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 The Whole Truth

(June 20^th, 2010.  -  Editor)               Rob Morrow, Joely Richardson, Eamonn Walker, Sean Wing, Anthony Ruivivar and Christine Adams star in the legal drama The Whole Truth.

This unique legal drama chronicles the way a case is built from the perspective of both the defense and prosecution. Showing each side equally keeps the audience guessing, shifting allegiances of guilt or innocence until the very final scene. Kathryn Peale, the product of a New England background and a sheriff father, is the Deputy Bureau Chief in the New York State District Attorney's office.  Jimmy Brogan, born and raised in Hell's Kitchen and a friend of Kathryn's since their days at Yale Law School, is one of New York's rising criminal attorney stars.  Buoyed by their respective teams, these evenly matched lawyers, each with a strong streak of competitiveness, a fervent belief in their clients and an equally intense passion for the law,  go about creating two different stories from the same set of facts.  As this up-close, behind-the-scenes look at the legal process mirrors the excitement of a great championship match, it becomes evident that truth has nothing to do with innocence or guilt. At the end of every trial, the only thing that matters is what the jury believes.

            I will give you that the premise of showing both sides of a case and letting the viewer become involved may work for a few episodes. After that what must work is the writing of this offbeat legal drama. In the pilot episode there is plenty of drama in the courtroom and plenty of action outside of it. But at the end of he day, the cases will be the difference. Star Rob Morrow is believable, but not particularly likeable as a defense attorney who may or may not be telling the truth as he presents his side of he case. Joley Richardson is equally questionable as a district attorney who may be more interested in her record as a winning lawyer, than in making sure justice is served. While those less than perfect character may be closer to the real thing than what we are used to seeing on TV. They are also people we won’t always like. And that may have an impact on viewer loyalty.

            This effort will fail to find an audience because it tries to be too real. And what the audience loves in a courtroom drama is outrageous antics. Morrow and company will have to work very hard if they hope to find a place on the dial with this thinking-man’s drama.

 

  -  Editor          

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