Outlaw (TV series)
{{Short description|American legal drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Outlaw 2010 Intertitle.png
| caption =
| genre = Legal drama
| creator = John Eisendrath
| developer =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = James S. Levine
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 8
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Conan O'Brien
- Jimmy Smits
- John Eisendrath
- Richard Schwartz
- David Kissinger
- Marcos Siega
- Amanda Green
- Lukas Reiter
- Peter Elkoff
}}
| producer =
| editor = Lauren A. Schaffer
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera =
| runtime = 43 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Thanksgiving Day Productions
- Conaco Productions
- Universal Media Studios
}}
| network = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2010|9|15}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2010|11|13}}
| related =
}}
Outlaw is an American legal drama television series created by John Eisendrath that aired on NBC. The one-hour courtroom drama stars Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court Justice, Cyrus Garza, who resigns from the bench and returns to private practice in an elite law firm where Claire Sax, love interest to Garza, is a powerful senior partner. As part of the deal, the firm has an ex–Supreme Court Justice on their staff of lawyers and Garza is allowed to pick his team and the cases he works.
The series premiered on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 (a day earlier in Canada), and began airing on Fridays beginning September 24.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/30/nbc-announces-updated-fall-schedule-premieres/20100730nbc02/|title=NBC Announces Updated Fall Schedule Premieres|date=July 30, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=July 31, 2010}} On October 11, 2010, NBC canceled the series after only four episodes had aired, due to low ratings. The series finale later aired on November 13, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/nbc-pulls-%E2%80%98outlaw%E2%80%99-fridays-2929 |title=NBC pulls 'Outlaw' from Fridays |last=Hibbard |first=James |work=The Hollywood Reporter |agency=The Live Feed (blog) |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=November 13, 2010}}
Development and production
The series was originally titled Rough Justice,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/01/26/development-update-tuesday-january-26/8496/|title=Development Update: Tuesday, January 26|date=January 26, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 28, 2010}} and then briefly Garza.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/05/nbc-picks-up-comedy-friends-with-benefits-41019/|title=PRIMETIME PILOT PANIC: UPDATE - NBC Picks Up 'The Cape' & 'Garza' & 'Friends With Benefits'; Passes On 'Piggy'|date=May 14, 2010|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=May 28, 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/nbc-picks-friends-benefits-cape-53633|title=NBC picks up 'Friends With Benefits,' 'The Cape'|date=May 14, 2010|last=Hibberd|first=James|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 4, 2010}} NBC green-lit the pilot, which was written by John Eisendrath, in late January 2010. In mid February, Terry George signed on to direct the pilot.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/02/19/development-update-friday-february-19/8534/|title=Development Update: Friday, February 19|date=February 19, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 28, 2010}}
Jesse Bradford was the first actor cast in early March.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/03/03/development-update-wednesday-march-3/8552/|title=Development Update: Wednesday, March 3|date=March 3, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 28, 2010}} Jimmy Smits was cast next to headline the drama.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jimmy-smits-headline-legal-drama-21473|title=Jimmy Smits to headline legal drama pilot|date=March 9, 2010|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 4, 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/jimmy-smits-signs-1016071.aspx|title=Jimmy Smits Signs on to NBC Legal Drama|date=March 10, 2010|last=DiNunno|first=Gina|work=TV Guide|access-date=May 28, 2010}} Carly Pope and David Ramsey came on board a few days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/03/15/development-update-monday-march-15/8573/|title=Development Update: Monday, March 15|date=March 15, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 28, 2010}} Filming for the pilot took place in late March and April, with some exterior shots done in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around-town/events/Smits-Films-TV-Pilot-in-Center-City-89742137.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918165023/http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around-town/events/Smits-Films-TV-Pilot-in-Center-City-89742137.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|title=Smits Films TV Pilot in Center City|last=Stamm|first=Dan|date=April 1, 2010|publisher=NBC 10 Philadelphia|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2010/05/19/hughe-dillon-philly-filmed-tv-pilot-with-jimmy-smits-picked-up/|title=Hughe Dillon: Philly-filmed TV pilot with Jimmy Smits picked up|date=May 19, 2010|last=Dillon|first=Hughe|work=Philadelphia Magazine|publisher=Metrocorp|access-date=May 30, 2010}} and neighboring Bensalem,{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20100330_Another_day_on_the_set_for_film-industry_locals.html#axzz0pHzUbMkq |title=Another day on the set for film-industry locals |last=Klein |first=Michael |date=March 30, 2010 |work=Philly.com |access-date=May 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405024949/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20100330_Another_day_on_the_set_for_film-industry_locals.html |archive-date=April 5, 2010 }} Atlantic City, New Jersey,{{cite press release|url=http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/mediaonline/news_releases_detail.aspx?NewsID=325|title=Jimmy Smits Films at Resorts Casino Hotel-Atlantic City|date=April 6, 2010|publisher=Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority|access-date=May 29, 2010}} and in the Arlington, Virginia area.{{cite web|url=http://www.arlnow.com/2010/04/02/jimmy-smits-nbc-pilot-filming-in-arlington/|title=Jimmy Smits NBC Pilot Filming in Arlington|date=April 2, 2010|work=ARLnow.com|access-date=May 28, 2010}}
NBC announced in mid-May 2010 that the network had picked up the pilot for the 2010–11 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/14/nbc-adds-to-new-scripted-lineup-with-four-new-series-the-cape-outlaw-harrys-law-and-friends-with-benefits-and-renews-chuck-for-fourth-season-in-2010-11/20100514nbc02/|title=NBC Adds To New Scripted Lineup With Four New Series -- 'The Cape,' 'Outlaw,' 'Harry's Law' And 'Friends With Benefits' - And Renews 'Chuck' For Fourth Season In 2010-11|date=May 14, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 28, 2010}} The series was expected to be produced in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20100520_Inqlings___Outlaw___film_work_flee_Philly.html|title=Inqlings: 'Outlaw,' film work flee Philly|date=May 20, 2010|last=Klein|first=Michael|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-insider/Philly_wont_get_that_Jimmy_Smits_drama.html|title=Philly won't get that Jimmy Smits drama|date=May 19, 2010|last=Klein|first=Michael|work=Philly.com|access-date=May 30, 2010}}
On October 6, NBC announced it had placed production of the series on hiatus due to low ratings for the first three episodes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/nbc-putting-outlaw-production-hiatus-54641|title=NBC putting 'Outlaw' on production hiatus|date=October 6, 2010|last=Hibberd|first=James|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 4, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/tag/outlaw-production-stopped/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011121319/http://www.deadline.com/tag/outlaw-production-stopped/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2010|title=NBC's 'Outlaw' Goes On Production Hiatus|date=October 6, 2010|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 7, 2010}} The hiatus became permanent after ratings failed to improve for the October 8 broadcast. Eight of the planned thirteen episodes have been produced.
Four episodes had aired when NBC announced Outlaw{{'s}} cancellation. The remaining four were burned off on Saturdays through November 13.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2010/voices/opinion/nbc-renders-verdict-on-outlaw-1118025554/ |title=NBC renders verdict on 'Outlaw' |last=Schneider |first=Michael |work=Variety |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=February 9, 2021}}
Cast and characters
- Jimmy Smits as Cyrus Garza
- David Ramsey as Al Druzinsky
- Ellen Woglom as Mereta Stockman
- Carly Pope as Lucinda Pearl
- Jesse Bradford as Eddie Franks
- Melora Hardin as Claire Sax (recurring){{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/melora-hardin-joins-new-nbc-drama-outlaw-returns-to-the-office-for-a-story-arc-56173/|title=Melora Hardin Joins NBC's New 'Outlaw'|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|date=23 July 2010}}
Reception
As of September 15, 2010, Outlaw has an average score of 36/100 on Metacritic based on 23 reviews from television critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/outlaw/season-1/critic-reviews |title=Outlaw |publisher=Metacritic, a CBS Interactive company |access-date=September 15, 2010}} Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter appreciated the potential of Outlaw though he called the premise preposterous and likened it to a fairy tale.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/outlaw-tv-review-30014 |title=Outlaw -- TV Review|last=Garon |first=Barry |date=September 14, 2010 |access-date=December 4, 2010}} John Doyle of The Globe and Mail said that Outlaw is "not the best advertisement for quality TV drama." Doyle concluded by saying the show is "for fans of melodramatic legal shows only."{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/tiff-or-tv-whos-the-champ/article1707481/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918041649/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/tiff-or-tv-whos-the-champ/article1707481/ |title=TIFF or TV? Who's the champ? |author=Doyle, John |author-link=John Doyle (critic) |date=September 15, 2010 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |location=Toronto |work=The Globe and Mail |url-status=dead }}
In its first airing against CBS's new drama Blue Bloods, on September 24, 2010, Outlaw was watched by roughly 4.893 million viewers, while Blue Bloods was watched by 13.013 million.
Episodes
The series premiered September 14, 2010 on Global in Canada{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/From+outcast+Outlaw/3505557/story.html |title=From outcast to Outlaw |last=Strachan |first=Alex |work=canada.com |date=September 10, 2010 |access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915043942/http://www.canada.com/From+outcast+Outlaw/3505557/story.html|archive-date=15 September 2010}} and debuted in the U.S. on NBC on September 15, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/30/nbc-announces-updated-fall-schedule-premieres/20100730nbc02/|title=NBC Announces Updated Fall Schedule Premieres|date=July 30, 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic |access-date=September 7, 2010}} Though NBC moved Outlaw to Saturdays when they canceled the show Global continued to broadcast the remaining episodes on Fridays.
All episodes of this show (apart from "Pilot") start with the phrase "In Re:".
{{Episode table |background=#FFB871 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Pilot
|DirectedBy = Terry George
|WrittenBy = John Eisendrath
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|9|14}} (Global)
{{Start date|2010|9|15}} (NBC)
|ShortSummary = When presented with a being the deciding vote in a death penalty case Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Garza reflects on things his late father had said and his own conflicted life. After deciding in favor of a new trial Justice Garza announces his resignation from the Supreme Court and becomes the defense attorney for the convicted cop killer whom he had just granted a new trial. Garza's team have some uncertainties about the transition from the Supreme Court to private practice and the addition of a private investigator to the team. When Lucinda mentions the distinct lack of evidence in the case they begin to look into why there is so little evidence and find what they need to save a man's life.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = In Re: Officer Daniel Hale
|DirectedBy = Timothy Busfield
|WrittenBy = Lukas Reiter
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|9|24}}
|ShortSummary = An immigration stop that ends with a police shooting an American citizen leads Garza and the team to Arizona. However, the client Garza takes on is a shock to the entire team. While Eddie agrees the team should take the controversial case, Al doubts his decision to join Garza in the first place. On a personal front, Mereta finds an ally in Lucinda, who encourages her to make a move on Garza.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = In Re: Jessica Davis
|DirectedBy = Peter O'Fallon
|WrittenBy = Stephanie Sengupta
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|10|1}}
|ShortSummary = Garza and the team find themselves trapped in a difficult situation after an infant dies from exposure in a hot car, and the mother shows no emotion. Taking the case under the Equal Protection Clause, Garza needs Mereta and Al to help prove her innocence. Eddie and Lucinda have trials of their own covering one of Al's former clients.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = In Re: Curtis Farwell
|DirectedBy = Marcos Siega
|WrittenBy = John Eisendrath
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|10|8}}
|ShortSummary = Garza and his team go head to head against a car manufacturer to prove that the company is knowingly putting lives at risk by not recalling cars with a dangerous flaw. This case hits a personal note with the former justice who was involved in a car accident of his own.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = In Re: Tracy Vidalin
|DirectedBy = Liz Friedlander
|WrittenBy = Jorge Zamacona
|Viewers = 3.4{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2010/10/19/nbc-primetime-results-for-the-week-of-oct-11-17-416512/20101019nbc04/ |title=NBC Primetime Results for the Week of Oct. 11-17 |publisher=NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|10|15}} (Global)
{{Start date|2010|10|16}} (NBC)
|ShortSummary = When a confession is entered as proof that the girlfriend of a police killer is guilty of the murder, Garza and Al must find out if a Miranda Rights violation occurred. The violation would disregard the confession and protect the girl's right to remain silent. Further complicating the incident is the fact that this defendant is the daughter of Cyrus' nemesis Senator Sidney Vidalin. Eddie and Mereta follow their own investigation when they dig into Lucinda's past and discover something shocking.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = In Re: Tyler Banks
|DirectedBy = Steve Shill
|WrittenBy = Michael Reisz
|Viewers = 3.2{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2010/10/26/nbc-ranks-number-2-in-adults-18-49-for-the-primetime-week-of-oct-18-24-223011/20101026nbc02/ |title=NBC Ranks #2 in Adults 18-49 for the Primetime Week of Oct. 18-24 |publisher=NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=October 26, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2010}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|10|22}} (Global)
{{Start date|2010|10|23}} (NBC){{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20101019nbc01/ |title=OUTLAW (PROGRAM CHANGE) (UPDATED) |publisher= NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2010}}
|ShortSummary = Garza fights to save the life of a foster kid, who needs a liver transplant but—as is the case all over the country—has been dumped off the transplant list just because he is in care.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = In Re: Kelvin Jones
|RTitle =
|DirectedBy = Tim Hunter
|WrittenBy = Lukas Reiter, John Eisendrath,
Adam Armus, & Kay Foster
|Viewers =3.5{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2010/11/09/nbc-primetime-results-for-the-week-of-nov-1-7-421212/20101109nbc02/ |title=NBC Primetime Results for the Week of Nov. 1-7 |publisher=NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=November 9, 2010 |access-date=November 13, 2010}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|11|05}} (Global){{cite web|url=http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/outlaw-in-re-kelvin-jones/EP012791680006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701141150/http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/outlaw-in-re-kelvin-jones/EP012791680006 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |title=TVGuide.ca - TV Listings Outlaw: In Re: Kelvin Jones |publisher=Zap2it |work=TVGuide.ca |access-date=October 23, 2010}}
{{Start date|2010|11|6}} (NBC){{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20101019nbc11/ |title=OUTLAW (UPDATED) |publisher=NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2010}}
|ShortSummary = Kelvin Jones, an ambitious student who started many programs to improve his school and was wanting to go to Duke University, is killed in a gang shooting in the courtyard of the Cyrus Garza School in Hastings, Alabama. After visiting the school and seeing the systemic neglect Garza files a lawsuit against the school and the school district for the wrongful death of Kelvin Jones. When the wrongful death suit fails Garza amends the filing to a class action suit against the entire county "for the willful and deliberate segregation of the public schools in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment". Lucinda becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the man who had been stalking her, trying to get her to tell him where his daughter is.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = In Re: Tony Mejia
|RTitle = {{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20101022nbc16/ |title=OUTLAW |publisher=NBC via TheFutonCritic.com |date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2010}}
|DirectedBy = Marcos Siega
|WrittenBy = Peter Elkoff
|OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2010|11|12}} (Global){{cite web|url=http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/outlaw-in-re-tony-mejia/EP012791680008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708062614/http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/outlaw-in-re-tony-mejia/EP012791680008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=TVGuide.ca - TV Listings Outlaw: In Re: Tony Mejia |publisher=Zap2it |work=TVGuide.ca |access-date=November 6, 2010}}
{{Start date|2010|11|13}} (NBC)
|ShortSummary = The White House asks Garza to go to Mexico to extradite the brutal murderer of a California school teacher. With the victim's father present in court, the killer is sentenced by a Mexican court to 25 years in their prison. Later, the father finds the murderer in a bar and, in a fit of rage, grabs a police officer's gun and kills him, then flees back to Los Angeles. To avoid a diplomatic crisis, Garza must now return the father to Mexico to stand trial for murder.
|LineColor = FFB871
}}
}}
International broadcasts
- {{AUS}}: Will begin airing after November 28, 2010 on Seven Network at 9:30 p.m., and it has been confirmed the entire season will air during the summer non-ratings period.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/11/seven-summer-schedule.html |title=Seven: Summer schedule |publisher=Knox, David |work=www.tvtonight.com.au |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=November 12, 2010}}
Home releases
On January 24, 2011, in conjunction with Amazon.com's manufactured-on-demand (MOD) program, a DVD of all eight episodes of the series was released. The cover art consists of the promotional poster, with a Universal logo and border around it.{{cite web |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Outlaw-The-Complete-Series/14962 |title=Outlaw DVD news: Announcement for Outlaw - the Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com |access-date=2011-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131163901/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Outlaw-The-Complete-Series/14962 |archive-date=2011-01-31 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.nbc.com/outlaw/}}
- {{IMDb title|1592226|Outlaw}}
Category:2010s American drama television series
Category:2010 American television series debuts
Category:2010 American television series endings
Category:2010s American legal television series
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series by Conaco
Category:Television series by Universal Television
Category:Television series created by John Eisendrath