A Risky Bet in a Glitzy Era
When L.A. Law premiered in September 1986, it was far from a guaranteed hit. Its creator, Steven Bochco, was a television visionary, but he was also coming off being fired from his previous prestige drama, Hill Street Blues. He teamed up with Terry Louise
Fisher, a former deputy district attorney who had also co-created Cagney & Lacey, to build a new kind of legal show. Unlike the case-of-the-week procedurals that dominated television, their concept was a chaotic, ensemble-driven story set in a high-powered Los Angeles firm. It would juggle multiple storylines, blend dark humor with serious social drama, and present its lawyers as flawed, ambitious, and deeply human. In an era of straightforward heroes, it was a complex and morally ambiguous formula that network executives—and even some of the actors—weren't sure audiences would embrace.
The Casting Alchemy That No One Saw Coming
The show’s magic rested on its sprawling ensemble cast, a mix of little-known actors and rising stars who brought the fictional firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak to life. Harry Hamlin played the principled Michael Kuzak, Susan Dey was the ambitious prosecutor Grace Van Owen, and a charismatic Jimmy Smits became a breakout star as Victor Sifuentes. Perhaps most iconic was Corbin Bernsen's Arnie Becker, the slick, Armani-clad divorce attorney whose unapologetic greed and womanizing became a running gag and a defining feature of 80s excess. The chemistry wasn't just on-screen. The cast developed a powerful sense of unity, with actress Jill Eikenberry recalling how they insisted on being present for each other's scenes, even when off-camera, to maintain the feeling of a true ensemble. This collaborative spirit grounded the show, making the high-stakes legal battles and soapy romances feel surprisingly real.
Ripped from the Headlines, Styled for Primetime
What made L.A. Law revolutionary was its willingness to tackle the most divisive issues of its time. The series dove headfirst into storylines about the AIDS crisis, capital punishment, abortion, racism, and LGBTQ+ rights—topics rarely seen in primetime entertainment. These weighty subjects were mixed with off-the-wall humor and shocking plot twists that kept viewers hooked. Who could forget the ruthless Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) meeting her demise by falling down an empty elevator shaft, a moment that became one of the most talked-about scenes in television history? The show’s blend of serious social commentary with glossy, high-stakes drama created a new kind of television: the dramedy. It proved that audiences were ready for stories that were as intellectually stimulating as they were entertaining.
The 'L.A. Law' Effect
The show's impact was immediate and immense. It wasn't just a critical darling; it was a cultural phenomenon. Law school applications reportedly surged as a generation of young people were inspired by the sharp, passionate attorneys on their screens. The series influenced everything from fashion—hello, power suits—to the way real lawyers presented themselves in court. It became a ratings powerhouse for NBC, anchoring its legendary "Must See TV" Thursday night lineup for years. In a 2020 virtual reunion, the cast reflected on the show's reach, with Blair Underwood sharing a story about a letter from a prison inmate who felt seen by an episode, proving the show's themes resonated far beyond the glitz of its L.A. setting. For eight seasons, L.A. Law didn't just reflect the culture; it actively shaped it.
