Movies

Better call Harvey Specter? Gabriel Macht answers the call for ‘Suits LA’

BBG News

The protagonist may not don a cape, but he cuts quite the dashing figure in his tailored suits and ties. His weapon of choice? A tumbler filled with whiskey. Now, he’s been summoned to return to action in the latest spin-off of “Suits.

When NBC revealed its plan to build on the popularity of the popular legal drama, which had wrapped up on USA Network over five years prior but topped the streaming charts in 2023 following its Netflix release, by launching “Suits LA,” a spin-off based in Los Angeles focusing on a fresh team of determined lawyers navigating the entertainment industry, show creator and manager Aaron Korsh was more secretive about potential cameos from original characters than unveiling the complex secrets behind an ancient can opener ritual.

Rather than play the odds, he played the man and got Gabriel Macht to play Harvey Specter again.

Over nine seasons and 134 episodes, Macht guided viewers through the character’s journey of emotional and personal growth as a slick yet endearing corporate lawyer. For most of the show’s duration, he partnered with the unconventional genius Mike (played by Patrick J. Adams), whom he hired as his associate despite Mike’s lack of legal education. During the cases, Harvey grappled with his inner struggles and by the series finale in 2019, he was a married man bound for Seattle to join forces with his partner once again to provide legal aid to those less fortunate. Subsequently, Macht opted to take a break from acting to prioritize his family when the show concluded.

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The creator of the “Suits” series emphasizes that his primary focus is on achieving the high standard he’s established for himself and “Suits LA,” rather than concerning himself with others’ expectations.

Currently, it’s early March and Macht is on the set of “Suits LA” on the NBCUniversal lot, finalizing details for his three-episode role that was compressed into about a week of filming. Macht remarks, “I genuinely believed I was closing the chapter on this character at the end of the original series.” During a break, the only thing setting him apart from his character is a pair of dark-framed glasses.

The main events of Harvey’s storyline occur in flashbacks set around 2010, depicting his friendship with “Suits LA” protagonist Ted Black, played by Stephen Amell. At that time, Ted was involved in a case against the notorious mobster John Pellegrini, which eventually led him to move to the West Coast. In New York City, Ted worked for the U.S. attorney’s office, aiming to imprison Pellegrini, who had employed various threats against Ted, including blackmailing his corrupt father and causing the accidental death of his brother. Harvey, working in the district attorney’s office, covertly assisted Ted in convicting Pellegrini on racketeering charges when the murder case failed.

However, with Pellegrini due for release from prison in the present day, Harvey travels to Los Angeles to rekindle their partnership and seek justice once more. The storyline reached its conclusion in Sunday’s episode, titled “Bat Signal,” where the duo team up (successfully) in New York City to carry out their plan.

However, it seems that this may be the final appearance of Harvey Specter for now; Macht is known for agreeing to everything.

He suggests, ‘If all else falls apart in my life, I could probably head to Times Square, don a suit, and strike poses for photos, perhaps?’ He offers this idea with a broad grin as he casually strolls back to film a scene in the current storyline.

Like the Naked Cowboy?

“Yeah, I’ll be right next to him.”

A few weeks on, I reached out to Macht for a video chat to talk about him playing his role again. Below are snippets from our discussion.

After the popular return of “Suits,” people have frequently asked about your possible involvement in a revival or film adaptation of the original series, to which you’ve often given playful responses suggesting it’s unlikely. Can you explain the initial hesitation and what eventually made this idea more appealing for you?

The Musical” on Broadway! The show’s success opened up numerous opportunities for the original cast members. When Aaron Korsh, the creator, approached me with a potential return, I was curious about his well-being and the show’s progression. He proposed a character who could have been Ted’s friend, and suggested naming him Harvey if I were interested in reprising my role.

As the days unfolded, my mind kept dwelling on the passionate fanbase that this series has cultivated. It struck me then and there – if it’s feasible, I’d love nothing more than to create something special for them.

In my perspective, it wasn’t instantaneous, but as the movie unfolded, I found myself increasingly immersed in the narrative. Interestingly, it took longer for us to see Harvey in his iconic suit, which might have played a significant role in creating that sense of being ‘locked in’.

It felt somewhat similar to riding a bike, especially after donning the suit. Aaron’s writing style often includes multiple negatives. They provided me with one or two speeches that required me to adapt to the situation, and I found myself thinking, “Oh, my goodness, I’m going to have a panic attack. This isn’t why I returned.

In the filming location discussion, you pointed out that the baseball sequences were captured at Rancho Park. Interestingly, this was the same spot where you honed your skills as part of your high school baseball team. To be back there, playing this significant role while revisiting a place with personal significance in your real life, must have been an incredibly symbolic and surreal experience for you.

The experience evoked a sense of longing in many aspects as I had been playing baseball until my freshman year of high school. The coaches placed me on the bench, minimizing my game time. My affection for baseball remained strong, but I found myself contemplating, “Perhaps it’s time to focus on my future. Maybe I should consider joining the drama class or something else.” The dilemma arose simultaneously as I could either dedicate myself to baseball daily or pursue drama and acting.

Returning to Rancho Park and donning my uniform as a shortstop, it was heartwarming to see my father, actor Stephen Macht known for his role in “Suits”, appear. I mentioned, “Dad, I’m filming at Rancho, if you’d like to visit.” To my delight, he emerged and took a seat in the stands; apparently, he had asked where I was, and someone replied, “Who are you?” To which he responded, “I’m his father!” This moment brought me back to my high school or little league days. They recognized me as the shortstop. He has been in the entertainment industry for 50 years. His question, “When does the game start?”, added a special touch to this experience. It was a meaningful moment for me to see him watching from the stands. During one of the takes, I jokingly said, “Dad, you’re sitting with the extras right now. Go behind video village! You can watch the scene there.” This instance marked a complete circle in our journey.

In the final episode of “Suits” in 2019, Gabriel Macht portrayed Harvey Specter and Sarah Rafferty played Donna Paulsen. (Courtesy: Shane Mahood / USA Network / NBCUniversal)

In a scene from “Suits” during its second season, we find Patrick J. Adams portraying Mike Ross, opposite Gabriel Macht’s character, Harvey Specter. (Photo by Steve Wilkie for USA Network)

Upon hearing about your comeback, there was a lot of excitement about which scenes fans were eagerly waiting for – specifically, the appearance of Harvey’s wedding ring. As a fellow Darvey shipper, I and many others were anxious to know if Aaron had interfered with our beloved TV couple. Did you notice any hints of this? Additionally, I was curious about where Harvey would be at in his life now.

In simpler terms,

I was interested to learn more about it and see where the story went; there were so many possibilities. Although there’s no indication they’re married or together now, there is a hint of a child. That emotional scene really touched me. When I read it, I thought, “That’s neat.” I suggested adding a ring in current scenes, even though I don’t wear one in flashbacks, and the crew agreed. So, this implies that Harvey and Donna’s relationship is ongoing. It was a heartwarming moment.

In “Suits,” there hasn’t been any character named Ted mentioned in 134 episodes, but these characters are close friends and one of them names his son after Ted…

Wait. Do you think he really named their son after him? I thought he was just teasing.

It seems to me that Harvey might’ve been joking around with Ted. However, Harvey is quite secretive, so it’s hard to tell. There was a chance he could have bonded with Ted years ago, but with TV personalities and their roles, you just never know.

I’ve often felt that Harvey would make an excellent father to a little girl. Perhaps he already has a daughter who isn’t able to send texts just yet. My niece enjoys using voice-to-text features on other people’s phones quite a bit.

Indeed, it’s quite plausible! Perhaps he has a young one who is old enough to text, but doesn’t own a mobile device because we decided not to provide our child with one.

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On ‘Suits LA’, actor John Amos played a character based on himself. This is how the NBC show honored the late star several months following his demise.

Viewers of the show are aware that Harvey has been bereaved of both his parents. In the new series “Suits LA,” it’s revealed that his brother, Marcus, has unfortunately passed away since then. [Actor Billy Miller, who played Marcus, sadly passed away in 2023.] With this latest development on the show, have you wondered why Aaron (the showrunner) has chosen to subject Harvey to such emotional turmoil and loss? Can we get some reassurance that Harvey is taking care of his health by visiting a doctor regularly?

It’s a thoughtful question you’ve posed. Let me try to address it. Harvey, as a character, has experienced significant loss throughout his life, which has stirred feelings of abandonment. This backstory has been an effective tool in his portrayal, adding depth and making audiences empathize with him. While I don’t believe Harvey intentionally plays the victim, this aspect helps evoke sympathy for the character. In many Disney films, the parents often die quickly to immediately engage viewers’ emotions and make them care for the character.

How did you find portraying Harvey at this particular phase of his life, considering it was a relatively short time and given that we don’t see much of present-day Harvey, yet it also coincides with a significant phase in your own life?

I found it enjoyable. He’s becoming a bit more stable, and I can tell he’s growing more self-aware. He doesn’t shy away from teasing his friends or those close to him, but what truly endears him to me is his strong sense of justice, his dedication to making things right, his loyalty, and the compassion in his heart. There are moments when he seems to be testing the boundaries, but I believe he’s doing what’s best for all concerned. It was refreshing to engage with that side of him.

It’s intriguing as there are several portrayals of Harvey that don’t resonate with me and even bother me. I find myself disinclined to associate with or endorse these aspects of him. Specifically, I dislike the narcissistic traits he displays. Moreover, I am not a fan of the aggressive, toxic masculinity that Harvey embodies. Over the past six years, I’ve devoted considerable effort to personal growth and self-reflection. This introspection has made me question which aspects of Harvey’s behavior align with my values. Unfortunately, many of his actions—such as bullying, manipulation, and using negative behaviors—do not resonate with me or even clash with the sensitive side of myself that I have been striving to nurture.

For Harvey, it was his innate, childlike side that proved effective. To understand and detach from this aspect – observing its stubborn tendencies like “This is what I require! This is the way to do it!” – represents the work needed [on my part] to distance myself from him. I’m intrigued by the idea of a documentary exploring characters portrayed by actors who have so deeply immersed themselves that they embody these roles in unique ways, and then how they manage to break free of their character personas at the end of each day and reconnect with their true selves. I find this concept fascinating.

Could you see a day when you consider doing another TV series or returning to the screen?

Currently, my focus lies primarily on the creative aspect of my partnership with Bear Fight Whiskey. At this moment, the opportunity to weave intricate narratives is what truly captivates me. While a television show presents an attractive prospect, it requires a substantial commitment that could potentially consume much of one’s life and time. As my children grow older and I have more free time, perhaps then I may consider venturing into television production.

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Actress Sarah Rafferty discussed the revival of “Suits,” and explained that playing a character in the film version of Ali Novak’s maturing-years story, “My Life With the Walter Boys,” allows her to explore the joys of motherhood.

Have Sarah Rafferty and Patrick J. Adams from “Suits” finished reviewing the first season on their podcast during their break? If they invite you as a guest, would you consider stopping by? I’d love to have your voice on this podcast.

At some unspecified time, it seems necessary for all factors to be favorable. I believe they’re thriving and having a good time. frankly, I’m unsure if I could step in and contribute meaningfully – my memory isn’t exactly top-notch. I’m not sure if I’d bring much weight to the conversation. I’ve caught glimpses of “Suits” here and there, only to exclaim, “Did I say that? I can’t remember a thing!

It seems to me that Harvey ought to clarify his actions regarding the Batman reference he made to Ted, with Mike.

It seems like you’re correct about the approach. Chasing after Aaron is necessary. He felt that the concept was overly self-referential and too much of an in-joke for the audience, but let me tell you, he starred as Oliver Queen in “Arrow” on The CW and played The Spirit in Frank Miller’s 2008 film adaptation. There could have been a brilliant interpretation of that idea, but since Aaron is more inclined towards Batman, we sometimes need to stick with the script as written.

You grew up here. What’s the L.A. spot Gabriel would tell Harvey to visit?

As a devoted movie-goer, let me share my thoughts: Marty’s Burgers, located just by Rancho Park, is a must-visit! It’s like an old-fashioned diner, a greasy spoon that’s legendary for its combos. I used to frequent the place all the time before I switched to a vegetarian diet. Unfortunately, I can no longer savor those mouthwatering burgers, but my buddy Harvey still can!

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2025-04-21 05:32

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