By Ryan Flaherty

We sat down with the cast members of ‘Bluff City Law’ which premieres in the Fall on NBC.

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Michael Luwoye

“What do you identify with most with your character?”

Michael: “I think there’s something about a person who is from their hometown… who stays there to attempt to make the communtiy better. While it may not be something that I identify with the most because I moved away (I’m originally from Huntsville, Alabama). But moving awya from home is something that I admire a lot. Through the season you’re going to be seeing that characteristic from Anthony Little.

“What do you think teenagers can take away from this show?”

Michael: “I think that teenagers will be able to see a side of our legal system that isn’t promoted towards them. I think because teenagers are young and people think they don’t have any power that… this is something that can be prime for them in all of that.”

Stony Blyden

“What do you identify with most with your character?”

“I think he’s not the most social guy in the world and I think I kind of relate to that a little bit, I see him as myself but with all of my insecurities hyped up a little bit but he’s also a lot smarter than me. He’s like a kid genius, essentially.

“What about ‘Bluff City Law’ is different and new from other legal dramas?”

“I mean it’s very character driven, we really follow the stories of these people. There’s a lot of family tension that goes on and I think that’s something that’s very new, and we’re telling a lot of very topical situations also like with the underdogs against the bigger corporations it feels very human to me… I feel like we’re really pushing that.

“What was your favorite part about shooting this series?”

“Aside from just being in Memphis… getting to watch these people work it feels like a masterclass for me I’ve been watching these people since I was a little kid so to get to work with a lot of them is insane to me.

“How does it feel to be on NBC?”

“NBC! I mean I’m from Iceland, it seems so far fetched to me that NBC- it’s like being on the top of a mountain in a way. I’m excited, it’s the best.”

“Is this your first time with the whole pilot season experience?”

“Yeah, I did a Nickelodeon show for two years [Hunter Street] but that was straight to series so this is kind of new for me.”

“So you’re new to the whole finding out if your show got picked up situation?”

“Yes. That was my first time getting all that. That was a shock when that happened, I’m still coming down from that. The fact that we have a show is great.

“What are you most exciting about concerning the future of the series?”

“I guess just seeing the different cases that we take on. We’re taking on cases that humans are dealing with right now, like today and just seeing how far we can take that is going to be really interesting. We have the best writers, so I’m excited.”

Barry Sloane

“What do you identify with most with your character?”

“To get to where he’s gotten in his career he’s had to take the path least traveled, you know to get him through law school and get where he is, he’s worked very hard to get there. From there my life goes here and his life goes there so we follow completely different paths, but we connect in that drive to succeed and that drive of self belief, and determination to succeed no matter what obstacles come up.

“What was your favorite part about shooting this series?”

“I just loved being on set because I’ve been doing this professionally since 1999 so really the more years I’ve done it the more I realize that the only thing that’s for actors is time on set. I enjoy working with the other actors and the directors on the set, filming the thing, because once you’ve made it and packaged it then it becomes this thing… that doesn’t belong to you anymore. I have to make sure that all the time I’m checking in with myself and enjoying the day to day of it.

“What do you see for the future of the series?”

“To make a show about a civil rights law firm in Memphis, in the climate we’re in now in this country with civil rights issues at the forefronts of our minds, I think we can address some issues that ordinarily in a law show wouldn’t be addressed because of the nature of the show. That’s what excites me, is that we can push buttons and entertain people but it’s gonna be a fun show as well to watch. Underneath it, it’s going to be a fight for the people that are watching it and… you’re gonna feel like you can relate to these people that these people are protecting you.”

“What do you want teenagers to take away from this show?”

“These kinds of shows can educate the youth of how brilliant the US law system is if done correctly. It’s quite brilliant, and I grew up in the UK with a different basis of law but we’re going to teach about how people have rights in their communities and how you should stand for those rights and not be afraid… One of the most exciting things about my children’s generation is they’re not afraid to be who they are and stand as strong as they are and voice their opinions. I think there’s been a huge shift in this generation and I’m very proud to watch it and it’s very inspiring, so I hope everyone in that generation is aggresive and inspiring and making change and making things happen.”

‘Bluff City Law’ premieres September 23 on NBC.