Collider: When this came about, had you been familiar with the original series?
This is obviously a different show, but it has the same vibe and rhythm to it.
I just remember thinking, This would have been a really fun show to do.
you could just tell that theyre having fun.
I was like, I wish I could have done it, not knowing thatSuits L.A.was even a thing.
And so, when this came about, it just felt very seamless.
Image via NBC
It felt like I was just reading another episode ofSuitsbecause it was from the mind of Aaron Korsh.
I enjoyed how seamless it was.
It just made it very easy to slip into this world.
Image via NBC
Did you have a favorite character from the original series that you connected with most?
McDERMITT: There were a couple of them that I liked for different reasons.
I loved Gina Torres character, Jessica.
I thought she was fantastic.
Im drawn to those characters, as an actor.
And Rick [Hoffman] did such a great job with that character.
Image via NBC
Im so excited that hes coming to play with us.
McDERMITT: Whats interesting is I have a lot of friends who are lawyers.
He introduced me to all his lawyer friends, and then they just all became my friends.
It was most about, Who is this guy?
What situations could I see him in?
And then, trying to build the character from there and make him as real as possible.
Thats what I was drawn to, at first.
McDERMITT: There was a lot going on, for sure.
That helps flesh it out.
Its very messy, in a good way.
And I dont mean disorganized.
I liked that Stuart wanted to go.
He went after Erica, and then he ultimately got Rick.
Stuart was just hedging his bets.
Theres all this four-dimensional chess thats being played everywhere, and thats whats really fun about it.
Dont show your cards to everybody.
McDERMITT: Yeah, he wants to make it to the final tribal council.
Stuart also clearly has some facial hair going on.
Was that your decision?
Was that something that was decided for the character?
How did that come about?
McDERMITT: I grew it during the strike, just because I had time to do it.
I thought, Surely, theyre going to make me shave it.
But Aaron Korsh was like, No, I like it.
And I was like, Okay, cool.
So, I kept the beard.
I like it because Stuart looks different.
You know that guy has to be fun outside of work.
McDERMITT: I think the term is party animal.
What do you think Stuart thinks makes him a great lawyer?
Hes just a brilliant legal mind.
And he has integrity.
That, coupled with his intelligence, is really huge.
Do you think that he thinks hes a better lawyer than Ted?
Does he see qualities in Ted that he wishes he had, as far as the lawyering goes?
McDERMITT: Thats an interesting question.
Theres a charisma to Ted that maybe Stuart wishes he had.
He maybe wishes he had a little more of that charisma that Ted has.
But at the same time, if he had that charisma, who knows where that would lead Stuart.
Would Stuart still be as good of a lawyer?
Would he just rely on his charisma too much?
Thats why Im back and forth.
Did you ever worry about how audiences would react to Stuart?
McDERMITT: I didnt even think about it.
And I was like, Im not the villain.
Stuarts not a villain.
Its a nice, big surprise in the pilot, but I never looked at it as that.
It just gets messy, and thats what I liked.
Not everything is as black and white as people want to make it.
The world is very grey, and there are dark shades of grey and light shades of grey.
Thats a healthy perspective to view everything.
It isnt as cut and dry as you think it is.
What has it been like to have his support of the series?
Does that give everyone a boost of confidence?
McDERMITT: Yeah, it is a boost of confidence.
And to have people like Rick Hoffman come in to play, as well.
Hopefully, we can have others.
Its a big deal to us because were all fans of their show.
Would you like to see Harvey and Stuart doing something together, at some point?
McDERMITT: I would love to have scenes with Stuart and Harvey.
Id like to see Stuart and Louis, or Stuart and Mike.
Theyre both extremely smart people, butI think Mike might get the better of Stuart.
Davis also talks about which original ‘Suits’ character she’d love to see Erica interact with.
There is definitely cast chemistry, but you blew it all up so early on.
Youd probably develop a shorthand with each other.
It honestly didnt even dawn on me that Id be working with Bryan [Greenberg] so much.
And I love working with Bryan.
But I didnt even think of that until I got episode two and remembered that we left the firm.
I was just tracking Ted and Stuart.
I think the cast has gelled really well, very quickly.
Weve got a lot of really sweet people who are incredible actors.
Its been a lot of fun to just play with everybody.
McDERMITT: Yeah, for sure.
And you find out that some of it was in the past already.
Are they going to rekindle?
As Stephen [Amell] put it at one point, everyones in play.
Is there anyone youd love to see make a guest appearance on the show?
McDERMITT: Im such a huge fan of Melissa McCarthy.
I think she would be hilarious on our show.
Whether she plays herself or not, shes just such a wild card.
Those two would be on my wish list, for sure.
Macht returned as Harvey Specter in the new spin-off series.
What would you say to tease whats still to come this season?
What are you most excited for fans getting to see, especially with Stuart?
Check out the trailer:
