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*{{tv.com show|id=75386|title=The Deep End}}
*{{tv.com show|id=75386|title=The Deep End}}
*[http://abc.go.com/shows/the-deep-end ''The Deep End''] at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
*[http://abc.go.com/shows/the-deep-end ''The Deep End''] at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
* [http://www.foxtv.es/elbufete/ Fox España Página oficial de El Bufete (The Deep End)] (en español).



{{DEFAULTSORT:Deep End, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deep End, The}}

Revision as of 07:45, 8 September 2010

The Deep End
Title card of The Deep End
The Deep End title card from the pilot episode of the show.
Created byDavid Hemingson
StarringMatt Long
Norbert Leo Butz
Ben Lawson
Tina Majorino
Clancy Brown
Billy Zane
Mehcad Brooks
Leah Pipes
Nicole Ari Parker
Country of originTemplate:TVUS
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Production company20th Century Fox Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 21 (2010-01-21) –
February 25, 2010 (2010-02-25)

The Deep End is a television series which premiered on January 21, 2010 on ABC as a 2009—2010 midseason replacement. The show followed five first–year associate lawyers from diverse backgrounds as they enter one of the most prestigious law firms in Los Angeles — Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim, & Craft. Their boss is Cliff Huddle, also known as "The Prince of Darkness". When firm partner Hart Sterling returns after a long hiatus, things are shaken up. Originally, the show was seven episodes long, but ABC only scheduled a six–episode run. On May 14, 2010, it was reported by ABC that the series had been canceled after low ratings and viewership.

Production

The Deep End was created by David Hemingson, who also co-executive produced How I Met Your Mother.[1] Although set in Los Angeles, the show was filmed on a soundstage in the Las Colinas planned community in Irving, Texas.[2] It was initially reported that show was being produced for the Fox network. ABC described the show as L.A. Law meets Grey's Anatomy.[1] Texas Film Commission head Bob Hudgins estimated production costs at about $20 million.[1]

The show premiered on January 21, 2010 as a 2009—2010 midseason replacement.[3] Seven episodes were filmed but ABC only scheduled six episodes.[4] After speculation of the show's cancellation, ABC announced on May 14, 2010 that they would not continue broadcasting it because of poor ratings and viewership.[5][6][7] ABC has no plans to release it on DVD.[7]

Cast

The main characters are five lawyers who have recently graduated from law school.[8] After being hired, they are immediately thrown "in at the deep end" and are forced to deal with court cases that conflict with their personal beliefs and ethics.[9]

  • Dylan Hewitt (played by Matt Long) portrays an earnest and innocent young man in the show.[8][10] One of the first–year associates, he was an only child and was raised by his single mother who died just before his law school graduation. They came from a lower middle class background.[11]
  • Rowdy Kaiser (played by Norbert Leo Butz) is the firm's associate and chief talent scout.[12] He also acts as a mentor to the new recruits[10] as well as the firm's "fixer", fixing disagreement and messes in the office.[12]
  • Liam Priory (played by Ben Lawson) is another first–year associate who is "too-cool"[8] and has an uncircumcised penis.[10] Liam was born in Australia but educated in England. He is attracted to fellow colleague, Beth.[13]
  • Adelaide "Addy" Fisher (played by Tina Majorino) is an insecure first–year associate.[8] A Midwesterner, Addy comes from a large family. She builds family–like bonds at the firm with Beth as a substitute older sister and Liam and Dylan as older brothers. She has a crush on Malcolm.[14]
  • Hart Sterling (played by Clancy Brown) is the firm's managing partner, inheriting the title through his family.[8] He had been on a three-year leave to take care of his wife, leaving the firm in the hands of the other partner, Cliff. Following his return in the first episode, he has to struggle for power with Cliff.[15] Hart thinks that law is a calling whereby practitioners can enhance society and the world.[8]
  • Clifford "Cliff" Huddle (played by Billy Zane) is the firm's other managing partner.[16] He is "cold", "ruthless",[8] and known as the "Prince of Darkness".[10] He is married to the firm's litigation partner, Susan,[16] but has an affair with someone in the firm.[10] He thinks law is a way to make money, and does not care about the broader consequences.[8]
  • Malcolm Bennet (played by Mehcad Brooks) is an outsider. A first–year associate,[8] he was hired by Hart who went against the firm's norms by becoming involved with the hiring process. The hiring came after Bennet's federal clerkship ended with the death of the judge he was going to work for.[17]
  • Elizabeth "Beth" Branford (played by Leah Pipes) is a wealthy, blond, first–year associate.[8][10] She was born and bred in Beverly Hills and comes from a long line of attorneys. Her parents are divorced and her father is a top–flight attorney. Beth will do anything to be better than him. She is attracted to Liam.[18]
  • Susan Oppenheim (played by Nicole Ari Parker) is the firm's head litigation partner and the wife of Cliff.[10] She cannot leave Cliff, despite his philandering, and struggles to deal with his manipulative ways.[19]

Recurring cast

Episodes

The show was about five first–year associates from different backgrounds as they start work at the prestigious Los Angeles law firm Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim, & Craft. Initially, their boss is Cliff Huddle (also known as the "Prince of Darkness") but firm partner Hart Sterling returns after taking a long hiatus to take care of his wife and things start to change.

Episode
# 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Michael FrescoDavid HemingsonJanuary 21, 2010 (2010-01-21)7.10[20]
Dylan faces a difficult pro bono case. Beth does not speak up when her client, a 90-year old senile man, signs an agreement thinking she is his long-dead daughter. Liam lies to bring on a new client for the firm. Addy gets Susan's attention when she spoke her mind. Malcolm is hired out of the firm's traditional process.
2"Where There's Smoke"Timothy BusfieldJan NashJanuary 28, 2010 (2010-01-28)6.08[21]
Beth and her father goes head to head in court. Addy's new clients puts the firm in danger. Cliff reveals something to Susan which causes Katie to be sent to the firm's Montana offices indefinitely. Liam unwittingly embarks on a love quest of sorts.
3"To Have and to Hold"Timothy BusfieldJami O'BrienFebruary 4, 2010 (2010-02-04)5.01[22]
A CIA case has Dylan fighting with the law while Beth and Addy struggle to represent a not–so–innocent client in a sexual harassment case. Malcolm's son is expelled from school for bringing in a weapon. Meanwhile, Liam turns to Rowdy for advice on courting and Cliff turns to Hart, to try to save his marriage.
4"Nothing Personal"Adam ArkinSanford Golden
Karen Wyscarver		February 11, 2010 (2010-02-11)5.67[23]
Malcolm and Liam are pitted against each other. Dylan and Beth are assigned a pro bono case involving a tennis player who lost her scholarship.
5"An Innocent Man"Dennie GordonAaron KorshFebruary 18, 2010 (2010-02-18)4.26[24]
Dylan and Liam realize that they are the only ones who believe their client is innocent. Addy receives a surprise visit from her long-distance boyfriend.
6"White Lies, Black Ties"Tom VericaJan Nash
David Hemingson		February 25, 2010 (2010-02-25)3.84[25]
The interns are expected to attend a fashionable work function. Addy refuses to attend and Beth does not want her partner to go with her. Cliff tries to work on his failing marriage.

Reception

Critical response of the series was mainly negative, averaging 40/100 on Metacritic, based on 23 reviews with one positive, 14 mixed, and eight negatives.[26] Critics said that the show was not original and that some of the ideas seemed to be taken from L.A. Law, The Practice, Boston Legal, Damages, Eli Stone and The Good Wife.[27] The show premiered in the time slot after Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice TV causing the Washington Post to say that it resembled the two other shows "closely enough to warrant a paternity test".[10] Media Life Magazine claimed that although the Deep End received "loads of promotion"[28], the show "sank in its first outing".[28] Tom Maurstad of the Dallas Morning Review stated that it was noticeable that the show was shot in Las Colinas, not in its setting of Los Angeles.[29] Critics also said the show consisted of a "bunch of attractive people in suits saying the same lines",[30] "a dreadful attempt to duplicate Grey's Anatomy in a law office"[31] and the New York Press said that the show was "sailing in shallow waters".[32]

Actual lawyers heavily criticized the show as grossly unrealistic because it depicts numerous outrageous violations of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.[33] Furthermore, young associates were depicted performing tedious legal research the old-fashioned way (that is, with real hard copy books in a law library), when any firm of Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim, & Craft's size and caliber would naturally have a subscription to online databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis.[33]

Ratings

The Nielsen rating for the U.S. broadcast on the ABC broadcast of the series in November 2005 was 5.33 million viewers, giving it a ranking of 83.[34]

Ratings by episode
# Episode Rating Share Rating/Share
(18-49) 		Viewers
(millions) 		Rank
(Timeslot) 		Rank
(Night)
1 "Pilot" 4.7[35] 7[35] 1.8/5[36] 7.10[20] 4 8
2 "Where There's Smoke" 4.0[37] 6[37] 1.7/5[21] 6.08[21] 3 5
3 "To Have and To Hold" 3.5[38] 6[38] 1.3/4[22] 5.01[22] 4 5
4 "Nothing Personal" 3.8[39] 6[40] 1.5/4[23] 5.67[23] 4 11
5 "An Innocent Man" 3.0[41] 5[41] 1.1/3[24] 4.26[24] 4 10
6 "White Lies, Black Ties" 2.7[42] 4[42] 1.1/3[25] 3.84[25] 4 10

References

  1. ^ a b c O'Connell, Joe (July 21, 2009). "ABC series 'The Deep End' expected to begin filming in North Texas". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  2. ^ Formby, Brandon (December 2, 2009). "'The Deep End' producer talks up Irving". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  3. ^ Stanhope, Kate (December 9, 2009). "ABC's The Deep End to Premiere Jan. 21". TV Guide. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  4. ^ "The Deep End: ABC Rep Confirms Show's Not Cancelled". tvseriesfinale.com. February 26, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  5. ^ "ABC, FOX, NBC clear bubble decks". thefutoncritic.com. May 14, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  6. ^ "Cancelled & Returning ABC TV Shows for 2009-10 Season". tvseriesfinale.com. May 17, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "The Deep End: TV Show Officially Cancelled; No Season Two". tvseriesfinale.com. May 21, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hinckley, David (January 28, 2010). "ABC's 'The Deep End' firmly unoriginal". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  9. ^ "Get To Know". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Stuever, Hank (January 21, 2010). "ABC's new drama 'The Deep End' is a lawyer show that just isn't that deep". Washington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  11. ^ "Actor Bio, Dylan Hewitt". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Actor Bio, Rowdy Kaiser". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  13. ^ "Actor Bio, Liam Priory". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  14. ^ "Actor Bio, Addy Fisher". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  15. ^ "Actor Bio, Hart Sterling". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Cliff Huddle". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010. Cite error: The named reference "Cliff Huddle" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Actor Bio, Malcolm Bennet". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  18. ^ "Actor Bio, Beth Branford". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  19. ^ "Actor Bio, Susan Oppenheim". ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  20. ^ a b "TV Ratings: Thursday January 21, 2010". thetvaddict.com. January 22, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c "TV Ratings: Thursday January 28, 2010". thetvaddict.com. January 29, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  22. ^ a b c "TV Ratings: Thursday February 4, 2010". thetvaddict.com. February 5, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  23. ^ a b c "TV Ratings: Thursday February 11, 2010 (Survivor Snuffs Out the Competition)". thetvaddict.com. February 12, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  24. ^ a b c "TV Ratings: Thursday February 18, 2010 (As ABC Execs are left wondering whose bright idea it was to run new episodes up against The Olympics)". thetvaddict.com. February 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  25. ^ a b c "TV Ratings: Thursday February 25, 2010 (Olympics Beat IDOL By a Hair!)". thetvaddict.com. February 26, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  26. ^ "The Deep End: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  27. ^ "The Deep End: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  28. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Toni (January 22, 2010). "ABC's 'Deep End' takes a deep dive". Media Life Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  29. ^ Maurstad, Tom (January 21, 2010). "Television review: 'The Deep End' is shallow on storytelling". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  30. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (January 21, 2010). "'The Deep End' - Not quite a review". nj.com. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  31. ^ Garvin, Glenn (January 21, 2010). "Reviews". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "'The Deep End' and 'Spartacus: Blood And Sand': The choice: stupid or trashy" ignored (help)
  32. ^ Peikert, Mark (January 22, 2010). "TV Review: The Deep End". New York Press. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  33. ^ a b Gardner, Jacylyn (January 27, 2010). "First-Year Associates Dish About New TV Series 'The Deep End'". law.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  34. ^ "Nielsen ratings report", Daily Variety, Los Angeles: Reed Business Information, 16 November, 2005 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b Calabaria, Rosario T. (January 22, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, January 21, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  36. ^ TV Ratings Thursday: "Deep End" Underwater; "Bones" High; "CSI", "Mentalist", "Grey's" Series Lows, TV By the Numbers, January 22, 2010
  37. ^ a b Calabria, Rosario T. (January 29, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, January 28, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  38. ^ a b Calabria, Rosario T. (February 5, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, February 4, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  39. ^ Gorman (February 12, 2010). "Thursday Broadcast Finals: Grey's Anatomy, The Mentalist Tick Up, Private Practice, 30 Rock Tick Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  40. ^ Calabria, Rosario T. (February 12, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, February 11, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  41. ^ a b Calabria, Rosario T. (February 19, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, February 18, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  42. ^ a b Calabria, Rosario T. (February 26, 2010). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, February 25, 2010". yourentertainmentnow.com. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
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