Trailer for new NBC series The Irrational starring Jesse L. Martin

"My name is Alec Mercer and I was brought in because I know people and why they do inexplicable things." So says Jesse L. Martin's Alec at the beginning of the first trailer for the NBC drama series The Irrational. Written by Arika Lisanne Mittman, The Irrational is based on Dan Ariely's bestseller Predictably Irrational. The book follows world-renowned behavioral science professor Alec Mercer (Martin) as he lends his unique expertise to a range of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement, and corporations. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and his team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and baffling mysteries.



Law & Order actor Martin (pictured) returns to NBC to solve more crime, citing "grief sex" and "attention blindness" as some of his more unique cases.

"People are irrational, but predictable," says Martin's character Mercer. "One error of judgment leads to another."

Maahra Hill (Delilah (2021)), Travina Springer (Ms. Marvel), Molly Kunz (Chicago Fire) and Arash DeMaxi (Partner Track) also star.

Martin also produced the pilot. Mittman is producing with Mark Goffman and Samuel Baum and Ariely is a consultant. David Frankel (The Morning Show) directs and also serves as an executive producer. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

The Irrational starts on Monday, September 25, the same time at 10 p.m. (US time) as was revealed in May, after The Voice (US), which begins with new coach Reba McEntire. Episodes air every Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC and stream on Peacock the following day.

Martin played the fan-favorite character of detective Ed Green on Law & Order seasons 10-18.

Watch the trailer for The Irrational below.