Question of the Week
What’s the Best Legal TV Show of All Time?
Posted May 29, 2008 10:21 AM CST
By Molly McDonough
In the June issue of the ABA Journal, Stephanie Ward gives us a little behind-the-scenes insight into the real characters behind our favorite legal TV dramas.
This made us wonder a couple of things. First, what's the best legal show on TV right now? Vote here to let us know.
Second, we'd like to know: What's the best legal TV show of all time?
Answer in the comments section below.
Read last week's question and answers about the ultimate law school graduation speaker.
Our favorite answer from last week:
Posted by "G": "For pure entertainment value and perhaps an incisive insight, I’d go for Stephen Colbert, Seth MacFarlane, Judge Alex Kozinski, or Sean Carter (either the lawyer humorist or the rapper, or both). For pure inspirational value, I’d go for Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Jerry Springer’s speech wasn’t bad either."
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Comments
Ron
May 30, 2008 6:25 AM CST
Being at the top of this list is really rather “faint praise.” I would more heartily endorse Law & Order, except that in EVERY trial, someone will ask a question (or make a statement instead of asking the question) and, upon objection, the questions will jump forward and say “withdrawn!” I told my wife that in 20+ years of practicing law, I’d never seen anyone actually do that in court, but it happens every week in all the Law & Order incarnations.
Brian Kaser
May 30, 2008 6:48 AM CST
LA Law is the best lawyer show of all time, in my view, although everybody around my (then) office was better looking than that cast, of course. It was like Boston Legal with a bit more depth (but not too much more).
The high point of the show was Arnie Becker thanking opposing counsel for calling him a “snake.”
Mary Sorrell
May 30, 2008 7:16 AM CST
The best legal show ever - “Perry Mason”
Barry Zalma
May 30, 2008 7:25 AM CST
Only one comes close to the actual practice of law: “Rumpole of the Bailey.”
Nancy Smith
May 30, 2008 7:25 AM CST
Perry Mason.
Brad Carr
May 30, 2008 7:46 AM CST
Few on this blog are probably old enough to remember a show on CBS with Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall. It was called “The Defenders.” That’d be my pick.
Michael Murphy
May 30, 2008 7:49 AM CST
How about the 1970 program, “Young Lawyers” with Lee J. Cobb and Zalman King?
Frederick Beckman
May 30, 2008 8:22 AM CST
Rumpole has my vote for best legal series.
Kirk Maldonado
May 30, 2008 8:47 AM CST
Murder One
Chuck Jennings
May 30, 2008 8:51 AM CST
My favorite was The Practice Boston Legal is a spinoff of this, IMHO superior show.
Bill Wheatley
May 30, 2008 8:58 AM CST
I agree with those who named Perry Mason. A law show is still a show. To be successful, it needs drama, suspense and climax. That generally doesn’t happen in real time in law. Perry Mason provided it consistently and made a good show. After all, it’s show business, not law.
Clive Kamins
May 30, 2008 9:30 AM CST
“Rumpole” is #1 and “The Defenders” is 1a. Nothing else is even close to real law practice.
Mark Holzhauer
May 30, 2008 9:32 AM CST
Perry Mason!
kelly thompson
May 30, 2008 9:55 AM CST
perry mason
Abbey =)
May 30, 2008 10:20 AM CST
Definitely Law & Order SVU! It has far more entertainment value than any of the others, and isn’t that what tv is about? Entertainment!!!
Joseph Peter Myers
May 30, 2008 10:24 AM CST
Rumpole—We could see the barrister/solicitor system, watch cross-examination unfettered by judicial interference (or much decency), and have a glass of plonk.
J. Cornehls
May 30, 2008 10:25 AM CST
“Rumpole” was far and away the most realistic and hence best TV law show. No. 2 in my opinion was the Practice. The worst aspect of all TV law shows is when the lawyers testify instead of asking questions. For great commentary on contemporary social and political issues, Boston Legal, and James Spader in particular are tops.
Kevin R. Bennett
May 30, 2008 10:32 AM CST
Law and Order
Wm Nast
May 30, 2008 10:39 AM CST
First: Rumpole
Second A: The Defenders
Now those are “law shows” even lawyers can enjoy!
Cali Girl
May 30, 2008 10:46 AM CST
There was a short-lived show on about a year ago or so, called “Conviction” about a newbie DA in (I think) NYC. I thought it was pretty good, but it was pulled after about a month. Too bad.
Jury Admin.
May 30, 2008 11:31 AM CST
Am I that old? Doesn’t anyone remember “Paper Chase”?
Sense of Humor
May 30, 2008 11:34 AM CST
The Dukes of Hazzard
Peter J. Nickitas
May 30, 2008 11:41 AM CST
Answer: Perry Mason
Honorable Mention: Star Trek episode featuring court-martial of Capt. Kirk in which key evidence was computer deck log. His lawyer, Samuel T. Cogley, Jr., played by Elisha Cook of “Maltese Falcon” fame, confronted the computer, showed that it had been reprogrammed, as evinced by the fact that Mr. Spock could now beat the computer at chess. They got the right guy.
Margaret
May 30, 2008 11:53 AM CST
The Paper Chase was by far the most fun and probably caused many students to become lawyers.
Sarcasm
May 30, 2008 12:33 PM CST
Court TV. I could swear that some of the cases that were broadcast looked like they were taking place in a real court!
Professor N. I. Fenzitter
May 30, 2008 1:37 PM CST
My choice was more the lesser of the evils. TV depictions of the legal profession are profoundly overdramatized, save for the occasional intrafirm tete-a-tete.
Larry S. Greenfield
May 30, 2008 1:43 PM CST
I totally agree with Brad Carr that the best legal show ever was “The Defenders.” I was 11 at the time it aired in 1961, and it inspired me towant to become a lawyer. The protagonists always sought justice with dignity. Where do we get that now?
On a lighter note, “Boston Legal” is a great lampoon of current high-power firm practice and has great acting and writing.
AL
May 30, 2008 2:19 PM CST
Boston Legal! Two words” Denny Crane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JCM
May 30, 2008 2:21 PM CST
1. The Paper Chase
2. Rumpole of the Old Bailey
3. LA Law
Roberta Watson
May 30, 2008 6:28 PM CST
Boston Legal
Laura
May 31, 2008 8:08 AM CST
Definately “The Practice” - the first 2 seasons are the best!
D
May 31, 2008 11:43 AM CST
Night Court!
Turner
May 31, 2008 4:01 PM CST
Canterbury’s Law was a real gem. Unfortunately, it got canceled. It’s still online, though. Google it, if you’ve never seen it. Of course it’s jazzed up for tv, but I’ve found it one of the more accurate legal shows.
Dour Swede
Jun 1, 2008 4:03 PM CST
LA Law. At least not all of the lawyers went to court!
Craig Groeschel
Jun 2, 2008 2:34 PM CST
The Paper Chase, on CBS in 1978 and later picked up by Showtime. Perhaps an idealized view of the law school experience, but it captured the students’ dedication and love of learning. Entertaning and thought-provoking without being lurid or profane. Classic TV. And a catchy theme song performed by Seals & Crofts!
John
Jun 4, 2008 2:04 PM CST
Matlock!
Ian
Jun 4, 2008 5:57 PM CST
Clearly Law and Order, although I would include svu and criminal intent under the same general umbrella with the original.
How can anyone compete with a show whose chief character was in the “Great Gatsby”?
And another thing….take CSI off the air!!, I am tired of this “vegas” style of policework, understandably most americans are idiots, but you don’t have to treat them as such.
SAM
Jun 5, 2008 11:55 AM CST
C’mom, people, it’s Ally McBeal! Over the top irony, over the top metaphor, completely unrealistic and juvenistically funny!
Alice Cheng
Jun 6, 2008 9:12 AM CST
I loved The Practice! Now I watch Law and Order SVU and the regular one, but more for entertainment’s sake than anything. I did enjoy watching that Law and Order spinoff they had where they followed real DAs and stuff. Conviction, BTW, was a Law and Order spinoff as well.
John
Jun 6, 2008 1:03 PM CST
The original Perry Mason first, Matlock second.
Night Court wins for intended comedy.
LA Law wins for unintended comedy.
Miriam
Jun 6, 2008 2:56 PM CST
the Watergate Hearings - inspired lots of people to go into law.
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