Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993 TAG: 9307310293
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-17 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE DUFFY KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
"L.A. Law," for years a home to Steven Bochco's band of self-involved yuppie attorneys, cynical dark humor and bleeding-heart liberalism, is turning the other cheek. So to speak.
A fundamentalist Christian lawyer will join the law firm of McKenzie Brackman this fall, "L.A. Law" executive producer William Finkelstein said recently.
Is this a reaction to TV's long-standing reluctance to portray people of faith?
"Partly, it is," Finkelstein agreed. "There is legitimate criticism that religion is never portrayed on television in any way but as the butt of jokes or through psychopathic personalities.
"But this is not done to placate the Donald Wildmons," the producer added, referring to the right-wing Mississippi minister and other political conservatives who regularly attack the networks and boycott sponsors.
The Christian attorney, who will be a woman, has not been cast yet. But she'll join "L.A. Law" early in the season.
"She will not be seen as an oddball. Her faith will be seen as legitimate," Finkelstein said. "What she won't be is a Christian on episode one and a nymphomaniac on episode three."
Granted a reprieve after a late-spring resurgence in ratings and quality, "L.A. Law" is going through other cast changes as it prepares to return for an eighth season this fall.
Susan Ruttan (Roxanne) has left the regular cast and will make guest appearances only. Also, Sheila Kelly (Gwen), who co-starred in the film "Singles," has decided to leave the series.
Finkelstein, previously an "L.A. Law" writer/producer, returned to the Emmy-winning drama series for last season's final eight episodes. That's when the A fundamentalist Christian lawyer will join the law firm of McKenzie Brackman this fall, "L.A. Law" executive producer William Finkelstein said recently. show experienced a pleasant dramatic rebirth of sorts.
Finkelstein had been overseeing ABC's now-departed "Civil Wars," which he created. And though that superb New York courtroom drama is gone, two of itsbest characters, anxiety-ridden attorney Eli Levinson (Alan Rosenberg) and sassy secretary Denise Ianello (Debi Mazar), are joining NBC's "L.A. Law" this year.
It marks the first time that characters from one prime-time series have been transplanted to another network's non-spinoff series.
Denise winds up moving to the West Coast after getting divorced. And Eli happens to be in Los Angeles on a case when he falls in love with La La Land.
And, yes, they'll be part of McKenzie Brackman's world right from the first episode this fall. Watching a pair of New York City natives adjust to the laid-back life-style of the left coast will be part of the fun, Finkelstein said.
Forget the jive Evian water and pass the bagels.
by CNB