Returning to Harvey Specter for Suits LA had Gabriel Macht feeling some type of way.
“There was a sense of warmth on the set,” Macht, 53, told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting his starring role in Bear Fight Whiskey’s first-ever ad campaign. “I grew up in L.A. and there was full circle moments for me, which were really cool.”
Macht is set to return to his iconic role as Harvey Specter (whom he played in the OG Suits from 2011 to 2019) in the Sunday, March 16, episode of Suits LA. He told Us that while the new cast was so “welcoming,” working with some crew members was “nostalgic” — something he felt in more ways than one.
“There’s some scenes where you see me on the baseball field, and we shot at a park that I used to practice [at] in high school. We’re eating at the Factor’s Deli down the street from where I grew up — that’s one of the locations — so that was cool,” Macht said. “One of the camera operators was an old friend who went to high school with a cousin of mine.”
His dad, Stephen Macht (who played Professor Henry Gerard in the OG Suits), even stopped by the Suits LA set.
“Even before he said hello to anybody, here he is sitting in the stands watching the game. I remember being 15 and seeing him in the stands,” Macht added. “There was a nostalgia, a warmth and a real playfulness. We had a really good time.”
Suits LA has been teasing Macht’s return as Harvey since before the show premiered late last month. While the actor couldn’t say much about what fans will see once the episode airs on Sunday, he did tease Harvey’s relationship with Ted Black (Stephen Amell).
“Ted and Harvey were very close pals. They basically come from the same cloth, they really admire each other, respect each other, are able to really get at each other,” he explained. “They came up in the District Attorney’s office together, and we’re going to find out more of his backstory and what makes him tick through seeing his relationship with Harvey.”
Macht has spoken about passing the torch to the “terrific” Amell at length and couldn’t help but continue to give the actor his flowers.
“He’s great,” Macht gushed. “Such a great guy and open and collaborative and awesome.”
Aside from the highly anticipated Suits LA return, Macht also has a new role as the creative director for Bear Fight Whisky. The actor starred in the brand’s first-ever ad campaign (a hilarious commercial, if you ask Us), which featured Macht “getting the crap kicked out of [him]” by a man in a bear costume.
The narrative of the campaign is that “we all have our own little bear fights,” Macht explained. “We all have challenges, whether they’re really big or really small, all of us. It’s just a universal theme in all of our lives.”
He added, “What’s your bear fight and how at the end of the day, can you have a glass of whiskey, or shot, or however you want to enjoy your whiskey and celebrate your engagement with the risks that you take — and do it responsibly. I’m all for that narrative because we’re all going through it.”
Fans might be used to seeing Macht a certain way — dressed up in a full suit, perhaps — but wearing a flannel and drinking Bear Fight Whiskey is the real him.
“When I look at something, I want something that tastes good, that’s bold, that’s taking a risk, but that’s approachable,” he said. “Something that every man and woman and whoever anyone can enjoy. And I think that that’s what this is.”
Suits LA airs on NBC Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
