BY JUDY SLOANE

Front Row Features

HOLLYWOOD-CBS’ new legal drama “Cupertino,” is set in the heart of the Silicon Valley, and follows lawyer Michael Price (Mike Colter, “Evil,” “Daredevil: Born Again”) who, along with attorney Olivia Siffre (Rachel Keller, “Fargo,” “Legion”) are cheated and wrongly terminated from a tech startup company. Joining forces, Michael and Olivia represent clients who have been taken advantage of by tech giants, ensuring that justice prevails.

The series co-created and executive produced by Robert and Michelle King (“The Good Wife,” “Evil”) premieres Thursday, October 8 (10-11 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.

Mike Colter and Rachel Keller spoke with TV journalists about their new roles and how their characters are making a difference.

Q: Mike, you’re reuniting with Robert and Michelle here after working with them on “Evil”. Why did you hop onto the project and what are you most excited about for the show?

Mike Colter: I like a challenge. When Robert and Michelle are interested in doing something with me, I’m literally halfway there. They would have to really do something awful for me to say no, and they’ve never done that. It’s always been the opposite. It’s always been a wonderful project. I don’t know how where they get it and I don’t know why they choose me to do it but I’m always happy to come along for the ride. And I’m really excited because it is timely and it’s something that is bugging the heck out of me. I think everybody should know more about this subject.

Q: What is it about their writing that you appreciate?

Mike Colter: I love the way they tell the stories; it’s always a little bit of humor first. I think that’s the key to life. There’s a little bit of humor first. But it still is drama and that’s the great thing about it. You’re going to learn something but you’re not going to be beaten over the head with it. And there’s no real right or wrong answer. We’re just exploring things through characters that all have different perspectives and points-of-views. And we learn something from each other as characters and that’s the storytelling device that they use to bring the audience in because every person in the room, if you watch it, may share a perspective of a different character.

Q: Rachel, tell us more about your character Olivia, and what do you think Michael sees in her?

Rachel Keller: She comes from the Midwest. She went to law school, and there’s a line in the pilot when she says she did a bunch of research to see where she could make the most money, which was Wall Street or Silicon Valley. She’s definitely ambitious.

I grew up in the Midwest, and I remember wanting to get out. Not that I would never return, but you want to make a name for yourself, and I think she probably feels that. She wants to get out there in the world and make some difference, so she starts at this tech startup company.

Q: Why does she get fired?

Rachel Keller:  Thing happens which is horrible, but it’s so normal. She’s a young woman working at this tech startup, and thinks that the boss is taking a real interest in her talent, and it ends up being totally the opposite. It’s that kind of horrible, normalized, sexual harassment, and she ends up getting fired.

Q: What makes her want to join Michael’s firm?

Rachel Keller: When Michael Price notices her and sees her to start this firm, while it’s something at first quite scary for her, and it goes against her religious beliefs, and maybe there’s some fear about what her family might think or the ideas that she grew up with about privacy and whatnot, what really happens is that every bell goes off in her head. Maybe this is the opportunity that I have to make a name for myself and make a difference.

Q: What’s it like working with Mike?

Rachel Keller: I love playing those scenes with Mike when they’re dealing with how do we want to run this business? How do we wanna treat each other? Calling each other out on things. To me, that feels like such a heartbeat to the whole show, a kind of touchstone along the way.

Q: These are two lawyers that have come together with completely different backgrounds and motivation. Olivia is very altruistic and Mike is very fundamental. I’m wondering what each of you will teach each other?

Rachel Keller: When they’re fired from this tech startup company Michael Price is a more experienced lawyer and I think he sees [how] the pairing of them together could benefit them both. I learned this as we were filming it that Olivia is so wonderfully spontaneous sometimes and I think maybe that’s what she shows Michael Price is that you sometimes, as the underdog, have to make big, bold choices.

Mike Colter: Yeah, I agree. He does understand exactly the value that Olivia brings and he does understand her point of view. But he also is very clear about what his intentions are.

At first it’s a personal vendetta. He sees that Olivia also has personal stakes. He understands how valuable she could be because of her appearance, her perception, and he understands how that plays with his own perception because it’s off-putting.

We think we know who he is, and there’s one line, I think it’s in the trailer, “you see me coming a mile away, but she’s a secret weapon.” I do think he’s, I wouldn’t say manipulative, but he’s an opportunist. And he does see the value in helping people, but he also sees the value in making money. So he’s two-handedly doing things for the right reasons, but it has to make sense, and she balances him out.

Q: Mike, any closing thoughts about the series?

Mike Colter: I’m genuinely excited about bringing our show to the audience. Robert and Michelle have created something that is really funny, fresh, smart and incredibly timely. I’m so thankful yet again, for having such a wonderful cast and crew to work with. It’s an embarrassment of riches. Every time I go to work, I feel like I’m in heaven because these guys have been doing this for so long. And it feels like a well-oiled machine. It’s a pleasure as an artist to step onto the stage and present work that I really do feel strongly about.