The Law Firm, the first reality show produced by David E. Kelley, is so similar to The Apprentice that it could almost be considered an homage or a rip-off, depending on how you feel about that kind of thing. It's about trial-lawyering instead of managing a business, but the similarities are telling: a prominent figure in his field (trial attorney Roy Black, in the Trump role) divides the contestants into teams, gives them minimal time to prepare a case, pits them against each other in front of experienced judges (literally, in this case) to fight it out on camera, and sends poor schlub home after a tense boardroom scene. There are plenty of dazzling helicopter shots of the city (Los Angeles, not New York) during the transitions between scenes - and, of course, lots of feuding and fighting among the contestants. NBC has even given the program the Apprentice time slot, Thursdays at 9, for the next few weeks.
So it's not hard to see what Kelley was aiming for with The Law Firm, in which the contestants try cases in front of retired judges and lawyers. The big surprise is that the show works so well.
Black isn't as charismatic or egomaniacal as Donald Trump (I really wish he had a couple of gruff "viceroys", like Carolyn and George, in the boardroom with him), and he looked a little shaky addressing the contestants at the start of the program - but by the time the boardroom scene came around, he startled some of the victorious contestants by pointing out the errors they made during their cases. One of my favorite things about The Law Firm is that you can be fired (catchphrase: "the verdict is in...you're out" - which is no "get the hell out of my office", I'm afraid) even if you're on a winning team, which was indeed the case with the two contestants dismissed last night. There's nothing more aggravating on The Apprentice than seeing the incompetent and lazy slide through on the backs of their teammates, and on The Law Firm no one is safe.
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Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
A lawyer concerned about the public image of lawyers -- I'm trying to wrap my brain around this one...
Just kidding, of course.
2 - Brent McKee
I liked it myself, and I'm not a lawyer. There are so many "faux Trumps" on TV now that what I'm looking for is a show that takes the basic form and changes it a bit. That's one reason why I like Hell's Kitchen but have little time for The Cut. Having small teams and having everyone vulnerable to being fired (because after all, sometimes cases are won in spite of the lawyers) are changes that are enough to keep me interested, at least for a while.
3 - Michael Eisen
The message that I got from the second show is that Big Roy will fire you, if you fail to properly prepare a witness, but that it's okay to 'dis a judge, as long as he is black.
So much for protecting the reputation of "The Law Firm".
4 - Keith Bruno
Nice try, but the facile observation that as long as you dis a black judge you are safe, breaks down when you consider the source of the criticism. Roy Black has spent his life representing the most oppressed minority in the United States--the criminally accused. And, in case you don't know, that includes black people.
Get another issue.
5 - Matt Paprocki
Show has been cut from ABC (from IMDB):
David E. Kelley, who produces lawyer drama Boston Legal and also produced legal hits Ally McBeal and The Practice, has been notified that his reality show The Law Firm is being yanked from the network after only two weeks and will be moved to cable station Bravo. No date has been set for The Law Firm's switch to cable. NBC said Monday that it plans to fill the show's Thursday-night time slot with reruns until Sept. 22 when the fourth season of The Apprentice is scheduled to premiere.
6 - Natalie Davis
I guess American viewers told Kelley's show to get the hell out of their office.
7 - ed team
Whoa... the first show in a while to make me wonder what's next... wild cases, interesting clients, judges and "lawyers,"... thoughtful decisions by Roy Black. Maybe NBC would not have cut it if people had to eat worms... Bravo has made a smart move picking The Law Firm up...
8 - Paul
Too bad it was cut. After suffering through Kathy Hilton and her list, I thought the show was an improvement for the summer. It certainly had more substance that Trump and his cut throat drones. I lost interest in Trump when he hired Kelly Perdew over Jennifer, and dealing with the Books versus Streets (Trash) and all their untreated anger. I cannot imagine why this show rated lower that Hilton's and the twice a year Trump ego extravaganza. Yes, George and Carolyn make the Trump show work.
9 - LJ
WOW!!! I just discovered the show was cancelled. Agree with the comments about stupid Hiltons on television -- I can't believe or I refuse to believe that the American television watching public is more interest in two brats and spoiled millionaires than real court cases. I am really disappointed, especially since I will not subscribe to television to pay for advertising. I guess it's true . . . Americans are dumber than any of us want to accept. This is just as bad as the other network which pulled the plug on "The Neighborhood" because it actually showed the truth about how closed minded most Americans are.
10 - julie stark
Keith,
I'm trying to get in touch with you. If
you are still on this board, reach out to me if you're not still mad at me!
11 - Keith
Julie,
Not mad at all. Drop me a line. [Personal contact info deleted]