From Michelle Obama to the George Washington Costume, Christopher Jackson Loves All the “Hamilton” Easter Eggs on “AJLT” (Exclusive)

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Warning: this communicative contains spoilers from play 2 and 3 of And Just Like That...

NEED TO KNOW

  • Christopher Jackson returns arsenic Herbert Wexley connected And Just Like That... play 3
  • The character talks to PEOPLE astir nan show's references to Hamilton, successful which he played George Washington
  • "Obviously, Hamilton has had an unthinkable effect culturally," he says of nan Broadway musical's overlap pinch nan Sex and nan City series

After famously spending clip onstage "in nan room wherever it happens," Christopher Jackson is enjoying being portion of nan Sex and nan City franchise, which includes respective nods to Hamilton.  

The shape and TV star, 49, originated nan domiciled of George Washington successful creator and prima Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit biopic philharmonic astir Alexander Hamilton, which is celebrating its 10-year day aft first starting performances Off-Broadway successful January 2015 earlier transferring to Broadway successful July 2015. 

Since leaving nan accumulation successful November 2016, Jackson has made his people on-screen pinch roles connected Bull, which ran for six seasons from 2016 to 2022, and And Just Like That..., which returns for play 3 connected Thursday, May 29. 

Over nan people of nan first 2 seasons, arsenic good arsenic nan caller episodes unfolding complete nan summer, nan HBO Max original has included subtle references to nan award-winning philharmonic — mostly done Jackson's character, Herbert Wexley, a governmental campaigner and hubby of Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker). 

During nan Halloween-themed section ("Trick aliases Treat") of play 2, Herbert notably donned a George Washington costume — good astir of it; he was pantless successful nan scene. And arsenic Jackson tells PEOPLE, nan thought came from nan writers room.

Christopher Jackson onstage successful 'Hamilton' successful June 2016.

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"I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was perfectly hilarious," nan character says. "I was each for it, you know, I felt for illustration it was gonna beryllium an wrong joke that nan assemblage would surely appreciate." Glad to spot some worlds collide, Jackson says, "I was happy to put [the uniform] on." 

The costume was much than conscionable a ocular motion to Jackson's onstage character, it was nan very 1 he wore arsenic Washington, which nan bid sewage support to usage from nan producers. "At nan fitting, I was like, 'Oh my gosh,' origin it had been nan first clip that I'd put it connected [since leaving Hamilton] and I sewage a small affectional astir it," he says. 

"I mean, it was specified an impactful infinitesimal successful my life and to conscionable deterioration that again, it was beautiful special," nan character continues.

Season 3 of And Just Like That... features moreover much overlap pinch Jackson's clip spent connected Broadway arsenic Lisa continues moving connected her documentary. At nan urging of her producers, she's trying to get Michelle Obama progressive successful nan project. 

As fans whitethorn remember, nan erstwhile first woman and her husband, Barack Obama, were among nan galore celebrated supporters of Hamilton, pinch nan mates moreover hosting nan formed astatine nan White House for a typical capacity successful 2016 conscionable months aft nan erstwhile president said onstage astatine nan Richard Rodgers Theatre successful New York City during a Democratic fundraiser involving nan musical.

Acknowledging nan Obama relationship to some projects, Jackson says it's conscionable nan use of being portion of "one of those powerful, very fortunate circumstances I find myself successful complete nan past 10 years."

"Obviously, Hamilton has had an unthinkable effect culturally," he continues. "To fundamentally beryllium capable to do that and past to beryllium capable to do a show for illustration And Just Like That, which has been moving nan zeitgeist for decades, I consciousness for illustration those things are conscionable gonna intersect astatine immoderate point. They're bound to."

"Of course, immoderate clip that I sewage to interact pinch nan first family was special," nan character recalls. "And yes, astatine nan mention of their names, I'm perpetually reminded that, you know, that was a infinitesimal that we were successful and I'm truthful gladsome that those moments intersected." 

He adds, "It's beautiful special." 

From Left: Samuel McKelton, James Monroe Iglehart, Destan Owens and Christopher Jackson connected 'And Just Like That' play 3.

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Elsewhere connected nan caller season, Herbert reunites pinch his erstwhile Morehouse College classmates, who are played by impermanent stars Samuel McKelton, who is an original formed personnel of The Lion King, which marked Jackson's Broadway debut, arsenic good arsenic James Monroe Iglehart, who joined Hamilton arsenic Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson successful 2017 and again successful 2019. 

The 3 actors, positive Broadway's Destan Owens, moreover get to singing on-screen, bringing a small musicality to nan series. "The shooting of it was spectacular," Jackson says of nan little infinitesimal successful play 3. "I called successful immoderate of my Broadway friends, including James — Tony victor and 2025 nominee — and we had a ball."

"Anytime nan world of Broadway tin collide pinch thing that I'm doing on-screen is ever conscionable a treat," he continues. 

The infinitesimal was besides important for Jackson's portrayal of Herbert, pinch nan character explaining that it was a measurement into seeing much of nan characteristic — "you know, his past and nan things that made him who he was." He adds, "You spot Herbert arsenic a well-rounded, very crafted man done his experiences, done his associations of friendships not dissimilar ones I share." 

From Left: Christopher Jackson and Nicole Ari Parker connected 'And Just Like That' play 3.

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In fact, erstwhile it comes to his publication to And Just Like That, Jackson is proud to play one-half of an able Black couple, who nan character feels for illustration "we haven't seen connected tv before." 

"To nan grade of their wealthiness and their struggle to effort to cheque each nan boxes each nan clip and find themselves arsenic they're being successful successful business, arsenic they're being successful arsenic a family," he explains. "Yet they're dealing pinch nan things that joined couples woody with, sloppy of taxation bracket." 

"It's been unthinkable to show that story," Jackson says, adding that Parker, 54, is simply a awesome costar. "She's an unthinkable partner. From nan very first infinitesimal that we sewage into nan constitution trailer, each we did was laugh." 

He adds that erstwhile they're together, "All we do is talk astir our kids and talk astir life successful wide and really overmuch we bask these characters."

And Just Like That... play 3 debuts Thursday, May 29 astatine 9 p.m. ET connected Max. The 12-episode play will proceed pinch 1 caller section play done Aug. 14.