"Street Legal" (1987) TV series 1987-1994

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Creators:

William Deverell
Guy Mullally

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

6 January 1987 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The professional and private lives of a group of young, aggressive attorneys in partnership together in Toronto.

Plot Keywords:

Courtroom

Awards:

10 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

C. David Johnson	...	Charles 'Chuck' Tchobanian (126 episodes, 1987-1994)
Eric Peterson	...	Leon Robinovitch (126 episodes, 1987-1994)
Cynthia Dale	...	Olivia Novak (107 episodes, 1988-1994)
Julie Khaner	...	Alana Newman Robinovitch / ... (85 episodes, 1989-1994)
Sonja Smits	...	Carrington 'Carrie' Barr (83 episodes, 1986-1992)
Anthony Sherwood	...	Dillon Beck (81 episodes, 1989-1994)
Alison Sealy-Smith	...	Mercedes / ... (56 episodes, 1987-1994)
Albert Schultz	...	Rob Diamond (51 episodes, 1991-1994)
Ron Lea	...	Brian Malony (51 episodes, 1990-1994)

Runtime:

Canada:50 min (126 episodes)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Trivia:

During the third season, Diane Polley was battling cancer. Despite her illness, she decided to continue working. Her illness was apparent on-screen, as she continued to get thinner and thinner. At the same time her stage make-up appeared heavier and heavier. She died during the middle of the season. Her character was not replaced. It was explained on the show that she found love, while on vacation and decided not to return to the firm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Corner Gas: Cable Excess (#5.1)" (2007)

A Great Show With Lots Of Juice

I admit I hate Toronto. Having lived there for a year during the recession time of the early '90s, I've seen how bleak the job market was, how generally rude and unfriendly Torontonians can be and how expensive everything is, but this show, with it's filthy rich lawyers driving around in fancy sports cars; wearing the latest designer clothes and eating breakfast/ lunch and dinner at different restaurants around the city every day; enabled me to see the bright side side of that place.

If you have a high paying job in a mega-city like that, life can be pretty good.

The highlight was the beautiful and aggressive Olivia Novak (nobody can hop onto a desk and have a temper tantrum like she can) and I admit, she stole the whole show.

To say "Street Legal" is pure Canadiana is an overstatement. It's actually more of a City of Toronto showcase paying homage to where it was filmed, perhaps even overwhelming so, with loving scenes of the city during the opening and closing credits and shots of the CN tower shining brightly against the twilight sky. No coincidence either that almost every office and meeting room has a large window with a majestic view of the metropolis. Of course there are the pictures on the wall - in one episode you see Leon addressing a meeting with a giant photo of the CN Tower hanging prominently behind his right shoulder.

So, do I like "Street Legal"?

The answer is yes. It was a great show with a lot of excellent story elements. Too bad it didn't last as long as it should have.