Conviction

I sometimes find this show on Sleuth Channel. Ouch! I can't believe it has been buried so deeply in the cable junk-pile. I thought it was a good show. I think because it was promoted so strongly as a "Dick Wolf" property, people expected it to be another Law & Order and missed the perspective - the personal stories of younger attorneys struggling with a demanding, frequently unsympathetic job and it's effect upon their lives. No, not particularly original, but definitely a departure from the L&O model. Nothing "procedural" about it. Perhaps that was it's downfall. It deserved another season.moreless

What most people fail to realize is that this show is examining the lives of the ADAs, how the cases effect them. It does not focus on one case each episode like all the other Law & Order shows, and so, yes, characters like Cabot are going to have more personality. I for one was happy with the show. I think it is a good departure. There are way too many CSIs, Without A Trace, Law & Order shows out there, that the stories all start to blend. Not to mention, the writing on all of these shows is so bland, dry, overused, clichd and there is very little actual character development. Conviction is a character-driven show, not a case-driven show. This show wasn't given a chance, and it was killed before it even found its life.moreless

Well overall the show was good. Different characters that you don't normally see. It is a little Mcbeal meets Greys meets LA law, and the everyone likes everyone and want to sleep with them is the only thing I thought was typical. Nice episodes, even though they really stress on the no emotions thing and that you just do what you need to do.
It was a shame they dropped it, as it looked it could have gone 3 or 4 seasons. Anyway, what are the elements that are evaluated when they decide to keep or drop a new show. I mean are viewers opinions important.moreless

It seems to be the new trend nowadays, ripping off doctor shows which are truly unique and giving them a legal twist. For example, Shark is a blatant copy of House set in the courtroom, right down to the snarky, sarcastic main character who flirts with his 'hot' female boss and the two pretty young prosecutors sleeping together. Life, premiering this fall also seems like a cop version of House - heck, the main character even looks like Hugh Laurie. Conviction bore quite the similarity to Grey's Anatomy, in the courtroom. We have attractive young prosecutors who are fresh out of law school taken under the wing of SVU's ADA Alexandra Cabot, who sleep together. I must admit, this show is a refreshing change. Unlike many legal dramas who focus completely on the cases, leaving no room for character development, the cases take the back seat in Conviction - similar to Grey's Anatomy. And it's great to see ADA Cabot back working as an ADA, although she *did* do some things the SVU Cabot would have never done, like sleep with a hot prosecutor guy who she's mentoring. On a side note, most of the characters were likable. My favorites were Alex (of course), Jim & Jessica.

This show had all the makings of a huge hit - ADA Cabot coming back, an extremely good looking cast, suspense (for example in the finale most of the prosecutors were taken hostage) and good writing. Unfortunately this premiered midseason and did not get a lot of advertising...I just know if NBC pimped out Alex returning and premiered it in fall it would have been a huge hit!moreless

I was really really really upset when they canceled it! I think it needs to come back. They brought Jericho back...that show is retarded. (my opinion) and Conviction was cutting edge. I uploaded the entire first season onto my iPod just so I could watch it. I wish I could buy the first season...anyone know where I can?