And it doesn't make you less of a man. This is not an indication that women cant sit around and talk, Goldberg said. We're going to ruin this character because people are going to go out there, they're going to say, that's not real. I was - I had two grand theft auto charges, cases that were open, I was going to court for, and then this pops up. Did you know people in Rikers Island when you were growing up? 2008: Michael K. Williams Is Only Playing Tough, 2016: Actor Michael K. Williams On Lucky Breaks And Letting Go Of Omar. Im much more comfortable interviewing political people at that point in their lives because I think they could be honest in a way that they perhaps couldnt before. Cookie Notice I went to BMCC, which is Borough of Manhattan Community College. Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones attjones@poynter.org. I mean, how did - if you're sleeping on trains, how did you get to the point where you're getting cast in a music video? If I have to go on stage or do something on television, youve got to go shopping and find something that looks right, and Im very short. Jesse: If you felt shy and insecure, why do you think you ended up in a career that is so public and performative? Ryan Seacrest isnt exactly hurting for work, but taking over for Pat Sajak is a smart move if hes looking for easy money and long-term security. Almost 10 years after KISS frontman Gene Simmons sat down to speak with Gross on Fresh Air, the singer still holds a grudge. We come in, we talk to each other, sometimes were not as polite as we could be. Catching up with NPR icon and Fresh Air host Terry Gross, who shares her hardest interviews and secret Twitter account, as she celebrates 45 years in radio. That was, like, my Bible, Backstage newspaper. He later apologized for the text and said it was meant for his sister. Youve already eliminated a whole lot of stuff that you otherwise would be worrying about. Im canceling my recurring donation and RSVPing no to the MacArthur Foundation gala. He's just going to walk out in his robe and go to the store. And you even told me that in the first scenes that you played, you couldn't stop laughing because you thought it was so absurd for you to be playing somebody with that kind of power. Ive outgrown a lot of that shyness by virtue of the work that I do. When youre reading fiction, you become the main character. I tell you something else. I had a new reel I cut, put it back out there. In 2008, Williams told Terry Gross the story behind the scar on his face. And "Boardwalk Empire," it's almost like a firing squad. The original starred Neil Patrick Harris. And that was - they hit the newsstand November 19, and I got cut November 22, you know. What did you want to say? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I'm dirty. I don't have that. Well, with "The Wire," we just - we've covered that. Gross has long flaunted FCC guidelines as the most-fined DJ since Car Talk stopped recording, and has bristled at recent attempts by the network to rein in her antics. And I didn't let that go until I walked into Christian Love Baptist Church. I have different approaches to interviewing depending on who Im talking to and what Im talking about. Nothing happened to him. (Courtesy of Fresh Air) For the first time in almost 50 years, WHYYs Terry Gross will share her program Fresh Air with a co-host. Ay (ph) yo, big man, back up. I - you know, Omar, like I said, is a real - it's a dark state of mind. I would literally just pound that pavement up and down Broadway, running up in record companies, finding out who the new artist - you need new dancers, man? GROSS: And this is a church that was really important to you during a difficult period of your life. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. WASHINGTON National Public Radio parted ways with long-time Fresh Air host Terry Gross yesterday after the controversial Philadelphia radio personality asked guest U.S. Gross will continue to be executive producer of the show, while sharing interview duties with Mosley, who has been heard on the show as a guest interviewer several times in the last two years. Thank you so much. Ive outgrown a lot of the shyness, and so Id probably define myself more as being still like insecure about a lot of things. WILLIAMS: I was - yeah, I was dancing more so. And it speaks to what's happening today, you know, in our society. You know, our families, we know theirs. He was always there in the community. And I didn't want this topic of his sexual orientation to hinder his seriousness. I feel really lucky. I couldn't fathom anybody would, you know, run away from me in total fear. You knew this was coming. Williams also co-starred in HBO's series "Boardwalk Empire" as Chalky White, a powerful bootlegger in Atlantic City during Prohibition, and in "The Night Of" as an inmate who controlled a prison block on Rikers Island. Like, what was your first break there? So you said that anyone who knew you growing up would know that you weren't the kind of person who inspired fear. Harper Collins. And he says, write your full name down and your email, said, I'm going to go get you a Bible, man. What can I say? Support responsible news and fact-based information today! This is our jobs. You are in their body. You know, that was the first time I actually walked into a church and felt like it's OK. And I just, like, you know, I just didn't think I was going to be living very much longer. The story will disturb, anger and sadden you. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo to dump them out live on air, according to a statement from the network. They can hear the gaps that I sometimes dont notice. Tonya Mosley has been named the new co-host of "Fresh Air." You know, this was a man that, you know, I've never seen someone give so much of themself 100% night and day. I was really casting about for something to do, and it felt natural to me. GROSS: What did he do for you? Am I telling the truth? This is FRESH AIR. GROSS: How did you do it? I was always up there bothering somebody or - you know, Stepping Out Studios. WILLIAMS: (As Freddy Knight) Yeah, well, my ancestors came from Doheny and not the Congo. Privacy Policy. If its a movie, theyll go to a screening first and then come back and say, This is a movie we should cover, or this is a movie we shouldnt cover, and theyll suggest we should have on this actor or this director. In "The Wire," you're shot by a kid. WILLIAMS: When I came around, I was broken. He often walked through the streets in a long coat carrying a shotgun. GROSS: It's been great to talk with you. I stayed in areas like Broadway Dance Center. In this scene, Naz, a college student whose parents are immigrants from Pakistan, has been accused of murder and is sent to Rikers, where Naz is clueless and Freddy basically controls the prison block. GROSS: In fact, the opposite. Ive spent all night, and part of the day, just thinking about this person Im interviewing, and maybe the producer has done that, too. GROSS: So your character is in jail in Rikers Island, which is a very notorious jail in New York City. And I was really serious about that. There was a huge spread that me and a good friend of mine, Charles Malik Whitfield - he and I did this spread for this company, and it hit all the magazines, all the hip-hop magazines like Right On! Tonya Mosley, who recently was a host of the NPR show Here and Now, will share interviewing duties with Gross. WILLIAMS: You know, that could easily be perceived as ignorant as for a person who lives, you know, on the edge, the way Omar does. Williams was found dead in his apartment Sept. 6. You know, I come from a, you know, there's a lot of things in my past, some that I did, some that happened to me that, you know, caused, you know, a lot of scars, you know. You know, growing up in the hood, we always knew the quiet one, the one that would kind of go inside. And, you know, to me, to, you know, to have these two dudes kiss, and then for him to pick up his shotgun to put his bullets in and click, click, let's go hunting, it just was the ultimate contrast to me. I want to know the mistakes that I made. And so those images that you see on "The Wire" and Chalky - and in "Boardwalk Empire" and particularly with my character's demise, I don't take that lightly, you know. I just dove into that. Thanks for your time. Heres a good one. That is the trick. Terry: Getting back to the shy thing, Im the person asking the questions. And, you know, some razor blades came out of some mouths. But, you know, you move on. Kind of like it was interesting to see that happen. WILLIAMS: And so for me to connect, you know, I, you know, again, the whole alpha male aspect, I don't know how to know how to - I'm sorry. People who are running for office tend to shape their biography to suit their needs to get votes. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Hearts and Minds Media: The United States attempts to spread democracy by broadcasting news around the world. I don't know that I really have embraced everything that's happened. Then Ill go to a screening of the movie, or theyll get me a link to that film or a DVD of the film, and then Ill watch it before the interview. I believe things have to be truthful and accurate. Your life had to change by something as major as that? One of my life goals has always been to work less. Did - was there a religious transformation in your life? You know, how to forgive myself and how to forgive people, move on, I got all of that at Christian Love, you know. Im a cruel and thoughtless person. Solutions for journalists are sparse. Now, people in the neighborhood are really afraid of Omar because they know what you do. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? And I don't know if I ever really want to let that feeling go. It was a release. I - you know, I packed my backpack with a bunch of PJ sandwiches and - you know what I mean? GROSS: We're listening to my 2016 interview with Michael K. Williams. Latest Show. GROSS: My interview with Michael K. Williams was recorded in 2016. Terry: I do wonder, and I have no idea what it would have been like. GROSS: Well, did you think your career was over? They were about to make me permanent. Tuesday, June 27, 2023. In addition to hosting the national show Here and Now, Mosley has worked in radio and television in several large markets, including Detroit, Boston, and Louisville. Terry Gross: Yes, but not a reporter. GROSS: You have a beautiful face, but you also have a scar running down most of the length of your face. Our sympathies to his friends and family. How is it always they got to come all - and, you know, and there's a faceoff, and one of them got to die. Fresh Air for June 26, 2023: Laure Dern Hear the Fresh Air program for June 26, 2023. Like so many of his fans, I first saw him on the HBO series "The Wire" in which he gave a riveting and charismatic performance as Omar Little, a stick-up man who robbed drug dealers who were in no position to complain to the police. WILLIAMS: Wow, Terry, you got a great memory (laughter). Holy Shit: This Street Performer Was So Good I Almost Gave Him Money, The Next Health Guru? Here! And you have to be concerned about, What if its adversarial?. And you die off camera. And then, you know, when I was given this character as Omar, I could have used it as a nurturing tool for myself. To have it delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, clickhere. This is not an indication that we dont know how to deal with each other on camera. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Its a goal I failed at time and time again, though the volume is less now. About. Terry: Im going to give you a before and after here. WILLIAMS: (As Freddy Knight) Let me tell you something, man. Contact The Show. You know, I just - I was hungry. WASHINGTON National Public Radio parted ways with long-time Fresh Air host Terry Gross yesterday after the controversial Philadelphia radio personality asked guest U.S. And he came in his office. Fresh Air So I dont expect that kind of candor from somebody while theyre still in politics. Mother-daughter actors Laura Dern and Diane Ladd share all in So it was like I was - I think in a strange way, it was OK when it's Omar. I didn't feel dirty. There's no need to carry my gun right now, really, you know? We're remembering actor Michael K. Williams. WILLIAMS: I would say the most fearless thing that I was able to pull off and portray as Omar on television was his openness with his sexuality and not have that go over the top. You could keep that. WILLIAMS: I was working in my mom's day care back in Flatbush. Terry Gross It can be informative, entertaining, thoughtful. Let's just - let's keep striving. It was a little too close to the white meat at the time. So just trying to escape hearing all the - you know, just to downplay on what I wanted to do, I just kind of stayed away. So, you know, he ended up getting home - going home safe. They just have different brains than I have, and they come up with things that Id never come up with myself. Contact Fresh Air. WILLIAMS: I was in a bar, and a friend of mine from Brooklyn was surrounded by a group of guys who - they wanted to jump him. Like, theyre alone in the studio, and theyre just like talking about whats on their mind, what the weather is, the record. I think our social media producer, Molly, tends to try to protect me from some stuff. He died Monday at the age of 54. It doesn't make you dirty, you know. I said, well, you know, my name is Michael, but, you know, I could do Mike, you know. I wasnt there so its impossible to know what agreements were made before the interview and whether or not Driver had the right to walk out. By all accounts, Driver didnt yell and he didnt lash out at Gross. You know, I had a few spots, things that I had done. Let me see them hands, yo. I try to leave some time at the end for the producer and associate producer, who are in the control room while Im recording the interview, to suggest questions to me that I neglected to ask. And it was just, you know, ironic. So how did you find that place in yourself so that you could portray that kind of power? So I bald my head, cut off all my hair, and I was like, I'm the new Seal. It has become abundantly clear that Ms. Grosss humor is wholly inconsistent with NPRs values, said NPR Chief of Staff Christopher Turpin. And thank you for all the great work you've done. He died Monday at the age of 54. GROSS: Well, your mother must be proud of you. Television 2016: Actor Michael K. Williams On Lucky Breaks And Letting Go Of Omar TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. He went on to co-star in "Boardwalk Empire" as Chalky White, a powerful bootlegger in Atlantic City during prohibition. When we learned of this disrespectful incident, we took swift and decisive action. They used to have no problem with bits like the Fresh Air Challenge. I mean, she literally locked her interns in a fart chamber until one of them needed CPR!. A PBS spokesperson told Fischer, As viewer habits continue to evolve, PBS is working to align content across linear and digital platforms in order to meet viewers where they are.. It was being recorded to play at a later date, allowing Fresh Air time to run another interview. So I was, like, you know, I always had the flattop and, you know, the loud, trendy shirts. See those brothers you pray with, the Nation of Islam? WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's like, you know, - it's just, you know - yeah, we'll leave it at that. WILLIAMS: I never even locked into that. I just released. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. If you want to do a daily show, its a pretty consuming thing. Jesse: What about Fresh Air do people complain about, and how does it affect you? Jesse: Your style on microphone is so warm and genial and considerate to your guest. Paddling in the middle of a fast moving stream of news and information. Hands. WILLIAMS: Yeah, she's very proud of me. Terry Gross And I was like, that's a great, great angle. This is FRESH AIR. He says, so what do you want to be called, man? WILLIAMS: (As Omar Little) Well, that's how you carrying it, shorty, huh? And he and I have been joined at the hip ever since. So thats just really a pain in the ass. So it kind of WILLIAMS: I don't have that. One source told The Daily Beastthat Driver was encouraged to remove his headphones while the show played a clip from one of his movies. Fresh Air I dont have to come up with stories to tell. He goes, you know, what? You know, I went somewhere personally. I think it's more of a respect thing. He just never stopped. In 2015 the podcast version of the show was the most-downloaded from iTunes. And I didn't want to disrespect anybody in the gay community, either. But it wasn't long. I was like, bet. I did the best I could. He became famous for his first major role on "The Wire" as Omar Little, a stick-up man who robbed drug dealers. Just surprise me because I just want it to flow. Some of us even grew up together. How does it feel to have that reaction to you, even if it's only in fiction?