Mechad Brooks on Law & Order SVU "Personal Fouls": "When Law and Order Calls, You Say Yes"

Actor Mechad Brooks — known for his role as TK on Necessary Roughness — guest-stars as Prince Miller in the Law & Order: SVU Season 13 episode "Personal Fouls." When a well-respected basketball coach is inducted into the Metro Basketball Hall of Fame by former students Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, an ex-player accuses him of sexual abuse as a child. Premier Guide Media's Daedrian McNaughton was on the NBC press call.

When Law and Order calls, you say yes. It was important to me that we told the story with respect, with care, and realistically.

Daedrian McNaughton: How close is everyone on the set?

Mechad Brooks: They really are close. Danny Pino said to me that he just felt so welcome — he felt like he was always there. And same thing when I walked on. It was as if it was a home away from home. I've rarely experienced being a guest on a set like that. It was very welcoming.

Daedrian McNaughton: Among all the A.D.A.s you've had on the show, if you were to work with anybody again and for them to stay permanently on the show, who would it be?

Mechad Brooks: [Laughs] That's a great question for the guys who've been here longer than me. I'll defer to Dan and Dan on that one.

Prince Miller vs. TK — and why the role mattered

On the difference between Prince Miller and TK: "Prince Miller is antithetical to TK. TK has bravado based on inexperience. Prince is definitely who he's become because of the experiences in his past. It was a nice change of pace and I think in a lot of ways more important than TK." On what attracted him to the role: "When Law and Order calls, you say yes. I was very blessed in that the nature of this character — it's something that's not really touched on, not really brought to light. The way that Brian, the writer, described it to me when we had a creative conversation was that it was really important to him that we told the story with respect, with care, and realistically. I've known some people who've been sexually molested and it was important to me — it was a blessing to me — that I was able to do this. It was a perfect storm."

On acting, courage, and what gratifies him

On what's gratifying about acting: "I'm a big kid in a lot of ways — not childish, but child-like — and this is the type of job where you can really flourish as being that. You can't bring that attribute anywhere else and have it applauded. You can't be at Starbucks flipping cups and spilling people's drinks and getting a raise. So yes, it beats working." On the courage required for the role: "Prince Miller has to summon up courage like he never has in his life to do what he has to do at the press conference. And I do think there's an element of courage for an actor to take on a role like that — you get to the point where the message is more important than anything personal." On television vs. film: "I agree with Dan and Dan — well put. The best writers are moving to television and that's where you can really develop characters and push the envelope." Law & Order: SVU Season 13 episode "Personal Fouls" aired Wednesday, September 28, 2011, on NBC.