In the Fox drama, the Lightman Group specializes in interpreting microexpressions and body language, and leader Cal Lightman (Roth) is an expert at manipulating his own body’s language to fluster and confuse people into inadvertently revealing their true motives. Executive producers Alexander Cary and David Graziano explain that Roth deliberately created Lightman’s odd food mannerisms as part of his character’s work strategy.

“It really is a Tim character choice,” Cary tells TVGuide.com. “You look at the type of the scene and then you look at the type of food that’s going to most subvert the gravity of that scene. For example, in Episode 301 when Cal’s in the bar as a prisoner of two bank robbers and he bites into a pickle. Yeah, that’s Tim’s choices. That’s what he chooses to kind of provoke them. Lightman is a character who likes to put people off their game. Eating and talking through a mouthful of potato chips or three hot dogs is what he does to repulse people to a certain extent.” Graziano adds. “He’s a provocateur.”

So far, Lie to Me viewers have responded to Lightman — repulsive quirks and all — positively. The series won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Crime Drama, while Roth was named Favorite TV Crime Fighter. “Sometimes the fans ask for us to have him stop talking with his mouth full and some people like it,” Cary says. “You know it’s just one of those things we have to be a little judicious with otherwise it become a little bit cartoonish.”

In fact, Roth has been pulling back on his performance, creating a sort of Lightman Lite. “You may have noticed in the second half of this season Tim, as he would say, de-quirked his performance of Lightman a little bit,” Cary says. “There wasn’t quite as many sort of facial tics and sort of body language tics. He played it a little straighter. He played it a little quieter which is a conscious choice of his.”

Fans also may have noticed that Lightman’s colleague, Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), has her own signature eating habit, a weakness for sugary junk foods, that hasn’t gotten much play recently, but is still part of the character.

“I think we did a scene to refer to that if I’m not mistaken … but we took it out,” Cary says. “We had to take it for time actually. It’s something that we’re aware of. Kelli Williams actually quite likes that character trait. We may use it. We may not. It doesn’t really go anywhere at the moment.”

Lightman’s eating habits, however, are an ongoing part of the show, and Roth comes in to work ready to plan the next gastronomic gambit. “The show’s about behavior and we have an actor who loves to see the character misbehave,” Cary says. “That’s what it is. We all like to misbehave. That’s what the show is about.”

And make no mistake: Roth makes food selections based on their potential to draw laughs. “He likes pickles because they make a funny noise when you bite them,” Cary says. Graziano adds: “Some foods are funnier than others. Pickles are hilarious.”

Executive producers and Season 3 showrunners Alex Cary and David Graziano made the decision to broaden their stories and character development.

“It hobbled us a bit,” Cary tells TVGuide.com of the FBI’s watchdog attachment to the Lightman Group. “It put Lightman [Tim Roth] into the sort of one-note position of having to roll his eyes. It became unsurprising, because we knew he was going to go and do whatever he wanted to do anyway.”

“Lightman is like that kid in the back of class who used to sit with his feet up on the back of the desk and snarl at the teacher. He subverts authority and the FBI represents that,” Graziano adds. “We’d come up with these great stories, but because they didn’t adhere to FBI procedure, we couldn’t tell the stories effectively.”

In Monday’s finale (8/7c on Fox), the Lightman Group investigates the death of a journalist who happens to be one of Cal’s friends. Tensions between Lightman and Reynolds again rise when Reynolds wears a wire during one of his meetings with Lightman.

“He actually does it with a good motive: to prove to his bosses that Lightman is not as much of an ass—- as they might think he is,” Cary says. “It really puts him in a very difficult position, and I think part of Lightman doesn’t want to put essentially good people in that sort of position.”

During the episode, look for Reynolds to end up on the wrong side of a gunshot. But the producers say they kept the character alive, just in case.

Season 3 will shift Lightman & Co. into more of a private-eye role, Cary says. “They’re sort of thorns in the side to regular law enforcement,” he says. “We are leaning into his general conflict with power and authority. We make it clear in the very first episode that he has severed his ties with the FBI because he’s nobody’s lap dog.”

“But he still needs a badge sometimes,” Graziano adds, noting that the finale also introduces a new character, Detective Wallowski (Monique Curnen) who “shares the same disdain that Lightman has for authority.”

Cary also hints that Wallowski could be a possible love interest for Lightman. “She crosses into the gray areas now and again, and that suits Lightman,” he says. “So, it gives him somebody who has a badge, and somebody with whom he can operate on the street, but she also appeals to Lightman.”

And what does that mean for Lightman and Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams)? “He enjoys pulling her pigtails and aggravating her, but it’s all born out of his deep love for her and a professional respect,” Graziano says. “He needs a certain amount of handling, and she enjoys doing that, but sometimes it causes friction between them. But the core relationship is one of respect and love.”

Monica Raymund, who plays Ria Torres on Lie to Me, took some time to answer some questions about her character, working with Tim Roth, what lies ahead in Season Three, and more. She also answered some questions sent in by you guys, the readers… including her opinion on Loker/Torres. Enjoy!

LTM Scoop: I’ll be completely honest with you here: The first time I felt I could really relate to your character was in the first episode of Season Two. Her qualifications were called into question somewhat due to her age. And, since then, at least in my opinion, it seems you’ve kind of hit a stride. But, from your perspective, when did you feel you hit your stride, or settled into doing a television show?

Monica Raymund: I think I “hit my stride” exactly around the same time you felt it. Season 1 was sort of a “try on” period where we were all discovering what the show was and who our characters were. For me, the beginning of Season 2 was also the beginning of truly understanding my character which was very freeing. I started to relax into the character of Ria Torres and simply started having more fun!

LTM Scoop: Is there any part of you or your personality in your character (Ria)? And, if so, what would you say it is?

MR: Absolutely! Ria is definitely a tougher and more hardened chic than I am in real life; however, I think the strongest parts of my personality that are in Ria are my curiosity and my sense of adventure. Both Ria and I ask a lot of questions and want to know more about what’s going on around us. We also enjoy taking on a challenge and jumping at the chance to do something new!

LTM Scoop: Tim’s obviously a very accomplished, very experienced actor. Have you found that working with him has changed your technique, outlook, work ethic, or anything else as an actor?

MR: Working with Tim on a TV show is essentially like earning my MFA in Film/TV acting. It is simply astonishing to watch such a seasoned actor at work. The best lesson I’ve learned from Tim? It’s okay to take risks!! Being on stage is very natural to me, but being on a TV set is still very new. It’s hard to check my inhibitions at the door sometimes. After seeing Tim’s process and working with him, I’ve learned that it’s okay to make choices and to try everything! He always has fun and I love that about him.

LTM Scoop: I had interviewed Sarah Fain earlier this year, before you guys had been picked up for a third season. And, from a writer and producer’s viewpoint, it was interesting to get her take on what it’s like not knowing if there will be another (or a full) season. As an actor, how do you deal with that? Is it unnerving at all? Do you think it affects your performance?

MR: This is an interesting question and one I’m not quite sure how to answer. One thing I know is this: I’m an actor on this TV show. So political decisions that are made (i.e. whether or not a show gets picked up, bringing on new characters, canceling a series, etc.) are completely out of my control. So why bother worrying about something I can’t control? I simply try to enjoy every day that I go to work and am grateful to have a job. Would it be great if the show continues to get picked up? Absolutely! But does not knowing the future of the show affect my performance or experience? Not at all. Every day is a new exploration, a new adventure, an opportunity to learn and a wonderful gift. And frankly, not knowing a little bit of my future is what really attracts me to the lifestyle of an actor. The spontaneity is what sold me in the first place. I kind of enjoy not knowing what will happen! It keeps me on my toes and reminds me to simply have fun every day and to remember that the joy is in the work.

LTM Scoop: Tim has really seemed to “embrace” Twitter. It’s actually rather amusing to see him go crazy with it, and I know all of his followers are enjoying it. Now Hayley and Brendan are on as well. I know you’ve been on for well over a year. Have you felt any pressure to step up the Tweeting?

MR: Haha I know! Tim’s loving his Twitter stint! His tweeting is admirable. But no, I haven’t felt any pressure to step up the Tweeting. I think the fans get plenty from Tim and I kind of like being casual on twitter. The best part about twitter for me is being able to meet the fans in cyber-space and just talk to them as a normal gal in the world, not the actor on a TV show. It’s important to me that the fans know how much we all appreciate their loyalty to the show, but I think it’s cool to just talk to them about our similar interests, causes we support, politics, news, and all around life. I’m a pretty laid back kid and I guess a laid back tweeter…

LTM Scoop: Along with that last question, on a more serious note… Have you found it hard to maintain anonymity in public, now that you’re on a well known show? Or do people usually give you your space?

MR:People have been pretty amazing at “giving me my space” as you put it… I’ve had people come up to me and rave about the show, but everyone I’ve met has been incredibly respectful and lovely! While we’re on the subject, I’ve read a few tweets that some fans have seen me in public but didn’t want to come up and say hi out of not wanting to disturb me. Here is my message to any LTM fans: If you see me out and about and love the show, don’t be shy! I adore you guys and wouldn’t be doing this without you. You guys rock. Seriously. I want to meet you and thank you in person for watching the show!

LTM Scoop: The episode just recently aired where Loker got a promotion. Going into Season Three, does that change Loker and Torres’ dynamic at all? If so, how?

MR: I think it does change in a subtle way, but remember, Loker is still dealing with a very independent Latina who doesn’t mind breaking rules every now and then….. He becomes her superior, but she’s just as driven :)

LTM Scoop: David Graziano said in a recent interview that in Season Three, Lie to Me will be moving towards an ‘old-school P.I.’ feeling. There were some mixed reactions to that, I know at least from Scoop’s readers and followers. Have you enjoyed the changes to the show so far in (filming) Season Three? How do you think the audience will feel about them?

MR: I really love the changes to the show. I think the audience is going to be on the edge of their seats in Season Three. The writing is better, characters are more specific, the tension is palpable, the drama is fantastic. If anything, I think many viewers will appreciate the shift in direction of the show because it really allows Tim to do his thing: act the hell out of these scripts! He’s phenomenal in season 3 and the ‘old-school P.I.’ feeling really lets him soar. Mesdames et Monsieurs, we hope you enjoy.

LTM Scoop: On a related note, I know Monique Curnen had been filming several episodes with you guys, as she’s going to have a recurring part in Season Three. How has it been having a new character to interact with? Do you feel it changed the dynamic of the (fictional) team at all?

MR: Okay. First of all, Monique Curnen is awesome and I want to be her bff. Seriously though, it’s so amazing having a fellow Latina on the show. She plays an FBI cop and really has a more personal connection to Lightman which provides some fun friction with Foster. I’m curious to see how she and I interact…. I’m hoping our characters can become friends on the show. How fun would it be to have a scene with Monique’s character, Foster, Torres and finally, Lightman? 3 ladies and Lightman? Talk about drama!

LTM Scoop: Can you tease what’s coming up in Season Three both for Torres and for the other characters?

MR: We are still early in the filming for Season 3 but I can say that there are some steamy scenes coming up for Lightman, and maybe a little steam for Torres (nooo, not WITH Lightman you naughty peeps!). Also, there’s going to be a huge event that occurs in the Lightman family where we are faced with making the biggest decision our company has been forced to make. That’s all for now… watch what happens.

Now, for the reader submitted questions:

LTM Scoop: If you weren’t an actor what job do you think you would want or would you have?

MR: I think I’d probably be a scientist as crazy as that is. When I was looking at colleges, at the time I was pretty intent on studying biochemistry. What can I say? I’m a geek. I ended up going to Julliard for college, but I still read up on what’s happening in the field. These days, I’m really into space and black holes and quantum physics. If I had to choose a different career right now, I’d probably study something related to Space… I know I know, I’m a dork, I get it.

LTM Scoop: Who is the biggest prankster on set? And, what’s the biggest or best prank they’ve pulled off?

MR: Actually, we have a couple members of our crew who are big pranksters. One time, we rolled on a scene where the Lightman Group had to watch feedback on a video and when the director called, “action,” a dance video of our sound mixer dancing to Baby Got Back started playing on the big screen. The whole crew cracked up for about 10 minutes before we continued shooting! So much fun.

LTM Scoop: There are a lot of Loker/Torres fans out there. Are you one of them? Also, will we be seeing any more on the possibilities of a romantic relationship between them in Season Three?

MR: Hell yea I’m one of them! I love that among some viewers Loker and Torres are known as RELI, or better yet, TOKER. I’m only on Episode 5 of Season 3 which means there are many more episodes to come so I plead the fifth.