Los Angeles, CA—After spending decades inside courtrooms first as a Chicago cop, later as a criminal defense investigator and journalist in Arizona and California, I’ve been redundantly disappointed the cast of characters I’ve met.
The judges for the most part
are a bunch of pompous tyrants on a power trip.
Prosecutors are a bunch of smug
bastards that routinely hide evidence and put their thumbs on the scales of
justice at every opportunity.
The beleaguered defense
lawyers must hold their noses while they simply watch their hapless clients get
convicted 80% of the time.
Occasionally there are
unexpected surprises and dramas but the reality is most of the cases settle
without trial in plea agreements.
Accordingly, I have authored
a somewhat cynical motto, “If justice
ever happens it’s usually by accident and for all the wrong reasons.”
What do I think about most
court or police themed entertainment programs?
They all suck in a very big way. Mostly they annoy me on account of their
runaway political correctness. I dumped
cable years ago since I have little time to watch TV anyway.
I recently found a judicial
oasis that cracks me up in a big way.
The show is the NBC offering, Bad Judge.
Most refreshing is the
leading female protagonist, Judge Rebecca Wright. She’s refreshingly human and prefers to error
in form rather than substance.
The writing for Bad Judge is
funny and the entire cast is marvelous. The disappointment comes when you realize
it’s only a half-hour show.
Judge Wright is played by
Kate Walsh. Walsh was born in CA and
later raised in Arizona. She moved to
Chicago where she established roots at Second City. She was also involved with the Piven Theatre
Workshop and the Chicago Shakespeare Repertory.
Walsh additionally went on to
New York and did the Off Broadway circuit.
Walsh’s acting and comedy
chops soon earned her guest star spots and a coveted role in the dramatic
series Gray’s Anatomy. She also won a subsequent
spin-off show.
Walsh’s striking good looks
and ravishing red hair are only second to a great smile that captivates
souls.
Walsh was made for that
role. In fact the casting for the show
could not be better.
In Bad Judge, political
correctness has taken a back seat to refreshing comedy. Most of the overly,
narcissistic and egotistical judges and lawyers I ever met would absolutely
hate Walsh’s character. Maybe that's the reason I love Judge Wright!
Sad news came to me this week
as I learned what became my favorite show has been cancelled.
In the mean time we will have just have to catch episodes on NBC on Thursday nights.
When a show’s last episode is
finished a “wrap party” is always a tradition.
I expect this one will be solemn, however I can’t imagine this crew not
having fun anyway.
I only wish I could be
there so I could congratulate each and every cast member for the fun they all brought to my life.
I hope this show somehow survives. Its funny! Kate is great! I know the cast and crew would love you too!
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