Thoughts on two episodes of L.A. Law

 

via Giphy/Courtesy 20th Century Fox Television

"With other people, I always used to pretend that I was someone I wasn't. And then I'd feel angry that no one really loved me for me. But you do, Stuart. You really love me for me. And that is the most incredible gift. And I just hope to God that I can make you half as happy as you've made me."
"I've never been so happy. I never thought I could be so happy."

Jill Eikenberry wins my crown for today's batch. Her material in "Full Marital Jacket" and "The Son Also Rises" was overall lighter than Larry Drake's in "Jacket" and Susan Dey's in "Son," but she and Michael Tucker still did great. Both of the two episodes I watched were either partially or fully written by David E. Kelley. For today's post, I'm going to analyze individual women.

Ann -- "Jacket" culminates with Ann and Stuart marrying. Overall, the event is a success, even if the pair had been fighting about preparedness. Ann delayed things because she didn't like her hair, and left the poem she wanted to read in her purse. Stuart and Ann realize that things like that only increases their love. If that wasn't enough, her mother (Constance Towers) makes amends for being anti-Semitic. Ten months later, Ann is having trouble conceiving. She is unable to see a fertility specialist because of a case. Wealthy Matthew Richardson (Remy Auberjonois) is suing father Kevin (Rene Auberjonois), who slapped him. Ann initially tries to get Matthew to drop the case, but admits that she likes the little bugger sticking up for himself. Stuart makes a speech to help the Richardsons resolve their differences. Ann reflects on if she'd be a good mother.

Grace -- Her only activity in "Jacket" was attending the wedding and not answering when Michael (Harry Hamlin) wondered if they'd ever get married. In "Son," she's an assistant district attorney trying accused cop-killer Lyle Torrey (Glenn Plummer). The most damning testimony comes from Lyle's cellmate (Tommy Hollis), who was planted in the cell in order to obtain the incriminating information. It's unconstitutional, Grace argues to boss D.A. Rogoff (Bruce Kirby). Nevertheless, she follows through. Rogoff plays the card that if Torrey is set free, he'll continue his involvement with drugs and maybe kill again. A good amount of attention is given to Torrey's vivid description of how it sounds and looks when cops are fatally shot in the head. The jury finds him guilty. Grace presumably now has to live with having broken the law to uphold it.

"This is the only way that I will get a chance to be the kind of lawyer that I want to be. Or find out that I can't be."

Abby (Michelle Greene) -- In "Jacket," she gets a marriage proposal from Anthony Gianelli (Ray Abruzzo). Anthony, an ex-associate, became a circus stuntman and is getting sued for landing on an audience member after being shot out of a cannon. Abby and Anthony part amicably. He just doesn't want to be a lawyer anymore. Abby, who suggested Anthony go into private practice, takes her own advice in "Son." She wants out at McKenzie, Brackman, since it doesn't look like she'll become a partner. Abby's also seething over the indignity of another firm asking her for a urine sample (Different Times!). Lunching with his girlfriend, Jennifer (Dana Sparks), Leland (Richard Dysart) realizes he's been sexist towards Abby. That said, he points out to Abby that her earlier marital and family issues caused everyone to overlook her potential as a lawyer.

Roxanne (Susan Ruttan) -- Did they ever delve into why a sane woman would ever want to get emotionally involved with Arnie (Corbin Bernsen)? Anyway, "Jacket" has Roxanne pissed that Arnie ditched her and his family at Christmas for yet another hookup. Later in the episode, she rear ends stockbroker Jimmy Markham (Charles Frank). It looks like love. It's actually going to become a story about insider trading. Roxanne is newly married to Dave Meyer (Dann Florek) in "Son." His sister Madeline (Miriam Flynn) is a fledgling businesswoman. With some coaxing, she becomes Arnie's client. In the process, Arnie gets his leg humped by Madeline's bulldog, Oliver, who also shit in his office. Still, Arnie's glad the dog wasn't killed when Madeline's soon to be ex-husband got vengeful with a bulldozer. Arnie's Porsche, on the other hand ...

"Enjoy it, bitch. Show me that you love it."

Melanie (Laurie Souza) and Jody (Martha Ferris) -- Most of "Jacket" is devoted to the plight of Benny (Drake). He's been charged with having raped Ms. Flood. Benny, you see, went to an adult bookstore and had an awful time with Melanie. Feeling guilty, he happened to be in the neighborhood of Flood's rape. Melanie, a parole violator, ultimately won't help exonerate Benny. Flood eventually hears Benny say her attacker's words, realizing she IDed the wrong guy. "That animal's still out there!" Despite Flood's justifiable horror, the scene is still presented as Benny, Arnie and Michael's victory. I found that interesting, as well as the fact that for all of Michael complaining about stereotypes about intellectually disabled people and how they understand sex, Benny was written and acted as totally naive about what was going on. Also, I was waiting for the twist that Benny was coerced into a confession by his arresting officer. Different times.

Sheila (Joanna Frank) -- Finally, we have Brackman (Alan Rachins) and his fraying marriage. Prior to "Jacket," he caught her cheating. She says its to even the score with him. Sheila wants $10,000. Douglas, in his infinite wisdom, still takes her to the wedding. While there, she calls out Leland for decades of being a shitty boss to Brackman, who, in turn, has taken it out on her. She ultimately leaves the ceremony. I do know that the Brackmans ultimately reconciled and like Eikenberry-Tucker, Rachins-Frank are longtime spouses.

"'To forsake all others, till death do you part.' Is that a crock or what?"

Thoughts:
-- "He's heading for the kitchen with my new granite counter tops!"

-- Awards Watch: "Jacket" was part of a package that earned Larry Drake his supporting actor Emmy, beating out Rachins and Jimmy Smits among others. The episode itself was also nominated for its writing (one of the show's two nominations in the writing of a drama series category) and direction (one of the show's four nominations in the category). In 1988, L.A. Law was also nominated but lost in the series, lead actor (Bernsen and Tucker), lead actress (Dey and Eikenberry) and supporting actress (Ruttan) dramatic categories. In 1989, the show and Drake won again, with Tucker, Dey, Eikenberry, Dysart, Smits, Greene, Amanda Plummer, Ruttan, two directors including John Pasquin and several writers including Kelley as also-rans. Meanwhile, Eikenberry won the Golden Globe in 1989, while the show, Bernsen, Hamlin, Dey, Drake and Ruttan were nominees.

-- Behind the Camera: "Jacket" was directed by Win Phelps, helming his first of 19 episodes. Kelley shared teleplay credit with Terry Louise Fisher, who shared story credit with Steven Bochco. "Son" was directed by Pasquin, helming his penultimate of four episodes. His last was the Emmy-nominated "To Live and Diet in L.A.," which resolved the Torrey story.

-- Anthony's storyline in "Jacket" includes an awesome if ethically questionable moment for Jonathan (Blair Underwood). The conference room is full of people in wheelchairs. Anthony is the only one of his family who can still perform stunts. In addition to the Gianellis, there's the plaintiff, Mr. Hartvig (Walter Olkewicz). Jonathan sets off the fire alarm and Hartvig ends up proving he's not actually disabled.

-- Different Times: Melanie admits to having called Benny "Ricky Retardo" ("Jacket").

-- Fanservice Junction: Leland daydreams of Jennifer interrupting a staff meeting to confirm his sexual prowess, take off her coat to reveal a negligee and finally sit on his lap for a round of kissing ("Son").

-- Castmember Connections: Dey and Frank previously played husband and wife on Emerald Point N.A.S.

-- Blooper: Ann and Stuart's wedding is mentioned as taking place on Jan. 10, 1988, as well as Saturday at 2:30. The problem is that Jan. 10, 1988 was a Sunday. Cute idea, though, having it be the weekend after "Jacket" originally aired.

-- Madeline's business, Aisle Masters, involves getting products into supermarkets. Previous successes included "lamb chop analogues" from spun soybean fiber and wheat gluten. Hearing that has me hoping that Madeline went the distance as an entrepreneur. She'd make a killing in the wake of consumers trying more meat alternatives. On the other hand, I don't think "carbonated milk" will ever find an audience.

-- Different Times: Arnie anticipates when kids start divorcing themselves from their parents ("Son"). The Gregory Kingsley case was still four years away, although emancipation of minors wasn't a new concept.

-- Hey, It's ...!: Lyle Torrey's case includes Gregg Henry (Scandal, to name one show) as the defense attorney and James Avery as the judge. "Son" aired two years before The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

-- I've mentioned this before, but can we take a moment to appreciate Bruce Kirby's resume? The guy spent a lot of his career in a police uniform. His roles included officers on Car 54, Where Are You?, followed by a detective on The Defenders, then a sergeant on Kojak, sergeants on Columbo, a captain on Holmes and Yoyo, a lieutenant on Barney Miller, another detective on Shannon, a captain on Lou Grant and chief of L.A.'s finest on Hunter.

-- "McKenzie, Brackman is not sexist." "How many women partners do you have?" "One." "And in the firm's history, how many female partners?" "One, but ..." "And do you have a maternity leave policy?" "No! Because --" "Because the old boys probably never contemplated a partner giving birth. Because you never contemplated a partner having ovaries."

-- Next: St. Elsewhere. On deck: The Tracey Ullman Show.