`MURDER ONE' WINS ITS CASE AS A THREE-PART MINISERIES.Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Writer When Stephen Bochco came up with the notion for ``Murder One,'' it was innovative and ambitious. He took an old format - the legal drama - and gave it a new twist. The show would follow one case per season and follow it in great detail from allegation to jury selection to courtroom controversy to verdict to possible appeal. The idea seemed great (finally something new on television). The writing was crisp, the acting was some of the best on television and the stories were compelling. The problem was the innovative concept. That and scheduling. People were intimidated by the fact that they were assigned to watch more than 20 hours of one show. Miss a week, and you wasted your time, viewers thought. And the competition - forget about it. Two years ago, it was demolished by ``ER'' and moved to Monday nights, where it didn't do much better. A couple of early season pre-emptions didn't help, either. This year, ``Seinfeld'' crushed ``Murder,'' which altered its plan. It began following three cases, instead of one, and added a little intra-office romance. The lead also changed from Daniel Benzali to the more accessible Anthony LaPaglia Anthony LaPaglia (born 31 January, 1959) (pronounced IPA: /ləˈpɑːljə/) is an Australian actor, best known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace . After the second case, ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. pulled the plug. The third case will air during a three-part, six-hour miniseries beginning 9 p.m. Sunday. It will continue on Monday and Thursday. Finally the correct treatment. If anything was ever made to be a miniseries, it's ``Murder One.'' Having to commit to three nights of viewing is not asking too much. And six hours is plenty of time to delve into detail. The case chosen for the miniseries is a good one. It is about a vigilante vigilante n. someone who takes the law into his/her own hands by trying and/or punishing another person without any legal authority. In the 1800s groups of vigilantes dispensed "frontier justice" by holding trials of accused horse-thieves, rustlers and shooters, and killer, Clifford Banks Clifford Banks is a fictional character introduced during the second season of the television program Murder One. Banks was portrayed by character actor Pruitt Taylor Vince. , who's known as ``The Streetsweeper'' (played to a creepy creep·y adj. creep·i·er, creep·i·est Informal 1. Of or producing a sensation of uneasiness or fear, as of things crawling on one's skin: a creepy feeling; a creepy story. 2. T by ``Heavy'' star Pruitt Taylor Vince). Moral dilemmas unfold. Freeing him is freeing an admitted killer; so how in good conscience can these lawyers try to do it without knowing for sure whether he'll kill again? Easy, they're defense lawyers. But again, Bochco and his people have hit on a good story and deliver it in fine fashion. Sure it drags at time, but that's what ``Murder One'' is all about. Besides, it's what we in the trade would like to call ``pacing and setting a mood.'' The repartee rep·ar·tee n. 1. A swift, witty reply. 2. Conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts. See Synonyms at wit1. is as sharp as ever. There are some light moments as well, mainly offered up by the return of Hollywood mogul Gary Blondo (John Pleshette John Pleshette (born July 27, 1942 in New York City) is an American actor, best known for being an original cast member of the long-running primetime television drama Knots Landing playing Richard Avery. He is the cousin of actress Suzanne Pleshette. ), who was an integral figure in the first season. As usual, the outcome of the case leaves you wondering about the validity of the legal system. In the show's first trial, an innocent man was convicted. The most recent trial featured an admitted killer who was set free. The miniseries will also leave you wanting more ``Murder One.'' It predictably did not make it back on ABC's fall schedule, but all we should ask for is an annual miniseries. THE FACTS The miniseries: ``Murder One.'' The stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Mary McCormack, Michael Hayden, J.C. MacKenzie, DB Woodside, Clayton Rohner, Barbara Bosson, Jack Kehler, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Karen Austin Karen Austin (born 1954) is an American actress from Welch, West Virginia. Austin has made many TV appearances since the mid 1970s. Filmography
Running time: 6 hours. Playing: 9 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Thursday on KABC KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (Channel 7). Our rating: B CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Anthony LaPaglia New lead in ``Murder One'' |
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