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L.A. Law

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L.A. Law
20140314-225021.jpg
Premiere pilot movie
September 15, 1986
series
October 3, 1986
Finale May 19, 1994
Creator Steven Bochco &
Terry Louise Fisher
Network/Provider NBC
Style 60-minute drama
Company 20th Century Fox Television (1986-1992),
20th Television (1992-1994)
Seasons 8
Episodes 171 + TV Movie
Origin USA

L.A. Law is a legal drama that aired on NBC.

The show often combined humor and drama in the same episode. For example, in the opening of the first episode of the series, only the back and hand of partner Chaney, gripping the pages of a tax manual while seated at a desk, is seen after he has dropped dead of a heart attack. Later in that episode, in front of his partners, friends and his wife, a man at Chaney's eulogy details how he first met him at a gay bar, revealing Chaney had been bi-curious, in the closet, bisexual, or a gay man while still married.

A running gag throughout the series was the overtly promiscuous lifestyle of divorce lawyer Arnie Becker, and his chronic and constant liaisons with women, up to and including bedding some of his own clients. This once caused problems when a client used him to set up her (estranged) husband to be murdered. Series producer Steven Bochco used a similar incident in Hill Street Blues when a woman bedded one of the police officers in the squad and tricked him into shooting her ex-husband when he (apparently) broke into her house.

A running gag during Harry Hamlin's tenure was to have his character, Michael Kuzak, always shown picking, scrutinizing, and eating pastries or fruit at the morning staff meetings. He was the only one who ate from the mountains of food provided.

To some extent, the sexual peccadilloes of almost the entire cast would become fodder for episodes of the series.

Contents

Cast

Actor Character Duration
Main Cast 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 M
Harry Hamlin Michael Kuzak * * * * * *
Susan Dey Grace Van Owen * * * * * * *
Corbin Bernsen Arnie Becker * * * * * * * * *
Jill Eikenberry Ann Kelsey * * * * * * * * *
Alan Rachins Douglas Brackman, Jr. * * * * * * * * *
Michele Greene Abby Perkins * * * * * *
Jimmy Smits Victor Sifuentes * * * * * o
Michael Tucker Stuart Markowitz * * * * * * * * *
Susan Ruttan Roxanne Melman * * * * * * * o *
Richard Dysart Leland McKenzie * * * * * * * * *
Blair Underwood Jonathan Rollins * * * * * * *
Larry Drake Benny Stulwicz o o * * * * * * *
Sheila Kelley Gwen Taylor o o * *
Amanda Donohoe C.J. Lamb * *
John Spencer Tommy Mullaney * * * *
Cecil Hoffmann A.D.A. Zoey Clemmons * * o
Michael Cumpsty Frank Kittredge *
Conchata Ferrell Susan Bloom *
A Martinez Daniel Morales * *
Lisa Zane Melina Paros *
Alan Rosenberg Eli Levinson * o
Debi Mazar Denise Iannello *
Alexandra Powers Jane Halliday *
Orange/Red/o indicates a recurring or guest role during that season.
Dark Green indicates top billing during that season.
Supporting/Recurring Cast 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 M
Patricia Huston Hilda Brunschwager * *
John Hancock Judge Richard Armand * * * *
Anne Haney Judge Marilyn Travelini * * * * * *
Cynthia Harris Iris Hubbard *
George Coe Judge Wallace R. Vance * * * * *
Michael Fairman Judge Douglas McGrath * * * * * * *
Bruce Kirby D.A. Bruce Rogoff * * * * *
Joanna Frank Sheila Brackman * * * * * *
Annie Abbott Judge Janice L. Neiman * * * * *
Ellen Blake Elizabeth Brand * * *
Daniel Benzali Judge Donald Phillips * * * *
Don Sparks Russell Spitzer * * * * *
Leonard Stone Judge Paul Hansen * * * * *
Earl Boen Judge Walter L. Swanson * * * * * *
James Avery Judge Michael Conover * * * * *
Raye Birk Judge Steven Lang * * * * * *
Dann Florek Dave Meyer * * * * * * *
Nancy Vawter Dorothy Wyler *
Stan Kamber Judge Harlan Shubow * * * *
Joyce Hyser Allison Gottlieb * *
Renee Jones Diana Moses * * *
Bruce Fairbairn Sheldon Ganz * * * *
Keith Mills Judge Walter Green * * * * *
Jennifer Hetrick Corrinne Hammond * *
Lorinne Vozoff Judge Roberta Harbin * *
Veronica Cartwright A.D.A. Margaret Flanagan * *
Diana Muldaur Rosalind Shays * *
Lillian Lehman Judge Mary Harcourt * * * * *
Stanley Grover Judge Richard Lobel * * * * *
Denis Arndt Jack Sollers *
Tom Verica Billy Castroverti * *
Lynne Thigpen D.A. Ruby Thomas * *
Anthony DeSando Alex DePalma *
Kathleen Wilhoite Rosalie Hendrickson * *
Steven Eckholdt Patrick Flanagan *
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 M

Seasons

Season  Premiere Finale #
NBC
Season One September 15, 1986 April 9, 1987 22
Season Two October 15, 1987 May 5, 1988 20
Season Three November 3, 1988 May 18, 1989 19
Season Four November 2, 1989 May 17, 1990 22
Season Five October 18, 1990 May 16, 1991 22
Season Six October 10, 1991 May 21, 1992 22
Season Seven October 22, 1992 May 27, 1993 22
Season Eight October 7, 1993 May 19, 1994 22

TV Special

Title Network Airdate
L.A. Law: 100th Episode Celebration NBC February 6, 1991

Telefilms

Title Network Airdate
L.A. Law: The Movie NBC May 12, 2002

In-Depth

DVD Releases

Title Release Discs
Season Sets  (Region 1)
Season One February 25, 2014 6
Season Two May 20, 2014 5
Season Three September 23, 2014 5

External Links

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