The main character, Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) is based on the real-life Duke University psychology and behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely. Part of Ariely's fame has come from his research into the psychological principles behind dishonesty, including in his book "The Honest Truth about Dishonesty", a documentary, "(Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies", and many academic papers. However, in 2021, a 2012 paper coauthored by Ariely and several others and purporting to study issues of dishonesty was itself retracted due to evidence that the data in it was falsified. The second episode of "The Irrational" nods to and then dismisses this controversy: a crusading investigative reporter who had previously been skeptical of Mercer's methodology (formerly calling it "pop culture junk science") comes to him for help, explaining that when she further investigated his work, she found it "unimpeachable."
Loosely based on Dan Ariely, a behavioral scientist, professor, and author, including his bestseller "Predictably Irrational". The story of the main character's initial interest in the behavioral sciences stemming from nurses treatment of the bandages of his face burns is also Ariely's; unlike in the show, Ariely's burns were caused by a much more mundane accident (magnesium explosion), not by a terrorist bombing.
Mercer drives a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia in the premiere episode. Undetermined what his transport is going forward.
The pilot episode has a scene that zooms in on a purple wall with a yellow picture frame like on the tv show Friends. Both aired on NBC.