← Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Interview Only: Terry Crews from the NFL to Hollywood star is not Easy.
00:21:24
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- [00:00]
Terry Crews
Are you still quoting 30 year old movies?
- [00:02]
Stephen A. Smith
Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places.
- [00:13]
Terry Crews
That take credit cards nationwide.
- [00:15]
Stephen A. Smith
And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn more@discover.com credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:03]
Terry Crews
Feeling better, sweet pea? Daddy, my voice is gone. Hello.
- [01:10]
Greg Rosenthal
Hi, baby.
- [01:11]
Terry Crews
Hi, you.
- [01:12]
Greg Rosenthal
That's my father's I done effed up voice.
- [01:15]
Terry Crews
So how my babies.
- [01:16]
Greg Rosenthal
Do you need me to come home? I'm gonna end up being the map ratchet in the mythical daddy's on over his head.
- [01:22]
Terry Crews
No, I'm not. What?
- [01:24]
Greg Rosenthal
I just wanted soup.
- [01:28]
Terry Crews
All I need is hotel towels and tiny shampoos and a nightstand if it fits in your purse. Okay, well, love you. Bye. No daughter of mine's gonna be a background tree.
- [01:41]
Greg Rosenthal
That was a clip from the new Comedy Central animated series, Everybody Style Still Hates Chris. That stars my next guest. He's a former NFL player and is an actor known for some of our favorite films and TV shows like Training Day, Friday After Next, White Chicks and Brooklyn Nine Nine. He now hosts NBC's hit competition series America's Got Talent. And you just saw what he's doing with Comedy Central and animation. Please welcome the one and only funny man himself, Mr. Terry Crews. What's up, big time? How are you, man? What's going on?
- [02:14]
Terry Crews
What's up, Steven? It's good to be here, man. Thank you.
- [02:17]
Greg Rosenthal
Well, first of all, the face is glowing. I mean, the face is going. You look happy, you look smooth and all that stuff. You actually look. I know you always in shape, but you actually look a little bit smaller. Am I missing something right now?
- [02:30]
Terry Crews
Yeah. You know, man, I'm 56, man. And you know, it's dangerous trying to stay big and Old at the same.
- [02:36]
Greg Rosenthal
Time, so you gotta. You have to lose that weight. How many pounds have you lost, bro?
- [02:41]
Terry Crews
Oh, probably about 15. 15. I mean, at my best, like, at my Friday after next days, I was like, 260. Yeah. Big boy. Dangerous, the whole thing. You know, I played at about 255, but I love staying around 235, 238. Somewhere in there right now. Slim and trip.
- [03:00]
Greg Rosenthal
The hell with that. The way I look at it, if you're over 220, most people ain't gonna want to mess with you anyway. So you're good to go. You good to go. How has life been for you? When I see this, you know, see this animation, see you involved knowing how you make people laugh, you make people smile. It's something that you seem to have prioritized as your career has continued to grow. We've seen you in other roles where obviously you could be a menacing character, but obviously, when you see yourself now, you see something a little bit different. Is that intentional?
- [03:33]
Terry Crews
Yes, absolutely. First of all, you know, when I started, I could have been that action guy, you know, the mean dude, the rough guy, you know, and all this dramatic stuff. But I never wanted to do that, man. I mean, listen, after my seven years in NFL, in the locker room, I was the clown, man. I was a clown in school. I had so much fun making people laugh. And I remember I actually had to take a look at my whole career, and I decided, wait a minute. If me being this big dude who can make people laugh is gonna set me apart from everybody else, then that's the route I'm going to take. And at first it was a little dangerous because everybody was like, we never seen this before. But after a while, it became like, oh, my God, this is what. This is my path. This is what I, you know, what I was born to do and do. I mean, when I look at my career and I look at all the stuff that I've done, man, I'm so proud. It kind of paved the way for a lot of big brothers to go out there and be as funny as they can.
- [04:34]
Greg Rosenthal
Do you feel like it was a priority to do that because you were big, big, black, strong, you could look medicine if you wanted to. And obviously, those stereotypes exist out there. So being able to make somebody laugh, drop their guard, have a good time with them. Did you see that? As in almost immediately, as something that would be advantageous for you is to. Even to the degree that it is.
- [04:58]
Terry Crews
Yes, yes. Because, listen, man, we contain multitudes, Stephen. We have so many things. And what happens is everybody wants to put people in boxes. They wanna say, you grew up here, you did this. Listen, I'm from Flint, Michigan, one of the most hardcore cities on the face of the earth. And laughter got me through. You know what I mean? One thing I know is that most comedians have had very, very hard lives. And laughter is the thing. You have to laugh to keep from crying. And for me, you know, growing up in a crack epidemic, a lot of violence, a lot of gang, a lot of craziness, even inside my house, it was the way I survived, man. The comedy was the way I was. I could see life and I could deal with it. And to be able to share that with everybody else, especially now in hard times, when people are looking at their lives and trying to wonder, you know, how they going to put food on the table and do things, man. If we can all sit down and laugh together, we can go another day. You get another. Like, you get one more chance to do what you do. And let me tell you, I feel like it's really an important mission that I have in my life is to make people laugh and enjoy themselves.
- [06:13]
Greg Rosenthal
When you were the dad and everybody hates Chris, what was that like for you? Because we're talking about Chris Rock's story to some degree. We know how hilarious he can be and what have you, and to play the role that you played on that particular show, and we'll get into the iteration that's now existing. But playing that role, what did that do for you, man?
- [06:34]
Terry Crews
First of all, it turned me into a household name. You know, I remember when I. Before that, I was doing movies, you know, I was doing White Chicks, the Longest Yard, you know, Friday, all that stuff. And I said, I'm going to be a movie star. And. But my wife told me, she said, honey, honey, wait, wait, wait. You don't understand. If you get on tv, you can come into people's homes and you guaranteed a career, you know, because sometimes the movies can be flash and bang and then you out. But when Chris Rock gave me this opportunity, man, to play his dad. One thing you have to understand, too, I am the only member on this show that's actually named after a real person. His father actually passed away and. And Chris dedicates his life and his whole comedic career to his father. And Julius is. It's one of the biggest honors that I could ever be given. And to play this character for four years, and people have grown up on watching Everybody Hates Chris, especially playing a black dad in a household who Cared and loved his wife and his children. Believe me, man, it was a mission that I felt like it's one of the greatest things I've ever been given.
- [07:48]
Greg Rosenthal
So let's transition to this new iteration. Everybody Still Hates Chris. It's in animation. It's your voice. You're not seen on television. Actually acting itself. You're doing voiceover because it's animation. What is that like for you? And how enjoyable is it compared to what you did with Everybody Hates Chris?
- [08:06]
Terry Crews
Oh, once I got into doing cartoon voiceover and animation, I loved it. I did Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I did Blade on the Marvel series. I did all kinds of stuff that I, you know. Cause I loved it. I love animation. And to get this chance, because you have to understand. Everybody Hates Chris was canceled four years in, and we had big stories to tell. We were so disappointed. We were crushed. Me, Tichina, Chris, Rock, even Tyler back in the day. This was almost 20 years ago. And now to get this chance. Cause you're mourning these characters because they're gone. But now, now they're back, but in animated form. Who gets this? Man, this is one of those things that I don't know. I don't know anybody who gets these kind of opportunities. And I'm taking them. I'm taking all of it, man. The fact that we can do this and kind of. We want to catch up to the Simpsons and all the episodes. You know what I'm saying? We try. We got lots of stories to tell.
- [09:05]
Greg Rosenthal
Well, you willing to put in that work, and that's. And I love that about you. And don't listen to these folks that try to tell you not to tell. Take every opportunity. Hell with all of them. You spear heading away for a lot of us. And I appreciate you, bro. I gotta ask you, when you think about where you are now, I'm just doing my research, looking into some things about you. Just I'm thinking about your 2022 memoir, Tough My Journey to True Power. And you really revealed a lot of your vulnerabilities and some of the things that you wanted the world to know. When you wrote your book, when you wrote your memoir, what exactly was it that you wanted people to know? What did you want people to get from it? And what did you want people to hold on to? Not just read and hear about it and then let it go?
- [09:53]
Terry Crews
Stephen, let me tell you, as a kid, this was so crazy, man. You know, I grew up in the 80s. Like, my teen years was in the 80s. And all I wanted to Find out was. Was. What did it take to be a man? I remember asking. And you know what people told me? They was like, one day you go find out. That's what being a man.
- [10:12]
Greg Rosenthal
Exactly.
- [10:12]
Terry Crews
And I said, man, look, man, I'm 12. Why can't you tell me what's going on?
- [10:16]
Greg Rosenthal
Right?
- [10:17]
Terry Crews
And I realized people weren't talking. No one was saying, especially the men in my neighborhood, they weren't coming up. Now, it might have been happening somewhere else, but nobody was telling us what's going on. So I made a vow with my best friend. I said, hey, man, if you find out something that I don't know, promise me you'll tell me. And if I find out something you don't know, I promise to tell you. And this is how we were actually parenting each other in a lot of ways. My own father wasn't telling me what was going on. And when I wrote this book, I said, I am going to tell it all so that any young person that's out there wanting to know the deets about what it is to be a man, what will learn a little bit more from my experience. Because I'm telling. I'm telling my own issues, the. My own things that I went through, the difficulties, the obstacles, the successes, all of the things that men go through. This is my viewpoint. And if it helps you, because I told it, thank God, because no one was telling me. And that's what I wanted everybody to get when they read this book.
- [11:24]
Greg Rosenthal
Sometimes truths are uncomfortable, not because other people know it, but because of how they come at you because of it. So I preface my question by bringing that up, because I'm asking you, what was the most discomfort you felt and you received from revealing so much of what you revealed in your memoir?
- [11:50]
Terry Crews
Well, I mean, first of all, you know, there's a status that, you know, being a big guy, being on tv, being famous, it's like a huge. You know, there's a giant thing you have to hold up. You know what I mean? It's like the example you are, the. The image. But the thing was, is that the, you know, success is the warmest place to hide. I found out I could hide behind that image. I found out the real me could always get away with doing other stuff and not being cool and. And all this stuff. But then when, as long as I was on TV and as long as I was in front, I could put this face out and bam, nobody was gonna call me on any of my stuff. You know what I mean? It's like when you're famous. Everybody's like, you're the greatest. But my wife was like, you know what I mean? And I realized I had to tear that image down. Because this is the thing, the image, as long as it keeps going, I inside. This is why you see football player, you know, athletes, entertainers, they turn around and all of a sudden their lives are a mess, you know, out of nowhere, because they were never one person. You can have a double life. I actually had a double life, you know, I mean, it was one in the front, and then there's one in the back. Well, by me, putting my stuff out there was about becoming one person. It was about becoming whole. You know what I mean? It was like becoming this person in the front, and the back was changed. Everything, wasn't it?
- [13:21]
Greg Rosenthal
Also about not being a prisoner to fears of what others may think of you if they indeed knew. I mean, for me, personally, I'm a very private person. I'm like, it's none of your damn business. But I ain't scared of somebody knowing me, because I'm like, listen, I. I am who I am, and there's a freedom that comes with it. That's why I'm able to do national television live every morning, because I'm worried about it. But you'd be surprised at how many people are scared to death of that other side of themselves being exposed.
- [13:53]
Terry Crews
You know, I had to face this a long time ago, man, because what happens is you. When you have big dreams, you start going against people from the jump. You know, a lot of people, I always say, hey, man, I'm going to Hollywood. They're like, man, what make you think you gonna go to Hollywood, man? You might as well be going to Mars. And you know what? Guess what, Stephen? I live on Mars right now, brother. You know, and because I didn't listen, and what I realized is that those opinions and those naysayers and all the worried about being worried about what other people might think is a big obstacle. And I had to realize, wait a minute. People gonna talk anyway. People are gonna say they love you and talk about you behind their back anyway, right? So you know what? Why don't you get yourself together and let them talk, and whatever happens, happens. But I found that out slowly but surely, because I used to care. I used to maneuver around and make sure I look good so that people wouldn't talk. But they talking anyway, right? So I said, you know what? I'm just going to put it all out there. And let me tell you, man, I am free. I feel Like I'm free as a bird, I sleep like a baby. You know what I mean? Knowing that I did my best every day and I'm one person, I'm whole. I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
- [15:11]
Greg Rosenthal
I don't think anybody gives back to our society more than people. In the comedic world, whether you're an actor or just a straight up comedian, the ability to make others laugh in a productive and harmless way. I'm talking about not at the expense of somebody else's soul, but, but, but definitely to make people laugh, even make somebody la at themselves, because somebody's imitating you or they're funny or whatever. I think it's a very, very powerful tool. And when I think about everybody still hates Chris. Chris Rock is one of the greatest comedians we've ever seen in American history. Obviously this is about him, this is associated with him. You're still playing this role. What are you hopeful and what do you think this show is going to do for people and the industry as a whole moving forward?
- [16:00]
Terry Crews
Well, think about this. When you think about the state of comedy right now, it's very, very, it's, it's, it's on, it's, it's on its last leg in a lot of ways because people are scared to do comedy. You know, all it takes is a couple mean tweets and, and somebody didn't like this or somebody was offended and all of a sudden the show was off. It's really, really hard to do comedy. This is why a lot of comedians have to. You're on, they're on their own. They literally are doing, they do a stand up special or a lot of comedians have actually quit the business.
- [16:33]
Greg Rosenthal
Wow.
- [16:33]
Terry Crews
Because it's so, you know, it's a lot of naysayers out there. Anybody can get you canceled real fast. But what I love about this show is the fact that it goes there. You know, we can do things that we couldn't do in live action, that we can do in animation.
- [16:50]
Greg Rosenthal
That's right. That's right. You get away with a lot in animation.
- [16:54]
Terry Crews
You know what I'm saying? It's like we go there and it's reflected, refreshing. It was like, oh my God, I'm laughing again. And because it's not as sensitive as the other stuff is, I listen, I've been a part of a lot of different things that if you look at hindsight, even in comedy, I mean, you look at white chicks, they say, oh, you can never do a white chicks again. Because of their, you know, if People would cancel you. But I still love that movie.
- [17:18]
Greg Rosenthal
Right.
- [17:18]
Terry Crews
And I would be white chicks, too, in a minute. But it's one of those things where you have to be, you know, this is the new day, and you have to be sensitive to how people feel, how people are responding. And I love, love, love, though, just being this comedic person on the edge. And I think everybody still hates Chris is definitely on the edge.
- [17:40]
Greg Rosenthal
I got to tell you something. I think comedy is going to be on the comeback. I think people have. Have gotten disgusted with the level of ridiculousness that comes associated with sensitivity issues. And, you know, you. You can't laugh with one another. You can't laugh at. I think it's gotten ridiculous, to be quite honest with you. But we could talk about that for another day. Before I let you get on out of here, I gotta ask you. I'd be remiss and neglecting to ask you about some NFL action. I mean, is it really about the Kansas City Chiefs and everybody else, or do you got your eyes on somebody else that's gonna win the super bowl this year?
- [18:11]
Terry Crews
Terry, first of all, I'm not. I've been on 16 to seven years. I'm not a team fan. I'm a fan of players.
- [18:18]
Greg Rosenthal
Okay.
- [18:18]
Terry Crews
You know what I mean? I'm just. I got a kind of a fantasy mindset. It. Miles Garrett is my favorite player in the league. He's a beast. And you know who else on the offensive side is? Tyreek Hill. My God. Just so exciting. So good. I feel bad for the Dolphins and what they're going through right now. Yeah, but he's the best player in the league and he's kind of stuck in the moment.
- [18:41]
Greg Rosenthal
Yeah.
- [18:42]
Terry Crews
I'm really happy for Derek Carr and how he's been showing up. So it's like I. I have all my favorite players that been doing their thing, but when it looks at a full team that's going to go all the way, man, it's anybody's guess right now. You know, I thought San Francisco was going to do it all of a sudden.
- [18:59]
Greg Rosenthal
They still got a chance. They still got a chance. But Detroit looks strong. The Minnesota Vikings have come out of nowhere. Brian Flores is coaching his butt off on the defensive side of balls. Defensive coordinator for the Vikings. I can't ignore them. You know, I was laughing about the Cowboys when they got romped like that. Right. They got whipped. You know, I laughed about that. That was funny. Right? But I don't like the way the Eagles are looking. Tampa has surprised me. I'm getting that can't. Derrick Henry's a stud in Baltimore. Dallas could have and should have had them. They messed up there. Lamar Jackson still a stud. Josh Allen's still a stud, the whole bit. But I think it's Kansas City. I think it would have surprised me at all if the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens met in the Super Bowl. But I'll ask you this, because you brought up Miami, I don't think TUA should be coming back. Back, bro. I, I, I mean, those concussions, Terry, I'm very, you know, it's bad when the opposing team is screaming for him to get down.
- [19:50]
Terry Crews
Hey, man, first of all, I listen, I love tua.
- [19:54]
Greg Rosenthal
Yeah.
- [19:54]
Terry Crews
And I, there's more to life than football. I am a prime example of that. Nothing hurt me more than when I gave it up. But guess what? I didn't know that the best part of my life was still ahead of me. You know what I mean? And I want to tell that to everybody who's in the NFL. Your best, the best thing that can happen to you has not happened to you yet. And you have to preserve your head. You have to preserve your life, for your family, for your future. I don't think he should come back, because right now, just a love tap, he's. It could put him out, man. And imagine, no one wants to watch that. No one. As if you're a true football fan. No one wants to see him get hurt again. You know what I mean? We, I'm, I'm holding my, Listen, I'm holding my stomach every time I see him play. I, if he comes back, it wouldn't, it wouldn't work for me, man. And I really, really hope he can move on and go on. There's much more to life than this.
- [20:53]
Greg Rosenthal
I, I, listen, I thought this was going to be my last question, but somebody just reminded me a Killer's game.
- [21:01]
Terry Crews
Yes.
- [21:01]
Greg Rosenthal
Okay. Yo, Terry, could you explain to me why the hell your name is Love Doll?
- [21:09]
Terry Crews
What the hell? Love Doll?
- [21:11]
Greg Rosenthal
Love you. That, that's, baby, that's.
- [21:16]
Terry Crews
First of all, the character, you know, it's a great action comedy. My man Dave Bautista is my homie. We decided to put this action comedy together. Listen, these guys got an app like Killer for Uber for Killers, you know what I mean? And Love Doll is living in the 70s, all right? He's like a black exploitation movie come to life, right? I had so much fun playing this character, man. It was so good. And I got to be bad, you know, I listen, I go back to my Damon days, man. Even Though it's funny, I do like to be intense, you know what I mean? I don't ever mail it in.
- [21:52]
Greg Rosenthal
Stephen, I can't imagine you being passive. I'll be like, what the hell's going on with you? Are you all right? I need to call him up, make sure he okay. It don't seem like Terry. That ain't Terry Crews. I know, man. I love you. I appreciate you, man. It's good seeing you so happy for all that you're doing. Keep being you. Keep putting forth the great work that you've been putting forth, man. I'm always here for you, my brother. It's good to see you.
- [22:11]
Terry Crews
Thank you, Stephen. You're the best, man. Thank you so much.
- [22:14]
Greg Rosenthal
All right, my man. You take care of yourself, all right?
- [22:24]
Stephen A. Smith
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:54]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
- [22:59]
Terry Crews
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [23:10]
Greg Rosenthal
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop.
- [23:13]
Terry Crews
By to join us. Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [23:19]
Greg Rosenthal
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.