TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

Related Links 'The Unit' Listings More About Dennis Haysbert

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I liked your cameo on 'Saturday Night Live' last month, presenting the "Belated Black History Moment." How did that come about?
That came out of the blue. Actually, Robert Smigel called my agent, and I'm a big fan of 'TV Funhouse' and of 'SNL.' And he had written this character with me in mind and had called my manager and my agent and said, "Look, would Dennis do this?" And I was coming to New York anyway, but they didn't know that. They called on a Wednesday, I agreed to it on a Thursday and I was on a plane on a Friday.

An easy decision, I imagine?
And it didn't hurt my decision at all that Natalie Portman was the host. And I thought the script was absolutely hilarious. It had a deadpan delivery, and I said, "Great, I love it. Let's do it."

I understand you'll be portraying Nelson Mandela in an upcoming movie.
It is the cherry on the icing on the cake of my life.

Have you had a chance to meet him?
I haven't met him. I would love to. I have some friends [who] know him. And I'm going to call in as many favors, or promise some favors in return, for just a brief audience with him -- if for nothing else -- just to get his blessing.

I imagine it's an added challenge portraying someone who's still living.
That's the truth, but also to play someone who is arguably one of the top five human beings in human history. I mean, that's like meeting Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Ghandi or JFK. To be in jail for 27 years, get out, and become the first black president of a mixed-race country and not even think about an assassination attempt?! You couldn't even breathe that in this country.

You have a point.
I would hazard a guess that that's why Colin Powell didn't run. And what a wonderful president I think he would be.

You are the spokesman for several advocacy groups, but do you ever think about getting into politics?
If I thought I could say what I would want to say in the political arena as an actor or as an advocate for a charity, I would probably. But you look at how they scrutinize politicians in this country and the dirty tricks and the dirty stories they dig up that are inconsequential to anything or anybody, but they use it to destroy some of the best politicians we could have. No, I wouldn't do it. That, and there's way too much compromise. You have to get in bed with some really nasty people, and I don't know that I have the constitution for that.

OK, so what shows, besides 'The Unit', are you watching now?
That's really hard to say. I really do enjoy 'CSI.' 'CSI' is, for a procedural show, a very, very compelling show. I love 'Six Feet Under,' although that's no longer on.

And your favorite?
One of my favorites -- because I'm a big sci-fi buff –- I really enjoy 'Battlestar Galactica.' I'd really like to do a [story] arc on that one of these days, just to walk around on the set. It's so dark, so gritty, and the realism for a science fiction show -- I mean, you know it's not real -- but the way they play it is so real. And there's a compelling story line. I'd have to put that on the top of my list. That's actually on my TiVo season pass.