Hollywood can 'eat people and spit them out.' Morris Chestnut refuses to be one of them

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For the record, Morris Chestnut is not a genuine doctor, he just portrays one on television.

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The character is a standout. Viewers despised him. Chestnut loved it.

He was more concerned about how much money a patient would bring to the hospital than with their health," he joked with a sly laugh. "Fans enjoyed to oppose me. They would come up to me and say, 'You're so ruthless.' He actually enjoyed that.

Chestnut is leaving behind his "bad doctor" days and branching out into a new role as a caring geneticist and internist on the CBS medical drama "Watson," a contemporary take on the classic Sherlock Holmes legend. In the show, he portrays Dr. John Watson, who succeeds Holmes as the leader of a top-notch clinic for rare disorders at a Pittsburgh hospital after Holmes' tragic death.

Chestnut has mostly appeared in ensemble or supporting roles, with many of them being romantic movies that highlight his good looks and athletic physique.

Seeing Watson starring in a winning role reflects his aspiration to become a leading man.

This is a major achievement for me in numerous ways," he said. "I have had leading roles before, but as an actor, I feel that I am really getting into my stride in terms of how I approach the work. The chance to play this character, and on CBS, is enormous. And to play with the Sherlock Holmes mythology is something I never would have dreamed of.

CBS is heavily promoting "Watson" prior to its official premiere on February 16th. The network will debut the drama on January 26th, following the NFL playoffs.

It's only fitting that we launch 'Watson' with a strong promotion following the highly-watched AFC Championship football game, which is one of the most-watched television events of the year and has been a successful platform for many of our hit shows," Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, said in an email. She described Chestnut as "a classic and charming lead star, bringing a unique and courageous take to the iconic role of doctor.

The actor emphasized, "Watson" is distinct from other medical dramas. "We're not just doctors, we're detectives," he said. "When patients come to us, we don't solve the medical puzzle right away. We go with them to their homes, to the streets. It's combining the medical side of Watson with the investigative drive of Sherlock."

He cemented his status as a heartthrob with his portrayal of a muscular football star.

He attributed his fit appearance to his extremely active and healthy lifestyle: "It's a blessing from God. I've never made Hollywood into my entire life. It's just one part of it. I find it to be a challenging place – both physically and emotionally. I've seen how it can consume people and then discard them. I go home and unwind after work. I don't Attend parties. All of this can take a toll on you, body, mind, and soul."

When presented with the pilot script for "Watson," Chestnut was straight away enthusiastic. "The script was very strong, with action, emotion and wit. As it ended on a cliffhanger, I wanted to know where the story would go from there." After talking to showrunner Craig Sweeny, Chestnut felt compelled to join the show.

Yet he is also uncomfortably aware that not everyone is happy about a Black actor playing a role that has usually been depicted by white males. The list of past Watsons includes Nigel Bruce, Robert Duvall, Jude Law, John C. Reilly and Martin Freeman.

and such beloved properties did still further embrace cultural diversity.

I'm not really willing to discuss it, especially given the current climate," Chestnut said, his deep voice reflecting his disappointment. "I've noticed some negative comments about me playing this character, and to be honest, I'd rather not focus on that. I just hope people view the character as part of the mythology for who he truly is, without drawing unnecessary attention to any controversy.

Calls for greater parity and equal opportunity in the entertainment industry in Hollywood.

I've had a lot of success throughout my career, never focusing on anything but my work. It's quite annoying to have to contend with that. Let's all hope we're successful.

ABC's long-running medical drama "Doctor opposing" has partnered with veterans of the medical genre "Grey's Anatomy" and "Chicago Med."

Assisting Watson in the clinic is a team of young, accomplished doctors who are also researching rare medical conditions. His personal life is complicated by his lingering feelings for his ex-wife, Dr. Mary Morstan (Rochelle Aytes), who is also the hospital's chief medical officer. Moreover, Watson is still being pursued by his arch-nemesis, Moriarty.

I'm really energized not only by the development of my character, but by the growth of the other characters," Chestnut said. "The audience will really feel a strong emotional connection to them. The show is both exciting and emotionally moving.

This series is the network's second version of the classic detective show. "Elementary," which starred Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as detectives, first aired in 2012 and ran for seven successful seasons.

Sweeny, who served as an executive producer on "Elementary," admitted that Chestnut was one of the actors he had in mind when he was developing the pilot for "Watson." That was due to the actor's unique ability to convey both "empathy and intelligence." People in the industry speak highly of Morris as a person, describing him as "one of the kindest and most respectful individuals" they've worked with, as well as "a great leader."

He was also impressed by some of the actor's previous depictions of doctors.

Said Sweeny: "When writing a medical show, I’m going to challenge the actor with navigating a vast ocean of medical terminology. It demands a significant commitment. With this show, we are fully dedicated to accurately representing every medical complexity. Correct scientific information often involves complex vocabulary. Morris is equally as dedicated to getting it right from his perspective as we are in the writing process."

It's incredibly tough to play a doctor character, and making it work in a one-hour drama raises the stakes even higher," Chestnut said. "The medical jargon is essentially its own language. I need to be familiar with it. I can't simply alter the words and phrases like I would in another acting role. The medical terms and diagnoses must be precise and accurate. This adds a new dimension to the acting challenge.

He's eager to take on this challenge, especially now that he's at a point in his creative development. In "Boyz N the Hood," late director John Singleton's groundbreaking debut about teenagers living among the perils of gang life in South Los Angeles, Chestnut played Ricky Baker, a standout high school football athlete who hopes to attend college on a scholarship. Ricky comes to a tragic end when he's shot by gang members.

I'm often talking to individuals today who weren't around when the film came out.

Another notable highlight is "The Best Man," a romantic comedy by Malcolm D. Lee that tells the story of a group of college friends who have a joyful yet chaotic reunion when two of them decide to get married. This film deviated from the common approach of Black films at the time, which typically depicted difficulties in Black communities, instead focusing on the lives of refined and affluent African Americans.

Chestnut was part of the group of actors who would go on to achieve major stardom, including Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Regina Hall, and Melissa De Sousa. The group reunited for a sequel, 2013's "The Best Man Holiday," and the 2022 Peacock limited series "The Best Man: The Final Chapters."

Chestnut played another top football player, Lance Sullivan, who is deeply distraught in "The Best Man Holiday" after finding out that his wife, Mia, is seriously ill with cancer. He added, "People were on an emotional journey with me. This also helped me maintain a successful acting career."

His work on those films and subsequent projects has put him in the spotlight for a role in "Watson."

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