Stephen Hill Talks Season 5 of Magnum P.I and what we will be in store for with his character TC

Season 5 of Magnum P. I am back and had the fantastic opportunity to speak with Stephen Hill, who plays T.C. He told me what we should be in store for this season and the things surrounding his character. Everyone is in for a treat with more laughs, love, and emotional development with the cast as they continue to shake things up in Hawaii. 

Before we get into the conversation, here is some background information about Stephen Hill. After years of student/indie films, plays, film festival circuits, and continued study, Hill has developed a reputation for solid work in T.V. and features. Credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Political Animals,” “Blue Bloods,” “Maniac,” and “Boardwalk Empire.” On the film side, Hill will have a supporting role in the upcoming musical “The Color Purple” and Steve McQueen’s “Widows.” 

Cox: Stephen Hill, I’m happy to have you here today to speak about season five of Magnum P.I. Before we get into it, how does it feel to be on the fifth season of a show? I know it’s an actor’s dream to have their own show make it past season one, let alone get to a fifth. 
Hill: Oh, man, it’s absolutely an actor’s dream. But it’s very anxiety-inducing because you never know how far a show will go. We ask each year, especially the first, “Will there be another season?” So it’s truly a blessing, and I feel blessed to be here now. 

Cox: When you received the opportunity to audition for the role of T.C., did you think this was the role for you? 
Hill: So funny a story; I was home when I got the email. At that time, I didn’t have access to a printer. I debated whether I should find a printer to print or study them on my device. I chose to study them because they usually have the sides for you when you get there. 

Mike, you know what happened when I got there? They didn’t have my sides, and when they tried to find and give me some, they gave me the wrong ones. I was like, damn, and there were two scenes I was supposed to study. Luckily, another brother there, whom I kept seeing at auditions, offered me his sides. Thankfully, his sides were clean with no marks, unlike mine, which looked like a church lady’s bible. You know, the ones who have highlights and writing everywhere. 

I’m going, to be honest; I didn’t think I did that well the first time around. But they loved me and called me back for a second audition. So then forty-eight hours later, I was in Hawaii and on set seventy-two hours after that. 

Cox: This is like a Hollywood story. Stephen, how has the show evolved from season one to season five? 
Hill: Mike, I’m excited I have a love interest in season five. During season one, I wanted to establish who T.C. was at his core with his friends and family. Then in season two, I wanted him to have a little love interest, but that didn’t happen. So three seasons later, T.C. has one with the beautiful actress Emily Alabi. And it’s so fun to work with her. 

Cox: The original T.C. was played by the late Roger E. Mosely; did you feel any pressure playing a role for such an iconic actor? 
Hill: Well, I love Roger E. Mosely first of all. When I got the role and stayed at J. Hernandez and Zach’s place, I told them I needed to contact him out of respect. So I was given his number and called him up. I asked him what advice he had for me since I’m taking on the mantle of T.C. Mike. Do you know what he said? I have no advice for you. (laughs).  

He said, “Call me when you get a second season. I understood why he was like that as a man who grew up with similar black men. He left his mark on this role and would need help to pass the torch. So I had to earn that trust from him. 

Later, he became a mentor of mine. He was in the show twice, and I had the opportunity to take him and his wife around the island. It was the most phenomenal time. It had been almost forty years since he returned to the island. 

Cox: Now that the torch has been handed down to you, what makes T.C. such an integral part of the show? 
Hill: According to the writers and showrunners, he is the show’s moral compass. He is always looking to do right in every situation. T.C. is that loyal type of friend. His relationship with the other gentleman reminds you of the brotherhood you saw in HBO’s Entourage. 

Cox: Now that we are on to T.C., how does Stephen bring this character to life? 
Hill: Oh, man, I incorporate a lot of myself. For example, I wanted to honor my mom, so I made him in Durham, North Carolina. The original T.C. was from New Orleans. Also, I made him a proud graduate of Hampton University like myself. 

Cox: Speaking of bringing HBCU representation to the show, how does it feel to be in a time where you can incorporate those unapologetic and authentic black notes into a character on prime-time television? 
Hill: That’s what I meant when I said I would carry the torch. The original T.C. introduced Kwanzaa on the show during a Christmas episode. The writers knew nothing about the tradition, so they had to research it to write it correctly to include it in the script. And this was the first time people internationally outside of our community heard about Kwanzaa. So since this foundation was laid for me back then, I had to bring it in 2023. 

Cox: Speaking of blackness, in the first episode of this new season, you made the blackest statement when Detective Gordon Katsumoto, played by Tim Kang, said you were paying for the meal. 
Hill: Oh my god, Mike! My friend texted me, saying, “that’s a mean line,” after he saw that scene. I love when people catch those ad-libs from me. 

Cox: What are you most excited about in season five before we go? 
Hill: There’s a lot more fun and romance to be seen this season. And I’m excited about it all. You know that sometimes in these shows, you don’t get the black character to have love interests. So, it’s necessary sometimes for a character like mine to get that. Beyond the love, you see more moving parts develop within the family dynamics and bonds. T.C. previously adopted a child, and he also returns to the show this season. I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a lot of exciting stuff that rocks my world and turns things upside down.