Bradley Cooper, Jake McDorman on "Limitless" collaboration on TV
Bradley Cooper returns to TV as Sen. Eddie Morra in Tuesday night's episode of CBS' "Limitless." This will be his fourth appearance, but he's behind the scenes of every episode as the show's executive producer, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.
It's a show he was determined to bring to television after starring in "Limitless: The Movie" in 2011. He even convinced the show's star, Jake McDorman, to take the lead role. And it's evident the two share a mutual admiration.
Call it a Hollywood "bromance." Cooper and McDorman's friendship was forged while working on last year's Oscar-nominated film, "American Sniper."
"We had an amazing experience doing 'American Sniper' together," Cooper said.
"Yeah, that was it," McDorman said.
"So how does one talk someone into their first lead role in a TV series?" Miller asked.
"It doesn't take much," McDorman said.
"More than I thought it would," Cooper said.
"Really? Are you kidding? I played that really well then," McDorman said, laughing.
While working on "American Sniper," Cooper saw something in McDorman -- an ability to carry a television series that requires endurance. "He's perfectly built for this rigor, which is not for everybody," Cooper said.
"Well, it's interesting too. It moves so fast and it's such a large quantity of material, 22 episode seasons, that it ends up being like an athletic sport in a lot of ways," McDorman said.
"Bradley, is it important for you to trust the people you work with? And is that why you work with so many of the same people over and over again? The Jennifer Lawrences and Bobby De Niros, the Jake McDormans?" Miller asked.
"Yeah, yeah for sure," Cooper said "Because you are trying to accomplish something that's very difficult, actually. Tell a story cinematically, given a lot of parameters and restrictions. So you find that when it works with people, you want to repeat that."
The "Limitless" journey began five years ago after Cooper starred in the film, then adapted the story for television, his first as an executive producer.
"What's the best thing out of this experience for you?" Miller asked.
"At the top of my head, it's just amazing to see the story continue. You know, that was a movie we shot in 2010, I think? It came out in 2011. And then for it to actually take life, you know, now, it's like so crazy. It's kind of amazing," Cooper said.
Cooper's original character, Eddie Mora, gets to live on too. He's made several cameos this season. "Eddie Morra's a senator and he's running for president now," Cooper said.
"Does he have a shot?" Miller asked.
"I think he's got it. I think you never bet against a guy on NZT," Cooper said.
NZT, the clear pill at the heart of the "Limitless" franchise, offers a dose of all-knowing power. In this first season, NZT allowed McDorman's character, Brian Finch, to find the FBI's top 10 most wanted fugitives and helped him cure his father of a life-threatening illness.
In the real world, McDorman and Cooper have little insight on whether "Limitless" will last another season. Either way, they'll keep finishing each other's sentences.
"So what's next on the horizon for Jake McDorman?" Miller asked.
"Sleep," Cooper responded.
"That's exactly what I was going to say," McDorman said. "You're right, he finishes my sentences and reads my thoughts."
Call it the March Madness of prime-time TV. We're in the final four of "Limitless" episodes. Fans will have to wait until May to see if the show is renewed for a second season.
Watch "Limitless" Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. CT on CBS.