A dive into the mind

What makes you, you Michael Weatherly, who essays the character of Dr Jason Bull, tries to find answers to this and much more, in the new drama series, Bull.

The new series Bull, is all about trial sciences and getting into a person’s head to find what makes them do what they do. Michael Weatherly, who plays Dr Jason Bull on the new show, tells us more.

Q. How did you separate yourself from your character Tony of NCIS and create this new one A: Well, it was really interesting. I used the script as my map — and Paul Attanasio was essential as the creator of this series, in showing me how a maverick, iconoclastic thinker works in the world. I think Tony DiNozzo was a maverick in his own way, but Bull is a lot more out of the box. The ambiguity was amazing and interesting — and it continues to wake me up every morning with a lot of questions.

Q. Do you find yourself analysing people more, now that you have the techniques A: I have to really think a few steps ahead now when I’m playing a scene or when we’re breaking down a script. Earlier, if my hands were in my pockets, I didn’t really think much about it. But now projecting arms folded or arms in a pocket, am I seated, am I standing — those factors actually play into the sort of power of dynamics inside any kind of social interplay.

Q. How did you prepare yourself for the role A: I watched jury consultants on YouTube. I also watched the fictional depiction and documentary of the OJ Simpson trial — everything from where the jury selection took place in the trial to the profiling of the jury members. As I was doing all of that, I also watched Fillini’s 8-1/2 every day. I was inspired by the Fillini-esque quality of characters, faces and storytelling. Ultimately, Bull is a dream weaver. He’s a storyteller. Whether you’re selling toothpaste or running for president, you’re just building a narrative. And that is where Bull is sort of magical, I think.

Q. What do you like most about your character A: The enigma. I haven’t yet figured him out. He seems to be a con man sometimes. And then he helps people in the most beautiful way. So I’m, you know, really looking forward to exploring Bull for many, many seasons.

Q. Since the series is based on Dr. Phil McGraw, is it hard for you to play a real-life person A: Earlier, there was an understanding that the show is about Dr. Phil. But it’s actually about the world that Dr. Phil came from and an understanding of trial sciences — about understanding why people make the decisions they make. For instance, among twins, if one votes for a particular political candidate and the other for someone else, how does that happen Why human beings make the choices they make, is what Phil McGraw knows really well. The important distinction here is that Dr. Jason Bull is very different in terms of background and education than McGraw. I never had to worry about trying to be Dr. Phil because that wasn’t really the character.

Q. What can we expect from the show A: A lot of fundamental understanding of human behavior and how technology has been affecting that. It’s changing people a little bit. I think that’s one aspect of Bull, which is going to get very interesting for everyone.

Q. Are there any profiling techniques you might have picked up or learned about on the show that you might be inadvertently applying in real life. A: Not profiling, but I did solve a panic attack. We had a scene where a woman was having a panic attack and Bull asks her to count out of sequence at the same time. The brain has to decide to either panic or count, and goes with the numbers. My daughter had cut her lip and we were on our way to the hospital. She was bleeding quite a bit, and was really freaked out. I said, ‘4, 5, 6, 3, 1, 7’. And she said, ‘what ’ I said again, ‘3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 2’. Then she stopped crying. It was an extraordinary thing!

(The show premieres on October 16 at 11pm, on AXN)