This ain’t a movie, but it is Mekhi Phifer, and it’s TV!

We got the chance to talk to Phifer about his new CW TV series, Frequency.

In his 22 years in Hollywood, Mekhi Phifer has achieved something even rarer than winning an Oscar.

Hes a lyric in an Eminem song.

Now Mekhi Phifer is back on television in The CWsFrequency, based on the 2000 movie.

Phifer plays Satch DeLeon, a cop who spans 20 years on the show.

In 1996, hes a detective on the force with Frank Sullivan (Riley Smith).

In 2016, Satch is Franks daughter, Raimy Sullivan (Peyton List)s lieutenant.

We interviewed Phifer at a CW party before their presentation to the Television Critics Association.FrequencyairsWednesdays on The CW.

I know its no movie, theres no Mekhi Phifer.

Its a TV show and there is Mekhi Phifer.

Thats right, you better believe it.

Im happy to be here, having a great time.

Ive been doing this for 22 years.

Its nice to always have been able to remain consistent.

Im very thankful for that and to work on shows that I can be proud of, and films.

This is definitely one of them.

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I quoted the Eminem song at you.

Do people say that a lot?

I hear it all the time, all the time.

No, but Im affected by the time travel.

So Im very much affected by them talking to each other, but I just dont know it yet.

Well, your guess is as good as mine.

They just gave us episode four and its still ongoing so thats the serial aspect of our show.

Are there also new cases every week?

Yeah, new cases, theres other things that we deal with.

So its not just the Nightingale.

Theres other things but the Nightingale is sort of our subplot throughout.

What are some other cases you have in the first four episodes?

As it goes on, other things start to happen.

Is it always a murder or are there different sorts of crimes?

Its hard for me to say.

Do you know Satchs history on the force, how he became an officer and rose up to lieutenant?

Yes, and thats going to be explored as well.

We havent gotten there yet but the guys been on the force for 20 years.

How does it feel to see your older self in the present day?

I go from 32 to 52.

Im getting paid to play.

Its a lot of fun to do it, to see the makeup and everything.

Had you ever played an aged up role before?

Is it an interesting dual role to play both timelines?

Have there been any mind benders so far dealing with the dual times?

So just being mindful of the timeline of whats the actual reality.

How did you approach carrying yourself differently and feeling older?

What is Satchs relationship with Frank in the past?

Frank is my best friend.

Our families are like family.

My wife and his wife are friends so were like family.

Somehow we came up in the force together and were both detectives.

Are there different cases in the past than in the present?

Did he work different cases as a detective than as a lieutenant?

Yeah, Im quite sure.

Did Satch support Raimy going into the force?

Yeah, I think so.

In the version where Frank dies, I become sort of her surrogate father, her mentor.