Notorious

This new ABC series so far called "Notorious" I like as it's a legal drama with some sugar and spice and it blends well with headline themes of the media and the law dealing with high profile cases that involve themes of hype, drama, and scandal all while showing how the legal system has holes in it. Set in sunny and beautiful Los Angeles, California it involves the workings of a young hot shot criminal defense lawyer named Jake(Daniel Sunjata)who takes only the cases of the most high profile incidents and his clients are well known and rich. And to build up the hype and drama Jake features his cases on the network of powerhouse TV producer Julia George(Piper Perabo)who as a young hunger type ratings seeker features the stories and interviews on a show with a red head type cougar host who's one sexy colored bra wearing woman! This series is filled with sex, drama, and plenty of scandal showing that's how the law and media works when it involves the high profile as it's all about greed and hype to obtain ratings and money along with a good story!

This show wants to be a lot of things (behind-the-scenes drama, white- collar romance, mystery, legal procedural), and it might succeed at some of those if it weren't so dedicated to being a laughable soap -- and a girlie one at that. What do I mean by "girlie"? I mean that every woman on this show is self-empowered, while every guy on this show is either a wimp, a schemer, a liar, and/or is trying to figure out how to get the women to give him something. It's a feminist's dream, at the expense of any believability whatsoever. The only even remotely redeeming factor is that the mystery is actually pretty good. Unfortunately you have to wade through a lot of raw sewage to watch it. Not worth it for me.

...I really can't understand the networks, the producers and the writers this season...

Notorious is a new TV drama about...well...I'm not so sure.

It is about the (unexplained) close "business" relationship between a (male) criminal defense attorney and a (female) news producer. Supposedly based on actual persons, attorney Mark Geragos and Larry King Live producer Wendy Walker.

The main idea is (also supposedly) to show to the viewers how easily can be manipulated by cheap tricks played by the media. Like whoever gets to say ...first if someone is guilty or innocent, will play a major role to the ...actual verdict of a jury!

There are a lot of things going wrong with Notorious even from its first scene which shows (you might have guessed it) ...Sex! And not just Sex, but Sex in the office. And the scene that follows that, is another one that implies Sex between the cougar anchorwoman and an exotic boy-toy, also in the office at the same time, a few meters away from the previous couple.

And the usual "you are the best", "she is the greatest", "the top news producer", blah-blah, blah-blah, from the writers who are too lazy to make a solid introduction and build properly their characters.

Then, the lamest and most uninteresting twists, appearing one after the other, trying to match the fast, abrupt editing and direction.

And all of these, are mixed into a chaos of a script, that tries to combine mystery, legal drama, romance, deceit and a soap opera version of "the Newsroom".

Overall: Another disappointment for this season. Not worth the time. Maybe some hardcore feminists will find it a tad enjoyable.

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This show can be a great one if they keep up the tempo from the first episode. I have not seen this tempo in events and the script since West Wing. Piper Perabo is as usual brilliant and this is a show where I really look forward to the 2nd episode.

The only thing I am afraid for is the tempo slowing down and the drama taking over too much. Looking at the first episode I feel there is a risk the writers wants the show to be more sexy. But it does not need that. Just give us what you gave us in the first episode and all will be fine.

If you like a fast-paced actiondrama, you will like Notorious. I hope we get a full season even though reviews generally have been poor.

I was drawn to this show (which is based on the backstage happenings at "Larry King Live") because of Piper Perabo. The premise sounded lame to me, but I was willing to give it a chance.

The first episode opens with a sex scene between Julia George (Perabo) and her fiancé. Louise, the star of the TV show Julia produces, is an attractive cougar who beds almost every younger guy she comes in contact with. Julia's assistant, Megan, used to be an escort. It doesn't take long to realize that titillation will be on the menu (along with the beefcake and the cheesecake).

Julia has a strong relationship with a local attorney, Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata). Together they manipulate public opinion for their own ends. She wants ratings and he is always angling in the best interests of his clients.

In episode two, Julia mines a pro bono legal case for its juicier elements to stimulate viewership. Puff Daddy pops by for a few seconds. And there is a fairly interesting story about a mother whose child was abducted.

As a result, I have mixed feelings about "Notorious". Perabo is believable in her demanding leading role. The rest of the cast is fairly strong. But the subject matter is mostly frivolous. And it is not clear yet whether the stars of the show are likable enough to truly care about. I do know that Ms. Perabo's talents can be better used.

Update 10/18/16: After watching a few episodes, my worst fears have been confirmed. There is a smarmy yet sensitive vibe at the center of the show. The staff of the television news show pretend to be the conscience of America, the judge who hands their facts over to the public (jurors) in search of justice. They use their power to bully and coerce. They repeatedly drag the national conversation down into the gutter then seek the moral high ground. Their sources are shadowy and (conveniently) never ending. They cast themselves as the (pseudo-) custodians of conscience, but Julia is reckless and "a self-centered little bitch" according to her own on-air talent.

The worst thing about this show is that tries to normalize the sordid practices of TV news program that specializes in sensationalism, sex, celebrity and sin. We don't need to celebrate that and we don't need to accept it as the rightful and best practices of journalism.

Perabo (and others) can do better. I look forward to her next show. I am lowering my grade to "4".