Family Law (American TV series)

Family Law
Family Law
Genre	Legal drama
Created by	Paul Haggis; Anne Kenney;
Starring	Kathleen Quinlan; Julie Warner; Christopher McDonald; Dixie Carter; Cristián de la Fuente; Salli Richardson; Merrilee McCommas; Michelle Horn; David Dorfman; Tony Danza; Orla Brady; Meredith Eaton;
Opening theme	"War" by Edwin Starr and the Brink
Composers	Jeff Beal; Bruce Roberts; David Tobocman;
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	68
Production
Executive producers	Paul Haggis; Stephen Nathan; David Shore;
Producers	Chuck Binder; Dana Maksimovich;
Production companies	Paul Haggis Productions; CBS Productions; Columbia TriStar Television;
Release
Original network	CBS
Picture format	HDTV 1080i
Original release	September 20, 1999 –; May 27, 2002

Family Law is an American legal drama television series, created by Paul Haggis, that aired on CBS from September 20, 1999, to May 27, 2002. This series starring Kathleen Quinlan as divorced lawyer Lynn Holt, who attempted to start her own law firm after her husband left both her and their law practice, taking all of their clients with him.^[1]^[2]

The show also starred Christopher McDonald as opportunistic, ambulance-chasing attorney Rex Weller, Julie Warner as Lynn's friend Danni (and the one member of her former firm's staff who did not defect with Lynn's ex-husband), and Dixie Carter as "pit bull" divorce attorney Randi King. Later cast additions included Tony Danza, Cristián de la Fuente, Salli Richardson, and Meredith Eaton as Emily Resnick, an ambitious attorney hoping to make partner.

Edwin Starr's 1970 hit song, "War" was used as the series' opening title theme, in seasons one and three.^[3] A cover version of the song was performed by The Brink and used in season two.

Cast[]

Kathleen Quinlan as Lynn Holt^[4]
Julie Warner as Danni Lipton^[4] (seasons 1–2)
Christopher McDonald as Rex Weller^[4]
Dixie Carter as Randi King^[4]
Cristián de la Fuente as Andres Diaz^[4] (seasons 1–2)
Salli Richardson as Viveca Foster^[4]
Merrilee McCommas as Patricia Dumar^[4]
Michelle Horn as Cassie Holt^{[Note 1]}
David Dorfman as Rupert Holt^{[Note 2]}
Tony Danza as Joe Celano^[4] (seasons 2–3)
Orla Brady as Naoise O'Neill^[4] (season 2)
Meredith Eaton as Emily Resnick^[4] (season 3)

Notes

^ Portrayed by Rosemarie Martin in the pilot.
^ Portrayed by Elliott & Jordan Dolling in the pilot. Portrayed by Blake Rossi during season 1.

Episodes[]

Season one: 1999–2000[]

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	1	"Pilot"	Paul Haggis	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	September 20, 1999 (1999-09-20)
2	2	"Damages"	Paul Haggis	Paul Haggis & David Shore	September 27, 1999 (1999-09-27)
3	3	"All God's Creatures"	Fred Gerber	Anne Kenney	October 4, 1999 (1999-10-04)
4	4	"Prisoners"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	October 11, 1999 (1999-10-11)
5	5	"The List"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	October 18, 1999 (1999-10-18)
6	6	"The Nanny"	Fred Gerber	Stephen Nathan	October 25, 1999 (1999-10-25)
7	7	"Games"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	November 8, 1999 (1999-11-08)
8	8	"The Fourth Trimester"	John Patterson	Thomas L. Moran	November 15, 1999 (1999-11-15)
9	9	"Holt vs. Holt"	Fred Gerber	Anne Kenney	November 22, 1999 (1999-11-22)
10	10	"Four Drops of Blood"	Michael Schultz	Sarah Woodside Gallagher	November 29, 1999 (1999-11-29)
11	11	"Decisions"	Adam Nimoy	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	December 13, 1999 (1999-12-13)
12	12	"Media Relations"	Elodie Keene	Gay Walch	January 10, 2000 (2000-01-10)
13	13	"Human Error"	Fred Gerber	Thomas L. Moran	January 17, 2000 (2000-01-17)
14	14	"Stealing Home"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	January 24, 2000 (2000-01-24)
15	15	"A Mother's Son"	Richard J. Lewis	Judith Feldman, Anne Kenney & Sarah Woodside Gallagher	February 7, 2000 (2000-02-07)
16	16	"Are You My Father?"	TBA	Susan Hamilton Brin	February 21, 2000 (2000-02-21)
17	17	"Metamorphosis"	Fred Gerber	Edmond Stevens	February 28, 2000 (2000-02-28)
18	18	"Necessity"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	March 6, 2000 (2000-03-06)
19	19	"Playing God"	Fred Gerber	Tricia Brock & Marc Flanagan	March 20, 2000 (2000-03-20)
20	20	"The Witness"	Kari Skogland	Jeff King	April 17, 2000 (2000-04-17)
21	21	"Second Chance"	Fred Gerber	Bill Chais & David Shore	April 24, 2000 (2000-04-24)
22	22	"Love and Money"	Elodie Keene	Stephen Nathan & David Shore	May 1, 2000 (2000-05-01)
23	23	"Possession Is Nine Tenths of the Law"	Ericson Core	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	May 8, 2000 (2000-05-08)

Season two: 2000–2001[]

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
24	1	"The Choice"	Paul Haggis	Paul Haggis & Edmond Stevens	October 2, 2000 (2000-10-02)
25	2	"One Mistake"	Fred Gerber	Paul Haggis & David Shore	October 9, 2000 (2000-10-09)
26	3	"Affairs of State"	Fred Gerber	Paul Haggis & Stephen Nathan	October 16, 2000 (2000-10-16)
27	4	"Going Home"	Fred Gerber	Linda McGibney & David Shore	October 23, 2000 (2000-10-23)
28	5	"Telling Lies: Part 1"	TBA	Paul Haggis & Anne Kenney	October 30, 2000 (2000-10-30)
29	6	"Telling Lies: Part 2"	Jerry Levine	Stephen Nathan & David Shore	November 6, 2000 (2000-11-06)
30	7	"For Love"	Stephen Nathan	Bill Chais & Marjorie David	November 13, 2000 (2000-11-13)
31	8	"Family Values"	Oz Scott	Ashley Gable & Thomas L. Moran	November 20, 2000 (2000-11-20)
32	9	"Echoes"	Martha Mitchell	Jonathan Estrin	November 27, 2000 (2000-11-27)
33	10	"Generations"	Fred Gerber	E.J. Safirstein	December 11, 2000 (2000-12-11)
34	11	"Intentions"	Richard J. Lewis	Linda McGibney & Edmond Stevens	January 8, 2001 (2001-01-08)
35	10	"Film at Eleven"	Ericson Core	Christopher Ambrose & Lawrence Kaplow	January 15, 2001 (2001-01-15)
36	13	"Separation"	Fred Gerber	Stephen Nathan & David Shore	January 29, 2001 (2001-01-29)
37	14	"The Quality of Mercy"	Miles Watkins	Majorie David, Stephen Nathan & David Shore	February 5, 2001 (2001-02-05)
38	15	"Liar's Club: Part 1"	Jeremy Kagan	Ashley Gable & Thomas L. Moran	February 19, 2001 (2001-02-19)
39	16	"Liar's Club: Part 2"	Fred Gerber	Stephen Nathan & David Shore	February 26, 2001 (2001-02-26)
40	17	"Soul Custody"	Oz Scott	Bill Chais & Stephen Nathan	March 12, 2001 (2001-03-12)
41	18	"Safe at Home"	Paul Haggis	Thomas L. Moran & Paul Haggis	March 19, 2001 (2001-03-19)
42	19	"The Gay Divorcee"	Jerry Levine	Stephen Nathan & David Shore	April 9, 2001 (2001-04-09)
43	20	"Bringing Up Babies"	Richard J. Lewis	Linda McGibney & David Shore	April 16, 2001 (2001-04-16)
44	21	"Americans"	Elodie Keene	Stephen Nathan, David Shore & Scott Cameron	April 30, 2001 (2001-04-30)
45	22	"Recovery"	Fred Gerber	Stephen Nathan, David Shore & Jason Preston	May 7, 2001 (2001-05-07)
46	23	"Clemency"	Paul Haggis	Bill Chais, Paul Haggis & Thomas L. Moran	May 14, 2001 (2001-05-14)
47	24	"Planting Seeds"	Elodie Keene	Ashley Gable, Stephen Nathan & David Shore	May 21, 2001 (2001-05-21)

Season three: 2001–2002[]

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
48	1	"Irreparable Harm"	Fred Gerber	Lawrence Kaplow, Stephan Nathan & David Shore	September 24, 2001 (2001-09-24)
49	2	"Moving On"	Fred Gerber	Christopher Ambrose & Lawrence Kaplow	October 1, 2001 (2001-10-01)
50	3	"Obligations"	Oz Scott	Ashley Gable	October 8, 2001 (2001-10-08)
51	4	"My Brother's Keeper"	Ericson Core	Thomas L. Moran	October 15, 2001 (2001-10-15)
52	5	"Against All Odds"	Fred Gerber	Christopher Ambrose	October 22, 2001 (2001-10-22)
53	6	"Sacrifices"	Oz Scott	Gregg Gettas & Scott Cameron	October 29, 2001 (2001-10-29)
54	7	"All in the Family"	Jerry Levine	Ayanna Floyd	November 5, 2001 (2001-11-05)
55	8	"Security"	Fred Gerber	I.C. Rapoport	November 12, 2001 (2001-11-12)
56	9	"No Options"	Jerry Levine	Lindsay Sturman	November 19, 2001 (2001-11-19)
57	10	"Sex, Lies and Internet"	Oz Scott	Bill Chais & Thomas L. Moran	December 10, 2001 (2001-12-10)
58	11	"Angel's Flight"	Max Mayer	Paul Haggis & Jan Nash	December 17, 2001 (2001-12-17)
59	12	"Blood and Water"	Max Mayer	Jan Nash	January 7, 2002 (2002-01-07)
60	13	"To Protect and Serve"	Fred Gerber	Ayanna Floyd & Ashley Gable	January 14, 2002 (2002-01-14)
61	14	"Arlene's Choice"	Stephan Nathan	Lawrence Kaplow	February 4, 2002 (2002-02-04)
62	15	"Children of a Lesser Dad"	Oz Scott	Christopher Ambrose	February 25, 2002 (2002-02-25)
63	16	"Celano v. Foster"	Fred Gerber	Bill Chais & Thomas L. Moran	March 4, 2002 (2002-03-04)
64	17	"Big Brother"	Fred Gerber	Bill Chais & Thomas L. Moran	March 18, 2002 (2002-03-18)
65	18	"Once Removed"	Julie Warner	Pam Davis, Stephen Nathan & David Shore	March 25, 2002 (2002-03-25)
66	19	"Admissions"	Fred Gerber	Lindsay Sturman	April 8, 2002 (2002-04-08)
67	20	"Ties That Bind"	Max Mayer	Ashley Gable & Jan Nash	April 15, 2002 (2002-04-15)
68	21	"Alienation of Affection"	Fred Gerber	Stephan Nathan & David Shore	May 27, 2002 (2002-05-27)

Release and syndication[]

Since fall 2018, the show has been syndicated on the channel Start TV.^{[citation needed]} It has yet to get a home media release.

Reception[]

Ron Wertheimer of the New York Times wrote: "Ms. Quinlan is most appealing, but this series can't survive on her determination alone."^[5] Tom Shales of the Washington Post gave it a positive review, "Quinlan is admirable and believable as a woman who won't let setbacks set her back; she's easy to root for."^[6]

On Rotten Tomatoes, season one has an approval rating of 10% based on reviews from 10 critics. The site's consensus is "Although Kathleen Quinlan gives a commendable performance, Family Law fizzles out with its bizarre tonal shifts, two-dimensional characterizations, and unbelievable storylines."^[7]

References[]

^ Bogdanovich, Peter (February 8, 1999). "Betty White on lousy sitcoms … Paul Haggis is back". New York Observer. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
^ Hontz, Jenny (February 10, 1999). "Haggis inks three-year, first-look deal with Col". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
^ "Motown's Edwin Starr Dead At 61". Cbsnews.com.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 326–327. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
^ Wertheimer, Ron (20 September 1999). "NEW TV SEASON IN REVIEW; Suddenly Single, but Sure To Succeed on Her Own (Published 1999)". The New York Times.
^ Tom Shales (September 19, 1999). "Primal-Time Programming". The Washington Post.
^ "Family Law: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-01-01.

External links[]

Family Law at IMDb

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[5] Portrayed by Rosemarie Martin in the pilot.

[6] Portrayed by Elliott & Jordan Dolling in the pilot. Portrayed by Blake Rossi during season 1.

[1] Bogdanovich, Peter (February 8, 1999). "Betty White on lousy sitcoms … Paul Haggis is back". New York Observer. Retrieved August 4, 2015.

[2] Hontz, Jenny (February 10, 1999). "Haggis inks three-year, first-look deal with Col". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2015.

[3] "Motown's Edwin Starr Dead At 61". Cbsnews.com.

[etvs-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 326–327. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.

[7] Wertheimer, Ron (20 September 1999). "NEW TV SEASON IN REVIEW; Suddenly Single, but Sure To Succeed on Her Own (Published 1999)". The New York Times.

[8] Tom Shales (September 19, 1999). "Primal-Time Programming". The Washington Post.

[9] "Family Law: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-01-01.

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hide v t Paul Haggis
Films directed	Red Hot (1993) Crash (2004) In the Valley of Elah (2007) The Next Three Days (2010) Third Person (2013) 5B (2018)
Films written only	The Return of the Shaggy Dog (1987) Million Dollar Baby (2004) The Last Kiss (2006) Flags of Our Fathers (2006) Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) Casino Royale (2006) Quantum of Solace (2008)
TV series created	City (1990) You Take the Kids (1990–91) Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001) Due South (1994–99) EZ Streets (1996–97) Family Law (1999–2002) The Black Donnellys (2007)
Other works	"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" (2010 music video, directed) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011 video game, wrote) Show Me a Hero (2015 miniseries, directed)