“My name is Alec Mercer, and I was brought in because I know people and why they do inexplicable things.” So explains Jesse L. Martin’s Alec at the beginning of the first trailer for NBC drama series The Irrational. The Law & Order alum returns to NBC to take on more crime-solving duties, listing “bereavement sex” and “attentional blindness” as a couple of his more unique cases.
Written by Arika Lisanne Mittman, The Irrational is based on Dan Ariely’s bestselling novel Predictably Irrational. It follows world-renowned professor of behavioral science Alec Mercer (Martin) as he lends his unique expertise on an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and the team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.
“People are irrational, but predictably so,” Mercer says. “One error of judgment leads to another.”
Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz and Arash DeMaxi also star.
Martin also produced the pilot. Mittman executive produces with Mark Goffman and Samuel Baum, while Ariely serves as a consultant. David Frankel directs and also serves as executive producer. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.
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The Irrational will launch on Monday September 25, the same 10 p.m. slot as was revealed in May, after The Voice, which kicks off with new coach Reba McEntire. Episodes air Mondays at 10pm ET on NBC and stream next day on Peacock.
Martin played the fan-favorite character of Detective Ed Green on Seasons 10-18 of Law & Order.
Check out the trailer above.