TJ Hemphill In Studio with Mason & Starr
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00All right, Detroit, TJ Hemphill is back with us this morning, Angie, to start.
00:05That's right. Love won't let me wait.
00:10You're right, Angie.
00:11He brought us a fascinating guest we'll talk about in just a second.
00:16Superstar.
00:17But first, TJ is set. We're ready to go.
00:20I thought we still had a week.
00:22No.
00:23It's this weekend.
00:24Yeah, yeah, Friday and Saturday.
00:26Tell people again about it.
00:28All right, so it's Love Won't Let Me Wait, Friday and Saturday at the Garden Theater.
00:34This is a romantic comedy, and it is all about three sisters who go on a 40-day fast from men.
00:41And everything works out good until the cable guy shows up.
00:45Played by Javon Long, yeah.
00:48And then everything breaks loose after that.
00:51Wow.
00:51Yeah, so this year I'm really excited about the fact that I've got some cool people in it
00:55and wonderful cast, you know, and special guests.
00:59So somebody saw me and said, I was in a meeting this weekend.
01:06Mm-hmm.
01:06And I was in a meeting with someone on Zoom from California and some people in person.
01:12And so they said, the person in California said, well, I'll be back soon.
01:16We can hook up and go, too.
01:18This is a true story.
01:19Uh-huh.
01:20The person in the meeting said, he ain't going.
01:23I'm like, what, what, what?
01:25He said, I heard him talking to T.J. Hemphill about one of his plays, and Mason only went to that play.
01:32He ain't going to stuff.
01:34So you're going to have to talk to him right now.
01:38Of course, we were talking about perilous times and my experience with it.
01:43This has got to be fun, and you've never done a comedy before, huh?
01:49Well, we actually did this one a couple of years ago, but we were supposed to go up just before COVID broke out.
01:56So we had to put it on hold, yeah.
01:58Wow.
01:58So all the changes that I've made, and this one is just hilarious.
02:03So let's run it down.
02:05This isn't your typical, you buy a ticket, sit in your seat, and watch this hilarious romantic comedy.
02:11You say it's not, or it is.
02:12It's not.
02:13No, no, no, no, no.
02:14This is interactive.
02:16Not only that, but you are going to be treated with a tremendous dinner.
02:21What is on the menu?
02:23Lamb chops.
02:23And say that chicken what?
02:24Chicken marshalas.
02:25Chicken marshalas.
02:27I can't believe this.
02:28Yes.
02:29Gumbo, mac and cheese, just everything.
02:31Everything you can think of.
02:32It is a perfect date night.
02:34Perfect night out.
02:35Somebody just said, wait a minute.
02:37So you get dinner while you watch the play.
02:39This is like they used to do on Broadway in New York a hundred years ago.
02:47Someone just said, how do I get a ticket?
02:49Tell them right now why they've got a minute to get it.
02:51You go to eventnoir.com.
02:55Not Eventbrite, not Ticketmaster, eventnoir.com.
03:00Spell it.
03:00And that's E-V-E-N-T-N-O-I-R-E.
03:05You know he's a teacher, he remembers, because I would have to look at the paper.
03:09You know, I have to remember that TJ's a teacher as well.
03:13Sometimes, you know, I told him.
03:14Listen to his tone and his voice.
03:16I was like, wow.
03:16But to me, that's just who he is.
03:18Yes, he's right.
03:18But I forget he's a teacher.
03:20I know.
03:20Sometimes I say, well, TJ, just come up on Tuesday.
03:23He goes, no, I have class.
03:26What?
03:27That's right, you're a teacher.
03:28So, it's this week, and what are the show times?
03:32Show time is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
03:367 p.m.
03:37So, those are the ones you want to be at that Friday.
03:39That opening show is going to be crazy.
03:40And I'm hosting.
03:41Oh, really?
03:42Yes, I'm the hostess.
03:44Yes.
03:44You just want that dinner.
03:46I know, right?
03:47That 3D smurf.
03:49TJ, you brought a very interesting guest to the show this morning.
03:57Yes.
03:57Who is a star.
03:59I call her a superstar.
04:00I'm starstruck.
04:02I was like, wow.
04:03She's in real life.
04:04I know, like, wow.
04:05She's TJ's daughter.
04:07She's one of my, yeah, I know, right?
04:10And she nice.
04:11That's just a good combo.
04:13Yes, yes.
04:14She's one of my Facebook series.
04:17There you go.
04:18Stars.
04:20And even when they said that the other day, I still, I heard what they said.
04:26And I don't know why I still kind of didn't believe it.
04:30Right.
04:30I mean, I believed it.
04:31But I'm like.
04:31Uh-huh.
04:32It didn't click, huh?
04:33If that's his daughter, he ain't seen her in 20 or 30 years.
04:37It wouldn't matter.
04:38Okay.
04:38I'm like, so, he's like, oh, yeah, yeah, that's my daughter.
04:42Like, yeah, yeah.
04:42You probably ain't seen her in 20 years.
04:44Not, you went off to be a big star.
04:45You ain't gonna see her.
04:47But that's not true.
04:48Introduce her, TJ.
04:49Well, my daughter, Amber Tye, is the special guest for this year's production.
04:55And I'm so excited to have her to be a part of, you know, because.
04:58She's in the play?
04:59She is in the play.
05:00She's one of the stars of the show.
05:02Oh, I can't wait.
05:03Not even now.
05:04I'm really looking forward to this.
05:05Okay.
05:05Amber, good morning.
05:07Good morning.
05:07And welcome to the show.
05:10So happy to be here.
05:11Good morning, Detroit.
05:12My Facebook series superstars.
05:15No kidding.
05:17I am not starstruck.
05:19No, no.
05:20I am.
05:21I didn't say it right.
05:22No, you didn't say it right.
05:23I am not normally starstruck.
05:24Oh, got it.
05:25Okay.
05:25You're not.
05:26I know.
05:26I ain't seen your eyes like that in a minute.
05:28That's amazing that that's you.
05:29That's on my phone all the time.
05:33You.
05:33People are saying, well, what do you mean, Mace?
05:35Yeah, what do you mean?
05:36Tell them what series I'm referring to on Facebook.
05:40Yes, yes.
05:41Good morning, everyone.
05:42So I am one of the lead actresses and producers for the Country Wayne skits that you can find
05:49on Facebook and YouTube.
05:51Wow.
05:52Yes.
05:52I didn't even know it was on YouTube.
05:54It is.
05:55It is.
05:56That is amazing.
05:57How long have you been doing that?
05:58About two and a half years now.
06:00Yes.
06:01I was a lone officer before I started doing Country Wayne skits.
06:05Say what?
06:06Yes, sir.
06:07Yes, sir.
06:08You were long.
06:09How'd you meet him?
06:10Oh, man.
06:11So before that, I used to work for car dealerships.
06:15I was selling cars.
06:16I was a finance person.
06:18And one of my clients, Mike Bless, he came into the Audi store.
06:23We became friends and we remained friends for years.
06:27And about two and a half years ago, he called me and said, hey, Amber, I need you to come
06:30down and do this skit.
06:31I don't even think he knew that I was that I acted because I had a background in acting
06:35clearly because of my father.
06:37And I said a skit.
06:39And he said, yeah, you got to come down and do a skit.
06:41I said, boy, I just took my makeup off.
06:43I am chilling.
06:44Right.
06:44Netflixing and chilling.
06:45Right.
06:46So he said, just come.
06:47So I said, okay.
06:47So I got up and I said, no, I don't want to come.
06:50So I called him back and said, hey, I'm tired.
06:52He said, Amber, I already told Wayne that you're coming.
06:55I'm like, who is Wayne?
06:56I don't know who Wayne is.
06:57Right.
06:58Wow.
06:59So I said, okay, I'm coming.
07:01I'm a woman of my word.
07:02Right.
07:02Go down there.
07:03I do a skit.
07:04I see Wayne with his big buck eyes and just sitting there looking.
07:07I really still don't know who he is.
07:09Right.
07:09And so he says, that was good.
07:12I said, thanks.
07:12He said, can you come back next week?
07:14I'm like, okay, sure.
07:15I don't have anything better to do.
07:16Not understanding the gravity of the situation.
07:19So about a week later, the skit dropped and I didn't know it did because he used to be on
07:25Instagram.
07:25So I opened up my Instagram.
07:27I had about 2,000 followers.
07:28Whoa.
07:29Wait, I had about 2,000 followers the day I did this skit.
07:33I opened up my Instagram.
07:35It shot up to 8,000.
07:37I got hacked.
07:40I got hacked my cow because I didn't understand how big this thing was.
07:46And from there, I mean, God has just been blessing.
07:50And now I do this full time.
07:52You do it full time.
07:54I do.
07:54I do.
07:55I mean, I can see why.
07:56I mean, it's fascinating.
07:59I saw a lot of Facebook skits, stuff that people do.
08:06And then we've even met comedians who will come on the show and tell us that they do it.
08:10And I caught a couple of them.
08:14It's okay.
08:14It's okay.
08:15But I'm not into that.
08:17I'm just, it just doesn't, if I want to watch TV, I'm going to watch television.
08:22Right.
08:23But those skits have such a realness to them, but you can feel all of the fun.
08:33Yes.
08:33So my fear, I said, Max, you're going to scroll one day.
08:38It's going to be gone.
08:38They're going to put it on television.
08:40Yeah.
08:41Tell me why it is not on television.
08:44Well, I can't really speak for Wayne, but from what he's communicated is that, A, we have
08:50control of our time.
08:51We're not a part of some big network that is telling us that we have to do this and we
08:56have to slave for 17 hours.
08:57You know, we do sometimes, but that's our choice.
09:02So while I've been here working on Love Won't Let Me Wait, I've also been shooting skits because
09:08we do it all on the iPhone, which means we don't have the overhead that you would if you
09:13were doing some big production.
09:15Now he does, if you spend quite a few dollars each month, you know, paying all the actors,
09:21producers, it is expensive because of where we are, but we have total.
09:27You know, control over what we're doing, our time that we're spending.
09:32And Wayne has a lot of kids.
09:34Yeah.
09:36He's got a lot of kids.
09:37He's got 10 kids and he and it's his priority to be able to spend time with them.
09:41And he just loves that.
09:43He loves that freedom.
09:44And so do we.
09:44So it is.
09:46It is a very well done production.
09:49Yeah.
09:49I remember when I first saw it, I was just like, I love the realness, you know, and I
09:55said, like, he's got the gift.
09:57He's, he's got that special gift.
09:59That's why we were like, where, who is he?
10:01Why don't we know about him?
10:03But again, every time I see anything scrolling, what you got, I'm going to check it out.
10:08Cause I know I'm a lab.
10:10Yeah.
10:10Yeah.
10:10He's one of those people.
10:11Like I told the whispers, don't ever change the way you sing.
10:14Tell him don't ever change the way you do what you do.
10:16Cause Amber, for me, and for me, the hook is, okay, now I know the characters.
10:24What's the storyline today?
10:25What's the storyline today?
10:27What can he do?
10:28He's going to get in trouble anyway.
10:30But what's the storyline?
10:31Let me hear him.
10:32Let me hear him try to pull this off.
10:33Right.
10:34But he's, he's a lot of fun.
10:36That's a great series that you're a part of.
10:39And my dad's on it too.
10:40He plays my dad in real life.
10:42So TJ, yeah, I know, right?
10:44I love that.
10:45She's a, he plays my dad in real life too.
10:48You were on, on one.
10:50Yeah.
10:50I've been on several skits.
10:52Oh, you have been?
10:52Yeah.
10:53Yeah.
10:53And as her dad.
10:54Yeah.
10:54Yeah.
10:55It's a lot of fun.
10:56A lot of fun.
10:57I just go in there and do whatever I do, you know?
10:59He's a great actor.
11:00People don't know this about him.
11:02He's a great actor.
11:03Angie, did you see him on stage?
11:05No.
11:06No.
11:06I didn't know.
11:07I'm going to watch the episode, The Wedding, she says.
11:09So he, he helped Angie.
11:11And I told Angie, not TJ, don't.
11:15I said, he's got that mild manner thing.
11:19Right.
11:20But when it's time to do that play thing, he's something different.
11:23He brings it.
11:24I'm trying to, I'm trying to get him down to Atlanta, but you know, he's loyal to Detroit.
11:27He is loyal to Detroit.
11:29He is not leaving.
11:31So Amber, you're part of what's love got to do?
11:34No, love won't let me wait.
11:36Love won't, look at him.
11:37You got it.
11:38He's starstruck.
11:39I've never seen him like this before.
11:41That is it.
11:42That little series, that got me.
11:47That in sports, I'm good.
11:50Yes.
11:51Yes.
11:52Because you, you know, the Martin show, you know, was made about real life.
11:56And it was made about you, the DJ.
11:58You know, they, they, they themed, they, they studied you.
12:00Courtney, that's the same vibe I get from him.
12:03Yeah.
12:03But instead of it being, you know, his life being told through someone else, it's him.
12:08He looks like somebody I know.
12:10Period.
12:10Yeah.
12:11All the scenarios are real.
12:12He got a bunch of women.
12:13You know, he got, I love the women because they like cougars and they hot and they hold it, they hold it down.
12:19And then, you know, and he just, I'm telling you, I balanced, y'all on to something.
12:24And that's what he does.
12:25He actually just sent us, Country Wayne, he sent us a message, all the producers, and he said, just tell your truth.
12:32He said, that's how I became successful.
12:34Wow.
12:34I just tell my truth.
12:35So there's a lot of truth in the stories.
12:36And of course, some of it is not.
12:38I know.
12:39Yeah.
12:39But if you, I told you, that's why you got to hear the storyline.
12:43Yeah.
12:43I want to hear the storyline.
12:44Well, you know what's going on now, right?
12:46Now what?
12:47Ooh, the people in here, they'll tell you.
12:48I'm on live.
12:49Okay.
12:50So my best friend is, I can't, I can't say it because I'm not supposed to know.
12:54No, don't give it away.
12:55No, they know.
12:56But it takes me out of the world.
12:58But no, my best friend is pregnant by my husband.
13:02Ooh.
13:03But I don't know it.
13:04Ooh.
13:05Look at her whole expression change.
13:06You are so good.
13:08Wow.
13:08Miss Amber, yes, this is going to be good.
13:12I want to see you get out of this.
13:15Yes.
13:16Oh, that's going to be fun.
13:18So, and you're part of the production that's happening this weekend in Detroit,
13:22Love Won't Let Me Wait.
13:23What character do you play?
13:25I play the role of Michelle.
13:26This play is very near and dear to my heart because we actually recorded this.
13:31We filmed it some years ago.
13:32Okay.
13:33And I think that was my first project with my dad on film.
13:37Yep.
13:38So I play the role of Michelle, and she is a church girl.
13:41Ooh.
13:42Yes.
13:43And Dad, I don't know how much do you want to tell the people?
13:46Well, I mean, she's a church girl.
13:47So, so this is, this is the one that gets everybody going.
13:51Yeah.
13:51Yeah.
13:51She's the church girl as opposed to her other sister, who's the intellectual.
13:55Right.
13:55Uses the big words.
13:57And there's one more.
13:57My third sister, who's just totally streetwise.
14:00I mean, she's so street, it's crazy.
14:02Wow.
14:03She's hood there.
14:04Just say it.
14:05Huh?
14:05She's hood.
14:06And you're the one in the middle.
14:07And I'm in the middle.
14:08Trying to keep the balance.
14:10And so they all agree to something you ask.
14:13Yes.
14:13And then it takes off from there.
14:15Yeah.
14:16It's going to be great.
14:17Yes.
14:17It's going to be great.
14:18How do you get tickets again, TJ?
14:19Again, just go to eventnoir.com.
14:23That's the key thing.
14:25Eventnoir.com.
14:26Spell it.
14:27E-V-E-N.
14:28I'm sorry.
14:29E-V-E-N-T.
14:31N-O-I-R-E.com.
14:34And dinner comes with it.
14:35Dinner.
14:35This is what I love.
14:37And it's at the Garden Theater.
14:38So you guys know that's an outstanding venue.
14:41But Keith, the set designer.
14:43Oh.
14:44I had a chance to speak with him.
14:44Oh, I'm so glad you brought him up.
14:46Yeah.
14:46Yes.
14:46Yes.
14:47He does all of the sets.
14:48Like, if you guys ever been to One Mike Detroit, he told me he built that Day Day's Lounge.
14:52Like, he's the guy that thinks out of the box.
14:55And he creates these stage scenes.
14:57So he said, you know, the Garden Theater, they really want to continue this type of entertainment.
15:02So really, Detroit, I need you guys to come out and support this.
15:05Because we need dinner theater.
15:07We need unique venues.
15:09So you can go watch a play.
15:10You ain't got to run and stand in a long line and try to get a drink right quick and get back to your seat.
15:15You got dinner.
15:16You can watch a show.
15:17So, you know, that's the type of stuff that I want Detroit to do.
15:21Yeah, yeah.
15:21So let's support this.
15:23Only so many seats, though.
15:24Right.
15:24So you got to hurry and get a ticket.
15:26Yeah, you got to go ahead and get those tickets.
15:29And, of course, Keith's company, Tiny Theater Group.
15:32Say it, say it.
15:32The Tiny Theater Group.
15:34That's his company that's producing this show.
15:37Wow.
15:37So I'm just honored to be a part of it.
15:39I've been knowing Keith for, like, 25 years or so.
15:41He's built all the sets that you guys have.
15:43I know.
15:43I've met him before.
15:44He works at Jakarta.
15:45Like, all of the main sets.
15:46Yeah.
15:46He does that.
15:47Phenomenal guy.
15:48Yeah.
15:48I can't wait to meet him face to face.
15:50Yeah, he's phenomenal.
15:51Yeah.
15:51He's very creative.
15:52You got to see his scene shop.
15:53It's ridiculous.
15:54His scene shop is worth the price of a mission.
15:56Just going into his scene shop.
15:58Wow.
15:58And you see all the stuff.
16:00And it just seems like it goes wrong.
16:01On Grand River and Little.
16:01Yeah, man.
16:02It's crazy.
16:03It's crazy.
16:03Wow.
16:03Beautiful.
16:04So, again, a Detroit.
16:06I'm bored.
16:07I don't know.
16:07I don't want to go to a club.
16:09I'm looking for something grown, sexy to do.
16:12Hey, your girl mad at you.
16:13Your man mad at you.
16:15Go to eventnoir.com and say, I got a surprise for you.
16:18Get you some tickets.
16:19Have a nice dinner.
16:21Dinner and theater.
16:21You said chicken marcellus, which I can't wait to get.
16:23And what else?
16:24Lamb chops.
16:25Lamb chops.
16:25Macaroni and cheese.
16:27Mac and cheese.
16:28Gumbo.
16:28Gumbo.
16:29The whole night in your face.
16:30Good night.
16:30And then love won't let me wait.
16:34Go on, girl.
16:35Say it.
16:35Say it.
16:36And you sing as well, Amber?
16:38I play.
16:39I love it.
16:41I sing in the shower.
16:43Wow.
16:43Well, it was definitely a treat to have you in studio with us today.
16:47Oh, thank you.
16:48It was such a pleasure to be here.
16:49We are proud of you.
16:50We love your dad.
16:52We love your dad.
16:53But, again, the DNA.
16:54I'm going to chip off the old block, as he likes to say it.
16:58I would have never imagined, especially me picking.
17:02You didn't put it together.
17:03You didn't put it together.
17:04No.
17:04You stutter.
17:05And I haven't seen you stutter in a minute.
17:07It's good.
17:07Yeah, because, I mean, for me to, first of all, to pick the show and then stay with it.
17:14Yes.
17:15It's addicting.
17:16Yes.
17:17But everybody claims that.
17:19Yeah.
17:19He did it.
17:20To me, he was one of the first to really do it.
17:22And do it right.
17:23Mm-hmm.
17:24Do it right.
17:24He just kept it fun.
17:25He kept it going.
17:26And he stayed.
17:27He stayed.
17:27And he stayed.
17:29Period.
17:29There you go.
17:30He talked about that this morning.
17:31Yes.
17:32He stayed with it.
17:33I guess I caught him prior to the pandemic.
17:36Right.
17:36Mm-hmm.
17:36And then, like I said, he took all my stuff down.
17:39Yeah.
17:39When I got it all back, it was the one thing outside of my business that I chased.
17:44Yeah.
17:45That I had to make them put it back.
17:46Put it back.
17:47Right.
17:47So I had to find a way to get it all back and do it.
17:50Amber, again, thank you.
17:51Thank you so much.
17:52TJ, it's going to be fun this weekend.
17:54Oh, man.
17:54It's going to be absolutely fun.
17:55Garden Theater.
17:56Yes.
17:57Downtown Detroit, Woodward Avenue.
17:59Right.
17:59April 12th and 13th, so that's Friday and Saturday.
18:02Friday and Saturday.
18:02Showtime Friday night and Saturday is?
18:047 p.m.
18:057 p.m.
18:067 p.m.
18:07Yeah.
18:07Get some dinner.
18:08Get some stuff.
18:09Event Noir.
18:09And enjoy.
18:10Am I saying that right?
18:11And see Amber the star as well.
18:14Yes.
18:14You got to see her.
18:15Y'all going to love her.
18:16Yes.
18:16And our door is wide open.
18:18Get my man in here, too.
18:19Yes.
18:20We're going to hang out.