legal drama
A legal drama is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice play ...
created by David Hemingson that ran on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
from January 21 until February 25, 2010 and produced by
20th Century Fox Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
. Starring
Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks (born October 25, 1980) is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of ABC's series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2005–2006), Jerome in '' The Gam ...
,
Matt Long
Matthew Clayton Long (born May 18, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Ezekiel Landon in the NBC/Netflix sci fi drama ''Manifest'' (2019–Present), and his roles in the television series ''Jack & Bobby'' (2004–2005), and ...
,
Tina Majorino
Albertina Marie Majorino (; born February 7, 1985) is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as ''Andre (film), Andre'', ''When a Man Loves a Woman (film), When a Man Loves a Woma ...
,
Clancy Brown
Clarence John "Clancy" Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
Brown's film roles include Viking Lofgren in ''Bad Boys'' ...
, and
Billy Zane
William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the 1989 Australian film ''Dead Calm'', a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promi ...
, the show follows five first-year associate attorneys from diverse backgrounds as they learn how to cope with the challenges of working at one of the most prestigious
law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...
s in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
Hemingson based the series on his work experience as an attorney. To cut production costs, the show was filmed in
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is a mixed-use planned community development in Irving, Texas, part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, governed by The Las Colinas Association, a Texas non-profit corporation. Due to its central location between Dallas
Dallas ...
, a real estate development in
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in Dallas County, it is also an inner ring suburb of Dallas. The city of Irving is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. According to a 2019 estimate from the United States Census Bureau, ...
; ABC scheduled a six-episode run, and the series premiered as a
midseason replacement
In American network television scheduling, a mid-season replacement is a television show that premieres in the second half of the traditional television season, usually between December and May. Mid-season replacements usually take place after a s ...
on January 21, 2010. The show was described as a cross between ''
L.A. Law
''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994.
Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...
'' and ''
Grey's Anatomy
''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...
'', but it was criticized for its lack of originality and for reusing ideas from similar shows. Critics said the show was so poor, it was a failure after its first episode.
On May 14, 2010, ABC cancelled the series after one season.
Plot
Five recent
law school
A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction.
Law degrees Argentina
In Argentina, ...
graduates from different backgrounds begin working together as first-year associates at Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim & Craft, a prestigious Los Angeles law firm; they are thrown in the deep end and are forced to deal with court cases that conflict with their personal beliefs and ethics. The "Prince of Darkness", Cliff Huddle, is initially their boss, but things start to change when firm partner Hart Sterling returns after a long hiatus spent taking care of his sick wife. Even though the firm's partners make things difficult for them, the five attorneys quickly bond under pressure as they learn to make tough ethical decisions.
Cast and characters
Main
*
Matt Long
Matthew Clayton Long (born May 18, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Ezekiel Landon in the NBC/Netflix sci fi drama ''Manifest'' (2019–Present), and his roles in the television series ''Jack & Bobby'' (2004–2005), and ...
as Dylan Hewitt, an earnest, idealistic and innocent young man. Hewitt is the hero of the story, an
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. The term ''Ivy League'' is typically used beyond the sports context to refer to the eight schools ...
graduate who believes in justice. Hewitt is attracted to Katie Campbell, the firm's paralegal. Long's performance has been described as an "older version" of Jack McCallister, a character Long played from 2004–2005 on the television series ''
Jack & Bobby
''Jack & Bobby'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti, Vanessa Taylor, Steven A. Cohen, and Brad Meltzer. It aired on The WB from September 12, 2004, to May 11, 2005. The series’ title is a reference to real-life pol ...
''.
*
Norbert Leo Butz
Norbert Leo Butz (born January 30, 1967) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his work in Broadway theatre. He is a two-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and is one of only nine actors ever to have won the ...
as Rowdy Kaise, the firm's associate and chief talent scout; He acts as a mentor to the new recruits. Kaiser has an arrogant personality and makes empty promises. Kaiser loves corn liquor and
cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats, pashmina goats, and some other breeds of goat. It has been used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. Cashmere is closely associate ...
.
*
Ben Lawson
Ben Lawson (born 6 February 1980) is an Australian actor. From 2006 until 2008, he played Frazer Yeats in the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours''. The role earned him a Logie Award nomination. Lawson has since appeared in several American tele ...
as Liam Priory, a first-year associate from Australia who is "too-cool" and possesses an
uncircumcised
Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Topic ...
penis. Priory has a self-described "impulse-control problem" when it comes to dealing with women, as he has sex with almost every woman in the law firm, except Adelaide "Addy" Fisher. Priory made his appearance in the first episode with his pants down to his ankles.
*
Tina Majorino
Albertina Marie Majorino (; born February 7, 1985) is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as ''Andre (film), Andre'', ''When a Man Loves a Woman (film), When a Man Loves a Woma ...
as Adelaide "Addy" Fisher, a meek and insecure first-year associate. Fisher comes from a large family in the
Midwest
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...
. She graduated top in her class at
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Case Western Reserve was established in 1967, when Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 and named for its location in the Connecticut Western Reser ...
and has "great legal instincts and a natural 'flair' for the law". She likes to bake. Hemingson created the character of Fisher as a CWRU alumna because one of the most intelligent people he knows attended that school.
*
Clancy Brown
Clarence John "Clancy" Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
Brown's film roles include Viking Lofgren in ''Bad Boys'' ...
as Hart Sterling, the firm's managing partner; Sterling inherited the title through his family. Sterling believes that the law is a calling that can be used to enhance society and the world; he also believes the firm should do good, including
pro bono
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...
work.
*
Billy Zane
William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the 1989 Australian film ''Dead Calm'', a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promi ...
as Clifford "Cliff" Huddle, the firm's other managing partner. Known as the "Prince of Darkness", Huddle is "cold" and "ruthless", and is considered the villain of the show. Although he is married to Susan Oppenheim, the firm's litigation partner, he has an affair with the firm's paralegal. Brimming with contempt, he thinks law is a way to make money, and does not care about the broader consequences. Huddle asserts that the firm should be run "as a business, not as a soup kitchen". He also frequently clashes with Sterling due to their diametrically opposed convictions about the law.
*
Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks (born October 25, 1980) is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of ABC's series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2005–2006), Jerome in '' The Gam ...
as Malcolm Bennet, an outsider and first-year associate. Regarding the show and the topics it covers, Brooks says, "It definitely plucks at your heartstrings. But its quick-witted, glib, slightly arrogant, and very inspirational. It's some of the funniest stuff I ever read in my whole life−."
*
Leah Pipes
Leah Pipes (born August 12, 1988) is an American actress. She starred in the television series ''Life Is Wild'', the slasher film ''Sorority Row'' and the CW's '' The Originals''.
Early life
Pipes was born in Los Angeles, California.
Career
She ...
as Elizabeth "Beth" Branford, a wealthy, blond, first-year associate. Although she seems self-assured, she is secretly vulnerable and thinks money can buy a career.
*
Nicole Ari Parker
Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe (born October 7, 1970) is an American actress and model. She made her screen debut with a leading role in the critically acclaimed independent film ''The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love'' (1995) and went on ...
as Susan Oppenheim, the firm's head litigation partner and the wife of Clifford "Cliff" Huddle. Together, Oppenheim and Huddle are antagonists against Sterling. Oppenheim chooses to go to jail rather than miss a
motion
In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position with respect to time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed and frame of reference to an observer and mea ...
–filing dateline.
Recurring
*
Rachelle Lefevre
Rachelle Marie Lefèvre (, ; born February 1, 1979) is a Canadian actress. She has starred in the television series ''Big Wolf on Campus'' and had recurring roles in ''What About Brian'', ''Boston Legal'', and '' Swingtown''. She played the vamp ...
as Katie Campbell
*
David Giuntoli
David Giuntoli (born June 18, 1980) is an American actor. He portrayed Det. Nick Burkhardt in the NBC supernatural drama ''Grimm'', and has appeared in films such as '' 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi'' (2016) and '' Buddymoon'' (2016). ...
as Jason Carpenter
Production
''The Deep End'' was created by David Hemingson, co-executive producer of ''
How I Met Your Mother
''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his ...
''. Before he became a writer and a producer, Hemingson was formerly an associate in a law firm. ''The Deep End'' is based on Hemingson's early work experience as an attorney. Due to the cost of filming on location in Los Angeles where the story takes place, the show was filmed on a soundstage in the planned community of
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is a mixed-use planned community development in Irving, Texas, part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, governed by The Las Colinas Association, a Texas non-profit corporation. Due to its central location between Dallas
Dallas ...
in
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in Dallas County, it is also an inner ring suburb of Dallas. The city of Irving is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. According to a 2019 estimate from the United States Census Bureau, ...
. Despite the change in location, references to local Los Angeles landmarks were still made on the show.
20th Century Fox Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
produced the show for ABC. The show was described as ''
L.A. Law
''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994.
Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...
'' meets ''
Grey's Anatomy
''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...
''. Hemingson said the show contains "the back-stabbing of The Devil Wears Prada and the sun-drenched bed-hopping of Entourage". Texas Film Commission head Bob Hudgins estimated production costs at about $20 million. ABC scheduled six episodes of ''The Deep End'' for Thursday nights.
ABC canceled the show in May 2010.
Episodes
Reception
Ratings
The show premiered on January 21, 2010 as a 2009–2010 midseason replacement for ''
FlashForward
A flashforward (also spelled flash-forward, and more formally known as prolepsis) is a scene that temporarily takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media. Flashforwards a ...
'', attracting 7 million viewers and receiving a low 1.7 rating in the category of Adults 18-49.
Critical response
The series received a negative critical response, averaging 40/100 on
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, based on 23 reviews with one positive, 14 mixed, and eight negatives. Critics said that the show lacked originality and appeared similar to shows like ''
L.A. Law
''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994.
Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...
'', ''
The Practice
''The Practice'' is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley centering on partners and associates at a Boston law firm. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC, from March 4, 1997, to May 16, 2004. It won an Emmy in 1 ...
'', ''
Boston Legal
''Boston Legal'' is an American legal drama and comedy drama television series created by former lawyer and Boston native David E. Kelley, produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004, t ...
'', ''
Damages
At common law, damages are a remedy in the form of a monetary award to be paid to a claimant as compensation for loss or injury. To warrant the award, the claimant must show that a breach of duty has caused foreseeable loss. To be recognised at ...
'', ''
Eli Stone
''Eli Stone'' is an American legal comedy-drama television series, named for its title character. The series was created by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, who also served as executive producers alongside Ken Olin who directed the pilot, wit ...
'' and ''
The Good Wife
''The Good Wife'' is an American legal and political drama television series that aired on CBS from September 22, 2009, to May 8, 2016. It focuses on Alicia Florrick, the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney, who returns to her career in law ...
''. The show premiered in the time slot before ''Grey's Anatomy'' and ''Private Practice'', leading the ''
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' to say that ''The Deep End'' resembled the two other shows "closely enough to warrant a paternity test". Toni Fitzgerald of ''
Media Life Magazine
''Media Life Magazine'' was an online publication that was started in May 1999 by Gene Ely. The publication covered all aspects of the media
Media may refer to:
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or da ...
'' said that even though ''The Deep End'' received a great deal of publicity, the show "sank in its first outing". Tom Maurstad of the ''
Dallas Morning News
''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ''Galvesto ...
'' observed that it was noticeable that the show was shot in Las Colinas, not in its setting of Los Angeles. Alan Sepinwall of ''
The Star-Ledger
''The Star-Ledger'' is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to ''The Jersey Journal'' of Jersey City, ''The Times'' of Trenton and the '' Staten Island Advance'', all of wh ...
'' said the show consisted of a "bunch of attractive people in suits saying the same lines". Glenn Garvin of ''
The Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and headquartered in Doral, Florida, a city in western Miami-Dade County and the Miami metropolitan area, several miles west of Downtown Miami. Mark Peikert of the ''
New York Press
''New York Press'' was a free alternative weekly in New York City, which was published from 1988 to 2011.
The ''Press'' strove to create a rivalry with the ''Village Voice''. ''Press'' editors claimed to have tried to hire away writer Nat Hento ...
'' said that the show was "sailing in shallow waters".
Criticism
Attorneys criticized the show as unrealistic due to numerous violations of the
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
The American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) are a set of rules and commentaries on the ethical and professional responsibilities of members of the legal profession in the United States. Although the MRPC generally is ...
by the fictional attorneys on the show. The show was also criticized for its depiction of young associates performing tedious
legal research Legal research is "the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a probl ...
with hard copy books in a
law library
A law library is a special library used by law students, lawyers, judges and their law clerks, historians and other scholars of legal history in order to research the law. Law libraries are also used by people who draft or advocate for new l ...
; a firm the size and caliber of Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim, & Craft would have a subscription to online databases like
Westlaw
Westlaw is an online legal research service and proprietary database for lawyers and legal professionals available in over 60 countries. Information resources on Westlaw include more than 40,000 databases of case law, state and federal statute ...
or
LexisNexis
LexisNexis is a part of the RELX corporation that sells data analytics products and various databases that are accessed through online portals, including portals for computer-assisted legal research (CALR), newspaper search, and consumer informa ...