La loi selon Harry

Not since Boston Legal, The Closer, and Saving Grace have I been so excited about a new show. I can just feel it, I have fallen for this show. Boston Legal was my all time favorite. I went into mourning when it went off the air. I bet this will be as good, especially since it is written by the same awesome writer as Boston Legal. I cannot wait until next Monday to see the next episode. Harry's Law combines social issues, work issues, and life issues with comedy in a way which will grab anyone who gives it a watch just once. There are very interesting characters in this show. As you watch, you think you know what will happen, only to be shown that what you may assume is not what actually is. Very astute writing and casting of the characters. Each character shown in this first episode was a person you could relate to, or was in a situation you could relate to. I gasped, I laughed, I got angry, I got worried, and finally I felt a sense of relief that maybe, just maybe everything would be okay, especially if this show comes back year after year. Cathy Bates and the supporting cast are a perfect compliment to each other.

Can anyone please let me know what happened to this great show? A few days ago, I discovered it and watched season 1 within only 2 days; I was simply hooked. A charming, touching and funny show with an incredibly great Kathy Bates. Finally a show again that I really loved, some parts even had what I call "West Wing"moments.

And now - this is essentially a completely new show where they have left the two main characters, but changed every possible aspect of it, including the wonderful soundtrack music. I mean it is still quite good, but just your average lawyer show just the same as they have been produced for the last 30 years. Any explanation for that or a reaction from the network?

So what happened to this show. Suddenly we're a big law firm and the tone of the show has changed entirely. Harry is now just a cranky old bitch and what did you do to Jean Smart. Designing Women seems like it was on another planet. She is totally unbelievable as a character. I feel sorry for her having to deliver those lines with a straight face. Any charm and humanity the show had seems to be gone. If you're trying to be the Good Wife, forget it, you're not in the same league. And where did Mark Valley come from? I appreciate that he is nice eye candy but what has he got to do with anything. The former supporting cast seems to have been pushed aside as stars with higher profiles take the spotlight. Alfred Molina is wonderful but give him something to work with please.

Why change a quirky cast and setting in Season 2? Mark Valley is a leading man and it appears there is a struggle for viewers attention. He looks like he should be the star of the show instead of Kathy Bates. Changes from first season to second killed Mark's other show - Human Target. That show like Harry's Law lost its punch when more cast was added-especially insipid females.

Harry's Law's original cast were a cozy group fighting for the little guy while learning their strengths. This season, there are slick new cast members that distract and diminish the core cast of the first season. Tommy Jefferson looks like a sad buffoon this year where he was unique and quirky with a heart of semi-precious gold in season 1. The DA played by Jean Smart is just vulgar and morally depraved.....yuck! I looked forward to Season 1's cast, set and cases about helping people who needed a voice. Thumbs down on Season 2 so far.

The changes to Harry's Law from season 1 to season 2, changing from an original, clever show to another run-of-the-mill law show, is a shame. Kathy Bates has gone from a quirky store front lawyer in the ghetto handling unique cases to just one of a number of lawyers in what could be any big time law firm.

Gone are two original characters (both black) replaced by Mark Valley (Really??!!) and some yuppie black female. This debacle has network executive hands all over it. A guy named Greenblatt took over NBC this year and no doubt thinks he's going to be the genius who saves NBC. And seems to think he's better at creating a show than David E. Kelly. What a shame to lose such a unique program. I'm done after watching the opening 4 episode story with a totally unbelievable character played by Jean Smart and has Harry defending a very rich white guy. Who cares?