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NBC MOVIE OF THE WEEK -- Part of the Celebration of NBC's 75th
Anniversary
05-12-2002 9:00PM
ET
In
October, 1986, NBC premiered "L.A. Law," a groundbreaking, one-hour drama about
the lives, loves and courtroom battles of lawyers at a high-powered Los Angeles
law firm. The critically acclaimed series and its extraordinary ensemble cast
garnered 15 Emmy Awards and countless accolades until "L.A. Law" ended eight
seasons later in May of 1994. Now, the original cast of one of television's most
honored shows reunites for NBC's "L.A. Law: The Movie," airing Sunday, May 12
(9-11 p.m. ET).
Coming back together for "L.A. Law: The Movie" are (in alphabetical order)
Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Corbin Bernsen ("JAG," "Major League I, II &
III"), Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Susan Dey ("Disappearance," "Whose
Child Is This? "The War for Baby Jessica"), two-time Emmy winner Larry Drake
("American Pie II," "Darkman I & II"), Emmy winner Richard Dysart ("Hard
Rain," "Truman"), Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Jill Eikenberry ("Taken
Away," "My Very Best Friend"), Dann Florek (NBC's "Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit"), Emmy nominee Michele Greene ("The Redeemer," "Lost Treasure of
Dos Santos"), Golden Globe nominee Harry Hamlin ("Disappearance," "Movie
Stars"), Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Alan Rachins ("Dharma & Greg," "The
Retrievers"), Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Susan Ruttan ("Popular," "Love
Kills") and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Michael Tucker ("Growing Up Brady,"
"Tracey Takes On…").
Guest starring on "L.A. Law: The Movie" are Oscar and
Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Bruce Davison ("Longtime Companion,"
"X-Men"), Stephen Williams ("The X-Files," "Hill Street Blues"), Gedde Watanabe
("EdTV," "ER"), Josie Davis ("Titans," "Beverly Hills, 90210"), Jason Peck
("Roswell"), Bruklin Harris ("UC: Undercover") and Ingrid Torrance ("Christy: A
Change of Seasons"). William Finkelstein ("Law & Order," "Brooklyn South"),
a former executive producer of "L.A. Law" who won an Emmy Award, Peabody Award
and Golden Globe Award for his work on the series, penned the script.
Though eight years have passed since audiences last saw the staff of McKenzie-Brackman, many familiar faces remain at the high-powered Los Angeles law firm. Esteemed patriarch Leland McKenzie (RICHARD DYSART) has retired, leaving no-nonsense Douglas Brackman, Jr. (ALAN RACHINS) in charge of the firm. Womanizing divorce attorney Arnie Becker (CORBIN BERNSEN) is embroiled in his own nasty divorce, while idealistic attorney Ann Kelsey (JILL EIKENBERRY) and her husband, tax attorney Stuart Markowitz (MICHAEL TUCKER), have embraced a spiritual guru. Roxanne Melman (SUSAN RUTTAN), once Arnie Becker’s devoted secretary, is now an office manager at the firm and single mother to 8-year-old Maddie (SARAH-ANNE HEPHER), and Benny (LARRY DRAKE) remains the firm’s beloved office assistant.
It’s been more than 10 years since attorney Michael Kuzak (HARRY HAMLIN) left McKenzie-Brackman, disillusioned with the justice system and his role in it. Now running one of L.A.’s hottest restaurants, Kuzak is surprised when Stuart pays him a visit, telling him that Raylene Hutchinson (BRUKLIN HARRIS), the daughter of a convicted cop killer he once represented, is looking for him. While in rehab, Raylene learned that Belinda James (CLAUDETTE MINK), the prostitute and key witness who testified against her father, Albert (STEVEN WILLIAMS), lied on the stand. With Albert sentenced to be executed in two weeks, Raylene is desperately hoping that Kuzak will again represent her father, and use the new information to free him.
Feeling morally obligated to help his former client, Kuzak reluctantly re-enters the legal arena. Douglas initially denies Kuzak’s request to have the firm support him, but finally agrees after Leland intervenes. Much to Douglas’ dismay, his son, Jason (JASON PECK) – now an associate at the firm – is eager to help Kuzak out on the case in any way he can.
Kuzak’s obstacles are considerable, but the greatest one may be his opposing counsel -- his ex-lover, District Attorney Grace Van Owen (SUSAN DEY), who was the original prosecutor on the case. She is as convinced of Albert’s guilt as Kuzak is of his innocence.
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Pictured: seated (l-r) Michael Tucker as
Stuart Markowitz, Alan Rachins as Douglas Brackman; standing, (l-r) Jill
Eikenberry as Ann Kelsey, Michele Green as Abby Perkins, Susan Ruttan as
Roxanne Melman, Richard Dysart as Leland McKenzie, Corbin Bernsen as Arnie
Becker, Harry Hamlin as Michael Kuzak, Larry Drake as Benny Stulwicz,
Susan Dey as Grace Van Owen -- NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater |
Meanwhile, Ann and Stuart’s lives are turned upside down when they discover their guru, Cyril (GEDDE WATANABE) – who they unwisely gave check-signing privileges to -- has drained their bank account of all its funds. And in the midst of their personal financial crisis, Ann discovers that Chloe Carpenter (JOSIE DAVIS), a young, beautiful and overly ambitious associate at McKenzie-Brackman, is trying to steal one of her longtime clients, Max Bettancourt (KEVIN MCNULTY), away from her.
As Arnie’s divorce proceedings grow more acrimonious, he is stunned to
discover that the new lawyer hired by his wife, Lara (INGRID TORRANCE), is Abby
Perkins (MICHELE GREENE). Once an insecure, put-upon law associate at McKenzie-
Brackman, Abby is now a self-assured, high-powered divorce attorney with her own
firm and an ax to grind. Fiercely determined to get her client the best
settlement possible, Abby is willing to go to any length necessary -- including
turning the firm upside down by going through all of McKenzie-Brackman’s
financial records from the last several years.
Roxanne is also in for a surprise when her ex-husband, direct-marketing whiz Dave Meyer (DANN FLOREK), reveals that he has terminal cancer and asks Roxanne to let him stay with she and Maddie. Feeling unable to adequately care for him, Roxanne declines his request, but later gives in, allowing Dave to stay in their guest room when his condition worsens.
Later, a chance meeting at the firm between Cyril and a dying Dave has an unexpected impact on Stuart and Ann’s financial state, Douglas confronts Jason about why he’s avoiding following in his footsteps at the firm, and Dave’s tragic fate has a sobering influence on Arnie, who decides it might be wiser to try and amicably end his marriage.
Meanwhile, on the Hutchinson case, Kuzak’s request for a stay of execution for his client is denied. With Albert’s execution date drawing nearer, Kuzak races against time to prove that his client was framed for a murder he didn’t commit. His best hope is Warren Mytelka (HROTHGAR MATHEWS), an eyewitness to the murder who is too frightened to come forward with the truth until Benny convinces him to trust in and cooperate with Kuzak. Warren wanted to testify at the original trial, but was quickly silenced by Larry Diebenkorn (BRUCE DAVISON), the former district attorney and Grace’s old boss – now a United States congressman.
Kuzak calls Warren to testify, but during Grace’s cross-examination, it’s revealed that Warren is mentally disabled, casting a shadow of doubt over his testimony. Bolstering Kuzak’s case is Jason’s discovery that Ronald Gervin (JERRY WASSERMAN), the partner of the policeman who was killed, retired from the department facing charges of planting evidence. A surprise witness later testifies that Ronald was never fired from the force because he enjoyed the friendship and protection of Diebenkorn.
With Stuart’s help, Belinda blackmails Diebenkorn, and threatens to tell the press the truth about his involvement in the cop’s murder unless he meets her financial demands. Determined not to let Belinda destroy his career as a congressman, he agrees to her demands, unaware that Belinda is recording their conversation. Later Belinda testifies in court that Diebenkorn threatened to take her child away from her if she didn’t name Albert Hutchinson as the killer, supporting her testimony with the tape. Diebenkorn is left with no defense, and Grace has him taken into custody while Albert Hutchinson leaves the courtroom a free man.
With the trial behind them, Kuzak and Grace put the past to rest, welcoming the chance to be friends again, and perhaps even more.
This is an amazing cast that knows from experience how to put on a good show -- so here's hoping none of the magic has faded away since they last played together. And seeing Josie Davis in the credits gives me an added bonus, this young lady has grown up a lot since Charles in Charge, and has shown she knows how to take charge of a scene.
(C) Kay
Kellam, 2001 for PopArtsPlace.com
Prior to having her first novel, A
Life to Di For, published author Kay
Kellam enjoyed a variety of jobs that helped to shape her outlook on the
world, and her profession. more...
