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Legend 78 MIAMI LIVING ML EXCLUSIVE: FALL TV ROUNDUP Mark-Paul Gosselaar photos by Art Streiber. ML: How do you reconcile Jerry's job defending "a monster," like in the episode last year with the sodomized and murdered boy, with your beliefs? M-PG: I spent a lot of time with David Feige and I've read his book [Indefensible] multiple times, and I kind of have to take on his persona. Jerry's like David, and that was one of my first questions: 'How do you defend someone who is obviously guilty?' David said these people, these 'monsters,' are human beings, and if we only judge people on the worst thing they've ever done, then each of us would have something to hide. What that character did was horrific, but he was still a human being. And Jerry put his hand on him to comfort him — which was a huge thing that we talked about — but you could see he was also doing his job, which was to defend this guy and get him justice. ML: In Season 1, Jerry was quite rough around the edges. How has he changed in Season 2? M-PG: Well, I cut my hair. He's cleaned up a bit. You can tell he's becoming a bit more tactful. In Season 2, you see him using less of his voice, more of his mind. He's not standing on a soapbox as much. He's learning. He's not afraid to do what he needs to do for his clients' sake, and if that means getting a haircut, Jerry will do that. He's gotta play the game. ML: Were you happy to see you were getting a haircut? M-PG: From a personal standpoint, yes. The wife liked it, the kids liked it. But characterwise, I was afraid we would lose a little bit of Jerry's rebellious quality, but I don't think we have, looking back on it. ML: Tell us about your fellow cast members. All of your scenes with Jane Kaczmarek last year were terrific, and this season, you and John Michael Higgins get to go head-to-head. Plus, you out with Melissa Sagemiller and flirt it up with Natalia Cigliuti. Are you relishing this role? M-PG: Steven Bochco makes my job a heck of a lot easier. He puts together these people, from the crew to the cast, who are likeminded individuals and passionate about what they do. It's a joy. To work with such talented actors makes the day fly. The scenes that I have with Jane are so tremendous because it's a dance, much like with John Michael. You see these scenes on the page and you get a sense for what they'll be like when we go to do them. But in the end, it's always better.