Facing Kate
Encyclopedia
Fairly Legal is a USA Network
television series starring Sarah Shahi
, Michael Trucco
, Baron Vaughn
, Virginia Williams
, and Ryan Johnson
. The one-hour drama premiered on January 20, 2011. On May 2, 2011, USA Network announced that Fairly Legal has been renewed for a second season of 13 episodes which will go into production later in 2011 and begin airing in the spring of 2012.
The 75-minute pilot episode
was directed by Bronwen Hughes
. The series was given the green-light for a first season on March 15, 2010 with an additional 11-episode order. Production began in June in Vancouver
. In September, the total number of episodes was cut from twelve to ten due to scheduling issues.
poet
and musician
Iyeoka Okoawo
. Co-written by producer
David Franz, it is the lead single off of her album Say Yes.
.
Writing for Entertainment Weekly
, Darren Franich noted the similarity in formula of Fairly Legal to other successful USA Network series and described the show as "a perfectly prefabricated USA treat". He lauded Shahi's performance as Kate, saying she "makes you believe that the woman is simultaneously an anxious wreck and a brilliant mediator", and applauds some of the "interesting chances" the creators took. However, he took the show to task for not utilizing its San Francisco setting as well as other USA series use their locales and chided Fairly Legal for not knowing "whether it wants to be a somber drama or a zippy legal quirkfest". Robert Bianco for USA Today
concurred in the assessment of Shahi's performance, calling it "instantly likable", and described the series as "a well-constructed piece of popular entertainment from a dependable provider of the same, with an easy-to-like star and an easy-to-grasp premise".
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
television series starring Sarah Shahi
Sarah Shahi
Aahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
, Michael Trucco
Michael Trucco
Edward Michael Trucco is an American actor with Italian roots. He is best known for his role as Samuel T. Anders on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and currently appears as a series regular on the USA Network television series Fairly Legal.-Biography:A native of San Mateo, California, he...
, Baron Vaughn
Baron Vaughn
Baron Vaughn is a comedian and actor from the cast of the USA Network's Fairly Legal, on which he plays legal assistant Leonardo Prince.Vaughn has played supporting roles in a number of feature films, including Cloverfield and Black Dynamite. He has also appeared in The Awkward Comedy Show with...
, Virginia Williams
Virginia Williams
Virginia Williams , sometimes Ginger or Ginger R. Williams , is an American actress, who stars in the USA Network series Fairly Legal. She had a starring role in Monarch Cove and appeared in a recurring role on How I Met Your Mother...
, and Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson (actor)
Ryan Johnson , an Australian actor who has appeared in numerous television series and films.-Biography:Johnson is a native of Brisbane. He attended Somerset College in Gold Coast, Queensland, and graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1999. His most recent film role was in the...
. The one-hour drama premiered on January 20, 2011. On May 2, 2011, USA Network announced that Fairly Legal has been renewed for a second season of 13 episodes which will go into production later in 2011 and begin airing in the spring of 2012.
Overview
Kate Reed changes her profession from lawyer to mediator and works at the San Francisco law firm her father started. Kate's father has recently died leaving Kate and the firm to adjust to the loss.Main characters
- Sarah ShahiSarah ShahiAahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi is an American actress and a former NFL Cheerleader. She is probably best known for starring in The L Word as Carmen de la Pica Morales and in Life as Detective Dani Reese...
as Kate Reed: a top lawyer at her father's firm who, after realizing her own ethical conflict with her profession, becomes an evaluative mediator. - Michael TruccoMichael TruccoEdward Michael Trucco is an American actor with Italian roots. He is best known for his role as Samuel T. Anders on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and currently appears as a series regular on the USA Network television series Fairly Legal.-Biography:A native of San Mateo, California, he...
as Justin Patrick: Kate's estranged husband (they are not yet divorced, and are hesitant to move forward with the filing), Assistant District Attorney of San Francisco. They continue an on-off relationship. - Virginia WilliamsVirginia WilliamsVirginia Williams , sometimes Ginger or Ginger R. Williams , is an American actress, who stars in the USA Network series Fairly Legal. She had a starring role in Monarch Cove and appeared in a recurring role on How I Met Your Mother...
as Lauren Reed: Kate's new boss, and her stepmother. Kate assumes that Lauren's coldness following her husband's death is proof of heartlessness, but Lauren explains that she is simply doing what is necessary to keep the firm from disintegrating in his absence. - Baron VaughnBaron VaughnBaron Vaughn is a comedian and actor from the cast of the USA Network's Fairly Legal, on which he plays legal assistant Leonardo Prince.Vaughn has played supporting roles in a number of feature films, including Cloverfield and Black Dynamite. He has also appeared in The Awkward Comedy Show with...
as Leonardo Prince: Kate's assistant. Enthusiastic, resourceful, and a passionate fantasy gamer. He has a knack for keeping the at-times flighty Kate out of trouble with clients & Lauren.
Recurring characters
- Richard Dean AndersonRichard Dean AndersonRichard Dean Anderson is an American television and film actor, producer and composer. He began his television career in 1976 as Dr. Jeff Webber in the American soap opera series General Hospital, then rose to prominence as the lead actor in the television series MacGyver...
as David Smith: a man with many secrets who enters Kate's life after the death of her father. - Ethan EmbryEthan EmbryEthan Philan Randall , although he is known and usually credited as Ethan Embry, is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Declan Giggs on the Showtime television series Brotherhood.-Personal life:...
as Spencer: Kate's brother, who was formerly a lawyer at the family firm. Spencer is now a stay-at-home dad while his husband Terry works. - Gerald McRaneyGerald McRaneyGerald Lee "Mac" McRaney is an American television and movie actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, and Promised Land. He was a series regular for the first season of Jericho.-Early life:McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son...
as Judge David Nicastro: a judge who dislikes Kate for her turning to mediation, but uses her to mediate some of his cases. - Devon WeigelDevon WeigelDevon Weigel is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Tanya Shedden in the teen drama Falcon Beach. She currently has a recurring role as Kim on the legal dramedy series Fairly Legal.She also played a small role in John Tucker Must Die....
as Kim: a sandwich girl who works at Reed & Reed. She and Leonardo eventually begin dating.
Development and production
Fairly Legal first appeared on the development slate for USA Network in August 2009, under the working title Facing Kate. The series was created and written by Michael Sardo, who also serves as an executive producer. Casting announcements began in late October, when Sarah Shahi was cast in the main role of Kate Reed. Michael Trucco and Virginia Williams joined the cast in early November.The 75-minute pilot episode
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
was directed by Bronwen Hughes
Bronwen Hughes
Bronwen Hughes is a Canadian film director. She was born in Toronto.-Filmography:* The Journey is the Destination * Fairly Legal 2011 * Tangled 2010* Cutthroat 2010* White Collar 2009...
. The series was given the green-light for a first season on March 15, 2010 with an additional 11-episode order. Production began in June in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. In September, the total number of episodes was cut from twelve to ten due to scheduling issues.
Music
The theme song, "The Yellow Brick Road Song", is performed by spoken wordSpoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Iyeoka Okoawo
Iyeoka Okoawo
Iyeoka Okoawo is a Nigerian/American poet, recording artist, singer, activist, educator and TEDGlobal Fellow. Her music includes elements from soul, R&B, rock, hip hop, and jazz.-Early life:...
. Co-written by producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
David Franz, it is the lead single off of her album Say Yes.
Reception
Fairly Legal attracted 3.9 million viewers upon first airing, with approximately one-third of viewers being in the key 18-49 ratings demographic. The episode lost about 500,000 viewers from its lead-in, the mid-season debut of the medical drama Royal PainsRoyal Pains
Royal Pains is a USA Network television series that premiered on June 4, 2009, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies...
.
Writing for Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Darren Franich noted the similarity in formula of Fairly Legal to other successful USA Network series and described the show as "a perfectly prefabricated USA treat". He lauded Shahi's performance as Kate, saying she "makes you believe that the woman is simultaneously an anxious wreck and a brilliant mediator", and applauds some of the "interesting chances" the creators took. However, he took the show to task for not utilizing its San Francisco setting as well as other USA series use their locales and chided Fairly Legal for not knowing "whether it wants to be a somber drama or a zippy legal quirkfest". Robert Bianco for USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
concurred in the assessment of Shahi's performance, calling it "instantly likable", and described the series as "a well-constructed piece of popular entertainment from a dependable provider of the same, with an easy-to-like star and an easy-to-grasp premise".
Ratings
| Season | Episodes | Original Airing | Viewers (in millions) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | |||
| 1 | 10 | January 20, 2011 | March 24, 2011 | 2011 2011 in American television The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2011. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.... |
4.6 |
DVD releases
Universal Pictures UK will release Fairly Legal Season 1 on Region 2 DVD on March 5, 2012.| DVD Name | Ep# | Release dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | ||
| The Complete First Season | 10 | March 5, 2012 | ||
External links
- Interview with Writer/Producer Michael Sardo at Abnormal Use