T.C. wants a bit more

Press, 1 November 1985, Page 9

T.C. wants a bit more

“I’m the only character people know nothing about It almost sends me back to the studio with a real mean attitude, but when I get there I realise I’ve got to be Martin Luther King.”

Roger E. Mosley, who plays T.C., the helicopter pilot in “Magnum P.L,” feels he has a certain responsibility to black viewers.

“I read that on a regular basis there are only about 30 black actors on (American) TV — in any capacity. When I run into people on the street, they tell me they’re so happy I’m not playing a butler or a chauffeur,” he says. “T.C. is young, black, independent and vibrant Every other black character on TV is trying to arrest someone. If there are five or six million guys who want to be Tom Selleck, then 10 per cent, or whatever the black population is, would love to be me.”

But Mosley says that in the next breath people tell him they wish he said and

did more on the show, “so they can be proud.” He has often raised the issue with the “Magnum P. 1.” producers, but so far nothing has changed. Mosley doubts if it ever will. The producers claim that T.C. will be "fleshed out” as the show grows.

"Magnum P. 1.” returns on Two at 8.30 p.m.