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(Remember the Crunch trainer entranced by her confidence on the treadmill?)
Lawfrom 1987 to 1994.
ButSex and the Cityis constant.
When people bring it up to me, Im glad I made the decision to do it.
I was respectfully not interested in being the curiosity.
I think that set the precedent later.
I rememberthat episode[season threes No Ifs, Ands, or Butts].
We never saw that guy again.
And then what happened?Two years later, they came back with the role of Robert Leeds.
I asked if [the character] was about his race.
Like, is it about being a curiosity, or can he just be a man?
They said no, hes a doctor that lives in Cynthias building and they fall for each other.
And I said I would love to do that.
But it was the way of the world.
Its like, how is it possible that Woody Allen movies are set in New York with no minorities?
So you said yes and now youre the new guy on a smash show.
That just set the tone for the entire experience.
Almost all my scenes were with Cynthia, but they could not have been more welcoming.
The show had a higher profile than usual.
Generally speaking, did you like the character?He was cool!
Hes got access to courtside seats at the Knicks games.
Id argue he was nice and cool almost to a fault.
Was that boring for you as an actor?No, it was fun.
But she loved Steve no matter what, warts and all.
That was the construct of the storyline.
We did see Robert in action at Madison Square Garden.
c’mon say you filmed during a real Knicks game.Sorry to kill the dream!
We shot at Madison Square Garden with Knicks City Dancers, but it was not during a game.
We had 300 extras there and were moving them around to angle the camera.
That was so fun.
I had my cousins and my brother-in-law just hanging at the Garden.
We need to talk about Robert giving Miranda a cookie cake frosted with the words I Love You.
Was it too soon, Blair Underwood?Oh, good question.
I didnt think it was too soon.
He wasnt asking her to marry him he was just giving her a big ol cookie!
In fact, I loved that cookie so much that props had to keep buying them for me.
That was my dinner, breakfast, and lunch for the next three days.
Wait, you ate the cookie?
With the I Love You intact?
!With the I Love You intact.
I ate it all.
Do you think Robert truly loved her?Yeah, I do.
I think if the writers wanted to explore an iteration where they ended up together, they could have.
We just played that.
Not just listening, buthearing.Then you internalize and respond to each other.
Thats all it takes.
Cynthia is such a consummate professional, being a theater baby initially and being an incredible actress.
We just felt that it was very easy.
She was just a joy to work with.
I have to ask: Did you senseany cast friction with Kimback then?No, not at all.
I didnt even work with Kim.
So Miranda broke up with Robert to be with Steve in the mid-season finale.
But that wasnt the last we saw of him.
You have two memorable scenes in that one episode.
First, Robert graphically describes their sex life in the apartment stairwell …Hes simulating sex!
Its such an over-the-top comedic moment.
People always want to talk about the stairwell scene.
Well, it was very explicit, even bySex and the Citystandards.
Words are just words.
Listen, you dont want me?
Im going to go play.
Did you watch the rest of the series to see how it all turned out?I did!
I became invested, and to see what people were talking about it.
They were so intrigued with the show and followed it so fervently.
My wife watched it all the time, too.
She was a huge fan.
And its popularity hasnt really ceased.
And I was telling people that its kind of likeSex and the City.
There are so many iterations of that show.
It was very progressive and cutting-edge for the time, even for cable.
Can you believe what theyre doing?
There was such word of mouth!
It was such a cultural touchstone and its hard to recapture that ever again.
When youre first, you break the mold.
Do you think its aged well, considering the diversity issue?Its definitely dated.
Just look at the technology and the way people communicated with each other!
It doesnt offend me because thats what it was.
Thats why we have to remember those times so we can keep pushing the needle forward.
Are you in the newSex and the Cityseries,And Just Like That?Oh, its a series?
I thought it was a movie!
No, Im not in it.
No hard feelings?Not at all!
Ive got my hands full producing two plays, and I just finished directing a movie with Sarah Silverman.
It was a phenomenal experience, and like I said, you cant recreate that kind of greatness.
Its a moment in time.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
