Philly is an American legal drama television series created by Steven Bochco and Alison Cross, which starred Kim Delaney as defense attorney Kathleen Maguire. The series aired on ABC from September 25, 2001 to May 28, 2002, broadcasting 22 episodes before it was canceled due to low ratings.

Philly
GenreLegal drama
Created by
Starring
Opening theme"Philly Theme"
by Mike Post
ComposerMike Post
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes22
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time50 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 25, 2001 (2001-09-25) –
May 28, 2002 (2002-05-28)

Overview

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Kathleen Maguire is a single mother and partner in a small Philadelphia law firm with Will Froman (Tom Everett Scott). She fights to get her clients out of trouble and deals with professional conflicts arising from her relationship with her ex-husband Dan Cavanaugh (Kyle Secor), the Deputy for Trials. She also starts to date Judge Augustus "Jack" Ripley (James Denton).

Cast

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  • Kim Delaney as Kathleen Maguire, a frank, driven attorney and single mother forced to take on her firm after only a year of practice after her partner has a mental breakdown in court.
  • Tom Everett Scott as Will Froman, Kathleen's womanizing law partner
  • Rick Hoffman as Terry Loomis, an ADA whom Kathleen regularly goes up against, and whom she has formed a frenemy relationship with.
  • Diana-Maria Riva as Trish, Kathleen's secretary
  • Scotty Leavenworth as Patrick Cavanaugh, Kathleen's young son.
  • Kyle Secor as Daniel Cavanaugh, Kathleen's ex-husband, a deputy who is bitter about her leaving him.

Recurring

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  • Robert Harper as Judge Irwin Hawes, a slimy, abrasive judge who has frequent run-ins with Kathleen.
  • Dena Dietrich as Judge Ellen Armstrong
  • James Denton as Judge Augustus "Jack" Ripley, a judge who Kathleen becomes romantically involved with.
  • Kristanna Loken as Lisa Walensky, an ADA who has an on-again, off-again relationship with Will.
  • Veronica Hamel as Judge Marjorie Brennan, the mistress of Will's father, whom Will himself gets involved with.
  • Monique Edwards as ADA Teena Davis
  • Anne Gee Byrd as Annie Maguire

Notable Guest Stars

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Episodes

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No.Title [1]Directed by [1]Written byOriginal air dateProd.
code [1]
1"Philly"[2]
"Prototype"
Kevin HooksStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross
Teleplay by : Alison Cross
September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)D101
2"Porn Again"Rick WallaceStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross
Teleplay by : Alison Cross
October 2, 2001 (2001-10-02)D102
3"Light My Fire"[2]
"Light My Fair"
Peter WernerJonathan R. HiattOctober 9, 2001 (2001-10-09)D103
4"Tempus Fugitive"Rick WallaceTom SzentgyorgyiOctober 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)D105
5"Philly Folly"Kevin HooksAlison CrossOctober 23, 2001 (2001-10-23)D104
6"Blown Away"Jeannot SzwarcKeith EisnerNovember 13, 2001 (2001-11-13)D106
7"Prisoner of Love"Kevin HooksStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross
Teleplay by : Alison Cross
November 20, 2001 (2001-11-20)D107
8"Truth or Consequence"Greg BeemanStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Tom Szentgyorgyi
Teleplay by : Tom Szentgyorgyi
November 27, 2001 (2001-11-27)D108
9"Loving Sons"Mark TinkerStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Jonathan R. Hiatt
Teleplay by : Jonathan R. Hiatt
December 4, 2001 (2001-12-04)D109
10"Fork You Very Much"Michael M. RobinStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Keith Eisner
Teleplay by : Keith Eisner
December 11, 2001 (2001-12-11)D110
11"Live and Leg Die"Michael SchultzStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Tom Szentgyorgyi & Jonathan R. Hiatt
Teleplay by : Tom Szentgyorgyi & Jonathan R. Hiatt
December 18, 2001 (2001-12-18)D111
12"The Curse of the Klopman Diamonds"Joe Ann FogleStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Keith Eisner
Teleplay by : Keith Eisner
January 8, 2002 (2002-01-08)D112
13"Ripley, Believe It or Not"Rick WallaceAlison CrossJanuary 15, 2002 (2002-01-15)D113
14"Meat Me in Philly"Charles HaidStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Tom Szentgyorgyi
Teleplay by : Tom Szentgyorgyi
February 5, 2002 (2002-02-05)D114
15"Lies of Minelli"Roy Campanella IIStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Jonathan R. Hiatt
Teleplay by : Jonathan R. Hiatt
February 26, 2002 (2002-02-26)D115
16"Here Comes the Judge"Michael SwitzerStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross & Keith Eisner
Teleplay by : Keith Eisner
March 5, 2002 (2002-03-05)D116
17"There's No Business Like No Business"Rick WallaceMichael RhodesMarch 12, 2002 (2002-03-12)D117
18"Brotherly Love"Kevin HooksStory by : Steven Bochco & Alison Cross
Teleplay by : Alison Cross
March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19)D118
19"San Diego Padre"Michael SwitzerStory by : Steven Bochco & Tom Szentgyorgyi
Teleplay by : Tom Szentgyorgyi
April 16, 2002 (2002-04-16)D119
20"Tall Tales"Jesse BochcoStory by : Steven Bochco & Keith Eisner
Teleplay by : Keith Eisner
April 23, 2002 (2002-04-23)D120
21"Thanks for the Mammaries"Joe Ann FogleCheri TaylorApril 23, 2002 (2002-04-23)D121
22"Mojo Rising"Rick WallaceAlison Cross & Jonathan R. HiattMay 28, 2002 (2002-05-28)D122

Production

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As Stephen Bochco had been developing a legal series, he was beginning to become weary of NYPD Blue. Feeling she was underutilized on the show, Bocho offered the lead role to cast member Delaney, who accepted.[3] In March 2001, Scott and Hoffman were cast beside Delaney.[4] ABC ordered the pilot to series in May, and Delaney officially departed NYPD Blue.[5] Based on strong ratings, ABC ordered a full season in November.[6] However, ratings declined over the season, and ABC officially canceled the series at its annual upfronts in May 2002.[7]

Broadcast

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The complete series has not been released on DVD by CBS DVD, but is for purchase to stream by episode or the entire season on Amazon Prime.[citation needed] The series briefly aired in syndication on Universal HD in 2008.[citation needed]

Reception

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The series received mixed reviews from critics. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a grade of "C", stating that the show "is like biting into a cold, stale version of the city's famous cheese steak — it gives you a lot to chew on, but it's pretty greasy, gummy fare."[8] Phil Gallo at Variety gave a lukewarm review of the series, positively reviewing Delaney, but noting the show "lacked a distinctive tone".[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Philly : no."]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  2. ^ a b From the Writers Guild of America, West catalog: "Signatory Project Confirmation [search: "Philly"]". Writers Guild of America, West. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  3. ^ Gallo, Phil (November 13, 2001). "Married to the job". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Feiwell, Jill (March 21, 2001). "Rick Hoffman, Tom Everett Scott". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Adalian, Josef; Bernstein, Paula (May 13, 2001). "ABC plays the drama game". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Adalian, Josef (November 25, 2001). "ABC fills up on 'Philly'". Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2001.
  7. ^ Adalian, Josef (May 12, 2002). "ABC adding slew of new shows". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Ken Tucker (October 23, 2001). "Philly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  9. ^ Gallo, Phil (September 23, 2001). "Philly". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
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