The couple opens up to PEOPLE about Emerson's guest-starring role on the hit CBS series — and working alongside each other on set

Michael Emerson, leading lady Carrie Preston's real-life husband and a TV star in his own right, debuts as Milton Crawford in the new episode on December 12. He's not coming on board as a one-off killer like Nathan Lane's character or as another fireman with eyes for Elsbeth,

There’s no love between Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson on Elsbeth. In real life, the couple has been happily married for 26 years. But when they share the screen during this Thursday’s episode of the Good Wife spinoff (airing at 10/9c on CBS),

The writers gave him a great arc, and you’re going to love what he’s done with it, of course!' says Preston of her real-life husband, joining her on her CBS drama.

Real life husband and wife duo Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston are taking on a new challenge in the latest episodes of CBS’ Elsbeth: hating each other. After 26 years of marriage and a handful of times working together in the past — including on Person of Interest where Preston played the love interest of her husband’s character — the actor and actress are going head-to-head in Thursday’s episode,

Elsbeth allowed Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson to play characters that are extremely different from the real-life couple. In Us Weekly‘s exclusive first look at the Thursday, December 12, episode of the hit CBS series,