Carrie Preston, Leading Star of “Elsbeth,” Discusses the Show on a Tea Around Town Tour of New York City with CBS New York’s Kristie Keleshian.Set to return on Thursday night, the new CBS original series “Elsbeth” stars Carrie Preston, reprising her role as the sharp and witty attorney-turned-detective Elsbeth Tascioni, originally introduced in “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.”
Preston, in conversation with Keleshian during a Tea Around Town bus tour, shared insights into her character’s love for New York City: “Elsbeth is enamored of New York City. She couldn’t wait to move here. She’s the dream tourist. “We’re aboard this tour bus, set to explore and take in all the magnificent sights.”
In the spinoff series, which premiered on Feb. 29, Elsbeth swaps her successful legal career in Chicago for investigative work alongside the NYPD. Her unconventional methods and eccentricities lead to unparalleled success in solving cases. Co-creator and executive producer Robert King remarked, “Sometimes it feels like shows have gotten an over-inflated sense of self.”
Meanwhile, Michelle King, co-creator and executive producer, described “Elsbeth” as “a bit of a respite for the ugliness that one sometimes sees in the world and in the news, and this is a character having fun and finding justice.”
Michelle and Robert King, along with producer and showrunner Jonathan Tolins, joined the ride through New York City landmarks, mirroring the experiences of the newcomer Elsbeth in the series. “Tolins remarked, ‘She pushes the boundaries and speaks candidly about New Yorkers who… could benefit from a reality check every now and then.'”
Elsbeth emerges as an unorthodox yet razor-sharp protagonist in a show that serves as a homage to the vibrant spirit of New York City, delivering both mystery and laughter to its audience. “People are experiencing a lot of challenges in the world that we live in right now, and I think when people tune into our show, they’ll be able to let go of those things,” expressed Preston.
“Elsbeth” makes its return on Thursday with back-to-back episodes airing at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on CBS. Guest stars in upcoming episodes include Keegan-Michael Key, Blair Underwood, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others.