Katharine McPhee is playing outside of her element. From her breakout status in American Idol Season 5, to her starring role on NBC’s musical-dramedy, Smash, McPhee is known for her amazing voice. But in the pilot of her newest role on CBS’ high-velocity drama Scorpion, the beautiful and talented McPhee doesn’t sing a note. Instead, she plays Paige, a waitress and a devoted single mother whose restaurant is commandeered by a team of super-geniuses when an airline disaster threatens the city of Los Angeles.
As soon as team leader Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel) sees her young son, he recognizes a frustrated genius like himself, and Paige becomes an intermediary between the geniuses and the rest of the world. Explains McPhee, “My character intermingles with them because they become the connection to my son — and the relationship — that I’ve always wanted to have with him.” While Katharine filled me in on her character and her new show, she also answered our “7 Questions” …
1. You’re at a magazine rack and can only pick three titles. Which ones do you choose?
Elle, In Style and People Style Watch
2. If your TV carried just three shows or networks, what would they be?
The Good Wife, Stalker and The Amazing Race
3. What are three things you have to have in your fridge or pantry?
I can’t live without raw almond butter, rice cakes, and milk chocolate-covered almonds
4. What has been your strangest fan encounter?
I don’t even know. That’s too hard. I have such great fans!
5. Tell us about a time when you were starstruck.
Oh, I remember seeing Brad Pitt backstage at the Golden Globes. I was so in awe that I just kept quiet and stared!
6. What’s a movie you can watch over and over again?
My Best Friend’s Wedding, Notting Hill and Pretty Woman. As you can tell, I’m not a Julia Roberts fan at all! (laughs)
7. Which song is most likely to get stuck in your head?
[Starts singing] “And we can’t stop, and we won’t stop.” Anything Miley Cyrus gets stuck in my head for days!
As you can imagine, I was absolutely floored to hear Katharine sing live. Her voice is like an angel singing and Kat is as beautiful and sweet as she is talented. You can catch her in Scorpion on CBS, Mondays starting Sept. 22.
She really is special! And talented! And beautiful! And humorous!!!