Vault: Mekhi Phifer Joins The Show!

Summary

The Bert Show – "Vault: Mekhi Phifer Joins The Show!"

Original Air Date: April 2, 2026
Episode Theme:
A lively, candid conversation with actor Mekhi Phifer, exploring his career decisions, experiences on "ER" and "8 Mile," reflections on typecasting, working alongside Eminem, being "punk’d" by Ashton Kutcher, and his venture into producing and directing.

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Main Episode Highlights

1. Mekhi Phifer's Departure From "ER"

Timeframe: 00:55–02:32

• Voluntary Exit:
  • Mekhi reveals his decision to leave "ER" was his own, not a result of producers' choices.
    • "It was kind of a thing where I felt like it was time to go... I had done the character for a long time, and, you know, it was just time to go." — Mekhi Phifer (01:21)
• On Job Security:
  • Bert asks if it was difficult walking away from such a stable, high-profile role.
    • "You're always a little bit insecure that you're not going to get, like, a really meaty, juicy part to continue to play... And here you have one on one of the greatest shows in TV history, and you're saying, you know what? I'm just sort of done with it." — Bert (01:43)
• Faith in Himself:
  • Mekhi addresses the insecurity, highlighting the unpredictability of acting and the importance of self-confidence.
    • "That's the business that we've chosen... it is very unorthodox... you gotta be confident in yourself that you will again prevail and work again one day and do more great things." — Mekhi Phifer (02:00)

2. Typecasting and Career Longevity

Timeframe: 02:20–03:08

• Mekhi discusses the balance between staying too long in one television role and risking typecasting versus knowing when to leave.
  • "The beautiful thing about television is that you do get a chance to really be in people's homes every week and they really do get to grow with you. The bad thing is that you can get locked into a particular character." — Mekhi Phifer (02:32)
  • He notes that having a career in both film and TV helped him avoid being boxed in.

3. On Working with Eminem in "8 Mile" and Eminem’s Comeback

Timeframe: 03:11–04:16

• Eminem’s Return:
  • Mekhi believes Eminem’s comeback was inevitable, noting the void left in his absence.
    • "I don't think that his void that... he had when he wasn't rapping anymore was filled. So I think that his presence is definitely going to be felt again. I hope." — Mekhi Phifer (03:21)
• Mekhi’s Early Rap Roots:
  • He confirms he rapped prior to acting, possibly at the same time as Eminem.
    • "I'm pretty sure from the time we... and we're about the same age, so... I'm pretty sure we were probably, you know, stepping into the arena around the same time." — Mekhi Phifer (04:07)
• On-Set Bonding:
  • Mekhi describes close friendship and fun working with Eminem and his fondness for Detroit.
    • "We definitely had a good time and we hit it off... we took... about five or six months to shoot the film and I had the best time. And I grew to love Detroit, you know what I mean? So it was just a lot of fun." — Mekhi Phifer (04:22)

4. Would Mekhi Return to Rapping?

Timeframe: 04:38–05:01

• He laughs off the idea in a self-deprecating way, saying those days are past.
  • "Ah, man, not right now. Really past that heyday. I'm already in my 30s and you know those days..." — Mekhi Phifer (04:41)
• Open to rapping in a movie, depending on the project.
  • "That probably wouldn't be that bad. I mean, it just depends on what it is and what the role is and you know, what it is that we're doing." — Mekhi Phifer (04:54)

5. Being “Punk’d” by Ashton Kutcher

Timeframe: 05:01–05:55

• Bert brings up Mekhi’s appearance on "Punk’d" and whether he holds any grudges against Kutcher.
  • Mekhi responds with humor and grace.
    • "No ill will. No, I don't harbor any, any bad feelings." — Mekhi Phifer (05:14)
• He admits the show was genuinely surprising and well-executed, even for a New Yorker.
  • "You really don't expect it as much as you want to say that you're on point... you just never know. They really do a great job with that." — Mekhi Phifer (05:38)

6. New Series: "Lie To Me" and Working with Tim Roth

Timeframe: 05:55–06:41

• Mekhi discusses joining "Lie to Me," expressing excitement about working with Tim Roth and producer Brian Grazer.
  • "Tim Roth is great and you know, obviously I love Brian Grazer and all the work that he's done... It's nice to sort of get in something on the ground up and be a part of the show from the ground up." — Mekhi Phifer (06:11)

7. Producing, Directing, and Future Aspirations

Timeframe: 06:41–07:09

• Mekhi talks about enjoying both acting and producing, and his interest in branching out behind the scenes.
  • "I do love... both sides. I love both facets... I really love producing and I love acting, so I'm definitely always looking for other opportunities to branch out." — Mekhi Phifer (06:48)
• The hosts playfully hope he stays in front of the camera.
  • "But we think that you're hot, so we want you in front of the camera, not behind the camera." — Jan (07:04)
  • "Okay. Continue to do so." — Mekhi Phifer (07:09)

8. Sign-Off and Well-Wishes

Timeframe: 07:16–07:22

• The hosts thank Mekhi, wishing him luck with "Lie to Me."
  • "Thanks a lot for your time, Makai. I appreciate it." — Bert (07:16)
  • "Thank you guys." — Mekhi Phifer (07:19)

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Notable Quotes

• "You got to be confident in yourself that you will again prevail and work again one day and do more great things." — Mekhi Phifer (02:00)
• "You just never know. They really do a great job with that." (On being surprised by "Punk’d") — Mekhi Phifer (05:38)
• "It's nice to sort of get in something on the ground up and be a part of the show from the ground up." — Mekhi Phifer (06:41)

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Memorable Moments

• Mekhi’s humility and humor about his career shifts—particularly when teasing about returning to rap or handling getting "punk’d."
• The running joke about his attractiveness and the request for more on-camera work, demonstrating the lighthearted tone between host and guest.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55–02:32: Insights on leaving "ER" and job security in acting
• 03:11–04:22: Working with Eminem and thoughts on Eminem’s hiatus
• 05:01–05:55: Candid stories about being "punk’d" by Ashton Kutcher
• 05:55–06:48: Reflections on “Lie to Me” and career evolution
• 06:41–07:09: Producing, directing, and staying in front of the camera

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This episode offers an engaging, honest look at Mekhi Phifer’s career decisions, fond memories from iconic projects, and aspirations for his future on and off screen—delivered in the candid, fun style "The Bert Show" is known for.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Bert]

The Bird Show. Hello.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Hello.

[Bert]

Makai.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Hey, how you doing?

[Bert]

Good. How are you today?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Good, man.

[Bert]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to join us.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Oh, man, it's a pleasure.

[Bert]

Let me go right around the room. And this is going to take a while because we have 19 people on the show. I'm Bert, and this is Jan. Hello.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Hey, how you doing?

[Commercial Announcer]

Good.

[Bert]

And this is Wendy here. Hi. And this is. And Melissa.

[Jan]

Hey, Makai, how you doing? Good.

[Bert]

And Brittany's not part of the show, but she thinks you're hot, so she. Well, man, before we go forward, we got to go backwards a little bit and talk ER here for a second. I'm really curious. I guess it's in 2008 that the producers slash writers of NBC decide, okay, we're probably done with your character here. Was that a contractual thing, or is that something they tell you about beforehand?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

And. And actually, yeah, actually had a lot to do with that. I. It was. It was. It was kind of a thing where I felt like it was time to go. You know what I mean? I had done the character for a long time, and, you know, it was just time to go. So it wasn't like a thing where they were going, okay, well, we're tired of Dr. Pratt. They actually. I just wanted. I just felt like it was time to go.

[Bert]

You know how that must have been a very difficult decision to make. Cause, I mean, from what we've heard as actors, I mean, you're always a little bit insecure that you're not going to get, like, a really meaty, juicy part to continue to play. And here you have one on one of the greatest shows in TV history, and you're saying, you know what? I'm just sort of done with it.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Well, yeah. Well, you know, the thing is that's. That's the best. That's the business that we've chosen, you know what I mean? And it is very unorthodox, and you don't know what's coming up next, but that's the nature of the beast, you know what I mean? And you Got to be confident in yourself that you will again prevail and work again one day and do more great things.

[Jan]

Is there, is there a fine line between being too, you know, being on a show too long, I mean, stereotyped or typecast rather than. Or. And knowing when to leave?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Yeah, I think so. You know, I mean, you know, you know, you don't. The beautiful thing about television is that you do get a chance to really be in people's homes every week and they really do get to grow with you. The bad thing is that you can get locked into a particular character. In my case, I don't really feel like that was going to be the case. You know, like, I had started out already doing films and other things like that. So it wasn't like this show was my first foray into the acting arena. But, you know, you know, sometimes you just want to keep it fresh, you know what I mean? And, you know,

[Bert]

Makai Pfeiffer joining the Burt show on Q100 this morning.

[Jan]

Now, Makai, you co starred opposite Eminem in 8 Mile. I'm just curious about Eminem taking this step away from his career and coming back. You think he can make a comeback?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Oh, definitely. I think that, you know, Eminem was one of those rappers that when he wasn't here, you know, I think his presence was definitely missed. I don't think that his void that. That he. That he had when he wasn't rapping anymore was filled. So I think that his presence is definitely going to be felt again. I hope.

[Bert]

I think we read this morning that you started out in the rap industry. Were you rapping before Eminem was rapping?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

I don't know if I was rapping before him. You know, I was definitely doing it years ago. I don't know how long it took him to actually make it, but I'm pretty sure he didn't just wake up one day and said, I want to rap.

[Bert]

I'm pretty sure that's true.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

So I'm pretty sure from the time we. And we're about the same age, so, you know, I'm pretty sure we'll probably, you know, stepping into the arena around the same time.

[Jan]

When you work with somebody like him, is that somebody you get close to on the set? Do you become friends with your co stars?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Oh, definitely. I mean, we. We definitely had a good time and we hit it off. We had a hell of a lot of fun. You know, we took us about five or six months to shoot the film and I had the best time. And you Know, I grew to love Detroit, you know what I mean? So it was just a lot of fun.

[Jan]

Would you ever go back to rapping?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Ah, man, not right now. Really Past that heyday. I'm already in my 30s and you know those days, oh, I haven't raped.

[Commercial Announcer]

What about a movie with rapping?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

That probably wouldn't be that bad. I mean, it just depends on what it is and what the role is and you know, what it is that we're doing.

[Bert]

You know, before we get into Lie to me here, you know, Ashton Kutcher is in Atlanta right now and he's filming a movie. Is there anything that you haven't said to him yet about his, your punked episode that you would like to say to him?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

No. It's funny because I bumped into action a couple of times, but no, you know, it's all good. There's nothing, no ill will. No, no, I don't harbor any, any bad feelings

[Bert]

after something like that happens. You got to be sort of like a little bit curious that anything out of the ordinary that happens on any given day, you're like looking over your shoulder. Is that an Ashton Kutcher thing or is this really happening to me?

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Well, you know, it's so funny because they really did a good job with that show because you really don't expect it as much as you want to say that you're on point, you know, and I'm a New Yorker, so I always feel like I'm a New Yorker, I know what's going on, but you know, you just never know. They do, they really do a great job with that.

[Bert]

Well, talk to us about Lie To Me. I mean, you've got the benefit of being on a TV show that it's going to go down in history as one of the greatest TV shows ever. And here now you sign up to do Lie To Me. There's got to be a lot of pressure on the people around you right now.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Well, yeah, it's actually, it's a lot of fun. You know, I just thought it was a great opportunity. You know, Tim Roth is great and you know, obviously I love Brian Grazer and all the work that he's done. And I know Brian, he's a great producer. So, you know, I just felt like, you know, and the thing about ER was I really got in on the ninth season so, you know, it already got all its accolades and you know, it's already a well oiled machine. It's nice to sort of getting something on the ground up and be a part of the show from the ground up.

[Jan]

And you've been doing a lot more producing and directing lately. It seems like you're maybe moving behind the scenes a little bit more in the industry.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Yeah, well, you know, I do love. I love both sides. I love both facets. You know, I have directed, but, you know, I really love producing and I love acting, you know, so I'm definitely always looking for other opportunities to branch out.

[Jan]

But we think that you're hot, so we want you in front of the camera, not behind the camera.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Okay. Continue to do so.

[Jan]

More FaceTime for you, please.

[Bert]

Hey, thanks a lot for your time, Makai. I appreciate it.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Thank you, guys.

[Bert]

Good luck with Lie to Me.

[Commercial Announcer]

Bye.

[Bert]

Bye.

[Makai Pfeiffer]

Thank you.

[Bert]

The Bird Show.