Remember, last week, when I was talking about how outlaw that Outlaw was being? Choosing a case that I saw on Private Practice last week is not how you keep that trend up (Do me a favor, and just ignore and forget the fact that I watched last week’s Private Practice kaythanks?). All things considered, Outlaw probably has very little rope left with which to hang itself. There is a lot to like about this show, and I think if NBC were to give it a chance, it would probably find its audience.
Despite the fact that the case wasn’t very original doesn’t mean it wasn’t a bit compelling. To separate a potential crime from how it is tried is not a very easy thing to do. What happened in this case was horrifying, but was it a crime, or was it a tragedy? This is one of those times where I’ll be told my opinion is wrong, but I understand how this could happen. It is because I understand that I am absolutely terrified of becoming a parent.
The more interesting question, and one that was dropped pretty quickly when the Judge (Foote perhaps?) kicked Garza’s motion early in the episode, is all about equal protection. The implications of what Garza was talking about are pretty freaking terrifying. How do you rationalize the difference between tragedy and murder being the thirty one feet? I know I can’t and I’m not sure anyone else can. I get (and appreciate) the discretion that prosecutors are given to select their cases, but that doesn’t mean that punishments for any particular crime should be so different. I’m not sure if it is a solvable problem in our society, though.
It is difficult to talk about Outlaw without addressing its poor ratings. Shows dropped like flies this week, first Lone Star and now My Generation. After how the ratings looked last week, Outlaw is one of the more likely candidates to be the next show axed. It is a shame, though. Despite what Brett often reminds me of, not every show is going to pull in the ratings like NCIS, Glee, or Dancing with the Stars, and some show is always going to finish in fourth place on any given night. Maybe if shows were given more than two or three episodes to build an audience, they’d have a little better luck?
In Outlaw’s case, though, things would have to change. I’m already bored of Garza’s gambling story line. And while I like the chemistry between Jesse Bradford and Carly Pope, their B-story tonight was filler, and routine filler at that. If Outlaw gets that second chance (though I’m not placing any bets to that point), it is going to need to find a way to integrate the entire team into the mix on the main case each week.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Oct 02, 2010 @ 12:25 EST5EDT
Outlaw is definitely not pulling good numbers but NBC is going to have greater problems in the weeks to come. Undercovers got a 1.6 in the demo last week, which is abysmal. Community, Parenthood and Chase hover around a 2.0. These shows are promoted much more heavily and are costlier than Outlaw and added to that they air on very competitive nights. NBC is losing more ground than it ever has. The Biggest Loser dropped a whole lot and The Apprentice is barely scraping in a 1.4. At the risk of sounding sadistic, I have to say I’m glad these shows are tanking (and finally we see the demise of some reality crap too) because it once again shows what an amazingly solid performer Chuck is even without promotion.
Outlaw was DOA. They should have known that from the start.
The Biggest Loser should be on Fridays with Dateline. L&O: LA and Outlaw should be moved to Tuesdays.
The problem with ads is that only NBC shows ads on NBC. That’s just stupid. Five people are watching the channel, they need to start showing ads on all the sister channels and rival channels. I have seen ABC ads on channels owned by whomever owns NBC now (Is it Comcast yet?).
Agree that Outlaw is just one of several problems NBC has with its new shows. However, a bigger problem is scheduling–not a new one with NBC. CBS has done pretty well by picking up and tweaking their mistakes. JAG was an NBC product that turned out pretty well for CBS, including the spinoffs of NCIS, and NCIS-LA. Believe even Medium is still working for CBS. I agree with Nissa, that Chuck has been undervalued by NBC, at least they kept it. Maybe NBC could learn. Personally, I would prefer watching new episodes of Cold Case, Without a Trace, and Numbers, to any new shows; except 5-0, and maybe Detroit 187. It is also nice to see that reality crap might finally be reaching a limit.
*POST AUTHOR*
This is where I disagree with all of you, especially Oreo (have you even watched Outlaw?). I don’t think the show is bad, in fact, I’m not sure why it hasn’t found an audience where the Defenders has (I like both).
I should have been clearer.
While I think the idea of the show is over the top, at least it’s something different for a lawyer show.
I watched the first two episodes and enjoyed it, besides the stupid assistants sex talk in the second episode, that’s their storyline? Lame.
I meant NBC and us, should have known better that a new show at 10pm on a Friday, with no lead in, on a fourth rate network, would fail.
It had an audience when it was on Wednesday night at 10, it got 10 million viewers. There was no need to stick it by itself on Fridays. The Friday plan is why the show was DOA.