Ernest L. Thomas . . .
A personal conversation with Eliza
. . .
Ernest at my home in 2007
Everyone knows who Ernest L. Thomas is, Don’t you? Even if you don’t recognize the name, you definitely know the face or the characters he’s played.
Currently, Ernest has a recurring role as Mr. Omar on the show “Everybody Hates Chris”. “Everybody Hates Chris” is an African-American sitcom that features fictional characters and situations that is broadly based on real people and situations. The show is inspired by the teenage experiences of the star comedian Chris Rock while he was growing up in Brooklyn. Chris Rock narrates each show.
Mr. Omar (Ernest) is a funeral director who lives above Chris and his family. He is smooth with the ladies and is seen with a new female widow in almost every episode he appears in. His claim is to console the lovely ladies in their time of grief, but as it shows, he just wants to get close to them for very personal reasons...
The show is absolutely hilarious and Mr. Omar definitely plays his part well. Check out this clip:
For me, Ernest is most remembered by his own show “What's Happening!!” and “What's Happening Now!!” where he plays the character “Raj”, with a signature laugh and dance.
Can anyone beat these dance moves...
“What’s Happening!!” began in August 1976 and ran until April 1979. The series was centered on three teens — Raj, Dwayne, and Rerun. The story dealt with comedic situations about their struggles to grow up in an urban lower-middle class neighborhood. Other cast members include his bratty sister Dee, Mable (Mama) and the sassy waitress Shirley from the local eating hangout.
Here is a clip to take you back:
This show must have really had a huge impact on the viewers because it returned back in 1985 under the new name “What’s Happening Now!!”. The show starts several years down the line when they are adults. Adults by age only, the show was based on more mature situations they find themselves in. This show abandoned the mother and sister characters, but created a wife for Raj — Nadine, played by Anne-Marie Johnson.
Ernest has many more TV and movie credits and we've listed them at the end of the interview.
I recently had the pleasure of having a personal and intimate interview with Ernest. This is one outstanding man who has a heart of gold. He absolutely loves people and people love him. One thing that will stand out in his interview is how passionate he is about helping others and finding a way for everyone to come together as one to help those in need.
I truly love Ernest, but when we get together, whether in person or on the phone, that is a 'long winded' conversation. We are talking and laughing so much and the subject can change twenty times, so quite naturally, this interview was so long that I had to edit it a bit for the magazine. Even after the editing, I realized that the interview would have to be broken into two issues.
Please, take some time and enjoy our interview (Part 1):
IOR (Its Our Reality): Ernest, I'd like to thank you in advance for doing this interview and making yourself so available to me.
Ernest: Well, you know sweetheart, anything for you. I've always told you that I would always be there for you.
IOR: Well, Ernest, I’ve been doing a lot of reading on you and I’m finding out so many new things that I didn’t know about you. First, my friends want me to ask you about the movie clip you sent me called "Paroled". What happened to that?
Ernest: People want to see it. 50 Cents, he was laughing about it, he loved my scene, he loved the whole movie and he wanted to buy it, and the managers were calling the producers and director, but nothing ever happened. The young man in the movie is a protege' of his. Meanwhile, the producer and director are still talking to other people and they are still waiting, they had some deals offered, but they want to get with the deal that’s most profitable. But I’m frustrated. Where is the film? I told them what you said, how much you loved it.
IOR: That's right, I sent it to several people and they were all wanting to see the rest of it. Your character was so intense. Definitely, a different type of role for you. When is it coming out?
Ernest: I talked to the director yesterday, and I won't say, but he's got some good news. I just want to wait until he signs it. So I’ll let you know.
IOR: Are you working on anything else? Of course "Everyone Hates Chris".
Ernest: Man, that show was created by Chris Rock and Ali LeRoi, what a blessing those guys have been to me, that whole show, Tichina Arnold is my baby. I will love her forever, she can do no wrong. She is a sweetheart. It’s not like we hang or anything like that. When I did the "Martin" show, I just fell in love with her spirit. Tichina is definitely my muse as they say, she makes me go crazy, just her being there. Then you have, Terry Cruise who’s great. Terry loves her to death. And they tell me, you have to get use to people giving you that real love. They look you in the eye and mean it. The kids Tequan, Tyler, Imani and Vincent the best actors, the best kid actors. They are going to have a long history. This season is going to be off the hook. Even the episodes that I’m not in, you should watch every one of them. They've got some stuff now that’s hot. It is sizzling hot, the whole season.
IOR: We definitely love the show, my kids love it. I have to confess, I get caught up, and sometimes I think that I’m a celebrity or something (we both laugh), because I have people I know that are always
calling me about you. You know, saying, "I saw your cousin here", "I saw your cousin there", and with you letting me know in advance when something is going on. So that’s good. I read something about a "Generation X", what is that?
Ernest: Samantha Harris she is one of the host for dancing with the stars. She was on "The View" this morning filling in. Samantha Harris, her first thing she did as far as hosting was a show I produced and it was like young people reviewing movies and she was the host. I still have it on tape, so I'll have to show you one day. We were trying to pitch it out there and get it sold. Were finding, too many chiefs in the kitchen. It was basically a review show of movies.
IOR: You said kids were reviewing it?
Ernest: Teenagers in their language, how they talk.
IOR: And there's UNE'. I want to tell you tried to get UNE’s CD. We went a few places, Best Buy, Circuit City and Target. After talking to you, I finally downloaded it from itunes. Tell us about UNE' and your relationship to him.
Ernest: I am one of the producers along with Carmela C. Martin, one of very few women producers of music, and Sterling G., a great crew. Carmela brought with her all these great ideas and broke all the songs down before we did the major production. They did an incredible job.
IOR: So are you happy with how everything is going right now? I know UNE' is out and about at a lot of events right now.
Ernest: Well yes, you know that because we are independent, we didn’t get big cash to promote it like we would want to, but by the grace of God we have gotten rave reviews from Germany, England, Sweden, Japan (wow) and of course here. The LA Times, Music Connection, and another internet magazine where he was on the front cover with several other big stars. This just has to be God, and it’s just a miracle, because these other labels can easily put a million dollars to promote their music to get ten million back. I believe in my heart that the CD will get to the top of the charts and UNE’ will be a force to be dealt with not only in America, but all over the world.
IOR: He sounds great, honestly. I love the whole CD, it has something for every type of person. A lot of times you hear new music and think, "oh, it has to grow on me", but I liked what I heard from the beginning.
Ernest: Oh, that’s great, I’ll definitely tell him that.
IOR: The thing is, people just have to hear it, so it has to get out there. Well, I have a page in this issue reviewing the CD with a link to his site dedicated to UNE'
Ernest: Okay and thank you. That’s it, if we can just get it out there in the masses so that they hear it, I know they’ll like it. Yes, so we are talking about it and mentioned it in places, like the "Jet" magazine recently when they talked about the ‘where are they now’ this is the ‘now’. UNET Music and Entertainment is a partnership of three people, Carmella C. Martin who also produced the CD, UNE and myself using my initials E.T. along with UNE'. We will have other artist and singers.
IOR: Well, great success with UNE’ and UNET Music.
IOR: Now you are also working on an internet show?
Ernest: Yes, I have a talk show I’m working on as well that is on the internet called 'My PIMP TV'. (both laughing) Now, don’t be fooled by the pimp, (serious laughing) Don’t let the P.I.M.P. fool you. It is actually an acronym and we are going to have the public to come up with something. We have something in mind, but we want see what the public comes up with. "PIMP TV" was born because three friends have "something to say" about any and everything that affects our daily lives as individuals, about our nation and more.
IOR: I know the story, but let's talk about your experience with Muhammad Ali, I know you adore him.
Ernest: I know God put him in my life when I needed someone, as they say, bigger than life. He is such a huge, famous figure, but he is the most humble guy. He took me under his wings and just bankrolled me. He made sure I had the things that I needed, he took care of me because I didn’t have money at the time. He volunteered, I didn’t ask, he just said "I know". He read me, because I was saying, ‘Oh no I don’t need anything", (both of us laughing) and he said, "oh yes you do".
(continue laughing)
IOR:: That’s is something.
Ernest: You know, I was trying to be one of the "proud" people, but he knew. I had so much pride that it was hard for me to say, "yes". He is a wise man.
IOR: That was great for him to do that. A lot of people won’t reach out like that.
Ernest: No, he was the only one who said "you need something". (still laughing) Of course, this really blew my mind, first of all this is "Muhammad Ali" and then he is saying "I want to help you". ‘Whew’, I couldn’t believe it. I would have to pinch myself constantly. Is this Muhammad Ali who’s calling me and driving me around in his Rolls Royce and taking me on events where he had me as one of the speakers. He showed me how much love I had out there, because I didn’t realize that. I never thought that if I went somewhere, people would go crazy, standing ovations. You know, when you’re here in L.A. and walking around, your shows canceled, it’s like a disease here.
IOR: Wow, that’s bad.
Ernest: Yeah, a disease. So I'm going through depression and Ali takes me under his wings and he talked about giving back which is how God bless’ you. Which I know, but you forget that.
IOR: Especially when you are going through trials and stress yourself.
Ernest: Yes, he told me, you’ve got to get out of, "I need a check", we got to do something for the people. So we would go out on the street corners of Watts and Compton to just sit and talk to the people.
IOR: Ooh, Muhammad Ali, oh my goodness.
Ernest: Yes, in the Rolls Royce. We would talk and sign autographs, tell people to hang in there, you can make it. We began to go to Cedar Sinai visiting people with cancer. They're screaming, "Muhammad Ali", and you are making their day. I’m like, oh yes, this is what I should be doing.
IOR: You can do that, you are in a position to make somebody’s day.
Ernest: Yes, and I’m crying the blues about a show, these people are dealing with cancer and poverty, and I’m tripping. So Ali helped me and when we went on the World Hunger Tour that's when I saw the reaction of the people and it literally made me break down. I mean they went bananas, just acting up, doing the 'Raj dance', pointing at me, doing high fives. Ali asked, "do you see, do you see how they love you? You’ll get another show, but you’ve got to do the work. You’ve got to give back."
IOR: Give back, you’ve got to give in order to receive. So would you say he was one of the people who turned your life around.
Ernest: Yes, definitely, no doubt about it. Major embark on my life. I never saw a person who just wasn’t conscience of who they are. He know he is "Ali", but it isn’t something he dwells on. He's not, like I’m better than you. I remember we went to a Tyson fight and with all due respect to Tyson, Ali, got the bigger applause. I mean it was like the earth was rumbling. Then when he enter the arena people are lined up all against the wall. The body guards are trying to keep people away and he’s telling the guards to get off of him. He’s saying, "let them do what they want to do". They just wanted to touch him. There were layers of people and everyone could not get to him, so he’s waving and he wanted them to know I’m here for you, I love you too. I’m watching by example. We stayed their four hours until everyone who wanted an autograph, got it. I’ve never met anyone like that, no one.
IOR: Wow, that’s wonderful, and as big of a person that he is, you wouldn’t think. And being a boxer, he had to do all that tough talking and things like that.
Ernest: Yes, that’s just selling tickets. He is the most spiritual and nicest person I have ever met on this earth, yes it is definitely, Muhammad Ali. A major influence in my life and I know why he is being blessed now. He gets more and more famous.
IOR: Well, I love him myself, yes I do. That's awesome. I would love to meet him one day myself.
Well, that's Part 1, I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to check out our next issue for Part II of 'A personal conversation with Ernest L. Thomas'.
In Part II will we will get real deep and serious when we discuss what Ernest is passionate about. You'll also able to view more of what he is doing now and his credits.
Can anyone beat these dance moves... 
