PHOTOS

: </a>One of the highlights of the 2010 <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/gt/" target="_blank">Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge</a> was a special, invitation-only screening of the trailer for <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-event/" target="_blank">NBC's The Event</a>, the new series starring <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/2010/09/15/watch-president-eli-martinez-in-the-event/" target="_blank">Blair Underwood as U.S. President Elias Martinez</a>. Underwood attended the screening with his family and was interviewed by Black Enterprise Editor-in-Chief Derek Dingle, who also landed the historic first print interview with President Barack Obama after his inauguration last year. The Event premieres on Monday, Sept. 20, at 9:00pm EST/8:00 CST. Pictured: (l-r) Underwood as President Martinez, Lisa Vidal as Christina Martinez, Sayeed Shahidi as David Martinez (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)

: </a>Dingle and Underwood share a laugh as they review the accomplished actor's career from playing Russell Walker (a character based on a young <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/tag/russell-simmons/" target="_blank">Russell Simmons</a>) in Krush Groove in 1985 to playing the President of the United States.

: </a>In response to Dingle asking whether there is a special responsibility that comes with being a black man playing the president with a real black president in the White House, Underwood says, "I take responsibility for every role I take. I can't just play the role. As a black actor, I don't have that luxury."

: </a>The Event is a conspiracy thriller about a secret so classified that it has even been kept from President Martinez, the newly elected American president of Afro-Cuban descent. The screening of the trailer at the Challenge kept the audience in a constant state of suspenseful anticipation and gasps with each new revelation offering a key to the mystery of "the event." Cast members of The Event include: Laura Innes, Ian Anthony Dale, Jason Ritter, Bill Smitrovich, Underwood, Vidal, and Zeljko Ivanek. (Photo courtesy of NBC)

: </a>With a career spanning 25 years, Underwood credits God and his wife and children for his longevity as an actor.

: </a>A surprise bonus for Challenge attendees at the screening: Boris Kodjoe, the star of <a href="http://www.nbc.com/undercovers/" target="_blank">NBC's Undercovers</a> (opposite Gugu Mbatha-Raw). Kodjoe, who was raised in Germany and speaks several languages, tells Dingle that the role of international super spy Steven Bloom "is closer to who I really I am than any other role I've played." Undercovers premieres on Wednesday, September 22, 8:00pm EST/7:00pm CST.

: </a>Kodjoe, Dingle, and Underwood pose for photos after their interview session. Dingle is already counting the "cool points" he will garner from this image.

: </a>Kodjoe and Underwood pose with the lucky winners of a raffle of Undercovers and The Event posters to be autographed by the stars.

: </a>Underwood chats with Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, the new host of the <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/tv-video/our-world-with-black-enterprise/" target="_blank">Our World with Black Enterprise</a> syndicated television show.

: </a>Hill, <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/tv-video/black-enterprise-business-report/" target="_blank">Black Enterprise Business Report</a> Host Caroline Clarke, Underwood

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Posted: September 10, 2010

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