tavis: blair underwood next. stay with us. always pleased to welcome blair underwood in addition to his role in the nbc primtime drama "the event." he stars in "i will follow" from the african-american film festival releasing movement. here's a scene from the show than airs on nbc monday nights at 9:00 called "the event." >> unfortunately senator, all i can tell you is it's a matter of national security. >> those two words are so overused. and your government has been able to rid them of any meaning. and in the process this made the country less secure. >> senator, you've held public office for all of two weeks. you weren't even elected. you want to be outraged, your state has the highest unemployment in the country, the highest obesity. why don't you have the next 90 days to relieve those people and leave national security with those with actual credentials. the next time you question my authority i will eviscerate yours. tavis: what's up with all these negros playing a president? >> you know what, i was doing an interview th

join me next time for a conversation with columnist david brooks and actor blair underwood. that's next time. we'll see you then. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference, >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is froud join naves working to improve financial literacy one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more.

. >> first, can we say hello to blair underwood? >> yes!how are you? >> you don't have to bow. >> i love the premise here. shortly before this they say the deficit will be huge, unemployment is terrible and, oh, there are a bunch of aliens you need to know about. >> aliens trying to take over earth. >> how does a president handle that news? >> calmly and smoothly. listen, we're having a great time. the show starts tonight on nbc. a two-hour special. we are very excited. now we know these aliens used to be here before. used to live here before. not taking over. they are taking it back. >> is that the event? >> it may be. it may be. we don't know what it is. >> it may be. it may be. >> do tell. tell us more. >> it's a big part. >> it has to do with -- i will say this. it has to do with the aliens coming back and changing and adjusting the world in which we live. as president i have an issue with that. >> as president -- >> i've got issues. >> in this episode you got a riff from the headline, president dealing with a senator from alaska who's

we have blair underwood and star jones and shirley jones.ve got. >> we'red, whacked behavior. enough about hoda's weekend. >> my vintage bambi -- whoa, i don't need to do that. >> come on. ♪ i'm perfectly good at it ♪ i don't care about it ♪ sticks and stones may break our bones ♪ >> you look beautiful. ♪ i may be bad but i'm perfectly good ♪ ♪ and it's sex in the air ♪ i don't care i understood it ♪ >> let's drink to that? >> okay. >> let's drink to that? >> okay. >> drink to success. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com my second diagnosis-- i was told to go home, retire, and enjoy the time i had left. to say it was a shock is just a complete understatement. i mean, i don't think there are words. she had put up a really good fight, but it was her time. you... don't have a choice of getting breast cancer. i had no choice. i wanted to do something bigger than myself. that 3-day gave me that opportunity. and i can actually do something to help. i think it's a very bold thing to do. 60 miles in 3 days-- i can do that. i'm sure if it was 100 m