When Morris Chestnut first heard about “Watson,” a brand new CBS medical thriller set throughout the Sherlock Holmes mythology, he was . However as soon as he learn the script by Craig Sweeny — the present’s creator and one of many writers behind that different Sherlockian CBS sequence, “Elementary” — he grew much more excited.
“He has so many loopy, artistic concepts,” Chestnut, 56, mentioned. “So I rushed to it. I mentioned, ‘I’ve to do it.’”
“Watson” opens as Chestnut’s character, Dr. John Watson, is rebuilding his life six months after the demise of his pricey good friend and accomplice, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes has left Watson a parting reward: a medical clinic, in Pittsburgh, dedicated to curing uncommon issues.
“He’s treating sufferers, and whereas he’s treating these sufferers, he considerably additionally has to deal with himself,” Chestnut mentioned.
Finding out to be a physician is aggravating, however so is learning to sound like one, and it requires a sure stage of sacrifice — particularly for an N.F.L. addict.
“After I’m doing the present, I actually have to choose one sport on Sunday,” Chestnut mentioned of studying the medical jargon that flows like honey from Watson’s mouth. “In the course of industrial breaks, I’m wanting on the script.”
“However the guys who’re taking part in, they’re making a residing and I’ve to make mine,” he mentioned in a video name from New York earlier than speaking in regards to the health club memberships and pickup basketball video games that hold him camera-ready whereas he indulges in his favourite meals group: dessert.
These are edited excerpts from the dialog.
Meditation First Factor within the Morning
I am going to mattress early and I get up very early, and it’s good for me to have that quiet time to myself earlier than the day will get began. I do quite a lot of work earlier than persons are even up. It’s simply important to who I’m as an individual.
3 Fitness center Memberships
My regular health club doesn’t open till 5 a.m. So I’ve a membership at a health club that’s open 24 hours. Then there’s one other health club the place I am going to play basketball. I’ve three memberships that each one serve their very own objective.
Pickup Video games
After I get on the treadmill, once I get on a StairMaster, it’s my self-discipline that pushes me via. After I’m taking part in basketball, I’m simply having enjoyable. I’m hanging out with the fellows. I’m speaking mess to the fellows. I’m getting the cardio with out feeling like work.
N.F.L. Season
That’s my favourite time of the 12 months. On Sundays, I’m actually watching soccer from 10 o’clock within the morning until 8 o’clock at night time. Soccer was my old flame earlier than I beloved women as a child. I performed Pop Warner. I used to take a seat at house and watch Howard Cosell on “Monday Evening Soccer.” I name myself a soccer loser.
R&B
Not solely do I find it irresistible — it’s soothing to me — but it surely’s additionally therapeutic. It’s useful in my work as a result of it triggers ideas, triggers reminiscences, triggers feelings. It’s such a difficult trade, and music performed an enormous consider me going ahead as a result of there have been some love songs that will have quite a lot of constructive affirmations in them. I used to sing them to myself to maintain myself going.
Dessert
I’ve an enormous, big candy tooth, and once I’m working and I do know I’m going to have a shirtless scene, I’m extra disciplined with my consuming. Most individuals are choosing the eating places by the entree. I’m choosing the restaurant by the lava cake.
Crime TV
My spouse and I’ve very completely different viewing tastes. However the one factor that we each love to look at collectively are crime docuseries. I’m fairly certain we’ve seen each single model of “Forensic Recordsdata.” And we’re at all times watching “Dateline.” I don’t like those that don’t have a conclusion. I can’t make investments an hour or two to not have a payoff.
Sweatsuits for Completely different Events
I like being comfy. If I’m not on a set, my every day life would require a sweatsuit when going to the health club. I’ve a barely extra elevated sweatsuit for once I’m working errands. After which I’ve an much more elevated go well with, like this one, once I’m doing interviews or I’m touring on the aircraft.
Studying a ‘Second’ Language
It’s so intense doing an hour drama, particularly a personality equivalent to Watson, the place he has to spew quite a lot of medical jargon. I can say a phrase earlier than lunch completely. However generally we go off into the late hours at night time and it’s mainly one other language for me.
Household Time, Screens Allowed
My youngsters are 27 and 26. They’re figuring their life out and what they wish to do for the following 10 years. So we form of must stability that. My son can also be an Eagles fan, so we’ll watch that collectively. My daughter, she’s extra of a horror film fan, so we’ll watch these collectively. On her birthday, she known as me and mentioned, “I wish to see a film.” So I’m pondering, “I don’t recall any horror motion pictures being out.” And naturally it was “Depraved.”