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| Harry's Law; Season 1 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 18 2011, 11:47 PM (697 Views) | |
| Krystal | Jan 18 2011, 11:47 PM Post #1 |
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I thought this was clever, and I love the cast especially Bates. I don't know if the stories will be too contrived or silly though. I will have to watch a few more to see if it is a keeper or not. |
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| Dax | Jan 19 2011, 01:29 AM Post #2 |
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Very silly, broad, overly familiar, and I was kinda bored through a lot of it, but all that said, I'll probably watch again next week. Brittany Snow is smokin' hot, of course. I always love Paul McCrane. |
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| Krystal | Jan 19 2011, 10:20 AM Post #3 |
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Snow's role seems rather undeveloped, like I said, we'll see if this gets better with time or not. |
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| Dax | Jan 19 2011, 02:12 PM Post #4 |
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I was confused as to why Snow didn't just take all the shoes she was interested in if Bates was completely disinterested in their being there, and they were up for grabs. Guess we have to assume she grabbed everything in her size right away, and there were still lots left... |
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| Krystal | Jan 19 2011, 03:27 PM Post #5 |
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Also, who would leave these shoes? They were worth a fortune, a place going out of business would sell them reduced maybe but still get a boatload of money. Also what was a store selling $1,000 shoes doing in that hood? |
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| Dax | Jan 19 2011, 03:52 PM Post #6 |
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>> Also, who would leave these shoes? Plausible enough that the previous tenant might have been evicted quickly, unable to pack up even the most valuable product. >> Also what was a store selling $1,000 shoes doing in that hood? Um... yeah, I got nothing. Pretty big swallow of disbelief, that. |
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| Manifan | Jan 25 2011, 02:45 PM Post #7 |
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I liked it. David E. Kelley doesn't specialize in believable. As long as it's entertaining, that's enough for me. |
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| Dax | Jan 25 2011, 05:58 PM Post #8 |
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Nate Corddry is pretty good at this. And his Chinese client/love interest is gorgeous. At this point, the Kelley shows are like comfort food... they're just very easy to watch. Snow's character says 'I think we may be around for awhile', and the ratings held up fine in week two, so she might be right. I'll watch this (13 show) season, but if it's renewed, I think I might drop out. Christopher McDonald probably could have dialed back the 'Denny Crane' a LITTLE bit, but can't be faulted too much, either... you read the script, and that's how any actor is gonna think to say those lines... Hope McCrane is on often. - >> David E. Kelley's new legal drama Harry's Law (2.1/6 in 18-49, 10.6 million) held up well in its second week, down only a tenth from last week's premiere to score the best Week 1-to-Week 2 retention for a new drama this season. Pretty easy renewal decision for NBC. |
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| tgir | Jan 25 2011, 11:29 PM Post #9 |
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Didn't see the pilot but watched #2 sheerly to see Kathy Bates, who was fine. I don't know the premise of the shoes but whatever it is, it reads as shtict and doesn't work imo. They need to liquidate inventory and can take Snow with the shoes. I still don't like her. Hubby thought she looked like she belongs on one of the Disney programs only she's now too old for those. The Chinese client is beautiful. I loved the actress who played Anna Nicholson (the elderly robber) and that they used an older actress. That said, while I like the performances (Snow's excepted), I think the writing is lacking. Of course the character of Anna Nicholson has health insurance: at 87 she would qualify for medicare and likely medicaid. Now, if she couldn't find a provider, that would be believable. If she couldn't afford whatever was left after medicare/medicaid paid on medical bills, that would be believable. Also: how did Harry think she would be able to take time to visit her son in CA if she didn't have enough money to eat? Like I said: the writing really lets down the actors, I think. Also, why would Nate Cordry's ex girlfriend be so hot to get him to come back to his old law firm? |
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| Dax | Jan 26 2011, 12:46 AM Post #10 |
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>> I don't know the premise of the shoes She just rented the store, and they were there. Previous tenant left them. I might be forgetting the details, but I thought Anna's primary money concerns were rent and food, not medical issues. She was starving. >> how did Harry think she would be able to take time to visit her son in CA if she didn't have enough money to eat? Not time, but money, sure... she'd have to scrounge up something to hop a bus, but when the saying-but-not-saying suggestion to flee comes up, money isn't as much the issue as the flee-for-freedom thing. >> Like I said: the writing really lets down the actors, I think. There are logic issues, preposterous courtroom antics, cartoonish characters, lots of political speeches and lopsided arguments... but the guy does have ten more Emmys for writing and producing than I do, so I'm not saying he's a BAD writer... >> Also, why would Nate Cordry's ex girlfriend be so hot to get him to come back to his old law firm? I'm okay with that. She loves him, she's worried about him, maybe sorta kinda wants him back a little, or 'someday'... (I like her, too - Jordana Spiro, friend and ex-co-star of one of my friends from college...). |
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| tgir | Jan 26 2011, 07:52 AM Post #11 |
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Re: medical care. On the stand, she said she didn't have insurance and t hat paying medical bills left her broke. I'm not saying that elderly poor don't often have to make the choice between paying for meds and rent or eating: unfortunately, they do. It would have been easy to have her say she couldn't afford both her blood pressure medicine or insulin AND rent/food..... I like your friend. Hope they give her more to do than try to bring Cordry back into the fold. Just wasn't sure what the premise is. I really, really, really want to like this show. I like the premise and I like the skeleton of the storylines and can see some good potential. The courtroom scenes were....over wrought, yes, but they were played well and were actually the best part of the show, as much as I wish that weren't true. I think I am just getting cranky.... I am especially a huge fan of Bates and aside from wanting her to do well, I would love to see more shows featuring women of a certain age... |
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| Dax | Jan 26 2011, 09:36 AM Post #12 |
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>> I like your friend. Oh, I don't know her, myself... she's a friend-of-a-friend. >> Just wasn't sure what the premise is. He accidentally hit Harry with his car, and... Malcolm (Aml Adeen, the black guy) fell on Harry in a suicide attempt, so it's a fate-brought-them-together kind of thing... >> I really, really, really want to like this show. I went in not wanting to care for it too much (if it's 'just okay', I don't NEED it, I watch way too much already), but good or bad, I might be too curious to stop watching right now... even if my first complaint is still valid - I have seen a LOT of 'this' before, having been a fan of Kelley's run on LA Law, and his Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and probably another one or two that are slipping my mind right now... >> I am especially a huge fan of Bates and aside from wanting her to do well, I would love to see more shows featuring women of a certain age... There is that. She's great, and yes, shows centering around a woman of her age... they are very rare creatures. |
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| Jenni | Jan 26 2011, 09:44 PM Post #13 |
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I watched the pilot today and really liked it. The next one is on the DVR. Like you said it's an easy watch and won't be that big of a deal if I miss an episode. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kathy Bates and hope this does well for her. |
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| BudRose | Jan 28 2011, 12:50 PM Post #14 |
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I liked the first one. I find it quirky! My hubby accidentally taped over my 2nd one though. I'll have to catch it on the net. |
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| Krystal | Feb 24 2011, 07:31 PM Post #15 |
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Dropped it. I used to think Snow could act, now I am convinced she can't. Writing is dumb. Damn, I love Bates and hoped for better. |
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| Dax | Feb 24 2011, 09:31 PM Post #16 |
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Snow can act. She's playing a mostly silly character, of course. But I liked her in the scene where she was telling Chunhua of her childhood abuse. I think the show is okay. I'd probably like it more if I hadn't already seen hundreds of hours of Kelley's courtroom comedy/drama stuff. This week's gang mediator plot had a lot of terribly outrageous, unbelievable stuff. But it was kinda fun to watch, anyway... |
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| tgir | Feb 24 2011, 10:10 PM Post #17 |
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I missed Snow's scene that showed she can act. Mostly, she just gives the impression to me that she's a silly, shallow, spoiled, bratty little twit who follows all of the latest fads. I thought the same when she was on GL and to me, she's just playing a different version of the same character. I haven't watched that many Kelley comedy/drama stuffy. Honestly, I only watch Harry's Law for Bates and for Johnny Ray Gill and Aml Ameen and whichever actors they have playing people in the neighborhood (minus the Asian laundry owner or his admittedly pretty daughter). The older woman who was impoverished and who had robbed a liquor store--the actress and the character were interesting and not what you usually see on tv shows. That was a big plus. Corddry's character is a big meh to me and Christopher McDonald is really wearing thin. He's good at being an obnoxious character but the problem is: he's obnoxious which is not the same as interesting or amusing. Jordana Spiro is good enough in her role but she's clearly wasted as the ex lover of Corddry. She's more interesting on her own, mostly because I can't figure out why she'd give Corddry's character a second glance --or even more importantly, why she'd be so undone by a lesbian trying to deliberately un-do her by making gross come on gestures and remarks which would surely have gotten her booted from the courtroom. I mean: women get that kind of crap all the time and for a high powered and attractive female lawyer she seemed awfully clueless about how to deal with that sort of thing. Or that it was all calculated to put her off her game. I mean: doh. Most of the writing is ok but only just OK. Bates is always good and I always care about her character and about what she's saying. She always seems to just be her character. I don't remember seeing Gill or Ameen before but they are both good at being their characters. I believe them, feel like I understand them a bit, am interested in them. If Snow got swallowed up in a giant pot hole and was never seen again, I wouldn't notice or care. It's only half a step up from that for Corddry's character. Not his fault--the character is just not interesting nor is he credible as someone who would attract the romantic attention of not one but two lovely women who seem intelligent and like they have a clue in life. I don't see the charm or wit in either the character or the portrayal. I will watch the show somewhat, but only for Bates. I hope it improves but if this is a Kelley formula series, as it seems to be if I understand Dax, it's just too formula and relies on the silly schtict of being set in a fancy shoe store in a very dangerous neighborhood. Edited by tgir, Feb 24 2011, 10:13 PM.
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| Dax | Feb 24 2011, 11:01 PM Post #18 |
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>> I missed Snow's scene that showed she can act. She was really good on American Dreams (02-05), got to play a lot of layers there... frequently your typical young and naive teenage angst, of course, but... lots of stuff, not all fluff. That show had some really good writing. And then she wasn't bad (though it SOUNDED like a miscasting) as a racist skinhead punk girl on Nip/Tuck for a little while. She was back to being spoiled and shallow in Hairspray (as the daughter of Kelley's wife, Michelle Pfeiffer), which had the same wardrobe and setting as American Dreams... Corddry doesn't bother me, but I agree that there's not much to the character so far. Bates is always good. Pretty much a formula, yeah... lots of noble do-gooders that will sacrifice themselves for their principles even if it's a rather foolish thing (Harry declaring her client guilty in court and nearly getting disbarred)... often well-presented and intelligent arguments, but straw men get thrown in there, or the opposition are usually mustache-twirlers or otherwise fundamentally unlikable... and there's always a character (or two) like Tommy Jefferson (The Practice was more restrained and 'serious' for most of its run, though, very probably in large part owing to Kelley having Ally McBeal to work out his 'wacky')... |
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| tgir | Feb 24 2011, 11:14 PM Post #19 |
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If I remember, Snow was one reason I didn't watch American Dreams. Not the whole reason, but during 02-05, I had a lot on my plate and it didn't take a lot to put me off. I did actually see parts of Hairspray with Snow and thought she was ideally cast. In fact, I thought it was the best performance of hers I had seen. Her character on Harry's Law? She seems exactly like Susan/Daisy, not a wit more grown up or mature, just with a different name. I'd love to be convinced there's more to the character and the actress. I really wish that the writers and/or suits would trust the audience enough to take a character like Tommy down a couple of notches and let him be more effective as a character instead of a cartoon. The potential is there, it's just being wasted. I think Bates is wasted, too but she's good enough to be vastly better than her material without seeming to break a sweat. I am sure Corddry is better, as well. I just wish the whole show were better. I really want to like it. So far, I'm just watching to give Bates support and to find bits to enjoy, but those are few and far between. |
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| Dax | Feb 24 2011, 11:36 PM Post #20 |
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Admission - I liked her on GL, too, found her believable and charismatic and thought she worked well with Ehlers, Chamberlin, and Aleksander. (Was much more bothered by the de-aged final incarnation that had not grown up or matured at all in her years out of town...) Other than Hairspray, I haven't seen any of her recent film roles, but I'm anxious to see (bought the dvd real cheap, but haven't had time) 2008's Finding Amanda (with Matthew Broderick and one of my favorite actresses, Maura Tierney... written and directed by Peter Tolan, Denis Leary's partner on Rescue Me...). Obviously, I like the stills/trailer footage I've seen of her from 2006's John Tucker Must Die, but I'm not expecting that to be a brilliant performance... Tommy's had a couple 'genuine' (not goofy) moments (with Harry), but yeah... pretty darned cartoonish. I wouldn't put the blame on network suits (unless they maybe specifically ordered 'one of those'), because this is pretty trademark Kelley (I'd just think HE'D be tired of it, too, you know?). Another egomaniac in love with saying his own name with an 'undefeated in court' complex? It's an odd choice. (Kelley was displeased that ABC canceled Boston Legal, though, so... guess he wasn't done with...) But Shatner's 'restrained' moments - usually in those totally fun closing scenes with Spader on the balcony - and the looming fear of dementia/Alzheimer's - gave Denny a depth that McDonald's not getting the opportunity to play... |
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| Krystal | Feb 24 2011, 11:55 PM Post #21 |
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I hated all of the Daisies on GL including Snow. The last one was sooooo dumb I could have smacked her around, gladly. That being said, Snow is a brat, at least according to some of the trashing mags I see at the gym (I will watch or read just about anything while on the stairtorture). I didn't like the Practice much, hsb hated it and wouldn't watch. I was a an of Ally for awhile but got tired of the character's endless whining and got to really dislike Flockhart. Never watched Legal either, hsb absolutely detests Shatner, and I gave it one or two and decided I could live without it. Now this, I had hoped so much more for Bates. Damn. |
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| tgir | Feb 25 2011, 12:12 AM Post #22 |
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It's only a few in, so maybe there's hope. What I would love to see is for networks to take a chance and go off formula, especially off the too clever for its own good kind of formula and try either something new or else, if they have to do formula, at least go back to one we haven't seen too many times recently. I am glad to know that Snow has better in her than I've seen. I did think that she worked well with the cast of GL when she was on, but I hated that version of Daisy/Susan. Krystal's right, though: the final version of Daisy/Susan was far worse. Snow at least got to play something other than stupid. I do think Bates is worth watching as are the characters/actors mentioned earlier. The side characters are interesting enough. The old lady hold up artist: good actress playing a not so great role, but playing it really really well. Also not a Shatner fan......I think I missed most of the Kelley shows. |
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| Dax | Feb 25 2011, 12:30 AM Post #23 |
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The Practice was (usually) really good. I loved James Spader on Boston Legal (but enjoyed him MORE in the final season of The Practice, where he was an opposing force to that show's core characters). I got tired of the show, but it had its moments. I liked Ally McBeal. Had some great stuff, had some dumb stuff. (I did marathons of both Ally and Practice, they were 'daily soaps' for me for awhile). I liked Boston Public (the one about teachers). I didn't watch Chicago Hope, didn't like what I saw of the first few episodes much. (Loved ER, its twin medical show in that '94 season). I didn't watch much of Picket Fences (couldn't stand Fyvush Finkel, though he didn't bother me as much later on Boston Public). I enjoyed Doogie Howser, M.D. Loved most of L.A. Law (not his creation, but the start of his tv career). |
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| tgir | Feb 25 2011, 07:29 AM Post #24 |
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OK: I loved ER in the beginning. The last few seasons were not nearly so good but it was still decently written. I remember LA Law with fondness. The others, for various reasons, I never watched or watched only once or twice, for various reasons. |
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| Jenni | Feb 25 2011, 09:23 AM Post #25 |
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I never watched any of the other legal shows that Kelley did. I enjoy this one. I adore Kathy Bates, especially when she pulls out her gun. The storylines may not always be written the best but I like the bits that are a break from reality. Looking forward to more! |
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| Dax | Feb 25 2011, 10:33 AM Post #26 |
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tgir - Sorry if I wasn't clear there - Chicago Hope was Kelley's medical show, ER was just its Chicago-set arrived-in-the-same-season rival. I dropped CH early, annoyed with how nearly every medical case had to be some groundbreaking 'never been done before' surgery, where ER was fast and exciting and 'ordinary' (as far as the medical cases went) and beautifully cast... |
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| Dax | Mar 21 2011, 06:28 PM Post #27 |
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http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-harry-law-20110321,0,3601132.story It really is funny how dead-on-arrival this show seemed... odd semi-success story. http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/david_e_kelley_interview_wonde.html |
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