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Fall TV: Wednesday’s returns and premieres
The Defenders, 9 p.m. CBS
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless it’s the exploits of Nick Morelli and Pete Kaczmarek, talented but showboating defense attorneys, whose larger-than-life faces loom on billboards near the strip.
This hour-long drama (no relation to the ‘60s CBS series) began as a documentary. Turns out that CBS liked the characters, but preferred a scripted show. “The Defenders” follows Morelli and Kaczmarek, played by Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell, respectively, in and out of the courtroom as they try to do right by their clients while navigating their own complicated personal lives. Belushi is trying to repair his shattered marriage while O’Connell beds flight attendants and counsel for the prosecution.
The glitzy and fun Vegas setting serves as a nice counterpoint to the pilot episode’s case, in which the duo defends a young man accused of execution style manslaughter.
Jurnee Smollett (“Friday Night Lights”) co-stars as Lisa Tyler, a stripper-turned-lawyer who quickly comes to realize that these guys don’t exactly play by the book.
Belushi, so well known for his stereotypical sitcom husband character in “According to Jim,” is surprisingly good stretching his dramatic chops and O’Connell seems to be having a blast with his playboy role. The duo’s unconventional courtroom strategy is cleverly written and fun to watch.
I’m going to roll the dice and bet that CBS might have a keeper.
Also premiering tonight (new shows are indicated by an asterisk):
7 p.m.
The Middle, ABC
Hell’s Kitchen, FOX
*Undercovers, NBC
7:30 p.m.
*Better With You, ABC
8 p.m.
Modern Family, ABC
Criminal Minds, CBS
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC
8:30 p.m.
Cougar Town, ABC
9 p.m.
*The Whole Truth, ABC
Get more details on these shows in our Fall preview by clicking here.
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