Legal Dramas Are Making A Comeback

Are legal dramas the new TV trend?



We have the Law & Order series, which has been on the air for over a decade and launched its highly anticipated (yet highly disappointing) Los Angeles spinoff in September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3JwpzF3oTk&feature=player_embedded

Then there's the phenomenal Damages, which starts its fourth season this summer on DirecTV's 101 channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFtGZ6hjGa4&feature=player_embedded

There's The Good Wife which premiered last year on CBS to much critical acclaim and awards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLN6Dp1Gi-8

Last fall, CBS brought back a remake of the 1960's lawyer dramedy, The Defenders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVBzmulkoDQ&feature=player_embedded

.. and just last week, we saw the premieres of USA's Fairy Legal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgApDwW6JNA&feature=player_embedded

.. and NBC's hilarious new David E. Kelly series, Harry's Law, which debuted to phenomenal ratings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s57ibZdaHLQ

Phew! Keep in mind that I'm not mentioning the countless legal dramas (Whole Truth, Outlaw) that have been launched and canceled within the last year or so. And while all the shows I have mentioned might not live to see another season, they're all on the air right now competing for your attention. I watch every single one of them and by far, the best one out of the bunch is Damages. But Damages is in a category of its own, as it is, in my opinion, one of the best TV shows I have ever watched. There's nothing comedic or procedural about it as it plays more like a suspense film rather than a TV show. If you've never watched the show before then stop reading this post and check it out on Netflix. Trust me.

All the other shows range from really good (The Good Wife has got to be the first drama CBS has nailed in a while, it is brilliant) to potentially good (Harry's Law and Fairly Legal all have the potential, let's see whether or not they deliver). The Defenders is my favorite of the comedic bunch but it's also the one most likely to get canceled, not because it has bad ratings but because all the other new shows on the network have better ratings. Damn you CBS for having too many successful series.

And now, I introduce you to TNT's upcoming legal dramedy, Franklin & Bash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_XmeDaR0k

What legal dramas are you watching?