Ernie Hudson will bust out the undergear if that's what Shonda Rhimes demands

Ernie Hudson's career is going well, even though home base is Minnesota.

He's got three shows: "Grace and Frankie" on Netflix, "Graves" on Epix and, debuting soon, "APB" on FOX. "I'm good," said Hudson, who I had the pleasure of interviewing at Fox 9 when he was at the station to promote "APB," a high-tech police drama being shot in Chicago. Hudson likes Minnesota and its people and he enjoys the easy commute to Illinois. The commute is also easy on his wife of 41 years and their two boys. He has two older sons from his first marriage, and those boys have made Hudson the grandfather of five.

I didn't ask him a single "Ghostbusters" question, and he was fine with that. He seems unperturbable, an admirable trait in celebrities.

Hudson provides a wise nugget about relationships, as well as a priceless remembrance of working with powerhouse producer Shonda Rhimes.

Q: Are you always this calm? What does it take to get you riled up?

A: [Soft chuckle] It's one of the things I have with my wife. She gets so emotional about a lot of things going on now. I'm like, "It is what it is." When I'm worried, I chill, because what you do next is really important.

Q: You've been married 11 years and 41 years. Do you and Beau Bridges need to hold a boot camp in Hollywood so people can learn how to keep their spouses?

Q: You are rolling without a PR person or handler?

A: My PR person wants to go with me everywhere. The problem is she costs money. I'm getting older; I need to save as much of my money as I can.

Q: Did you make a lot of money, do you make a lot of money or did you save your money?

A: I didn't save as much money as I could have, should have. I saved a little and can say I am at the point now where I don't have to really worry about the next job. I haven't made those killings that friends have. But God has been very good to me. Wish I had had more education about how to deal with money. I came from a place where nobody had any money, so they weren't able to teach you about money.

Q: What role do you regret turning down because it became huge?

Q: If Shonda calls now, will you read for her?

A: She did call. I got a call from my agent: Shonda … really wants you to do this role. She had a television show called "The Practice." And I said, "Yeah! If Shonda wants me," because I knew I messed up the last time. They said, Don't you want to read it? I said, "No. If Shonda wants me, I'm in it." I get the script and it's playing a fire captain who's a cross-dresser. When it opens, I'm dressing and in my bra and panties.

Q: Was that your punishment for not reading the first time?

A: I don't want to read a lot into it. She is a power to be reckoned with, and God bless her. Whether she used me again or not, it's OK.

Q: Who are you mistaken for most often in the Twin Cities?

Q: I remain upset that Taraji P. Henson didn't get an Oscar nom, but have you seen "Hidden Figures?"

A: That's right, but Octavia Spencer did. It was very empowering, and there are a lot of stories that haven't been told. We need to know our stories.