Preston’s husband becomes her “Elsbeth” foe

So there is some logic to the TV world, after all:
Michael Emerson will soon be a recurring character on “Elsbeth,” the show that stars his wife, Carrie Preston. (They’re shown here.)
That starts Dec. 12, with Emerson-playing Milton Crawford. CBS says he’s a “haughty, soft-spoken judge” from a prominent New England family.
And yes, that combination has always seemed logical. “I would love, obviously, to have my husband come on the show,” Preston, 57, told the Television Critics Association session in July.
He was already a fan, she said:
“I was in the other room and I heard my voice …. I go in and he’s got an episode of ‘Elsbeth’ on, giggling and laughing ….
“He’s like, ‘I just wanted to see the detail work again, the stuff I missed.’”
Both actors are masters of details, comic and not
Emerson, 70, got his first Emmy in 2001, as a serial killer on “The Practice.” His second came in 2009, one of his four nominations on “Lost” as Ben Linus, a long-time resident of the island and leader of the Others.
Preston’s Emmy came in 2013, one of two nominations as Elsbeth Tascioni.
At first, this was “purely functional,” said Michelle King, co-creator of “The Good Wife” A lawyer was needed to defend Chris Noth’s character. “Then Carrie Preston comes in and explodes it into this wonderful character.”
This was more than expected, said Robert King, the co-creator with his wife. “What Carrie brought was this innocence beneath it, which surprised us.”
She did the role 19 times, sprawled over 12 years of “Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.” She was also co-starred in “True Blood,” “Claws” … and eight episodes of “Person of Interest,” playing Emerson’s former fiance.
Emerson also co-starred in the Kings’ series, “Evil.” And now these two actors – married for 26 years – will finally be doing scenes together again.
In a show with great guest-stars roles – Linda Lavin last season, Nathan Lane in this season’s opener, Brittany O’Grady on Oct. 31 – Elsbeth has often nailed the rich and privileged. Now, CBS says, Emerson will play someone “who sees his place in the nation’s elite as a birthright.” It could be fun.