Carrie Preston, known for stealing scenes in “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight,” is now taking center stage in her own series, “Elsbeth.” The new show, which premiered on CBS this Thursday and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+, revolves around the fan-favorite character Elsbeth Tascioni that Preston played in previous episodes of “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.” Created by Robert and Michelle King, the power couple behind the original series, “Elsbeth” aims to keep a King creation on TV for the long haul.
Unlike its predecessors, “Elsbeth” is a police procedural set in New York. The series follows Elsbeth as she shadows overconfident NYPD detectives as part of a consent decree, correcting their mistakes and outmaneuvering murderers while secretly investigating precinct captain Wagner for corruption. While it delves into police wrongdoing, “Elsbeth” is not as politically charged as “The Good Fight.” Instead, it takes a lighthearted approach to solving crimes, drawing inspiration from classic shows like “Columbo” and “Poker Face.”
In the three episodes screened for critics, “Elsbeth” proves to be another well-written and well-acted entry in the King Televised Universe. The series introduces a new showrunner, Jonathan Tolins, who previously worked with the Kings on “The Good Fight” and “BrainDead.” With its mainstream-accessible, tried-and-true construction, “Elsbeth” has the potential to captivate audiences and keep them engaged for the long run.
Carrie Preston, who has been a staple of stage and screen since the late 1990s, is thrilled to have her first star vehicle with “Elsbeth.” She also plays a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated film “The Holdovers,” making this phase of her career a wonderful and humbling experience. Preston, who was nominated for two Emmys for her portrayal of Elsbeth, spoke to The Ringer about her journey with the character and the challenges of taking on a lead role.
The idea for an Elsbeth spinoff first arose at the end of “The Good Wife,” and Preston immediately expressed her interest. However, the timing wasn’t right, and she continued to play Elsbeth as a guest on “The Good Fight.” It was during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that the Kings, inspired by their rewatching of “Columbo,” came up with the concept for “Elsbeth.” The show took four years to come to fruition, but now that it’s finally here, Preston is still pinching herself in disbelief.
To prepare for the role, Preston watched some episodes of “Columbo” and other police procedurals. She wanted to familiarize herself with the unique pace and structure of these shows, which differ from the ones made today. However, she mainly relies on the writing and lets it guide her performance. With great writers behind the scenes, Preston feels confident in bringing Elsbeth to life.
Transitioning from a guest star to a lead star comes with its challenges. Preston admits that the volume of material she has to learn for “Elsbeth” is much greater than anything she’s done before on television. Juggling multiple episodes simultaneously and memorizing lines while shooting other scenes has been the biggest challenge for her. However, the comfort of playing Elsbeth every day has allowed her to inhabit the character more effectively and explore new facets of her personality.
While viewers have seen glimpses of Elsbeth’s personal life, including her son and ex-husband, there is still much to learn about her backstory. Preston reveals that the Kings haven’t shared any additional information about Elsbeth’s past with her. However, she likes to think of her character as having a complex history that unfolds gradually throughout the series. Preston believes that keeping some aspects of Elsbeth’s life a mystery adds depth and intrigue to the character.
One of the defining traits of Elsbeth is her distinctive style, including her tote bags and blouses with bows. The costume designer, Dan Lawson, came up with the look for the character, which has remained consistent throughout the series. While some changes were proposed when Elsbeth became the lead, the decision was made to maintain her quirky and unique style. Preston believes that her character’s fashion choices are an expression of who she is and make her stand out. The mystery surrounding the contents of Elsbeth’s tote bags adds an extra layer of intrigue to her character.
As an outsider detective, Elsbeth is part of a tradition that includes iconic characters like Monk, Columbo, and Sherlock Holmes. Preston feels grateful to be in the company of these characters and believes that Elsbeth brings her own twist to the archetype. Other characters often underestimate Elsbeth, but that becomes her superpower. Preston sees
