Public Defender
Jimmy Smits
November 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Prime time soap operas dominated the 1980’s. In the 2000’s, not so much, except for the teenage version of the genre on the CW television network.
Jimmy Smits was part of an effort to reignite the genre with Cane, a short-lived offering on CBS in 2007. Cane revolved around a Cuban-American family and its power, wealth, and dynasty stemming from its rum and sugar business interests.
This is the third consecutive decade where Jimmy Smits has been a focal point of a prime time television series.
In the 1980’s, he played Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law. Sifuentes worked in the Public Defender’s office before Michael Kuzak recruited him to the private law firm sector.
While Victor began as the ‘cleanup’ attorney for McKenzie Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak, handling the firm’s pro bono cases and other matters that burdened the firm’s workload, he ventured into other legal territories.
In the episode Victor Sifuentes confronted legendary attorney August Redding, played by legendary actor Ralph Bellamy. Victor’s client sues Redding for legal malpractice. In the episode’s climactic scene, Victor puts Redding on the witness stand. He reveals Redding’s deep loss of memory when the aging lawyer cannot remember Victor’s name.
Victor confronted another legendary attorney in Hamilton Schuyler, a dwarf attorney who specializes in products liability cases.
Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor six times during his L.A. Law tenure, Smits won once.
In the 1990’s, Smits took over the lead position in NYPD Blue after the sudden departure of David Caruso. Smits’ Bobby Simone character is suave, sophisticated, and strong. With quiet confidence, he gains the respect of his partner, Andy Sipowicz. He also wins the love of fellow detective Diane Russell.
NYPD Blue eased out Bobby Simone in a story arc centering on a terrific heart problem. In the episode where Bobby dies, the last scene shows him flatlining and then we see the Executive Producer credits in black against a white background. It’s a direct contrast to the usual format -- white lettering against a black background.
Smits returns as Bobby Simone in an episode near the show’s end. Andy has a waking dream where he talks to Bobby.
Smits also hosted the retrospective that aired near the end of the show’s successful twelve-year run.
Smits did not win an Emmy Award for his work on NYPD Blue, though he received five nominations.
In the 2000’s, Smits appeared on The West Wing as Matthew Santos, a three-term congressman from Texas and former Mayor of Houston who wants to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman convinces Santos that he has a legitimate shot at the presidency. Initially an also-ran candidate, Santos slowly gains recognition during the primaries. The Democratic National Convention occurs with the delegates still unsure of a nominee. Santos gives an inspiring speech concerning the voters’ freedom to choose a nominee without the pressure of power brokers making the decision for them.
The speech inspires many delegates to vote for Santos. He also gets a little help from President Bartlet who convinces an influential New York delegate to cast the Empire State’s delegate votes for Santos.
Santos’ choice for the VP nominee slot -- Leo McGarry, President Bartlet’s Chief of Staff.
In a narrow election, Santos beats a veteran politician, Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California.
Jimmy Smits’ contributions to television have been significant, enjoyable, and challenging. Making a name for himself while part of an ensemble on L.A. Law. Taking over a lead position on a hit show from an actor who made a notorious exit from success on NYPD Blue. Joining a team that’s played together for several years while adding to the chemistry of the cast on The West Wing.
Bringing interest, enthusiasm, and novelty is a difficult challenge for any actor. Smits met the challenge directly.
By the way, Jimmy Smits also deserves a place in television trivia history. Smits plays Eddie Rivera, the partner of Detective Sonny Crockett in the pilot of Miami Vice. Rivera died in a car bomb explosion triggered by Crockett’s nemesis.
david@davidkrell.com
Prime time soap operas dominated the 1980’s. In the 2000’s, not so much, except for the teenage version of the genre on the CW television network.
Jimmy Smits was part of an effort to reignite the genre with Cane, a short-lived offering on CBS in 2007. Cane revolved around a Cuban-American family and its power, wealth, and dynasty stemming from its rum and sugar business interests.
This is the third consecutive decade where Jimmy Smits has been a focal point of a prime time television series.
In the 1980’s, he played Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law. Sifuentes worked in the Public Defender’s office before Michael Kuzak recruited him to the private law firm sector.
While Victor began as the ‘cleanup’ attorney for McKenzie Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak, handling the firm’s pro bono cases and other matters that burdened the firm’s workload, he ventured into other legal territories.
In the episode Victor Sifuentes confronted legendary attorney August Redding, played by legendary actor Ralph Bellamy. Victor’s client sues Redding for legal malpractice. In the episode’s climactic scene, Victor puts Redding on the witness stand. He reveals Redding’s deep loss of memory when the aging lawyer cannot remember Victor’s name.
Victor confronted another legendary attorney in Hamilton Schuyler, a dwarf attorney who specializes in products liability cases.
Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor six times during his L.A. Law tenure, Smits won once.
In the 1990’s, Smits took over the lead position in NYPD Blue after the sudden departure of David Caruso. Smits’ Bobby Simone character is suave, sophisticated, and strong. With quiet confidence, he gains the respect of his partner, Andy Sipowicz. He also wins the love of fellow detective Diane Russell.
NYPD Blue eased out Bobby Simone in a story arc centering on a terrific heart problem. In the episode where Bobby dies, the last scene shows him flatlining and then we see the Executive Producer credits in black against a white background. It’s a direct contrast to the usual format -- white lettering against a black background.
Smits returns as Bobby Simone in an episode near the show’s end. Andy has a waking dream where he talks to Bobby.
Smits also hosted the retrospective that aired near the end of the show’s successful twelve-year run.
Smits did not win an Emmy Award for his work on NYPD Blue, though he received five nominations.
In the 2000’s, Smits appeared on The West Wing as Matthew Santos, a three-term congressman from Texas and former Mayor of Houston who wants to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman convinces Santos that he has a legitimate shot at the presidency. Initially an also-ran candidate, Santos slowly gains recognition during the primaries. The Democratic National Convention occurs with the delegates still unsure of a nominee. Santos gives an inspiring speech concerning the voters’ freedom to choose a nominee without the pressure of power brokers making the decision for them.
The speech inspires many delegates to vote for Santos. He also gets a little help from President Bartlet who convinces an influential New York delegate to cast the Empire State’s delegate votes for Santos.
Santos’ choice for the VP nominee slot -- Leo McGarry, President Bartlet’s Chief of Staff.
In a narrow election, Santos beats a veteran politician, Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California.
Jimmy Smits’ contributions to television have been significant, enjoyable, and challenging. Making a name for himself while part of an ensemble on L.A. Law. Taking over a lead position on a hit show from an actor who made a notorious exit from success on NYPD Blue. Joining a team that’s played together for several years while adding to the chemistry of the cast on The West Wing.
Bringing interest, enthusiasm, and novelty is a difficult challenge for any actor. Smits met the challenge directly.
By the way, Jimmy Smits also deserves a place in television trivia history. Smits plays Eddie Rivera, the partner of Detective Sonny Crockett in the pilot of Miami Vice. Rivera died in a car bomb explosion triggered by Crockett’s nemesis.
Hill Street Blues
November 20, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
To kick off its third season in 1982, Hill Street Blues used a story that could make a combat veteran cry.
The episode Trial By Fury featured the Hill Street precinct investigating the rape and assault of a nun that results in her death.
The episode still holds up today, nearly thirty years after its initial broadcast.
The story line is shocking, revolting, and riveting.
In its first two seasons, Hill Street Blues proved it was not just another cop show.
Car chases featured standard, boring cop cars instead of souped up roadsters.
Story lines overlapped and continued beyond a single episode.
Characters had depth, pain, and curiosity.
Meanwhile, urban blight, gang warfare, and office politics contributed to the chaos on the Hill. Like the USS Enterprise, Hill Street Blues went where no one had gone before. Trial By Fury cements the evidence.
When Officers Bobby Hill and Andy Renko catch the two suspects -- Celestine Gray and Gerald Chapman -- the case seems like a lock. But Captain Frank Furillo soon realizes that the case will not be successful because of a lack of hard evidence.
With a city calling for swift retribution, a virtual lynch mob threatening violence, and organized crime holding killing contracts on the suspects, Captain Furillo has a snowball of a problem that can easily become an avalanche of bloodshed.
Enter Lieutenant Howard Hunter -- Hill Street Station’s resident military historian, strategist, and tactician. As head of the Emergency Action Team (EAT), Lieutenant Hunter’s responsibilities include overseeing tactical operations in hostage negotiation and gang violence countermeasures.
What better place to share his view of the situation than the Hill Street Station’s Men’s Room?
Lieutenant Hunter says that he would just as soon let the outraged public decide the fate of Gray and Chapman. Hunter’s offhand comment inspires Furillo.
Furillo wants to turn the liability of a lack of hard evidence into an asset. He believes that he can use the lynch mob as leverage. He wants Assistant District Attorney Irwin Bernstein to drop the charges against Gray and Chapman because he gambles that the suspects would rather face the justice system than mob justice.
Better to be tried by twelve jurors than carried by six pallbearers.
Enter Joyce Davenport -- Public Defender, Furillo’s girlfriend, and attorney for one of the suspects.
After a verbal outburst targeting the judge in the courtroom and a consequent, quick, and severe admonishment, Davenport confronts Furillo and his manipulation of the system to get what he wants -- a confession.
She argues that the confessions were coerced -- dropping the charges without putting forth a legitimate attempt at prosecution is tantamount to beating a confession out of a suspect with a lynch mob ready, willing, and able to dispense its own form of justice in addition to the looming threat of organized crime contracts.
Furillo justifies his actions, or lack thereof, by pointing out that Gray and Chapman committed the crimes even though the evidence cannot prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A confession by one of the suspects is proof enough.
The ends justify the means.
Furillo confidently furthers his argument by saying that he did nothing different than what he’s seen Davenport do for her clients. He used the system.
When Davenport says that she can’t be with Furillo tonight, the police captain’s respect for the tenacious lady lawyer shows clearly when he responds that he understands.
In a twist ending, we see Furillo drive to a church and enter the confessional.
The episode ends with Captain Furillo saying, Bless me Father, for I have sinned.
Somewhere, O. Henry is smiling.
david@davidkrell.com
To kick off its third season in 1982, Hill Street Blues used a story that could make a combat veteran cry.
The episode Trial By Fury featured the Hill Street precinct investigating the rape and assault of a nun that results in her death.
The episode still holds up today, nearly thirty years after its initial broadcast.
The story line is shocking, revolting, and riveting.
In its first two seasons, Hill Street Blues proved it was not just another cop show.
Car chases featured standard, boring cop cars instead of souped up roadsters.
Story lines overlapped and continued beyond a single episode.
Characters had depth, pain, and curiosity.
Meanwhile, urban blight, gang warfare, and office politics contributed to the chaos on the Hill. Like the USS Enterprise, Hill Street Blues went where no one had gone before. Trial By Fury cements the evidence.
When Officers Bobby Hill and Andy Renko catch the two suspects -- Celestine Gray and Gerald Chapman -- the case seems like a lock. But Captain Frank Furillo soon realizes that the case will not be successful because of a lack of hard evidence.
With a city calling for swift retribution, a virtual lynch mob threatening violence, and organized crime holding killing contracts on the suspects, Captain Furillo has a snowball of a problem that can easily become an avalanche of bloodshed.
Enter Lieutenant Howard Hunter -- Hill Street Station’s resident military historian, strategist, and tactician. As head of the Emergency Action Team (EAT), Lieutenant Hunter’s responsibilities include overseeing tactical operations in hostage negotiation and gang violence countermeasures.
What better place to share his view of the situation than the Hill Street Station’s Men’s Room?
Lieutenant Hunter says that he would just as soon let the outraged public decide the fate of Gray and Chapman. Hunter’s offhand comment inspires Furillo.
Furillo wants to turn the liability of a lack of hard evidence into an asset. He believes that he can use the lynch mob as leverage. He wants Assistant District Attorney Irwin Bernstein to drop the charges against Gray and Chapman because he gambles that the suspects would rather face the justice system than mob justice.
Better to be tried by twelve jurors than carried by six pallbearers.
Enter Joyce Davenport -- Public Defender, Furillo’s girlfriend, and attorney for one of the suspects.
After a verbal outburst targeting the judge in the courtroom and a consequent, quick, and severe admonishment, Davenport confronts Furillo and his manipulation of the system to get what he wants -- a confession.
She argues that the confessions were coerced -- dropping the charges without putting forth a legitimate attempt at prosecution is tantamount to beating a confession out of a suspect with a lynch mob ready, willing, and able to dispense its own form of justice in addition to the looming threat of organized crime contracts.
Furillo justifies his actions, or lack thereof, by pointing out that Gray and Chapman committed the crimes even though the evidence cannot prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A confession by one of the suspects is proof enough.
The ends justify the means.
Furillo confidently furthers his argument by saying that he did nothing different than what he’s seen Davenport do for her clients. He used the system.
When Davenport says that she can’t be with Furillo tonight, the police captain’s respect for the tenacious lady lawyer shows clearly when he responds that he understands.
In a twist ending, we see Furillo drive to a church and enter the confessional.
The episode ends with Captain Furillo saying, Bless me Father, for I have sinned.
Somewhere, O. Henry is smiling.