A thermal imager and spectrometer is being investigated for possible construction in the early operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).  Combined with the mid-IR adaptive optics (AO) system (MIRAO), the instrument will afford ~15 times higher sensitivity and ~ 4 times better spatial resolution (0.07”) with a greatly improved and stable Strehl ratio at 10um compared to the images delivered by the fast guiding systems of 8m-class telescopes.  Through exploiting the large collecting area of the TMT, a high-dispersion spectros mode unrivaled by other ground- and space-based facilities is planned.  Such capabilities offer the possibility for breakthrough science, as well as ‘workhorse’ observing modes of imaging and low/moderate spectral resolution.  I discuss progress on this instrument concept and especially how it could be used to advance thermal IR observations of AGN.