On the rise and in demand with movies like Avatar, Jumping the Broom and the television series Breakout Kings, Laz Alonso returns to the small screen in NBC's Deception (check your local lisitings). The series stars Meagan Good as a cop investigating the murder of her childhood best friend and Alonso as an FBI agent. Laz sat down with BET.com to chat about the show, reuniting with Good and his New York state of mind.

What drew you to this project?
Out of all the pilots I read last year, this was the one that was a page-turner. I couldn't put it down. After Breakout Kings and Southland I wanted to do another series, but I wanted to stay away from playing law enforcement. But what I loved about this guy, Will Moreno, is he had emotion, he had feelings, he showed his heart.

You were in Stomp the Yard and Jumping the Broom with Meagan. How is it working with her again, especially playing the love scenes? 
That part did feel a little icky because I've known Meagan since she was a child, so I've seen her grow up. But in our business trust is a big thing and I trust her completely and she trusts me. It really helps our chemistry.

The show is an ensemble, but with two Black actors front and center. Is that gratifying? 
When I read the script, it didn't have any color or ethnicity at all in the character or the content and that's what I love, to play a well-rounded human being that has emotions and feelings and loves this woman. His insecurity makes him do things that a lot of people do out of desperation, and sometimes it's the right thing and sometimes it's the wrong thing. But his heart's in the right place. He's the moral core of the story.

Deception shoots in New York. Have you adjusted to the move? 
Of course I miss the sunshine and the warmth, especially at this time of year. But I love it. The city itself is a character in the show. I'm getting to the point where I need the noise. When I'm on the set and it's a closed set, it's too quiet. I rediscovered the joy of walking. In Los Angeles you kind of forget that.

How's the dating scene in NYC treating you? 
It's great! New York a great mix of intelligence and people that are politically savvy. I'm enjoying it.

You did a movie about a b-boy competition called Battle of the Year: The Dream Team. What's your role? 
I play a Sean Combs-ish character, a mogul. It's a fun movie, due this fall.

What's on your to-do list now? 
I directed my first short last fall, a mini-documentary about an artist in [Washington] D.C. named Al Burts, somebody I knew from home. I loved it. It was a great experience. I want to do more directing and producing as well. I think it's only natural if you want to grow in this business, you need to reach out and maybe try things that are outside of your comfort zone. I feel that as an actor I haven't done everything, but there are other areas of the business that mean a lot to me that I want to explore.

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 (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)