as Twin Peaks for rappers, you know? Right, right, right, right. Because fame and being a rapper, which he would know, it's strange, man.

It's strange the things that you, A, can get away with, the things that are given to you, the things that people take away from you, and how much is expected of you. But yet, if I'm rapping about this, this, and that, why would you automatically think that I'm going to be about this, this and that? So I think with the Justin Bieber episode, which is great, is it also...

kind of threw at us like what do we think celebrity is. Right. Where how do we take down the guys as a celebrity, you know, because at the end of the day, yeah, I did shoot somebody, but, you know, I don't understand why you guys, this guy just called these fans all kinds of bitches and he's up here saying, niggas, and niggas, you know what I mean? And y'all don't really care about... The hard R. You know what the hard R? You know what I mean?

And that's the gaminoverse. Yeah. It is. Yeah. But I'm just like, no one's seen... It's amazing. that are given to people sometimes when they're celebrities. And I think that Alfred is just trying to find his way through that

because this fame is not something he necessarily asked for. And now he has to. And he's in his town, like this is his town, this is his home. So now he has to navigate these streets completely differently now because he's on the come up. And he doesn't know, he really doesn't know how to do this and be anything but who he is. And that's kind of the essence of what I wanted for Alfred.

I've noticed that I only call him Alfred, I rarely call him Paperboy. Yeah. Because, you know, Paper Boy is the public. You know, Paper Boy is the thing that everyone sees him for. The foil for Alfred, you know what I mean? Like Batman and Bruce Wayne. There you go. Oh, that was deep.

That was deep, man. I like that. Paper Boy, all three. But, yeah, I just really wanted Alfred to, I really wanted there to be a representation that people could look at and say, you know what, I know him. And I heard my cousin say that the other night. Remember how he wears that purple polo? You know?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I really wanted Alfred to be the voice of reason or the voice of, you know, people like me. You know, like he gives me the outlet to do and say things that I necessarily as Brian can't really do. Like, I'm not running around slapping people with cash as much as I want to. That was so good.

Like, as much as I'd like to. But Alfred, man, I think he just represents that side in all of us that just doesn't want to be overlooked and is incredibly loving and has a huge heart, you know? Yeah. You were talking about how, like, basically, each episode kind of operates, like, in this thing that's, like, adjacent to reality.

Yeah. Like, how there's something, like, sinister, lurking about the edges. So you have those supernatural elements, like, Miles with the invisible car. And a pet peacock. And the pet peacock. And the pet peacock. You could just stunt with an invisible car.

You had to bring a pet peacock and by the bar. And the dog with the Texas all of or whatever. Donald is good at setting up these, the mind of Donald Glover, man, is just brilliant because he is so unafraid. He's so unafraid to turn the scope on the viewer too. You know, I find with our show, I have to watch the episodes maybe three, four times,

and I still find stuff I didn't see before. I still find things that are hidden within that I didn't even notice before. Like one of my favorites is, I think it's episode three with Amigos, and they're trying to find parking, and the dude comes up with the lightsaber, and he, like, jacks up the price, and then as they drive away, he goes,

we all we got. I'm like, wait a minute, like, wait, dude, that's your selling point, but he's right, you know what I mean? $8, $7, $6, come on it. It's so brilliant, man, and Donald is so good at just pulling that out and just, like, putting it out there for people to see. Yeah, like in the episode that's actually going to be aired tonight, the Juneteeth one.

June teeth, man. There's the scene where he's in the study at the Bougy House Party, and the lady's white husband who's just like enthralled with black culture is literally painted a picture of a muscle-bound seven-foot black dudes slaying a chimera. Yeah, a chimera. And it's just like... And that's why I like Ernst and the reaction, like, the fuck. Like, what? What?

My favorite, like, I mean, and big up to Cassandra Freeman, who plays the wife. That's a good buddy of mine. And she plays the wife of this white man. But how many times have we been in that situation, though? Yeah. I mean, it's just like, I love it. My favorite thing is when someone of Caucasian persuasion likes to just come to me, like, it's different. If I'm dressed like this, it's a handshake.

Just like me, it's already like this. And I'm like, I didn't even know. I didn't even ask. I didn't say I wanted that. But you know what, though? I mean, this is what I'm liking about our show, is that it's sparking a conversation that we have all been bubbling to have.

Like, we've all felt these things, we've all seen these things, we all know what this. It's no different than the pilot with the homeboy being like, yeah, really, nigga? Yeah. You know? It's me sitting there and all of a sudden you shook. But it's this allowance, I feel, that's happening lately

because people are very, People are very verbose about how they really feel lately, and usually how they really feel is incredibly negative. And we've gotten to a place where we're really tired of being stifled and made to feel like how we feel is wrong or that there's nobody out there that has the same opinion that we do. And I feel like Atlanta just puts it out there

and it's like, here you go. How about we address all that stuff, and you take from it what you will? If you think that that's important, then do it. If you think Dodge Chargers or this, then we'll do that, You know what I mean? Yeah. And it's just so great the layers that this show is providing because I feel like regardless

of what race or gender or sexuality you are, this show can speak to you about something and it gives you a place to feel like you can crack up about it and really laugh at it because it is absurd. You know, but what's absurd to some is normally for others. So I feel like that's what our show is aiming to do and I hope we're doing it. Yeah. Speaking of Dodge Charters, the B-A-N episode. is literally an episode of the Chappelle show.

Yeah, that's great. That's the best compliment I've ever gotten. Yeah, it's like... But that was the gift of Chappelle all, right? Right. Like, he, I will never forget when this fool decided to do the niggers, the episode. The nigger family, yeah. Oh, nigger, please, nigga, please.

And he's the milkman, I was like, wait, wait, wait, what? This is amazing. Like, I remember in college when that show came out, and this is how I kind of feel, and I'm hoping with, with Atlanta. When Chappelle's show came out, I was like a sophomore in college or junior in college, and me and all my friends every Wednesday night would get together, go to something to go to the homie's house, you know, burn it out, and then watch the Chappelle show.

It was a community thing that had to happen. And I haven't had a show like that in a very long time. I think the last show that, you know, you call the friends over, well for me, it was, it was, I think, how to get away with murder? Which, I'm sorry, it's still fly. I watch every John of Lancho. I still watch Gray's Anatomy. I don't care what anybody says.

It's still dope. But I like what Atlanta does because it's so much better together. Yeah. Which is the theme, I think, of how we want to walk in this life. Because once you realize that the person next to you may see something that you didn't, and you go, oh, wait a minute, what was that? Let's catch that. Like, I can't watch Atlanta with my friends because we always have to rewind it.

Because people are still laughing or pointing out something that we do. didn't see before and I hope that that's what's going on across America and that people are sparking conversations and are happy and are laughing at the absurdities of this world that we encounter sometimes and I just feel like Atlanta's just you know what as a matter of fact this is how I know Atlanta's working okay so I would never forget after the episode B.A. and after a Black American Network I needed to rent a car and I needed to go out of town for a weekend and I go to Enterprise run a car I hope that's cleared that I can say Enterprise

And I go to Enterprise. And, you know, it was a Latino dude and a black dude behind the counter. And, you know, I'm still trying to get used to being recognized. So they see my ID. And they're like, oh, okay, cool. Oh, and you live in Harlem too, dude? I was like, yeah, I live in Harlem.

So he's like, all right, we got your car ready. It's a Dodge Charger. They were like, yeah, man, we want you to keep it in a divorce. I was like, see, that's what I want, man. Like, I love the Enterprise Got jokes. You know what I mean? Like, I love that they... I just love that, man.

That, man. It's the funniest thing. It's the funniest thing to me that people are coming together and sharing this humor and doing it in the best possible way. Like, Black Twitter, like, Twitter during Tuesday nights is the funniest thing I've ever seen. It's the best place to be. It's just the best place to be. Someone said it coming like Atlanta is Black Twitter personified. I'm like, okay, cool, we'll go with that.

And it just gives a community. I think that it made its own community. It makes a community from people from all walks of life. We can just talk about this stuff, man, you know, and do it intelligibly and just keep on going, you know? Yeah. It's also just like it kind of hits that sweet spot in between, like how every black film or thing on TV is like either you are a caricature or a superhero.

Yeah, man. And it's just like these are just people living their lives. There doesn't seem to be in between. Yeah. It has to be either far left or far right, and especially because of the color of our skin. There are things and stories being told that aren't necessarily ours. They're told through the viewfinder of other people, you know what I mean?

And I think that what Atlanta is doing is like at the end of the day, yeah, it's in Atlanta and yes, these characters are black, but everything about this story is ours. It's our story. And we never said you couldn't relate to it. You know, people will see it and instantly go, well, that's not for me because you see three black men with peaches in their mouths. But you didn't realize at the end of the day it's about all kinds of things. It also issues, things that aren't even that relevant. You know, we just want to talk about it. We want to make a malt liquor commercial.

Where can we do that? Why not on our show? You know what I mean? For Philly Blunts. You know what I mean? Like, switch of sweets, man. Y'all know. As soon as you saw that knife come out, all of you knew. You know exactly what was happening. I don't care what race you were. You knew that you liked it more for the taste.

You liked it more for something else. So I like that about our show that it does that. Yeah. So a thing that you, a way that I've seen that you've referred to Z and Keith and Donald in past interviews is that you would drive their Bronco? I have to stop this. Like, I have to stop saying this, but it's the only analogy I can think of that's really real. When AC got that call, he was like, regardless, man, I'm going to go and get my friend. And that's really, really how I feel about that.

them I mean I have never experienced anything like this on a television show before and they it was just instant it was instant chemistry instant love instant support and they have been the backbone of a lot of my strength in the past year and there's nothing I wouldn't do for them you know what I mean so I would drive their Bronco for them you know you know because AC got off right he didn't go to jail so I would I would drive them, man. I mean, I love them, man. I love them, and, you know, because it's really easy to find a lot of shows

where people don't get along, and people don't want to tell this story, people want to do, but we're just along for the ride, man. We're really, I don't think any of us expected Atlanta to do what it's doing, but we believed in it so damn much that it was like we, there's no other recourse, but to keep doing it and keep striving. And they're my family, man.

They're my family and I love them. And, you know, here's something. To another season, man. Yeah, man. Just to another season of it. I mean, I could, I always say I'm going to play with my friends. It was, even if I wasn't called that day, I would go to set just to see what was going on, just to make sure that, you know, we were having fun and we always did, and it would

not have been possible without every single person that had a hand in Atlanta. I mean, it was the best experience of my life, and I'm just so glad that people are loving it because the fans of Atlanta, man. I've never seen such grace in my life. People are so kind and so great. One of my favorite things that people say to me is we really needed this. I'm like, I never even thought about that.

Like, when's the last time I saw a show that I felt like I needed, you know? And it just won't, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. And I will always thank the fans. I will always say hello. I will always take your artwork. Because the Atlanta fan artwork is fire, first of all.

I've never seen such imaginative stuff like the Atlanta artwork. And I feel like our show gives people the space to kind of do that. And I want to keep doing that. I want all the artwork. I want all the typography. I want all of it. Because I feel like it's inspiring people to go out there and create stuff, especially people of color, especially people from the South,

especially people who felt like they want to make it and have a dream, but they can't really get there. know, it's, it's, we want to be that beacon, man. We want to be that lighthouse to guide people to the right place of creativity. So I hope that we're doing that. Yeah, absolutely. Awesome. Yeah.

So, looking forward. Okay. Because you gave Paperboy his, or Alfred, excuse me. I was like, his, sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. He gave him his trace, like he likes to smoke weed, he likes to play video games. He's a Virgo.

you really read my man I'm like a man you family now man thank you for that man that's great what about like as he becomes more successful

and gets to branch out the different things like what do you what can you see like what fingers what pies is Alfred going to have his fingers honestly man I want the petty game

to be so up like next season because my my vision for Alfred is that by this time the fan will actually have gotten to his head. Like, remember that time when Drake was going through that period of trying to get swollen and everything and trying to be...

It's still going on. And I'm like, Drake, but why? Like, what, but why? You're still singing. You're singing with great R&B hits. So I don't really understand, but then he'll spit a mixtape. And then you're like, oh, wait, hold up. There he is.

Like, there he is. I kind of want that for Alfred. Like, I want Alfred to start wearing, like, billionaire boys club and stuff. Like, I want him to really, like, I want him to really. really start smelling himself and then have to come back down to reality because the thing about

the show is that Alfred always has to come back down like he always gets there and when he thinks he's there and there's always like so I feel like next season I want him to smell himself so hard that it's the fame has kind of gotten to his head and then it's just a series of just

unfortunate events for him like just a series like he goes into a target and is like why is my CD in here hold up we're there Like, what's going on? Like, you know, I want to, I don't know. And it's exciting. I have no idea. But I do think that his friendships and his familial structure will get a little deeper and broader.

I mean, there's no telling, man. I mean, Donald, like, there is no telling what's going to happen with Paperboy, man. But I really hope that he continues to be the chief of pettiness. I hope he opens a petting zoo and calls it a petty zoo A petty zoo You know what I mean? There's no

Boundaries on Alfred I don't think I think he can go anywhere Cool I'm excited to see where it goes Me too Me too But before you get out of here

Okay I got One more question I need to know Let's do it bro I need to know Let's do it Say that you are going to enjoy

A multi-course meal Okay In a very pristine house Okay And you get to invite five other dinner guests. Okay. You're like top five.

You know what? No, better analogy. You're playing basketball and you have a starting five. They don't have to actually be able to play basketball, but we're just going to call it your starting five. Yeah, okay. Okay. My starting five.

Could be anybody, well, except they have to be alive and real people. Do they have to actually play basketball too? No, they don't have to. Because I want a motley crew on my team. You don't have to be, they can throw the ball over the backboard instead of like on a finger roll. My first. My first teammate would have to be James Baldwin because this dude lived. This dude really was one of the smartest people that has walked this earth, in my opinion.

And just really like that black experience, man, like James Baldwin was all about empowerment. And I think he would be great to play basketball with and smoke with. I would also invite, this is going to sound so weird. I'm obsessed with Rosario Dawson. I really am. Like, I'm obsessed with her. Like, I'm obsessed with her. She can do no wrong at all.

So I just want Rosario there because she's just brilliant and dope. Angela Davis has to be there, you know, to keep it alive. Of course. Keep us in check. I'm kind of, I'm not going to lie. I'm really fascinated with Gucci made too. So Gucci's got to be somewhere. Like, I would give so much money.

Every penny that I've ever earned to have Gucci and Young Jeezy at the dinner table at the same time. Man, that dinner would be. Just so I could have Gucci talk about truth and then how he was just like, why don't you go dig up your dead pot? Well, and that's so that breeds me to my fifth. Birdman's got to be there.

Oh. Birdman's got to be at the table, bro. I mean, you done and you finish. Like, is you done? Is you done and you finish? Is you done and you finish? I'm going to say no more. Put some respect on that salad, bro.

Yeah, no, that would be my starter five. Well, good, man. That sounds like a very good start and five to me. I think it'll work. I think it'll crush. I think it definitely will. It's a 44 win season. And, you know, just in case, just in case, you know,

they're benched. Jaden Smith's up there, too. I kind of need him up there. I love Jaden Smith, dude. that man is wise. That man is there. I love Jaden Smith. Big ups to Jaden.

Big ups of Jaden. Yeah, man. So that'll be my crew. Cool. I appreciate you stopping by. Of course, man. This has been an emergency podcast on Channel 33 Network.

I'm Micah Peters. I'm a staff writer at the ringer. This is Brian Tyree Henry. Sitting under Trump, which does not reflect my heart. Just so you know. All right. All right.

Thank you. Later.