‘9-1-1’: Malcolm-Jamal Warner Reflects on How His Arc Changed in Major Way
Exclusive
9-1-1 is finally giving Bobby (Peter Krause) and Athena (Angela Bassett) a new house after burning down theirs in the Season 7 finale. But how that played out was originally supposed to be very different.
“I remember when Tim [Minear, showrunner] first talked to me about the character, initially I was the one that burned down the house,” Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who had an arc in Season 7 as Amir, a nurse who was burned and lost his wife in the fire that Bobby was inadvertently responsible for and that killed his family back in Minnesota, tells TV Insider. He loved that idea.
Disney / Chris Willard
“I was thinking I was coming in, I was going to be the villain,” he explains. “I get to come in, there’s this evil streak, I get to be like the mad villain. And after we did the first episode, Tim was like, ‘I don’t know if I really want you to burn down the house. I think we established someone with such a great moral compass that it’s kind of hard to believe that he would burn the house down.’ And I’m like, ‘Tim, I’ve been doing all of this work to go from the guy with the moral compass to find an organic reason to burn the house down. What are you talking about? I’ve been preparing for this.’ Ultimately, he said, ‘Yeah, but if I want to bring you back next season, I can’t have you dead or rotting in jail. But we will make the audience think that you burned the house down.’ So I was like, ‘Okay, that’s, that’s a good compromise.'”
So with that in mind, we had to ask if we could see him return to 9-1-1. “I would love to go back,” he says, adding with a laugh, “Just not deal with another fire, give me anything else but another fire. Tim and I joked about coming back having married an excellent plastic surgeon so I wouldn’t have to sit through two and a half hours of makeup again.”
In addition to that time in the makeup chair, Warner fondly recalls working with Krause and Bassett.
“I really loved working with Peter. We had such a good time together because we spent most of our time together. We had just a great camaraderie off camera, but our on-camera work was so much fun. I’ve always been a fan of him since Six Feet Under, so being able to spend time with him and to go toe to toe with this guy who I’ve been watching for years was really fun,” he shares. “And Angela, I think that was our fourth time working together. So I knew Angela before the world knew Angela, so it’s always great being able to reunite with her.”
Would you want to see Warner return as Amir on 9-1-1? Let us know in the comments section below.
9-1-1, Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC
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Comments are closed on this story.
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C
Yes. Bring him back. I have watched this young man grow up from Theo on the Cosby show to 911 and other movies and film. He is an excellent actor. Love me some Malcom
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O
Malcolm is an excellent actor and having him back would be fitting.
48 1
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B
Yes! I love him! Bring him back!
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O
Yes I would love to see him back
28 1
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R
Most definitely! His character portrays victims of burns. Not only showing only burned victims being rescued but how they cope with tragedy afterwards. Malcolm is such a deep talented actor , his character can give insight to victim. BRING HIM BACK. Please
27 1
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B
Yes absolutely bring Malcolm Jamal Warner back to 911!
24 1
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P
Definitely he’s a great actor and brought a great story with lots of twist.
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P
Yes Yes and YES!!!
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G
Yes, bring him back
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P
Yes, I would love to see Malcolm back on 9-1-1. I have watched him since he was a kid and I think he's a great actor.
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G
I would love to see Malcolm come back!! His character was fantastic!! 💜🩷
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C
100% yes! I miss him on the resident. He's a great actor and I love him on 911. Bring him back!!!!
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G
Yes, bring Amir back. The chemistry between Amir and Bobby was tantalizing. We saw the anger and compassion in Amir. We saw Bobby's vulnerability.
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O
Yes bring Jamel back!
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G
Yes please , Malcom-jamal Warner is an Outstanding actor. I wish he was in a series of his own or join a series . Maybe 9 1 1. 😃❤️
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O
ABSOLUTELY!!! He has always been a great actor from a young age and always a joy to watch, no matter what character he plays
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P
ABSOLUTELY needs to come back! I love that his character had character and his voice, wow!
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A
Looks like we know how fans of the show feel. Let’s see if that has any influence on the producers.
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B
Yes! Bring him back! Would love to see what his character will do.
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G
yesssss please bring home back i loved him in here it reminded me of his role in the resident. for a second i thought it was a cross over until i seen his burned face.
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B
Absolutely! He would be a great addition.
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V
Just watching tonight’s episode with all Bobby is going through, better NOT be a glimpse of taking Bobby out of the show. Bobby IS the show!
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P
Love Malcolm Jamal warner. Yes bring him back. Did great work on 911
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G
Yes! Bring his character back please!
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B
Yes!! What a great addition to the 9-1-1 family.
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C
Malcolm Jamal Warner would be an excellent addition to 911
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P
I would love to see Malcolm back as Amir he is a great actor.
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B
Definitely, as a more defined character. I’m still missing him on The Resident. Thank you for killing another great show, Fox.
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G
I adore Malcolm!!! Had a huge crush on him on The Resident!!! I will gladly watch him on 911!!!
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S
Of course I would love to see him come back. I have watched him over the years and he's a great actor
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G
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love him. He’s a great actor and him marrying an excellent plastic surgeon is on point! Great guy, great role! Bring him back! The love and compassion of this show is heartwarming! ❤️🥰
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G
Absolutely,! And maybe even segue into becoming a permanent member or even a fireman eventually.
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R
Yes, I would love to see Malcolm come back. Bring him back!!
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G
MJW returning to any series, especially 9-1-1 would be amazing! I've watched him since The Cosby show and think he's got amazing abilities to bring ratings to it's all time highest ratings. Keep up the great work 👍
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B
It would be great to see Malcolm return to 9-1-1! Yes, by all means!
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R
ABSOLUTELY!!! Please bring Malcolm-Jamal's character back. I thought there was so much more he and his character could contribute to the show.
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P
Yes, I would love to Malcolm return to 911. I think he's a great Actor, his delivery is impeccably. Therefore very believable. I throughly enjoyed his character on The Resident. Please Return Him!!
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C
It would have been great. 😭 Unfortunately, tragedy had to strike in real life to prevent a reappearance. RIP Malcom. Another talented actor gone too soon
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R
I want Resident back Malcolm was one of my favorite characters. I’m not sure about 911 I’m gonna watch it to get my Malcolm fix lol he’s a great actor
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P
Yes please do. He was really great in 911 and should be a regular cast member. He deserves all the praise 🙏. Great come back Malcolm
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G
I LOVE MJW...please bring him on!!!
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G
Yes, I absolutely would love for Malcom to return to 911. His acting is very believable and heartfelt.
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R
yes, definitely would like to see him return. It was a great character with so much depth.
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R
Yes yes yes
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R
YES! He would be an exactly Mentor to people they can move on with their lives even after tragedy. He can work at the Station with the Crew!
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R
I would love to see Malcolm Jamal again. Please bring him back. I love watching him period. His role on the Resident was so finely done as well. This man delivers so well it only makes sense.
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P
YES!! Bring Malcolm Jamal Warner back to 9-1-1!!! He’s a great actor!!
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C
Definitely a yes for me!
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R
Malcolm Must Return To 911.
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B
Agreed!!! Bring MJW back
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G
Absolutely, bring him back. He is so talented & believable with every character I have seen him play. I love him. Let him be a season regular.
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R
Yes definitely bring Malcolm-Jamal back.
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O
Can't wait!!
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O
Great planning. Can't wait !!
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O
Absolutely!
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O
Yes
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O
YES! YES! YES!
Bring Malcolm back.
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P
Yes, I would love to see him return.
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B
Yes please
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R
Bring him back, slowly get rid of the face burn scars. He can join the the team as an rn
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O
Yes!!
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R
I certainly would! 🙏🏽💜
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O
Definitely and since he's a nurse maybe he could come on and stay on there working at the hospital
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C
Absolutely yes!!!!!
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C
Awesome, i would love to see Amir again
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B
They should add more come back about bobby past events.
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C
Would luv to see amir back it was good TV seeing his character and performance
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O
Yes he's a good actor
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B
Yes absolutely he was great on the Resident
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O
Absolutely 💯
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B
YES!
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O
Yes definitely!!!
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O
Yes!!!!!!!!!
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B
Without a DOUBT, YES Malcom Jamal-Warner RETURN to 9-1-1!!
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G
Would I like to see Warner return on 9-1-1? = Yes, Please.
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O
This show lasted that long? Is it like JAG fans or something...? Lol
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R
Yes please. Great character.
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R
Hes GREAT! Would love to see him back! Great actor.. even way back on The Cosby show.. please give him an arc wothy of this man!
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O
I enjoy seeing him on anything!!!! I love that he's on Alert Missing Person now.
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C
Without question! Yes, yes, and yes again!
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B
Absolutely would Love to see Malcolm -Jamal Warner back on 911!!!
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P
Yes bring him back.
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G
YES 👍
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C
For sure, one hell of an intense actor 😉 👊🏼
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P
Yes please I would love to see that under a better circumstance
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R
I WOILD LOVE TO SEE WARNER COME BACK HIM AND PETER WORK GOOD TOGETHER
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P
Bring Malcolm back as a good guy.
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C
Yes
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B
Yes yes yes!!!
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O
I like where he is at .. How do you bring him back ? Bad guy or good guy ? No more bad news on 911 please
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G
Yes! Bring him back. While watching the show, I was so convinced that he burned the house down. I love 911!!
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O
Yes bring him back
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O
Yes, yes, yes, bring him back!
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G
Sorry, but I would have him stay on Alert. I love both shows but Alert has a smaller cast so we could see more of him there.
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C
Who says he has to leave "Alert"? Multiple strings of income Baby!! He can handle it. Black folks have been holding down several jobs at once for ages. By choice and by force. It's called Diversifying your income, and this show could use some more diversity. Yaaaassss Bring Theo Cosby Back! LOL 😄
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O
Why, what would be the reason for bring Malcolm back. He has done his job of showing just how a fire effects peoples lives. He a great actor in all, showing Bobby how his drinking affects others and not just the one who caused it. If bringing him back to continue his story.
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C
The reason would be to add more diversity to the Show. We've got Asian, Hispanic, Gays (Black & White), A Mixed couple.....so an African-American Straight man would be a welcome addition to the show. In fact, let him come back with Carla, (the Caretaker of Abby's Mom & the paraplegic son), she can be the plastic surgeon that reconstructed his face. LOL!
I'm just saying, More Black people gives any show more FLAVOR!!
Just my 2 cents.
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