Although it's good to see Bebe Neuwirth back on TV, I'm sorry it's in such a lackluster series. The original L&O is fun to watch because of the neatness of the concept: half cop/half DA and sometimes, like in real life, the good guys lose one. The new Trial By Jury seems needlessly diffused, if not confused, by the drifting cast of DA's, cops, criminals, investigators and defense attorneys. Too many cooks in the kitchen, in other words. But the biggest fault is this:however badly the DA handles the case--and she's been pretty inept in the first 3 shows, in the last ten minutes with a surprise witness, plot twist, writerly incompetence, et voila, the DA wins the case. It's all very hackneyed and contrived, a la Perry Mason where someone confesses to the crime from the visitors seats. I may tune in from time to time simply because of the powerhouse guest stars (Annabella Sciorra, Peter Coyote) but L&O: Trial By Jury won't make my shortlist for must watch programming.
Review of Law & Order: Trial by Jury
