The Good Fight returns in season five, as punchy and energetic as ever. Paramount+ has introduced some new characters and guest stars to the series after the departures Delroy Lindo (main cast member) and Cush Jumbo (guest star). In the sixth episode, "And The Firm Had Two Partners Had a Fight", Del Cooper is introduced as Wayne Brady, a comedian who became Founder of Streaming Service. He is also Liz Reddicks (Audra McDonald) new boyfriend. This is the other half of a powerful couple. Brady loved the show and McDonalds so signing on was easy. Club, to see all the Tony winners and all the magic in one place. Already I was hooked.AdvertisementIt is impossible to believe that Brady, McDonald's, and Mandy Patinkin (who plays Hal Wackner on reality TV) will break into song between scenes. We know this because we asked. Their chemistry is evident. The A.V. The A.V. Club interviewed Brady about Del's contributions to The Good Fight and the dangers of disruptors. Brady also spoke out because Lets Make A Deal host, Game Of Talents, knows how to navigate a game show like Jeopardy! He's looking for a permanent replacement for the guest host.The A.V. Club: What would you call Del? How does he fit in to The Good Fight's world?Wayne Brady: A former stand-up comedian, Wayne Brady is a comedy professional who has made it big. He then had the opportunity to start his own streaming company. I tried to capture bits of his personality so that Liz could see the type of man he was. He is definitely an actor that I kind of drew on myself. You see him in the first few minutes. He is lying on her bed and she is talking to him. He still wants to have fun with her. This is a huge part of Del's character. He's a businessman and comedy can be serious business. He loves having fun, but he is a true gentleman. This was what I wanted to concentrate on, the light he could bring into Lizs life. She is a high-powered lawyer who holds the firm's fate in her hands. She works every day and deals with all of this stress. She needs someone to balance her. In one episode, I said to her, "But thats what a powerful couple does, baby." And thats how she sees it. I see her doing what I do and so I will be there to support her.AVC: Del is an executive in TV. You've had enough experience in the business to meet a few. Did Deloff ever inspire you?WB: It was the type of exec that I wished I had more contact with. It is a difficult job for execs. Television executives are often stereotyped as being uncreative, not knowing what they're doing or being cold when they pitch. Everyone is trying to do their job. Nobody is trying to be a bad guy. One thing I learned from the few TV executives I know (I know two who are great people and amazing TV executives) was that I wanted someone who didn't make decisions out of fear because he had his own streamer. He still makes decisions based on passion, and what he believes would be a profitable business move, even though he is a boss. This is the way I saw him, someone who was passionate and fearless, but who still wanted to have fun doing what they were doing.The Good Fight is not afraid to dive into political and cultural debates. The stories of Del and Hal Wackners reflect a conversation that we have been having in real life about giving people a platform and the dangers associated with writing off someone as a disruptor.AdvertisementWB: It was certainly a part the conversation. In an episode Del speaks to Liz about this, and she mentions The Apprentice. He says, Oh, so you're afraid of Wackner becoming President? She replies, "Well, I mean, all my friends laughed about Donald Trump while he was on The Apprentice." The joke was real. One of the cultural zeitgeist talking their mind and saying what they want. These disruptions can actually be harmful to the country. That scene was great because Wayne and I agreed with Liz. People like Wacknerand who knows what the story arc will be even into next season are viewed as Ooh, they're shaking things up. You don't have to be a politician to see that it can cause problems.AVC: It's even more difficult when you have someone like Mandy Patinkin who is so charming as Hal. Is it like having him as a scene partner. What's it like working with Audra McDonald so closely.AdvertisementWB: First, it's great to be able be on the same stage as Mandy Patinkin. If you love musical theater or are a performer, Mandy Patinkin is your royalty. If you were a child like me and are a huge nerd, The Princess Bride will be a favorite childhood movie. Here I am with Mandy Patinkin. I did my best to be cool every day. People will hear me say that I am a fan. However, I did not want to lose my professionalism and be rude. It was time to pull myself together and ensure that I was playing my best when I was with him. He is a consummate professional, and he is one of those guys you can look up to.Audra, Audra and I had the pleasure to work together once before, when Audra and Brian Stokes Mitchell performed Porgy and Bess at Hollywood Bowl. She was a wonderful actress and I fell in love with her at the time. Her natural talent and class, as well as her acting ability. She has this ability that not many people have, which is a sense of class.AdvertisementAVC: Your own history of hosting games shows such as Lets Make A Deal or Game Of Talents. Are you keeping up with Jeopardy? Are you a guest host? Are you aware of anyone who is qualified for the job?WB: I believe most people they reached out to have the ability to do it. People are thinking that they must fill the shoes of Alex Trebek. Alex Trebek was Alex Trebek. He was his own entity, and he was his entity after... god. I don't even know how many years he lived. Because I saw him as a youngster, I assume he has been around for over 30 years. So I am certain that Alex Trebek is there. After doing this for so many years, he became Alex Trebek. It is unrealistic to expect anyone to instantly become that thing.AdvertisementEveryone has their own way of thinking. Personally, I'm rooting for LeVar, Burton, because I grew up loving him and being inspired by him, and I also remember reading Reading Rainbow as a child, and I know America trusts his voice. That's what Jeopardy hosts need at the end, I believe. They must also be trusted, as we need to believe that the person asking the questions might know the answers. That was Alexs magic. He believed he had the answers.
