TV Guide Dec 20-26, 1997
Best Canceled Show: "Murder One"
"They fixed it, they really did.  Anthony LaPaglia replaced Daniel Benzali, and shorter stories included an office romance between LaPaglia and costar Mary McCormack.  The series even won an Emmy for Pruitt Taylor Vince's portrayal of a serial killer.  Ratings still tanked, and ABC's constant juggling of the time period added to its woes.  The canceled series did, however, have some impact.  After requesting copies of Murder One scripts that dealt with a similar case, a New York attorney got his client acquitted of a double murder.  That's powerful TV."

Jimmy and Justine
"Murder One" finale testifies to its worth!  By Rick Kushman (Published May 23, 1997)  We're back on the record in the case of The People vs. "Murder One."  The aforementioned "Murder One," hereafter referred to as "Murder One," has committed nothing other than exceptional television, and it's The People themselves who are guilty of neglect.  Furthermore, it is our contention that the real crime . . . Yes, your honor. Sorry. No more lawyer talk. Got it.  OK, then, here's the plain truth: ABC's superb "Murder One" has been one of the best shows on TV for two years -- when it has been on. The final case has been woven together as a six hour miniseries starting Sunday. Then it will probably be gone for good.  It would be a crime to miss it.

The good news is that the three-parter requires no prior knowledge -- so if you've never seen this show, it won't matter -- and it is the best miniseries of the year, period. The story is serious and whimsical, the acting is magnetic, the writing is clever, and in the end, it adds up to a satisfying, disturbing, terrific TV movie.  "Murder One" has always been high quality and at times sensational TV, but for most of its sporadic -- and anonymous -- life, it faced a serious scheduling problem.  In the first season, "Murder One" went head to head with a little show called "ER."   This year, it got a new time slot -- opposite "Seinfeld."

"Governor's  Murder"
But ABC and "Murder One" producer Steven Bocho also misjudged America's appetite for courtroom dramas. It seems that (how can I put this delicately?) we are sick of lawyers.  That's what makes the new miniseries so good. It doesn't feel like a legal drama. In fact, except for an exceptionally sharp stretch on the second night, the courtroom battles are short and very human.  The plot rockets along with twist after twist. Plus, the lawyers are charismatic, watch able people, but we're never sure whom we're rooting for.  Star defense lawyer James Wyler (Anthony LaPaglia) is smart, charming and, maybe, ethically fluid. His firm is made up of likable but ambitious people. And they're defending a serial killer. Except nothing is completely what it seems.
 

SERIAL KILLER OF 17 EX-CONVICTS PLUNGES FIRM OF WYLER & ASSOCIATES DEEP INTO CONTROVERSY, IN A SIX HOUR TELECAST OF "MURDER ONE"  The ABC Miniseries Presentation Airs May 25, 26 and 29, 1997.  Controversy rages in and outside the firm when Wyler & Associates defend a serial killer, who flaunts his responsibility for the cold-blooded murders of 17 ex-convicts, on "Murder One," a riveting six hour mini-series to be telecast SUNDAY, MAY 25, MONDAY, MAY 26 and THURSDAY, MAY 29 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET, all three nights), on the ABC Television Network.

Fulfilling a promise to an ailing colleague, brash defense attorney James Wyler (Anthony LaPaglia) reluctantly agrees to represent the man touted by the press as the "Street Sweeper." Clifford Banks (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is an otherwise unremarkable man who possesses a remarkable ability to justify his systematic execution of violent criminals. Both hailed and reviled as a virtual poster boy for vigilante justice, the incarcerated Banks causes major complications for his crack defense team as he revels in the media frenzy surrounding his case.

The defendant (Pruitt Taylor Vince) has been dubbed "The Street Sweeper" for killing 17 ex-convicts he decided were let off easy and threatened society, and he's at times empathetic, literate and moral.  "The legal definition of insanity is the inability to tell right from wrong," he says at one point.  That would make the entire legal system insane."  Part of the brilliance of this "Murder One" is the way it treats the legal system's "insanity" as it lays out difficult moral dilemmas. Wyler must balance his obligation to his client against his obligation to society. Ultimately, the right people do the right thing. Sort of.  There's also a nice light touch that was missing in earlier episodes, most notably as Wyler and company negotiate movie rights to the killer's story and deal with a parade of Hollywood weasels.  Right here, a cynic might say those weasels were the ones who killed this series with bad scheduling, inconsistent airing and minimal support.  But instead, let's just say "Murder One" shows that some people in Hollywood can also be guilty of doing great work, and The People will enjoy themselves if they watch.

The Office Romance 
"Murder One" stars Anthony LaPaglia as James Wyler, Mary McCormack as Justine Appleton, Michael Hayden as Chris Docknovich, J.C. MacKenzie as Arnold Spivak, DB Woodside as Aaron Mosely, Clayton Rohner as Vince Biggio, Barbara Bosson as Miriam Grasso and Jack Kehler as Frank Szymanski.

"Murder One" was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee and Channing Gibson. Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee and Michael Fresco are executive producers and Joe Ann Fogle is co-executive producer for the series, which is produced by Steven Bochco Productions.

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