Malcolm-Jamal Warner Talks New Album, ‘American Crime Story’ & Bill Cosby's Impact [INTERVIEW]

Many know actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable from the, at one time, respected family series The Cosby Show. Today, however, the actor is much more than a famed Cosby kid; he is an actor, a writer, a poet, a musician and most of all, a man on a journey.

Warner is gearing up for an integral role in FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, playing the part of Al "A.C." Cowlings. And while it's not the first time he's worked with creator Ryan Murphy—he did so on Season 4 of American Horror Story (Freak Show)—Warner tells us that this experience was undoubtedly "surreal."

MStars News recently caught up with Malcolm-Jamal Warner before the release of American Crime Story to discuss the series, his Grammy-winning album Selfless, and yes, a quick thought on Bill Cosby amid his allegations, arrest and fall from grace.

MStars News: Congratulations on American Crime Story! How are you feeling about it?
Malcolm-Jamal Warner: I'm excited about it! I have not seen anything at all. It was definitely an honor and a treat to get to work with Ryan Murphy. He's a guy who has an interesting way of telling stories. I'm probably looking forward to seeing the show just as much as everyone else. [laughs]

 You saw the Bronco. But you weren’t in the Bronco. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story premieres February on FX. #ACSFX

A video posted by American Crime Story FX (@americancrimestoryfx) on Dec 28, 2015 at 11:39am PST

MS: Does what the show is based on—the fact that it's a true story—make it all more nerve-racking for you?
MJW: Not nerve-racking, no. I think, for all of us who worked on the show, it was definitely very surreal. I think people are going to dig it because it's Ryan Murphy, which is pretty awesome, and it's also a great cast. Cuba [Gooding Jr.] and John Travolta and David Schwimmer, it's a really solid cast. I'm definitely not feeling any nerves right now; it's more excitement for me.

MS: Your role, Al Cowlings, is an integral part of O.J. Simpson's story. Working on this, something unfortunately now a part of history, what was it like going back and immersing yourself in that world?
MJW: I didn't know much about Al Cowlings. It was really interesting compiling as much stuff as I was able to in terms of researching him and their relationship. It reminded me a lot of other relationships I know in terms of celebrity and the role of the best friend. I think they had a really interesting friendship in that O.J. looked out for A.C., and A.C. really looked out for O.J. I really feel like A.C. was voice of reason for O.J. and the one to keep him out of trouble.

I also think that the whole white Bronco, low-speed chase, I think that was A.C. trying to buy O.J. time to get his head together. I remember watching the chase and thinking, where are they going?! [laughs] It was entertaining to see A.C.'s role as the mediator in this and really having O.J.'s back as much as he could.

MS: For someone like you, who has been a personality in television for so long, what are your thoughts about TV today?
MJW: I think there are some areas where TV has gotten better because there's so many outlets now versus 30 years ago. I think we went through a period where we went through this mediocrity in television all across the board. But now the cable networks are pushing the envelope. It makes the broadcast networks up their game. We're seeing some interesting things on television after having what felt like a lull.

MS: Tell me about Selfless, your latest album.
MJW: Selfless is my third CD. One of the things that this does for me is represent where I am as a poet, as a musician, as a man. I put so much of my insecurities and vulnerabilities and swag into this record. I am on this journey as a 45-year-old man, and I think there's a lot that I've shared of myself here that I hope can be thought-provoking and inspirational.

MS: I respect that you don't want to toss your opinion in on the whole Bill Cosby case, but I am curious if what has happened as of late—the allegations, the arrest—has at all tainted what you learned from him, and your experiences with him?
MJW: Not at all. What I've learned from him in terms of work ethic, professionalism [and] how you run a show, everything that I have learned from him that has had a significantly positive impact on not only my career but also my journey as a man and actor, none of that can be taken away.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Selfless is available for purchase now. Check him out on The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on FX this coming Feb. 2 at 10 p.m.