DJariya

By djariya at 2011-01-01

Synopsis:



13 episode 1st season

Written and Created by David E. Kelley (The Practice, Boston Legal)

Starring:
Kathy Bates (The Office, Misery)
Brittany Snow (American Dreams)
Nate Corddry (United States oof Tara, Studio 60)

I'm a fan of DEK and the thing this has going for it is it looks wacky like Boston Legal.

Sneak Peak with Interviews:

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Promo:

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DJariya

I saw an interview with DEK and he says he hates this timeslot going against Hawaii Five-O and Castle.

Chew

If he's worried about ratings, he probably shouldn't be creating pilots for NBC.

wearetheborg

Another lawyer show....

DJariya

Have you watched any of David E Kelley's previous shows? He's a former lawyer. Ally McBeal, The Practice and Boston Legal were all lawyer shows, although Ally McBeal and Boston Legal was more law comedies which this appears to be.

Red Dog

He should be, particularly since broadcast networks are so quick to cancel shows nowadays. If this makes it to February, I'll be surprised.

Double_Oh_7

I think you made the guy's point.

DJariya

All I was trying to really say is that DEK doesn't create your standard blah law procedural (which we see dozens of each season) and this appears to have more comedy to it like Boston Legal. If this was a serious weekly law procedural with Kathy Bates working new cases of the week each episode, then I probably wouldn't watch it.

I'm not optimistic this will get great ratings and survive, but I'm a fan of DEK's work so I will at least give it a shot.

kstublen

Only a third of the way in and I'm already really enjoying it. I totally wasn't expecting her to get hit by the car, found it pretty funny.

And I'll echo what DJariya says regarding David E. Kelley producing shows that aren't your typical procedurals. I really liked Ally McBeal and was a huge fan of Boston Public; never did watch The Practice or Boston Legal, but I've always meant to check them out sooner or later, they've just got lost in the mix of other shows I watch.

What it all boils down to is that just because a show is about lawyers doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be of the Law & Order variety.

conscience

The Practice's first handful of seasons were absolutely amazing as were Ally's first three. Like BL's first season and Boston Legal was pretty decent for a few seasons as well.

Really enjoying this so far.

I hope they don't pull off anymore voiceovers from Harry though. Calista Flockhart could make it sound charismatic - Kathy Bates just sounds cheesy.

kstublen

Yeah, Ally McBeal was great until all of the cast members disappeared without any explanation.

---

My God, I hope Paul McCrane's character isn't going to be recurring; the prosecutor was just too annoying.

SkullOrchard

Didn't take long for this show to become yet another soap box for DEK to take swipes at Republicans/Conservatives.

kstublen

Yeah, it was a little too over-the-top preachy there in the courtroom with Katy Bates, but I'll give that a pass for now. I thought the social commentary was a lot more effective when the other attorney, the guy, had a crazy rant at arraignment. It was funny and had a point, yet didn't come off as so blatantly preachy as did Harry's grandstanding.

kstublen

I liked that the jury found him guilty (which he was) but the judge was lenient in sentencing. I wasn't expecting that outcome and appreciate they didn't go with the cliched jury nullification.

"She died during childbirth when she had your older brother?"

The guys at the end wanting to apply for a patent, lol.

Brittany Snow is awesome in this.

conscience, looks like they're going to continue with voiceovers, which is too bad because Kathy Bates really can't pull it off.

conscience

Enjoyable episode and I hope no one was surprised that we got a conservative roast in a Kelley dramedy. Inevitable.




That guy is hilarious! "I knew it the very first time I walked into this stupid..."


Boo!

kstublen

Yeah, I don't know his name yet (too lazy to look it up) but that guy is going to be the breakout character of the show, you can already tell. The actor plays the character wonderfully and he definitely has the funniest lines.

RocShemp

I liked it. I still miss Boston Legal but I liked this.

Gizmo

13 episodes? Thought it got cut down to 6?

Enjoyed the pilot. Will set a series record for it.

DJariya

Yup, it's 13 episodes and all of them have been shot already. That's why Kathy Bates is free to film more episodes of The Office since her schedule is now open.

Gizmo

Well, if they didn't, she will once the ratings hit in a few hours. Heard this was brutal. Lonestar-esque?

conscience

Yeah, just a smidge above Lonestar.

Not a great demo number but still a good overall number for NBC.

Very awesome to see the numbers that high. Deserved.

Gizmo

Glad to hear early numbers were wrong. 2.1 ain't bad for NBC.

Geofferson

This show is getting a better reaction from this thread than I expected.

Quatermass

I didn't like it. It was like a cartoon version of a David E Kelley show. It's like DEK took scenes that were too silly for Boston Legal and cobbled together a plot around it. I can tolerate the preachiness if the humor works, which it didn't for me. I probably won't watch again unless she partners up with Denny Crane.

RichC2

^ Did you miss BL Season 3?

11m people watching a 10pm NBC show? When was the last time that happened? Sure it isn't doing gangbusters in the 18 - 49 but I'm starting to think my segment is a little overrated.