As many who follow my blog and twitter stream know, I have a small non-speaking, but visible role in the 1st episode of the new ABC series, “The Deep End”. It airs January 21, 2010. The Deep End revolves around the lives of 4 fictional lawyers working for a fictional prestigious Los Angeles law firm.( I feel compelled to keep stressing the word “fictional” so as not to confuse naive young Big-Law lawyers on who their “real” competition is in the “real” world).
I was on-set for two 10 hour days to film a 30 second scene in an elevator. Frankly, the process gave me an entirely new context and respect for the incredibly long hours on the part of both actors and crew that go into the making of a television series. Everyone from producer Gary A. Brown, to the production crew, to stars Billy Zane, Matt Long and Nicole Ari-Parker were incredibly nice and respectful to myself and the other come and goer extras(at least within my zone of perception).
Being an attorney, and in tune with other attorneys in the social media universe, I have heard much criticism from the legal profession that The Deep End is out of whack with the realities of practicing law and misrepresents the life of the hard working, mega- billing, young Big-Law associates. I am not here to dispute that. It may be. I really don’t care. (Young attorneys must not have affairs, stab each other in the back or get laid with co-workers in real-life Big-Law)-yea right..
I never heard anyone on set claim that they were making a reality show. It is meant to entertain. Either you are or you are not. When I watch the premier episode, the 1st thing I will worry about is whether I look bald and fat in front of millions of people. The next thing will be whether the show is entertaining enough to watch Episode 2.
I suspect that ABC is going for a broader audience than pissed off Big-Law lawyers who feel that the their sense of morality, integrity and work ethic along with the legal profession as a whole are being irreparably maligned by this clearly socially significant piece of entertainment television that has the capacity to change how we view the legal profession moving into the new decade.
Are any of my fellow barristers really losing sleep over this supposedly horrendous portrayal of unethical Mack-Daddy associates and horny law partners? (there may be some worried that their wives will lose sleep over it)
Apparently the down economy for Big-Law attorneys has the young “legal-fete” outraged that ABC would have the audacity to portray things so “LA-Kissy Porsche” as the type of antics going on at this firm. If you doubt that, behold the following real-life twitter exchange I had with an young attorney would could not believe I would associate myself with such an out -of-whack portrayal of Big-Law firm life.
Me: Excited to interview Gary Brown, the producer of The new ABC series “The Deep End, look for it on my site next week..(he was gracious enough agree to be interviewed for this site)
Outraged Young Lawyer: Why!?!
Me: Why What?
Outraged Young Lawyer: “giving that show the time of day? I know that you’re not directly promoting it, but you’re giving it attention…
Me: “Who are you, my mother? Don’t Watch…”
Outraged Young Lawyer: many of us new graduates feel that these type of shows portray an unrealistic view of the legal profession. Esp. In this market.
Me: “Its no wonder lawyers are out of work if they are stupid enough to equate a television series with real life practice”
Me: “any attorney who uses The Deep End as a yardstick for the practice of law had no business being a lawyer”
Outraged Young Lawyer: “look, there’s no need to play internet tuff guy. I’m just some random dude on the internet that responded to your post. That’s all.”(I can get that way)
Me:” some advice-worry about getting real clients talking to real lawyers instead is stressing over fake ones in a television series”
Outraged Young Lawyer : “don’t worry about me. I will be okay. I’m just speaking out for those losing their jobs left and right. It’s frustrating”
Me: “worrying about a television series wont pay their rent either-just ridiculous..”
Moral Of Story: Regardless of whether you are entertained with the premise of the show; if you are a real attorney and anything Outraged Young Attorney said made sense, you may have gone off “The Deep End”.(except the part about me being an internet-bully. That is true)
Enjoy the show or don’t enjoy the show. Just don’t tweet me that I look fat and bald. If you do, I may go off The Deep End…
