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The right to remain silent: CBS turns up the heat with southern legal drama

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Rebecca Potter / TV Media
Cam Gigandet and Anna Wood star in “Reckless”

Cam Gigandet and Anna Wood star in “Reckless”

Things are heating up down south between a litigator and an attorney -- and not just in the courtroom.

The new legal drama "Reckless" looks to tear up the steamy city of Charleston, S.C., with a court case that could rupture the police department at any moment. But regardless of how hot their case gets, and how much they attack each other in the courthouse, behind closed doors the line between friend and enemy disappears in the muggy southern heat and their reckless personal relationship continues. Catch a new episode airing Sunday, July 20, on CBS.

Newly minted city attorney and classic southern gentleman Roy Rayder is played by Cam Gigandet ("Easy A " 2010). Roy is a divorced father of two who has his old father-in-law to thank for his higher-up court position. Taking on his new Yankee opponent (while running off with her behind closed doors), Roy hopes to keep the peace until the case is finished.

Fans of the popular teen show "The O.C." will recognize Gigandet, who transitioned to prime time from the classic soap opera "The Young and the Restless" in the show's third season. He came back into the teen scene when he played the villain James in 2008's book-to-film adaption of "Twilight," which was directed by Catherine Hardwicke ("Thirteen," 2003). CBS brought the actor and director together again, as Hardwicke directed the pilot episode for "Reckless."

Anna Wood stars as Jamie Sawyer, a litigator from the south side of Chicago who heads to the courtroom to battle Roy. They try to keep their sultry personal life under wraps while practically tearing the city apart with their serious assault case. Wood is fairly new to the television world, having made guest appearances in shows such as "Royal Pains," "Cold Case," "Brothers & Sisters," "Mad Men" and the short-lived NBC crime drama "Deception."

In the steamy depths of South Carolina, "Reckless" begins when disgraced Charleston PD officer Lee Anne Marcus (Georgina Haig, "The Elephant Princess") hires Jamie to represent her in a sexual assault lawsuit against the police department. Jamie and Roy discover that Lee Anne is at the center of a sinister case that could turn the police department on its head, and they attempt to keep their emotions and secrets at bay.

Heading the corrupt Charleston Police Department is Deputy Chief Holland Knox, a very serious and devoted family man. Playing the role is Michael Gladis, who gained television fame in AMC's hit show "Mad Men" as Paul Kinsey. Outside of prime time, Gladis graced the big screen in "J. Edgar" (2011) and "K-19: The Widowmaker" (2002).

Working underneath the deputy is Det. Terry McCandless, a corrupt and incredibly cocky police officer, and Jamie's well-respected boyfriend, Det. Preston Cruz. McCandless is played by Shawn Hatosy, best known for his film work in the late '90s and early 2000s and his role on TNT's "Southland" as Det. Sammy Bryant. Some of his most popular films include "The Faculty" (1998), "The Cooler" (2003) and "Alpha Dog" (2006).

Gregory Harrison as seen in “Reckless”

Gregory Harrison as seen in “Reckless”

Playing Jamie's beau Preston is Adam Rodriguez. Most well-known as Eric Delko from the successful CBS show "CSI: Miami," Rodriguez knows how to keep things sizzling in a warm-weather climate. Since the CSI spinoff finished in 2012, Rodriguez played a role in 2012's "Magic Mike," with Channing Tatum, and a guest role in "Necessary Roughness" and "The Goodwin Games."

Outside of Roy and Jamie's secret relationship, paralegal Vi Briggs (Kim Wayans) is Jamie's friend and confidante. Wayans is best known for her comedic work alongside her brother Keenan Ivory Wayans on the sketch comedy show "In Living Color" and served as a producer, director and writer on the hit show "My Wife and Kids." Outside of the small screen, Wayans is also a successful author with her husband Kevin Knotts, she lit up the stage in her one-woman show called "A Handsome Woman Retreats" and starred in the dramatic film "Pariah" (2011).

The show is part of CBS's summer lineup and is busy heating up the small screen on Sunday nights. Gigandet has been growing in Hollywood on both the big and small screen, and in an interview with "Collider," he breaks down why he found himself in South Carolina filming this sexy new show.

"When I read the script, I could see the potential of where things could go," Gigandet said, "and it was something new and unique to me, in my career, so I was immediately drawn to it."

The sea of legal dramas floating around prime time these days are limitless, but "Reckless" bounces between a case per week and the season-wide storyline between Roy and Jamie and their ongoing case.

"I think it can appeal to everyone, whether you like legal dramas or cop shows. The core of it is still a legal show, but then you have these elements which make it a legal show that’s never been done before. Hopefully, we’re creating something new and pushing the envelope, just for the sake of exploring new territory."

Tune in to CBS to catch the newest episode of "Reckless," airing Sunday, July 20.