Crime & Punishment

Well, this short-lived incarnation of LAW & ORDER has shown me that real trials are nowhere near as exciting as their fictional counterparts, no matter how intrinsically interesting the crimes might be. I think that's a good thing for everyone to learn, but they can learn it from a single episode of this show, and give the remaining episodes of this series a miss without missing anything.

Evidently, NBC felt the same way.

Incredible! If you are not the type to sit in a court room and watch a case in person, you might want to check this show out. San Diego, California is the setting in which real life cases of all types are filmed. The perspective is from the Prosecution side as the attorneys work hard to put the bad guys (or gals)away. Many of these cases are hard to watch because of what is covered (murders and rapes are especially brutal to watch),and a lot of action behind the scenes is heartbreaking (the families of the various victims). Very good show to watch and have your hankies ready while you're at it.

This is a great twist on the endless L&O franchise! Real cases, real criminals, real attorneys, some really stupid people! You get to see real cases as they transpire, and for once a TV show educates and entertains!

My girlfriend and I got addicted to this show last season, when we saw an episode focusing on a criminal named Ron Barker, who was a total idiot but clearly thought he was a modern day Moriarty. This guy was his own lawyer, and managed to spend the whole trial saying one dumb thing after another, each dumber than the next.

Tonight's episode (6/19/04) TOPPED that one, featuring a defense attorney so intellectually limited that we could hardly believe this guy can remember which shoes go on which feet, let alone a law degree!

But its not all fun and games. The show is illuminating and entertaining. Lets hope NBC keeps it going forever, just like the other L&O shows...

Dick Wolf's latest Law & Order "franchise" enters the world of the real world. (Law & Order does MTV? Scary thought.) While it doesn't claim to be even related to L&O, you can't mistake the opening theme music.

The opening episode can't be compared to anything I've seen on network or even cable television before. Not really Court TV and definitely nothing like the many series based on law practices or the legal system (to coin an L&O intro line), Crime and Punishment REALLY is the most interesting moments of a major trial, well edited, well produced, and presented "unfiltered" for the enjoyment of the more sophisticated viewer.

I was beginning to think I was getting bored, but I had to remind myself that this wasn't typical network television dribble.

This was like dining at a an exquisite restaurant. Very high quality and the cuisine was well prepared, seasoned appropriately, but not overwhelmingly (i.e. no sensationalism). Even without a great deal of drama, I found myself thoroughly engaged in this vivid "fly on the wall" delivery of an actual court case.

I've said enough. Treat yourself to elegant television dining. Hopefully, Crime and Punishment will be around for many season(ing)s!