"Murder One" (1995) TV series 1995-1997

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Creators:

Steven Bochco
Charles H. Eglee
Channing Gibson

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

19 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Theodore Hoffman is a prominent defense attorney in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. After successfully...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Law | Law Firm | Courtroom | Lawyer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Mary McCormack	...	Justine Appleton (41 episodes, 1995-1997)
J.C. MacKenzie	...	Arnold Spivak (40 episodes, 1995-1997)
Michael Hayden	...	Chris Docknovich (39 episodes, 1995-1997)
Barbara Bosson	...	Miriam Grasso (39 episodes, 1995-1997)
John Fleck	...	Louis Hines (31 episodes, 1995-1997)
Markus Redmond	...	Mark Washington (29 episodes, 1995-1997)
Daniel Benzali	...	Ted Hoffman (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Grace Phillips	...	Lisa Gillespie (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Stanley Tucci	...	Richard Cross (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Dylan Baker	...	Det. Arthur Polson (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Vanessa Williams	...	Lila (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Patricia Clarkson	...	Annie Hoffman (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jason Gedrick	...	Neil Avedon (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Linda Carlson	...	Judge Beth Bornstein (22 episodes, 1995-1997)
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Jimmy Wyler (18 episodes, 1996-1997)
D.B. Woodside	...	Aaron Mosely (17 episodes, 1996-1997)
Gregory Itzin	...	D.A. Roger Garfield (17 episodes, 1995-1996)

Runtime:

60 min (41 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (season 1) | Singapore:PG (season 2) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Steven Bochco Productions

Trivia:

Several early episodes make reference to "the Anselmo case", a running gag from "Moonlighting" (1985), for which Murder One co-creator Charles H. Eglee was a writer.

Quotes:

Annie Hoffman: I keep putting this conversation off and putting it off and I can't any more. I can't keep living the way we've been living.
Theodore Hoffman: The trial's been exhausting, I know.
Annie Hoffman: I think we need to separate for a while.
Theodore Hoffman: Annie, don't do this, I love you.
Annie Hoffman: [in tears] I'm sorry.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer" (1997)

Beauty Grabbed, Acting and Story Kept

I remember that I watched the first episode of "Murder One" because I saw a commercial for it which featured a woman (Bobbie Phillips) whom I found simply gorgeous. After I watched the episode, though, I thought, "This is the best television show I have ever seen!" I continued to enjoy Bobbie's beauty, but she was just the icing.

The cake was the story and the acting--especially that of Daniel Benzali who, in my opinion, crafted the most fascinating television character ever. Intelligence, refinement, rectitude...Mr. Benzali portrayed Theodore Hoffman as a Howard Roark/James Bond composite that I had previously hoped to see but felt would never materialize in any form of fiction, especially via the medium of television.

The first season of "Murder One" was an absolute joy to watch, every single episode. It seemed bigger-than-life yet believable at every turn. My hope is that it will find its way to DVD. Hey, Teddy Hoffman became "real" despite my doubts; perhaps the story of his law firm will one day become "binary" despite my doubts.

(It eventually happened -- the DVD set, that is -- and I am grateful.)