By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
CHI McBRIDE is one of those actors who is rarely without a role.
“I get told that quite a bit and really understand what a blessing that is,” he said to TASTY CLIPS some years back, “because I belong to a union where 95% of its members don’t work. So, I’m very grateful for that.”
The Chicago native, who fit in feature films “I, Robot,” “Hoodlum,” “The Terminal,” “Undercover Brother,” and “Roll Bounce” between his many television series including “Boston Public” and “Pushing Daisies,” was in his seventh season as Capt. Lou Grover on CBS’ hit action drama “Hawaii Five-0.”
McBride had been writing some of the installments including a Thanksgiving episode that cast Lou Gossett Jr., Gladys Knight and Clifton Powell as family.
“Having those opportunities to write stories and create characters is something that is beginning to blossom into a second career,” he said. “I don’t worry about dialogue. That comes very easy to me. Over the years, I’ve said a lot of dialogue, and I’ve ad-libbed a lot of dialogue that remains in shows. Practically everything I said on ‘Pushing Daisies’ was an adlib.”
As for the notion of directing, he answered with an assertive “Hell No.”
“Chazz Palminteri once made one of my favorite quotes,” McBride shared. “They asked him about directing and he said, ‘You know what directing is? Death by questions.’ I have a more gravitational pull toward writing and the creativity involved with that.”
He’s been the cartoon voice of Avengers leader Nick Fury (in the movies portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson) for several years on three different Marvel animated series.
“I find it a lot of fun,” McBride said. “I really like doing it because you can get on your phone and do it now. Tech is so modern. You can lay down a voice-over track before you brush your teeth in the morning.”
Though admittedly too old for the part, the only person he would have wanted to play in a biopic was former boxing heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.
Explained McBride: “He once said, I’d rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia. He’s a guy who basically walked through alleys his whole adult life because he’s tired of being harassed by the police. Then again, he was a criminal. A man who held the most prestigious title in sports. He never received the kind of admiration or star treatment that title affords. Especially during that time.
“The difference between how he and Muhammad Ali wore those crowns is a real study in the psyche of a very complicated man,” McBride continued. “He was just a fascinating man who never had peace in his life and when he was buried it was in the flight pattern of landing planes at the Las Vegas airport. So, he couldn’t get no peace in life or in death.”
The conversation veered towards his taste in contemporary music which McBride noted is not created for his ears, adding that he pretty much stopped listening to hip hop around the time Jay Z returned from his self-imposed retirement.
“I’m still listening to [Frank] Sinatra, Louis Prima, Jerry Vale, Earth, Wind & Fire and Miles Davis,” he offered. “I just pretty much stick with a certain era and I still enjoy their music. I find it timeless. I like music that was much more musical. There was a time when hip hop was more musical, but I don’t find much of today’s music very inspiring.”
The unmistakable 6-4 star, who is currently filling screens in “Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You” on Netflix, claims that he is exactly as famous as he wants — which is not very famous at all.
According to McBride: “I’m really happy being that guy that people go, ‘Where do I know you from?’ I used to want to explain to people how dumb that question is. How the hell am I supposed to know where you know me from? But I don’t’ even do that anymore. I just say I don’t know.
“There’s a thing that comes with being really famous that I’m not built for,” he added. “It’s for a lot of people and I know a few people that are really, really, really famous, and it suits them. It just wouldn’t suit me. I don’t crave it. Being a guy that people recognize and always working is plenty for me.”
COMING THIS WAY: Tank and the Bangas kicked off The Last Balloon Tour in support of their new Verve Records album in Charlotte at the wonderfully intimate Visulite Theatre. Lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball was pure fire, and the band mightily propulsive with their musical gumbo of New Orleans funk, Go-Go, R&B, and gospel with a touch of the poetry that earned them Grammys.
The new crowd pleasing single, “Ain’t That Deep” is the type of singalong Lizzo popularized during her heights. Once you hear it, it’s hard to get out of your head! Must give props to opener Ariel J. The skilled poet/vocalist from Mississippi is the truth with her gentle affirmations so welcome to the ears. The tour is headed for a July 2 date at L.A.’s Skirball Center before resuming in October with dates in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle and more.
For 12 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. Now, we are collecting some of those past columns into what we call the Best of Tasty Clips. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
