Tyler James Williams talks about his new sci-fi series ‘RePlay’

Born in Westchester County, New York on October 9, 1992, Tyler James Williams can be seen this spring co-starring as computer whiz Monty in CBS’ “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,” a new spinoff series. Early last year, he guest-starred as Noah in AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

In 2014, he impersonated Steve Urkel on “Key & Peele.” The skit received rave reviews and was named the No. 1 sketch of the year by New York Magazine.

On the big screen, Williams starred as Lionel Higgins in the breakout film “Dear White People,” a satire about being a black face in a very white place. The picture was well received, including winning the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The year before, he appeared in “Peeples” opposite Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson.

Williams might be best known for his work on the Emmy Award-winning series, “Everybody Hates Chris,” for which he won a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. In 2012, he was nominated for another Image Award for his performance as a gifted rapper plagued by self-doubt in the Disney Channel original movie, “Let It Shine.”

Williams began acting at the age of 4 on “Sesame Street” and he subsequently co-starred in the animated series “Little Bill.” His other television credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” as well as numerous appearances in sketches on “Saturday Night Live.”

An accomplished musician, Williams recently released a mixtape with his brother Tyrel titled “Me, My Brother & a Mic.” Here, he talks about starring in “RePlay,” a scripted time-loop series from New Form Digital which debuted April 20.

What interested you in “RePlay”?

Tyler James Williams: I just really liked the story and I loved the movie “Groundhog Day.”

How would you describe the series in 140 characters or less?

TJW: It’s DJ Allison Lee’s (Lyndsy Fonseca) 25th birthday party and she just HAS to impress promoters. She fails and wishes for another try. She gets 25 chances to get it right.

The premise does sound a little like “Groundhog Day.”

TJW: Yes, I would describe it as a modern day “Groundhog Day.” I really liked “RePlay” because it wasn’t just Allison’s character that experienced a replay, but eventually her friends realize they are also reliving the same day. And it is interesting to see how humans would act if they knew there were never any consequences for their actions because the next day they could wake up and just redo it.

If you had an opportunity to repeat the most important day of your life until you got it right, would you?

TJW: Oh man, I think I would. I would probably take a really bad date from when I was younger where just everything went wrong.

How would you describe your character?

TJW: I play Nate, who is Allison’s best friend, but he is secretly in love with her. He is in the “friends zone,” but really tries to get out of it. Each day, he gets a bit more desperate.