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Notes from America with Kai Wright

David Alan Grier Is Still Hitting Career Highs, More Than 40 Years After His Debut

Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

News Commentary, Politics, History, News

4.41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2024

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

David Alan Grier has been a mainstay on TV, Broadway and film since his initial acting debut in the acclaimed Broadway show “The First,” about Jackie Robinson’s life and legacy. That role, in 1981, earned him a Tony Award nomination, but he found a new level of fame as a core cast member on the classic 1990s sketch show “In Living Color.”

His more recent projects spotlight the actor’s range: he stars in the 2023 musical film adaptation of “The Color Purple,” and in this year’s “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” a satirical fantasy film that’s introducing Grier to a younger generation of fans.

In this episode, he sits down with host Kai Wright to talk about the highs and lows of navigating the industry, while also sharing reflections on his past work, and what he thinks about his legacy going forward as he reaches new audiences.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at [email protected]. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Transcript

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0:00.0

My name is Calhoun Tubs. I once played the guitar for

0:06.2

over 36 hours straight. I wrote a song about it like the kid here go.

0:10.3

I play guitar about 36 hours.

0:14.0

Now brother, just what seems to be your affliction.

0:17.0

I have constant pain in my back, I've been to the doctors and they can't do anything.

0:21.0

Y'all hear that, the man got constipation all up in this particular.

0:25.0

How much the hospital will charge you to fix that?

0:28.0

About a thousand dollars.

0:29.0

A thousand dollars. I can heal you for $2.50.

0:32.0

He tell me this man, why Angela?

0:34.0

But she has nice feet.

0:35.0

Oh, it has nothing to do with her feet anything like that.

0:38.0

I care about this girl.

0:39.0

Me don't care about nobody but yourself, man.

0:41.0

What's the most dangerous animal on the planet?

0:45.0

Sharks.

0:46.0

White people.

0:47.0

And they're teamed up with sharks.

0:49.0

When they feel uncomfortable. So, It's notes from America. I'm Kai Wright. Welcome to the show.

1:09.0

It's notes from America. I'm Kai Wright.

1:11.0

Welcome to the show.

1:14.0

David Alan Greer made his acting debut in 1981

...

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